Resources to Deepen Your Worship Experience
and Nurture your Life of Contemplation

The buttons below, link you to pdf files with suggestions for children's books on beauty and links to contemplative activities involving all the ways we take in information.  Some people connect deeply with the divine through silent meditation on God's Word, but many others struggle with this form.  Just like everyone learns differently, we also connect spiritually in unique ways.  We are thankful for these resources compiled by the Worship Design Studio.

Weekly Reflections

In order to discover more about the themes from each week, check out these interviews
led by Dr. Marcia McFee, discussing with Dr. Wendy Farley,
the principles and practices introduced in worship.  
Dr. McFee developed the resources for this worship series based upon the book and teachings
of Dr. Farley (the book will be available this Fall).
​You can use the reflection questions and videos on your own or in small group discussions.
Week One (July 12, 2020) interview, learn what beauty is, how it connects us to the divine, and how practicing a contemplative life can awaken the eyes of our hearts.  Also, discover the connection between between contemplation and the fruits it bears for radical compassion.  The button below offers a discussion guide and additional links referred to in the interview.
Week Two (July 19, 2020) interview and reflective questions:  Contemplate more deeply upon the causes of suffering and where God is in the midst of it all.  Learn how Julian of Norwich saw her relationship with God, which allowed her to say, "It is well with my soul" even when the world around her was anything but, well.
Week Three (July 26, 2020) - This week's interview and reflection questions invite us to explore the essential nature of beauty for the well-being of our spirit.  That even in the midst of brokenness and evil, the search for beauty and discovery of it can prevent being us from being overwhelmed.  And, will awaken in us a deep passion for what is true and real.
Week 4 (August 9, 2020) - Wendy Farley invites us to move beyond our thoughts, the limits of our names for God, and the categories we make for all beings into the vast mystery of God's divine goodness.  Explore the uneasiness we have when we cannot make sense of something. Instead of trying to grab on tighter to our vision; our understandings, what if we let go and let ourselves be swept up in the Beloved, and get lost in Yahweh's goodness?
Week 5 ​(August 16, 2020) - "The Beauty of A World Without A Why"
How do we move beyond defining the beauty of living things and people based upon their usefulness to us and the world's definitions of beautiful?  How might contemplation with God, open our hearts to see creation and all that is in it as God sees?  No flaws, just altogether beautiful.