Gemeinschaft - A Journey in Spiritual Growth Through Christian Community
Gemeinschaft
was developed for the Moravian Church in response to the Provincial
Visioning Process Survey that was conducted in 1988 in the Southern
Province of the Moravian Church in America. As a result of the survey,
the Spiritual Growth Commission of the Board of Christian Education
was appointed to explore ways the church could foster "spiritual
renewal," which
was identified as a primary goal of the church. There was a deeply felt
need that the program would develop both the inward and the outward
life of faith with an understanding of our relationship with God,
ourselves, and others.
Noting the high interest shown in spiritual growth, the Board of Christian Education consulted Trinity Center, an ecumenical counseling and education center for spiritual formation in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Together they proposed the development of a comprehensive program of spiritual formation to be presented in the form of detailed, step-by-step manuals, which would glean the most applicable features for the Moravian Church from a number of spiritual growth programs now being studied and from the Center's own experience in spiritual development.
The Writers: Gemeinschaft I, II, and III were all written between 1990 and 1994 by: Kathryn L. Sinopoli, M.A., Th. M. and Betty W. Talbert, Ph. D. of the Trinity Center and Lehoma B.Goode, M.A. M. Div. and Marty S. Hancock, M.A. Ed. of the Moravian Church.
About Gemeinschaft
“Gemein” means
community; “Schaft” means shaped or formed. Community, fellowship,
partnership, communion, mutual participation…these words altogether
express the essence of Gemeinschaft. Gemeinschaft is a three-part spiritual
formation program of the Moravian Church designed to nurture and challenge
the interior and exterior Christian journey of Moravians as individuals
and in a small group context.
The purpose of Gemeinschaft is:
- To provide a structure that encourages daily disciplines and cultivates community
- To learn new ways to listen to God and other persons
- To learn about the Moravian Covenant for Christian Living and The Ground of the Unity
- To be deliberate and intentional about our total commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
The annual program that begins each year with the Commissioning of Gemeinschaft Participants during the August Thirteenth Sunday Celebration Service. Soon afterward, the small groups begin meeting for two and one-half hours per week for the next forty weeks. The program ends in the spring of each year on Trinity Sunday (around the first Sunday in June) with the "Celebration Service for Gemeinschaft Participants."Small groups of people meet for prayer, reflection, scripture reading, fellowship, and listening to God and to one another. Within that context, participants learn about themselves and others and about using their individual and corporate gifts in the world.
Invest In Your Spiritual Well-being
"Ge-mein-schaft," (from the German) means "community-shaped or formed." As we share our stories and study the scriptures and The Moravian Covenant for Christian Living together, we are learning more about God and God's world and growing in the love of Christ. It is a program that works through small groups meeting weekly for prayer, reflection, study, scripture reading, fellowship, listening to God and to others, and learning about oneself and others. Groups meet for 40 weeks beginning sometime near August 13th each year.
Click here for more information or contact Judy Knopf at (336) 722-8126 or by email at jknopf@mcsp.org.
Gemeinschaft and Spiritual Growth Commission
Our annual spiritual formation retreat for Gemeinschaft group leaders (August Leaders) was our best experience yet, building on all of the good work from previous retreats. This retreat was peacefully instructive and just plain old-fashioned fun! We were a smaller group this year, so everyone's questions were answered and our participants left the mountain thoroughly satisfied that they were ready to embark on an awesome "Journey into Christian Community."
Also, the Gemeinschaft and Spiritual Growth Commission is currently working on an eight-week experience, Seeking Life's Path in the Psalms. Training for those who plan to lead small groups in this experience will begin in 2007.
Is Gemeinschaft for YOU? For more information contact Rev. Judy Knopf.
The
Gemein House - A Place for Individual Spiritual Retreat
At Laurel Ridge
The Camp, Conference and Retreat Center of the Moravian Church,
Southern Province
The
Gemein House is a one-room, 400 square foot retreat cabin located
on the grounds of Laurel Ridge Moravian Camp, Conference and
Retreat Center dedicated to providing a simple, safe and comfortable
place for an individual seeking solitude, natural beauty and
meditative time for spiritual renewal. (Persons who require
assistance in daily living may bring a companion to help them
if needed.)
The Gemein House is fully furnished with kitchen area, bathroom, a covered porch, and wheel chair accessibility. Guests are provided bed linens, cooking and eating utensils, spiritual growth books for reading, maps for walking and hiking, and orientation materials. Guests should bring clothing for the season, food and beverages, towels, and other needed personal items.
The cabin is available year round. For further information or reservations contact the Registrar at Laurel Ridge:
Phone (888) 831-5922
FAX (336) 359-2470
Email: laurel_ridge@skybest.com
*Gemeinschaft Logo design by Shirley Taylor Gobble