Restoration Ministries offers hope, healing and wholistic growth in Jesus Christ. Caring for individuals, families, churches and organizations, we provide space to know and experience Christ's Holy Presence. We facilitate freedom, healing and wholeness and provide paths for spiritual growth and deeper communion with God by offering:

•Spiritual direction and soul care ministries
•Healing prayer sessions
•Resources for support and recovery at personal and/or family points of fracture
•Scripture and spirituality groups
•Retreats and retreat space where souls can find rest and renewal
•Collaborative ministries with the Church, local and at-large

July 2010

Marji Karjalahti is our contributing writer for this month's  newsletter.  Marji is a member of the Board of Directors of Restoration Ministries.  She earned a Master's of Divinity degree from Bethel Seminary, has served in pastoral ministry, and currently leads and teaches through Restoration Ministries. 

I came into the Restoration office feeling frazzled and fragmented. I wondered of what use I could be in such a state. Jean smiled her greeting and invited me to grab a cup of coffee and come sit with her awhile. We chatted about nothing profound or "spiritual"--just about life in general--our families, the weekend, books we were reading. Unhurried, nothing seemed pressing; we just spent time together talking and listening to each other. Soon another stopped by and joined us, and we were three. It was a lovely, soft, gentling-of-the-soul time.

Listening is such a gift!  It's the gift of authentic presence, to listen and to be listened to. The Hebrew word used in Scripture for "listen/hear" carries with it the sense of both hearing and responding. The act of listening requires a response from us, which makes it an action of relationship. How we respond (to what we hear) is of our choosing.

In psychotherapy, the therapist is a skilled listener whose responses and guidance offer times for healing of emotional wounds. In spiritual direction, the director (also a skilled listener) is there to listen with the directee in discerning God's voice and hand in her/his life. A friend or spouse listens with a sympathetic ear (or not, at times) that allows the other person to voice what is on their mind/heart.

The greater part of listening well requires us to be paying attention and to be emotionally present, respectful and patient to not give advice. Sometimes that is more difficult than others, like when I came feeling so frazzled.

During the Wednesday evening Listening Prayer times at Restoration Ministries, we quiet ourselves together with a few minutes of silence and music to prepare our hearts to listen to the Scripture reading of that evening. Recently, the reading was from Mark's gospel, the story of the woman who tried to secretly touch Jesus so she might be healed of the bleeding that had plagued her for 12 long years. And it happened! She felt it immediately in her body. But to her great surprise, that wasn't the end of it. Not only did Jesus insist upon finding her in the crowd, he then listened  to her story. Can't you just see Jesus listening with his eyes fixed on her? She would have been satisfied to walk away with her body restored, but Jesus wanted her very personhood restored also. So he listened with his heart and eyes, attentive to her words and her being. And she was made whole again. I believe Jesus also wanted to be more than a healer to her. He wanted her to KNOW the one who heals, and He wanted to BE KNOWN by her. In the end, she had experienced God and His joyful love in the presence of Jesus.

Restoration Ministries is about listening well, to God, to ourselves and to each other. In doing so we are responding to Jesus' command to love God and our neighbor as ourselves.

Come, sit with us awhile. You will find rest for your soul in God's presence.

REGISTER NOW for 11th Step Retreat on Saturday, July 10, 2010

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

Good results from prayer are beyond question. “They are matters of knowledge and experience. All those who have persisted have found strength not ordinarily their own. They have found wisdom beyond their usual capability. And they have increasingly found a peace of mind which can stand firm in the face of difficult circumstances.” From: Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Whether in a 12-Step Recovery program or not, please join with us for a day together to grow more deeply in relationship with God through prayer and meditation.

The 11th Step retreat will be facilitated by Sherry Gaugler. Sherry offers spiritual direction, spiritual retreats and workshops that help participants grow in their recovery into wholeness, freedom and becoming more deeply anchored in their lives and relationships. She is on the staff at The Retreat in Wayzata (www.theretreat.org).

LOCATION: Restoration Ministries Office Center, 952.241.4150
COST: $35.00 (includes lunch)
TIME: 8:30-3:30 pm
REGISTER: To register online, click here.
(Registration payment may be made online at www.restorationmn.org )

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION MINISTRY AVAILABLE
Restoration Ministries has a number of trained spiritual directors available to provide spiritual companionship in one-to-one sessions.The intention is to provide space and time to listen, notice and be attentive to God's invitations in one's life and journey, to foster a deeper relationship with God, and to cultivate noticing, discerning and responding to God's Holy Spirit.

Call to schedule an appointment at:  952.241.4150

EVENINGS OF LISTENING PRAYER
Every Wednesday: 7-9 pm
Join with us and others for evenings of LISTENING PRAYER. Framed in simple worship, Scripture and prayerful sharing, this space is provided for attentiveness to listening to God and others. We meet every Wednesday evening from 7-9 pm. There is no registration nor cost. Anyone is welcome to come and experience this quiet, worshipful listening space.

Location: Restoration Ministry Center, 952.241.4150

Blessings,

Pastor Jean Leih

For your information and interest:
Dr. Glenn Myers on Christian spirituality:
http://www.deepwellswithglennmyers.blogspot.com/
Pastor Jean Leih on integrating faith and life:
http://integratingfaithandlife.blogspot.com/

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