FALL 2015
Belonging A Ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet 1890 Randolph Avenue St. Paul, MN 55105 www.wisdomwayscenter.org
WELCOME
BELONGING
What does it mean to belong? From birth, relationships draw us into belonging. Through family, friends, school, church, and organizations, belonging evokes and gives shape to our way of being. Belonging is also cosmic—a divine gift bestowed on us by the God with whom we live and move and have our being. We belong not just to one another but to the planet and its creatures, the stars, and to an ever-unfolding universe where tremendous loss, decay and destruction exist alongside tremendous possibility and life. Yet belonging can also draw lines that set us apart and close us off. Identifying too strongly with one community or way of life, we become isolated from one another and all creation. This fall we’ll seek to step across dividing lines towards a deeper, more hope-filled belonging where the paradox of life and wholeness, discord and dissent make their home.
OUR MISSION
“May the frames of your belonging be generous enough for your dreams,” says John O’Donohue. “May you allow the wild beauty of the invisible world to gather you, mind you, and embrace you in belonging.” What does it mean to belong? Let’s find out together! Rev. Barbara Lund, Director
EXPLORE. RE-IMAGINE. EMBODY.
Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality offers programs to explore the spiritual dimensions of contemporary life for women and men and to re-imagine and embody all that we can be as agents of transformation in church and society. Established in 1994, Wisdom Ways is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province, who build their ministries around love of God and the dear neighbor without distinction. Your comments are welcome. Please contact us at 651-696-2788 or info@wisdomwayscenter.org to share ideas or to notify us of address changes.
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We’ll engage timely spiritual questions around faith, race, identity, violence, fear, and love. Listening deeply, we will dare to cross thresholds that take us to places of vitality and exchange, where new greets old, where outside meets inside, where stranger becomes friend. Here, we find ourselves in communion with earth, expanding our way of being so that it is healthy and nurturing for all that lives—the ecosystems, the constellations of the universe, and our own pulsing hearts.
WISDOM WAYS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE Mary Beckfeld, Consociate; Mary Farrell Bednarowski, Ph.D; Meg Gillespie, CSJ; Ginger Hedstrom, Consociate; Rev. Barbara Kellett, Consociate; William McDonough, Ph.D.; Joan Mitchell, CSJ, Ph.D.; Rev. Julie Neraas; Joan Pauly Schneider, M.Div., Consociate. CONTRIBUTING WRITER Born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, Jessica Lopez Lyman is a Doctoral Candidate in Chicana and Chicano Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has performed at First Avenue, Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA), and at the Mujeres de Maíz festival. Jessica has taught courses on Chicana feminisms; visual and performance art; literature; and gender and sexuality. Her latest performance project is a multi-media piece, Hair Volume, which explores the life of her grandfather (an East Los Angeles barber) and rituals of the home.
All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FALL 2015
Explore
Conversations about Sacred Wisdom, Divine Mysteries and Human Questions
* Abounding in Spirit: Forging Faith in Questing Times –
Hedgerow Seminar featuring Diana L. Hayes......................... 4 * Darwin and the God of Love: Is God’s Charity Broad Enough for Bears? with Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ.................... 5 * Book Discussion on Ilia Delio’s The Emergent Christ........... 5 * The Soul of the Living Universe – Annual Fall Soul Conference................................................... 6 * The Unruly Mystic: Saint Hildegard of Bingen........................ 6 * Leaf Falling, Bud Forming: Coming Home to the Paradoxes of Autumn.................................................... 7
Re-imagine
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES * Writing the Sacred Journey:
The Art and Practice of Spiritual Memoir............................. 18 * Walking in Harmony: A Labyrinth Journey............................ 19 * Our Story Belonging in God’s Story Art Exhibit Reception.... 20 * Lectio Divina: Mornings of Reflection during Advent............ 20 * Winter’s Pause: A Sacred Journey through Poetry, Song, and Silence........................................ 21
ART EXHIBITS * The Red Sea Band.................................................................. 22 * O Black Madonna................................................................... 23 * Osseous Stirrings.................................................................. 23 LOOKING AHEAD............................................................... 24
New and Emerging Ideas and Understandings
* Beauty and Tenacity: Reflections in Song
with Sara Thomsen.................................................................. 8 * Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear with Elizabeth Gilbert.............................................................. 8 * Red Roads and Blue Highways: An American Journey in Song and Word................................. 9 * Belonging: Meanings and Implications................................... 9 * Beyond the Divide: War, Peace, and the Courage to Find Common Ground.................................. 10 * Questions about God.............................................................. 11 * All Together Now: What Group Sound-Making Can Teach Us about Working Well Together......................... 11
MEN’S SPIRITUALITY • Bridges to Contemplative Living........................................... 12 • Men’s Centering Prayer........................................................ 12
Embody
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ~ SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH SPIRITUALITY MINISTRIES Celeste’s Dream: Spirituality for Young Adults ....................... 25 Membership and Association................................................... 25 Justice Commission.................................................................. 26 Rituals to Mark the Seasons.................................................... 26 Second Sunday.......................................................................... 26 Spiritual Direction..................................................................... 26
EVENTS IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY Celtic and Nordic Services at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, St. Paul...................................................................................... 27
CALENDAR OF PROGRAMS ....................................28-29 WISDOM WAYS RESOURCES Labyrinth Resources to Rent ................................................... 30 Library ...................................................................................... 30 Directions ................................................................................. 30
Spiritual Practices for Everyday Living
MEDITATION * Meditation: A Way of Contemplative Prayer.......................... 16
• Tuesday Evening Meditation................................................. 16 • Readings on Contemplative Prayer...................................... 16 • Tuesday Noonday Meditation................................................ 16 • Day of Contemplative Prayer................................................ 17
INDEX & REGISTRATION INFORMATION ............... 31 All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
You can learn more about programs and presenters at www.wisdomwayscenter.org
www.wisdomwayscenter.org
651-696-2788
info@wisdomwayscenter.org
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Explore EXPLORE
Conversations about Sacred Wisdom, Divine Mysteries and Human Questions
HEDGEROW INITIATIVE
The Hedgerow Initiative offers sustained, systematic programming in feminist theological education, spiritual integration, and leadership for a just and holy world. In a particular way, the Initiative highlights the scholarship of women who since the 1950s have worked to reclaim women’s presence and significance in scripture, church, history, theology and culture. The Initiative takes its name from the hedgerow schools in Ireland that kept alive the language, faith, culture and community of the people during the time of the British penal codes. A hedgerow is a biosphere and a haven.
ABOUNDING IN SPIRIT: FORGING FAITH IN QUESTING TIMES Among wise, creative, and inspiring theologians today, Elizabeth Johnson and Diana L. Hayes stand out. Both will be featured in the Hedgerow Seminar and through their most recent books, will take us to the heart of issues challenging our faith today: our treatment of the natural world, and the poverty and prejudice embedded in U.S. social structures. All of Elizabeth Johnson’s scholarship has been aimed at raising the voices of women in the church and integrating women’s experience into Christian theology. Her ever-evolving theological work ranges from her call to use all the biblical imagery of God to examining Christology in the light of feminist, liberation, and new cosmology theologies. Read more about Johnson on page 5. As theologian-in-residence with us from October 4 to 13, Diana L. Hayes will explore African American spirituality, which she describes as “born of the pride and pain, the horror and hope of a people whose eyes have always been watching God and whose hands stayed firm on the plow as they fought their way to freedom. It is a spirituality forged in the
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fiery furnace of more than four hundred years of slavery, segregation, and racism but grounded in a history thousands of years old of a people who believed in someone greater than themselves.” Emerita Professor of Systematic Theology at Georgetown University, Hayes speaks for and with Black Christian women as a womanist theologian who works to eradicate oppression in all of its forms. Come join the dialogue, and nourish a resilient, evolutionary spirituality. Sample session topics include: • Beautiful are the Souls of My Black Sisters • Passing on the Faith, the Banquet of the Creed • Atheism and Faith in a Secular World • Friends of God and Prophets, Waking Up a Sleeping Symbol • Coming in From the Cold, Women Envision the Church Hedgerow Instructors: Susan Hames, CSJ, ABD; Rev. Barbara Lund; Mary Kaye Medinger, Consociate, MA; Joan Mitchell, CSJ, Ph.D.; Catherine Steffens, CSJ, MA; and guest presenters: Diana L. Hayes, Ph.D; Sharon Howell, CSJ; Jessica Lopez Lyman, Ph.D candidate. Required Texts: Abounding in Kindness: Writings for the People of God, Elizabeth Johnson, and Forged in a Fiery Furnace: African American Spirituality, Diana L. Hayes. Both texts are available from www.goodgroundpress.com (800) 232-5533 or at Wisdom Ways.
