Listening Hearts

by Farnham, Suzanne G.; Gill, Joseph P.; McLean, R. Taylor; Ward, Susan M.; Palmer, Parker J.

• ISBN13: 9780819224446
• ISBN10: 0819224448
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-04-01
• Publisher: Morehouse Pub Co

Summary

This 20th anniversary edition introduces the unique approach of Listening Hearts to the spiritual practice of discernment for a new generation. Written to make the often elusive and usually clergy-centered spiritual practice of discernment accessible to all people, Listening Hearts features simple reflections and exercises drawn from scripture and from Quaker and Ignatian traditions. The seminal work in the Listening Hearts Series, this book has been a beloved resource for tens of thousands of individual readers, retreat participants, small groups and church leaders, listening for and responding to God's call in their lives.

Author Biography

Suzanne G. Farnham, founder of Listening Hearts Ministries, leads spiritual retreats and workshops throughout the country. Joseph P. Gill is Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. An attorney, he is past-president of the Annapolis Area Ministries for the Homeless. R. Taylor McLean, President of Listening Hearts Ministries, is an active lay leader in Baltimore with a special interest in Scripture and the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Susan M. Ward lives in California and heads the Listening Hearts discernment ministry team at St. Paul's Cathedral in San Diego.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Foreword	p. xiii
Introduction	p. 1
Call
What Is ôCallö for the Christian?	p. 7
Call to Ministry	p. 15
Discernment
What Is Discernment?	p. 21
What Conditions Help Discern God's Call?	p. 25
Is It God We Are Hearing?	p. 33
Community
Why Is Christian Community Important in Discerning God's Call?	p. 45
The Value of a Discernment Group	p. 51
Supporting the Ministries of Others	p. 57
Accountability for Ministries	p. 63
Epilogue: Hearts to Listen	p. 67
Appendices Of Practical Suggestions
Guidelines for Discernment Groups	p. 71
Types of Questions to Raise When Serving in Discernment Groups	p. 87
Informal History of the Project and the Research Methods Used	p. 99
Listening Heart Program Opportunities	p. 107
Notes	p. 111
Annotated Bibliography	p. 135
Glossary	p. 155
A Prayer of Thomas Merton	p. 167
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