FALL 2018 FALL 2018 THE WISDOM CENTER. A Place for Prayer, Reconciliation, and Action Chandler Road, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034

Transcription

1 FALL 2018 FALL 2018 THE WISDOM CENTER A Place for Prayer, Reconciliation, and Action Chandler Road, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034

2 WE INVITE YOUR PRAYERS AS WE LAUNCH TOGETHER THE WISDOM CENTER FOR PRAYER, RECONCILIATION, AND ACTION. Please watch our announcements and website at ccparish.org for more details. Give yourself the space to hear God s voice and let yourself be drawn deeper into your relationship with God. There numerous ways to find the sacred in your everyday life: Centering Prayer Join in meditative, silent prayer Prayer Offer prayer support to others Faith Sharing Groups Traveling a faith journey together Labyrinth Take a mini-pilgrimage of contemplative prayer Spiritual Direction Work with a spiritual guide as you build your relationship with God The Wisdom Center offers a variety of experiences and events. Programs and classes include the following topics: lectio divina for everyday wisdom of aging finding and using your spiritual gifts the spirituality of parenting the call to simplicity nonviolent communication the enneagram: a tool for spiritual health and wellness Occasions to engage in gospel justice and social outreach: Nonviolent training advocacy work direct action Christ Church Episcopal Parish 2

3 FALL 2018 CENTERING PRAYER Centering prayer is a method of practicing prayer which brings us to receive the gift of God s presence. The term centering prayer is inspired by Thomas Merton, who said, The simplest way to come into contact with the living God is to go to one s center and from there pass into God. The ancient fathers and mothers, the Cloud of Unknowing and the writings of St John of the Cross, Thomas Keating, Basil Pennington and Cynthia Bourgeault are our guide to centering prayer. However, the reality is the ability to practice with people in community and pass down the tradition. As Basil Pennington said of centering prayer, it is a living tradition. At its simplest is a resting in God, and in the stillness of heart and mind we experience or taste that which we seek. CENTERING PRAYER There are 2 offerings for this term. FOR THE BEGINNER *Wednesdays at 9:15-10:45 August 29, September 12, 26, October 3, 17, November 7, 21 and December 5, 19 RSVP This class is limited to 10. *If interested please call Rev. Alison+ before the start date. FOR THE MORE EXPERIENCED *Fridays at 9:30-11:00 August 24, September 14, 28, October 12, 26, November 16, 30 and December 14. RSVP This class is limited to 10. *If interested please call Rev. Alison+ before the start date Chandler Road, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034

4 PRAYING WITH OUR FEET PRAYING FOR OUR WORLD As people of faith it is our right and duty to pray for the needs of the world. As members of Christ's Body, we share in the joys and struggles of others, especially those who are poor and vulnerable. In faith and trust, we lay before God the hopes and concerns of a broken world awaiting redemption. Once a month we gather for an hour to pray for the concerns of our world. All are welcome. Thursdays at 9:15 am & 6:15 pm September 20, October 18, November 15 WHERE Chapel of St. Joseph Join us for walks about town where we can experience the joy of creation as we pray for the world and our Creator. Each walk is intended to be prayer through our feet. And as well a perfect chance to get others on the walks. Our September walk is around downtown Lake Oswego looking at the abundant art that surrounds us. We plan to offer prayer and meditation at each stop. A kind of visual lectio divina. In October, on the feast of St Francis, we will do a bird walk led by our Deacon, Linda Goertz. Linda is an avid birder and powerful example of prayer in action. Then on November 1, the Feast of All Saints, there is scheduled a sacred walk of our ancestors, as we walk the Pioneer Cemetery and then finish with prayers in our own Memorial Garden. Thursdays at 9:15 am 11:00 am September 6, October 4, November 1 WHERE Multiple locations. Each walk begins in the lower parking lot. Christ Church Episcopal Parish 4