All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
EXPLORE
FALL 2015
Mondays, September 21 to December 7, 6:30 to 8:30 pm COST: $240.00 for the series, includes lecture by Elizabeth Johnson on September 25 and the Fall Soul Conference opening on November 6. $25.00 per single session. WHEN:
DARWIN AND THE GOD OF LOVE: IS GOD’S CHARITY BROAD ENOUGH FOR BEARS?
One of America’s most prominent feminist Catholic theologians, Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ is the Distinguished Professor of Theology at Fordham University. A former president of the Catholic Theological Society of America, the oldest and largest association of theologians in the world, she is the author of many books and articles, most recently Ask the Beasts: Darwin and the God of Love and Abounding in Kindness: Writings for the People of God. Both will be available for purchase at the event.
with Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ
WHEN: Friday, September 25, 7:00 pm WHERE: O’Shaughnessy Auditorium, St.
Co-Sponsored by St. Catherine University Myser Initiative
The lecture is free and open to the public; however, tickets are required. Tickets may be reserved at oshag.stkate.edu or by calling 651-690-6700.
What value does the natural world have within the framework of religious belief? Is creation only a wondrous event that took place “in the beginning”—only a backdrop to the more serious business of human sin and redemption? Or does the Giver of life keep on singing the natural world into being at every moment of its evolution, with compassion for its suffering and commitment to its well-being?
Catherine University
BOOK DISCUSSION: THE EMERGENT CHRIST BY ILIA DELIO Mary Kaye Medinger, co-director for Consociate Services with the Sisters of St. Joseph and Cathy Steffens, spiritual director and CSJ, will facilitate a book discussion on the writings and work of Ilia Delio, the featured Fall Soul presenter.
Drawing from her book, Ask the Beasts: Darwin and the God of Love, Elizabeth Johnson probes the meaning of creation in order to invigorate ethical behavior that cares for plants and animals with a passion integral to faith’s passion for the living God.
In The Emergent Christ, Ilia Delio makes fascinating sense of the universe, beginning with the story of cosmic evolution, coursing through the meaning of God in evolution and the emergence of Christ, and concluding with new ways of seeing Christ in all things. Ilia Delio reveals the sacrament of God at work in the world. She explores the spiritual evolution within each of us and suggests that it will change the cosmos as well as the church. The Emergent Christ is an antidote to the new atheism that says there is no place in evolution for God, let alone a God of love. It is a spiritual
To Johnson, science and religion are in communion, not conflict. Once we see that the evolving community of life on Earth continues to be the dwelling place of the Spirit and its ruination an unspeakable sin, then deep affection shown in action on behalf of eco-justice becomes an indivisible part of spirituality.
www.wisdomwayscenter.org
651-696-2788
info@wisdomwayscenter.org
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Explore EXPLORE
“ We are on the cusp of an evolutionary breakthrough — one that requires our conscious participation as co-creative agents of love, midwives of the new creation.” * ILIA DELIO
Conversations about Sacred Wisdom, Divine Mysteries and Human Questions tonic for Christians interested in understanding their place and purpose in the evolving universe. WHEN: Tuesday, October 27, 6:30 to 8:30 pm COST: Free. TEXT: The Emergent Christ, Orbis Books, 2011
“ We are called to love this created world as God loves it. We are to help transform this universe in Christ by seeing Christ in the universe and loving Christ in the heart of the universe.” * ILIA DELIO
THE SOUL OF THE LIVING UNIVERSE: ANNUAL FALL SOUL CONFERENCE We long for a new world, one filled with a sense of common goodness and communal sharing. Our minds long for our understanding of God to encompass what science is revealing about the cosmos. Our hearts long for a sense of unity between humans and the universe. Ilia Delio, OSF, scientist and theologian, explores the idea that the artificial separation between humans and cosmos is at the root of our contemporary moral confusion. She envisions a Christianity rooted in contemplation, deep connection with nature, and creative expression. In “The Soul of the Living Universe” we will explore, re-imagine, and embody a new unifying Christian story of the cosmos. Delio’s brilliant lectures will be enhanced by embodied performance of the universe’s evolution directed by Emily Jarrett Hughes. Osseous Stirrings, a photography exhibition by Emilie Bouvier (see page 23) inspired by “dry bones” narratives from Genesis and Ezekiel, speaks of ecological lament and fragile vitality. This conference invites the creative expression of all participants as we move together to embody our role as cocreator, participant in the unfolding of life.
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The future of the Earth depends on a shared vision. God is not finished with creation; rather, God is creating and we are cocreators, participants in this unfolding story. The question is: What are we creating? Presenters: Ilia Delio, OSF embodies a blend of rational, relational, and contemplative ways of knowing. With doctorate degrees in both theology and pharmacology, she is a prolific teacher, writer and speaker. Delio’s work bridges the spheres of science and religion, exploring how insights from evolution, ecology, and technology are influencing the shape of human life today. Her areas of interest also include divine action, emergence, ecology, evolutionary theory, and artificial intelligence. Her books include Making All Things New: Catholicity in the 21st Century, The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution and the Power of Love, and The Emergent Christ. Emily Jarrett Hughes invites people of all ages and abilities into embodied spiritual practice. She has in-depth training in ritual dance and qigong, which she artfully weaves together in her teaching. Emily is dedicated to awakening the capacity in each person to live vibrant, courageous lives in service of all life. Learn more about her work at www.wisdomdances.com. Emilie Bouvier is an artist and community organizer. A recent graduate of Luther Seminary, where she had a two-year art residency, she works mainly in historic and alternative process photography and in clay, and has an interest in liturgical and community arts. Learn more at www.emiliebouvier.com.
