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Centerpoint
Parish Pilgrimage
Ministries for Adult Spiritual Formation
Years ago now, the Vestry determined that All Saints' would become a school, a "seminary within the parish, " where the human spiritual pilgrimage would provide growth through contemplation and action, personal intimacy with God and compassionate engagement with the world. This meant that corporate dimensions within our life would be shaped by spiritual dimensions, not the other way around. The firm belief was, and remains, that true ministry proceeds from intimacy with God and provides confidence and discernment for compassionate engagement with others and the world around us.
In response, we engaged in a vision called the Centerpoint Parish Pilgrimage. The emphasis is to provide the balance between action and contemplation, affirming the full expression of the contemplative life, expressing a life lived in the Mystery of God must be reclaimed and maintained on the level of the ordinary and every day. The following describe the current structure of this pilgrimage at All Saints'.
BALANCED
LIVING
The Balanced Living Commission
works in the areas of environmental stewardship and simple living. If
you consider that creation is a gift from God, then it behooves us to
care for creation in a way that ensures it will be passed down to future
generations in good condition. Simple living offers us an alternative
to the consumer driven lifestyle popular in our culture and offers us
ways to live a God-centered life. Specifically, we sponsor the recycling at the church; education on simplicity and noviolence. Commission members meet
as needed, several times per year. A concern for creation and simple living is all that is needed to participate in this ministry.
CREATIVE
EXPRESSION
The Creative Expression Commission
is committed to helping the All Saints' family to enjoy union with God
through supporting and encouraging each person's God-given capacity to
create. Creative Expressions brings us Balance, Centering,
Deliberateness, Playfulness, Flow – using our creativity
is our gift to God. This group also presents a monthly exhibit of member art work in the All Saints' Hall Gallery.
COMMUNICATIONS
Communications - the word calls us to live more fully in community. In the spirit of inclusion and hospitality, we strive to keep our parish informed not only about events, but also about the work and movement that naturally happens in any organic group of people. Our parish is made up of long-time Episcopalians, and those new to this tradition. It includes visitors, friends and family of our regular community. And importantly, it includes our neighbors near and far who are interested in the life and work of this parish. Knowing the challenge of good communication and the time and commitment it takes, the Communications Commission works to integrate information, education, invitation and open participation into all that we do. Our primary tools are the monthly newsletter, brochures, bulletin boards, worship bulletins, town hall meeting, our web site and weekly email newsletters.
COMPASSIONATE
LIVING
The Compassionate Living Commission's focus is to assist others to become
centers of healing through service to mankind. The commission oversees
volunteers and monetary support for various outreach activities, including:
1. Adopt-A-Caseworker Program - outreach to at risk youth. Volunteers
have an opportunity to sign up to purchase school supplies, Easter Baskets
and Christmas gifts for children.
2. Alternative Gift Fair- Annual alternative gift giving program,
held in December. Parishioners are invited to make a donation to the charity
of their choice in honor of another person. The person being honored will
receive notification of this donation.
3. Cliff Maus Housing Program - low income housing complex sponsored
by the local Episcopal churches. Volunteers have worked to provide support
for special projects such as Kids Cafe, which provides adult mentors for
reading and homework. The Compassionate Living Commission continues to
seek ways to reach out to the Cliff Maus Community.
4. Food Pantry - Food distribution on 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each
month. Typically serves at least 100 families each distribution. Volunteers
are needed for a variety of tasks, including some heavy lifting, between
1:30 and 6:30 on these distribution days.
5. Habitat for Humanity - National home building program benefiting
low income families. Four times a year All Saints' takes special collections
to support Habitat and we also observe a Habitat Day of Prayer. Also,
volunteers assist in local house building projects.
6. Metro Ministries - Oversees several community programs to assist
the homeless. All Saints' makes an annual contribution to Metro Ministries.
The Compassionate Living Commission encourages volunteer participation
in Metro Ministry programs.
7. Pastoral Care Team -Volunteers working with homebound and/or
ill church members.
