Lent is the perfect season to slow down and ask God to help us notice what has crept into our lives that is no longer serving us. In this 1-day retreat at Church of the Advent in Southern Pines, we will spend quiet time with God and learn a few spiritual practices to help us draw closer to God and let go of anything that is not good for us.

photo credits chphotos

The season of Lent is almost upon us. I am so excited to be with old friends this morning at Resurrection Church, Hope Mills, to talk about some spiritual formation habits for Lent.

photo credit: lukepennystan

In My Life Expedition (MLE) you will walk through the story of your life holding tightly to God’s hand, asking Him to give you His perspective on your story. As you do, you may notice His fingerprints in places you never saw them before.

You must attend an information meeting before joining the group.

There will be 3 spots available in the group. The group will begin the first week of February. Group days and times will be decided based on availability of the majority of participants. If you decide you want to do MLE and cannot coordinate your schedule with the group, we can discuss private meeting sessions.

Participants will do reflective inner work, read, and do a devotional on their own for about an hour 5 days per week and attend weekly listening groups for 11 weeks. This is probably not like any other group you have ever experienced. Read more about MLE HERE.

What do you focus on in MLE? You focus on Jesus and the person you were created to be. Below are just a few things we will do.

1) Life Mapping - Reflect on how God uniquely made you. This may help you solidify your identity, chip away at the false-self, and clarify your calling.

2) Clear the path - removing the boulders and traps that may have kept you sidelined in the past.

3) Create a mission statement - to help you set a course for the next leg of your spiritual journey. Pray over possible vocations.

4) Develop a rule of life to help you live intentionally after your MLE experience is over.

Sign up here to attend the information meeting to learn more.

This group will be offered both online or in person this winter, depending on the desire of participants.

Advent means “arrival.” It’s the season in which we look back at the first coming of Jesus while we simultaneously look forward to His second coming. Divina Nox (Divine Night) is an Advent retreat that provides time now, in the middle of these two “arrivals” of Christ, to focus on what the Incarnation means for us as disciples of Jesus.

This is a casual, mostly silent, guided retreat. This year’s Divina Nox is a bit different but may the be most memorable yet. We will be praying with a special piece of religious art by American iconographer Adele Calhoun.

There is now a waiting list for this retreat.* To join the waitlist RSVP by 12/2.

*This retreat is also being offered on Mon., Nov. 27 at 6:45 at the Care Cottage in the Village of Pinehurst if that date serves you better.

Advent means “arrival.” It’s the season in which we look back at the first coming of Jesus while we simultaneously look forward to His second coming. Divina Nox (Divine Night) is an Advent retreat that provides time now, in the middle of these two “arrivals” of Christ, to focus on what the Incarnation means for us as disciples of Jesus.

This is a casual, mostly silent, guided retreat. This year’s Divina Nox is a bit different but may the be most memorable yet. We will be praying with a special piece of religious art by American iconographer Adele Calhoun.

This retreat will be held at the Care Cottage in the Village of Pinehurst.

Space is limited.* Please check your calendar and reserve your spot early. RSVP for this event by 11/24. Address to event will be provided when you RSVP.

*This retreat is also being offered on Sun., Dec. 3 at 6:45 in CCNC if that date serves you better.

In My Life Expedition (MLE) you will walk through the story of your life holding tightly to God’s hand, asking Him to give you His perspective on your story. As you do, you may notice His fingerprints in places you never saw them before.

These groups will begin the 3d week of Aug. 2023. Participants will do deep inner work on their own and attend weekly group via zoom for 12 weeks. This is not like any other group you have ever been a part of. Sign up here to attend an info meeting to learn more.

What do you focus on in MLE? You focus on Jesus and the person you were created to be. Below are just a few things we will do.

1) Life Mapping - reflect on how God uniquely made you. This may help you solidify your identity, chip away at the false-self, and clarify your calling.

