Contemplative Practices

Jesus stole away to sit with God in prayer. Martin Luther relied on four hours of prayer a day. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., on the advice of Howard Thurman, spent two straight weeks in contemplation.

As followers of Jesus, Protestant descendants and heirs of the essential, ongoing work of civil revolution and spiritual reformation, we are not running a 100-meter dash. Force of will is insufficient; our body, mind, spirit and soul need sustenance for the long haul.

That is why The Ministry Lab offers:

• Daily Breath, a daily moment of renewal from national leaders in contemplative practices
• Midweek Retreat, a weekly time to rest in God’s presence.

Sign up to join the Midweek Retreat.

Individual, Small Group, & Congregational Practices

Find resources to support the practices of individuals or groups, within the congregation or at home:

• Introductions
• Individual Inspiration
• Family, Small Group, & Congregation
• Contemplative Arts

Local/Regional Opportunities

If your congregation is unable to support a practice and you’re ready to join an in-person or online group, here are some suggestions:

• An evolving list of Online & In-Person Group Opportunities
• Local Contemplative Activism
• Hermitages, Pilgrimage, & Retreat Centers

Leader Development, Renewal, & Trainings

• Barbara Holmes reflects on Crisis Contemplation, in When Crisis Comes and Crisis Contemplation; trauma researcher Joy DeGruy adds Healing Generational Wounds – all worth a read for those concerned about the extent of body trauma experienced generationally by our siblings of color and diversity; and being absorbed by all of us in these times of upheaval.
• The Shalem Institute offers free online resources and courses to support mental and spiritual well-being for congregational leaders, including a Compassion Guided Meditation and Three Essentials for Leadership in the Time of Coronavirus.
• The Upper Room offers online e-courses for small groups, meditation and prayer groups, inspiring videos and more.
• Hermitages, Pilgrimage, & Retreat Centers
• Sabbath

Labyrinths

The Ministry Lab’s labyrinths are available for rent. They can be reserved for a few days, a couple weeks, or a month or two – and you can reserve yours up to one year in advance. A notebook of activities and protocols accompanies each labyrinth. 

• 34-foot Chartres replica canvas labyrinth (green or black)
• 20-foot Vision Quest canvas labyrinth (lilac)
• 15-foot labyrinth

Cost: $50 per week ($25 per week for the churches of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies).

Email Executive Director Emily Meyer to reserve a labyrinth for your congregation’s Advent, New Years, Lenten, or other observances.

Learn about labyrinths at The Labyrinth Society.

The Ministry Lab labyrinths are available for indoor use only. Creating and sharing an outdoor labyrinth is a wonderful bonding experience for the whole congregation and community. For ideas, see the Labyrinthian Great Idea. A labyrinth lit with luminaria is a beautiful and powerful way to observe autumnal or winter outdoor peace.