Bloy House News
The Episcopal Theological School at Claremont
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Greetings from Bloy House, the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont, where the spring term is well under way. Thank you for considering Bloy House/ETSC for theological coursework and continuing education alike. For information, phone 909.621.2419 or email bloyhouse@cst.edu.Faithfully in Christ,
(The Very Rev.) Sylvia Sweeney, Ph.D.
Bloy House Dean and President
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Being the Light: Spring Retreat to explore
Ignatian Spirituality Practices March 1 & 2
A retreat to bring us closer to the One who wishes
to live so fully in us as to transform us into
the Love and Light of the world.
Join us for a contemporary version of Ignatian spiritual exercises which will help us to get in touch with some of the obstacles we all face which prevent us from enjoying the abundant life promised to us; and also to draw closer to the experience of the presence of the Source of all Love and Life.
This retreat will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 1 and end at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon. On-campus housing is available at the cost of $45 for those who do not wish to commute. The cost of the retreat is $55 for Bloy House and Instituto students and $65 for those who are not currently attending Bloy House but would like to participate.
 Philippa (Pippi) Currey is our retreat leader this year at Bloy House. Pippi is an experienced spiritual director, having gone through formation training at both Stillpoint: The Center for Christian Spirituality and the Institute in Retreat/Spiritual Direction at Mt. St. Mary's College in Los Angeles. She is a long-time practitioner of Centering Prayer and has been introducing churches and groups to Centering Prayer since 2004 as an Introductory Workshop Presenter for Contemplative Outreach. She is also a mentor for new practitioners, and has led numerous retreats on bringing Christian contemplative practices into daily life. She lives in Monrovia with her husband, Chuck, and two daughters, Molly and Madeline. |
In the Footsteps of the Celtic Saints:
A Pilgrimage to Lindisfarne and Iona
One of the most distinctive aspects of [Celtic] spirituality was its holistic vision of a creation in which the presence of the divine was recognized as palpable, living and breathing in all things. This has important implications for how a 'sacred' place was understood. It was not that such places were somehow qualitatively different from any other patch of ground or building that stood on it. The difference lay in the people and stories that belonged to it and assigned it a sacred meaning. People went to Lindisfarne not because it was more 'holy' in itself than anywhere else ... they went there because the stories of the holy men and women told there publicly proclaimed it as a place in which to reflect on the spiritual realities of faith and be inspired to follow in the saints' footsteps.
--Michael Sadgrove
When my husband Frank and I first visited Lindisfarne, off the coast of northeast England, we were not aware of the seeming contradiction between its name, "Holy Island," and the understanding of those early Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Christian inhabitants who predated modern distinctions between sacred and profane. True enough, Lindisfarne, when it is surrounded by water during high tide, is literally "set apart" twice a day. But what has really "set apart" -- made holy -- this small island for generations of pilgrims is the story of Aidan and Cuthbert and their monastic community. There is an even stronger sense of "apartness" when one visits the Scottish island of Iona 200 miles to the west. What has made this windswept island holy is the story of Columba, a monk who left his native Ireland and established a community on Iona, the base from which Scotland and northern England were evangelized.
We felt drawn to these places, but why? For us, too, like the pilgrims of old, it was indeed the stories of these Celtic and Anglo-Saxon saints, men and women, whose ways were at once foreign to us, yet strangely attractive. Their lives spoke of a holiness and wholeness that we had been seeking even without our full awareness.
We invite you to journey with us to the sacred landscape of Northern England and Scotland, following in the footsteps of our Celtic and Anglo-Saxon forebears who nourished the seed of Christianity in Britain. We will be pilgrims rather than tourists: our aim is not merely to see the sights but to open ourselves to the possibility of transformation. As pilgrims, we will take time for worship, prayer, and reflection; for food and fellowship and laughter; for exploration and for rest. If this invitation appeals to your sense of where you are in your own spiritual journey, join us for this pilgrimage, May 25-June 5, 2015. Cost of the twelve day pilgrimage is $3850.00 (airfare not included). For further information contact us at bloyhouse@cst.edu.
