Several years ago, after following Jesus for most of my life, I felt a growing restlessness in my spirit and realized I needed to find a way for God to burrow more deeply into my heart and soul. This yearning drew me to the Ignatian Exercises, which are composed of meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices. They were developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola to help people deepen their relationship with God. [While Ignatius was a Roman Catholic, his exercises strive only to honor and exalt Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. As a result, his spiritual insights have brought deeper meaning into the lives of thousands of Protestants, as well as Catholics.]
My time as a participant in the Exercises was both challenging and affirming. I was invited into times of concentrated examination, reflection, and prayer that helped me experience the presence of God in fresh ways. Since completing my training, I have found great joy in leading others through this journey of exploration and discovery…and I would love to have you be part of our next group.
I follow a 9-month plan for praying through the Exercises and a new cohort begins every September. This allows us to complete our journey prior to the start of the following summer. We work through the Exercises together by meeting once a month as a group, with sessions lasting anywhere from 60 – 90 minutes. In addition, I meet monthly with each group member for a 1-hour time of personal Spiritual Direction. (Visit our Spiritual Direction page to learn more about this special time of prayer and discernment.)
Thus, during this 9-month experience, you will participate in 18 different meetings and will be with me for approximately 20 hours.
I bring a broad perspective to this journey, because – in addition to serving as a pastor – I’ve also been an educator and have worked in the marketplace. I’ve lived various places in the U.S. and traveled to a number of countries. These experiences have broadened my understanding of different kinds of people, different cultures, the challenges of different work environments, and the various ways God invites people into relationship.
The total cost for the Exercises is $990 ($110 per month). If you’d like to learn more, or sign up for our next cohort, please email me or give me a call.
julie@theunfoldingsoul.org
541-603-6051 (cell)
[Pacific Time]