Theme:  “The Practice of Christian Mindfulness”

Faculty:  Dr. Amy Oden,

Contact: Rev. Barbara Fyffe, [email protected]

Sponsor: Texas Annual Conference / Spiritual Formation

Spirit Journey 2019 is a spiritual formation renewal program of The Upper Room, sponsored by the Center for Congregational Excellence of the Texas Annual Conference.

Recommended Reading

Dr. Amy Oden is the Professor of Early Church History and Spirituality at Saint Paul School of Theology.

In her book “Right Here Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness” Amy Oden lifts up a clear template for what lies at the core of all spiritual practice: mindfulness-a simple awareness within ordinary life of divine presence, here and now. “Christian mindfulness is the practice of paying prayerful attention in the present moment to God’s abundant life,” she writes.

Beyond rooting the essence of mindfulness in Hebrew and Christian tradition, Oden takes care to distinguish from a biblical perspective what is distinctively Christian about this practice.

“Christian mindfulness is a way to abide in Christ.”

“The goal of Christian mindfulness is… an experience of our lives in God, our true home.”