Friday evening, November 6, 7:00 to 9:00 pm and Saturday, November 7, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm COST: $55.00 for full event with lunch on Saturday; $20.00 for Friday only; $40.00 for Saturday only WHEN:
THE UNRULY MYSTIC: SAINT HILDEGARD OF BINGEN Join us for the showing of a new documentary telling the story of a powerful but still little-known saint and muse who invites us to experience the ordinary touching the divine. Filmmaker Michael Conti tells the story of Hildegard of Bingen and explores the ways she continues to have a profound impact on
All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
EXPLORE
FALL 2015
“ An excellent documentary, full of Hildegard’s spirit!” * M ATTHEW FOX
today’s theologians, artists, musicians and educators. Following the film, Mary Kaye Medinger, Sue Swanson, and Katy Taylor will facilitate a conversation around how Hildegard inspires us. Our viewing will coincide with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, reminding us how Mary embraced the Spirit’s unruly ways that lead to deep and profound possibilities. Presenters: Mary Kaye Medinger values Hildegard’s energetic expertise in so many fields, her courage in confronting unjust systems of power and her lifelong commitment to doing what needed to be done. Sue Swanson believes that through Hildegard’s exemplary life we are each empowered to be mystics in the world and to act with courage to challenge the status quo and live to our fullest potential. Katy Taylor appreciates that Hildegard received her music in visions from God. Taylor has studied Hildegard’s music and will lead us in singing chants and melodies. WHEN: Tuesday, COST: $25.00
December 8, 6:30 to 8:45 pm
LEAF FALLING, BUD FORMING: COMING HOME TO THE PARADOXES OF AUTUMN A Circle of Trust Retreat® Autumn is a time of incredible activity in the natural world that helps frame important cycles and questions in our own lives. As leaves fall away, leaving trees bare through the winter season, buds of new growth are often already formed. These and other autumn realities will shape our exploration of our own
personal themes of transition, new growth, living in or preparing for dark times, and the powerful growth that occurs in seasons of our lives that seem more dead than alive. We’ll explore using poetry, journaling, reflective time in nature, communal song, shared conversation and silence. For educators, clergy, community leaders, activists, artists, people of faith and seekers of all kinds, this retreat combines the principles and practices of Circles of Trust and the power of music to help us understand and live into our lives. Developed by Parker Palmer and the Center for Courage & Renewal, The Circle of Trust® approach creates a process of shared exploration where people can find safe space to nurture personal and professional integrity and the courage to act on it. Presenters: Winton Boyd, Senior Pastor at Orchard Ridge UCC in Madison, WI and a Courage & Renewal Facilitator for 9 years, has found that the power of open and honest questions in our relationships and in our own inner life have the potential to reveal new and transformative understandings. A Courage & Renewal Facilitator-in-Preparation, Paula Pedersen is a Psychology professor and Faculty Fellow for Intercultural Initiatives at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Whether singing, teaching, training or tending her garden, she strives to facilitate understanding of the complexity of multiple perspectives. Increasing wonder and awareness, deepening spiritual connection, and widening social engagement through song is at the heart of the work of singer-songwriter Sara Thomsen. She is the founder and director of the Echoes of Peace Choir, a non-audition community choir in Duluth, Minnesota. Learn more at www.sarathomsen.com. Thursday, September 17, 4:00 pm to Saturday, September 19, 12:00 pm COST: $335.00 for 3 day/2 night retreat includes lodging, meals and materials. WHEN:
“ If we are willing to embrace the challenge of becoming whole, we cannot embrace it alone — at least, not for long: we need trustworthy relationships to sustain us, tenacious communities of support, to sustain the journey toward an undivided life. Taking an inner journey toward rejoining soul and role requires a rare but real form of community that I call a ‘circle of trust.’” * PARKER J. PALMER
www.wisdomwayscenter.org
651-696-2788
info@wisdomwayscenter.org
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Re-imagine RE-IMAGINE
New and Emerging Ideas and Understandings
A Twin Cities Exclusive Event sponsored by Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, Magers and Quinn Booksellers, and Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality
BIG MAGIC: CREATIVE LIVING BEYOND FEAR with Elizabeth Gilbert Author of the acclaimed Eat, Pray, Love, and The Signature of All Things, Elizabeth Gilbert knows a few things about living a creative life. Now she shares a manifesto for living a more creative, courageous and expansive life in Big Magic: Creative Living beyond Fear. Big Magic is Gilbert’s response to the thousands of readers who have shared their struggles to move beyond “stuck” and feel more authentic and inspired. “How do I define a creative life? How do you get around your fear, in order to live a more creative life? Well, that’s what the book is all about!” Come hear Gilbert draw on her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity. Whether you hope to write a book, make art, or simply live more fully in the world, she offers powerful insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration as well as the attitudes, approaches, and habits that support a creative life. Elizabeth Gilbert was born in Waterbury, Connecticut in 1969, and grew up on a small family Christmas tree farm. At New York University, she studied political science by day and worked on her short stories by night.
idden Seed deep in the dark soil of the earth H Fertile Ground, Womb of the Night, bring us new birth * SARA THOMSEN, DARKNESS COVER ME
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WHEN: Tuesday, September 29, 7:00 to 8:00 pm WHERE: Hennepin Avenue United Methodist, COST:
511 Groveland Avenue, Minneapolis $30.00, includes signed book. Tickets are required for this event and will be mailed after you register.
BEAUTY AND TENACITY Reflections in song with Sara Thomsen We stand in wonder and awe at the breathtaking beauty all around us. At the same time, we stand in disbelief, despair, heartbreak at all that is broken: environmental degradation, social injustice, greed, violence. Song and singing hews a home to hold both the wonder and the despair. This evening of song will paint a path of persistence, dance us into daring, awaken us to wonder. You will depart with a strengthened tenacity as tender as it is tough. Beauty will follow you home. Read more about Sara Thomsen on page 7. WHEN: Saturday, September 19, 7:00 to 8:30 pm COST: $15.00
All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
RE-IMAGINE
FALL 2015
RED ROADS AND BLUE HIGHWAYS: AN AMERICAN JOURNEY IN SONGS AND WORDS Join Kent Nerburn and Larry Long for an evening of songs, stories and music that expresses how their time with First Nations peoples has changed their hearts and transformed their lives. Larry Long, a long-time friend of Pete Seeger, has been called America’s troubadour. Kent Nerburn has been praised as one of the few non-Native authors who can respectfully bridge the gap between Native American and non-Native cultures. From Lakota Sun Dances to forgotten Native battlefields, from sitting with native youth at the feet of tribal elders to composing songs with Anishinaabe children on the shores of Lake Mille Lacs, the experiences of the two men weave together to create an unexpected synergy and chemistry—while shining a light on the humanity behind our cultural differences. Presenters: American singer-songwriter Larry Long has made his life work the celebration of everyday heroes. Larry’s ballads celebrate community and history makers, including struggling Midwest farmers, embattled workers, and veterans. Says Pete Seeger, “Larry Long is doing what more singers and songwriters should be doing: using music to help people learn to work together, and bring a world of peace.” Kent Nerburn is the highly acclaimed author and editor of fourteen books on spiritual values and Native American themes. He is known for Letters to My Son; Neither Wolf nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads with an Indian Elder and The Wolf at Twilight: An Indian Elder’s Journey through a Land of Ghosts and Shadows, and most recently, The Girl who Sang to the Buffalo, a Minnesota Book Award nominee. Friday, October 2, 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Book and CD sales and book signing following event. COST: $15.00 WHEN:
BELONGING: MEANINGS AND IMPLICATIONS Belonging is an evocative and multi-meaning word. Whether used as a noun, an intransitive verb, even metaphorically, belonging often links heart and head. To fit in, to be a part of, to be the property of, close, secure relationships —belonging can mean many things. Exploring its meanings can be important, stimulating and clarifying. Led by Ted Bowman, we’ll explore the layers of meaning of belonging with poets and musicians, and guided discussions. October 6: An exploration of the many layers of belonging. When words carry evocative meanings, it can be helpful to give voice to multiple meanings and the emotional weight of each. Guest poets Mary Moore Easter and Katrina Vandenberg will lead this exploration. October 20: The profound power of the music of belonging. Songs, both lyrical and without words, are often associated with belonging. Relationships, places, connections, self-image and more are themes that we carry inside all our heads and hearts, humming/singing the tune. Singer Ann Reed will lead participants in singing, writing, and discussing musical experiences of belonging. November 3: Multiplying belonging and its meanings. Poet Denise Levertov wrote: Two girls discover/the secret of life/in a sudden line of poetry/I who don’t know the/secret wrote the line. Like Levertov, participants can learn from others about their secret or public notion of belonging. This provocative and summarizing session will be led by Ted Bowman. Presenters: Poet, writer, dancer and choreographer Mary Moore Easter¸ author of Walking from Origins, is a Cave Canem Fellow and professor of dance emerita at Carleton College. Poet and Hamline University professor Katrina Vandenberg is the author of, The Alphabet Not Unlike the World and Atlas, both published by Milkweed Editions. Ann Reed, a touring musician for over 30 years has been named Minnesota Music Academy Performer of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Best Recording of the Year. Poet, editor and grief educator Ted Bowman is co-editor of The Wind Blows, The Ice Breaks, a volume of poems by Minnesota poets addressing themes of loss and renewal. Tuesdays, October 6, 20 and November 3, 6:30 to 8:30 pm COST: $75 for the series; $30 per session. WHEN:
www.wisdomwayscenter.org
651-696-2788
info@wisdomwayscenter.org
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Re-imagine RE-IMAGINE
New and Emerging Ideas and Understandings
A featured screening of a film by Jan Selby BEYOND THE DIVIDE: WAR, PEACE, AND THE COURAGE TO FIND COMMON GROUND Beyond the Divide is an, award-winning documentary film that tells the story of a Vietnam veteran and a peace advocate who bravely step across a painful divide between Vietnam veterans and area civilians. In this character-driven film surrounded by the vast natural beauty of Montana, veteran Dan Gallagher and peace advocate Betsy Mulligan-Dague demonstrate how courageous first steps can lead to healing old wounds and building a path to reimaging peace in the future. By illuminating a way to listen compassionately to one another, Beyond the Divide inspires us to take courageous first steps to reach beyond polarization to seek what unites rather than divides us. Following the film, award-winning independent director/ producer Jan Selby, owner of Quiet Island Films, Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman, senior rabbi of Temple Israel, Terry Shaughnessy, coordinator of Men’s Series at Wisdom Ways, and local vets and peace activists will share their experience of the film and their own way in seeking common ground and living a more compassionate life. WHEN: Saturday, COST: $15.00
October 24, 6:30 to 9:00 pm
“ This film encourages engagement and inspires viewers to take action to reach beyond divides.” * NINA STREICH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL PEACE FILM FESTIVAL
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All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
RE-IMAGINE
FALL 2015
QUESTIONS ABOUT GOD
Thursdays, October 29, November 5, 12, 19 7:00 to 8:30 pm COST: $80.00 for the series; $25.00 per session. WHEN:
What happens when life poses the big questions? When a child asks what you really believe. When you come up against mortality—your own or a loved one’s. When you discover your life is so busy you’ve lost touch with God. When you realize the landscape has changed and you’re no longer sure of the terrain or your place in it. Too often when we try to engage these questions we’re tangled before we even begin. Emotion, logic, doctrine and myth scramble together and clarity escapes us. This series offers a structure and a space to wrestle with a few of the big questions. Through presentation, individual reflection, and discussion, we will break our questions into manageable pieces, take a look at new perspectives, and step more deeply into our own individual understanding. Session One: Naming where we are today—and what really brought us here. How have church, key people, joys and sorrows shaped our understanding of and reaction to God? And who or what do we mean when we speak of God? Session Two: The tension between science and faith. How do intellect and emotion blend to help us find wisdom? How do we decide what we believe–about anything? How do we respond to skeptics? Do science and faith really contradict one another? Session Three: Where is God when creatures suffer? What is Jesus’ message about suffering? How do we deal with our own and others’ pain? What does it all mean? Session Four: Where and how do we actually experience God? Where do we share our stories of God and invite others to share theirs? How do we find authentic language we can use with integrity? And finally, how do we open space in our lives to listen to God? Recommended readings that will enrich your experience (but are not an expectation) include Mere Christianity or The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis and The Language of God by Francis Collins, M.D. Presenter: Award-winning author, educator, and former high school Faith Formation Director and teacher Connie Fourré looks forward to engaging without having to keep an eye on the kid acting up in the back row.
ALL TOGETHER NOW: WHAT GROUP SOUND-MAKING CAN TEACH US ABOUT WORKING WELL TOGETHER In every culture on the planet, people make sound together as a way to work cohesively, affirm connection, build courage, and cultivate joy. In a dominant culture that over-emphasizes the individual, many of us never experience the power of belonging and sense of flow that comes from joining with others. Using a series of simple sound experiments, we will: • Discover the power of becoming “one voice” • Explore the challenges of holding one’s own in the midst of chaos • Experience the tensions that arise from being an individual, a member of a team, and part of a larger whole • Examine the questions of beauty, meaning, gifts, and intention in co-creating work together If you are leading in times of change, this morning will inspire and uplift you in your work. If you are living in times of transition and loss, come find solace and healing as you add your voice to the voices around you. Facilitator: Voice coach and singer/songwriter Barbara McAfee merges lessons from 12 years in organization development with the transformative power of sound. Author of Full Voice: The Art and Practice of Vocal Presence, she was “the band” for Margaret Wheatley’s 15-city Women’s Leadership Revival Tour. Barbara is founder of the “Morning Star Singers”, a volunteer hospice choir in the Twin Cities. Learn more at www.barbaramcafee.com. WHEN: Saturday, COST: $30.00
www.wisdomwayscenter.org
November 21, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm
651-696-2788
info@wisdomwayscenter.org
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Re-imagine RE-IMAGINE
New and Emerging Ideas and Understandings
MEN’S SPIRITUALITY
Exploring Men’s Personal Journeys of Spiritual Growth To preserve a sacred space for men to explore their spirituality together, we ask that only men register for the sessions. Coordinator: Terry Shaughnessy is a longtime spiritual director trained in Ignatian Spirituality through the Masters in Christian Spirituality Program at Creighton University. For Contemplative Outreach of Colorado and other venues, he conducts retreats and workshops and teaches Centering Prayer. His primary passion is offering spiritual direction, “the ministry of compassionate presence” and supporting many men from a variety of backgrounds in their inner lives. To learn more about spiritual direction, contact Terry at 651-328-7675.
BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING Are you longing for a stronger connection to life’s quieter, contemplative dimensions? Seeking practical ways to integrate harmony and wholeness into your days? Searching for support in moving from your head to your heart, through silence and contemplation? Come join this series of gatherings for men on a journey towards a more contemplative, compassionate and integrated life. This fall’s four sessions will be based on volume 7 of the Bridges to Contemplative Living Series, Adjusting Your Life’s Vision. Along with Thomas Merton’s writings, we will have contrasting written presentations by Dorothy Day, Mohandas Gandhi, Edith Stein and Eknath Easwaran. We will examine non-violence as lived by contemplatives as well as the role of hospitality for those committed to contemplative living. Presenters: See bio for Terry Shaughnessy at the beginning of this section.
CENTERING PRAYER CIRCLE To foster community among participants, the Wisdom Ways Men’s Spirituality Series holds a monthly contemplative prayer circle. Each meeting begins with 20 minutes of contemplative prayer practice using the method of Centering Prayer. Opportunity for group sharing around this prayer is included, as well as occasional video teachings by Centering Prayer teacher and Trappist monk Thomas Keating. This ancient practice of Christian meditation is related to the classic tradition of contemplation and is easily accessible. Facilitators: Louie Doering, a group leader for Centering Prayer groups at St. Stanislaus Parish in St. Paul, and Terry Shaughnessy, Wisdom Ways Men’s Spirituality Coordinator. Wednesdays, September 23, October 21, November 18, December 16, 6:00 to 7:30 pm COST: Donation. RSVP to 651-696-2788 or info@wisdomwayscenter.org WHEN:
Wednesday, September 2, Monday, September 21, Wednesday, October 7, Monday, October 19, 4:30 to 6:00 pm COST: $90.00 for the series. WHEN:
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All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
INDEX AND REGISTRATION REFLECTION
BELONGING * JESSICA LOPEZ LYMAN There are many facets to belonging. Feminist scholar bell hooks reminds us that belonging is connected to the land we call home, what she terms “the culture of place.” There is a politics to belonging. Who we let into our communities and families, who we love is deeply political. Despite best intentions we create a separation between “us” and “them.” These groups, these bonds, are affectively charged. We long to belong. There is a desire to connect. And yet, we know that not everyone is always welcome. There is isolation in rejection. The reflection below asks us to consider the macro and micro levels of belonging. Where do we find home? Who do we let into our hearts? How do we connect when on the surface there is great difference?
Longing to (Be)long – In Three Parts I. Not So Thin Line Between “Us” and “Them” My grandfather’s childhood home has disappeared. He points out the car window as we drive slowly down an East Los Angeles side street, “See mi’ja, over there?” his brown arm extending out, “That’s where I grew up. Before the City took the house.” I look. There is nothing but sky and freeway, open space and concrete colliding into vast emptiness. I imagine papa’s home, draw daydream lines into brick and mortar, carve clouds into front steps, and sunbeams into roof shingles. I see avocado and lemon trees bent over with the weight of ripeness, children run to the backyard, my great grandmother Mini sips ice tea as she talks to her husband Andres. And then it’s gone. Bulldozed from the imagination. Los Angeles declared eminent domain on my great grandparents’ home. State power allows government to expropriate private property for public use, for the betterment of all. At least that’s how the story goes. Displaced for urban development, they move. The same thing happened to Rondo, you know? St. Paul’s most affluent Black neighborhood. During the 1950s, close to 85 % of the City’s African American population lived in the Rondo neighborhood. In 1956, Interstate 94 demolished the area displacing over 600 Black families. Turned them into urban migrants in search of a new place to belong. Freeways like kudzu sprawl across cities. Cut neighborhoods into fragments. Force families from homes. Pave over memories and dreams. Who will remember what has been lost? Concrete lines between us and them, your side of town, the wrong side of town, the no longer exists side of town… Where do you belong when your home is gone?
