The School for Contemplative Living
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Listening in Stillness, Serving in Joy!
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Hear Ye, Hear Ye, calling all contemplatives,
1. We will gather next Thursday, 2-16-12, 12-12:20 p.m. with a few Ochsner hospital employees and any of us from the community who would like to join them for centering in the chapel at the front of Ochsner Hospital - Jefferson Hwy. then have a bite to eat together in the cafeteria for those who can stay. These are just initial steps of connecting before we offer a hospital-wide invitation in March. The chaplains there will hopefully be able to eventually join us too. Come center with us in this or any of the weekly and monthly groups around our region to be in contemplative community with us. 2. We will gather for a shared book study of The Monastery of the Heart by Sr. Joan Chittister on the Wednesdays of Lent beginning 2-22-12 from 6-7 p.m. at Parker UMC (1130 Nashville Ave.). The book costs $12, call the office at 895-1222 to reserve a copy, and make checks to Parker UMC. 3. If you hear a call to share your centering prayer practice with others, we will offer a 5-day training called "Formation for Contemplative Service" April 9-13, the week following Easter. We will bring Anna Mazza from the national office of Contemplative Outreach and expect the cost to be about $400 for room, board, and the presenter's costs. For details or to register contact myself or Vivien Michals. Final Story: "In the Arms" - An 8 year-old girl attended church for the first time today with her mom. Her mom said she wanted her daughter to at least be exposed to some religion. The girl looked up at the stained glass window of the sanctuary and asked me, "Who is that man?" After being in church since I was a child, it never occurs to me that someone could see a picture of Jesus holding a lamb and not know who that is. The worship service was just starting. Without time to think I said, "That is Jesus holding the lamb. Some of us like to think of ourselves as being like lambs who Jesus loves." A contemplative seeks union with God, living "in the arms". It is our passion. It is our great need, as we do not want to go through life without being "in the arms" of a Presence Greater than ourselves. First we practice the presence of God. Then we bring Presence with us as we serve in the world. And sometimes, usually without warning, we get to voice the essence of our faith experience: "We are in the arms of a Great Love." As a contemplative community we are on that kind of journey together. We don't have it all figured out. But this we can do: practice being "in the arms" of the Presence, bring the Presence into service in the world, and if a moment is graced, we might even get to share the presence we experience with words. Blessings on your own journey toward the Life "in the arms", WilliamThiele, spiritual director The School for Contemplative Living January 2, 2012
Dear friends of the School for Contemplative Living, The new year is upon us, so why wait on our first gathering of the SCl community? We are offering a community-building experience called: "A Community of Soul" January 21, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. "A Contemplative Art Walk" with three artists showing their work to music at St. Paul's Episcopal Church - or - January 29, 2 p.m. "A Gathering for Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina" at Parker UMC Details to follow. Meanwhile, we have centering prayer groups all over the region if you are ready for a weekly or monthly contemplative community. See our website and link to "Our Groups" for details. William Thiele October 13, 2011
Dear SCL friends,
Sunday, October 16, we will have a pot-luck at noon in the Common Room of Parker UMC. This is the monthly time when Parker people come to be together, hang out, hook up (Oops, no not that, it means something else these days), get to know each other better, and be in community. All participants in the School for Contemplative Living are invited to come be a part of this informal time to eat and share. This is also a great time to invite a friend to experience our spiritual community, even if you want to come after your own worship service and hop on in. Dazzle us with your favorite dish and come to the Party! Wednesday, October 12, 9:30 a.m. a new Tai Chi Class led by Marilyn Yank begins at Parker. Yes this is in the morning. It is a six month class to really immerse yourself in a practice which cultivates peace of mind. The cost for those 25 sessions totals $250 and you can check it out in the morning to see if it speaks to you. Sunday at 10 a.m. we will continue with chapter 13 of The Spirituality of Imperfection in our spiritual formation