CSA has been a profound experience for me. It has served to deepen my relationship with God and with my fellow participants. The sense of being held by God through my CSA cohort members has been a wonderful life-giving experience. And it provided a safe space to explore and grow my spirituality and support others in their journey. The key for me was learning centering prayer, something that will be central to the remainder of my life as a Christian. Centering prayer has had a Holy grounding effect that has carried me through some very busy and tough times. As a result of my CSA experience, I feel a much stronger sense of community with Saint Mark’s. I recommend it to everyone regardless of where you are in your journey with God. CSA is a safe place to grow and learn and heal and wrestle with life. Try it, you will love it! - Karen
CSA has created a wonderful small group experience to promote friendship, fellowship, and spiritual growth. Through readings, discussions, and contemplative practices, the program provides a framework in which one's spirituality can be explored, clarified and deepened. It is also a great opportunity for those wishing to have deeper connections to the St. Marks community. - Lee
The nine-month Center for Spirituality and Action (CSA) experience was nothing short of amazing for me. The Saturday workshops and the readings helped launch phenomenal growth in my spiritual journey, but meeting weekly with members of the cohort provided on-going support and the impetus to continue the discipline of my rule of life. Our cohort bonded immediately and the Godly love between us is palpable. Additionally, we were paired monthly as prayer partners. Asking for and receiving prayers for specific intentions helped me in so many ways: knowing that someone was praying for me and my concerns and getting to know each person as I prayed for their concerns. If you have an important decision to make and want guidance from the Holy Spirit, or if you just want to become wiser and more deeply rooted spiritually, I highly commend CSA to you. - Bob
Being a part of a CSA cohort altered the architecture of the last nine months, formed me, and allowed interpersonal connections to grow and flourish. It is amazing what saying “yes” to a commitment to regular contemplative practice can do in one’s life, especially when you are also making that commitment to fellow sojourners on this walk of faith. There is a freedom that comes from routine, and knowing that I was going to set aside time each day to just be in the presence of God allowed that time to be prioritized and therefore available. Knowing that every week I was going to meet with my cohort, to pray and to discuss a wide range of readings and topics, gave a reliable structure to each week that allowed trust and intimacy to develop. Culture today will suggest that connection can happen without actual human relationships, but experience is showing us that is not true. Showing up for each other, praying for each other, learning new things and wrestling with new ideas about our shared faith, and sitting quietly together with God - that creates real community. It creates a community and way of being that, for me, feels refreshing, vibrant, and grounded, because it is centered on God and prioritizes listening for how the Holy Spirit is calling us to act in the world and live out our faith and ministry more fully. Even if, and maybe especially if, you feel that your life is too hectic and frantic right now to consider joining CSA, I encourage you to apply. - Jen
We are conditioned to avoid certain topics in polite conversation. One of these is religion, even with folks who may have beliefs similar to ours. What CSA provides is a safe and welcoming group in which everyone is invited to be open about their spiritual lives: challenges, evolution, insights, doubts and faith. Longing for something, for Someone in a deep and pervasive way is my entry point into searching for a relationship with the Unknowable Presence. CSA is an ideal place to do so in community of peers. - Jura
The CSA program helped me bring spirituality into my everyday life. Before, my pattern was to say my morning prayers and then 'park God on a shelf' until bedtime. As the program progressed, I began integrating God into my daily routine—not quite 'praying unceasingly,' but definitely prayer became more woven into my day. I also felt deeply supported by the group and am so grateful to have connected with some truly remarkable folks from Saint Mark's. - Jean