An Invitation
Bread of Life Community of Practice
Applications for the following year’s cohort open each year in mid-October for one month. Check back here and look for announcements.
The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people,
or gifted people, but for deep people. -- Richard Foster
With foundation-shaking events a staple of life in our time, the “desperate need for deep people” is more vital today than when Foster penned his prophetic statement almost 50 years ago. It is this deep need of our time that led to the formation of the Bread of Life Community of Practice in 2022 with people from diverse faith streams and backgrounds. We share a common longing for deepening relationship with the Holy that connects the inner life to the ways we participate in the world. As a contemplative community of practice, we share a common attitude and purpose: to attend to the depth human journey in ourselves and others with compassion and truth.
“I have the opportunity to share in and witness other people’s experience of faith in an environment of openness without agenda. It’s refreshing to be in community where no one is being convinced or persuaded to do anything other than grow deeper in their own spiritual experience. ”
We are “the course.” The individuals who make this year-to-year commitment live in the knowledge that none of us is finished. We are responding to a deep and personal call to be part of a community which recognizes that the interior work that flows into the world and back -- continually remaking us -- is the essential work. It’s a work we cannot do alone.
Dates for the Community 2026
Each year-long commitment begins in January and continues with monthly meetings around a shared theme. The theme for 2026 is The Holy in the Ordinary. The monthly rhythm of meeting seeks to build a sense of community that supports both the deepening journey of members and fresh expressions of their service in the world.
Committed presence is essential for building and sustaining connection and community! Any participant’s absence from our gatherings affects the community as a whole in addition to being a missed opportunity for the participant to grow with the community. Please check your availability for the dates below before applying. Please click here for other commitments.
All-Group Gatherings occur quarterly and are generally 6 hours long with the exception of one full weekend retreat early in the year. Given the wide geography of interest, we work in a hybrid format combining in person and Zoom options. All retreats can be attended in person or by Zoom. All times are Pacific.
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 12:30-6 Pacific is our “Bridging Retreat” at Mercy Center Auburn when 2025 members and newly arriving members come together to share their discernments. These range from new commitment to recommitment to “bless and release”. Dinner is included.
February 13 -15, 2026 at Mercy Center is our Opening Full Weekend Retreat. We encourage members at a distance to consider flying in and welcome donations to help with travel expense as well as local host homes.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 10:30-5, St. Marks UMC, Sacramento
Sunday, August 16, 2026, 10:30-5 Pacific, St. Mark’s UMC, Sacramento
Sunday, November 15, 2026, 10:30-5, St. Mark’s UMC, Sacramento
Small Groups
Each group selects their regular monthly meeting time of 2 hours in months between retreat days. Where possible, we designate groups in a near geography, so that in-person meeting is an option.
The Application Period for 2026 is open October 17 to November 21, 2025
Note: This link is live annually from mid-October to mid-November for the following year. Apply here
Applications for 2026 are now open! Apply Here!
“This is a time of great unravelling when it is easy to lose heart. This is also a pregnant time before the birth of something new. Many of our traditional moorings have been found to be lacking. Now, more than ever I feel the need to be part of a supportive community so that I can live into this time with love and courage. It is said that this is the hard work that cannot be done alone. I believe that to be true. The world needs people who can be a non-anxious presence and who are faithful to the work of the depth journey – who are willing to lean into the unknown with faith and trust.”