Module One Sessions and Assignments
DRAFT. DRAFT. DRAFT.
Saint Benedict Cycle 2025
Reflecting on, and taking responsibility for, your spiritual life
September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17 Sessions are all two hours.
Friday Eastern 12:00 pm Central 11:00 am Mountain 10:00 am Pacific 9:00 am
There will be some revisions to this before we begin in September and as we move through the module.
The Collect we’ll use as we begin sessions - HERE
for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure
The passage is from Paul’s letter to the Philippians (2:13). God is at work in you. In the parish and in you as an individual. And just prior to that Paul wrote, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (2:12) We are called to play our part. In this module we’ll provide you with ways to reflect on and take responsibility for your spiritual life and to assist the parish in doing the same.
A few assumptions
- Parishes are likely to be healthier and more faithful if, people are given ways to reflect on and take responsibility for their own spiritual life. This is also true for the parish as a corporate body.
- People’s sense of proficiency and commitment is enhanced by having several ascetical models they can use in that reflection. This fits with the organization development understanding of the need for a common language in the culture of any organization.
- The parish as a whole is grounded and strengthened when there is at its center an apostolic core.
Objectives
Overall: This module is designed to help us reflect on and accept responsibility for our individual and parish spiritual lives.
1. To learn three ascetical models that can be used to reflect on an individual’s spiritual life and as well as the health and faithfulness of a parish church.
2. To increase the range of ways we have for understanding our spiritual life.
3. To increase our understanding of the spiritual life dynamics in a parish church.
4. To continue to engage the early stages of group formation (inclusion, acceptance, bonding, dependence) and how that is an element in accepting responsibility for our whole life. Note: we will make use of at least four group development type models in STP.
Before Session 1
There are no required readings specific to Session 1
Please read and download this PDF “Instructions for the use of the Interview Questions Process” that you can use during the session. Just the interview questions are HERE.
Session 1 September 19
Program overview – A few minutes on the nuts and bolts
Interviewing and being interviewed in groups of three. Please have read and downloaded this PDF “Instructions for the use of the Interview Questions Process” that you can use during the session.
Brief presentation on the central elements of the Christian Life Model.
Between sessions 1 and 2
1. Read Chapter 2 “the Christian Life Model” in Fill All Things
2. Read The Christian Life Model - individual spirituality - 4 page booklet. Also found in the Shaping the Parish resources www.orderoftheascension.org In “Five Core Frameworks” section. Focus on the 4th page “An Integrated, Responsive and Stable Spiritual Life” as it relates to completing the assessment “Christian Life Model - Your spiritual life” (see below)
3. Complete two assessments using the Christian Life Model. Both found in the Shaping the Parish Resources www.orderoftheascension.org in “Assessments” section. Bring them to Session 2.
• Christian Life Model - Your spiritual life
• Christian Life Model assessment - parish
4. Download, read, and bring with you to the session –
Small Group Work – Inclusion a diagnostic process and an assessment. Please read and complete the assessment on p.2
Instructions for Small Group Work - Christian Life
5. Optional: View this short video on the model - The Christian Life Model
Session 2 September 26
|
Time |
Activity |
|
9:00 – 9:10 |
Overview of the session 1. STP prayer 2. An overview of what we will do today. Note: You downloaded a PDF on the small group work on the Christian Life Model and an exercise on inclusion. You’ll need that in a few minutes. |
|
9:10 – 9:15 |
Instructions for small group work You’ve downloaded instructions for this small group exercise. You’ll make use of an Appreciative Process to further diagnose your work on the two assessments of the Christian Life. One on your own spiritual life and the other on your parish. |
|
9:15 – 9:45 |
Small group work – use the Instructions for Small Group Work on the Christian Life Model |
|
9:45 – 9:55 |
Break - You’ll be returned to the whole group and there will be a short break before we begin the Q&A time |
|
9:55 – 10:25 |
Q&A on the Christian Life Model - In the whole group |
|
10:25 – 10:55 |
1. Presentation – Group development and the dynamics of inclusion. We’ll be doing more with this group development model later in the module. (7 - 10 min) 2. Ask participants to complete the form on inclusion — rate the two items and make comments as requested. (5 min) 3. Use raised fingers to have group share response on the ratings, (5 min) 4. Invite people to note in chat anything they’d like to share of their responses to any of the questions. Tell them we’ll make some response now and more in a follow up email. They are also welcome to send us the form they completed. |
|
10:55 – 11:00 |
Close – thank people for their work. |
Between sessions 2 and 3
1. Read about the Shape of the Parish model: Chapter 4 “Shape of the Parish” in Fill All Things and Chapter 3 “Power from the Center Pervades the Whole” in A Wonderful and Sacred Mystery.
2. Read Appendix C: About Models in An Energy Not Its Own (if it comes out from Amazon in time) - otherwise read “About Models” in the Introduction to Fill All Things.
