Contemplative Outreach Chicago’s fifth annual Fall Workshop will take place Saturday October 15, 2016 at Goodwin Hall, Benedictine University, Lisle, Illinois. The event will offer in-depth introductory workshops on Centering Prayer and a fascinating range of other topics for attendees to choose from. This year’s agenda includes sessions on the Wisdom Way of Knowing, the Power of Formative Thought, the Transformative Power of Dreams, and Integral Spirituality. Information about the sessions and the session-leaders follows, below.
Hope to see you there!
Agenda: Workshop Sessions – Saturday October 15, 2016
Registration begins 8:30am / Workshop begins: 9:00am
Lunch provided at mid-day / Workshop ends: 4:00pm
ALL DAY: Morning Workshop 1A & Afternoon Workshop 1B
INTRODUCTION TO CENTERING PRAYER
Learn the method of Centering Prayer and how to deepen the practice.
This is an all-day program, so please enter 1A & 1B on the registration form.
Morning Workshop 2A
THE WISDOM WAY OF KNOWING AS A SUPPORTIVE UNDERGIRDING FOR CENTERING PRAYER
A commitment to Centering Prayer and the contemplative life can sometimes feel at juxtaposition with much of contemporary Christian life and worship. A “Wisdom” perspective can provide a framework for both supporting and deepening the contemplative journey. Wisdom teaching is based on awareness of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit throughout our daily life activities. Wisdom brings ways to enhance awareness of divine presence as we go along our daily path. One of the pillars of Wisdom School is to articulate a rhythm of daily living, taken from one of the oldest traditions in Christianity, the Benedictine rule for monastic life. This interactive presentation will provide a beginning Wisdom framework for contemplatives, based on the lineage of Cynthia Bourgeault. Presenter: Rev. William Redfield
Morning Workshop 3A
THE POWER OF FORMATIVE THOUGHT
As we are well aware, “It is a fact that ‘thoughts’ flow down our psychological stream of consciousness.” (Fr. Thomas Keating) We become acutely aware of our thought processes when they distract us in our meditation practice, but how aware are we of our thoughts at the ordinary level of consciousness on a daily basis? Margaret Mary Funk has written how “Thoughts Matter,” Eckhart Tolle claims that all of humanity is “lost in thought,” and Jesus told his disciples that “your thoughts are not my thoughts.” In fact, thoughts, both conscious and unconscious, seem to dominate our life! This presentation will explore how personal and collective thought processes impact our interior and exterior life, as we gather to “think” about the power of our thoughts.
- Thoughtfulness & Thoughtlessness
- Thoughts and the Collective Mind
- Action and Reaction of Thoughts
- Awareness of Thoughts as a Spiritual Practice
Presenter: Susan Komis
Afternoon Workshop 2B
THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF DREAMS
Dreams are a unique and powerful resource for the spiritual/life journey. They can provide us with insight as we seek to understand ourselves and others, and offer us guidance as we deal with everyday struggles and decisions. Even dreams that seem confusing or frightening often contain within them a message inviting us to wholeness and healing. During this workshop we will experience some practical ways of working with our dreams in order to discover the messages contained within the dream symbols. Come with your dreams to explore! Presenter: Mary Ellen Ryley, SCMM
Afternoon Workshop 3B
INTEGRAL INSIGHTS ON THE PATH OF CENTERING PRAYER
This experiential workshop will consider the Path of Centering Prayer from the perspective of Ken Wilber’s integral approach to spirituality. We will examine Wilber’s model of the spiritual path, a path he says invites us to 1) “wake up,” or move toward non-duality, 2) “grow up,” or move towards psychological maturity, and 3) “show up” as a transformed person in the world. You’ll see your path from a novel perspective and learn tools to enrich your contemplative journey. Presenter: Bill Epperly, PhD.