5 FALL 2018 Something for Everyone. Making deeper connections with God & each other. RECTOR S FORUM Join the rector and guests for conversations about the intersection of the church and the world, faith and practice and creative ways to be involved in the ongoing kingdom building work of reconciliation and redemption. 9:00 am & 11:30 am One Sunday each month starting September 9 and continuing on October 7, November 4, December 2. WHERE Cummins Hall RECLAIMING JESUS: A CONFESSION OF FAITH IN A TIME OF CRISIS Answering Presiding Bishop Curry s call to find new ways to proclaim the love of Jesus. We will use the guide for civil discourse based on the Golden Rule: doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. To follow Jesus means we are called to be the best version of ourselves that we can be. Civil discourse requires we treat people with respect as we seek and serve Christ in each other and strive for respect and dignity of every human being. We do this with scripture as our guide. 9:00 am & 11:30 am September 16, 23, 30, October 14, 21, November 11,18,25 and December 9. WHERE Cummins Hall PATHWAY TO JOY: DISCOVERING YOUR STRENGTHS Do you want to experience more joy in life? Have you ever wondered how you can use your unique talents and strengths to find more fulfillment for yourself and others? Come and join us for a new Wisdom Center adult education class that focuses on finding our strengths as a pathway to joy. If you are interested in connecting deeply with others and learning how to joyfully express your talents and strengths in the world, this class is for you! 11:30 am September 9,16, 23, 30. WHERE Office Conference Room COST $20 required to take the online StrengthFinder 2.0 evaluation. REGISTER Please register for the class on the sign-up sheet in the foyer. Or call church office. LEADERS Kim French and Iain Stanford Chandler Road, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034

6 Spiritual Practices for Everyday Living SPIRITUAL PRACTICES LECTIO DIVINA ENGAGE WITH GOD Mid-week Online each week a different scripture to engage your relationship with God. Lectio Divina or Sacred Reading is the slow, repetitive reading of a sacred text that leads one to the ultimate step of resting in God. It is not Scripture study, nor is it spiritual reading. It is an invitation to take a long, loving look at Scripture, says spiritual director Teresa Blythe. It is a time for falling in love with the Word and experiencing the goodness of God. This four-step process for being with Scripture in a prayerful manner includes: Reading (Lectio); Meditating (Meditatio); Praying (Oratio); and Contemplating (Contemplatio). Using texts for Lent, you will experience this ancient prayer form in a group setting, though it is easily adapted to individual practice and can be incorporated into your prayer life. A LABYRINTH JOURNEY OPEN MIND OPEN HEART For healing, hope and reconciliation. In the midst of daily challenges and conflicts within our greater communities, the labyrinth cultivates a spirit of harmony and peace. Walking the labyrinth is a gift to yourself and to the world. We invite you to walk the labyrinth indoors at Maginnis Memorial Canterbury Chapel, whether this is your first walk or you are developing a spiritual practice. After a brief reflection, we welcome you to walk as often as you wish. There will be space for writing as well as time for quiet prayer and meditation. WHERE Maginnis Memorial Chapel Wednesdays at 7:00 pm September 12, October 10, November 7, December 12 Thursdays at 9:15 am September 13, October 11, November 8, December 13 September: reconciliation, October: healing, November: the path of the ancestors, and December:..and the angel said be not afraid Would you like to lead a labyrinth walk for your group? Please let us know and we will make arrangements! Christ Church Episcopal Parish 6

7 FALL 2018 AGEING AND SAGEING 10:00 am 11:30 am 2 nd Wednesday of each month for 9 months beginning September 12. WHERE Conference Room Each month we will discuss topics of interest to those folks 60+. Using some of the wisdom from Henri Nouwen, Joan Chittister, Angeles Arrien, Richard Rohr and others we will explore the gifts and challenges of the 2nd half of life. The ultimate design of this course will be determined by the participants. Those who wish may stay for lunch. QUIET DAY Saturday, December 1 9:00 am 1:00 pm. WHERE Maginnis Chapel Join us for three meditations and labyrinth walk on the cost of keeping a quiet Advent in the present age. PILGRIMAGE FOR RECONCILIATION AND HEALING March 9-16, 2019 Next year, in a partnership with historically black colleges and universities, we will offer a pilgrimage to explore issues of social justice and the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. The trip will begin on Saturday, March 9. We will travel to Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Jackson, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee, returning to Portland on Saturday, March 16. This is a pilgrimage through history and towards reconciliation. More information regarding cost will be available in October If you are interested please speak to any clergy Chandler Road, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034

