Cohorts
Essential to developing a deeper connection to God, self, and others is engaging in relational experiences together, with God. Imaginative Contemplation of Scripture, an ancient spiritual practice, and Affectio Divina, the prayerful attunement to one's emotional landscape, are the centerpieces of our cohort programs.
Cohort participants spend 20 minutes, twice per week on their own time, meditating on the passage assigned for that given week. Then, once per week, all participants and the facilitator gather online to reflect upon each person's experience of that passage. We follow a particular discussion liturgy that ensures each person has time to share their experience and reflect upon the experience of others. Each cohort involves 5-6 participants, including the facilitator and weekly Zoom gatherings last 90-120 minutes.
Opening to God cohorts are not Bible studies or webinars providing principles and strategies but an interpersonal dialog between the participant, Scripture, and God with a follow-up, online group discussion between all the participants and the facilitator.
All cohorts are currently priced at $35 per week (8 weeks = $280, 6 weeks = $210, etc.). We often have scholarships available.
Anoigo
Anoigo, the Greek word for “open” taken from Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism ("The heavens were 'opened.'"), is our most popular program utilizing the spiritual practices mentioned above. What makes the Anoigo programs unique is the focus on passages that involve powerful questions from Jesus. Anoigo I focuses on questions concerning the disciples' understanding of self (Where is your faith? Why are your hearts filled with doubt?). Anoigo II focuses on the disciples' relationship with Jesus (Who do you say that I am? Do you believe this?). These programs are offered by Opening to God separately as stand-alone cohorts throughout the year or as a package, nine month cohort with six one-on-one spiritual direction sessions added to the program.
Seasonal Cohorts
Our Seasonal Cohorts follow themes from the liturgical church calendar. We offer an Advent / Christmas / Epiphany cohorts focused on passages from Matthew and Luke. We offer a Lent cohort which rotates annually passages from Matthew, Luke, and John. We offer an Eastertide cohort which rotates annually Gospel passages along with the Lent cohort. Each of these cohorts are six weeks long. We also offer packages for all three cohorts grouped together.
Themed Cohorts
Themed cohorts are themed in that the passages upon which the group meditates center on a core subject. Passages can be themed around healing, food, a certain biblical character, etc., offering a program that is immersed in a given topic or motif. These groups run for 6 - 8 weeks.