Gathered Wisdom, Jan 26

Identity

God helps us remember our true identity, or as St. Paul would say, we let ourselves be no longer an “I,” but an “I in Christ.” And as we learn to let go of our attachment to all the things we might think we are, and rest in our real identity, the question of what we’re supposed to do in the world becomes a little easier to navigate. It starts feeling like God is the one making choices through us, as our false selves fade into the background.

-Br. Nicholas Bartoli
Society of St. John the Evangelist

Moving on Through Forgiveness

An 8-week online study from The Wisdom Years
Thursdays, 4 to 5 pm, beginning February 4

In this pre-Lent/Lenten offering, we will look at various aspects of forgiveness from several spiritual writers and see how each fits into our own life stories. Each week will include some on-your-own reading, a brief teaching, and small-group exercises with discussion on Zoom. Materials will be provided. 

For more info and to reserve your spot.

What Needs To Be Left Behind? 

Sermon by the Rev. Mike Marsh

“Follow me,” isn’t only about going somewhere, it’s also about leaving behind. That’s the hard part for most of us. We’re pretty good at accumulating and clinging but not so good at letting go. More often than not, however, growth involves some kind of letting go. We accept Jesus’ invitation to follow, not by packing up, but by letting go.”

Read the sermon.

A Face, Searched out and Known 

Sermon by Br. Sean Glenn of Society of St. John the Evangelist

“The days and months ahead will likely not be easy. For when the last vaccine has been administered, when the last livelihood that was taken away is restored, we will still have to find a way to live with one another in this night of disunion; as a nation, as a neighborhood, as a work place, as a family, as a church.”

Read the sermon.

Our Struggle in Faith – Between Knowing It is True and Believing It

Essay from Fr. Ron Rolheiser of Oblate Seminary

“Some years ago, at a workshop, a woman came up to me during the break and sai: “God loves me unconditionally. I know that’s true, but I how can I make myself believe it? I simply can’t!” She could have been speaking for half of the human race. We know we are loved by God, we can say the words, but how do we make ourselves believe that? Why? Why is that so difficult to believe?”

Read the essay.

What is the Kingdom of God?

A podcast from Renovare

Renovare introduces a new podcast series called Friends in Formation. In this first edition, James Catford, Richella Parham and Nathan Foster dis­cuss the King­dom of God, pan­dem­ic lone­li­ness, and prac­ti­cal ways to remem­ber that even when we are sep­a­rat­ed we are more togeth­er than we can see.

Listen to the podcast.

Becoming & Belonging

A webinar from Sage-ing Interntional

with Ben McBride
Thursday
February 11
4:00pm – 5:15pm ET

“Ben shares personal stories that credential his experience as a trusted messenger around the ideas of becoming and belonging anchored in individual and institutional choices he made around creating social change. Ben then situates a meta-narrative about United States history and how we, in modern times, have inherited a story that we did not author and are at a historical choice point around how we navigate that intersection.”

For more information and to register.

Walking in the Wilderness

An Online Lenten Retreat from The Upper Room
Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, through Easter Sunday, Apr. 4

“Living through social and political upheaval can sometimes feel a lot like wandering in exile through a spiritual desert. The Upper Room invites you to join us this Lent for an online retreat in which we will hold sacred space for one another and connect with God throughout each day. You may feel like you are walking in the wilderness, but you are not alone. The Holy Spirit travels with us.”

For more information and to register.