Presbytery of Plains and Peaks

In the past few weeks, the Thrivers have been exploring the Christian practice of kenosis, the value and meaning of creating a Rule of Life, and how ritual influences our identity and empowers us to cross the thresholds of life. In the scenic outdoor classrooms of Highlands Camp and Retreat Center, the Thrivers learned how Christian monastic communities have been living by a Rule of Life for hundreds of years. We talked about how regular observance of rhythms of work and rest, prayer and...

8.31.26 Our Thrive participants spent their first full week together. It was a very full week! Our 5 Thrivers - Hope, Aydan, Marissa, Q, and Geo - experienced new ways of praying We began creating a “toolbox” of spiritual practices with Centering Prayer and Breath Prayer developed a Community Covenant for their life together; We explored the group’s values and discussed how those might be reflected in our communal life; a covenant of practices, behaviors, and attitudes was crafted by the...

“Belfast Northern Ireland and the McCracken Memorial Presbyterian Church Yuma, First Presbyterian Church Matthew tells us that when Jesus stepped off the boat and saw the great crowd, “he had compassion on them.” Before any miracle, before any teaching, before any bread was broken, Jesus simply looked — and in looking, he listened. He listened with his eyes. He perceived hunger, weariness, longing, and hope. His compassion began not with words but with attention. That same spirit shaped our...