Traci Smith, author of Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home (Chalice) offers two free downloadable practices to share with children and families: Snuggles under God's Wings and After a Natural Disaster.
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"I am sick of rushing and the obsession with opening back up and getting back to normal. I never want to see normal or the way it was again. It is time for a new way. Rest and slowing down will be the foundation for this liberated future that many are screaming about online via memes, in the streets during the uprisings for Black Lives and in our hearts. |
We are not well. We are exhausted and disgusted. I am still grieving from hearing in disturbing detail the lynching of George Floyd by police in Minnesota. I did not watch the video and will never watch the video. I protect my heart and eyes from what my bones already know – I am a target in America. This is not new information. It’s ancient." - See Tricia Hersey's Slowly emerging after a 3 week Sabbath (July 14, 2020) post for more.
This edition of Oneing brings together for the first time the faculty of the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC): Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgeault, James Finley, Barbara Holmes, and Brian McLaren - teaching the rich concepts of “Order, Disorder, Reorder".
We are humbled to be featured in Living Lutheran's January, 2022 article and study guide, Contemplating the New Year; Lutherans Explore Meditation, Mindfulness, and Contemplative Practices; article by Meghan Johnston Aelabouni; study guide by Robert C. Blezard.
Follow Me: Biblical Practices for Faithful Living is a whole-congregation curriculum that studies the Bible through the lens of biblical practices.
Watch the Follow Me Overview video, visit the website, and/or download the sampler to learn more. Or, read more about each component:
Contemplative Bible Storytelling for Children & Grownups Alike
Hosted by Faith Formation, Open to Wonder is a podcast that helps us imagine together what faith looks like in our day-to-day lives by exploring all kinds of faith questions: big ones, small ones, weird ones, and hard-to-talk-about-in-church ones.
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The Many offer Brokenhearted and Brave: Devotions for Renewal and Resistance
The Nap Ministry blog by Tricia Hersey encourages napping as a form of resistance. See especially the August 3, 2020 post.
Pedraig O Tuama collects a number of beautiful resources on PLACE.
Krista Tippet interviews Rev. Otis Moss III: The Sound of the Genuine: Traversing 2020 with 'the Mystic of the Movement' Howard Thurman
The Labyrinth Society has a page of resources specifically for children.
Westminster Presbyterian Church's Thin Places, is a quarterly ecumenical newsletter of writings and individual, small group and congregational prayer opportunities.
Butterfly Prayer — The butterfly prayer in Traci Smith's Faithful Families is a simple practice that anchors us to breath, calm, and movement. She recommended it as a practice to teach children for times of stress and anxiety. This old VIDEO features Smith's boys sharing the practice.
ARC Retreat Community offers a wide range of in-person and online individual, family-friendly, and group retreat opportunities. Find their full summer schedule here.
Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) is a hermitage retreat center in the Franciscan tradition called to serve God through prayer and by providing the oopportunity to retreat into the silence and solitude of a simple hermitage environment.
Abbey of the Arts offers Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color Video Discussion and Book Group - a monthly conversation on how increasing our diversity of perspectives on contemplative practice can enrich our understanding and experience of the Christian mystical tradition.
Wood & Water offer online retreats throughout the year on topics addressing current events and issues.
Shalem Institute offers: Howard Thurman: The Writing of Jesus and the Disinherited, facilitated by Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD
The Episcopal House of Prayer offers Online Weekly Contemplative Prayer Opportunities as well as other Programs and Retreats and online Resources.
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The Gospel of Matthew is full of implications for how we can live (and even thrive) in the 21st century, but they may not be clear without first understanding the deeper context. Having a complete framework—from the historical and the theological to the cultural and literary—is what brings the teachings of Jesus to life.
You get:
The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion offers 10 Self-Compassion Practices for the Crisis in Ukraine.
Barbara A. Holmes' film series with The Work of the People: A Transcendent Leap (on our cosmic identities), Womanist Theology, Release the Fire (on Pentecost and the Spirit), Be the Mystery, Emerging Wholeness (on God's call to love our neighbor), A Contemplative Moment (on how contemplative prayer births prophetic proclamation and action).
Dr. Kristin Neff offers free Tips for Practices, Guided Meditations, and Self-Compassion Exercises.
OnBeing's new Poetry Films forum could be great as contemplative prayer prompts, worship elements or small group discussion starters.
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A fantastic book. The trailer is a beautiful contemplative practice. |
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Narrative Yoga connects a children's storybook with RCL texts for each Sunday |
"Choose Love" connects Elizabeti's School to Matthew 21:23-32 for Sept. 27th.
"Stepping Into the Unknown" connects Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach to Exodus 16:2-15 for Sept. 20.
"Live and Let Live" connects The Grumpy Pets to Romans 14:1-12 for Sept 13.
"Work It Out" connects Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse to Matthew 18:15-20 for Sept. 6.
Personalized Story & Stretch plans for family or community can be obtained by contacting Michel: MICHEL.OMBRELLA@GMAIL.COM.
