Past Program Event Endorsements
Spirit Journey Retreat:Empowering Our Faith
Minnesota
Feb. 16-18, 2007
Mt. Olivet Conference and Retreat Center, Farmington, MN
Sponsored by the Northfield United Methodist Church, Northfield, MN
Report by Beret Griffith, coordinator (used by permission)
Here in Minnesota, where the snow is melting, we just completed a forty-four-hour weekend seminar with forty people. The pastor at the United Methodist Church in Northfield last winter, about this time, pushed hard to offer an intensive “weekend seminary” experience for the congregation. He asked me to talk to the Adult Education Committee to see if there would be interest. I’d heard that John Cock from Greensboro had done some reworking of the Religious Studies I (RS-I) seminar for eighty members of Hilton Head (SC) United Methodist Church. John and I talked. He was interested. I briefed the committee and got the go-ahead to form a team to move forward.
A team of five, plus John, worked for the next year to pull it off. We first wanted it in the fall of 2006. The Mount Olivet Conference and Retreat Center, where we wanted to hold the retreat, books at least a year out and was not available. We then reserved space there for the weekend of February 16-18, 2007. It is about thirty miles south of Minneapolis.
The team named it the “The Spirit Journey Retreat: Empowering Our Faith.” It was outstanding. There were forty people, including John and his wife, Lynda. John led the whole weekend. With his additions of small group work (even “Grace Huddles” – a highlight for nearly everyone), reflection time on Saturday afternoon, songs, rituals and spirit exercises, it had a spacious feel, even though intense. We did start at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and nearly everyone showed up. It reaffirmed the contentlessness of the Christian story and its relevance for current times.
John’s leadership was outstanding and must have been exhausting, recalling the days when four people taught this type of seminar. Lynda worked with me on practics and took care of selling John’s books. Work on the space created a fine container for spirit work. My husband, Ron, set up the DVD movie for Saturday night. The Oscar-winning movie, with an hour’s conversation following, was a hit.
About a third of the folks were from outside the congregation and included four people who are experienced ToP trainers and consultants. One works for a consulting firm and another for a large foundation that does leadership training throughout the area. The profiles of participants were interesting and ranged from conservative to liberal, evangelical to progressive, educated to highly educated. Several people who teach and work in business had theological backgrounds. Discussions were animated, deep, and grounded.
A rock (petrified tree), owned by Sue and Stefan Laxdal and present at all RS-I seminars ever done in Minneapolis, proudly took its place at the center of the room during the last session. It was preceded by a dinosaur bone, a very large crystal, and a large fossil. The Earth flag hung at the front of the room. We used a portable wall designed by ToP trainer Cheryl Kartes’ husband, Patrick. It was designed for the ToP crew and creates twelve feet of free standing wall. It was the best wall ever. We used six feet of the wall, covered it with a sticky wall and put four flip chart pages up for every session. John had never had such a fine “blackboard.” Sleeping in a motel-type room at the retreat center, with an abundance of food at meals, was good.
Spending time with John and Lynda, with whom we had never formally worked, was a time not to be missed. Husband Ron and I had a dinner on Thursday so John and Lynda could both meet the team and get properly welcomed before diving into the retreat. Afterwards we managed some celebratory eating, drinking, and great conversation.
Thanks to John and Lynda and to all who had the original vision for this seminar-in-depth, that calls and re-calls us to go on the great spirit journey together.
~On behalf of the local team: Faye Caskey, head of Adult Education at Northfield UMC; her husband, Carl Caskey, retired Wesley Foundation Director; Clay Oglesbee, pastor of Northfield UMC; Bill Ostrem, environmental activist; and my husband, Ron Griffith, Northfield coop grocery store co-founder and Board member.
Rejuvenating the Spirit (blog by participant Bill Ostrem -- used by permission)
February 23rd, 2007
I haven’t written much about my own faith in this blog. In part that comes from me being respectful of the diversity of readers out there, but it also arises from my own lack of experience and uncomfortability in speaking about my faith and an awkwardness in doing so in our multicultural, largely secular culture. To speak about Christianity is to broach a fraught subject; it also means using a discourse that has often been misused, one that many people cannot listen to without hearing chords of self-righteous judgment and even bigotry.