2) Clear the path - remove the boulders and traps that may have kept you sidelined in the past.

3) Create a mission statement - set a course for the next leg of your spiritual journey. Pray over possible vocations.

4) Develop a rule of life to help you live intentionally after your MLE experience is over.

In My Life Expedition (MLE) you will walk through the story of your life holding tightly to God’s hand, asking Him to give you His perspective on your story. As you do, you may notice His fingerprints in places you never saw them before.

These groups will begin the 3d week of Aug. 2023. Participants will do deep inner work on their own and attend weekly listening groups for 12 weeks. This is not like any other group you have ever been a part of. Sign up here to attend an info meeting to learn more.

What do you focus on in MLE? You focus on Jesus and the person you were created to be. Below are just a few things we will do.

1) Life Mapping - Reflect on how God uniquely made you. This may help you solidify your identity, chip away at the false-self, and clarify your calling.

2) Clear the path - removing the boulders and traps that may have kept you sidelined in the past.

3) Create a mission statement - to help you set a course for the next leg of your spiritual journey. Pray over possible vocations.

4) Develop a rule of life to help you live intentionally after your MLE experience is over.

We will be using the materials provided by The Transforming Center and streaming their virtual service. This is a silent mini-retreat except for the narrator leading the meditations based on the stations of the cross. Participants will sit quietly (not moving from station to station) praying as they imagine the events that might have taken place that day as Jesus took the penalty for our sins on the cross.

You may want to bring a Bible and journal if you use one. There is no fee for this event but you must sign up. There is space for 8 participants.

Doors open at 12:45, please plan to arrive by 12:55 so we can all be seated with our materials when the service begins streaming at 1:00. There is no childcare for this event.

Email Melissa@JesusExpedition.com to get more information or to sign up. Please include the total number in your party attending.

It can be helpful to slow down once a quarter and simply notice where you have been, where you are now and consider where the road might take you. Particularly if you enjoyed the New Year’s Retreat, you might like this brief spiritual GPS.

We will devote a morning to spending time with God noticing what has occupied our time, energy and attention so far this year. This is a quiet, contemplative mini-retreat.

There is no fee for this event but you must sign up by emailing me at Melissa@JesusExpedition.com

photo credit Alvaro Reyes

Advent means “arrival.” It’s the season in which we look back at the first coming of Christ while we simultaneously look ahead to the second coming of Christ. Divina Nox (Divine Night) is an Advent retreat that provides time now, in the middle of these two “arrivals” of Christ, to focus on Jesus as Emmanuel - God with us.

This is a casual, quiet retreat with guided meditations provided.

You must RSVP for this event by 11/25. Space is limited.

I will be in Bluffton, SC talking about ancient prayer practices that are perfect for the times we are in.

How are Christians to resist the temptation to cure boredom with endless experiences or treat emptiness with never ending consumption? Can we really look like Christ in a culture that is so different from the one in which Jesus walked? Even if we spend an hour a day in Bible study and prayer, it doesn’t come close to the hours spent taking in endless images, soundbites, and information that inundate us on the devices we can’t realistically turn off.

We will spend the morning reflecting with God on our lives and loves. In the afternoon we will learn a few spiritual disciplines that will help us hit the reset button on our nervous systems.

We will be using the materials provided by The Transforming Center and streaming their virtual service. This is a 1.25 hour silent mini-retreat except for the narrator leading the meditations based on the stations of the cross. Participants will sit quietly (not moving from station to station) praying as they imagine the events that might have taken place that day as Jesus took the penalty for our sins on the cross.

You may want to bring a Bible and journal if you use one. There is no fee for this event but you must sign up. There are materials for 8 participants.

Doors open at 12:45, please plan to arrive by 12:55 so we can all be seated with our materials when the service begins streaming at 1:00. There is no childcare for this event.

Email melissa@jesusexpedition.com to get more information or to sign up for the event. Please include the total number in your party attending.