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 half-hour every Wednesday at noon CST/CDT to join with others to rest in God’s presence. Through deepened awareness and greater emotional and spiritual balance, you can engage more fully in the essential work of God’s Beloved Community.

Sign up to join the Midweek Retreat. 

Local/Regional Opportunities

Our Summer Worship Series includes:

• three prophetic sermons from Rev. Tyler Sit; Rev. Karen Larson; and Rev. Jia Starr Brown
• three different videos from Joe Davis and The Poetic Diaspora
• music from local/regional artists
• three original liturgies created in collaboration with United Theological Seminary students – see especially the “July” iteration: Everybody’s Chains Came Off, for a contemplative/embodied liturgy led by Story & Stretch creator, Michel Gribble
• Request access to the videos here

Online Resources & 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.
• Our third Summer Worship Series: Liberation: Believing Jesus is a reflection on the importance of seeing and believing the woundedness of the Risen Christ in our neighbors and the earth. Request the whole service – or use just the sermon, musical reflections, Spoken Word, or liturgy – for your congregation’s use here.
• 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.
• The Many share Groundings: Guided Meditations with Music, Visuals and Words
• Find an evolving list in our Online Practices lib guide.

Labyrinths

The Ministry Lab’s labyrinths are currently not available due to COVID-19. However, we are glad to help you plan for the future: the three labyrinths may be reserved up to one year in advance. A notebook of activities accompanies each labyrinth. 

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

Cost: $50 per week ($25 per week for the churches of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies). More info at The Labyrinth Society.

While The Ministry Lab labyrinths shelter in place, you might create an outdoor labyrinth to share with your congregation and community. For ideas, see the Labyrinthian Great Idea. A labyrinth lit with luminaria is a beautiful and powerful way to observe Easter, Pentecost, or general summer outdoor peace.