Offering a prayerful listening presence to pilgrims enables them to be more attentive to and proactive with their own experiences. Embodying and reflecting the gentle and humble heart of Jesus—offered to us through the gift of his indwelling presence—enables the pilgrims we guide to engage with the deeper texture and flows of their own lives, learn the unforced rhythms of grace, experience what it is to live freely and lightly, and find rest for their souls (Matt 11:28-30).
Heart listening in the way of Jesus
Rather than focusing on enhancing listening skills, we begin with a Spirit-guided immersion in scripture (Lectio): prayerfully listening to scripture and being attentive to what the Spirit is stirring within us. We then experience a similar Spirit-guided and prayerful listening to the experience of a pilgrim: listening in a way that encourages their attentiveness to what the Spirit is stirring within them. It is the offering of such a humble listening presence which can enable pilgrims to bring their soul into a “condition of disclosure and discovery,” which Douglas Steere suggests: “may be almost the greatest service that any human being ever performs for another.”
Content
Topics covered are: Companioning in the way of Jesus; attending to the ordinary; the way of the wound; remembering; shadow; silence and solitude; resistance; the journey into exile, liminality, journey home.
A contemplative stance
A contemplative stance to life and faith has much to offer both guides and pilgrims, involving as it does prayerful attentiveness to all dimensions of our lives, including: our interior self, our relationships, creation, and to our God. Such a stance is clearly echoed through the psalms, the life of Jesus, the desert fathers and mothers, and throughout church history. Far more than a project of spiritual self-improvement, it is Jesus’ radical invitation to come into relationship, to find rest for our souls, and to participate in his radical kingdom agenda. It is to be reminded that everything in life flows out from God and back into God; a remembering that comes through being still and coming again and again to “know that I am God.” Anchored in God, our Personhood in-Christ, we become more alive, authentic and fully human, we awaken to our true identity and purposeful vocation, and we actively live God’s presence in our world. And with more inner spaciousness there is more room for God in the encounter.
The contemplative stance, with its balance of solitude and action, can be nurtured through a heart of prayer, prayerful engagement with scripture, participation in a community of faith, retreats, and spiritual direction.
This program is designed for the rich mix of interpersonal practitioners—counsellors, chaplains, social workers, pastors, and many others—who, as followers of Jesus, desire to embody and reflect more of his prayerful, attentive and Spirit-guided listening. This comes at a time when research is showing the benefits of contemplative prayer practices, mindfulness and meditation to practitioners’ ability to listen, to be less reactive and to be more compassionate.
Formation Team
The Stillpoint formation team are from both protestant and catholic backgrounds with training in formation and education. All are members of the Conference of Spiritual Directors (Australia).
Formators:
Irene Alexander has a background in psychology, counselling, discipleship, tertiary education and spiritual direction. She is currently involved in developing spiritual direction formation in the Philippines. Her books include: Dancing with God; Practicing the presence of Jesus; Awakening Desire; Stories of transformation and hope; and A glimpse of the kingdom in academia.
Liz Gaynor was a minister with the Church of the Nazarene and now has a ministry in the Uniting Church at the Sunshine Coast. She completed the Listening into Life spiritual direction formation in NSW. She has written a book called A Reflective Life.
Craig Sadler has been a minister for over 20 years, and is currently the minister for leadership and formation with the Churches of Christ, Queensland as well as a formator with the Australian College of Ministry. Craig trained as a spiritual director with Stillpoint.
And others from the Stillpoint team.
Program Consultant:
Chris Brown has a background in social work education and in in the training and supervision of counsellors and spiritual companions. He has authored two books on attentive listening: Reflected Love and Guiding Gideon.
The triune nature of God puts listening right at the center of the universe. God is love, and love requires listening. The inner workings of the divine life are held together by a self-giving, reciprocating and listening nature. Adam McHugh
Please RSVP to: info@stillpointcentre.com.au
Reference Group:
Jill Manton, Patrick Oliver, Dawn Courtman, Charles Ringma, Elaine Smith
Cost
The cost of Contemplative Listening module is $480, including the retreat.
Dates— 2025 tba
It is expected that you attend all sessions.
Saturday – 10am-3pm (at Wishart )
Saturday – 10am-3pm (at Wishart )
Retreat Weekend: Friday to Sunday afternoon
Retreat at Marian Valley, 2541 Beechmont Road, Witheren
Saturday 10am-1pm (at Wishart )
The experience of being listened to is so like the experience of being loved that most people cannot tell the difference. David Augsburger