June 18, 2020
“History says, don't hope on this side of the grave. But then, once in a lifetime, the longed-for tidal wave Of justice can rise up, And hope and history rhyme.” -- Seamus Heaney
Dear Friends,
Late June traditionally signals the arrival of Summer, with the culmination of light in the longest day of the year. It carries themes of vacation rest and play, beaches and campgrounds, backyard grills and picnics. It is a season where gardens ripen with promise. But not for everyone. Not this year.
These months, COVID-19 has shed a different kind of light on the darkness that holds our society in its grip. With the unflinching gaze of truth, we can see the staggering inequities causing anguish and suffering for so many brothers and sisters. We hear the outcry against the racism that has infected us as fiercely as any virus, embedded in the systems and structures that guard against change. And yet, these months have also witnessed a birth cry...an awakening of a voice that refuses to be strangled. The call to change in our time is the unrelenting voice of Mercy, first sounding in our depths as we draw courage to listen, then offered in solidarity with those in pain, and finally sounding in a full-throated commitment to justice.
Here at Cranaleith, we offer an invitation to this deep listening and solidarity as summer begins.
Do we find models in the women of Scripture who welcomed the possibility of newness? Can we grow in recognizing the hope and resilience we need for the journey of change? Can we draw on the inspiration of women who found their voice in the face of oppression experienced by one another?
See the programs listed below, and consider joining us. Please know that we pray for you as we enter this season of light that your own hearts will be healed, tended and renewed. We join you in holding one another and our deep-shadowed world in light.
“So believe that further shore is reachable from here.
Believe in miracles and cures and healing wells.
Someone is hearing the outcry and the birth-cry
Of new life at its term." -- Seamus Heaney
Cranaleith Staff
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Retreat From Home
In this time of COVID-19, when physical distancing is the order of the day, Cranaleith is offering new programs online via Zoom.
Series: Register for one or all
Thursdays, June 25, July 2 & 9, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Mondays, July 6, 13, 20 and 27, 7-8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 5, 12 and 19, 7-8:30 p.m.
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Reflect From Home
In chapter 10 of Matthew, when Jesus prepares the apostles to begin a mission of healing and preaching, he includes this week’s passage about the fears his disciples might be having. “Fear no one,” he reassures them. All secrets will be revealed – all the hidden wickedness, yes, and also all the love and giftedness we are afraid to share.
FOR REFLECTION:
- Make a list of your fears. Reflect on how they keep you from living like Jesus.
- Ask God to make you more aware of the overflowing of grace in your life. During prayer, discuss with God where it abounds for you.
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Retreat From Home
We invite you to join us to explore
Mathew’s gospel,
Thursday, June 25, 2020, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
, with a session of Cranaleith's summer Bible study,
Jesus and the Women of the Gospels.
Which is more comfortable for you: change or tradition? We live in a time that demands change but maybe we do not know how to change.
The writer of Matthew lived in the same kind of time and used the message of Jesus to forge a way forward. Matthew holds up the consistency of God’s compassion while shattering traditional structures that confine and oppress. Often this happens through Jesus' interaction with women. Come and reflect with program director, Bernadette Rudolph, on:
- The women in Jesus’ genealogy
- The mother of James and John
- “Not counting the women and children” in the Feeding of the 5,000
- The parable of the Ten Bridesmaids
Register for one or all sessions.
Thursdays, June 25, July 2 & 9, 10-12:30 p.m.
Cost: $25/session
Upcoming Sessions
- July 2 – Luke
- July 9 – John
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June 18 is Sustainable Gastronomy Day
(Source: Mercy International Association)
Many activities contributing to the degradation of Earth seem like they are worlds away. Mining, deforestation, and trash islands in the ocean are frequently out of sight and therefore out of mind.
Food, however, is right in our face. As consumers, advocates, and citizens we don’t see the environmental impact of our food choices. The food we eat creates pollution and degrades Earth and sea through agri- and aqua-cultural practices, shipping, and waste.
For the sake of our common home, we must demand sustainable change through our governments and through our own purchasing power.
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A Blessing on Father’s Day
Men of tender courage, strong hopes and firm presence:
you model our God who refused to be aloof and insisted on bold, visible love.
For the ways you take on the weight of this world – and shield others from it,
For the many times you surrender your desires for the good of family,
For your faithfulness in a world that knows less and less about fidelity and loyalty, less about love,
For the times when all you want to do is fling your weary bones on a couch but instead you wrestle or sit down for a tea party or toss a football,
For laughing – and for being able to laugh at yourself,
For teaching us how to tell the truth, how to say “I’m sorry” and how to cry,
We bless you. --Winn Collier
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RESOURCES FROM HOME
Spiritual Direction
Watch From Home
Community Support
Rooted in a tradition of care and compassion, the mission of CORA Services is to assist children, youth and families experiencing emotional, academic and social challenges.
Connect With Us Online
Get daily prayers, reflections, blog posts and images from our beautiful property via our website and social media channels.
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Give From Home
Please consider Cranaleith if you are able to make a donation of any size, either by mail or online.
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Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Cranaleith offers a contemplative space for all those seeking wholeness and transformation for themselves and society. We are committed to making Cranaleith accessible to all, especially to persons who are poor and those who work in solidarity with them. We invite those at the center of need and those at the center of influence to reflection, reverent dialogue and meaningful partnerships.
Please help us support our work.
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Cranaleith Spiritual Center | 13475 Proctor Road | Phila., PA 19116
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