class at Parker UMC. The sharing is really connecting us. If you are seeking a spiritual felowship, come to Parker UMC (1130 Nashville Ave.) for 11 a.m. worship as we resume the series on contemplation and action with a theme of "Why Contemplation Precedes Action." We stay with the story of Moses in the wilderness as he continues to deepen his experience of the very Presence of God. We learn a modern story of how our usual pattern of acting before we think or pray so often backfires on us and harms others, and leaves us having to do our best learning by looking back, when we were created to find wise guidance before we act. Wonder why the "C" needs to precede the "A"? Come as several new and long-time Parker members help lead us on Laity Sunday. And finally, another story: Yesterday six of us gathered at a Methodist church in Metairie for a centering prayer group. One of the lay members uses a meditation chime app on his i-phone to begin and end our twenty minutes of contemplative practice. As we finished he mentioned that the app also shows the names and times of practice by others around the world who were meditating as we were (at least those who registered their times). The list went on and on. Josey in Spain, 8 minutes, Donald in the U.K. 20 minutes, etc. Ever feel alone on the spiritual journey? Ever wish you could be a part of a world-wide community of practitioners? You are! Come discover the transformation waiting for you in one of our contemplative groups spread around the city at various times and places. (If this is your time, go the the website www.thescl.net and click the link to Our Groups for locations and times). As you pray, stick around for a few minutes. You might receive the guidance you have been waiting for, William Thiele October 5, 2011
Dear friends of our School for Contemplative Living,
Is your spiritual life feeling at all drab? Is your life catching the frenzy of the American way like a bad cold? Is your body plain old tired and needing some rejuvenation? Peruse these opportunities for enlightenment of body/mind/spirit, listen to whatever your soul calls for, and answer the call! There are so many ways to experience oneness with the Divine: Walking Meditation for "Rebirth" is Saturday, October 8, 9:30 a.m. on the Audubon Park labyrinth. Dian Winingder will facilitate this guided walk. See attachment for details. Worship Opportunity: Sunday, October 9, 11 a.m. the Parker UMC worship service will be around the theme: "When Contemplation Becomes Action." If you are not already connected to a faith community, come join in this participatory worship experience with time for meditation and reflection included. Service Opportunity: Sunday, October 9, 6 p.m. we will join members of Parker UMC in serving a pot-luck meal to the Tulane/Loyola students at the Wesley Foundation on Freret street. We could use your help in providing a meal for 30 students. We arrive at 6 p.m. and serve it after their worship at 7 p.m. Call William at 289-9906 for details. Spirituality in Film discussion: Friday, October 7th, at 7:30 p.m. at Parker Church at 1130 Nashville Ave. The Name of the Rose: A fascinating detective story that takes place in a monastery in the 13th (?) century. Sean Connery stars. Centering Prayer groups keep expanding. Two new groups have been birthed in the last two weeks. We shared a first session of centering with 30 seniors at Mercy Endeavors and these groups will continue on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. They were so amazingly receptive to this new prayer practice and even clapped afterwards. Gotta be a first. The new group at the Holy Name of Jesus Parish Hall (6220 LaSalle Place) continues on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. The other current weekly groups are Mondays at 12, St. Matthews UMC in Metairie; Mondays at 5:30 p.m., Rayne UMC (3900 St. Charles Ave.); Tuesdays at 12, Ochsner Baptist Hospital chapel, Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., Lakeview Presbyterian (Canal Blvd.); and Thursdays at 12, Ochsner Northshore Hospital chapel in Slidell. There are also monthly groups at Parker UMC (last Sundays at 2 p.m.), Grace Christian Church in Covington, (first Mondays at 6:30 p.m.), and at Jane Knight's home in Slidell, (third Thursdays at 7 p.m.). Tai Chi classes will begin at Parker UMC on Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. as of 10-12-11. The sessions are being led by Marilyn Yank, who has led several sessions at SCL events in the past. The fee for six months of classes is $250. Payment can be arranged. Call for details. Musical Contemplation will be offered at Parker UMC on Sunday, October 23, 3 p.m. with a concert to celebrate the organ's 100 year birthday. And finally, a story: Mary returned to the sacred yoga class again this week. She's back on the streets after the last housing situation fell through. Just before we turned on the beautiful, lullaby-like music, Mary mentioned that she was pretty sleep deprived. By the second posture while lying on her mat, with arms stretched out in a sign of the cross, she was fast asleep. I carried on for the hour of course, and when we were done gently mentioned her name. She stirred and said, "That was great. Just what I needed." Perhaps a safe place to sleep for an hour was a better gift than stretches or words about relaxing into God's presence. Can even sleep be sacred? William September 20, 2011
