Spiritual Formation
Our faith is ever changing and growing, and we believe we must continue that journey through discovering, learning more and diving into Scripture with those around us.
"Though we may not think alike, can we not love alike."
- John Wesley
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Sunday Morning Worship Prayer
Sundays during the 8:20, 9:30 and 11 a.m. services The Worship Prayer Team is comprised of individuals who commit to pray during one of the Sanctuary worship services. The team is made up of men and women of all walks of life who are willing to share one hour on Sunday morning to pray for the ministries that take place on the WC Campus. There is a room on the second floor of the Sanctuary on the south end that is dedicated for the purpose of worship prayer and provides a quiet setting and instructions to guide the participant in their time of prayer. John McKellar and Todd Renner, our Co-Pastors, stress the importance of this opportunity to be a church of prayer so we might “see revival and new life spring forth” throughout all areas of ministry here at WC. Please contact Dianne Will at 817-481-4147 to schedule your time of prayer. Men of Prayer
Second and Fourth Tuesday of each month - 7 p.m. in Room 3201 The White's Chapel Men of Prayer (WCMOP) is a group of men that meets regularly to pray for the church and individuals within the church. They engage in intercessory prayer to minister to the church and its members. The group feels that God has invited them to participate in this activity and all have committed to pray daily for the list of needs. WCMOP also feels that intercessory prayer can be more effective than trying to pray for themselves. There is no age limit; all men are welcome. During these meetings, the men encourage one another and update the list over which they pray. The group attendance ranges from a handful to a dozen or more. WCMOP also gathers on fifth Tuesdays at various venues for fellowship. Please contact Warren Witt at 817-901-3500 for more information. Open Hearts Support Group
Second Saturday of each month, 4 p.m. in the Center for Spiritual Care The Open Hearts group is an affirming support group for family, friends and members of the LGBTQIA community. We believe that all God’s children are loved and welcomed in our church. We meet once a month (except for July & August) on the second Saturday from 4 to 5:45 p.m. in the Center for Spiritual Care. Join us to learn and find fellowship in a supportive Christian group. Simple Presence
First Thursday of the month | 1:30 p.m. | Zoom Please join us for a time of Simple Presence. During this time, we seek an open, receptive, and lovingly-attentive presence of God using a contemplative form of prayer leading into a time of silence. We come to sit, seek and soak in God's abundant love. Joan Chittister shares this beautiful insight of simple truth. "We never 'get' God but we always 'have' God. We never 'find' God but we forever dwell in God. So, if I'm seeking God, I have already come to God." This, she says, is the height of spirituality. Registration is not required. Please contact Dianne Will for the Zoom link/information. Spiritual Direction
By Appointment The goal in Spiritual Direction is to increase your awareness of God’s presence in your life through a monthly, one-hour conversation with a trained Spiritual Director. Do you wish to hold yourself accountable to regular spiritual practices or wish to learn new prayer practices? Do you desire to love God more dearly, see God more clearly, follow God more nearly? White’s Chapel has several Spiritual Directors ready to join you on your journey. For more information, contact Rev. Betsy Godbold at 817-481-4147. The goal of the SPELL Symposium is to establish a foundation that will support an on-going tradition of inviting teachers to Whites Chapel United Methodist Church, who are grounded in the Christian tradition that teaches the importance of spiritual practices and contemplative prayer as the foundation for experiencing the Love of God.
