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A new opportunity to enjoy small group connection is happening at St. Thomas starting Friday, April 24 at 10:00 am. All are welcome to participate in a Spiritiual Companion Group.

What are Spiritual Companion Groups? In this life God is our goal, Jesus is our path, and we are Spirit enlivened pilgrims. But we are not on this journey alone. We have been given companions along the way to help, encourage, and listen with us. Spiritual Companions is a small group program to connect with other pilgrims of faith to listen and pray together.

Spiritual Companion Groups gather regularly with a set time of listening and sharing followed by a time of visiting. It is a good way to get to know people in a deeper way and learn how to listen and be the supports we are called to be in each other’s lives.

What happens in a Spiritual Companion Group? Once everyone has arrived the group follows this simple plan: The Group prays an opening prayer, practices a simple spiritual practice, then each member of the group shares with a time for response by the group. The Group prays a closing prayer. Coffee/tea! 

Spiritual Companion Groups - Flow for Group

  • Lorie will begin by sharing how the groups and our time together will work. Groups will be formed.
  • Opening Prayer  - we will do this with the whole group.
  • Spiritual Practice Lectio/Centering Prayer/Examen/Chant/Other (10 min) – we will do this with the whole group.
  • Break into the small groups and meet in various locations around the church. A facilitator to lightly guide the group will be present in each group.
  • One person shares for 3-5 minutes.  (See below – Sharing and Encouraging).  
  • A Silent Pause to prayerfully hold what has been shared.
  • Take 2 minutes to respond to the person who has just shared.  
  • A Silent Pause to prayerfully transition to the next person to share.
  • Repeat until all have shared and responded.
  • A Closing Prayer of Thanksgiving in the small group. A prayer is given or one can pray from their heart.
  • Coffee/tea and connecting with the whole group.

Sharing & Encouraging

What do I share in a Spiritual Companion Group? You share your heart. Perhaps you answer one of these questions:

  • What was the best part of my week and how did it affect me? What was the worst part of my week and how did it affect me?
  • When I think of God, I think of… When I think of my life I think of…
  • I recently sensed God with me in this way…  I recently felt an absence of God and it affected me in this way… This sounds really personal. It is. But groups hold the spiritual discipline of listening, receiving, non-judgemental affirmation and confidentiality.
  • This sounds really personal. It is. But groups hold the spiritual discipline of listening and receiving non-judgemental affirmation and confidentiality.

How do I respond to someone who has shared? This is not a time for advice or correction. Instead it is a time to acknowledge what has risen up in their hearts while listening. Here we affirm, encourage and share what spoke to us through the sharing, and where we sense Christ is present. A person can use these prompts:

  • Thank you for sharing your heart. When you spoke I felt…
  • Thank you for sharing your heart, when you spoke I saw a picture of…
  • Thank you for sharing your heart, what touched me most was when you said…
  • Thank you for sharing your heart, God is with you and loves you.