Dwelling in the Word
By Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison

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As you know if you are a regular reader of this newsletter or have ever met us in person, at Church Innovations everything we do starts with Dwelling in the Word, a spiritual practice of deep listening for the Holy Spirit in the Word of God and in the voices of one another. In the emerging rich data from our longitudinal study of all of Church Innovations' work over the past ten years, we are not surprised to hear people report that the practice of Dwelling in the Word has changed how their congregation talks and listens, how they inquire and decide things, and even how they encounter their neighbors.

It is so important a practice that we have decided to offer Dwelling in the Word learning events in as many places as we can during 2012 and early 2013, all leading up to a major Dwelling in the Word international gathering/conference in the summer of 2013. The first of these local learning events will take place on Saturday, February 25, 2012, in the Milwaukee area at:

Christ Church
13460 N. Port Washington Road
Mequon, Wisconsin

Call Christ Church (262) 243-3093 to reserve a spot for you and a team from your congregation.

Each Dwelling in the Word Learning Event includes experience with Dwelling, some very specific training in the practice (what to do and what not to do), and plenty of time to think about how each congregation's participating team might bring it back and introduce it into various groups in their local church. The day of learning runs from about 9 AM to about 3:30 PM, although this might vary slightly from place to place. We will always try to offer in addition, where possible, a Friday evening gathering for leaders who wish to sit and chat and ask questions of with the consultant who will offer the training, which will be one of the authors of the new Dwelling in the Word: a pocket handbook, Dr. Patrick Keifert or Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison. Please register for the February 25th event in Wisconsin, or watch our website or our Dwelling blog: http://www.blog.dwelling-in-the-word.org to see where there is an upcoming learning event in your area!

Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison is the Managing Director of Research at Church Innovations.