Incline Our Hearts

An Invitation: Order of the Ascension Associates

Last weekend I led a retreat for 27 people at St. Crispin's on monastic spirituality. A number of clergy and lay people in our diocese are becoming connected with various religious orders, and others are discerning doing so. It was a wonderful and prayerful time.

Coming out of the retreat, I have felt called to extend an invitation to clergy and lay people interested in exploring being associates of the order of which I am a professed brother, the Order of the Ascension. Associates of OA do not have the demands that fully professed members follow in our Rule. Essentially, OA Associates follow a simplified Rule that includes prayer, study, and service. Prayer includes keeping to the three-fold pattern of prayer (Daily Office, Weekly Eucharist, and an additional prayer practice of your choice). Study includes reading at least two books a year connected to OA's areas of focus: congregational development, ascetical theology, and Benedictine spirituality. And Service, which is broad and includes a wide range of Christian service in congregations and the world.

To support this Associates effort, I would propose gathering the Oklahoma OA Associates twice a year for day retreats that would involve prayer, reflection, and discussion of a shared book, with lunch. For more information on the OA Associates program as a whole, please read the link below. If you are interested in talking with me about possibly joining an Oklahoma chapter of the OA Associates, please email me at bishoppoulson@epiok.org.