--Teresa Di Biase
 Teresa Di Biase is a historian, university librarian, and spiritual director. She has published articles on a variety of little-known women in the arts and religious life and is a regular contributor to Presence: the Journal of Spiritual Directors International. Frank Shirbroun was professor of New Testament in the Episcopal Theological Seminary at Claremont, California (Bloy House) for more than 17 years (1987-2004) and continues to  teach Adult Education classes in his retirement. He also operates a used, out-of-print and rare book business called Live Oak Booksellers. With Celtic roots in Ireland and Wales, Frank and Teresa have made several pilgrimages to sacred sites in Britain, Ireland, and Brittany. They frequently share their understanding and appreciation of Celtic Christianity in adult education classes and retreats. Teresa and Frank are Benedictine Oblates and are interested in the intersection between Celtic Christianity and Benedictine spirituality. |
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'Singing the Exultet' Workshop
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 'Singing the Exsultet' Workshop On March 15 with Frank Basile
Worship leaders may come from a wide variety of musical backgrounds, ranging from a good deal of training to none at all. Nonetheless, they are often called upon to sing in front of large groups of people, and may have a high degree of anxiety about these situations. We will use this time to approach the issue of singing, from technical, artistic, and spiritual standpoints, in the hopes of increasing everyone's comfort level when these situations arise. One of the more difficult tasks for the liturgical singer is the Exsultet, sung at the Easter Vigil service (assigned to the deacon, but often sung by others when there is no one serving as deacon at the service.) We will spend some time looking at the particular technical and musical challenges of this ancient piece of music, and by the end of the workshop, have gained some tools and insights that should help move the singing of the Exsultet from a scary chore to an opportunity for enhancing the glory of the Easter Vigil service.
This workshop is being led by Frank Basile (pictured). Frank is director of music at St. Bede's Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, and is a conductor, musical director, pianist, organist, harpsichordist, accompanist, singer, composer, arranger, orchestrator and teacher. His career has brought him to Los Angeles recording studios, the choir lofts of churches throughout the United States and Europe, any number of small theaters in L.A., and the stages of Walt Disney Concert Hall and Carnegie Hall. Versatility has been the hallmark of his work, which has included teaching at U.S.C., Loyola Marymount University, Santa Monica College and Campbell Hall High School, directing community choruses, giving private lessons, composing, arranging and orchestrating for the musical theater stage, accompanying classical recitals and nightclub acts, creating concert series, performing harpsichord concertos, and many other forms of musical expression. He studied at Yale University, Northwestern University, and the University of Southern California.
This workshop will take place in Kresge Chapel on the Bloy House/CST campus from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Cost of the workshop is $20. Mail registration checks to Bloy House 1325 N. College Ave. Claremont, CA 91711. For more information on this workshop contact bloyhouse@cst.edu.
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Fresh Start for Lay Leaders Expands Its Reach
Many are aware that Fresh Start for Lay Leaders has provided a wonderful resource to churches across this diocese in the midst of periods of transition, often as they engage in search processes or prepare to welcome a newly called clergy person. But Fresh Start for Lay Leaders is also by definition a highly effective resource for equipping lay persons to serve as vestry members, pastoral care leaders, wardens, committee chairs, communications directors, and instigators of outreach ministries to the wider world.
This program meets for a semester with new classes beginning every spring and fall. The program is led by Canon Joanna Satorius (pictured) who works with lay persons in the rich and nurturing environs of life at Bloy House. In addition to gaining skills and knowledge about various systems issues, dynamics, and institutional characteristics of vital churches, Fresh Start for Lay Leaders participants have the opportunity to take part in the Bloy House community and share in the communal discernment of lay and ordained vocations that is so essential to our life together.
The National Fresh Start program, produced by the Episcopal Church Foundation, was initially designed to help clergy and lay leaders who are a part of congregations in transition. Recognizing that the Fresh Start modules are relevant to many of the issues experienced in congregational life, the program in the Diocese of Los Angeles has been expanded to include all interested lay leaders endorsed by their clergy leadership.
To that end, the content of the program is based on three key principles: the theory of transition, the importance of relationship-building and the need for self-individuation and care. Fresh Start students meet each Saturday of teaching weekends from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with our mid-day community Eucharist and lunch as an essential part of this seminary experience.
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 Fall 2014:
Wisdom and the Prophets
Dr. James Sanders will offer "Wisdom and the Prophets" from 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday afternoons. This class will explore ways in which the wisdom tradition within Judaism helped the major prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures to craft a new vision of redemption built around a universal view of salvation. If you have ever wanted to do in-depth exploration of Isaiah and Jeremiah, mark your calendars now so you can come join us for this class in the fall.  Media in Ministry class
to return Fall 2014 What are best practices for strategic communication of faith in this digital age? In what ways is community built and meaning made as these technologies meet time-honored traditions? Come explore practical, hands-on methods of communication in congregations and other contexts in "Media in Ministry"' class open to all Saturday mornings, Fall 2014 semester, at Bloy House. Course is open to laity and clergy alike, continuing-ed as well as ongoing theological program students. Instructor is Robert Williams, canon for community relations in the Diocese of Los Angeles and a former communication director of the Episcopal Church. Now in its fourth year, Media in Ministry course curriculum is fully updated to address current and emerging trends |
 Jesus is coming! Get busy!
