Spiritual Formation

Spiritual formation is the process of forming and transforming human beings into our highest potential, which Christians understand as the "full stature of Christ".  The early church used the word theosis (divinization) for this process, which meant that our highest potential is to "share in the divine life of him who shared our humanity".  For Jesus, the process was metanoia (raising of consciousness) which activated metamorphosis (transformation of form or being).  And St Paul summarized the process as "be transformed by the renewing of your minds".  From the time of Jesus until now, the church has understood this process as a collaboration of human effort and divine effort (grace). 

In later translations of Scripture, the word metanoia was translated as repoinitet in Latin and repent in English, which shifted the meaning from inner transformation to an outward change of moral behavior.  The deeper streams of Christianity have nevertheless emphasized inner transformation, the fruit of which is indeed a change of being and behavior.  The Beattitudes given by Jesus and the fruits of the Spirit identified by St Paul are outer indications of inner spiritual change.  The process of theosis (divinization) includes both the ascending of human consciousness and of human qualities and attributes to the divine level of Christ himself, who is our goal. 

St Mark's invites members and friends to the transformative practices of study, prayer, and action, as they are ready, in community with each other.  On Sunday mornings, we invite everyone to studies of scripture, faith, and prayer.  On other days of the week, we invite everyone to our Wisdom School classes, which include studies of early Christianity and of Christian wisdom.  We invite all, as they are ready, to practice the Divine Hours (daily prayers), the Sacraments (such as Holy Communion and Healing), meditation aids (such as Centering Prayer and walking the Labyrinth and Stations of the Cross), and integrated body-mind-soul practices such as Yoga and Tai Chi.    

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