8 OUR FAITH OUR LIVES A combination of learning more about the Episcopal faith and practice. Here is your chance to ask all the questions about what it means to be an Episcopalian. Also, to meet others and listen to stories of faith as together we walk the path of our faith. A perfect place to come if you are interested in receiving the sacrament of baptism or confirmation. 9:00 am Most Sunday mornings. WHERE Guild Room PARENTING AS A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE SIMPLICITY AND THE LIFE OF A DISCIPLE A simple life is much more than a life with less. A simpler life is also about interior lives our spiritual lives. We can explore together the soul that emerges from simple living and how it creates space to live our truth. 11:30 am November 11, 18, 25, December 9 WHERE Guild Room LEADER Rev. Alison Schultz+ An opportunity for parents to connect. To connect with each other and to God. To connect our lives as parents to our spiritual lives and help to create space for spiritual growth in you and your children. This class intends to be both practical and supportive. 11:30 am October 14, 21, November 11,18, December 9 WHERE Office Conference Room Christ Church Episcopal Parish 8

9 FALL 2018 BOOK STUDIES 11:30 am and 6:30 pm. 3 rd Wednesday of month Starting in September WHERE 11:30 am Conference Room 6:30 pm Guild Room Each month a different book and a different way to engage with the community around us. Some discussion will be on online and through Facebook. SEPTEMBER Crazy Christians; A Call to Follow Jesus, ++Michael Curry What the Church needs, what this world needs, are some Christians who are as crazy as the Lord. Crazy enough to love like Jesus, to give like Jesus, to forgive like Jesus, to do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God like Jesus. Crazy enough to dare to change the world. From the very first page, Bishop Michael B. Curry s fresh, robust take on religion is unafraid to ask the tough questions. Crazy Christians is an upfront, unflinching call to those who boldly follow Christ and dare to march to beat of their own drum. Filled with inspiring sermons, including Bishop Curry s acclaimed 2012 General Convention address, this little book takes a provocative look at what it really takes to make a difference. Bishop Curry encourages all of us to let go of conventions and embrace the craziness of believing we can change the world for the better. OCTOBER Inspired; Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again, Rachel Held Evans If the Bible isn't a science book or an instruction manual, then what is it? What do people mean when they say the Bible is inspired? When Rachel Held Evans found herself asking these questions, she began a quest to better understand what the Bible is and how it is meant to be read. What she discovered changed her--and it will change you too. Drawing on the best in recent scholarship and using her well-honed literary expertise, Evans examines some of our favorite Bible stories and possible interpretations, retelling them through memoir, original poetry, short stories, soliloquies, and even a short screenplay. Undaunted by the Bible's most difficult passages, Evans wrestles through the process of doubting, imagining, and debating Scripture's mysteries. The Bible, she discovers, is not a static work but is a living, breathing, captivating, and confounding book that is able to equip us to join God's loving and redemptive work in the world Chandler Road, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034

