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Experiencing God: A Spiritual Formation Summit
March 14 @ 12:30 pm – 5:00 pm
All are invited to attend NCISDF’s Spiritual Formation Summit at White Plains United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 14th, 2026. This event will bring together clergy, staff, and laity from all denominations for a day of worship, fellowship, and learning through experiential workshops. Participants will experience the Spirit in ways they can bring back to their congregation and put into action in their own Spiritual Formation programs.
Participants will choose three workshops, but will receive resource materials for all eight.
Schedule
12:30 pm: Opening Gathering
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Workshop Session 1
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Workshop Session 2
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm: break
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Workshop session 3
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Closing with Communion
Workshops and Leaders
Lectio Divina – Amanda Rigby
This workshop will introduce the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina, offering participants both an experience and an understanding of the process. The Lectio process focuses on the application of scripture and other spiritual reading to the inner and outer life of the participant. Participants will be able to use this in their daily prayer as well as facilitate the process in their congregations and small groups.
Praying/Reading Scripture with the Senses – Joyce Day
This workshop will introduce the spiritual practice originating from Ignatian Spirituality, praying with the senses. Participants will be offered a particular story from one of the gospels. Through a guided meditation, the facilitator will invite participants to imagine a scene in the story, placing themselves as a part of the scriptures’ scene. Through questions posed, the participants will explore this scene, imagining with all of their senses. Following the meditation, a time of journaling and small group reflection will encourage participants to explore how God is speaking to them through this experience.
Hands as Expressions of Worship and Relationship – Joyce Coffman
This workshop will introduce participants to embodied prayer and worship. Participants will be invited to imagine and experience the various ways our hands express our thoughts and feelings as we pray and worship. As these “hand postures” are mindfully practiced, participants will be encouraged to journal and share in small groups about what happens inside – as these postures both express and call forth something holy.
Chanting as Prayer – Melissa Auten
Chanting is one of humanity’s oldest spiritual and communal practices, bridging music, speech, and prayer. In this workshop, we will explore the origins and history of chanting, as well as the psychosocial, communal, and neurological benefits of this spiritual practice. This is an interactive class involving participation with demonstration.
Walking with Intention – Stephanie Downey
This workshop will introduce the participant to the spiritual practice of walking with intention. Following a brief presentation on this practice, participants will be asked to go outside and take a 25-minute walk with a particular intention. Upon their return, they will be invited to journal about their experience and participate in a small group discussion.
Breath as a Spiritual Practice – Mary Kay Glazer
This workshop will explore several ways to pray, centering on our breath. The facilitator will incorporate scripture, breath mantras, and the importance of silence in the introduction to this practice. Participants will have the opportunity to practice several breath practices and discuss how these can be spiritually formative.
Intro to SoulCollage®️ – Becky Hambrick
This workshop will introduce participants to two experiences of the use of visual art as a spiritual formation practice. These practices do not require any experience or particular talent as an artist, only a willingness to be present and allow objects and images to be an expression of thoughts and feelings. Participants will be able to use these practices in their small groups as tools for spiritual growth.
Poetry as a Spiritual Practice – Meg McBride
This workshop will introduce several ways in which poetry can be a spiritually formative tool. Participants will listen and respond to poetry, as well as be invited into an experience of breaking open their images of God using poetry.
Cost:
– Free for leaders from United Methodist congregations thanks to a grant from the Intentional Growth Center.
– Early Bird prices until February 14: $35/person or $175 for a team of 5 or more.
– After February 14, 2026: $50/person or $250 for a team of 5 or more.
If you are registering for a group, ensure you have each group member’s name, email address, and top four workshop choices on hand.
