Mid summer update

Hi friends -

Due to a conflict in scheduling with the Presbytery's Presbyfest, the October 23rd retreat will be postponed. Stay tuned for a new date.

In other news, I will be moving into North Puget Sound Presbytery to accept a position as temporary supply pastor at Edmonds Presbyterian Church. The ministry team will continue under Susan Mochizuki's able leadership!

Next Ministry Team meeting: 1 PM, August 31 at Wedgwood Pres.

with many thanks, Amy Delaney

It's almost summertime -- and the Spiritual Formation Ministry team is taking two months off. See you on August 31, from 1-2 PM for our next prayer time. Then in September we will resume meeting on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

Looking ahead: Please put Saturday, October 23rd on your calendar. We will have a retreat day at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. Come join us for "The Art of Prayer: an experiential retreat" from 10-2:30. Planned workshops include drumming, the labyrinth, introduction to spiritual direction, an art meditation, lectio with nature, and the prayers & music of Taize.

Come, Pray and Drum - May 25

Come and join us in prayer, 1-2 PM on Tuesday, May 25th at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church. The Rev. David Emery will lead our time together. He writes:

We all move to a different drummer, and some of us even like to beat our own drums a bit too much. We had our mother’s, teacher’s, spiritual leaders’ try to drum in to us the need to behave right, speak correctly and stand without slouching. It is no slouch to know that listening to the beat of our hearts and our souls brings us closer to the eternal spirit of God’s presence. So bring a drum to pound, a rainstick to play, a flute to sing or just a hand to clap as we make joyful noise to God in prayer this month.

Come, pray and drum!

Come and Pray - April 27th

Come and pray with us on Tuesday, April 27th, from 1-2 at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Louise Holert will be our leader this month. She writes that this day will be:

A time for contemplative prayer using a 15th century masterpiece of devotional art accompanied by selected Scripture passages, a selection from Handel’s Messiah and Gregorian Chant. Our contemplative prayer time will include time for reading, reflecting, and receiving along with time for silent confession.

Please RSVP to Amy Delaney if you are coming so that we have enough copies of the artwork for the devotion time. A short team meeting will follow at 2 PM to continue our fall retreat planning.

Come and Pray

I know that many of you are familiar with the work of Gordon T. Smith. In his book Alone with the Lord: A Guide to a Personal Day of Prayer he describes a simple but powerful prayer exercise centered on God's grace and our response of gratitude. Through scripture, silent prayer, and journaling we will discover what we are truly most grateful to God for at this time in our lives. Set aside an hour in your Lenten journey to come and pray: Tuesday, March 23rd, 1-2 PM at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church, 8008 35th Ave NE, Seattle. Amy Delaney will direct the exercise.

Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Finding Freedom and Peace

Tuesday, February 23rd, our meditation theme will be "Finding Freedom and Peace." The scriptural basis for the theme can be found in Paul's letter to the Galatians - "for freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit to a yoke of slavery." And, since February is Black History Month, inspiration will be drawn from poets such as Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou and from music that speaks to the theme.

Suggested questions for reflection will be:

• What can we learn about finding freedom and peace from studying African American history?
• How do we find freedom from our fears or from circumstances that may curtail parts of our lives?
• How can we be open to experiencing the freedom in Christ which Paul speaks of?
• In what ways can we help or encourage others to find freedom?

The Rev. Donna DeCou will be our leader for the day. Come join us from 1-2 PM at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church, 8008 35th Ave. NE, Seattle.

Lectio with Nature: Contemplative Walk

Come join us for our next prayer time on Tuesday, January 26th, at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church, 1-2 PM.

We shall meet to take a (short) contemplative walk based on a workshop by Christine Valters Painter: we will listen, receive, respond, rest, and share. Be prepared for inclement weather since this is January in the Northwest! Susan Mochizuki will be our presenter. More information about Christine can be found at www.AbbeyoftheArts.com.