Volunteers typically are assigned to work in mini-teams that share responsibilities
for one week a month to visit in homes and/or hospitals.
DISCERNMENT - LISTENING HEARTS
Through the prayerful way we approach our life together as a community we foster the spirit of inclusion and support each other in discerning calls to service and leadership. We practice listening with the heart. Listening with the heart leads to an open, safe environment. It creates a space of acceptance that invites us to be vulnerable; to share our deepest questions, concerns and doubts.
This practice of discernment flows into our development of lay leaders. Our vestry is nominated through a discernment process and we are expanding this process to include commission leadership. It is through spiritual formation and the way we feed each other, that lay leaders arise from the congregation.
GROUP
REFLECTION
This Commission is the part of the Centerpoint ministries designed to
oversee and develop various small groups in the church such as the practical
wisdom study groups, Cursillo Reunion groups, EFM groups and may work
with the Mentors group on Academy projects. These groups are formed in
order to create an environment in which the development of spiritual friendship
and companioning is possible and where there is the genuine enjoyment
of discussion and the sharing of spiritual paths.
PRAXIS OF PRAYER
Emphasis is on teaching and practicing various aspects of personal and
corporate prayer. Includes Contemplative Options classes, Lectio Divina,
Rosary, Icon, etc. Commission volunteers assist with the design and implementation
of educational and praxis opportunities utilizing a variety of prayer
and meditative options.
Labyrinth Care Team: The mission of the Labyrinth Committee
is We are a team whose ministry is the stewardship of the Labyrinth as
sacred space...an external pathway for all God's people to awaken to the
Presence of the Divine. Committee members share the labyrinth and its
meaning and purpose whenever possible; serve periodically on Thursday
nights as guides for the labyrinth; facilitate small groups that request
assistance in walking or knowledge about the labyrinth; serve at special
events.
Training
is available to new members to assist them in becoming guides. Members should have a desire to deepen their own inner lives and a commitment to assist others
as they seek God through this path. Open-mindedness and a willingness
to serve the church in the best possible way are needed inner qualities. We serve both our own community,
as well as the larger community by providing a path to deepen our inner
lives. This ministry supports our mission statement as a parish and is
an integral part of the sacred space and opportunity that All Saints'
extends by its presence.
Isabel Rendall Chapter of the Daughters of the King: An order in
the Episcopal Church for Women dedicated to a life of prayer, study and
service to their church and community. As intercessors for the church
we vow to pray daily for all those in need. We willingly offer ourselves
in service and help to our community. Life-time vows are taken upon entering the order and training is offered within the order through regular meeting attendance and participation.
PERSONAL
REFLECTION
The Personal Reflection Commission is a Centerpoint Ministry whose emphasis
is guiding others to interdisciplinary material for their personal growth,
including utilization of a large collection of resources maintained by
this group in the church library. Members assist with library maintenance for one or two hours
a month. Our purpose is to maintain and grow the numerous wonderful
resources available to all that seek to deepen their spiritual understanding
and experience through independent study.
RETREATS
These folks plans the annual Family Retreat at Camp Capers encompassing spiritual formation, education, fun and families. Volunteers work
in everything from leading, organizing, staging and helping in the kitchen.
Attending Lebh Shomea is encouraged for personal silent prayer retreats. Lebh Shomea is located
south of Kingsville and is available for individual or small group silent prayer retreats.
SPIRITUAL
DIRECTION
Spiritual Direction is a way to deepen our spirituality. It is a formal
process of making spiritual guidance available in a relationship with
a spiritual director. In the environment the director and directee listen
to what God is saying in the life of the directee. Spiritual direction
is available to any adult (regardless of church affiliation) who wants
to deepen his or her inner life and discover the next step in their spiritual
journey. Spiritual directors and directees meet on a regular basis usually
45-60 minutes. There is no charge for spiritual direction. Contact the
church office at 855-6294 for more information and how to schedule with one of our many qualified and experienced spiritual directors.
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