I grew up in a family that didn’t speak much about faith. We attended a Methodist church, and I was a believer until my teen years, when my intellectual curiosity led me to lose my faith. I did not regain it until my late twenties, and I generally do not speak much about it outside of my church.
Well, I’ll be more open about my faith in this post and write briefly about my experience last weekend, when I attended a retreat that I and other members of the United Methodist Church of Northfield helped to organize. It was led by John P. Cock, a teacher, writer, blogger, and retired Methodist minister.
The lead organizers of the retreat had participated in similar retreats or seminars in the past, organized under the Ecumenical Institute, a group associated with the Institute of Cultural Affairs. I remain largely ignorant about the history of these groups, but I gather that from the 1950’s on they were a kind of force for spiritual rejuvenation. They were advocates for examining the faith from contemporary perspectives, and they played an important role in many people’s faith journeys.
This post-modern approach to Christian theology was evident in the readings for our weekend - essays from four German writers of the early and mid-twentieth century: Rudolf Bultmann, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and H. Richard Niebuhr. I won’t go into detail about the ideas expressed, but I will say that I was particularly appreciative of the ideas on grace expressed by Paul Tillich. We also did a group exercise on grace that forever changed my view of that aspect of God’s promise to us. God’s grace, I saw, is always present, always available, always forgiving, always inviting us to love others and the world. It is, as we wrote in our group, “a profound experience, a time of seeing what is true and accepting the love of God and others; it brings growth and transformation and connects us with something greater.” God’s grace, I also learned, has been with me throughout my life, whether I recognized it or not.
Not everyone in the weekend liked the theology presented to us; some knowledgeable people saw it as unorthodox and even heretical. I respect their views, and I lack the knowledge to really critique either side. However, I don’t feel that the things I’m taking away from this weekend will undermine my faith or dilute it or lead it astray. Instead I feel a calm assurance that the Holy Spirit is working in the world, guiding us as we inquire into the nature of our lives and beliefs.
I also appreciated John Cock’s emphasis on care for the earth. Readers of this blog know that is important to me. One of the symbols displayed over the weekend was a simple picture of planet earth on a blue background. John mentioned his appreciation of Thomas Berry’s ideas on spirituality and the environment, and I hope to learn more about this influential Catholic priest.
Those interested in learning more about John Cock can read his excellent blog, Journey Reflection, which makes remarkable use of pictures. See also his many books.
Other comments:
"I first participated in a course of this type over 35 years ago. It changed my perspective on Christian faith and opened the door to what has become a lifelong engagement in pastoral service, deepened spirituality and community organizing. A recent experience of the course only renewed my conviction and enthusiasm about the intellectual and experiential clarity to be gained from such times apart."
~Clay Oglesbee, Pastor, Northfield United Methodist Church
*****
"This is the most comprehensive approach I have ever encountered to making sense of our spiritual journey. We learned to bring understanding and a state of grace to both the agonies and the
ecstasies of life on this planet." ~Cynthia Wilcox, Ph.D., Leadership Consultant
*****
"Dear John and Lynda, thanks for traveling all this way . . . in the middle of February to be present with us! The time together was a 'grace event' for me. I've been meditating on the mantra, 'All is good, I am accepted, the past is approved, the future is open.' (Then, I want to say . . . but, but, but, and I have to remind myself, no buts.) I picture each of the phrases as one of the four tips of the cross. You helped us digest some heady materials so that we had some pearls to take home -- I'm appreciative for the pearls I'm savoring. . . . [As one of the participants] said, what will the next chapter be for each one of us? Again, please know that this has been a powerful event in my journey."
******
"Thanks for leading us and for being who you are. We were greatly enriched by our time with you! I forgot to thank you for the D.H. Lawrence readings, too."
Participant "thank-you comments"
written/signed on a large piece of paper, given with a special gift:
"Thank you for opening your heart, sharing your wisdom, and guiding us into expanded awareness."
"Thanks for the 'grounding' -- your insistence on making it real."
"You've left us much go-power!"
"John, thank you for guiding us into the mystery again."
"I appreciate your efforts to help me understand God better. Thank you."
"Thanks for your patient, persistent, challenging, and bold leadership."
"John, you inspire me. I'll be in touch."
"Thanks for leading us -- sometimes where we did not plan on going."
