Nativity Ministry for Healthy Relationships

“Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World” by Henri Nouwen

Monday, June 5th: Week # 1: Prologue and Being the Beloved (pages 11-39)

Monday, June 12: Week # 2: Becoming the Beloved and Taken (pages 41-66)

Monday, June 19th: Week # 3: Blessed and Broken (pages 67-85)

Monday, June 26th: Week # 4: Given and Living as the Beloved; Epilogue  (page 105-149)
 

Life is full of new and unexpected challenges which are much easier to embrace as we learn to trust God in the midst of difficult times. Fr. Philippe states: “Every trial is a trial of faith or of hope, or of love.” He also states: “Consider this booklet your spiritual direction manual to trusting God in the midst of difficult times.” Our attitude toward these trials determines our level of acceptance and spiritual growth which can take place if we follow a plan created by Fr. Jacques Philippe.

You may purchase Trusting God in the Present on Amazon ($8.95), Cokesbury ($7.99), Christian Book ($8.06), and other books stores. Please begin reading Fr. Philippe’s book in advance of each week’s class as  preparation for discussions led by parishioner Janet Beverley on the following dates:

Monday, February 27^th: Preface, Chapter 1 Hope Does not Disappoint, and Chapter 2 Enduring Trial. Learn how to: eliminate and master fears when facing trials; use “holy intrigue” to discover what God is doing in your life during the trials; replace your “why” questions with prayer and asking Our Father how He wants you to partner with Him in moving through the trials with faith, hope, and love!

Monday, March 6^th: Chapter 3 Our Attitude Toward Trial. We will explore activating the power of “holy intrigue” to develop an attitude of gratitude, especially during trials. Both of these skills can lead us to acceptance of the trial and asking the most fruitful questions: “What does God want as He provides me with the courage to face this challenge? What is the most responsible way to live through this based on what He wants for my life?

Monday, March 13^th: Chapter 4 God’s Specific Call. Identifying what God is calling us to do during trials is very important in our relationship with Self, God, and others. “Suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it takes on meaning” are wise words from Dr. Viktor Frankl who lived these words in four concentration camps. We will explore Dr. Frankl’s insights and those of St. Paul to discover the types of meaning available to each one of us.  

Monday, March 20^th: Chapter 5 Mercy and Forgiveness. Please join us for the final week of the book study to explore forgiveness as an important element in successfully dealing with trials. Sometimes our trials were brought on by ourselves and sometimes by others. Forgiveness is an important component of maintaining our faith, hope, and love during and after we have suffered with challenges which seemed to have robbed us of our peace.

Nativity’s Ministry for Healthy Relationships is inviting you and your friends/loved ones to join a book study on Trusting God in the Present by Fr. Jacques Philippe. The classes will be held at Church of the Nativity, 3800 West 119^th St., Leawood, Kansas 66209, from 6:30 – 8:00 PM, in the St. Joseph Room in the upper level of the Church building. Please register below.
 

     Have you (or others close to you) been weathering a storm of changes and transitions in life, especially over the last three years? Many of us have had to make modifications and adjustments in regard to how we function physically, psychologically/emotionally, socially, financially, and spiritually. When the needs for modifications begin to quickly multiply, it is not unusual for us to feel greatly challenged by the adjustments.
     Often we need a "roadmap" to help us understand the new terrain and how to cope with expected and unexpected adjustments between the "previous me/life" and the “new me/life." Understanding the psychological and emotional process one encounters during the process can make the journey less confusing or challenging and assist you in redirecting your energy into that which breeds hope, enlightenment, healthy responses to whatever is taking place, joy, and peace.
     You are invited to attend two presentations created to assist people in gaining insights about how to relinquish the "old" and gain an opportunity for great psychological and spiritual growth to take place.

Monday, February 6th, we will;
1. Identify two approaches to the first phase of change/transitions which is "Endings" we encounter
2. Discuss how embracing the Truth about our ability to cope can ease the pain of the second phase of change and transitions known as "Liminal Space"
3. Identify roadblocks which can be removed in your life to enable successful progression to the third phase - "Getting Comfortable with the Uncomfortable" and building the new sense of self and new sense of what your life is going to be as it changes and you make the necessary internal transitions

Monday, February 13th, we will continue the study of Change and Transitions by:
1. Introducing questions (from Fr. Jacques Philippe's book, Trusting God in the Present, 2022), we can ask ourselves questions to encourage movement from the darkness of disappointment, disillusionment, and fear and entry into the Light for healthy adjustment to the New You/NewLife
2. Exploring how to develop authentic "hope" through three types of meaning to be discovered in the process you are encountering
3. Engaging in conversation around Jacque Philippe's statement and how it can help us redirect ourselves into the Light: "Every trial is also a trial of hope . . . I am counting on the Lord; I 'm expecting help from Him. . . . I abandon myself into God's hands, and it is in Him that I have hope."
4. Learning how to embrace New Beginnings (the last phase of change and transitions) while embracing that which has been standing "in the wings or backstage" of your life!

Church of the Nativity's Ministry for Health Relationships is inviting you and your friends/loved ones to join others in exploring strategies to embrace trials and increase your psychological and spiritual resilience. The classes will be held at Church of the Nativity, 3800 West 119th St., Leawood, Kansas 66209 on Monday, February 6th and 13th, from 6:30-8:00 PM, in the Parish Hall in the lower level of the Church building.