10 NOVEMBER I m Still Here; Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, Austin Channing Brown Austin Channing Brown's first encounter with a racialized America came at age 7, when she discovered her parents named her Austin to deceive future employers into thinking she was a white man. Growing up in majority-white schools, organizations, and churches, Austin writes, "I had to learn what it means to love blackness," a journey that led to a lifetime spent navigating America's racial divide as a writer, speaker and expert who helps organizations practice genuine inclusion. In a time when nearly all institutions (schools, churches, universities, businesses) claim to value "diversity" in their mission statements, I'm Still Here is a powerful account of how and why our actions so often fall short of our words. Austin writes in breathtaking detail about her journey to self-worth and the pitfalls that kill our attempts at racial justice, in stories that bear witness to the complexity of America's social fabric--from Black Cleveland neighborhoods to private schools in the middle-class suburbs, from prison walls to the boardrooms at majority-white organizations. For readers who have engaged with America's legacy on race through the writing of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Michael Eric Dyson, I'm Still Here is an illuminating look at how white, middle-class, Evangelicalism has participated in an era of rising racial hostility, inviting the reader to confront apathy, recognize God's ongoing work in the world, and discover how blackness--if we let it--can save us all. DECEMBER Sabbath as Resistance, Saying No to the Culture of Now, Walter Brueggemann In this new edition that includes a study guide, author, professor and theologian Walter Brueggemann writes that the Sabbath is not simply about keeping rules but rather about becoming a whole person and restoring a whole society. Brueggemann calls out our 24/7 society of consumption, a society in which we live to achieve, accomplish, perform, and possess. We want more, own more, use more, eat more, and drink more. Brueggemann shows readers how keeping the Sabbath allows us to break this restless cycle and focus on what is truly important: God, other people, all life. Sabbath as Resistance offers a transformative vision of the wholeness God intends, giving world-weary Christians a glimpse of a more fulfilling and simpler life through Sabbath observance. Christ Church Episcopal Parish 10

11 WOMEN AND SPIRITUALITY We are a "portal" group for Christ Church and welcome new members enthusiastically. Many of our members have attended these gatherings for over 10 years. We have Bible Study, travelogues, musical exploration, contemplative subjects and activist themes just about anything that enhances our spirituality. Sack lunches are optional and we often have cookies. Sometimes we also have soup and further conversation after our meetings for those who wish to stay longer! Sometimes we do field trips! If you have an idea you'd like to see pursued next year, please it to our steering committee members now with a description and how it might be accomplished. We'll do our best to include your idea next year! WHERE LEADER 12:00 Noon 1:30 pm Mondays, September May Guild Room Marilyn Depew tmdepew@easystreet.net SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS Come explore the promise of evolutionary Christian spirituality and progressive theology with a Living the Question video series: Painting the Stars. This is a study of the communion of science and faith. Bring a sack lunch or snack and join us for very lively and thought provoking discussions. All are welcome; bring yourself and your opinions and desire to learn with a great group of people. WHERE LEADER 11:00 am 12:30 pm Fridays, September 7 May Conference Room Terry Crawford tpcrawfords@comcast.net EFM EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY FALL 2018 It's time to think about Fall and starting a new session of Education for Ministry! The seminar-style class will start on Wednesday October 3 at 5:30pm to 8 pm in the conference room and will meet every Wed. through the school year. This is making time for you to learn more about the Christian faith, develop more in your spiritual life and discern what your calling might be. In this small community of seekers, you will discuss and share what your thoughts or beliefs are in a very caring and accepting group. Yes, there is homework; no there is no testing! More info at about-efm WHERE LEADER 5:30 pm 8:30 pm Wednesdays, October 3 May Conference Room Julia Simpson juliasimpson.pdx@gmail.com Elaine Burke elaine.m.d.burke@gmail.com Chandler Road, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034

12 THE ART OF RECONCILIATION WHAT A gallery for the work of reconciliation, using art to bring healing. August 15, :30 pm 8:00 pm WHERE Maginnis Memorial Canterbury Chapel We are pleased to announce the opening of this new gallery space -- August 15, Our first exhibit will include works by native people. Additionally, we will dedicate a LeRoy Goertz sculpture. Goertz will share one of his pieces from "The Reconciliation Series." Come hear the story of Goertz s vision and invitation to everyone to find ways to bring healing to our attitudes about others and to find ways to bring all humans together. To find out more about Goertz visit: THE MISSION OF THE GALLERY IS THREEFOLD: 1. to connect our parish with artists of different races and cultures 2. to encourage people to become collectors of art 3. to become a model for churches to begin their own art of reconciliation galleries A NEW EXHIBIT IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN ON OCTOBER 25 Also, several events are planned to surround each opening. These include artist lectures, music, opportunities for children, families, youth and the community to engage the exhibit in new powerful ways! Christ Church Episcopal Parish 12