Lectio Divina Template 51

 "I am the true vine."

We invite you to a few minutes of silence before we begin our prayer time together.

Take a deep breath and breathe in the breath of God, knowing by faith that God breathes into us the breath of life.

SLT Meeting Minutes from April 17, 2021

In attendance: Elena Andrews, Linda Dollins, Parth Domke, Diane Langworthy, Diane Oldfield, Joan Thompson, Susan Wheeler, Mary Williams, Chris Hagen, Vicki Rehkopf, and Jan Simpson.

The Zoom meeting began at 9:30 AM with ten minutes of Centering Prayer.

Reports:

Registration: Susan Wheeler

·      Susan shared that we now have a new gmail address specifically for registrations, which is consd.cal@gmail.com

COSD Liaison: (Currently an open postion) Mary Williams

·      This is currently an open position.

·      Mary and Linda met with COSD leaders Ardy Woodmansee and Karen Downs on Zoom to share what the chapters and prayer groups are doing. Ardy assisted Mary with the 'CONSD / COSD hour' during Contemplative Outreach's global United Day of Prayer, which was a wonderful international experience delivered virtually.

Media Librarian: Diane Oldfield

·       We still have media (CDs and DVDs) available for check-out.

·       Diane’s email address will be included in Facilitator Resources (in the Be Still blog) for easy contact.

·       We discussed the changing communications technologies, and Linda D. suggested we may need to dedicate more funds into our modes of delivery in the future.

Prayer Group Facilitator Support: Mary Williams for Kathy Agnew

·       The facilitator retreat on 3/27 was a great success. The 20 participating facilitators had an opportunity to share how their prayer groups have been faring during this past year on Zoom. As Kathy Agnew reported, prayer groups “have been an absolute lifeline during this pandemic season.”

·       Parth reported on plans for a facilitator resources meeting to share formation ideas to use with prayer groups. She described a program she developed with her group based on one of the Contemplative Life Program’s “Forty Day Practice” books, including meditations she sends out daily. She will present that concept to the facilitators at the upcoming facilitator resources meeting. The date of the meeting is still to be decided.

Financial Report: Linda Dollins (Treasurer)

• Linda shared that there is currently $10,856.00 in the CONSD treasury account.
• CONSD has received $200 in donations. We granted $150 in scholarships for a recent Bill Sheehan retreat. After the discussion at the January SLT meeting, CONSD donated $500 to Holy Spirit Retreat Center. Also, we donated $50 to Buddha at the Gas Pump as a “thank you” for the use of their video during United in Prayer Day.

Communications (Website & Newsletter): Mary Williams and Diane Langworthy 

• Mary spoke about the CONSD website, which relies on WordPress for formatting.  It still needs to be updated to the most recent version of WordPress, and early this summer she will seek out a professional to assist in making that transition and in adding a donation tab to the website.
• Diane L. will help seek out potential article writers for the next newsletter in August 2021. Linda suggested including articles in which prayer groups share what they are doing in their groups.   
• Mary screen-shared the updated Facilitators Resources page from the Be Still and Know blog. It now includes YouTube links to 2020 recordings of Contemplative Outreach’s Introductory Program and a link to Fr. Keating’s Spiritual Journey series.

Events: Linda Dollins and Chris Hagen

·      Linda presented the idea of a “Chat with Chris Hagen” presentation with a question-and-answer format. Chris has had 12 years of spiritual direction with Fr. Thomas Keating and would be willing to share insights accrued over those years as well as his wisdom about Centering Prayer and contemplative living. We discussed the format, whether to separate it into one or more sessions, but he would be most comfortable with one 1.5-hour session. He would prefer to respond to questions that are emerging now among the community rather than prepare a talk based on his personal experiences. He encourages each of us in the Servant Leaders Team to ask our own prayer groups about their concerns and questions as they practice Centering Prayer. These concerns and questions can be emailed to Chris. We plan to hold this event on Saturday, June 12^th at 9:30-11:00 AM.

·    Chris has also prepared a new presentation for a future event: "Transformation of Consciousness: Becoming the Word of God."  It is a follow-up to his "Putting on the Mind of Christ" presentation. 

·      We discussed the possibility of hosting an online local Introductory Workshop soon, with many advantages presented by doing it virtually.  Mary mentioned Patti Smith as one possible workshop presenter.  Patti volunteers with the Denver Center for Contemplative Living and facilitated a six-week course on “The Human Condition” (a section of Keating's Spiritual Journey video series) for CONSD in 2019. Mary will contact the Intro team to plan further.  

·      We discussed the future of prayer groups, post-COVID, whether ‘live’ or on Zoom or both and the impact on group members.  

Calendar Items: 

 

• Next SLT meeting: July 10, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM. 
• June 12: “Tea and Conversation with Chris Hagen,” 9:30-11:00 AM.
• June 27-July 4: Holy Spirit Retreat Center's 8-Day Intensive & Post-Intensive Centering Prayer Retreat.
• October 15-17, CONSD retreat at Prince of Peace Abbey (pending due to COVID).
• Rev. Susan Latimer of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd has invited the local Contemplative Outreach communities to partner with her prayer team for an upcoming San Diego event: The Good News Festival, with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, on December 3-5. A group has been formed to investigate and plan participation, with Deborah Lewallen, Cindy Dodson, Elena Andrews, Kathy Mendoza, and Mary Williams.

• 2021 Events: Mary will keep us updated on any changes to the calendar.  She will also continue to share links and information on events and retreats from other centers and chapters.  

The meeting ended at 11:20 with John O’Donohue’s “Friendship Blessing” read by Linda Dollins and the “Prayer of Abandonment to Love” read by Diane Oldfield.  

Respectfully submitted,

Jan Simpson

Lectio Divina Template 50

"There will be one flock, one shepherd."

We invite you to a few minutes of silence before we begin our prayer time together.

Take a deep breath and breathe in the breath of God, knowing by faith that God breathes into us the breath of life.

Lectio Divina Template 49

  "Everything written about me . . . must be fulfilled."

We invite you to a few minutes of silence before we begin our prayer time together.

Take a deep breath and breathe in the breath of God, knowing by faith that God breathes into us the breath of life.

Lectio Divina Template 48

 "Peace be with you."

We invite you to a few minutes of silence before we begin our prayer time together.

Take a deep breath and breathe in the breath of God, knowing by faith that God breathes into us the breath of life.