Summer & Fall 2010
Upcoming Retreats and Programs
at Franciscan Living Urban Center for Spirituality

Gathering for the Gratitude Ceremony
2nd anniversary celebration

"For all that
has been,
THANKS!
For all that
will be,
YES!"



Greetings!

Franciscan Living is two years old!

"In the Name of All That Is we come together.... In the Name of the Spirit breathing in all things... In the Name of All That Is, we come."  Our small meeting room inside Sunlight of the Spirit Books and Gifts echoed with the heartfelt chorus of over 30 joyous voices as we sang the gathering song of our Ceremony of Gratitude marking the Second Anniversary of the founding of Franciscan Living and prayed with thanksgiving for all that has been:

Praise be to You, O God,

for the generous hearts, hands, and lives 

that seek you in this sacred place. 

For the treasures of time, talent,

and self-giving that daily create

miracles of presence and possibility.

 

Praise be to You,

For volunteers

For generous hearts

For deep thinkers

For playful spirits

For soulful seekers

For devil's advocates


Gratitude Dance in the Labyrinth
labyrinth dance

Praise for the hum of the city

For the individuals, families, and communities            
            who hold us in prayer

          

            For holy chaos

For the challenges that teach

                  us to open our hearts and minds

For the kindness of strangers

For sudden laughter

For tears of sorrow, pain, and joy

For the gift of unexpected beauty. 

 
Beauty in the Alley

 Praise For Sabbath Prayer

Welcoming the Light

Embracing the New

Circles of Gratitude

Songs in the Silence

Sister Mother Earth

Mother of Us All

Sacred Play.

 

Praise for SoulCollage

Coming to know the one and the many parts

of our inner selves...

            The Source

            The Witness

            The Soul Essence

            The Community

            The Companions

            The Council

                                         The Committee.

 

Praise for BodyPrayer

Stillness

Enlightenment

Joy

Prayer of the Heart

SpiritDances.

 

Praise for retreats of every shape and kind

that inspire the imagination and move the heart.

            Open the Door.

            Back to the Shack

            Exploring the Secret Garden

            Falling Into the Heart of God

            Sand, Stone, & Spirit

            Franciscan Presence

            Care for Creation

            Sun, Sand, & Sea.

 

Praise for the Franciscan Presence and Prayer Circle--

Seekers who come together in community to share the experience 

    and challenge of naming sacred Presence in a fragile world.

 

Praise for Spiritual Direction

            For holy listening

            For sacred silence

            For loss and grief

            For the crucible of suffering that leads us to our Self.

            For companions on the journey as we yearn for deeper union with You.

 

Praise for the Grace Margin

            For challenges to our complacency

            For new insights and experiences

            For  ever deepening compassion and humility

                   as we seek and find Presence in surprising places.

 

 Praise for all those who are searching for deeper meaning in life

                 and for those who seek a spiritual home.

           For volunteers who contribute what they have

                                and receive what they need

                       For all those who will find companionship         

        and support with us in the future

                      For the countless gifts of grace

         which continue to daily bless Franciscan Living.

 

When the ceremony ended, guests stayed to visit with each other and to enjoy the simple fare prepared for our celebration.  The outstanding favorites of the evening were the amazing Italian sodas as well as the mini- cupcakes prepared by first-time baker, Albert Weaver, the vice chair of our Board of Directors.

Grateful and blessed, we move forward with an abundance of upcoming programs,  retreats, and events that are designed to appeal to a variety of interests and needs.

August BodyPrayer will celebrate "Abundance" with gentle movement and breath work accompanied by meditative music.

The
Themes in Contemporary Spirituality Series continues in September with a two week exploration of the spiritual images and metaphors found in the academy award nominated film, "Avatar". 

"Inner Work", a spirituality group for men, is forming in September. This new group, facilitated by Lew Robinson, and meeting on Thursday evenings at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, is co-sponsored by Franciscan Living and Trinity Cathedral.  For details please contact Lew by clicking the email link above or by calling 916.278.6726.

We are also pleased to offer a number of workshops to explore the SoulCollage�process from  the introductory, Creating Your Own Meditation Cards, and the informal SoulCollage Studio, to advanced sessions on Working With Your Cards.

Upcoming opportunities to  explore Franciscan Spirituality will include: sessions on Franciscan Prayer, a virtual Pilgrimage of Assisi for the Feast of St. Francis, conversations exploring a Spirituality of Presence as well as monthly gatherings of  the Franciscan Presence and Prayer Circle.