Dear friends and supporters and partners of the School for Contemplative Living,
Tonight we get to participate in the birth of a new Christian meditation/centering prayer group at Holy Name of Jesus church with Janet Warner facilitating. Janet is a great example of a contemplative missionary. She made the contacts with her pastor, did the follow-up, waited patiently for a time and place to be available, followed-through, and tonight the birthing happens at 7 p.m. at 6220 LaSalle! If you are also a contemplative missionary, you are simply seeking to practice a more contemplative life, in community, as best you can, and seeking to support the creation/building of contemplative communities. Your simple motto might be like ours: Let Love Lead! Your heart is like ours - seeing the desperate need in homes, churches, retreat centers, hospitals, non-profits, and even businesses for people to be gathered and trained in Heartfulness: a long lost art in America. If you want to be our partner in this mission, you can come join us for any of our multiple gatherings of contemplatives around the region (see the website at www.thescl.net) and/or can offer prayer and financial support for this mission: creating contemplative communities, where heartfulness is lived and Love truly leads. We could use the following support to grow even further in our mission: 1. $1000 to start groups at the Volunteers of America program for homeless veterans (who often have mental illness and/or addictions); 2. $500 to start a new group for retired people at a Catholic retirement center; 3. $500 to support the creation of a new centering group for staff members at a New Orleans hospital; 4. $1000 to start groups in centering and sacred yoga for local juvenile offenders in a New Orleans school. These are some of the opportunities before us, and we could use your partnership. Step forth in person, prayer, or giving and live out your own calling to be a contemplative missionary in your own way. Checks may be made out to Parker UMC, writing "SCL" on the byline, and mailed to us at 1130 Nashville Ave. New Orleans, LA 70115. Come join the order of contemplative missionaries today, William Thiele, spiritual director The School for Contemplative Living September 9, 2011
Dear friends of the School for Contemplative Living,
Men's Soul Work: This Friday evening, 9-9-11, at 7 p.m. Parker UMC will be the place for a program shared by some friends of the New Orleans Men's Center (like Dr. Jim O'Neill and Dr. Francis Coolidge) called "An Introduction to Men's Soul Work." The former title was "Out of the Male Box" meaning a series of gatherings to help men get out of their stereotyped roles and into using their masculine energy for serving their missions in this world. I highly recommend this evening which welcomes men and women. A Film and some insights will be offered at Parker UMC on Tuesday, 9-13-11, at 6-9 p.m. created by the Jung Society. The film is The King's Speech. Two Jungian analysts will facilitate the insightful discussion. The cost of $10 is for non-members. A Book on Creativity and Artistry of Life will be offered in the new fall classes to be held at Rayne UMC (3900 St. Charles Ave.) beginning Wednesday, 9-14-11, 6-7 p.m. Gather in the fellowship hall and RSVP ahead to join the 30 of us who have signed up so far at 899-3431. Books are $12 and need to be ordered immediately if you are coming next week. The title of this one by Julia Cameron is Walking in this World. Rev Callie Crawford and I will facilitate. An additional class on Faith and Film will be offered there beginning that evening from 6-7 p.m. and facilitated by Dr. David O'Donahue. RSVP at 899-3431 to learn about the first film. The third of five new centering prayer groups will be launched at an Ochsner hospital near you in September. Are you growing frustrated with the pace of your life and seeking a place and time to re-center yourself with a spiritual community each week? We have a place for you most anywhere in the region. Watch for details of group number three in a hospital near you. Or connect with an existing group by going to the SCL website at www.thescl.net and linking to Our Groups. Sunday, 9-11-11, at 11 am at Parker UMC (1130 Nashville Ave.) you will be treated to the first anthem of the fall season by the Parker Mass Choir, a poem by our own Don Downey, (filmmaker, writer, poet, and friend), and a worship theme of "Now Is the Moment" on meeting our emptiness beyond the usual ways of avoidance, distraction, and faux filling. 