<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Formissio]]></title><description><![CDATA[Formissio]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 15:38:38 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.formissio.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Sample Meeting Format and Agenda]]></title><description><![CDATA[Healthy groups are shaped by intentional rhythms that create space for relationship, spiritual formation, and mission. The following sample meeting format emphasizes unhurried hospitality and prayer while remaining flexible enough to adapt to the needs of each group. Leaders are encouraged to use this as a guiding framework rather than a rigid schedule. Core Meeting Format 1. Welcome, Food, and Gathering (30 minutes) Begin each meeting with generous hospitality. Share a meal or food together,...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/sample-meeting-format-and-agenda</link><guid isPermaLink="false">695d1b4dd99f03f79ceeeb36</guid><category><![CDATA[Community]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 14:27:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_3333336f6a377a46736467~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Incorporating the Liturgy of the Hours Into Your Daily Life]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office, is the official daily prayer of the Church. Through psalms, Scripture, and intercessions, it sanctifies time itself, uniting personal prayer to the unceasing prayer of Christ and the whole Church. While often associated with clergy and religious, the Liturgy of the Hours is increasingly prayed by laypeople who desire a Scripture-rich, steady rhythm of prayer that fits into ordinary life. With a gentle and realistic approach, this...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/incorporating-the-liturgy-of-the-hours-into-your-daily-life</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6952eafda48525611154d44b</guid><category><![CDATA[Spiritual Formation]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2025 20:57:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_f3d6fa188b6c4d3ea761cf847e227cf7~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Using the Prayer Practices of St. Francis de Sales in Daily Life]]></title><description><![CDATA[St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622), Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church, is widely loved for his gentle spirituality and practical wisdom. Unlike approaches that demand withdrawal from ordinary life, his prayer practices are rooted in the conviction that holiness is possible—and necessary—for everyone, regardless of vocation or circumstance. His methods are especially helpful for laypeople seeking a calm, loving, and realistic prayer life in the midst of daily responsibilities. A...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/using-the-prayer-practices-of-st-francis-de-sales-in-daily-life</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6952eaa9a48525611154d427</guid><category><![CDATA[Spiritual Formation]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2025 20:55:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b3c82c_d7e28635e7ad412d851bf0c667d84292~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_944,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Practice Lectio Divina: Praying With Scripture Personally and in Community]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lectio Divina, meaning “divine reading,” is an ancient Christian practice of praying with Sacred Scripture. Rather than studying the Bible for information, Lectio Divina invites the believer into a living encounter with God through His Word. It is a slow, receptive form of prayer that moves from listening, to reflection, to response, and finally to resting in God’s presence. Lectio Divina can be practiced individually or in a group. When guided well, it helps form a habit of attentive...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/how-to-practice-lectio-divina-praying-with-scripture-personally-and-in-community</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6952e846a48525611154d30f</guid><category><![CDATA[Spiritual Formation]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2025 20:54:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_3c4956f49e1b496899d5b1fe47e2cc2f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vortex Methodology]]></title><description><![CDATA[When we engage in service, it’s important to recognize that true, lasting change happens best when the community is involved in every step of the process. Whether you’re planning a local service project, outreach event, or long-term community initiative, understanding how different groups and perspectives play a role can help ensure your efforts are impactful and sustainable. This guide will help your group think through, design, plan, and implement community service and compassion projects...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/vortex-methodology</link><guid isPermaLink="false">692ef7630b0f74a1a042c18c</guid><category><![CDATA[Mission]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:32:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_5b8b5c1d6c6c42229dfbd76167803f0b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Engaging stakeholders]]></title><description><![CDATA[Introduction As we seek to live out our faith through missional engagement, it is important to remember that we do not serve in isolation. God has already been at work in every community long before we arrive, and many individuals and groups carry wisdom, experience, and insight that can guide our efforts. These individuals and groups—often referred to as stakeholders —include community members, local leaders, churches, organizations, and others who are directly affected by or involved in the...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/engaging-stakeholders</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6915f5308299f58d7f826f74</guid><category><![CDATA[Mission]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:22:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_d11c508109b044c597f2174b63c26ac4~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chart Opportunities]]></title><description><![CDATA[Overview As followers of Christ, we are called to care for creation, love our neighbors, and think wisely about the long-term impact of our actions. When planning missional or community-oriented work, it can be helpful to use practical tools that help us reflect carefully and faithfully on the challenges and opportunities before us. One such tool is the sustainability SWOT (sSWOT) , adapted from the familiar SWOT framework (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). Developed by the...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/chart-opportunities</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6915f4a57a7d1ff02a1140f0</guid><category><![CDATA[Mission]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:10:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_386553724334337164726f~mv2_d_2403_3600_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Social Map]]></title><description><![CDATA[Description A social map  is a simple, participatory way for community members to share what life looks like in their neighborhood or area. Rather than being created by outsiders, the map is drawn by the people who live there. It reflects not only physical spaces, but also relationships, social structures, institutions, and patterns of everyday life. For Christian groups engaged in mission, social mapping can be a meaningful practice of listening. It helps us slow down, observe carefully, and...