Franciscan Living Urban Center for Spirituality

Exploring the Sacred from the inside out

SoulScapes

February/March 2011

flowers in cracked stone Greetings!

What if Grace can be found in the messy, unpredictable spaces in our lives?

 

What if mistakes and poor decisions are spiritual exercises that can lead us to wholeness?

 

What if God patiently waits for us in the darkness and broken places of our experiences?


Last summer a friend popped into my office at the Franciscan Living Center with a  paperback he had recently discovered.  "I think you will like this," he said, "it's called A Spirituality of Imperfection." In response I could only laugh aloud since I am well known for worshiping at the altar of perfection despite my periodic attempts at reformation.

My friend was correct.  It is a book that I have found thoughtful, practical and challenging. This gem, along with themes culled from several writers and my own fumbling attempts at integration, forms the basis for our Lent/Spring mini retreat series in March, THE WAY OF IMPERFECTION: Meeting God in the Broken Places. Using our popular mini-retreat format, we will explore  this path over a period of three weeks. A Tuesday evening group and a Thursday morning group are in the process of being formed. Details are included below in this newsletter.  If you are interested in joining one of these groups, please request a registration form or  R.S.V.P. by clicking the link.

For additional opportunities to explore the spiritual path I invite you to  check out our  offerings which are described below.  You will also note a link to the March 6th Snatam Kaur concert at the Crest Theatre.  Many of you have heard her music at Sunlight of the Spirit Books and Gifts and in some of our retreats and workshops. We are very grateful that Snatam has given us permission to use her contemporary version of the Prayer of St. Francis, titled "Servant of Peace" and found on the collection, Liberation's Door, in our video project, which we hope to have finished by the summer.

And finally, please be sure to note our new feature at the end of this edition of SoulScapes, A 60 Second Retreat.

Blessings,

Margie

RETREATS

SEMINARS

WORKSHOPS

PRAYER

 

FEBRUARY


Mon. 2/21
SoulCollage
Studio
5:30 - 8:00 PM

Tues. 2/22 Working With your SoulCollageCards
6:00 - 7:30 PM

Mon. 2/28
SoulCollage
Studio
5:30 - 8:00 PM

 

MARCH


Sat. 3/5
SoulCollage:
SoulTreasures
10 AM - 1 PM

Sun. 3/6
Sabbath Prayer:
SpiritWind
1:30 - 3:30 PM


Snatam Kaur in Concert
7:30 PM
Crest Theatre

Mondays
March 7,14,21,28
BodyPrayer:
Fire in the Belly
6  - 7 PM

Tuesday Evenings
March 15,22,29
The Way of Imperfection
6- 7 PM

Thursday Mornings
March 17,24,31
The Way of Imperfection
11 AM - Noon

Sat. 3/26
Franciscan Prayer & Presence Circle
Giving Birth to Christ
12:30-2:00 PM

APRIL

Sat. 4/2
Meditation Cards
10 AM - 1 PM
Sun. 3/6

Sabbath Prayer:

SpiritSong
1:30 - 3:30 PM


Mondays
April 4,11,18,25
BodyPrayer:
Songs of Renewal
6  - 7 PM


Sat. 4/23
Franciscan Prayer & Presence Circle
12:30-2:00 PM

 

Please see our Website for complete details

 

Click this link to view our  2011Calendar

RETREATS, WORKSHOPS, PROGRAMS

  

FEBRUARY

SoulCollage� Studio

Mondays, February 21 & 28, 2011, 5:30 -8:00 PM

$10.00 - Pre-Registration is advised* 

 

Working with your SoulCollage� Cards

Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

$10.00 - Pre- Registration only*

 

MARCH

 SoulTreasures:

Creating Personal Meditation Cards With SoulCollage� 

Saturday, March 5, 2011, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM  

Introductory Workshop - all materials provided

$25.00  - Pre- registration only*

 