10 years after the first 9-11 we would love to go back to sleep and believe we are invulnerable, all-conquering, all-powerful. But are we? How do we move from entering the emptiness into transformation? As we have explored recently, isn't "going through" death/loss/change mandatory to being born again and again? Come explore the challenging art of entering transformation. And Sunday at 10 a.m. also at Parker UMC we will resume our study of The Spirituality of Imperfection. All of you are welcome to connect with our many different ways of being in contemplative community in the fall, and more ways are coming soon. Whatever Way speaks to you, join us in finding the inner sanctuary of the soul, where the Divine lives inside us and woos us into closer communion. August 25, 2011
“She stayed back…” She came in late for the hospital’s new centering prayer group and slipped in quietly onto a wooden chapel seat. She seemed to easily connect with our little island of stillness in the midst of a busy and bustling hospital, and settled with seven of us practicing the presence of God together. It is what some of usdo these days in some New Orleans hospitals – we practice being. The lighting in the chapel was low, the faith symbols on the walls could just be seen, but we weren’t really there to see the room. There was no choir music or sermon, no scripture study or vocal prayers, but we weren’t really there to listen to words. We were in fact seeking an inner room with no symbols or sounds or words – right there in the midst of the American healthcare system. Molly, I’ll call her, didn’t even get the little introduction to ways of practicing the Presence. She just began. And like the rest of us she probably had rambling thoughts. It’s just what the mind likes to do. But I think she also found that place beneath thoughts where we can just breathe our way into the inner sanctuary. She was not fidgeting. In fact, no one was. Seven people resting in their own inner sanctuaries together, in a noisy hospital. Amazing! She stayed back to talk after the centering group ended. She needed to really connect, as is so often true after hospital staff members have a few minutes of quiet intimacy with God in community. She wanted to know about the chaplain and his background and ministry. She wanted to share a bit of her longing to be with other “believers” in the place where she works to help people overcome the effects of strokes and brain injuries. She was tired of feeling alone as someone who wants to integrate their faith and their service. Molly’s needs resonate with why we even formed a School for Contemplative Living. We just want to unite our prayer and work, (referred to as ora et labora by St. Benedict). We want prayer and service to become one. But we cannot stay on that contemplative path alone. We simply need each other. We need contemplative community. So watch out for us Molly-types of people in some hospital chapel, or church, or home near you. We are contemplatives in community. We seek to center our service in the ground of our being where we believe the living God dwells. Maybe you will slip into one of our little contemplative communities and join us sometime. You will be as welcome as Molly was today! Spirituality and Film series: "Of Gods and Men" about French-speaking monks living out their faith in Algiers during a terrorist uprising shows tonight at Parker UMC, 1130 Nashville Ave., NOLA 70115 at 7:30 p.m. NOW, some of you locally and around the country might have come to believe in our SCL mission of creating contemplative communities. You have probably sensed how essential this alternative lifestyle is in your own life, and for people in general, and especially for people called to serve the world in some way. If you want to know how you can support our work financially it is this simple: Make a check out to Parker United Methodist Church, write SCL in the byline of the check, mail it to the church at 1130 Nashville Ave. NOLA 70115, that's it! Rayne United Methodist Church has been supporting our mission from the beginning with monthly donations. Many individuals have done the same. Others have made occasional donations as they are able. Others have made a contribution as they attended one of our gatherings. As we expand our mission to include "Heartfulness in Healthcare" in regional hospitals and prepare to offer trainings in several area churches can you help us find the funding to sustain this ministry? Blessings on your own journey, William Thiele July 14, 2011
