Dear Friends,
It was wonderful to be together this week to kick off the 40th Anniversary at Spiritual Life Center. The energy and inspiration was more than we could have asked for. We are forever grateful for the gifts and stirring of the spirit which began this endeavor and the new gifts and energy which will propel us through the next 40 years. It was a time for old and new friends to gather, reflect and celebrate all we are!
Please consider joining Nancy Benben for a Community Conversations (one will be in-person), and she is looking forward to your attendance. Details are included below.
In other news, for the last 3 years, Nancy Janiszewski has been the hub of the Spiritual Life Center. She has gracefully managed the office, overseen all our financials, and made sure any questions or requests that came to the Center got to the right person, including the significant number of folks who are seeking spiritual companionship or programs. She has also been a key member of our Board of Directors, helping craft our strategic plan and leading the Financial Committee.
Last spring, Nancy discerned that it was time for her to take a step back from the day-to-day management of the office and finances of the Spiritual Life Center and spend more time with those beautiful grandbabies. Read more here.
Our newsletter has a new name and will be pivoting to a new approach. Each month, we will be releasing the News and Inspiration from the Spiritual Life Center. This is a place where we will continue to provide news and program updates but will be incorporating more inspiration and reflections. We'd love to have more of your original works to share. Please see below to be included in The Source. Program updates will be sent twice a month and other time sensitive updates will be periodically sent.
If you are not meeting with a Spiritual Companion or if you paused your practice when we shifted to mostly on-line sessions, consider if this is a good time to engage. There are options for in-person, virtual and/or group sessions. Please see below for details.
"Happiness is not something readymade; it comes from your own actions."
--The Dalai Lama
As a reminder, if you have an original poem, reflection or artwork you'd like to share as part of the The Source, please submit a word document to Jane Virgilio at jvirgilio@spiritlifectr.org. More details below. Thanks to those who have already submitted.
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For more on programming, please click on the underlined titles for details and registration information.
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“Welcome Internship Class of 2024!” |
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On September 7, Oscar Brockmeyer, Lisa Hudkins, and I welcomed our 18th Spiritual Companion Internship class! Twenty seekers began their transformative journey to learn the craft of spiritual companionship. This is the largest class we’ve ever had and includes folks from a wide spectrum of faith traditions and life experiences. Many of them are experienced spiritual listeners in their own right: chaplains, pastoral counselors, ministers, and Cursillo leaders, to name a few. As always, we’ll learn as much from them as they will from us!
I can still vividly remember my own Internship class. The moment I picked up the brochure, I felt electric energy emanating from the paper to my fingers, making its way effortlessly to my heart, landing there with a gentle burst. I knew I HAD to do this. It was one of those times when saying “yes!” to Spirit was easy.
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Join Me in Conversation
One of the Spiritual Life Center’s core values is “Deep Listening through Discernment, Silence, and Sensitivity to movement of spirit.” You might say it is the core of all we do as spiritual companions and seekers! As we begin this new phase of our journey, I’m curious about what’s been on your minds and hearts. This fall, I’m holding a series of Community Conversations. What have you noticed about our community over the last few years as we navigated the tumult of the pandemic? What’s surprised you? What opportunities do you see? What makes you proud to be part of the Spiritual Life Center?
Choose one of the following dates/times. Please register via link below.
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Thursday, September 29, 7:00-8:00 (Via Zoom)
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Tuesday, October 4; 2:00-3:00 (In person – Anam Cara Room)
Note: Dates have changed from original announcement.
I’m looking forward to gathering with you to share ideas, ask questions, and be together as Anam Caras! Register below.
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Mindfulness Meditation & Lovingkindness |
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We invite you to join us on zoom for Monday Meditation. We welcome all levels, including beginners, to be supported by this group practice. Meditation has many positive health benefits including the reduction of anxiety and stress and helps us to be more present in our lives.
Together we’ll be exploring mindfulness meditation, healing breath work, and compassion (metta) practice.
This program is on ZOOM. Mondays at 1 PM: 9/26, 10/3 , 10/10, 10/24, 10/31, 11/14, 11/28, and 12/5
Suggested Program Offering: $40 Alternative Offering: $25
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Want to refresh and deepen your prayer life? Then join us for a five part series called "Renewing Prayer" in which we will explore and experience a variety of prayer practices. Persons of any religious tradition as well as those on their own unique path are welcome.
Join Us for Renewing Prayer
We will meet every other Tuesday Evening from 6:30 to 8:30 EST by Zoom
on September 20, Sept 27, October 18, November 1 and November 15th (note date change)
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The Revered KellyJane Caesar, a recent graduate from the Spiritual Direction Internship program, discusses some of her experiences in the internship with fellow graduate and our Special Projects Manager Courtney Canfijn
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In individual spiritual companioning, seekers enter the process of deepening their spirituality while working with a trained Spiritual Companion. There are many ways to participate including FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, and phone.
Read more about companioning at this link, complete an initial interview form, and we’ll give you a call. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for more information about this transformative experience.
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Welcome to The Source - Online. This new feature will now showcase your works in the electronic newsletter and on our website. For submissions, please send your poem, art, pictures or other reflections to Jane Virgilio @ jvirgilio@spiritlifectr.org and we will review for inclusion in an upcoming publication. Preferred format is word and/or .jpg for pictures.
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A reflection poem written (and refreshed) about Sandy Hook by Joe Bartok
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Collaboration Updates
Collaboration continues. We've been meeting with HIU and sharing the vision and objectives of the collaboration.
They recently announced the joining of Dr. Lisa Dahill as the Miriam Therese Winter Chair for Transformative Leadership and Spirituality . Read more here.
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Spiritual Directors Corner
Registration closing soon!
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Creativity and the Arts are expressions of the soul's journey. Both assist with centering and awakening to the Divine, the Great Mystery both within us and around us.
The program includes six sessions on Zoom. These take place from 9:30 am to noon on first and third Mondays. The dates are Sept 19, Oct 3 and 17, Nov 7 and 21, and Dec 5, 2022. (Please note, there are 5 Mondays in October.) The leader is Carol A. Fournier.
The cost of the program is $295. Spiritual Companions who see one or more seekers for the SLC receive a $50 discount as a token of our appreciation.
This program is open to all with no previous artistic training required.
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Happenings With Our Friends
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Pilgrim’s Landing
is now the
Center for the Spiritual Journey
Congratulations on your new name. We look forward to great things!
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Get Social With Us!
As a community we have long been connected through the "center". The central place we gather, share, learn and grow.
Like us, follow-us, add a comment or share a post with your friends and contacts!
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Share this email update with your friends and family.
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Be part of the Community! |
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