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/social-map</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6915f3d798ab608cbd14589d</guid><category><![CDATA[Mission]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:08:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b3c82c_8dfa8608d23b425b972b88c3cc5d44fd~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Map Assets]]></title><description><![CDATA[Community Asset Mapping, A Faithful Practice of Seeing Gifts and Calling (Adapted from the ABCD Institute) Introduction In Christian mission, it can be tempting to begin by asking, What is missing?  or What problems need to be fixed?  While understanding needs can be important, this approach invites us to begin somewhere different—by noticing and celebrating the gifts God has already placed within people and communities. Community Asset Mapping  focuses on the skills, passions, experiences,...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/map-assets</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6915f21898ab608cbd1454b9</guid><category><![CDATA[Mission]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:02:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_57fb40a1daa04318b8f1ed0729b6ed1e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Clarifying Purpose and Impact]]></title><description><![CDATA[Introduction As a Christian small group engaged in mission, it is helpful to pause regularly and reflect on why  we do what we do and how  our actions align with God’s calling. Clarifying our purpose is not about striving for efficiency or control, but about faithfulness—seeking to serve with intention, humility, and care. The following elements offer a simple framework to help groups articulate their sense of calling, the work they are undertaking, and the impact they hope to see. When...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/answer-key-questions</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6915f1e5f684794b19073f0c</guid><category><![CDATA[Mission]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:57:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_8e689bc214814370a55bb67e961c4f4c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why We Pray: Learning to Abide, Be Transformed, and Be Filled with Christ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Throughout Christian history, prayer has never been understood as merely asking God for things. At its deepest level, prayer is about love and holiness —learning to die to self, to reshape our wills, and to abide with Christ so that His life may fill us. Prayer forms us. It trains our hearts to listen, our minds to attend to God, and our bodies to slow down and receive His presence. The Christian tradition offers many prayer practices, not as rigid formulas, but as pathways —ways of making...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/prayer</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6915ed6fa57a83614435d69c</guid><category><![CDATA[Spiritual Formation]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:41:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_05d3e38c7b354c9baed39efad8ab3e0b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Forming the Whole Person: Heart and Mind in Discipleship]]></title><description><![CDATA[God created us as whole people—mind, heart, body, and soul. Even in the way our brains are formed, we see hints of His wisdom and care. We have two hemispheres of the brain that tend to process the world differently. While this isn’t a rigid divide, it can be a helpful way of understanding how God designed us to know Him—not only through thought and understanding, but through relationship, experience, and love. Broadly speaking, the left hemisphere  is associated with logic, language,...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/understanding-formation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6915ece697f0a2cd7d71bc04</guid><category><![CDATA[Spiritual Formation]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:36:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_7647526579427649582d6f~mv2_d_3744_5616_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Building Healthy Groups: Creating Communities That Last]]></title><description><![CDATA[Healthy spiritual communities don’t usually begin with a program—they begin with people. Again and again, we see that the strongest, most life-giving groups grow organically , out of real relationships, shared desire, and a common sense of calling. When people choose to walk together intentionally, something beautiful and sustainable can take root. Starting Where God Is Already at Work Whenever possible, groups should form among people who already share some connection. This might be friends...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/guidelines-to-an-effective-meeting</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6915eacf8299f58d7f825729</guid><category><![CDATA[Community]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:27:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_7162617a6b656f2d52316f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Rhythm of a Formissio Group: Eating, Praying, and Doing Good Together]]></title><description><![CDATA[Formissio groups are built around a simple but deeply meaningful rhythm. Each group gathers at least once a week , creating regular space for relationship, spiritual formation, and shared mission. These gatherings are designed to hold three essential components that, together, form a community shaped by the way of Jesus. At its heart, this rhythm reflects the life of the early Church—people who shared meals, devoted themselves to prayer, and lived out their faith through tangible love for...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/meeting-formats</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6915ea1220e2491209ff2e51</guid><category><![CDATA[Community]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:25:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_1d68e0898ef644a5855e41a6e7f58ba3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why gather?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gathering with others in spiritual practice and missional formation is crucial for the discipleship process. Discipleship is not meant to be lived in isolation. From the earliest days of the Church, followers of Jesus gathered together to pray, learn, worship, and participate in God’s mission. When we gather with others in spiritual practice and missional formation, faith is shaped through shared rhythms, shared stories, and shared obedience. Community creates space for disciples to be formed...]]></description><link>https://www.formissio.org/post/why-gather</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6915e9ddfc22f1d9068b5e48</guid><category><![CDATA[Community]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:23:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_5758725832364a4a57526b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item></channel></rss>