Sabbath Prayer: SpiritWind

Sunday, March 6, 2011, 1:30 - 3:00 PM

$10.00 - Pre-registration is advised*

 

Snatam Kaur in Concert at the Crest Theatre

Sunday, March 6, 2011, 7:30 PM

 

Fire in the Belly: BodyPrayer

Mondays, March 7, 14, 21, 28, 6:00 - 7:00 PM

 Drop in - Donations for the support of the Center accepted

 

The Way of Imperfection:   

Meeting God in the Broken Places

Tuesdays, March 15, 22, 29, 6:00 - 7:00 PM

$25.00/Series Pre-registration* or $30.00/Series at the Door

Click Here for Flyer & Registration Form 

 

The Way of Imperfection:   

Meeting God in the Broken Places

Thursdays, March 17,24,31, 11:00 AM - Noon 

$25.00/Series Pre-registration* or $30.00/Series at the Door

 Click Here for Flyer & Registration Form 

 

 Giving Birth to Christ

Franciscan Prayer and Presence Circle

Saturday, March 26, 2011, 12:30 - 2:00 PM

Drop in - Donations for the support of the Center accepted

 

APRIL

 Creating Personal Meditation Cards With SoulCollage� 

Saturday, April 2, 2011, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM  

Introductory Workshop - all materials provided

$25.00  - Pre- registration only*

 

Sabbath Prayer: SpiritSong

Sunday, March 6, 2011, 1:30 - 3:00 PM

$10.00 - Pre-registration is advised*

 

Songs of Renewal: BodyPrayer

Mondays, April 4,11,18,25, 6:00 - 7:00 PM

 Drop in - Donations for the support of the Center accepted

 

Franciscan Prayer and Presence Circle

Saturday, April 23, 2011, 12:30 - 2:00 PM

Drop in - Donations for the support of the Center accepted

 

* Fewer than 5 pre-registrations may result in the cancellation or rescheduling of this program.


Lewis Robinson

Dr. Lew Robinson 

Spiritual Direction

 

Many people find working with a spiritual director to be a transforming experience.  Our trained directors are members of

Spiritual Directors International.

 

Spiritual Direction sessions are usually 50 minutes in duration. During each session both the director and directee listen together for signs of the of the Sacred in the directee's life.

Margie Will, Executive Director

Margie Will, osf

   

 

If you are curious about this ancient path, please contact one of our spiritual directors by clicking on the e-mail link.


Calling on Sophia 

"Wisdom is radiant and unfading,

and she is easily discerned by those who love her,
and is found by those who seek her." Wisdom 6:12 

 

Radiant and Unfading Wisdom,

your deep love calls to me.

I seek you with all my heart.

Hasten to make yourself known.

 

Sit at the gate of my heart.

Teach me your ways.

Meet me in every thought.

Attune my mind to your perceptions.

Open all that is closed within me.

I desire your instruction.

I long to receive and share your love.

 

Dance on the path of my life.

Free me from all that hinders.

Deepen all that attracts me to you.

As the mystery of my life unfolds

through the quickly passing years,

draw my love ever nearer to you.

 

I promise to be awake and vigilant,

attentive to your voice,

receptive to your guidance.

I will hide no secrets from you.

Come, reveal yourself to me.

 

from: Prayers to Sophia by Joyce Rupp


A 60 Second Retreat

 

Take one phrase from the prayer above (or any prayer, poem or scripture of your choice) that catches your attention and ponder it for a minute (or two or three).

 

Repeat during the day or night as time permits either using the same phrase or a different one.

 

For a longer retreat...

Try meditating on a phrase for a minute and shortening the     phrase to meditate upon it for an additional minute.

Do this until you reach a place of silence

and then meditate for as long as you are able.

See example  from the prayer in this issue below:

 

Deepen all that attracts me to You.

(meditate)

Deepen all that attracts me.

(meditate)

Deepen all that attracts.

(meditate)

Deepen all.

(meditate)

Deepen.

(meditate)

 

(meditate in silence)