A place to talk, not talk, wrestle, listen and experience being listened to
MaddyChristine Hope ~ Spiritual Director
Are you longing for a community where you can come as you are and experience the love of others without anyone attempting to fix you, and together notice how God is moving in your life?
A Spiritual Friendship Group is a lovely community that gets together to share and listen to one another’s journey and together notice how God might be moving.
You will learn what it means to be present to another’s story and listen lovingly.
This is a group that meets once a month, online or in person (in my home office), and requires commitment. One can sign up for the waiting list or register as a group of 3.
I will set up the group, facilitate a safe group process, and guide the process in the beginning. Once the process has become familiar, and all participants are equipped with listening skills, the group can function on their own. Of course, there is the option I continue facilitating the group.
What is a Spiritual Friendship Group?
We all long for companionship, and being part of a Spiritual Friendship Group is a very sweet thing. In an SFG there are three roles; the sharer, the listener (responder), and the observer.
~ As a sharer, you take your turn sharing where you are at; you can share anything that is going on in your heart, anything heavy, anything of delight.
~ The listener (observer) will listen and look for places that stand out. When the sharer is done sharing, the listener will take some time to respond about what seems important/a highlight/a striking moment. An observation may be shared, or a question or two may be asked.
The Spirit will be the fourth member of the group, and the goal of any question is to help someone go just a little deeper, a moment for God’s Presence to be noticed. The sharer can respond and can also hold this, to ponder at a later time.
Silence is also a member of this group. It is all held together by silence.
~ The observer will protect the process and make sure there is no fixing or giving advice going on. We always stay with the person sharing, just where they are at. We travel with one another!
No one is the expert in the group. This is a place of loving listening, and being witness to one another. David Oxberg says:
“Being listened to is so close to being loved that most people cannot tell the difference.”