3. Read three handouts on group development.
I-C-O — inclusion, control, openness (was affection in earlier forms)
I-C-A — Basic Concerns of Any Group
Also find them in the Group Development section of Shaping the Parish Resources www.orderoftheascension.org
4. Complete an exercise to get a sense of the shape of your parish. Use “Shape of the Parish - an exercise” Also found in the Assessments section of Shaping the Parish Resources www.orderoftheascension.org Also found as the first part of Chapter 4 in Fill All Things. Draw what you come up with on a sheet of paper. Show the numbers in each circle. Please use a pen or marker thick enough so the image can be seen by others on Zoom.
5. Small group work - Shape of the Parish and I-C-O
6. Optional: View this short video on the model - Shape of the Parish
Between sessions 2 and 4
(Note: this is two weeks between sessions as we have no session on October 6)
Interview three people from your parish using “Interview Questions - a worksheet” Also available in the Five Core Models section Shaping the Parish Resources www.orderoftheascension.org (Note: The questions are also in Nothing so Contagious as Holiness in Chapters 3 and 5.
You are just using the questions on the first two pages, Questions 1 through 8.
(Note: this is in preparation for our work in session 4. Each interview will take between 30 and 60 minutes. Please take notes during the interview and bring them to Session 4 on October 13.)
Print out a copy of “Worksheet Session 4 Module One” for use in Session 4
Session 3 October 3
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Time |
Activity |
|
9:00 – 9:10
|
STP Prayer Overview of the session Other announcements |
|
9:10 – 9:20 |
Instructions for the group work Refer to handout you downloaded - Small group work - You’ll need that in a few minutes. The exercise you did on the shape of your parish – that may serve as backdrop for what you do in the small groups and we’ll look at it toward the end of today’s session |
|
9:20 – 10:20
|
Small groups of 5 See the handout. Break for five minutes around – 9:55 - then resume your small group work |
|
10:20 – 10:55 |
Q&A on Shape of the Parish model Put your questions in chat. 1. Begin with -any questions about the exercise using the circles? 2. Other questions – the model itself, the issues you discussed. |
|
10:55 |
Close |
Session 4 October 10
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Time |
Activity |
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9:00 – 9:10
|
STP Prayer Overview Other |
|
9:10 – 9:25 |
Presentation on oscillation theory emphasis on extra dependency and the concrete ways in which people may exercise that. Brief Q&A |
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9:25 – 9:40 |
Individual work on worksheet and short break. You are making connections between oscillation theory and your interviews. |
|
9:40 - 10:30 |
Small groups – follow Instructions on worksheet - groups of 5 |
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10:30 – 10:55 |
Q& A with trainers – on anything: Models, interviews, I-C-O |
|
10:55 – 11:00 |
Close |
Between Sessions 4 and 5
1. Read about the Renewal – Apostolate Cycle in:
a. Fill All Things Chapter 1 and in
b. An Energy Not Its Own Chapter 4.
2. Complete three assessment forms based on the model. Apply to your parish. Bring them to Session 5 October 20
- Renewal-Apostolate Cycle - an overall parish assessment
- Renewal-Apostolate Analysis #2
- Distorting tendencies -also apply this to yourself, your own inclinations.
There is some overlap in the forms. You only need to respond on one form when there is an overlap.
You can also find them in the Assessments section Shaping the Parish Resources www.orderoftheascension.org
3. Read “Appendix C: About Models” in An Energy Not Its Own
Optional: There is a video presentation of The Renewal - Apostolate Cycle
Session 5 October 17
|
Time |
Activity |
|
9:00 – 9:10 |
STP Prayer Overview Other |
|
9:10 – 10:00 |
Groups of 7 – what did you find most interesting, surprising, or challenging as you worked with the Renewal-Apostolate Cycle? |
|
10 – 10:10 |
Break |
|
10:10 - 10:50 |
A Q&A session on anything we’ve covered in the first module. |
|
10:50 – 11:00 |
Close session and module |
Readings & Assignments between modules One and Two
1. Read in Fill All Things chapter on Benedictine Spirituality. Then do #2 below.
2. Complete two assessments and bring them to the first session.
Benedictine Promise - a overall parish assessment
Benedictine Promise - personal spiritual life
3. Read in Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict, Chapters 3, 4 and 5 on Listening, Stability and Change.
4. Read in Done and Left Undone chapter 2 Ascetical Theology for Parish Leadership and Chapter 6 Ascetical Leadership.
5.Print out hard copy of “Process for Session 1 Module Two” for use during the session.
Optional readings: A series of short postings on “listening.” Fake Listening Lectio Divina Not listening: I have the power; get reconciled to it Seeking parish harmony Q & A: Take Counsel – Stop Grumbling
Optional readings: These readings may add to your understanding of Benedictine spirituality.
The Benedictine Spirit in Anglicanism - A Roman Catholic writes on the Benedictine spirit in Anglicanism
St. Benedict - Martin Thornton on characteristics of Benedictine spirituality in Anglicanism.
Saint Benedict and Anglican Worship - Michael Perham in 2006.
Saint Benedict on Leadership - Leadership and listening