Petersen on Prayer in "Quest for life at its best"

Writing about the prayer life of Jeremiah, who managed to live passionately and meaningfully for God in the face of the banality of so much of his generation, Petersen says,

"Jeremiahs secret life is a life of prayer. The cellar reality of Jeremiah's towering humanity is prayer. A look at Jeremiah in secret does not show him and a few cronies in a bull session swapping stories about God, catching up on some rumors of God. God is not someone or something to be talked about. Nor do we find Jeremiah in a library studying up on God. ....... God is not an idea to be studied. And we don't find Jeremiah at his desk with pen and paper using his sharp mind and comprehensive intelligence to work out the answers to the question of God.. (How can a good God permit evil?) God is not a problem to be solved.

What we find is Jeremiah praying: addressing God, listening to God. Prayer is the act in which we approach God as living person, a thou to whom we speak, not an it that we talk about. Prayer is the attention that we give to the One who attends to us. It is the decision to approach God as the personal Center, as Lord and Savior, [with]our entire lives caught up and expressed in the approach. Prayer is personal language caught up to the highest degree."   

First Individually guided Silent Retreat for 2014

The first 3 day Individually Guided Silent Retreat for this year to be led by Dave Newton will be at Volmoed Retreat Centre in the Hemel-en Aarde Valley, near Hermanus in the Western Cape, from 10th - 13th March 2014.

As always the focus of this retreat is on the Individual's journey with God, and themselves, and others, leading to a renewed sense of call or vocation. So every attempt is made to avoid being prescriptive in any way. This will be a time for you to focus on God and to be taught and guided in the ancient disciplines of listening to God.

Cost of the retreat is R900 per person.

If you want to know more or receive a registration form then please contact Dave Newton at either e-mail: revdavenewton@gmail.com or 0725865241 or 021-9198322

SILENT RETREATS FOR 2014

Dave Newton will be offering a program of Silent Retreats through the year 2014 on the following dates. Please note that these are 3 day Individually Guided Silent Retreats where the emphasis is on the participant's journey with God, themselves and others, and their particular call to service and ministry in their own context, whether as a lay or ordained person. So every attempt is made to avoid being prescriptive in any way, so that the focus is on the participant and where they feel God is leading them.

The venues for these retreats will be either Volmoed, in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus, or Springfield Convent Retreat Centre in Wynberg, right in the shadow of the mountain. We will decide the venue finally based on availability (of the venue) and preference of the participants.

Dates:

10-13   March 2014
2-5       June 2014
15-18   September 2014
10-13   November 2014

Costs are kept to a minimum for these retreats so that any who need to come will not be prevented from doing so because of cost. 

If you would like any further information or would like to receive registration forms for any of these retreats then please contact Rev. Dave Newton at:

E-mail: revdavenewton@gmail.com or newtond@telkomsa.net
Phones: 021-9198322 or 0725865241

The next Silent Retreat will be at Volmoed from 2-5 September 2013.

This will be time for you to reflect, in 3 days of silence, on your relationship with God, yourself and others, and on His call for you to serve and follow Him.

The emphasis in his kind of retreat is on your own spiritual journey, and therefore every attempt is made to be as non-prescriptive as possible.

For further information, together with costs and for application form please either message revdavenewton@gmail.com or call 0725865241.

True Vocation - God's call.

From My life for the poor by Mother Theresa

Once I asked my confessor for advice about my vocation. "How can I know if God is calling me and for what He is calling me?"
He answered,"You will know by your happiness. If you are happy with the idea that God is calling you to serve Him and your neighbour, this will be the proof of your vocation. Profound joy of the heart is like a magnet that indicates the path of life. One has to follow it, even though one enters into a way full of difficulties."

In A Guide to Prayer for all who seek God :Upper Room Books

Whether in struggle or suffering, or consolation and contentment, God's call is known by a deep sense of joy; the overwhelming "Yes, this is what I am for."

Next Individually Guided Silent Retreat led by David Newton

The next Silent Retreat will be at Volmoed from 3-6 June 2013.

This will be time for you to reflect, in 3 days of silence, on your relationship with God, yourself and others, and on His call for you to serve and follow Him.

The emphasis in his kind of retreat is on your own spiritual journey, and therefore every attempt is made to be as non-prescriptive as possible.

For further information, together with costs and for application form please either message revdavenewton@gmail.com or call 0725865241.

Announcing Daily Worship - by John Van De Laar

As you prepare for Christmas, you may have begun to turn your thoughts to the New Year and how to carry the truths we're celebrating  with you into your every day routine. If so, Sacredise has a new resource that is designed just for you

Daily Worship is a new section to the Sacredise.com site that provides daily guides for personal worship based on the daily readings of the Revised Common Lectionary. What this means is that if your church follows the Lectionary on Sundays you'll be able to connect your daily spiritual exercises with your Sunday worship. Even if your church doesn't follow the Lectionary, Daily Worship will still give you all you need for a meaningful daily spiritual practice.

Each day includes a Scripture reading, a short reflection, a daily practice to carry through the day (helping to make your worship a practical part of your life), and a short breath-prayer to carry with you through the day. You can also sign up to receive the entire week's guides in advance by email.

For more information check out the FAQ page.