Small Group Spiritual Direction –  In group spiritual direction, a small group of individuals are led by a trained facilitator to learn to lean in and listen to the voice of the LIVING God speaking to and through our lives.  This is NOT small- group-as-usual, where people come with a variety of agendas and possibly a shared assignment to discuss.  Group spiritual direction is about learning how to discover and discern the very specific ways, the very intimate ways that God is speaking to us and through us.  Scripture and the Holy Spirit's leading us into understanding is the basis of all Christian spiritual direction.  As Jesus says in John 16:13-15, " But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.  All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”A typical meeting begins with a time of focusing on a short passage in God's word, not for the sake of study, but to listen to it attentively.  This is interspersed with times of silent prayer and group reflection.  Over time, two people in the group may be asked to share something they are noticing in their lives...a question, a struggle, a joy, an unrest which they have prayed about and want to present before God and the group.  A structured time of sharing, questions, and reflections is interspersed with times of silent prayer, learning to hold the person and their situation before God in prayer.  Small group spiritual direction is NOT an advice giving session.  The group together seeks the Lord's life, truth, and heart on behalf of the presenter and prayer ensues, both in silence and verbally, on behalf of the group member.  It is essential for each group to commit to confidentiality so that authenticity and transparency can thrive within the group and people feel safe to be where they are with God, with life, with themselves.

"Spiritual direction is in the business of discerning the signs of God's work and attending to the way that God answers."  Eugene Peterson, forward to Small Group Leadership as Spiritual Direction

 Tuesday  or Thursday Evenings, 7-8:30 p.m. (monthly)

 Registration Required at www.SanctuaryatWoodville.org (Go to Events, Small Group Spiritual Direction)

Suggested donation: $10