"Thank you for challenging us to reflect anew and calling us to new creation."
"Thank you for your wisdom."
"May the great spirit wind continue to blow with and through you to guide flocks of 'sheep' to the master shepherd. Many thanks."
"Thank you for sharing yourself with us, sometimes abrasively."
"We are so blest to have you and Lynda among us."
"May God continue to work through you -- and thank you for the songs."
"Thank you for bringing an old/new model to assist us on our journey."
"Thank you for sharing your faith with us and challenging us to grow spiritually and to expend ourselves."
"John, thank you so much for your provoking leadership in a thoughtful and spiritual retreat."
"Thanks for such an energetic presentation with lots of laughter."
"John, thank you for helping me refine my understanding of grace."
"We give thanks to God that you have been among us!"
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Christ, Spirit and Creation Seminar
Albany, Georgia
June 25-7, 2004
Was a weekend centering on the spirit journey common to all faith traditions, knowing all are one in spirit. John P. Cock, writer, theologian, and retreat leader, led the weekend event for four Episcopal churches and one Lutheran church in the Albany area.
Friday 7:30-9:00 pm: "Jesus the Christ, More Real than Jesus the Man"
presentation and dialogue at St. Paul's Episcopal Church
using his book The Transparent Event
40 were present
Saturday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm: "Our Universal Spirit Journey"
two-session seminar at St. John & St. Mark Episcopal Church
using his book Our Universal Spirit Journey
30 were present
Sunday 11:00 am: sermon "Who is the Neighbor 2000 Years Later?"
using his and wife's book, At One with the Heart of Creation
Over 100 were present
PARTICIPANT COMMENTS
"I recommend this type of seminar for anyone who needs to broaden spiritual boundaries, especially those turned off by bible belt theology and those who are mostly outside of mainstream Chrisitianity. Absolutely loved his 'neighbor' sermon." ~Nancy A. Banker, chairperson of CABLE (five-church network in Albany)
"I recommend this because it encourages thought/feelings beyond the (ego) self! ~Sandy Sudduth
"I found John Cock provoked stimulating dialogue and offered innovative techniques to enhance one's spiritual journey." ~C. G. Heagebook, Jr., UMC minister
"I thought this would be just another speaker. I was wrong. John Cock was great."~Calvin Isom, musician
"I recommend this seminar by John Cock. Very inspiring." ~Danny Holcombe, sales mgr.
"Enjoyable speaker and very entertaining." ~Arline Seaton
"This seminar affirmed many spiritual truths." ~Donna Lane
"I recommend this type of seminar as a way to help individuals and groups to bring our common journey into focus." ~J. K. Barnette
"I am thankful to have had an opportunity to attend this seminar." ~Lila J. Isom, retired teacher
MORE INFORMATION
Contact Rev. Dr. Joe Clift jclift@earthlink.net
Episcopal Church of St. John and St. Mark
Albany, Georgia 31705-4507
Phone: (229) 436-5268
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Faith Journey Seminar
Alpharetta United Methodist Church
Alpharetta, Georgia
April 22-3, 2002
PARTICIPANT COMMENTS
Modern business tools, founded on decades of research and development, are now at our disposal. But, how about our spiritual tools? Have we entered the 21st century in our Spiritual lives? Has our ability to apply everlasting truth in today’s world kept pace with what is demanded of us? Environment questions of global proportions, world economies inexorably linked, famine and disease of biblical proportions, moral dilemmas of cloning and genetic engineering, terrorists attacks, religious wars, genocide and ethnic cleansing – all pressed upon us from every angle, 24 hours a day. Are we up to the task?
“Faith Journey,” led by John P. Cock, can become a powerful spiritual tool for you, as important as any business tool you might use. John’s credentials are impeccable. His insight is based upon decades of research and full time practice in the fields of life globally. John has distilled the essence of the 20th century’s most important theologians: Bultman, Tillich, Bonhoeffer, and Niebuhr, just as business consultants have distilled Deming, Juran, Welch, and Drucker. Our world cries out for Spiritual Black Belts, just as business cries out for Six Sigma Black Belts – to bring about transformation. Take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity.
