COURSES 2008/9


SPIRITUAL ACCOMPANIMENT COURSE

A 2 year course to explore the skills and gifts of accompanying others. Spiritual accompaniment in the Ignatian tradition assumes that God is present and active in our lives and that through reflection and prayer we can become more sensitive to this presence. Through discernment we are invited to ‘find God in all things’, to notice how God is drawing us in our everyday experiences and how we respond to this invitation of God. Participants will find different uses for what they learn, e.g. informal spiritual conversation, prayer guiding, or beginning to offer spiritual direction. The course will include ongoing discernment for each person about whether, and in what ways, they are called to accompany others in faith. As part of the course the participants are asked to make a retreat, the length and cost of which can be negotiated.


This course will run from October to May in each year, held Friday 1.30pm to 6.30pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm once a month.


Dates 08/09:
10th/11th October
14th/15th November
12th/13th December
9th/10th January
13th/14th February
13th/14th March
3rd/4th April
8th/9th May.

(NB The Centre is non-residential, but there are local B & B's if needed.)

Suggested Donation £525 (£375) per year, plus the cost of a retreat.

For further details and application form please contact us.


GROWTH IN PRAYER AND REFLECTIVE LIVING

Tuesdays, 7pm to 9pm,
14th October 2008 to 30th May 2009
Saturdays 20th December and 30th May

This course runs each year offering experience of different ways of praying and reflecting, fostering connections between prayer and life. The evenings will include some input from the team, led experiences of prayer and meditation, periods of quiet for reflection and sharing and listening in small groups. Some of the themes and exercises that make up the course are:-
  • Ways of praying with Scripture
  • God in our daily lives
  • Images of God and talking to God
  • Imaginative prayer and the Gospels
  • Discernment of spirits - the God of my experience
  • Desires and decision-making
  • The God of my story
  • Creativity and prayer - Art and writing
  • Centering Prayer and Mantras
  • A Spirituality of Faith and Justice


    • As part of the course participants are offered 6 sessions of individual accompaniment if desired. They are also encouraged to attend retreats offered by the Centre. Suggested Donation £400, students and registered unemployed £300. (Bursaries available)







    SPIRITUAL ACCOMPANIMENT COURSE FOR CLERGY
    GLASGOW

    18 Thursdays 1pm-4pm,
    3 blocks of 6 weeks.

    This ecumenical course, which has previously been held successfully in Glasgow and Aberdeen, is for priests and ministers who wish to explore aspects of spiritual accompaniment. This ecumenical course will offer clergy an opportunity to reflect on the ministry of accompaniment, to practise the art of listening in a discerning way and to share with peers about the different ways in which accompaniment takes place in ministry.

    Whilst there are no formal entry requirements, other than ministry training, it is expected that those participating will have had experience of being accompanied on their own faith journey. All participants will be strongly encouraged to take part in one of the retreats offered by the Centre during the year and to be receiving ongoing spiritual direction - the Centre can put people in touch with Spiritual Directors if desired.


    23rd October - 27th November 2008
    22nd January - 26th February 2009
    23rd April - 28th May 2009

    Suggested Donation: £365, (Bursaries available)




    ART AND SPIRITUALITY

    23rd April to 11th June 2009
    8 Thursday Evenings.

    Deepening our experience of God and reflecting on our lives using image and scripture. We will use various art materials in our exploration.


    Suggested donation (including all materials): £140 (£90)