What touches you or comes to mind when you hear the word Humility?These were the two homework questions the sisters gave us in preparation for our next course. Continue reading Oblate Formation – Humility
The homework we had in preparation for this class was to read the Prologue to The Rule of St. Benedict several times during the month. After we felt we had read it enough, we each were to pray, asking the Spirit to give us a word or phrase that would each bring to the session. Each person’s word or phrase would be used as part of our prayer that evening. I brought the verb live. Continue reading The Heart of the Prologue – Oblate Formation
Over at Common Denominator, Dr. Ken Schenck has been engaging in in some of the difficult theological questions in the Christian faith. In Pastoral counseling a graduate biology student . . . he addresses evolution, and in Can we “lose” our salvation? he addresses eternal security. What makes Dr. Schenck’s approach exceptional is that he addresses the root struggle of these theological issues. If one take a particular view of Genesis, literal rather than mythological, then we don’t have to wrestle with the more difficult Pauline theology of sin though Adam in Romans 5. If one takes a particular view of eternal security, once saved always saved, then we don’t have to wrestle with the more difficult issue of second repentance in Hebrews 6.
There is something to be said for not trolling for problems where there doesn’t need to be one, however, some of these views may not be so helpful when we move from theology in theory to theology in practice. Taking that step back to evaluate the more difficult issue, theological or practical, going to root issue, is one way we work out our salvation. I think that is where Dr. Schenck is going with his posts. For my take, I will start with the practical. Continue reading To the Roots
We did not have an oblate class this month; instead we joined the sisters for evening prayer, which had a theme of joining a family. Those of us in oblate formation sat in the first row of chorus 1, and each of our sponsors sat behind us. The hymn, Psalms and passage from Isaiah followed this pattern. First, a hymn about union with Christ. Second, a prayer about God and his people as bride and groom. Third, a prayer about the blessing of family and children. Fourth, a prayer about coming to Jerusalem as one family of God. Continue reading Oblate Candidate Enrollment
September’s oblate formation class was titled “Upon This Tradition and Spirituality of Leadership.” The title sounded daunting; the course consisted of storytelling. Three sisters and the prioress shared the stories of:
Continue reading Upon This Tradition and Spirituality of Leadership – Oblate Formation
I suppose I am in a “funny” place right now in the oblate formation process, as I have completed my first class, Orientation to Oblate Formation, and yet we do not have our official enrollment until a ceremony in October. Continue reading Oblate Orientation
The following are the Benedictine values as articulated by the sister’s of St. Paul’s Monastery. For the most part, I find them aligned with the Wesleyan membership commitments and in many ways with Living Stones Discipleship.
These values are also articulated in The Oblate’s Prayer.
O God, help us to become people of prayer and peace. Though scattered far and wide, help us to be together in the spirit of your love. Give us hearts wide enough to embrace each other as well as those whose lives we touch. Enable us to listen and to learn from each other and those around us each day. May we be models in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities of wise stewardship, dignified human labor, sacred leisure, and reverence for all living things. Above all, O God, may our presence among others be a constant witness of justice, compassion, and hope to all. Amen.
R.B. – The Rule of S. Benedict
The Oblate’s Prayer – Adapted from the Alliance for International Monasticism Prayer by Sue Walkoviak, OblSB, St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, MN
Last week I completed my oblate intake interview. Sister Mary Lou interviewed me one on one, reviewing my application and asking follow up questions. I had the goal to be as complete and thoughtful as possible in writing my application, in part so I wouldn’t be tasked with writing a second draft. The sister appreciated my thoroughness. Continue reading Oblate Intake Interview
I recently attended a class at St. Paul’s Monastery. When I arrived, I was greeted, and then given my name tag from among those laid out on the table. The greeter did not give me a blank name tag and a Sharpie, nor a computer printed name tag, but a hand written name tag with a stylized font. I noticed all the name tags had the same look. Someone had written these name tags not an assignment, but as a ministry. Continue reading Assignment or Ministry
One home maintenance item that hadn’t crossed my mind to regularly check and replace was the dishwasher door gasket. I happened to be doing some work on the baseboard and noticed water discoloration on the backside of the wood. This was not a major leak, probably just a few drips every time the washer ran a cycle, and there was no damage. Still, the gasket needed replacing. Continue reading 5 Minute Maintenance