REFLECTION
II. Sisterhood Longing to find home In my sister’s face We search for belonging In one another Deep making and unmaking We papier-mâché Cheekbones and eyebrows Mask over facial lines Fingers jammed into Fleshy bits We search for connection Among the differences They say I look just like my mother. The same. But lighter. Sometimes I get stopped by strangers in super markets. They ask. Are you her daughter? There is no question that I belong to her. Cut umbilical chord cannot sever our bond. Their eyes see our faces as one. My sister is a different story. Perhaps it’s because she is a little darker, a little more india, or black. Light haired curls whisk in sharp contrast to my black barely wavy hair. No one says she looks just like our mother. Eyes are deceiving.
What you see as blue, I see as purple.
Eugenics should be outlawed.
Skin shades that mark the “Other” are false.
Race is a social construct.
The census says check only one box.
I mark “Other.”
So does my sister.
I often get nightmares. Wake up and hear myself talking. There is always fire. My dreams are burning. When I was little and shared a room with my sister I would talk to her at night. She would calm me down. Know just the right way to make me relax. In the dark, our faces invisible to one another, we look the same.
INDEX AND REGISTRATION REFLECTION
III. Cellular Map There is research by scientists that says our cells can change. Not completely. Just slightly. Enough to transfer to the next generation. The stories of our lives, imprinted at the molecular level. DNA roadmap. When pain erupts, toxins enter, starvation occurs. There is a shift. Just slightly. Trauma roadmap. Despite genocide, adoption, boarding schools, trafficking the body remembers where it belongs. If we are quiet and listen to the smallest cell we’ll find our roadmap home.
Š Copyright Jessica Lopez Lyman
Embody EMBODY
Spiritual Practices for Everyday Living
MEDITATION
MEDITATION: A WAY OF CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
“ There is no need to look for God here or there. God is no farther away than the door of your own heart.” * MEISTER ECKHART
“ The language that God hears best is the silent language of love.” * JOHN OF THE CROSS
Meditation is a form of contemplative prayer in which we move beyond words, thoughts, and images. We open ourselves to God’s mysterious and silent presence within us and it becomes more and more the reality of our lives. From this place of prayer we engage in our work in the world. This fall, Wisdom Ways invites you to experience this way of Christian contemplative prayer, to reflect on readings about it, and to consider ways in which children, youth, and adults might learn about Christian meditation.
TUESDAY EVENING MEDITATION During these times of prayer, we will sit in silent meditation with others. Meditating together is a way of deepening and supporting our personal practice. The weekly sessions include a short reading and one 25-minute meditation. Following meditation, there will be an optional short introduction to Christian Meditation for those new to this form of prayer. Come as often as you are able. Tuesdays, September 8 to December 22, 7:00 to 7:40 pm COST: Registration is not required and sessions are free. WHEN:
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NEW – MONTHLY DISCUSSION OF READINGS ON CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER Once each month, following evening meditation, there will be a time to discuss the readings about contemplative prayer used on Tuesday evenings. Writers will include John Main, Eileen O’Hea, Martin Laird, and others. Preparation is not required. 3rd Tuesdays, September 15, October 20, November 17, and December 15, from 7:45 to 8:45 pm COST: Donation. Registration is not required. WHEN:
MEDITATION DURING ADVENT Advent is a time of waiting. We wait for the celebration of Christmas, the feast of the incarnation of God in Jesus. We wait for that time when God will be all in all. And in between, we contemplate the mystery of the Divine here and now, God present in all that is, sustaining all in life and love, manifesting in all, in us. Wisdom Ways offers two contemplative experiences to enliven our waiting.
NEW – TUESDAY NOONDAY MEDITATION During Advent, noonday meditation will be offered in addition to the regular Tuesday evening meditation. The weekly meditation session will include a short reading and one 25-minute meditation. Tuesdays, December 1, 8, 15, and 22, 12:00 noon to 12:40 pm COST: Registration is not required and sessions are free. WHEN:
All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
EMBODY
FALL 2015
DAY OF CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER This day of contemplative prayer provides a more extended and focused time to deepen our existing practice of meditation. A pattern of sitting and walking meditations, a teaching, mindful movements, and chanting offer an experience of prayer and silence. Please plan to attend the entire day. WHEN: Saturday, December 19, COST: $40.00, includes lunch.
8:30 am to 3:15 pm
NEW – TEACHING CHRISTIAN MEDITATION, A RESOURCE FOR SCHOOLS AND CONGREGATIONS For centuries, meditation has been a spiritual practice in all major religions. Today there is a renewed interest in this practice both as a form of prayer and as a benefit to the body, mind and emotions of the meditator. Adults, youth, and children need a place of stillness in their lives and find it in this form of contemplative prayer. Three Wisdom Ways presenters, Deborah Chernick, Susan Oeffling, CSJ, and Catherine Steffens, CSJ, are available as resource persons to schools, congregations, or other groups interested in learning more about or teaching Christian meditation to children, youth, or adults. With your group, they will explore twentieth-century Benedictine monk John Main’s teaching on meditation as a way of contemplative prayer and its power to compel us beyond our place of prayer to compassionate action in the world. They will also offer concrete suggestions about how to introduce meditation to others.
COMING IN 2016 – SEEKING GOD IN THE STILLNESS: A WINTER RETREAT Winter’s stillness invites us to step away from the busyness of our everyday lives and enter into a time of quiet. This residential retreat in the Christian contemplative tradition is intended for those who wish to awaken more fully to the Divine presence. The days will be spent in silence, following a pattern of 25-minute sitting meditations, teachings, and other contemplative practices. Because of the intensity of this retreat experience, it is expected that participants have learned about meditation and practice it regularly and that they stay overnight on site. 5:30 pm, Thursday, January 14 to 6:00 pm Saturday, January 16 COST: $175.00, includes meals. For more information about retreat and lodging, please call 651-696-2788. WHEN:
Facilitators: Susan Oeffling, CSJ, spiritual director and group facilitator, has master’s degrees in theology and counseling and spiritual direction training from the Center for Spiritual Guidance. Deborah Chernick studies the history of Christian contemplative prayer and serves on the board of the Trust for the Meditation Process. Both facilitators have practiced meditation for many years.
“ To not forget that we are held in love, that we are in the most intimate of relationships in and with divine love is the reason for being faithful to our meditation practice.” * EILEEN O’HEA
Please contact Wisdom Ways for further information, 651-696-2788.
www.wisdomwayscenter.org
651-696-2788
info@wisdomwayscenter.org
17
Embody EMBODY
Spiritual Practices for Everyday Living
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
WRITING THE SACRED JOURNEY: THE ART AND PRACTICE OF SPIRITUAL MEMOIR Saturday Introductory Workshop Spiritual memoir is the practice of listening deeply to our life experiences through the creation of artful, true stories. We come more alive when we accept how our experiences have formed us and when we form something of what we’ve experienced. By writing memories with intention, we can find holiness in the details, patterns that unify our sense of self, and deep personal healing. By crafting our stories to engage the inner life of readers, we can participate in transforming our world. Join Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew for an introduction to the art and spiritual practice of writing memoir. What is memoir, and how is it different from autobiography? What makes memoir spiritual? How can the practice of writing memoir, whether for an audience or no audience, support spiritual growth? We will start with the basics, using writing exercises, readings from master writers, and conversation. We will also discuss how to sustain the practice with writing partners or small groups in hopes of launching ongoing support for new writers. WHEN: Saturday, September 26, COST: $50.00, includes lunch
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Monthly writing sessions: Third Fridays Monthly drop-in classes focus on different aspects of writing spiritual memoir: themes that commonly arise, craft techniques, challenges and joys of the writing process, and practices for opening our work to the Spirit’s movement. Sessions include writing exercises, examples from leading and emerging writers, lecture, and small group conversation. Because they are meant to support individual writers and writing groups in the ever-deepening practice of writing spiritual memoir, these sessions will include time for participants’ questions.
