Spiritual Direction brings together a director and a directee on a regular basis, usually once a month, for an hour in person, on-line, or by phone, for the purpose of exploring and bringing to clarity the directee’s inner life journey.
A potential directee might seek out a spiritual director
To find a spiritual practice that nourishes and sustains
To explore a closer relationship with God
To develop a more conscious experience of the Holy in one’s daily life
To identify and trust one’s own experience of God
To share one’s hopes, struggles, and losses
To integrate spirituality into one’s daily life
To discern and make difficult choices
To develop a sensitivity for justice and concern for the marginalized
To live the essence of one’s spiritual affiliation with integrity
There is also group spiritual direction. Typically, a group of 6 -8 meets monthly with a spiritual director who facilitates the process. Peer discernment is a specialized form of group spiritual direction which focuses on one person and a small group of their peers, is facilitated by a spiritual director, and is usually completed in one day.
Barbara Gulick received a Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from San Francisco Theological Seminary and was commissioned as a Minister of Spiritual Direction-at-Large in the United Church of Christ, both in 2008. In 2010 she was commissioned as Spiritual Director-in-Residence at Billings First Congregational United Church of Christ. She is now a member of First Church staff as Spiritual Director and a Member-in-Discernment (MID) for ordination to authorized ministry in the United Church of Christ.
Barbara’s office hours at the church are Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon, and she is available for Spiritual Direction either in her church or home office by appointment. Contact her at barbaragulick@firstchurchbillings.org or 406-661-4831 to schedule an appointment to see if spiritual direction is right for you. Suggested donation for spiritual direction is $30 - $50 per hour to Billings First Church, but any amount is appreciated.