Dear friends of the School for Contemplative Living spiritual community,
Missions:
St. Mark’s UMC will host its annual Reconciling Weekend on Saturday, July 16, 3 –4:30, with an informal gathering to meet Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto of Glide Memorial UMC in San Francisco. Be a part of the discussion she will facilitate regarding LGBTQ concerns within the United Methodist Church. (Refreshments will be available.) Karen is a strong advocate for gay rights. She received the Pride Freedom Award for advancing civil rights and freedom. Please join us and spread the word to others who may have an interest. The church is on North Rampart at the edge of the French Quarter. Sunday worship at Parker UMC 11 a.m. will concern "When Darkness Falls" and follows a challenging trajectory in our summer series on dancing with the Creative Spirit. So what are we to do when the ground falls out from under our feet, we find ourselves falling into a downward spiral, our usual scaffolding giving way? What about the times when the soul cries out and we are unsure of how to respond to the message? Is there really a Spirit issuing "groans too deep for words" when we do not know how to give voice to our soul passages? Come explore these meanings with us if you are in town and you do not have a spiritual community. Tom Ballantine will also be sharing from his photography as our spotlight artist of the week. (Thanks again to Sean Friloux, Colette Mittelstaedt, Anthony Posey, Brant and Jeralyn Osborne, and Amy Clipp for sharing your own forms of artistry this summer! My, my what an artistic group we have in this spiritual community). Our reflections on The Spirituality of Imperfection continue to be filled with meaning at 10 a.m. Sundays. Come join us for chapter 5 and following. Retreat Gathering:
Clear your schedule now to come join us for "Walking the Sacred Soil: Walking Meditation in Nature" on Saturday, August 6, 9:30 a.m.-12 noon at Ecoutez! Retreat on Doubloon Bayou near Slidell (115 Kendrick Drive, 70461). Dr. Kathleen O'Gorman, professor of Creation Spirituality at Loyola University, will be our facilitator. This is at our home property. We would so love for you all to come as we explore seven ways to walk the sacred soil. Bring any form of artistic expression you wish (colored pencils, paints, camera, journal, etc.) for your own creative expression interacting with nature. Remember in prayer the members of our communities who are at a Centering Prayer Retreat July 15-20 at Rosaryville and others at a Contemplative Retreat at St. Joseph Abbey July 25-28. May we all find the courage to stay and face our inner worlds in the Presence which heals our deepest needs. Centering Opportunities: The centering prayer group meeting Wednesdays at Lakeview Presbyterian (on Canal Blvd. near I-610) has added a reverent and inspiring Taize' service at 5:30 p.m. followed by the 20 minutes of silent centering. All from the community are warmly invited. The new centering prayer group at Ochsner Baptist Hospital's chapel on Tuesdays at noon is fully launched. Chaplain Sherryl Adkins welcomes hospital staff and anyone from the community. The next Ochsner hospital campus to launch a group will be at Northshore's chapel in Slidell on Thursday, August 4, 12 noon. Watch for a new group at each Ochsner facility each month. Planning has begun to provide training in contemplative attitudes, practices, and service with the pastoral care department of East Jefferson General Hospital to begin in September. Pray with us as we seek to discern wise ways for their chaplains to extend centering opportunities throughout their hospital this fall. Additional centering opportunities are available around the region each week and month. See our website at www.thescl.net and link to "Our Groups" for details of days, times, and locations. Seeking a Presence that undergirds even When Darkness Falls, William Thiele June 4, 2011
Dear friends from the community of the SCL,
There is so much more coming up as opportunities for your spiritual growth, in keeping with our mission of creating contemplative communities:
1) Sunday10 a.m. we begin a new study of The Spirituality of Imperfection at Parker UMC, (1130 Nashville Ave.). We have 6 book copies for $15. If you are not occupied then come join us;
2) Wednesday, June 15 from 6-7 p.m. we begin a study of The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron at Rayne UMC's fellowship hall (3900 St. Charles Ave.). Wanna join the first 22 of us who have signed up to practice aligning our lives with the Creative Spirit who lives in us? If so call the Rayne office at 899-3431 to reserve a book for $10 and register; at 504-899-3431.
