Newsletter

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Spirit Journal – January 2020

by  on January 24, 2020 in Newsletter

Preview

  • Time is growing short to register for Enter the Chaos, our special Winter Retreat in February.
  • Discounted Early Bird registration has begun for our June 6 all-day workshop on Howard Thurman, offered by Lerita Coleman Brown at the Chicago Theological Seminary in Hyde Park.
  • An in-depth, four-day Servant Leader retreat will take place in late May. All are invited.
  • We provide a listing of selected contemplative events that are coming up soon, sponsored by others.
  • An article describes how one of our members completed a year-long process to become a certified presenter of Introductory Centering Prayer workshops.
  • This month’s Insights come from Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, Brad Pitt, and Ram Dass.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – January 2020

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Spirit Journal – December 2019

by Registrar on December 16, 2019 in Newsletter

Preview

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

This final 2019 issue of Spirit Journal begins with  Alan Krema’s reflection on Enter the Chaos, a special Winter Retreat we will be offering in February in association with the Institute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue.

Another important article announces an all-day workshop on Howard Thurman, led by Lerita Coleman Brown.  It will take place June 6; please save the date so you will have an opportunity to participate in this workshop on one of America’s most important 20th century contemplatives.  Also in this issue: a beautiful hymn for Advent, along with information about several additional contemplative activities that are coming up soon around our region.

Please let us know what you think about Spirit Journal – and start your side of the conversation – by emailing the editor at the address provided at the end of the newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – December 2019

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Spirit Journal – November 2019

Preview

November’s Spirit Journal provides new information about Enter the Chaos, a special Winter Retreat we are offering in February in association with the Institute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue.

This issue also takes a look back at the Annual Fall Workshop that took place earlier this month, including some survey findings that reflect participants’ impressions of the event.  We offer a fall poem contributed by Deb Marqui of Healing Gardens, information about several additional contemplative activities that are coming up soon around our region, along with Insights from John of the Cross, Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, and Cynthia Bourgeault.

Please let us know what you think about Spirit Journal – and start your side of the conversation – by emailing the editor at the address provided at the end of the newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – November 2019

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Spirit Journal – October 2019

Preview

With a price increase set for next week, this would be the ideal moment to register for Contemplative Outreach Chicago’s Eighth Annual One-Day Fall Workshop, coming up on Saturday November 2.

This October issue also provides additional information about the Winter Retreat coming up in February. For our 2020 retreat, in association with theInstitute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue, we are offering a unique and very timely retreat experience: Enter the Chaos.

Chicago chapter coordinator Alan Krema shares his reflections on attending the recent International Conference of Contemplative Outreach, updating us on recent developments affecting the larger organization of which our chapter is a part.

For those who have registered, we offer a reminder that the seven-part Living Flame Program starts this Saturday, and we also call your attention to a number of contemplative events sponsored by others that are coming up soon in our area. Finally, we share Insights from Martin Laird, Barbara Holmes, Mirabai Starr, and Thomas Merton.

Please don’t hesitate to give us your input about any aspect of Spirit Journal by emailing the editor, using the address provided at the end of the newsletter. We love hearing from readers!

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – October 2019

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Spirit Journal – September 2019

Preview

With Labor Day behind us, autumn begins, and our thoughts turn to Contemplative Outreach Chicago’s Eighth Annual One-Day Fall Workshop, coming up on November 2. This issue of Spirit Journal includes articles by three session-leaders about their plans for the Workshop, as well as a link to similar articles about the other sessions, which were published in last month’s newsletter.

Chicago chapter coordinator Alan Krema shares his thoughts on the topic of Engaging Our Place in Society from the Transformative Place of Contemplative Practice. This topic is relevant to our 2020 Winter Retreat Enter the Chaos, to a one-day workshop on the wisdom of Howard Thurman that is being planned for next May, and to several upcoming events on the history of race relations and the hope for racial reconciliation in Chicago.

We announce with mixed feelings that the capacity limit has been reached and therefore registration has ended for Living Flame program, which begins in October and continues through April 2020. The enthusiastic response to this offering has been great, but we wish there was room for everyone who might like to participate.

As always, we call your attention to several worthwhile contemplative events sponsored by others that are coming up soon in our region, and share several brief Insights, this month from Rami Shapiro, Walt Whitman, Aldous Huxley and Howard Thurman.

Please give us your input about any aspect of Spirit Journal by emailing the editor, using the address provided at the end of the newsletter. We love hearing from readers!

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – September 2019

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Spirit Journal – August 2019

by Registrar on August 8, 2019 in Newsletter

Preview

This month, Spirit Journal has a lot of news to share. We begin with informative articles created by several of the presenters who will lead sessions at this year’s Annual Fall One-Day Workshop on November 2nd.  Next, Alan Krema provides a first look at Enter the Chaos, our 2020 Winter Retreat, which promises to engage the reality of human relationships from multiple viewpoints, offering a means to connect on a deeper level than the reactionary.

We recommend a wonderful new memoir by Deb Marqui and we remind you that registration is open for the seven-workshop Living Flame program, which begins in August and continues through April 2020. More than 25 people have already signed up for this outstanding program, and capacity is limited, so please don’t delay. We also call your attention to several other worthwhile contemplative events and activities coming up soon in our region.

This month’s Insights come from Wayne Teasdale, Trunga Rinpoche, Thomas Keating, and Toni Morrison.

Please give us your input about any aspect of Spirit Journal by emailing the editor, using the address provided at the end of the newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – August 2019