Fear and Faithfulness: Virtual Workshop Series 2020

Fear is a pressing topic. Our times ferment fear. Our society bubbles over with it in politics, pandemic, and serious concerns for justice, peace, and environmental crisis. Our online retreat will address these queries:

What is your relationship to your own fear?  How is your fear both friend and foe?  What kind of prayer or spiritual practice best supports your faithful response to fear?

In times of pervasive fear, the world needs people to be able to follow the subtlest motions of Leading: to protect and care for themselves, to protect and care for others and the common good—to “follow the Guide in all circumstances” as early Quakers said it. …Including in and through fear.
 
But our society and diverse faith communities can offer problematic messages about fear: If we are afraid, we are "doing it wrong", not trusting or loving enough. Or we are inadequate to the task at hand. What is a more affirming, Life-giving approach to fear? What if we "befriend" fear in our inner life with the Holy? Fear is not a private weakness to be hidden, but a call to connection and community wisdom and encouragement. Let's share our unique experiences and helpful responses to fear. Please join us!

What to expect: Our aim is to gather in the Spirit, settle deeply, reflect, share, and grow in faithfulness. You'll retreat in your own home using the Zoom video conferencing platform. Our session will include introductions, guided reflection, a brief presentation, pairs sharing, and worship. A couple days before the retreat, you’ll receive via email a PDF handout packet with a schedule and handouts.

Cathy Wally (Alaska Friends Conference) will serve as elder for this workshop.

Christine Betz Hall is a Quaker, educator, retreat facilitator, and spiritual director/companion. She directs and facilitates Way of the Spirit—an 18 month distance-residential program for growth in spiritual discernment, prayer, and Spirit-led ministry or activism from the wisdom of the Quaker tradition. She has also served for eight years as adjunct faculty in Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry. 

Chris has a contemplative spirit, and is called to nurture prayer and faithfulness that strengthen contemporary expressions of everyday ministry. Her teaching invites attentiveness to the Inward Teacher in ordinary life. She has a gentle, experiential approach that assists others to live more fully into giftedness, spiritual leadings, or larger ministry.