The Baltimore Yearly Meeting Spiritual Formation Program invites its participants into a deeper spiritual experience through retreats, spiritual community in the local meeting, and individual spiritual practices.
· Richmond Friends will carpool to the BYM Fall Spiritual Formation Retreat Sept. 9-11, 2022 at beautiful Shepherd’s Spring Outdoor Ministry Center in Sharpsburg, MD.
· The Spiritual Formation Program is founded on a daily spiritual practice of each person’s choice.
· All RFM participants gather in person or virtually for 3 large group meetings: Program opening (October 2), midway (January 15), and closing (May 5) from 5 to 7pm. Those in person at RFM will end with a 6:30 potluck.
· From October 2022 through May 2023, Spiritual Formation participants build community through committing to a monthly small group (virtual or in person), or to a spiritual friendship pair. Small groups, usually 6 to 8 members, meet once a month to share spiritual journeys and support one another in a daily spiritual practice. Or a participant may form a spiritual friendship with one other person. Themes of the small groups will be:
o The Creative Process as a support group for people who grow spiritually through dance, music, photography, painting, poetry, etc. (facilitated by Cas Overton)
o Spiritual Companion Group
o “Middle Third“ Group (young adults around 25 to 45, child care provided, facilitated by Katie Will and another Friend)
o Spiritual Friendships (groups of 2)
Our first large group meeting will be held on Sunday, October 2 from 5-7pm as an introduction to the process, for organization of small groups and dyads, and for sharing spiritual journey resources.
For more about the Spiritual Formation Opening Retreat, visit the BYM site: http://www.bym-rsf.org, click “Events,” click “Spiritual Formation.”
To register, you can use either the on-line form (https://forms.gle/BJGTn4mCWfXJggtq8) or the paper form available at the meetinghouse. Please register by September 25, 2022.