News & Events
Congregational Resource Packet for Project Heaven on Earth.
Quadratos Pilot Project
“...designed to immerse participants in an experience of the four spiritual movements which comprise ’seasons’ of spiritual unfolding”
Winter/Spring 2008 Newsletter
Spirit-based programs and creative arts are both wonderful ways to tap into the energies that are part of new beginnings. As we begin this new year, see what Bread of Life and Spirit in the Arts has to offer!
Breathing Spaces
by Sandra Lommasson
Archived Articles (in PDF format):
Gleanings - Notes & News (in PDF format)
Read what Bob Sylva of the Sacramento Bee had to say about Spirit in the Arts.
Spiritual Direction in the Church
Presbyterians Today article.
Sacred Fire
by Toni Weingarten
Building Bridges of Hope:
Creating Moments of Mercy and Moments of Grace
by Sandra Lommasson
Come Only If You Want to Live Differently
by Sandra Lommasson
Growing a Big-Enough God
by Sandra Lommasson
Prayer as Relationship
by Sandra Lommasson
Saying Yes
by Sandra Lommasson
When the Good Is the Enemy of the Best
by Sandra Lommasson
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Reflections from Recent Events
Reflections from Tim Mooney after returning from a weekend with a local congregation on the theme of “Belovedness in God.”
It was a great weekend. Beginning and ending each session, or right after returning from a prayer exercise, Deborah and I led with chants, setting a wonderful quiet, slow pace for being together. They loved Deborah's singing. After getting folks into their bodies a bit, we started Friday night with a guided meditation that invited them to receive and open a gift that God had just for them. That gift kept showing up throughout the weekend as people dropped deeper into their Belovedness. I also invited participants to do a soul-card. I didn't think it would go too well since they hadn't cut up many magazines and the stuff wasn't even out on Friday night, but it gradually built momentum, and those who were initially resistant found themselves drawn to it and the meanings of the images they chose and prayed with. We heard lots of comments that this was what they needed. After reworking some of the material yesterday in connection with my notes I think this Beloved retreat can be something that other churches would find valuable and life-changing. And it was great fun doing a retreat with Deborah. It was an organic thing that just happened and we feel grateful for the experience.
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Reflections from Marjorie Hoyer Smith about
our recent SoulCollage Prayer Card Retreat
The retreat was offered at the perfect site--Mercy Center Auburn--where prayer permeates the facility, graciousness abounds, and the food is fabulous! As the brochure described, there was music, poetry, making SoulCollage Prayer Cards, Psalm 139, morning devotions, singing, Sabbath time, small and large groups for sharing, and more. The retreat was profound, but I find it hard to measure it by any shape of "success." Perhaps I can share some of the comments participants wrote to give you the flavor of the weekend. The reflective evaluation asked how the participants were touched by the making of Prayer Cards, by the Community gathered, and by the Spirit of God.
"Unexpectedly touched by the process itself--amazing how the card was transformed before my very eyes assuring me that something greater than myself and my individual experience was present here."
"My hands were guided to construct/form a card that was a message from the Self greater than the self."
"I was touched by the insights others came to regarding their own journey--I felt 'part of' and did not feel alone."
"To share cards with another was a sacred sharing, for each card reveals a part of a person's soul and inner self."
"The process and results were amazing. More than I expected. I like what I have done so far, but also anticipate a deeper unfolding of Mystery."
"Prayer for me in recent years has been a chore requiring effort and energy. Perhaps over the years I have forgotten how to pray. The making of Prayer Cards reminds me of the essence of prayer."
"I found the Spirit moving in and out like a spiral--ever deepening yet moving me beyond myself."
"God's Spirit comes forward when one least expects it to do so. A card that just came together without much thought opened me up to realizing the Spirit of God was at work at that moment within me."
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Reflections from a participant in a recent Contemplative Dialogue Facilitation for a group from 4 states engaging a negotiation
See http://www.synodpacific.org/
I was asked on April 13 how it went. My instant response was “It was a flaming success!” This response wasn’t necessarily based on my feelings about the solution but certainly on how the solution was reached… Since I have been working with and studying the Path of Contemplative Dialogue for 3 years, I was taking specific care to watch how things went… My overwhelming feeling was that we were talking about deeper stuff than ever before with little apparent effort. It struck me as a strong affirmation of the work we did… I think the way we behaved and treated one another was a significant advance toward true partnership. It’s easy to pick at problem areas and skip over good stuff because good stuff is supposed to happen. That’s a dangerous habit to practice and we do it at our peril. I think we did some great work on building the place God wants us to build for our discussions. Let’s figure out how to spread it throughout all the places we work and live.
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