Monthly Sabbath Prayers, mini- retreats that make use of active imagination and art as meditation, will continue with "Balancing Act" in September, "A Sacred Path" in October, and "Grace Upon Grace" in November.

Look for information that will be available soon about our new  Mindfulness Series which will be launched in November with "Celebrating Gratitude" and "Simply Prayer" .

And please be sure to check out our complete calendar or visit our website for more information & registration forms.


August Workshops and Retreats
  Mondays, August 16, 23, 30 -  6:00 - 7:00 PM 
Drop in - Donations for the support of the Center
gratefully accepted


Saturday, August 21 from 10 AM - 1 PM 
Introductory Workshop - All materials provided
Pre-Registration - $25.00

Tuesdays, August 24, 31, 5:30 - 8:00 PM 
No Previous SoulCollage Experience Required
All materials provided
Drop in - $10.00 per session

Saturday, August 28, 12:30 - 2:00 PM 
All are Welcome



September Workshops and Retreats

Creating Personal Meditation Cards with SoulCollage� 
Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Introductory Workshop - All materials provided
Pre-Registration only  - $25.00

Sabbath Prayer: Balancing Act
Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, 1:30-3:00 PM
$10.00 - Pre-registration is advised


Franciscan Prayer 101
Mondays, Sept. 13, 20, 27, 6:30 - 8:00 PM
$10.00 per session or $25.00 for series
Pre-registration is advised

Working With Your SoulCollage� Cards

Tuesday, Sept. 7 from 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Drop in - $10.00 per session

Inner Work for Men with Lew Robinson, Ph.D.
Thursday Evenings in September
16, 23, 30  - 7:00 - 8:30 PM

These sessions will be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

Avatar & Spirit
Please view the film before attending
Tuesdays, Sept. 14, 21 -  6:30 - 8:00 PM

$10.00 each session or $15.00 for Series
Pre- Registration only

Franciscan Prayer and Presence Circle

Saturday, September 25 - 12:30 - 2:00 PM
ALL ARE WELCOME


October Workshops and Retreats

  Pilgrimage Prayer with Francis of Assisi
Monday, Oct. 3, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Pilgrimage Package $15.00 with advance registration
$20.00 at the door

Sabbath Prayer: A Sacred Path

Sunday,Oct. 10, 2010, 1:30-3:00 PM
$10.00 - Pre-registration is advised


SoulCollage�Studio
Mondays,Oct. 11, 18, 25, 5 :30 - 8:00 PM 
No Previous SoulCollage� Experience Required
All materials provided
Drop in - $10.00 per session

Presence, Practice, Possibility

Tuesday Evenings, Oct. 12, 19, 26, 6:30 - 8:00 PM or
Thursday Mornings, Oct. 14, 21, 28 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
$10.00 per session or $25.00 for series
Pre-registration is advised

Creating Personal Meditation Cards with SoulCollage� 
Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Introductory Workshop - All materials provided

Pre-Registration only  - $25.00

Franciscan Prayer and Presence Circle
Saturday, October 23 - 12:30 - 2:00 PM

ALL ARE WELCOME


Individual Spiritual Direction
with Lew Robinson, Ph.D. and Margie Will, M.T.S.
is available by appointment. 

Call 916.718.4797 or e-mail our office for more information
 Sliding scale is available

Who are You, God, and Who am I?

Franciscan Living Urban Center for Spirituality is rooted in this fundamental question that transcends the boundaries of space, time, race, gender, and religious practice. Like St. Francis & St. Clare of Assisi and their early followers, we recognize our origins in the Holy One and our kinship with all creation. Together we strive for authenticity of spiritual practice that manifests in the ordinary course of our daily lives and relationships. Through the spirituality of Presence we touch the Sacred and come to know the blessing of who we are as an integral part of the web of life.
 
Margie Will, Executive DirectorThese past two years have been filled with an abundance of blessings as our Urban Center for Spirituality has taken root and blossomed.  We give thanks for all who have supported our Center and look to the future as we continue to explore the  spirituality of Presence and to expand our offerings.

As we move forward, our focus is on introducing the Center to an ever widening circle of friends and seekers.  You can help us to do this by using the Forward email link at the bottom of this newsletter to send it to a friend, colleague or family member who might be interested in our programs. Please note that using the link does not put the recipient on our mailing list, but does provide a one-time opportunity for her/him to become acquainted with us and the work we do at the Urban Center for Spirituallity.

May abundance and gratitude surround you without and within.

Blessings,

Margie Will, osf