Here are the materials for a four week workshop on the subject of Spiritual Writing. This workshop in spiritual formation is designed for Christians at a local congregation and community members with interest. I have taught this workshop at First Christian Church, Decatur, Georgia and Peachtree Christian Church, Atlanta, Georgia (forthcoming). See the links below for all materials for workshop. (Please write to joonnatrapp@gmail.com for permission to use any materials in another context.)
Workshop One–Introduction to Course and Writing Prayers Saying prayer, both in public and solitude, is perhaps the most basic of religious practice. Yet, how many of us know the long history of written prayer, of prayer journaling, and even writing prayer as a way of forming public mind? We’ll take a brief look at these traditions, forms, and imagine some prayer forms you might try in your writing this week.
Workshop Two–Writing about Spiritual Place Place is so essential to spiritual reflection. We all have places that have come to resonate with us down deep in our souls and very beings. We have places where we seem to seek and find God. We’ll look at some fine examples of place exploration in spiritual contexts, and we will begin to craft our own descriptions of our spiritual place.
Workshop Three–Keeping a Spiritual Journal Regular short writings kept in a journal can be an effective and moving way of tracking your own spiritual pilgrimage. We’ll look at examples of various types of spiritual journals, various forms and purposes, and plan how to begin or grow your own reflective meditative life through regular small writings.
Workshop Four–Writing A Saint’s Life Medieval Monks very seriously wrote about the lives of the saints, often mixing the actual with the fantastical for instructive purposes. Modern writers, like Frederick Buechner, have written modern versions of saints’ lives for very different, but also instructive, purposes. We’ll look at these and begin some notes toward writing your very own “saint’s life” about a person you admire. We will consider why such writing could be healing to the writer.
Additional Materials:
Great Readings in Spiritual Writing–a list of books which have been meaningful to me in my spiritual writing journey
Workshop Links (unedited)–Video and Audio on the four topics
Spiritual Writing: Intro & Writing Prayers
Spiritual Writing: Presentation on Prayer
Spiritual Writing: Presentation on Geography
Spiritual Writing: Presentation on Journaling