By Sylvia Sweeney
A story I heard on NPR a couple of weeks ago has been gnawing at me. Usually when one hears those "new research reports" stories, one can file that as simply an interesting factoid to bring out at a lull in the conversation at a dinner party, or even more likely, one can respond internally with "How much money did they actually spend to tell us what we already know?" But this study did not fit neatly into either of those categories for me. Perhaps that's because I began my adult life as a school social worker working with impoverished children in North Florida. Or perhaps it's because I am a part of the wonderful team of people in this diocese who help form individuals for diaconal ministry. Or perhaps it's simply because I am a Christian, and Jesus asks us to pay attention to things like this.
The study I'm talking about was done by a team from Harvard and the U.S. Treasury, and what it showed is that if current trends continue, out of a hundred children born into poverty in the United States today, eight of them will escape poverty and make it to comfortable middle class life. Or put the other way, 92 of them will not escape poverty, will not ever experience comfortable middle class living, will likely spend their lives working for minimal wages (if they can find work) and struggling and scrapping and fighting every day of their lives to stay safe, pay their bills, put groceries on the table, and send their kids to decent schools in hopes that maybe their children can be part of that eight that make it out.
Put another way, if you are a kindergarten teacher in a poor school with 25 bright, active, vivacious children in your room, you know when the day school starts that two of them -- just two! -- will go on to have the kind of life you want for all of them. How do you choose where to put your energy knowing that's what the odds look like? How do you instill a sense of belovedness, and dignity, and self worth in all 25 of those children knowing that the society around them will only reward two of them with the chance to reach their full social and economic potential? And the more obstacles those children have to face, the less likely they are to be one of the two who make it out of poverty. The children with the least food, the least safety, and the least home stability will be the ones least likely to overcome.
I am a Christian, a follow of Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus who championed the poor, who affirmed their dignity at every turn, who brought their plight to the attention of those in power, who when the situation required it of him ranted and raved about the deep injustices of his society. And Jesus asks me to do the same. To not settle for the status quo, to not find good news in the notion that only eight children in one hundred will be released from the oppression and suffering of poverty. If you are a deacon, it's time to climb on your soap box. If you are a Christian, it's time to roll up your sleeves. There are children out there in that great big world of ours that need us to get to work on their behalf.
Not sure what to do in the face of such a massive challenge? Donate to your local public school. Volunteer in a classroom where all the children are not above average. Talk to the governor and our congress persons about the ways in which we have failed the children of our society, especially poor children. Begin a mentoring program. Start an internship at your school or church for economically disadvantaged young persons. Raise up a deacon to keep bugging you about this stuff until you feel compelled to act! Don't just stand there! Jesus is coming, look busy! Be busy. Because when we act on behalf of the poor and the powerless, Jesus has already come and the reign of God has already begun.
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Celtic Prayers from Iona:
The Heart of Celtic Spirituality
By J. Philip Newell
Paulist Press
As the church prepares to move into the season of Lent many find themselves looking for a new devotional resource to help them enrich their prayer life during this time.
Celtic Prayers from Iona by J. Philip Newell is a less-familiar resource especially useful to those drawn to Celtic Spiritual Practices. This book offers morning and evening prayer resources for Monday through Saturday. Each day focuses on a different concern of the Iona community: justice and peace, healing, the goodness of creation, commitment to Christ, communion of heaven and earth, and welcome and hospitality. The prayers are full of the beauty and poetry of Celtic writing, and the brevity and clarity of the services make them a great resource for even the busiest of 21st-century Christians.
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Your support is appreciated
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Financial contributions to support the work of Bloy House are appreciated year-round. Thank you for your consideration and generosity. Gifts may be mailed to Bloy House, the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont, 1325 N. College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711.
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In this issue: Please scroll down for more on upcoming courses and student and faculty activities.
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Spring 2014 Teaching Weekends, Academic Calendar
January 10 - 11
January 24 - 25
January 31 - February 1*
February 14 - 15
February 28 - March 1
(Long Retreat Weekend)
March 14 - 15
March 28 - 29
April 11 - 12
April 25 - 26
May 9 - 10
(Graduation Weekend)
*Second of back-to-back weekends.
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