Pastoral Cohorts Coming This Fall! Preaching to the Heart and Mind

Registrations are now being received in the presbytery office for participation in a pastoral cohort centered on cultivating the art of preaching to the heart and mind.

Last month, nine members of Grand Canyon participated in the Whitworth Institute for Ministry. Throughout the week we encountered intensive Scripture study by Mike Breen, a leader in disciple making ministry, and powerful worship leadership from Brenda Salter-McNeil, a leader in reconciliation ministries. In between these morning and evening sessions, the nine of us attended workshops focused on preaching to hearts and minds in which we listened and learned, discussed and deepened, shared and planned what it might look like to encourage one another and help each cultivate and strengthen our own gifts in preaching to hearts and minds.

I am pleased to announce that there will be multiple opportunities to participate in a hearts and minds preaching cohort, including:

·         General Cohort I: Fourth Thursday of the month from 11:00 – 1:30 at Memorial with lunch provided (first gathering on September 23, single gathering over Thanksgiving to Advent on December 9).

·         General Cohort II: Fourth Thursdays of the month from 4:00 – 6:30 at Valley with dinner provided (first gathering also on September 23, single gathering over Thanksgiving to Advent on December 9).

·         Native American Cohort: The Thursdays before presbytery meeting beginning at noon and running to noon Friday with meals provided and hotel accommodations for those traveling from out of town.

What can you expect at each cohort? Each meetings will have a unique focus but follow the same general format:

·         Corporate worship or contemplative prayer,

·         Collegial reflection on a theme of the day (e.g. preaching to the imagination, listening to the text or exegeting the congregation),

·         Sharing a meal together,

·         Prayer with and for one another and our ministries.

To register for the cohort, please email Carolyn McBurney at pbyoffice@gmail.com. If you have questions about the cohort, please email me at bradmunroe1963@gmail.com. If you are wondering about what the “early adopters” experienced at the Whitworth Institute for Ministry, feel free to contact one of them: Mike and Kelly Nieto (Valley), Kelsy Brown (Pinnacle), Kelsey Woodruff (Valley), Jen Fraser (Gilbert), Mike Japenga (Chandler), Mary Saylor (Emmanuel), Cynthia Jennison (Memorial) or Terry Palmer (Gilbert).

Love hanging out and encouraging one another,

Brad Munroe