October 16: Everything Sacred
We’ll practice mining ordinary objects and activities for spiritual content, learn the difference between showing and telling, and discuss ways for getting started.
November 20: No Surprise for the Writer, No Surprise for the Reader
Using Robert Frost’s wisdom as a premise, we’ll reflect on the importance of discovery in the writing process. The writer’s journey through the writing is just as important as the events he or she writes about.
December 18: God (and good writing) in the Details
The right details bring light and life to a story. We’ll practice finding details that work and look through our descriptions to the numinous meaning they reveal. Facilitator: Writing instructor and spiritual director Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew is the author of the novel, Hannah, Delivered; Writing the Sacred Journey: The Art and Practice of Spiritual Memoir; and many other books, essays, and short memoirs. Her work most often explores intersections between spiritual growth and the creative process. Learn more at www.elizabethjarrettandrew.com. Fridays, October 16, November 20, December 18, 1:30 to 3:30 pm COST: $60.00 for the series or $25.00 per session Introductory workshop is not a prerequisite for the monthly writing sessions. WHEN:
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All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
EMBODY
FALL 2015
WALKING IN HARMONY: A LABYRINTH JOURNEY Second Fridays, August-December In the midst of daily challenges and conflicts within our greater communities, cultivating a spirit of harmony and peace is a gift for yourself and the world. You are invited to walk the labyrinth indoors at Carondelet Center, whether this is your first walk or you are developing a spiritual practice. After a brief reflection, you are welcome to walk as often as you wish. There will be space for writing and artistic play as well as time for quiet prayer and meditation. In 1997, Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality mowed an outdoor labyrinth in the lawn of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the first in the Twin Cities community. Wisdom Ways has introduced the labyrinth to thousands through the many labyrinth conferences, programs and events we have sponsored since then. Two new permanent labyrinths for the grounds of the Sisters of St. Joseph are being designed and installed.
Facilitators: Marilyn Larson has been making labyrinths since 1996. She creates labyrinths for personal and public spaces in a variety of media, most recently the labyrinth for the Spiritual Center at Hennepin County Medical Center. MJ McGregor, PhD, Advanced Veriditas Certified Facilitator, introduces and facilitates labyrinth walks nationally and in Chartres Cathedral, France. MJ leads pilgrimages in Chartres, where she is a seasonal resident, and most recently co-guided a walking pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres Cathedral. Fridays, August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13, December 11, 9:30 to 11:30 am COST: Free. RSVP to 651-696-2788 or info@wisdomwayscenter.org WHEN:
www.wisdomwayscenter.org
651-696-2788
info@wisdomwayscenter.org
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Embody EMBODY
Spiritual Practices for Everyday Living
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
OUR STORY BELONGING IN GOD’S STORY Join writer, spiritual director and quilter Janet Hagberg as she leads Visio-Divina with icons from the Red Sea Band exhibit (see page 22). This group of fabric icons tells the stories of the courageous women of the Bible—chosen when Hagberg imagined them playing musical instruments and singing in the Red Sea Band. Using the icons as a pathway to prayer and self-reflection, come listen to what the subjects of each icon have to share. Artist/Facilitator: Author, spiritual director and healer Janet O. Hagberg is now an iconographer who specializes in contemporary quilted icons. WHEN: Thursday, October 15, 7:00 to COST: Free. RSVP to 651-696-2788
8:30 pm
or info@wisdomwayscenter.org
LECTIO DIVINA: MORNINGS OF REFLECTION DURING ADVENT Lectio Divina or Sacred Reading is the slow, repetitive reading of a sacred text that leads one to the ultimate step of resting in God. It is not Scripture study, nor is it spiritual reading. It is an invitation to take a “long, loving look at Scripture” as spiritual director Teresa Blythe states, “a time for falling in love with the Word and experiencing the goodness of God.” This four-step process for being with Scripture in a prayerful manner includes: Reading (Lectio); Meditating (Meditatio); Praying (Oratio); and Contemplating (Contemplatio). Using texts for Advent, you will experience this ancient prayer form in a group setting, though it is easily adapted to individual practice and can be incorporated into your prayer life. Facilitator: Pat Jones is a spiritual director, Psychologist Emeritus, and former Benedictine. Mondays, November 30, December 7, 14, 21, 10:00 to 11:00 am COST: Free. RSVP to 651-696-2788 or info@wisdomwayscenter.org WHEN:
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All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
EMBODY
FALL 2015
WINTER’S PAUSE: A SACRED JOURNEY THROUGH POETRY, SONG, AND SILENCE Join us for a blessed respite from the headlong rush of the frantic world. Step into this slow solstice time to savor beauty, reflect, and breathe. Ponder the wisdom of wise ones whose voices reach through the ages to touch our lives.
In between, we’ll taste the resonant, candlelit silence. We will sing together as well – simple songs that evoke the blessings of this solstice time and remind us of our deep connection to each other and all that is.
“Every time I go into the darkness, I return with fistfuls of jewels,” says singer/songwriter Barbara McAfee, our guide on this exquisite expedition. She will offer an array of original songs based on the work of great poets such as Rumi, Hafiz, Antonio Machado, Mary Oliver, Lucille Clifford, and Galway Kinnell.
Join us to find the jewels in the darkness. Presenter: Read more about Barbara McAfee on page 11. WHEN: Thursday, COST: $15.00
www.wisdomwayscenter.org
December 17, 7:00 to 8:30 pm
651-696-2788
info@wisdomwayscenter.org
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Art Exhibit ART EXHIBITS
THE RED SEA BAND QUILTED CONTEMPORARY ICON EXHIBIT An icon is like a window to God. It can be an image or a story that draws you in by its beauty, design or meaning, and then points you to the Eternal. Icons are art and prayer. Using image, fabric and handquilting, these icons tell the stories of women of the Bible, members of Hagberg’s imaginary “Red Sea Band.” Reflection questions allow the viewer to make personal connections with the women. Artist: Janet O. Hagberg is an author, spiritual director, healer—and now an iconographer who specializes in contemporary quilted icons. Icons are not in her religious tradition but God has a great sense of humor and dropped them into her lap to help her embrace art and prayer in a different way. Learn more at www.janethagberg.com. WHEN: August 17 to October 23 ARTIST PRESENTATION: Thursday, October
15, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, free. See page 20 for details.
The Red Sea Band 22
All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
ts
ART EXHIBITS
FALL 2015
O BLACK MADONNA PHOTO EXHIBIT What is the unbreakable, indestructible essence inside each of us that the art of dance seeks to reveal? Dancerchoreographer Maureen Fleming searches for an understanding of this internal and universal dimension through her installation featuring photography by Lois Greenfield, Christopher Odo, Spencer Tunic and Fleming. Maureen Fleming has performed at dozens of festivals and stand-alone concerts around the world, and collaborated with composer Philip Glass, playwright David Henry Hwang, and many other artists. WHEN: October 26 to November 8 ARTIST PRESENTATION: Wednesday, November PERFORMANCE:
4, 6:30-8:00 pm, Free. a t O’Shaughnessy on Saturday, November 7. Visit www.oshag.stkate.edu
OSSEOUS STIRRINGS Os.se.ous | consisting of or turned into bone How does the reality of ecological destruction inform our understanding of the sacred and mystical texts that speak to our origins – the stories that shape how we see both ourselves and the earth in which we breathe, move, and have our being? Bone of bone, dust of dust, cries coming from blood-soaked soil – these images come from the second creation narrative in Genesis, the origin narrative that informs the Judeo-Christian tradition. Another such story is told in Ezekiel. Amid a valley of lifelessness, dry dust and bone, Ezekiel is told to speak a prophetic word of life into the hopelessness. There is a rattling, a wind, and ghostlike happening in this mystical telling – a promise of life eclipsing death. These photographs were made in light of these narratives – those of ancient texts and those of our communities and earth suffering from a changing climate. They are images of ecological lament and fragile vitality that invite an earthformed perspective on narrative and justice in the age of climate crisis. ARTIST: Read about artist Emilie Bouvier WHEN: November 9 to December 31
www.wisdomwayscenter.org
651-696-2788
on page 6.
info@wisdomwayscenter.org
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LOOKING AHEAD
Save these dates in 2016
Compassionate Training Retreat with Joyce Rupp June 19-23, 2016 Compassion asks great things of us. Writer and spiritual director Joyce Rupp, co-director of The Institute of Compassionate Presence, believes compassion is what our world most needs, not just to survive, but to live the deepest and best of our precious humanity. Come explore the nuances of caring for others in their struggles and sorrows and practice being compassionate to our own selves.
