I was able to attend the third weekly session in the Life in the Spirit seminar that my friends are leading at St. Michael's Parish in Ridgetown.
I plan to update this posting when I receive the speaker's notes, so what I have here is missing some of the actual teaching currently.
But, here is what transpired generally in that session.
Each session begins with some praise and worship. It is several minutes of preparation to hear and listen, and as God inhabits the praises of His people, it invited God into our presence. This session had about 25 people in total in attendance, including the retired pastor of the parish Fr. Sam Johnson, who still lives nearby and a newly ordained Deacon, as well as 4 of us from London, and most of 20 others from the actual parish.
Here are the songs that were used in the session I attended on November 9, 2009. The music was led by Wayne Zimmer on guitar accompanied by Brian Benoot on violin. All 25 or so attendees at the session joined in to make for a beautiful choir.
Lord I Lift Your Name On High
Come and Fill Me Up
Come Now Is The Time To Worship
The session then went on to some teaching about what God's Word says about the Holy Spirit and how He wants to be in our lives. The theme for this particular week was from Extreme Makeover about the materials used to finish off our spiritual home, comparing it to roofing and siding materials, and the other materials needed to finish the walls and floors of our physical homes.
The first leader, Barb Zimmer spoke of the bible verses that these images evoke, and also gave some of her personal story of her journey into the faith, which is by far the most powerful teaching tool. Barb told of her journey to the Catholic Church against family resistance to our faith, and particularly of kneeling in front of a radiator at a window in her bedroom, and telling God that she was not moving until He touched her. He did and the rest is history, except for that which is current events.
Her husband Wayne then spoke and furthered the teaching, opening up the bible verses further that were relative to the theme. He particularly compared the finishing of a house to the following words from Ephesians Chapter 6:
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.The session ended with another praise song.
11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing).
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