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August 4, 2023
Dear friends,
Last year, The BTS Center team began a practice of taking dedicated time each year for deep reading — a week in which we pause programs, limit meetings, and allow more spaciousness in our schedules with the intention of diving into some inspiring texts. We took our annual Reading Week last week, and as we emerge from our textual explorations back into our more regular working pace, we are eager to digest and share our learnings with one another and with you.
Of course, we are reminded that many Christian theologians regard nature as the first holy text, and so our practice of slowing down for reading is also a practice of paying deep attention to the creation of which we are a part. We hope that our experiments in ecological rhythms, including Reading Week and our December Pause, will inspire you to take a little space in your lives for your own eco-contemplative practices.
If you are seeking a space to be inspired in your own practices and communities, we offer you a special invitation to join us for Convocation 2023 this September in Hallowell, Maine. Our theme — "Kinship: Re-Weaving the Great Web of Belonging" —
speaks to a deeply integrated, whole-hearted way of living in the world — one in which community and care are at the core.
We hope you'll join us for two days of talks, meals, contemplative practice, music, and spiritual exploration — opportunities for nurturing robust relationship in these uncertain times. As a special bonus, we have extended our discounted registration rate of $150 for just a few more days. Register now, by August 5, to take advantage of this offer!
We are also offering a Special Group Rate for faith communities through the month of August! You can register four people from your group for a price of $500 — just $125 per person. Please click here for more information on the group rate.
Finally, this August we hope you'll join us for the third and final session of our Summer Fiction Book Club — an opportunity to gather online and discuss The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. We'll be joined by special guest Derrick Weston, Theological Education and Training Coordinator at Creation Justice Ministries. This promises to be a rich and robust conversation!
We look forward to seeing you in person or online in the near future!
With best wishes,
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