Contemplative Ministry Tool #3

The real crisis facing those of us who seek to The real crisis facing those of us who seek to share faith with youth is this:share faith with youth is this:We don't know how to be with our kids.We don't know how to be with our kids.We don't know how to be with ourselves.We don't know how to be with ourselves.We don't know how to be with God." (Page 19)We don't know how to be with God." (Page 19)

The real crisis facing those of us who seek to The real crisis facing those of us who seek to share faith with youth is this:share faith with youth is this:We don't know how to be with our kids.We don't know how to be with our kids.We don't know how to be with ourselves.We don't know how to be with ourselves.We don't know how to be with God." (Page 19)We don't know how to be with God." (Page 19)

Part 1:Part 1:

Leading Leading Team Team MeetingsMeetings

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Leading Leading Team Team MeetingsMeetings

The The MeetinMeetin

g g ProcesProces

ss

The The MeetinMeetin

g g ProcesProces

ss

1. Ritual1. Ritual

2. Relating2. Relating

3. Receiving3. Receiving

* Lectio Divina* Lectio Divina

* Awareness * Awareness ExamenExamen

4. Ruminating4. Ruminating

5. Reflecting5. Reflecting

6. Responding6. Responding

7. Returning7. Returning

1. Ritual1. Ritual

2. Relating2. Relating

3. Receiving3. Receiving

* Lectio Divina* Lectio Divina

* Awareness * Awareness ExamenExamen

4. Ruminating4. Ruminating

5. Reflecting5. Reflecting

6. Responding6. Responding

7. Returning7. Returning““Liturgy for Discernment”Liturgy for Discernment”

Some of the Practices we Some of the Practices we use:use:

Some of the Practices we Some of the Practices we use:use:

1.1. Guided MeditationGuided Meditation

2.2. The Prayer of JesusThe Prayer of Jesus

3.3. Centering PrayerCentering Prayer

4.4. Examen of ConscienceExamen of Conscience

5.5. Lectio DivinaLectio Divina

6.6. Spiritual DisciplinesSpiritual Disciplines

7.7. Practising God’s Practising God’s PresencePresence

1.1. Guided MeditationGuided Meditation

2.2. The Prayer of JesusThe Prayer of Jesus

3.3. Centering PrayerCentering Prayer

4.4. Examen of ConscienceExamen of Conscience

5.5. Lectio DivinaLectio Divina

6.6. Spiritual DisciplinesSpiritual Disciplines

7.7. Practising God’s Practising God’s PresencePresence

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MinisterinMinistering g to Teensto Teens

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MinisterinMinistering g to Teensto Teens

"Changing the way we relate to young people "Changing the way we relate to young people isn't just a matter of developing new isn't just a matter of developing new techniques or broadening our theology. It's techniques or broadening our theology. It's about a different attitude of the heart. It's about a different attitude of the heart. It's about being present to young people with a about being present to young people with a loving transparency. We're seeking to see loving transparency. We're seeking to see teens with the eyes of Jesus, hear teens with teens with the eyes of Jesus, hear teens with the ears of Jesus, and perceive teens with the the ears of Jesus, and perceive teens with the heart of Jesus." (p. 79)heart of Jesus." (p. 79)

"Changing the way we relate to young people "Changing the way we relate to young people isn't just a matter of developing new isn't just a matter of developing new techniques or broadening our theology. It's techniques or broadening our theology. It's about a different attitude of the heart. It's about a different attitude of the heart. It's about being present to young people with a about being present to young people with a loving transparency. We're seeking to see loving transparency. We're seeking to see teens with the eyes of Jesus, hear teens with teens with the eyes of Jesus, hear teens with the ears of Jesus, and perceive teens with the the ears of Jesus, and perceive teens with the heart of Jesus." (p. 79)heart of Jesus." (p. 79)

Being With Young People:Being With Young People:Being With Young People:Being With Young People:

1.1. Seeing with the Eyes of JesusSeeing with the Eyes of Jesus

2.2. Hearing with the Ears of JesusHearing with the Ears of Jesus

3.3. Caring with the Heart of JesusCaring with the Heart of Jesus

4.4. Acting with the Hands of JesusActing with the Hands of Jesus

5.5. Delighting with the Smile of Delighting with the Smile of JesusJesus

1.1. Seeing with the Eyes of JesusSeeing with the Eyes of Jesus

2.2. Hearing with the Ears of JesusHearing with the Ears of Jesus

3.3. Caring with the Heart of JesusCaring with the Heart of Jesus

4.4. Acting with the Hands of JesusActing with the Hands of Jesus

5.5. Delighting with the Smile of Delighting with the Smile of JesusJesus

Youth Workers as Spiritual Youth Workers as Spiritual Directors:Directors:Youth Workers as Spiritual Youth Workers as Spiritual Directors:Directors:

1. Noticing1. NoticingHelping youth become more aware Helping youth become more aware of their experience of God.of their experience of God.

