How to Plan a Holy Spirit Seminar
“The Gift You Have Received, Give as a
Gift.” (Mt 10:8)
If you have experienced "baptism in the Holy Spirit" you have
been given a wonderful gift. Helping others to have this same experience is a
privilege and a responsibility to be taken very seriously.
Even if you are not currently active in a parish prayer
group, you can offer to help plan or participate in a Holy Spirit seminar. There
are many jobs to do to put on a seminar. You might offer to help as an
intercessor. You may be good with publicity or with hospitality. You could offer
to run a book table or to bring refreshments or to decorate the meeting room.
There is a need for music ministry and greeters and small group facilitators.
The 7-weeks following Easter are the ideal time to sponsor a
Holy Spirit seminar. The daily readings during that time are taken from the Acts
of the Apostles and confirm the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the
lives of the first Christians. It is this vital, zealous Christianity which we
seek to experience in our own time through "baptism in the Holy Spirit."
However, anytime is a good time. Schedule the Holy Spirit seminars as
soon as you are able and as often as you are able.
For a seminar which will begin in April or May, the planning
should begin before Lent. The dates need to be set and publicity done far in
advance because people’s calendars are so full these days.
A Holy Spirit seminar can be conducted on a week-to-week
format or during a weekend. It is preferable to conduct the seminar over a
period of weeks so the participants are able to integrate each part of the
teaching into their own lives. Each session is dependent upon the preceding
sessions. The participants need to evaluate their commitment to the Lord, their
image of God, open themselves to His healing love and yield to the work of the
Spirit in order to be fully open to "baptism in the Spirit."
Most people need the weeks between the sessions to pray,
absorb and allow the Spirit to work on that particular area. Those planning the
seminar should have the needs of the participants as their first priority,
rather than simply doing what is easiest or convenient.
Follow-up is necessary to insure that the "baptism in the
Spirit" remains an on-going part of the participants’ spiritual life.
Participants should be encouraged to attend a charismatic prayer meeting on a
regular basis. The pastoral leadership of the prayer group should take care to
see that the needs of the newcomers are met through the group’s teaching,
worship, personal ministry, and fellowship. They should maintain their
relationship with the participants after the seminar to insure that any
questions, problems or needs are being met. Certain newcomers may need
individual ministry, guidance or teaching on a charism; the prayer group should
put them in contact with those who can best help.
For those in the archdiocese of
Seattle,
the WWCCR Prayer Group Development Committee would be happy to assist any prayer group or parish to conduct a
Holy Spirit Seminar. While we hope that a group or parish will do what
they can, we could help with suggesting or possibly training teachers and searching for coordinators,
small group facilitators and music ministries to offer support to the hosting
group. For more information contact WWCCR at
206-364-2272 or info@wwccr.org.
PREPARING FOR THE SEMINAR
The following schedule may be helpful in planning for the seminar:
3 months prior to seminar (or earlier):
Set dates for seminar, obtain pastor’s approval and arrange
for facilities.
Announce seminar dates to prayer group, so they will reserve the dates on their
calendars.
Begin publicity so people can plan ahead to attend and to invite their friends.
Contact presenters for each session’s teaching.
Recruit intercessors to begin praying for the seminar.
Order seminar materials for leaders and participants.
2 months prior
Call for volunteers to serve on Team. Continue publicity.
6 weeks prior
Hold a Team meeting to begin planning & distribute
responsibilities.
4 weeks prior
Invite individuals to serve as sponsors, assign discussion
group facilitators and arrange for book table consignment
3 weeks prior
As participants pre-register, assign sponsors and continue
publicity
2 weeks prior
Hold a Team meeting to evaluate preparations, continue
publicity and arrange that the sponsors meet with participants
1 week prior
Hold a Team meeting for prayer and to determine last minute
needs. Discussion groups can be formed.
During the seminar
Team meets weekly to evaluate. Sponsors should keep in
contact with participants
1 week after seminar
Team meeting to evaluate seminar & plan follow-up
RESOURCES FOR PRESENTING HOLY SPIRIT SEMINARS
The New Life in the Spirit Seminars Team Manual
A 7-session course designed as an evangelistic tool, a
formation experience, and an introduction to a life lived in the power and
presence of the Holy Spirit. It invites us to experience a personal Pentecost, a
new release or revitalization of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Books are available
through the WWCCR office
or from NSC-Chariscenter USA –
www.nsc-chariscenter.org
Come Holy Spirit! DVD series featuring Dr. Tom Curran
A 7-week journey to a life-changing experience of the Holy
Spirit. DVD’s of all the teachings and a CD with supplemental materials designed
for group interaction and prayer. Order through the WWCCR bookstore or
www.MyCatholicFaith.org
The Alpha Course
The Alpha Course is a 15-session introduction to the
Christian faith designed to be used by parishes who want to reach out to
non-churchgoers and people who are disconnected from the Church. It is also an
effective tool for awakening faith in people who are on the fringes of the
parish as well as faithful Catholics. In a Catholic context, Alpha is a
practical tool that parishes can use to respond to the call of Christ and His
Church to "go and make disciples of all nations" and to fulfill our mission to
evangelize. Alpha is a basic presentation of the Gospel, the Kerygma. The Alpha
process provides an opportunity for people of all ages to explore the basic
foundations of Christianity, experience Christian community, engage in
discussions in a safe and friendly environment, and encounter the love of God in
a personal relationship through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
www.alphausa.org
If you are planning a seminar in the
archdiocese of Seattle...
please let us know so that we can help you spread the word. We will
include your seminar in our monthly newsletter and here on our website. Please
email us at info@wwccr.org
