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The Basics |
New Horizons |
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Mark here is co-founder of Missio Dei (now the Mennonite Worker) a Christian intentional community in Minneapolis, that is an example of a new movement of the Spirit to renew the Christian Church particularly in North America called New Monasticism. Its roots are in small Skete Communities, a term derived from the fourth century hermits in the area of the Egyptian desert named Sketis who lived in their own cells and were responsible for their own work, but who shared a 'common rule' (which included hospitality) and met together for prayer, sacrament, food and fellowship usually on week-ends, and elected an elder as their spiritual guide.
Some of the Celtic hermitages and monastic villages were similar. In Russia and other parts of the Eastern Church Sketes have evolved in a variety of ways, some more organised. A Skete is a third way. It is neither a wholly solitary hermit life, nor a fully organised monastery under one roof. It appeals to post modern people who wish to embrace a form of the monastic life without losing individuality. As with other intentional Christian New Monastic communities today, we seek to be ecumenical in the best sense--of experiencing the historical richness of Christian spiritualities--to live the fullness of the Christian life as human authenticity, grounded in the 'Sacred Presence'. Some call this the 'ancient-future' church, as rooted in the best of the past and open to the best of the future. A wise spiritual teacher Irenaeus of Lyons in the 2nd century of the Church put it this way, "The Glory of God is a human being fully alive, and the glory of a human fully alive, is the vision of God." As an inspiration in forming this community and as we begin this spiritual journey looking for others to share in this vision of St Irenaeus-- we would like to explore the theme in a book I recently published called 'A Church Fully Alive'. We look at St. Irenaeus' spirituality of the need for a true Community Praxis for today. Small Christian Communities (SCC)
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Thank you for your interest in our website. We have moved to the Ottawa-Gatineau area to begin a small Prayer Retreat House that seeks to learn to see differently. It is a place where we are interested in exploring a form of new monastic intentional spirituality-- through a virtual web Community-- and with those we can share our interests in building towards an actual supportive community in a contemporary format. Please contact us in either case as we seek to build a committed core group to explore options.
We are located In the Gatineau Hills a 20 minute drive from downtown Ottawa offering a renewing spiritual experience of refreshment. With mini- workshops and resources available to grow deeper in the Christian life of Prayer and contemplation. Come rest awhile! Call To CommunityAn example of small group community within a church
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