Presenter Information
INTRODUCTION TO CENTERING PRAYER
The Rev. Dr. Julianne Buenting is a priest of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and Executive Director of Church Home, a non-profit organization that provides pastoral care at Montgomery Place Retirement Community in Hyde Park, Chicago. She has practiced Centering Prayer for more than 20 years, and has taught ethics and spirituality in healthcare education. She has particular affinity for Carmelite spirituality and the medieval women mystics.
Bill McElroy has served as a lay minister at the parish, diocesan and national level. His spirituality is contemplative and he has practiced Centering Prayer in support of that for more than 20 years. He is the Founding Convener of Illinois Men As Learners and Elders (MALEs, founded by Richard Rohr, OFM) and continues to serve on the Elders Servant Team. He has a Masters Degree in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction from The Institute of Pastoral Studies of Loyola University, and is a retreat leader, teaching elder, and spiritual director. He is married to JoAnne, is and the father of three adult children and grandfather of two.
THE WISDOM WAY OF KNOWING AS A SUPPORTIVE UNDERGIRDING FOR CENTERING PRAYER
The Rev. William Redfield is an ordained Episcopal priest and a licensed clinical social worker. Although he was ordained in 1976, he spent the first half of his professional career as a group, family, and individual therapist in Maine. He has known Cynthia Bourgeault for over 25 years and has trained with her extensively in the Wisdom tradition, a lineage of spiritual transformation. Later Bill served Trinity Episcopal Church in Fayetteville Arkansas for nearly twenty years. During this time his passion for new forms of Wisdom spirituality continued to develop, and he established “Wisdom House” as an outreach spiritual ministry for the greater community. Having retired from parish work nearly three years ago, Bill is now engaged in full time Wisdom work, mainly in the Northeast.
THE POWER OF FORMATIVE THOUGHT
Susan Komis has served Contemplative Outreach since 1990. She began as a volunteer for the St. Louis, Missouri Chapter. Appointed as Coordinator for the St. Louis region in 1994, she served in that capacity through 1999. Susan currently serves as Director of Chapter Programs & Services (CPS) to support Coordinators and Contact Persons throughout the Contemplative Outreach spiritual community. She assists Contemplative Outreach Chapters by offering on site programs for leadership formation, spiritual enrichment and Chapter development. In other servant-leader roles, Susan serves as a staff person for Contemplative Outreach retreats, serves as a mentor to Chapter leadership, and continues to develop formation programs for servant-leaders of Contemplative Outreach. Susan is a certified Pastoral Minister and has served in Adult Faith Development, spiritual direction and inter-spiritual dialogue.
THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF DREAMS
Mary Ellen Ryley, SCMM (Sister of Charity of Our Lady Mother of Mercy). Received her training in Spirituality and Dreams from the Institute for Spiritual Leadership in Chicago. She has been involved in the training of Spiritual Directors for more than 20 years as a staff member of the Institute for Spiritual Leadership, the Institute of Spiritual Companionship and the Center for Spiritual Direction at North Park Seminary. She continues to be involved as a Spiritual Director, supervisor, retreat and workshop facilitator in the Chicago area. Mary Ellen (Mel) holds a Masters Degree in Religious Studies from the University of Detroit and a Masters Degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago.
INTEGRAL INSIGHTS ON THE PATH OF CENTERING PRAYER
Bill Epperly, PhD, is a biochemist and mystic. He has studied contemplative Christianity and Zen Buddhism and is a long-time student of Ken Wilber’s integral approach to spirituality. Bill works as a spiritual director, presenter on the method of Centering Prayer, and retreat leader. He teaches mindfulness meditation at DePaul University.
SPECIAL DISCOUNT: STUDENTS WITH STUDENT ID MAY REGISTER FOR ONLY $10 AT ANY TIME. (If registering online, enter coupon code: STUDENT.)
Scholarships are available. Prices include lunch (please note dietary restrictions in the comments). No tickets or credentials will be sent – just give your name when you arrive. Questions? Call 773-677-1996.
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.