MISSIONS
AND PREACHING
"The
going forth of a member [of the community] on the Mission must always be a
solemn event."
-- Fr. Huntington &&&&&&
To
schedule a program -- FAQ's about Missions
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The folk-picture on the right of a smiling Jesus preaching
to his disciples is a reminder that mission is central to the Christian life.
At our baptism we are asked, "Will you proclaim by word and example
the Good News of God in Christ?" And our answer is, "I will,
with God's help." |
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POSSIBLE
PROGRAMS
School
of Prayer: A weekend or series of evenings
devoted to exploring the meaning of prayer for the individual: how to begin to
pray seriously, obstacles to prayer, and the basics of meditation.
Advent or Lenten Quiet Day: A day of worship and reflection, which can
in fact be offered at any season of the year, not just Advent and Lent. The
program is usually divided between time together and time alone, with some
meditations offered by the brother who leads the Quiet Day. Between these
meditations, the brother is very often available to meet with individuals for
informal counseling or the sacrament of Penance. If the Quiet Day is held on
Saturday, the brother may be available to preach on the following Sunday.
Renewal Mission: Some of the brothers are skilled in helping parishes
and other organizations work out collective goals, and try to discern God's
will as they approach a particular task. Usually this involves a weekend,
either on site or elsewhere, with one day focused on exploring the group's
history, vision, and goals, and another on trying to work out specific ways to
implement them. The context throughout is one of prayer and worship.
Sunday Sermon and Discussion Group: A sermon on the lessons, season of
the Church Year, or the Monastic Life, followed by a discussion.
Custom Designed: The examples given above are just that--examples.
Obviously, the person who knows most about what your organization needs is you.
If you have a special need which is within our capabilities, we will try to
design a program to respond to that.
TO
SCHEDULE A PROGRAM
If you are interested in having
one of the monks come and speak to your parish or organization, you can write
us at:
Incarnation Priory
1601 Oxford Street
Berkeley, California 94709
or
telephone us at (510) 548-3406. Please ask to speak to the Prior.
Try to think of at least two possible dates, and the kind of mission or
presentation you would like. After we have had a chance to think about your
needs, we will be back to you to tell you who might be available, and what we
think we might be able to offer.
To schedule a program by e-mail, you can reach us at ohcmonks@ohcmonks.org.
Please remember to schedule a mission or visit as far ahead of time as
possible. Before you do this, please read the answers to the following
"Frequently Asked Questions".
FAQ'S
ABOUT MISSIONS:
What is a mission,
anyway?
Most people think of
"missions" as something for foreign places. In fact, it's something
for everyone, because "conversion" is something for everyone. St.
Benedict taught his monks that "conversion of life" was one of their
primary goals. Since conversion is a turning toward Christ, it's something we
have to do constantly, not just when we first hear about Jesus. A
"mission" is an attempt by one group of Christians to help others on
the same journey by sharing some of their successes and failures with them.
That is why the topics and structure are so flexible--the starting point is
where you are as the two of us try to move forward together.
What does it cost?
There is no fixed suggested
donation, but in thinking about what might be appropriate a good starting point
is what you pay a guest preacher. Then think about the amount of time and
number of sessions involved. That should give you a general figure. St.
Benedict told us we should not charge as much as people do "in the world",
but we also need to be mindful of the amount of time and effort these programs
require to prepare.
Where would we hold
it?
That depends on the type of
program you want. Some programs work well in a Church or private home, others
need a different kind of space. A "Quiet Day", for example, might do
just fine in a Church if the location is quiet and the building has enough
comfortable nooks and crannies for people to get away and be by themselves. On
the other hand, local retreat centers will often take a group for the day, even
when they are not staying the night. The brother who is leading your program
can help you decide which is better for you.
Does it have to be in
the immediate vicinity of the Priory?
No. The brothers have gone as far
afield as Kansas City or Seattle. We do ask, however, that the sponsoring group
pay for transportation and expenses.
What if we're not
Episcopalian?
Incarnation Priory has a strong
ecumenical commitment, so we're happy to speak to Christians of any
denomination. .