The Holy Longing
The Search for a Christian Spirituality by Ron Rolheiser
"For Henri Nouwen, 1932-1996, our generation's Kierkegaard. By sharing his own struggles, he mentored us all, helping us to pray while not knowing how to pray, to rest while feeling restless, to be at peace while tempted, to feel safe while still anxious, to be surrounded by a cloud of light while still in darkness, and to love while still in doubt."      ... the dedication of the book
 Course Outline / Session Note Links Facilitators:   
Wayne Holst Jock McTavish
Book Review
..Wayne Holst
Background on Holy Manners Holy Manners The background on the phrase and why we have adopted it. The guidelines.
Click to visit the St. David's Book Group Discussion on Yahoo Groups. Internet Discussion Group at Yahoo - the St. David's Forum. Click HERE if you would like to join. You will then be emailed all notices and contributions. Click left to visit the archives of the site (read only). There are presently 75 persons.
Background on Holy Manners Internet Links to sites related to the Holy Longing study - quality links are researched and gathered for further information on the topics raised or referenced by this study. They are added through the course. The internet is the most wonderful resource library - but a bit overwhelming - This collection will save you much time.
Background on Holy Manners The Holy Longing - the poem by Goethe that prefaces the book with its strong images.
Background on Holy Manners not the words - reflecting on the spirituality behind religious differences, I wrote this poem last summer. Jock.
      Course Outline and Links to the 8 Session Pages   
The Schema for the evening sessions. Housekeeping. Opening. Voice One - Interpretation of Rolheiser. 20 minutes.Voice Two - Complement to Rolheiser. 20 minutes. Break. 2 Small Group Discussions. 30 minutes. A Summary Session. 20 minutes. Closing. Variation - We discuss as we cover Rolheiser and more or less use the available time to cover the points, then when we run out of steam we close the evening. This is a test to see if you're reading all this - anyone who reads it and tells me gets the answer to a most important question - what is the meaning of life?
Green Active Numerical Links will be added on the left side as the pages are created each week.
Section One Notes Jan 12. Introductory Session. Sharing of Expectations and Perspectives
Section Two Notes Jan 19. Part 1. Ch. 1. What is Spirituality.
Section Three Notes Jan 26. Part 1. Ch 2. The Current Struggle with Christian Spirituality.
Section Four Notes Feb 2. Part 2. Ch 3. Outline for a Christian Spirituality - The Four Essential Pillars of Christian Spirituality.
Section Five Notes Feb 9. Part 3. Ch. 4-5. The Incarnation as the Foundation of Christian Spirituality. - Christ and Consequence.
Section Five Notes Feb 16. Part 4. Ch 6-8. The Church as Spiritual Family. Christian Tradition and Bible as Spiritual Theory. Justice as Spiritual Practice.
Section Five Notes Feb 23. Part 4. Ch 9-10. Sexuality as Spiritual Energy. Sustaining Christian Spirituality.
8 Mar 1. Review of Course. 4 Voices from our congregation on the 4 Pillars of the author.

Group Leader. Wayne Holst

I spent most of my life thinking like a church professional, rather than as a regular congregational member. My training as a pastor always had me asking myself 'how can I apply this discovery, insight, new information to a regular church setting?'

Often, clergy have been hesitant to share the discoveries they have made through a 'critical' approach to the Bible with their parishoners because they wonder how laypeople might accept it. I have found that many thinking laity are professionals in their own fields of endeavour and understand a critical approach very readily. What they seek are ways of relating faith to daily living.

I am grateful for the journey I have been taking through ordained ministry to teaching at the university and serving as a fellow layperson at St.David's United Church. Here we find that questioning and honest expression of our faith and doubt is readily accepted and supported.
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Group Leader. Jock McTavish

I am a student and a poet, a democrat and a techocrat, an eclectic eccentric. I grew up in a loving Baptist community, so in my heart I'm still a Bible loving evangelical. As I grew in learning I found a new home in the United Church whose tolerance embraces the broadest range of Christian understanding. I most enjoy the illumination of our ancient traditions by modern scholarship. For they show in clear novel ways that the perspectives of the Special Ones were seldom the understandings of those that followed. They show all knowledge to be in relationship .

There seems a lack of understanding in our secular world for religious practices. The reasons why I still gladly - even necessarily - attend church are difficult to voice to those unfamiliar with church, or those injured by church. Elliott got it right. We find our way back to the place we started from. But with new understanding.
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January 6, 2004