1. Noticing1. NoticingHelping youth become more aware Helping youth become more aware of their experience of God.of their experience of God.

2. Naming2. NamingHelping youth find language and Helping youth find language and theology for their experience of God.theology for their experience of God.

2. Naming2. NamingHelping youth find language and Helping youth find language and theology for their experience of God.theology for their experience of God.

3. Nurturing3. NurturingHelping youth develop practises to Helping youth develop practises to deepen their relationship with God.deepen their relationship with God.

3. Nurturing3. NurturingHelping youth develop practises to Helping youth develop practises to deepen their relationship with God.deepen their relationship with God.

How to Notice, Name and How to Notice, Name and Nurture:Nurture:How to Notice, Name and How to Notice, Name and Nurture:Nurture:1. Noticing1. Noticing

We PointWe PointWe QuestionWe QuestionWe InviteWe InviteWe Create CircumstancesWe Create Circumstances

1. Noticing1. NoticingWe PointWe PointWe QuestionWe QuestionWe InviteWe InviteWe Create CircumstancesWe Create Circumstances

2. Naming2. NamingWho do you say I am?Who do you say I am?StorytellingStorytellingTestimonyTestimonyBeyond WordsBeyond Words

2. Naming2. NamingWho do you say I am?Who do you say I am?StorytellingStorytellingTestimonyTestimonyBeyond WordsBeyond Words

3. Nurturing3. NurturingAction birthed in discernmentAction birthed in discernment

3. Nurturing3. NurturingAction birthed in discernmentAction birthed in discernment

The purpose of integrating contemplative The purpose of integrating contemplative presence in youth ministry is not to turn kids presence in youth ministry is not to turn kids into monks, nor is it to make us experts in into monks, nor is it to make us experts in contemplative prayer; it is to deepen our contemplative prayer; it is to deepen our awareness of God, others, and self so that we awareness of God, others, and self so that we might become fully alive... Activities in the might become fully alive... Activities in the youth ministry are no longer chosen frantically youth ministry are no longer chosen frantically from resource books; instead the youth from resource books; instead the youth ministry becomes more responsive to the needs ministry becomes more responsive to the needs of the youth and the movement of the Holy of the youth and the movement of the Holy Spirit. We begin to hold our programs lightly, Spirit. We begin to hold our programs lightly, realizing they can be changed or discarded if realizing they can be changed or discarded if they impede God's desire for love. We trust they impede God's desire for love. We trust God more, knowing the Holy Spirit will be God more, knowing the Holy Spirit will be faithful in -- and maybe even in spite of -- our faithful in -- and maybe even in spite of -- our programs. Discussions become engaging rather programs. Discussions become engaging rather than alienating and prescriptive. Missions trips than alienating and prescriptive. Missions trips and social justice activities begin to spring from and social justice activities begin to spring from compassion instead of guilt." (pp. 230-31)compassion instead of guilt." (pp. 230-31)

The purpose of integrating contemplative The purpose of integrating contemplative presence in youth ministry is not to turn kids presence in youth ministry is not to turn kids into monks, nor is it to make us experts in into monks, nor is it to make us experts in contemplative prayer; it is to deepen our contemplative prayer; it is to deepen our awareness of God, others, and self so that we awareness of God, others, and self so that we might become fully alive... Activities in the might become fully alive... Activities in the youth ministry are no longer chosen frantically youth ministry are no longer chosen frantically from resource books; instead the youth from resource books; instead the youth ministry becomes more responsive to the needs ministry becomes more responsive to the needs of the youth and the movement of the Holy of the youth and the movement of the Holy Spirit. We begin to hold our programs lightly, Spirit. We begin to hold our programs lightly, realizing they can be changed or discarded if realizing they can be changed or discarded if they impede God's desire for love. We trust they impede God's desire for love. We trust God more, knowing the Holy Spirit will be God more, knowing the Holy Spirit will be faithful in -- and maybe even in spite of -- our faithful in -- and maybe even in spite of -- our programs. Discussions become engaging rather programs. Discussions become engaging rather than alienating and prescriptive. Missions trips than alienating and prescriptive. Missions trips and social justice activities begin to spring from and social justice activities begin to spring from compassion instead of guilt." (pp. 230-31)compassion instead of guilt." (pp. 230-31)