Jerome Hunter
Quality Director
General Motors Corporation
I had become very 'comfortable' with my Christianity over the last 20 years or so, and needed a nudge. John Cock provided it. He challenged me with new ways of looking at traditional concepts of God, Christ, Holy Spirit, and Church. His passion for the subject was obvious and it was contagious! His teaching style was refreshing and at times unorthodox, but I needed that to jump to another level. As I read in Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest only two days later, "If we obey what God says according to our sincere belief, God will break us from those traditional beliefs that misrepresent Him." John Cock has done that, and through this seminar has helped me to do the same.
Jane Rogers
Sunday School teacher for 20 years at AFUMC
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Faith Journey Retreat
Epworth By The Sea, St. Simons, GA
October 13-15, 2000, Friday night through Sunday lunch
70 adults and 6 youth of St. Andrew By-The-Sea UMC, Hilton Head Island, SC
Spirit Guide: John P. Cock, Greensboro, NC; faculty, Lay Ministry Center, Lake Junaluska, NC.
Intent: Help us remember what we know; figure out where we stand;
get clear about symbols of God, Christ, Holy Spirit, and Church;
re-dedicate ourselves to God's rule over our lives and to the
faith and freedom of Jesus, our leader, who showed what all can do.
A few of the participants' verbalized expectations at the beginning of the retreat were joy for the journey, life focus, spiritual growth, understanding, solitude, renewal, gratitude, direction.
Participants' brainstorm at the end of the retreat relative to question What's next?: vision for our church in our community; accepted we are, now we can accept others; confidence to follow my dream (to become a minister); mission within our community; spiritual growth within our families; draw youth to church; maintain the enthusiasm we've built here; expand covenant groups; this has been reawakening, now need formation and journey structures; we have been given much and much is demanded; get into the Christian Believers study group coming up.
Following are personal testimonials written and handed in for helping to set up other church retreats:
It was comprehensive, powerful, down-to-earth, honest presentations of the Gospel and our responsibility. Very informative, very powerful, very useful and absolutely necessary for those of us of faith. Jack H. Biel, attorney
I thoroughly enjoyed, and benefited from, the Faith Journey Retreat. I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to examine their faith. Dr. Richard G. Kadesch
Stimulating, life-changing, thought provoking, forceful, worshipful, about our vocation: being Christ in the world. I am deeply grateful for the leader's ministry and his impact in our lives.
Amelia Smoot, leader of Stephen's Ministry
The sessions were intellectually stimulating. . . . We discovered 'new tunes for old words,' both in songs and the profound writings. Mitzi Ganelin
The clergy would benefit from this type of meeting. I love the small group sharing. Jan Addison
It was a concentrated, in-depth study of the "faith journey." (no name)
Thought provoking, faith building, mind opening, sharing ideas, vocation producing, new vision, controversial, radical, life changing. Patsy Cahill, First Baptist Church of Bluffton
Very helpful to lay members; good understanding of our background in Christianity and how it relates in present time. (no name)
John Cock's retreat leadership fosters a deep look into the writings of theologians, then develops their thoughts into meaningful symbols which can be tools for transforming life. (no name)
I would recommend the Faith Journey Retreat to all. It opened our eyes. Sue Eve, retail owner
To get in touch with leading edge thinking! Makes you think about life and its true meaning, e.g., What is my vocation? Do I have one? (no name)
To those in need of spiritual enlightenment: This retreat was an overwhelming presentation in a focused style of the essence of the great theologians, symbols and substance regarding God, life as it is, Jesus the Man, Christ the event, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and embellished by the movie As Good As It Gets. Barb and Don Schoene
Have you had the experience of sticking your finger in a light socket? No? Then by all means participate in one of John Cock's seminars. The benefit to you will be shocking! Evie Dolbey,
Chairperson Worship Committee, St. Andrew By-The-Sea
Acceptance, love, faith, freedom. John led us and was one of us on a glorious weekend journey. He left us with points to ponder, new insights, a gift to bring back to our church community, and direction in our vocations. Elaine Mitchell, Parish Nurse
The weekend was a great faith journey. It inspires one to think, examine oneself, and then go forward to live a more productive life serving Christ. (no name)
I highly recommend the teachings of John Cock, for he brings to life the teachings of the Bible and allows us each to "simply accept the fact that you are accepted." Bill Smoot, attorney
