top of page
Search

September 2026 – Week Two

Sep 8
4 min read

Open In Prayer 

Begin by praying together – taking some intentional time to breathe, be still, and invite the Holy Spirit to be with you all as you set aside time to be together.

Holy Spirit, make us aware of the reality that You are here with us. We want You here. Speak to us. Make Your love real to us. Amen.

Around The Table & Reflect On Last Gathering’s Practice

This is space during your gathering to share a meal, build relationships, and enjoy one another. 


  • What was the best purchase you ever made under $300?


Read This Aloud Together: Important Reminders

We are continuing to learn and practice the ancient Christian practice of spiritual direction together. This is why: 


We are doing this to become more aware of God in our own lives and in the lives of the people around us. 


Open Together in Scripture: James 1:15

(You should give around 10 minutes for this practice before beginning in group spiritual direction) 


  1. As you settle down into the quiet of this meditation, think of an area of your life where you have a special longing for wisdom. Be quiet for a few minutes, letting go of the cares of your day, and turning your attention to God. 


  1. Listen to the Word of the Lord: 

    If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 


  1. Consider what God may be saying to you as you seek Him for wisdom. Consider if there’s any worry or anxiety rising to the surface and bring those emotions to God.


Group Spiritual Direction Flow

A reminder, that you should’ve created a schedule for when each person is going. You should account for ~20-30 minutes per person, which means you will only have time for a maximum of two people per gathering.


You may choose to begin by lighting a candle…this is regularly practiced within spiritual direction as a tangible representation of the reality that God is with us / we are not alone.


  1. Opening Time of Quiet – 5 minutes 

    (Even though this is a time of quiet, you may choose to utilize William Augusto’s instrumental tracks to help ease the group into becoming more comfortable with silence)


  2. The person sharing begins to share uninterrupted about what’s been going on in their life with God recently – 10 minutes

    1. You may choose to reference these questions to help them get started in sharing. 


  3. Time of silence – 1 minute


  4. Group responds and interacts with the one sharing – 10 minutes

    1. You may choose to reference these questions in your interactions and utilizing the “Words for Listening” tools listed above


  5. Time of silent prayer for the person sharing – 2 minutes 


  6. Time for the one sharing to debrief about how the experience felt – 1 minute


Practice: Noticing God

Intentionally listen for God over these next few weeks. We cannot help others notice God if we aren’t practicing noticing Him ourselves. 

  1. Each day, you’re encouraged to find five minutes of quiet with God. No agenda, no performance. Sit down, breathe, and ask two simple questions: 

    1. When today was I most aware of God’s presence? When was I least aware? That’s it. Five minutes of paying attention is worth more than an hour of technique.


Below is a poem by Mary Oliver that reflects on noticing God in nature. Consider as you read the poem what stands out to you. Perhaps there's an opportunity to connect with God in nature this week on a walk, or as you're mowing the lawn, or even as you’re driving. Instead of rushing from place to place, consider looking for God and notice His presence in the mundane.


Excerpt from Mary Oliver’s At The River Clarion

I don’t know who God is exactly. But I’ll tell you this.

I was sitting in the river named Clarion, on a water splashed stone

and all afternoon I listened to the voices of the river talking.

Whenever the water struck a stone it had something to say,

and the water itself, and even the mosses trailing under the water.

And slowly, very slowly, it became clear to me what they were saying.

Said the river I am part of holiness.

And I too, said the stone. And I too, whispered the moss beneath the water.


I’d been to the river before, a few times.

Don’t blame the river that nothing happened quickly.

You don’t hear such voices in an hour or a day.

You don’t hear them at all if selfhood has stuffed your ears.

And it’s difficult to hear anything anyway, through all the traffic, the ambition.


End in Prayer

Before you conclude, spend some time as a Community praying for one another.


Below is an optional liturgy you could pray: 

Lord Jesus, There is no greater prayer than yours — make us one as you are one, in devotion, in living, in love. Amen.

 
 
bottom of page