Quick Connect
Email: church at stjamesbr.org
Quick Search
Center for Spiritual Formation
The St. James Center for Spiritual Formation offers programs to help us pray and put our prayers into action. In both Hebrew and Greek the word "spirit" means "breath." As we speak of spirituality we speak of the breath of God that fills us with life, literally "inspires" us, and that leads us on our spiritual journey.
While our programs come from the perspective of the Christian faith as expressed in the Episcopal tradition, we offer food for the spiritual journey of people of all faith traditions and for those who do not come from a faith tradition. All are invited to participate in our programs designed to cultivate our spiritual growth and our awareness of God's presence in our life and in the lives of those we encounter daily.
Spiritual practices that enrich us come in various forms -- prayer, study, body movement, music and art. We encounter God in many places - in nature, in worship, in scripture. It is the Holy Spirit who meets us in these places and in these activities and leads us from there into a deeper relationship with God. The Center offers programs of prayer, study, reflection and action that support us in meeting the Holy Spirit and deepening our relationship with God.
The Center's logo incorporates the St. James Church symbolic cross and chalice with a shell in the center.
The shell is a symbol for the Apostle James, a symbol for baptism, and for the Center's mission to stimulate a new birth in Christian faith.
Whatever your faith tradition, we welcome you to participate in our programs.
Our Library
In the beginning was the Word . . .
We are populating our library with a list of suggested reading from some of the renowned teachers, preachers and authors contributing to the Center's programs.
CSF Current Programs
Altar of Repose
In creating the meditative garden ambience, the Altar of Repose provides the opportunity to be still, reflect, and be awake to the meanings of Holy Week in preparation for the Resurrection.
The Labyrinth
Walking the labyrinth offers a creative space to pray.
Some walk the labyrinth in prayerful silence; others quietly repeat a mantra or meaningful phrase. Some simply reflect on feelings or questions, while others may focus on the music or an image.
Simply enter the labyrinth and put one foot in front of the other and walk this holy path of God. The labyrinth is not a maze. There are no dead ends or roadblocks. Instead, it is a curving path to the center that returns us back to the place we start, renewed by our prayerful walk.
Our labyrinth is often set up for the monthly Recovery (Twelve-step) Eucharist (generally, on the second Saturday, but please check our calendar to confirm the date), and on other dates as announced.
Sunday Morning Programs for Adults
The Center for Spiritual Formation offers programs to enable you to experience the spirit breathing life into you, and to encourage and support you in reaching out to others with a renewed energy. The Center provides resources to families and individuals for the development of the spiritual life in the home, as well as providing resources to parish groups and ministries.
Svaroopa ® Yoga
Svaroopa® Yoga is a highly meditative style of yoga that uses comfortable, propped poses with limited movement and is suitable for almost everyone. The class, led by St. James parishioner Margaret Culbertson, meets on the second and fourth Mondays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the CSF Atrium on the third floor of the Ministries Center.
Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction has been described as a joining of persons in listening for and discerning the movements of the Spirit. This involves creating a safe place for persons to explore their thoughts, feeling and values in their relationships with humans and the divine. This includes sometimes questioning and challenging; always encouraging. It may involve suggesting scripture texts, prayer methods, journaling techniques, exploration of dreams, spiritual reading material, etc.
The Challenge of Jesus
The Center for Spiritual Formation is viewing and discussing The Challenge of Jesus, a fascinating DVD series based on the research of the renowned Biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan, at 10:00 a.m. in the Media Room on the first floor of the Ministries Center.
Also, visit the site of the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge for information and registration to hear John Dominic Crossan in person! He will be in Baton Rouge on March 23 and 24, 2012 for lectures on The Power of Parable: Fiction By Jesus Becomes Fiction About Jesus.
More . . .
History of The Center
The initial work of The Center was made possible by a grant from Trinity Church, Wall Street, in 1997. This grant was awarded based on the application developed by the Rev. George D. Kontos, then-Associate Rector at St. James; and, Edward H. Henderson, Ph.D., parishioner, Professor of Philosophy, and then-chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Louisiana State University.
The concept for The Center for Spiritual Formation was unique in that was, to our knowledge, the first such center operating as a program of a parish church.
The Center is now fully funded by St. James Episcopal Church and continues to offer programs of spiritual deepening to enrich the lives of our parishioners and the larger community. Funding from the church allows us to offer programs at no to moderate cost to participants.