This weekend has truly been a faith journey for me. My heart, mind and spirit have truly been opened and empowered to go out in my family, community and world to make a difference in Jesus' name. This is a retreat everyone on or starting a faith journey should attend. Thank God for John Cock. John Eve, retail owner
This seminar is a great way to add another dimension to your faith journey. It has opened my eyes in a way I did not expect. Shelly Yeager
The weekend is a good faith journey that makes you think about your life today and how your life and faith can grow!! (no name)
I would highly recommend John Cock as leader of/for any spiritual journey. His spirit-led insights are contemporary and thought provoking. A view of Christ as it applies NOW!! Steve Allcroft
The retreat was the most challenging, reaffirming and revolutionary religious experience of my life. My soul and my newly found "vocation" will be forevermore nourished and directed. Lin Rhodes, former Washington, D.C. assistant
Powerful weekend and well worth it. Have had a lot of food for thought, have learned a lot about myself and highly recommend it. Joy MacDonald, real estate
A refreshing and rejuvenating experience. John Cock used his witness and wit to challenge us to explore the spectrum of Christianity, the Grace event, Christian responsibility. He is an engaging and dynamic speaker who asks the "real" questions. Jim Eidson
Inspiring opportunity for lay people and clergy to read and understand theologians who have
shaped the teachings of the Church and then to apply these teachings to our modern-day lives.
Nancy Jenkins, Boys & Girls Club
John Cock is a well prepared and inspirational spiritual leader. Through fine group leadership he links solid theology to real life individual growth and church action. He is funny, academic and charming. Carmen (retired school administrator) and Bill Cunningham (retired corporation executive)
I immensely enjoyed the presentations, the poetry, the leader's style, his knowledge, chats with him, and his commitment to Christianity. Don Shoene, retired corporation executive
I was both touched and challenged. Highlights for me were the Tillich and Bonhoeffer papers re to my life. The graphic symbols used connected with our lives. I was moved by his personal life stories. This helped us all to reach deep inside ourselves and our pasts to examine the "grace intrusions" which have changed us. I am grateful to God for John Cock, his wife and soul mate, Lynda, and this experience of my life. Lois Lewis, teacher
It was truly a GREAT WEEKEND. I loved the challenge to think (for a change), search, take a look at myself and renew my relationship with the POWER that is in charge of all of me. I loved the movie and the discussion following. The section on vocation really spoke to me. Edith Young
The Faith Journey Retreat fulfilled important functions in our church: it challenged ho-hum assumptions and perfunctory faith postures, provided opportunity to read important primary sources, including documents written by the facilitator, and presented salient biblical and theological insights. Both dialog and exercises were productive. It was an inspiring experience.
Dr. Julius Scott, retired college president
Minister's comment:
St. Andrew By The Sea United Methodist Church, Hilton Head, South Carolina recently shared in a "Faith Journey Retreat" weekend at St. Simon Island, GA. Seventy five adults, plus youth and children were a part of this stimulating weekend. Our leader was John P. Cock, Adjunct Faculty of the Lay Ministry Center.
John Cock is an unusually gifted and challenging leader. His brilliance, skill, intensity, humor, and deep and abiding faith, all contributed to compelling each of us to re-examine our personal belief systems. He led us on a journey of discovering the meaning of God, Christ, Holy Spirit, and the Church, in our contemporary life, and introduced many of our laity for the first time to the significant writings and personal witness of Rudolf Bultmann, Paul Tillich, Richard Niebuhr, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
This was a weekend when our minds were stretched and our faith was deepened. The positive influence of John's presence and leadership will engage the life of this congregation for a long time to come. I recommend John Cock to any church that is serious about capturing a new vision of Christian faith for the 21st. Century. Dr. E. David Du Bois, Associate Minister
Leader's comment:
I was inspired in the fellowship of this group of church people from St. Andrew By-The-Sea and others. The retreat was intense and so were they. They were attentive, honest, outspoken, perceptive, caring, compassionate, quick, fun-loving, reverent, articulate, and committed to the Christian tradition--in all, awesome faith journey companions. I will always remember them and our retreat together. True, to whom much is given much is demanded. They know that. I expect to hear great things of their ministry together on behalf of the congregation, the parish, and the world. We all are more aware of the Word that says life is to be spent and not saved. I am thankful for them. John Cock
