One of the facts of ministry is that the busier we are, the more we need to take time away to listen for God’s guidance in our life. Retreats are one way to do that. And spiritual direction—helping ministers explore this tension by engaging with someone who listens without judgment and encourages them in ways to listen to God—is another. The Shepherd Heart Spiritual Retreat for Ministers this July in Flagstaff, Arizona offers both.
I’m Teresa Blythe, a Phoenix based full-time spiritual director and I’ll be facilitating this summer retreat for clergy. I’m blessed to have worked with clergy from a variety of traditions for the past 20 years. I’m an ordained United Church of Christ (UCC) minister specializing in spiritual direction, discernment coaching, supervision and the training of spiritual professionals. For the past 14 years I was director of the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction in Tucson, AZ and have done considerable discernment coaching with religious organizations.
Although I happily work with anyone committed to their spiritual path, clergy are special to me. Sometimes, we care so deeply for others and the world that we neglect our own deeply held desires, needs and questions. That’s why it’s good to get away, take a few days to catch up on sleep, relax, read and focus on what their heart and soul needs.
Are you that minister? Have you inadvertently neglected your own heart in order to serve God and others? Do you need a retreat that builds in rest, prayer and deep reflection?
If so, I hope you will consider this Shepherd Heart Retreat for Ministers July 19 – 22, held at a gorgeous wooded facility in Flagstaff, Arizona—the part of Arizona where you find cooler summer temps and the breathtakingly beautiful Grand Canyon!
With Melissa Hofstetter as your host and me as spiritual director and retreat facilitator, you are invited to spend three days in prayer, contemplation, reflection, discussion and discernment—the practice of deepening our relationship with God by continually seeking God’s guidance in the choices we make. We’ve developed a gentle program to lead you through prayer practices and discernment on some of the most important questions you face these days. In fact, we hope you will come to this retreat with a particular life question you need clarity on. As we share wisdom with one another, you may find you hear God’s voice and God’s leading around that question.
We’ll spend time talking about the spiritual practice of discernment—how you’ve done it in the past; what you need right now; and ways to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit in daily life. And we’ll also spend time practicing discernment.
We’ll balance all the group work with ample free time giving you opportunities to visit the sites around Flagstaff and Sedona, take long walks or nap the afternoon away.
Why not make time this summer to go away, listen, and reflect on how we can each meet the challenges that come with the job of “shepherd of the people.”