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All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
FALL 2015
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
CELESTE’S DREAM YOUNG ADULT SPIRITUALITY Nourish Spirit * Inspire Social Action * Experience Community Participate in the mission and spirituality of the Sisters of the St. Joseph and Consociate community. Young adults (20-35 years old) and others are welcome. Rooted in the Catholic, Christian faith, we welcome people from all spiritual traditions. Some programs we offer include: Community Garden; CSJ Way; Earth Day Events; Ecological Justice; From Mask to Mirror: Beauty and You; Open the Door: Prayer and Discernment Retreat; Sacred Chant Choir; Advent and Lent Singing Meditation; Spiritual Guidance: Visiting Women’s Religious Communities. Community Garden 2015 Theme:
CSJ MEMBERSHIP AND ASSOCIATION The CSJ Way: Community, Spirituality, and Justice – a half-day retreat! Spend a Saturday morning with the Sisters of St. Joseph and Consociates learning about the many ways to become involved with this energetic, contemporary community of spirituality and justice. The morning will include prayer and stories focusing on this community’s mission and spirituality. Learn about how you can engage as program participant, volunteer, friend, Consociate, Sister and/or other ways of associating. Healthy, nourishing snacks will be provided. Join this movement! WHEN: WHERE:
Growing and Using Medicinal Herbs Weekly gardening Tuesdays 6:00 to 8:00 pm through October • Learn organic growing methods and enjoy healthy heirloom produce • Participate in a local food system and build community with Earth
Saturday, October 3, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm CSJ Administration Center, 1884 Randolph Ave. St. Paul, MN CONTACT: Joan Pauly Schneider at 651-690-7063, jpaulyschneider@csjstpaul.org, or Jill Underdahl, CSJ at 651-696-2873, junderdahl@csjstpaul.org
Visiting Women’s Religious Communities - Saturday, October 17 Visit four different religious communities to meet, learn, share meals, and pray with Catholic Sisters. We visit local communities of Benedictines, Franciscan Poor Clares, School Sisters of Notre Dame, and Sisters of St. Joseph and Visitation Sisters. Singing Meditation – Mid-Advent Gather two Wednesdays in Advent to experience sacred chant and silent prayer/meditation. Learn and sing music from Hildegard of Bingen and from the Gaelic tradition. Facilitator: Local singer/musician Katy Taylor (www.thewingedheart.net). Hosted by the CSJ Membership and Association Offices, Celeste’s Dream, Consociate Services and Sister Membership. Suggested donation $10 per session. WHEN: Wednesdays, December 9 and 16, 6:00 to 7:00 pm WHERE: Our Lady of the Presentation Chapel – atrium,
1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul Jennifer Tacheny, jtacheny@csjstpaul.org, 651-696-2872
www.wisdomwayscenter.org
651-696-2788
info@wisdomwayscenter.org
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ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH SPIRITUALITY MINISTRIES
JUSTICE COMMISSION
The Justice Commission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates, St. Paul Province, acts for justice and equality for all by always moving toward profound love of God and neighbor without distinction. We join with other groups in addressing issues influencing human dignity and Earth. 11th Day Prayer for Peace Created in 2001 and offered on the 11th of each month, 11th Day Prayer for Peace provides the opportunity for those gathered to pray for peace in situations throughout the world where it is needed. Themes include a variety of issues such as anti-human trafficking, dismantling racism, eco-justice, immigration reform, life from womb to tomb and more. WHEN: 11th day of each month, 6:30 to 7:15 WHERE: Our Lady of Presentation Chapel
Save the date: February 23, 2016, 7:00 to 9:00 pm Breaking the Impasse VII with Sister Simone Campbell, Director, NETWORK, A Catholic Social Justice Lobby Visit www.csjstpaul.org or www.csjstpaul.org/justice_basic.aspx For more information: 651-690-7054 Rituals to Honor the Beauty of the Seasons As Hildegard said, “Divinity – all knowing and all powerful – is like a wheel, that can never be understood…” As the wheel of the year turns, we gather to celebrate the beauty of our world using ritual, silence, music and prayer. (Begun by Sr. Roseann Giguere, CSJ and Joyce Eckes) September 23 Autumn Equinox: The Beauty of Color October 28 All Hallows Eve: The Beauty of the Veil between Worlds December 16 Winter Solstice: The Beauty of the Longest Night
WHERE: CONTACT:
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Second Sunday is a community circle in which women and men and families gather to reflect together on the Sunday scriptures. Second Sunday began among the Sisters of St. Joseph in three community houses. We reflect on the Sunday gospel and nourish one another’s lives with this sharing. We share bread and wine and lift up the prayers of all gathered and concerns for the world. Following, we drink coffee and enjoy treats. All are welcome and invited to come when you can. The group is a new blessing each month. WHEN: Second Sunday of each month, 10:00 am WHERE: Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. CONTACT: Therese Sherlock, CSJ, 651-690-7011
Paul
pm
(CSJ Chapel), 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul
WHEN:
SECOND SUNDAY
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
Spiritual Direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with the divine. In spiritual direction, space is created for one to learn and grow in their spirituality. The person seeking direction shares stories of his or her encounters of the divine, or how he or she is experiencing spiritual issues. Spiritual direction nurtures a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of being human. It is not counseling, psychotherapy or financial planning. If you seek spiritual direction, the following CSJ Spiritual Directors are available to support you on your journey. Elizabeth Kerwin, CSJ Mary Lamski, CSJ Susan Oeffling, CSJ Cathy Steffens, CSJ Jill Underdahl, CSJ Gina Webb, CSJ
651-641-0008 651-695-5387 651-696-2757 651-696-2760 651-696-2873 651-696-2757
Group Spiritual Guidance, contact Cathy Steffens, CSJ, 651-696-2760 or csteffens@csjstpaul.org or Kathy Berken, 563-581-8488 or kathyberken@gmail.com.
ather at 5:30 pm; ritual from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. G Events are free. Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul Mary Lou Flandrick at 612-724-6008
All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
FALL 2015
EVENTS IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY
EVENTS IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY CELTIC/NORDIC SERVICES SUNDAY EVENINGS AT PILGRIM LUTHERAN CHURCH Celtic Contemplative Worship and Nordic Contemplative Evening Prayer are mainstays of Pilgrim’s Saint Clair Sunday Evening worship and events. These candlelight services, held from early fall until late spring each year, open doors to worship that embrace cultures and times beyond our own, feature vocalizations and acoustic music evocative of each theme, and highlight scripture and historic and contemporary poetry and prose.
