Streams School of Ministry: January 2010

Monastic Daily Schedule

Posted by Jourdan |1 comments

I know that some of you have expressed interest in what our daily schedule will look like while we are doing our Monastic week, so I've decided to just put up a quick summary of what all the interns will be participating in while this Monastic theme plays out.

Here's the lowdown:

Beginning on Tuesday (yesterday)
-Meet in the morning to discuss in more depth of what silence and solitude really means, and why we are doing this Monastic lifestyle for 4 days.
-Dinner in candlelight, no electricity from 5-6pm.
-Worship on the Pinnacle

Wednesday (today!)
-Monastic morning, meditate on the 365 names of God, courtesy of John Paul Jackson's 'I Am' CD. Then practice lectio divina with one scripture for an hour.
-Monastic lunch, and another monastic meal at dinner with no electric lights from 5-9pm.

-24 hours of silence begins...NOW!

Thursday
-9am to 12 noon - still in silence, spent in meditation or whatever you feel led to do.
-Noon to 5pm - still in silence.
-Monastic dinner at 5pm where silence breaks, but still no electric lights from 5-6pm.

Friday
-9am to 12 noon - silent morning
-1-5pm work duties
-Monastic dinner, no electric lights from 5-6pm.

Then at 6pm, Monastic week is officially over!!

Saturday will be spent visiting New London's town Ski Joring competition, sledding, laughing, and eating lots of sugar and meat...if you want to, that is :)

Be blessed!
Jourdan M.

1st year intern

Monastic Week

Posted by Jourdan |0 comments

Ahh, sweet silence.

Today is our very first in a series of four monastic days here at the intern house. Woo! We are going to practice a somewhat monastic lifestyle for the next four days to experience a new kind of outlook on life and the Lord. I think I speak for all of us when I say it falls under the category of 'scary-wonderful'.

We will be taking away meats, processed sugars and flours, unnecessary talking, music, and sometimes electric lights to just use candlelight. We will also have certain hours devoted to silence every night and a block of 24 hours of silence beginning on Wednesday night.

There is a quote found in Richard Foster's book, 'Celebration of Discipline' that says:

"There is an old proverb to the effect that 'all those who open their mouths, close their eyes!' The purpose of silence and solitude is to be able to see and hear. Control rather than no noise is the key to silence."

We think of this monastic week as being completely dedicated to the Lord. Our silence is just another way for us to connect with Him instead of focusing on our ourselves all day long, which in fact is a very common thread in most human being's lives. Sad, but true. The Lord desires our attention and our relationship with Him, so denying ourselves and what we want while focusing in on what He wants to say and do is honoring to Him.

That is the kind of sacrifice that matters. Psalm 50 talks a lot about what a real sacrifice is in the sight of the Lord. It's not all the physical possessions you have, but the heart that's behind it while giving thanks to the Lord.

"I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine...Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
- Psalm 50:9-15

We are all excited to experience this new life-perspective, and see what the Lord speaks through it all. I'll be sure to get back to you once our week is over to tell you all about how it went!

Peace and rest,
Jourdan M.

1st year intern

A Week with our Native Friends

Posted by Matthew Ryan Keating |0 comments

Since we arrived back from the winter break, the interns have had a VERY busy schedule. Last week we were honored with a visit from two Native Americans named Dan and Elmer. Each of them brought stories, wisdom, unique insight and perspective, and friendship.

Several times we had the privilege of worshiping with our new friends as they led us in their traditional style with chants, hand drums, and a flute. They also shared testimonies and taught as well as simply spending time with us eating and having fellowship.

Elmer asked us the question, "How many of you are white?" Everyone raised their hands. Then he said that we all have a heritage and calling ourselves "white" robs us of our rich cultural family lines. He also encouraged us to seek out our cultural past.

The next day the interns visited a local Native American museum. The director of the museum gave us a very informative guided tour. We viewed relics, antiques, and modern Native American items... from bark canoes to tobacco pipes... primitive tools to modern clothing.

The week ended with a traditional protocol ceremony where several of the local tribal leaders honored Dan, Elmer, and our church body with gifts. The ceremony was amazing and many new relationships were formed. We are all bettered and transformed by the people around us.

Here are some photos from our weekend with our friends Dan and Elmer!

Riding in the van to the Native museum.

The director the the museum is explaining the method natives used to snare eels.

Elmer and a few of the interns getting ready to worship on the Pinnacle Mountain.

Discussion and teaching with Dan and Elmer.

The traditional protocol ceremony at the end of the week.

Matthew Ryan Keating
2nd Year Leader

Christmas is Over and A New Day Has Begun!

Posted by Streams School of Ministry, NH |1 comments

Hello everyone!

We are so excited to all be back here in New London, NH for the beginning of the new term. It has definitely started out with a bang!

Just the second day after the interns arrived from their restful Christmas breaks we rode out for a four day conference called "Kingdom Mechanics" at the Metrowest Bridge in Boston.

Bags were unpacked then re-packed, interns were stuffed into the van, and finally after two hours or so of an anchovy style van ride we arrived at Metrowest. As well as attending the conference, the interns also had other work duties and assignments so we could help in any way we could. It was an amazing learning experience for all of us.

The speakers were Jeff Jansen, Jeremy Nelson, and the pastor of the church, John Thomas. They each had tons of good words to share with the body. It was amazing to hear what the Lord had put on each of their hearts...

Many of the interns were really blessed and touched by the speakers, and a lot of inner healing was taking place. Even outer healing was breaking out!! There were many people who got up to receive healing and left later that night or afternoon with a miracle in their body. Backs, ears, thyroids, and even noses were healed that weekend!

The Lord was really doing some incredible stuff in everyone's lives during the conference, and I'm sure I can't even begin to comprehend all that it was...

All I can say for sure is He is good. All the time.

Here are some pictures from the weekend, courtesy of our good friend and leader Matthew Keating. Be blessed!