By Rev. Kathy Harvey Nelson,
Director Center for Spiritual Formation, Inc.
The Center for Spiritual Formation, a ministry affiliated with Susquehanna Conference, with an Office within the Carlisle UM Church and a 10-bed retreat center in Millerstown, has been taking its role of providing safe, God-filled space for people to grow deeper in their relationship with God seriously in this time of uncertainty and confusion in the midst of the pandemic.
We have reached out in creative new ways to support folk in their journey:
- Our Ministry of Spiritual Direction (MSD) program (serving 28 participants) has moved to a fully on-line presentation every month. As part of the program participants examine their own spirituality and historic traditions of the church while exploring God’s call to walk a journey of Spiritual Direction/Companioning with others. As part of this two-year program participants take a deep-dive into their personal relationship with God.
- We have produced several “Small Space Meditations” that appear on our YouTube channel. These meditations are designed for folk to use in their everyday, wherever they find themselves. We’ve had several persons from Central PA to multiple states and even globally tell us that these meditations have been invaluable to them during this time.
- We’ve produced several videos to provide spiritual encouragement and engagement. The first was a video that invited people to participate in a virtual pilgrimage to the Orchard Hill Retreat Center during a time when we could not gather for our Annual Picnic and Vesper Service. The second, a Labyrinth with Rev. Dr. Russell Hart, allows people to engage in a virtual labyrinth walk at any time and in any space.
- We have an article written by an MSD graduate and co-authored by Rev. Dr. Debbie Heisley-Cato (Board Chair) and Rev. Dr. Kathy Harvey Nelson (Center Director) that will be submitted to Spiritual Director’s International, concerning faith leadership in a time of pandemic. The focus is on the importance of Spiritual Direction/Companioning for faith leaders and looks at the challenges faced by those on the front lines of leadership. This was developed as several faith leaders were interviewed and shared their insights and hopes. In addition, a series of events will be held during October and November for all faith leaders to come together with a host and Spiritual Companion to explore and discuss the three areas of focus that have arisen: “Staying Strong and Centered: Enduring Energy Required,” “Staying Strong and Centered: Leading in the Unknown,” “Staying Strong and Centered: Grieving with the Grieving.”
The pandemic has offered challenges to all of us, but people of God have faced many challenges throughout the years. As we rise to the challenge, we remember that we are called always to “just such a time as this” and we respond with deep faith and action that flows from it. The Center is here to support you on that journey. You can find out more about us by looking on our website: www.centerformation.org, or joining our Facebook group by searching for Center for Spiritual Formation where you’ll find daily encouragement as well as information about up-coming events.
Though our retreat center is currently closed to the public, the grounds – including the labyrinth – are available for day use by contacting the Center office at centerformation1@gmail.com. And through it all we remain “Centered on Jesus, Focused on Grace and Spiritual Growth.”