3) Wednesday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. (after the above class at Rayne UMC) we'll gather with Amina Rae Ann Horton, a local Sufi practitioner, at Parker UMC to learn some Sufi poems, chants, and dances for universal peace. If you are not much for sitting still in silence, this might just be for you;, at
4) Sunday, June 26, 2 p.m. we'll gather at Parker UMC for centering prayer and lectio divina (sacred reading meditation)., at
Perhaps you are ready to join a weekly centering group to support your own efforts to stay centered in God's Presence. In addition to the current groups we are birthing two new locations where you can join us during a lunch hour:
1) Tuesdays, 12 noon, beginning June 14, Ochsner Baptist Hospital on Napoleon Ave., Interfaith Chapel in the second floor lobby;,
2) Wednesdays, 12 noon, beginning July 6, Touro Hospital on Prytania, 3rd floor chapel near ICU.,
Like our other weekly centering groups, we practice for 20 minutes after a brief moment of guidance, and you are free to head out to eat thereafter. Fellowship is optional.
If you are ready for a longer period of contemplation there is a wonderful Centering Prayer Retreat scheduled at Rosaryville July 15-20. Cost is $495 for the 5 nights and to register you can contact Jennifer Standish at JGStandish@att.net or Vivien Michals at vived2@cox.net. Others of us (48 currently) will share a long silence with the monks at St. Joseph Abbey in
And finally, if you are drawn to body prayer and movement Tuesdays 9:30 a.m. at Parker UMC beginning June 14. If you are interested in taking Tai Chi classes, Marilyn Yank is willing to offer a class at Parker this Fall also. Come try moving meditation with us!
In between vacations, travel, and storm preparations, come grow with us this summer.
your brother on this Way,
William Thiele
May 6, 2011
Dear friends of the School for Contemplative Living,
Monday at noon we birthed our newest centering prayer group with 10 participants at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church in Metairie. In May we will also birth a new group for staff at Ochsner Baptist Hospital on Tuesdays at noon. We are just beginning discussions to birth a new group for staff at Touro Hospital. Birthing is a unique combination of work and joy, and birthing centering groups is a unique combination of sacred individual experience and group connection.
This brings me to our next monthly retreat which will combine individual and group experience, and for the first time we'll combine contemplation and action in the same event. Details are below and know that I really hope to connect with as many of you as possible on Saturday, May 14.
your friend,
William Thiele
Date: Saturday, May 14, 2011
Time: 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Location: Parker United Methodist Church
1130 Nashville Ave.
Praying and Serving with a Mystic:
Julian of Norwich
Come enjoy a morning of inspiration
as we reflect and meditate on some writings of a beloved mystic and saint,
and do some scriptio divina (sacred writing) of our own (10-11:30 a.m.).
Then we will share a pot-luck meal with our homeless friends
at Parker UMC, (11:30-1 p.m.).
Talk about uniting contemplation and service!
"Hear, Pray, Write, then Serve"
Bring a dish of food to share with our friends.
For information call William Thiele at 504-899-3431.
To make a donation of $20 to the SCL ministry
you can write a check to Parker UMC, with SCL in the byline.
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