All Sunday evening services are at 6:51 pm at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1935 St. Clair Ave., St. Paul. For more information, go to www.pilgrimstpaul.org, or call 651-699-6886
www.wisdomwayscenter.org
651-696-2788
info@wisdomwayscenter.org
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FALL 2015 CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER Date 9/2 9/11 9/15 9/17 9/18 9/19 9/19 9/21 9/21 9/23 9/25 9/26 9/28 9/29
28
OCTOBER
Program
Page
Date
Program
Page
Men’s Bridges to Contemplative Living
12
Walking in Harmony: A Labyrinth Journey
Red Roads and Blue Highways: An American Journey in Song and Words 9
19
Leaf Falling, Bud Forming – Coming Home to the Paradoxes of Autumn: A Circle of Trust Retreat
7
Beauty and Tenacity: Reflections in Song with Sara Thomsen
8
Men’s Bridges to Contemplative Living
12
10/2 10/5 10/6 10/7 10/9 10/12
Hedgerow - Abounding in Spirit: Forging Faith in Questing Times
4
10/15
Artist Presentation: Our Story Belonging in God’s Story 20
Men’s Centering Prayer Circle
12
Darwin and the God of Love: Is God’s Charity Big Enough for Bears? With Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ
10/16
Monthly Writing Session: Everything Sacred
18
5
10/19
Men’s Bridges to Contemplative Living
12
10/19
Hedgerow - Abounding in Spirit: Forging Faith in Questing Times
4
Monthly Discussion of Readings on Contemplative Prayer
16
Hedgerow - Abounding in Spirit: Forging Faith in Questing Times
4
Belonging – An Exploration of the Many Layers of Belonging
9
Men’s Bridges to Contemplative Living
12
Walking in Harmony: A Labyrinth Journey
19
Hedgerow - Abounding in Spirit: Forging Faith in Questing Times
4
Writing the Sacred Journey: The Art and Practice of Spiritual Memoir: Introductory Workshop
18
Hedgerow - Abounding in Spirit: Forging Faith in Questing Times
10/20
Belonging – The Profound Power of the Music of Belonging
9
4
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear with Elizabeth Gilbert
10/20
Monthly Discussion of Readings on Contemplative Prayer
16
8
10/21
Men’s Centering Prayer Circle
12
10/24
Beyond the Divide – War, Peace, and the Courage to Find Common Ground
10
10/26
Hedgerow - Abounding in Spirit: Forging Faith in Questing Times
4
10/27
Book Discussion – The Emergent Christ by Ilia Delio
5
10/29
Questions About God
11
All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
FALL 2015 CALENDAR
FALL 2015
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Date
Program
Page
11/2
Hedgerow - Abounding in Spirit: Forging Faith in Questing Times
4
11/3
Belonging: Multiplying Belonging and Its Meanings
9
11/4
Art Reception: O Black Madonna Photo Exhibit
23
11/5
Questions About God
11
11/6 11/7 11/9
The Soul of the Living Universe – Annual Fall Soul Conference
6
Hedgerow - Abounding in Spirit: Forging Faith in Questing Times
4
11/12
Questions About God
11
11/13
Walking in Harmony: A Labyrinth Journey
19
11/16
Hedgerow - Abounding in Spirit: Forging Faith in Questing Times
4
11/17
Monthly Discussion of Readings on Contemplative Prayer
16
11/18
Men’s Centering Prayer Circle
12
11/19
Questions About God
11
11/20
Monthly Writing Session: No Surprise for the Writer, No Surprise for the Reader 18
11/21
All Together Now: What Group Sound-Making Can Teach Us About Working Well Together
11
11/23
Hedgerow - Abounding in Spirit: Forging Faith in Questing Times
4
11/30
Lectio Divina: Mornings of Reflection During Advent
20
11/30
Hedgerow - Abounding in Spirit: Forging Faith in Questing Times
4
Date
Program
Page
12/1
Tuesday Noonday Meditation
16
12/7
Lectio Divina: Mornings of Reflection During Advent
20
12/7
Hedgerow - Abounding in Spirit: Forging Faith in Questing Times
4
12/8
Tuesday Noonday Meditation
16
12/8
The Unruly Mystic: Saint Hildegard of Bingen
6
12/11
Walking in Harmony: A Labyrinth Journey
19
12/14
Lectio Divina: Mornings of Reflection During Advent
20
12/15
Tuesday Noonday Meditation
16
12/15
Monthly Discussion of Readings on Contemplative Prayer
16
12/16
Men’s Centering Prayer Circle
12
12/17
Winter’s Pause: A Sacred Journey Through Poetry, Song, and Silence
21
12/18
Monthly Writing Session: God (and good writing) in the Details
18
12/19
Advent Day of Contemplative Prayer
17
12/21
Lectio Divina: Mornings of Reflection During Advent
20
12/22
Tuesday Noonday Meditation
16
WEEKLY TUESDAY OFFERINGS Christian Meditation: A Way of Contemplative Prayer Tuesdays, September 8 to December 22 7:00 pm to 7:40 pm
www.wisdomwayscenter.org
651-696-2788
info@wisdomwayscenter.org
29
WISDOM WAYS RESOURCES
LIBRARY Wisdom Ways’ collection of 2500 books, audio, videotapes and CD/DVDs on spirituality-related themes is located in the west parlor of Carondelet Center. Browse our labyrinth section of inspiring images and background on the labyrinth, grief and loss, spirituality and more.
30
Randolph Ave.
All programs are held at Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, unless otherwise noted.
Admin Center
Carondelet Center
Fairview
Labyrinth facilitators are available to bring presentations and portable labyrinths to your site or to guide you in the use of your own labyrinth. Contact us at 651-696-2788 to make arrangements or visit www.wisdomwayscenter.org
DIRECTIONS TO CARONDELET CENTER Carondelet Center is located at 1890 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, between Cleveland and Fairview Avenues. From I-94, take the Snelling or Cretin/Vandalia exit south to Randolph Avenue. Travel west from Snelling or east from Cretin. From I-35E, take the Randolph exit west past Fairview to 1890 Randolph. Turn in at either of the two driveways marked by the brown and teal signs marked CSJ, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Free parking is available.
Cleveland
LABYRINTH RESOURCES TO RENT One mission of Wisdom Ways is to share resources in ever-expanding circles. Wisdom Ways has over 70 multiplesized labyrinths and ritual items for rent. Canvas labyrinths are available to rent for church or community events, retreat days, civic gatherings, weddings, celebrations and personal use. Additional ritual and creative resources are also available. To see selection, visit www.wisdomwayscenter.org or call 651-696-2788 to make arrangements.
INDEX AND REGISTRATION
FALL 2015
PRESENTERS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER - FALL 2015 Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Emilie Bouvier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 23 Ted Bowman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Winton Boyd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Deborah Chernick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Ilia Delio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Louie Doering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Mary Moore Easter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Maureen Fleming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Connie Fourré . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Elizabeth Gilbert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Janet Hagberg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 22 Susan Hames. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Diana Hayes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Sharon Howell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Emily Jarrett Hughes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Elizabeth Johnson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Pat Jones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Marilyn Larson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Larry Long. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Barbara Lund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Jessica Lopez Lyman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Barbara McAfee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 21 MJ McGregor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Mary Kaye Medinger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 7 Joan Mitchell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Kent Nerburn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Susan Oeffling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Paula Pedersen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Ann Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Jan Selby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Terry Shaughnessy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 12 Cathy Steffens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 17 Sue Swanson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Katy Taylor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Sara Thomsen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 8 Katrina Vandenberg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Marcia Zimmerman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
REGISTRATION INFORMATION Ways to register: Online registration at www.wisdomwayscenter.org • We accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa and personal checks. • Phone registration at 651-696-2788 or email at info@wisdomwayscenter.org. • Mail registration to: Wisdom Ways, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105 • Gift certificates are available, call 651-696-2788. • Financial assistance is available. • Full refunds with a week advance notice. See website for more information.
Registration Form
Unless otherwise noted, all events will be held at the Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Avenue, Saint Paul, MN Free and ample parking.
PAYMENT OPTIONS:
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Would you like to receive program updates by email? (We do not sell or share our email list.) Yes No
GIVE A GIFT:
Program Names: Dates 1. 2. 3. 4. Amount Due: ________________________
Amount
$ ___________
Total enclosed for programs:
$ ___________
Tax deductible donation:
$ ___________
Scholarships:
$ ___________
In memory/honor of: _________________________
GRAND TOTAL:
www.wisdomwayscenter.org
651-696-2788
$ ___________
info@wisdomwayscenter.org
31
NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID
TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT NO. 1990 A Ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet 1884 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105
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