$ Drinking from Ancestral Wells: God’s Wisdom for the Work of the Present Age (Academy for Spiritual Formation)

To say we live in challenging times has almost become a boring cliché.  Yet we think it’s not an exaggeration to say that in November 2019 we had no idea of what was coming.  These 18-plus months have seen an explosion of crisis and calamity that have shocked us, rousing us from whatever complacency we may have had, as we are being forced to confront the realities of ecological devastation, historical trauma and injustice, and the frailty of our own political system.  It’s a time of reckoning.  Yet we are not deserted or without resources.  In our brief time together, we will draw from the deep spiritual waters of our ancestors and refocus our attention on the Wisdom of God, which is always present and is calling us to put our hands to the plow and fearlessly follow Jesus into the work of the present age.

Join us for this online Academy Day Apart retreat with Gregory Bentley, pastor of Fellowship Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, AL and Co-Moderator of the 224th General Assembly of the PC USA, and Daniel Wolpert, Upper Room Books author, Presbyterian minister, and co-founder of Minnesota Institute of Contemplation and Healing (MICAH). We will come together as an online community held by the Academy rhythm of prayer and worship, learning from wisdom guides, silence and rest, and holy listening and conversation, and allow this process to open our hearts and minds to the ways God is calling us forth as agents of justice, mercy, and love.

Participants will also be provided with pre-retreat content and prompts for reflection along with suggestions for going deeper after the retreat.