Higher Ground Promises and Commitments 2022-23

Please sign below to confirm your intentions to be a willing and open participant in the 2022-23 Higher Ground Retreat Track Cohort.

What you can expect from us:

To pray for you.
To listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit as we prepare for each months cohort and the July 2023 retreat.
To challenge you to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life.
To offer ways to renew, refocus, and recharge.
To support you in the five dimensions of well-being physical, financial, emotional, spiritual, and social.
To facilitate connections with health coaches, counselors, financial therapists, or spiritual directors for the purpose of increasing awareness, promoting balance, engaging community, and discerning desire.
Provide additional resources coinciding with monthly topics.
Confidentiality. What is said or heard while we are together is always held with trust and respect.

What we expect from you:

To attend and participate in monthly cohort gatherings via Zoom, September 2022 through May 2023 (One Thursday of each month). If you must miss, please let one of the leaders know.
Share your contact information.
To practice respectful etiquette for video gatherings, as provided on the following page.
To be open to exploring ways to connect as spiritual companions in community to renew, refocus and recharge.
To come with an attitude of openness and to be fully engaged. We encourage taking at least 15 minutes before the call to set other responsibilities aside to prepare for our time together.
To consider working with a health coach, financial therapist, spiritual director, or counselor to facilitate balance and growth.
To attend the week-long retreat at Terra Sancta in the beautiful Black Hills, July 30 to August 5, 2023.

To prioritize spiritual practices
- consider weekly Soul Fill-up on Wednesday mornings - https://us06web.zom.us/j/84357069792

To expect the Holy Spirit to transform you.
To rest and relax, knowing that God is leading and guiding this process.
Confidentiality. What is said or heard while we are together is always held with trust and respect.

With God together:

To surrender ourselves to the Spirit of God, who reveals truth to us as we are able to bear it.
To become aware of Gods presence all around us and in us that is constantly and miraculously unfolding.
To grow in Gods grace.
To invite God to help us know ourselves.
To be gentle and patient with ourselves, in a process of growth that is letting go and opening new possibilities.

I have read the Higher Ground promises and commitments for 2022-23 *

Yes

Please print your name here to confirm your intentions to be a willing and open participant in the 2022-23 Higher Ground Retreat Track Cohort *

Video Conference Etiquette:

Keep your video on.
If you must step away for a moment, explain in the chat so others know if you are still listening or if you have stepped away.
Avoid backlighting - position yourself to light in front of you.
Log in from a quiet, confidential space where you will not likely be interrupted,
Wear a headset or earbuds for better speaking and listening.
Mute your microphone when not speaking.
Use the chat or raise your hand to ask a question or contribute to the conversation.
Its ok to pass.
Listen with curiosity and attention. Resist processing your own thoughts or preparing a response while others are speaking. Allow silence before responding.

UMC