Belief statement: When we are centered internally by engaging in spiritual practices and contemplative prayer, our outer actions demonstrate and bear witness to this Love. The objective of the SPELL Symposium is to develop and implement a multi-year program of speakers for the benefit of our church and community. These events will be coupled with events/activities that precede the speaking engagement as well as follow-up activities/events. SPELL seeks to gain not just knowledge through these events, but heart-felt ‘knowing’. Outcomes: SPELL hopes to grow a community that:
GriefShare - Zoom Meeting
Thursdays, 6 to 8 p.m. (beginning January 7) The death of someone you love changes everything. It leaves you feeling confused, paralyzed and hopeless, wondering if you can ever move forward. You do not face this alone. God is with you, and we are here to help. Join us for GriefShare, a 13-week study and support group centered on Christian, biblical principles that seek to offer you hope and healing. Weekly meetings are online and last two hours. Each session consists of a video seminar, discussion as a support group, personal study, and reflection. We will meet online using Zoom. PLEASE NOTE: Each participant must have a workbook. A workbook costs $15 and can be purchased online when you register at https://bit.ly/WCGriefShare and it is shipped directly to your address. If the cost of the workbook is preventing you from enrolling, please email Rev. Kyle Roberson for a scholarship. Following your registration confirmation, you will receive an email providing the Zoom link and other group information. Book Study: Faith After Doubt
Begins Wednesday, Jan. 13 | 7 to 8 p.m. | Zoom "Faith After Doubt," by Brian McLaren, will begin on Jan. 13. McLaren says of his latest book “If anybody still reads my books in 50 years, I think this is one they will still read.” The book presents a four-stage approach to faith development that not only makes room for doubt - but sees it as essential to a growing and healthy faith. For further information about McLaren’s book please go to his website. This 15-week study is facilitated by Pastor Betsy Godbold. Registration is required and available on the White’s Chapel website. The Zoom link will be provided after registration. Author's Website: https://brianmclaren.net/my-new-book-what-you-should-know/ Wake Up Grateful
Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 12 or Wednesday, Jan. 13 | Zoom Class “Wake Up Grateful,” by author Kristi Nelson, will be offered online on Tuesday afternoon, from 1:30 to 3 p.m., and on Wednesday morning, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Both sessions will continue through April. As we enter a new year, what better way to do so than developing daily practices of grateful living. Nelson, an executive director of A Network for Grateful Living, had her own wake-up call when diagnosed with Stage IV cancer at the age of 33. In and through her illness, she began to see each day as a gift - and how easy it is to take that gift for granted. “Wake Up Grateful” was inspired by Nelson’s mentor, Brother David Steindl-Rast, who is known as the 'grandfather of gratitude' and founder of A Network for Graceful Living. Henri Nouwen referred to Brother David as his ideal teacher saying: “In the midst of a world in which fear, apprehension and suspicion make us live stingy, narrow and small lives, Brother David stretches out his arms, smiles and says: ‘Love wholeheartedly, be surprised, give thanks and praise-then you will discover your life.’” It is from this deep spiritual well that Nelson invites participants to develop the practice of a mini formula for grateful living. The three-word formula is: Stop. Look. Go. Nelson writes: “Moment by moment, life is offering you gift after gift-exactly what you need to thrive. But unless you stop, you will rush right by that gift; unless you look you will miss it; and only if you go and do something with it can you fully avail yourself of that gift.” Nelson’s book is available through most booksellers. Registration is required and available on the White's Chapel website. The Zoom link will be provided after registration. Register for Tuesday Class: Register for Wednesday Class:
“Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life”
By Tish Harrison Warren On Mondays at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 1, 2021 through April 12 In the Center for Spiritual Care Living Room As we look forward to a new year and reflect on the old, we recognize how much has changed. And, with that recognition comes the realization of how many church-related routines and habits have been sidetracked or placed on hold. “Liturgy of the Ordinary” invites us to consider that we can also grow to love the everyday and ordinary routines of life, such as: brushing our teeth, eating leftovers, drinking tea and even sleeping. While we tend to connect the Sacred with the church, rather than our own daily lives, Warren encourages us to look upon those daily practices and habits as opportunities for ‘God moments.’ She also leads us in examining our daily routines through the lens of liturgy: the small practices and habits that form us. Warren encourages intentionality as we move through our lives, so that we can discover the presence of the Sacred in the routine tasks in which we engage every day. She writes with humor and deep spirituality as she draws from her own life experiences as an Anglican priest, a campus minister, a wife, and a mother. “Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life,” by author Tish Harrison Warren, will be offered as an in-person class on Monday afternoons from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. This eleven-week class will begin on Monday, Feb. 1 and end on Monday, April 12. This study is facilitated by Pastor Lori Silvestri. Warren’s book is available through most booksellers. Registration is required. Spiritual Awakenings Roundtable Sundays from 6-7:30 p.m. Available online through Zoom The Spiritual Awakenings Roundtable challenges members to see themselves and their faith through fresh lenses. Come join us in lively explorations that include insights from Scripture, tradition, historical texts, contemporary writers, and renowned guest speakers. Our interactive discussions incorporate perspectives from a wide variety of Christian legacies and real-world experiences. Inspired by the authors who fuel our facilitated exchange, we enjoy a circle of genuine trust, empathy, and interest in the spiritual evolution to which Christ calls us. Roundtable discussions scheduled for 2021 will start with a final look at Thomas Merton’s “Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander” - a compilation of essays taken from the famous monk’s private journals during an historic American “awakening” much like our own today. Other thoughtful readings and invigorating facilitators will follow throughout the spring and summer. Sessions are freestanding, and all are invited to join the conversation at any time. Whether you’re 20 or 90, you can count on the Roundtable’s inquiries to expand the mind and energize the spirit with timely reflections. Registration is not required. Contact Ann Davis for Zoom access info. |
Meet the Director
Rev. Betsy Goldbold
Pastor for Spiritual Formation Reverend Betsy Godbold received a Master of Divinity from Brite Divinity School, with a concentration in Pastoral Theology and Counseling. She has extensive training in the area of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Direction. |
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