Spiritual Formation

Theological words like Spiritual Formation can be off putting, as if this is only something for "professional religious" folks. Nothing could be further from the truth. At the center of our faith is the belief that God is in all of life and all of life is meant to be an avenue into God's heart.

In our Congregational Tradition, we are people of a covenant, which means that we make promises, each of us to God and all of us, one unto another. At the center of our covenantal life is our purpose which is to worship God:

"The avowed purpose of this Church shall be to worship God; to realize Christian fellowship and unity within this Church and the Church Universal; to render loving service toward all people; and to strive for righteousness, justice, and peace."

(By-laws of The Dover Church)

It is in worship that we gather primarily for Spiritual Formation. Every Sunday morning at 9:30, we worship God, known to us as Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit. Worship is an experience of stepping outside our self-focusing way of being and turning to God in praise, petition, and attentive listening. To use the Apostle Paul's metaphor, for this hour on Sunday mornings, we embody "the body of Christ," singing, praying, listening and offering together.

But it doesn't end there. You can be involved in spiritual formation when you are peeling the potatoes or singing plainsong chant in the middle of the night in a Benedictine monastery. Through practice, you can open yourself to God's grace in all parts of your life. To that end, I offer several opportunities for interested people to begin practicing. 

Centering Prayer, Tuesdays 9:00 AM and on Tuesday nights when we have church meetings at 7 PM (check the church calendar in the right hand column) 

Centering Prayer is a discipline for freeing your mind from the all the thoughts and inner monologues which run incessantly up there. This is basically a practice at sitting in attentive silence. When newcomers arrive, I offer some instruction. Otherwise we sit in silence for 20 minutes and allow God to fill us. For a good introduction to this spiritual practice, visit www.centeringprayer.com

Thursday Evening Lenten Services

Starting Thursday, March 17, we will be offering Thursday evening worship services at 700pm, continuing until Maundy Thursday on April 21. There are candelit services with some chant and much contemplative silence. The inspiration for these services comes from the Taize Community, an ecumenical monastic community in France which focuses on youth ministry: www.taize.fr/en

"Living The Word"

Would you like to receive a daily devotional, "Living the Word," from Max each day? This is a brief passage from the Bible that Max sends out Tuesday through Friday, to reflect on throughout your day. Please email max@thedoverchurch.org to be added to the list.

Yoga at The Dover Church

A 4 week yoga class is currently running, Wednesdays, from 9:00 - 10:30am. Cost is $58 for 4 sessions, or $17 for a drop in session. Interested? Pick up a flyer in the church office, call the church office at 508-785-0957 or speak with Beth Benjamin or Max Olmstead.