INTRODUCING - THE WAY OF PILGRIMAGE

An Adventure in Spiritual Formation for the Next Generation
Welcome to a new adventure in spiritual formation for the next generation! Upper Room Books proudly presents the newest resource in our Companions in Christ series, The Way of Pilgrimage. This five part resource for senior high youth and college freshmen is a spiritual formation program that offers a challenging call to a daily walk with Christ: living with the eyes of the heart wide open, looking for the presence of God in each moment.

What does it mean to live as a pilgrim?
There is a difference between being a tourist and being a pilgrim. While tourists take snapshots and buy souvenirs, a pilgrim seeks reminders of holy moments -- photos or symbols that mark a special place or experience on the pilgrimage. This resource helps young people begin to look at the Christian spiritual life as a pilgrim adventure.

Companions are essential to pilgrimage.
Though sometimes we feel as though we walk alone, the Bible tells us that we are surrounded by a "great cloud of witnesses," those who have lived the Christian life faithfully through the ages. The weekly group gatherings reinforce this sense of spiritual companionship.

Each weekly gathering is a stop along the way.
Each session offers space carved out of our week and made holy. When we gather together, we feel a sense of peace and God's presence. The Leader's Guide provides all the instructions you need to lead these gatherings.

Rhythm is part of our daily routine as pilgrims.
In medieval times, pilgrims would start their journey in exactly the same way. The repetition and rhythm of the daily exercises and readings are essential parts of this routine. The Leader's Guide sets the rhythm for the meetings through a repeating liturgy.

Pilgrimage is about being present in the present.
This pilgrimage is about waking up and paying attention to our lives and to God's presence in each moment. The "Noticing" portion of the weekly meeting helps us to practice being present to God in our lives.

This is a journey of the heart, as well as the head.
In this journey, prayer, conversation, listening, reading, noticing, and looking are transformed from activities of the mind to practices of the heart. The group practice in weekly gatherings called "Moving from Head2Heart" names this movement.
You can lead your group into this adventure in spiritual formation, The Way of Pilgrimage. May you and your group journey faithfully!

-Robin Pippin
Editorial Director
Upper Room Books