Pre-meeting conversation: There are two upcoming Taize Services: One on with Brother Emile at the USD Founders Chapel, co-sponsored by St. James, St. Brigid’s, & St. Andrew’s. Another is on November 16 with Susan Latimer at All Saints Church in Vista. [A Mailchimp flyer was sent out notifying our membership]. COSD is also having an Intensive Retreat starting May 2, 2025, which will be led by Brian Curry.
9:40 -- Opening Prayer and 5 minutes of silent prayer.
REPORTS:
• Communications (Website and Newsletter): Mary
The Newsletter will be available in December this year rather than November.
Mary announced that CONSD purchased access to and a recording of a series of contemplative teachings provided by the organization Spiritual Wanderlust. Speakers included James Finley and Cynthia Bourgeault. The recording is currently stored on our CONSD computer. We discussed how this recording might be used and need more information about the limitations of sharing a recording from a Chapter computer. Mary wondered if the computer could, for example, be borrowed by a prayer group facilitator to share a recording with their group. Rick gave some information about more feasible ways to share information stored on a personal computer. These options will be further explored.
Contemplative Outreach Ltd. invited chapters to make a donation to CO Ltd, particularly if there was a profit from events. A rich discussion followed: Linda reminded us that we are making an indirect contribution to CO by creating generous scholarships for contemplative events and not charging for many of our events. Chris: in the past we have made a monthly contribution to CO. Rick: We should consider a request from CO as coming from a real need. Chris: “We are one body in Christ.” Mary: CO also gives out scholarships. Might donate once a year rather than monthly. Parth: I make a motion that we give CO $500 per year. Mary: Contribution may be based on profit from hosting an event. Linda: Nothing we offer makes a profit. Parth: Should we charge for events? Nichola: Perhaps give once a year to support the larger organization. Susan: Working on registration, it’s awkward when people can’t pay for an event or even donate to a free will basket. Linda: A freewill basket could be placed away from the registration table. Mary: We’re now doing more in-person events. With Zoom there were no charges. In-person brings us back to money. Chris didn’t remember charging for Intros. Diane and Mary recalled that in the early days of COSD and then CONSD, there was a $25 fee for Intros, although no one would ever be turned away if they could not pay. Rick suggested giving $500 this year to CO, with annual SLT discernment on future donations. The action was unanimously approved.
Action: We will donate $500 this year and revisit donations to CO, Ltd next year.
Mary is working to add a “donation button” to our CONSD website. She needs more information, however, to activate it and will probably contact the tech-aid company Codeable for assistance even though they can be expensive.
• Recent Events and Workshops:
Wisdom Day retreat at Mission San Luis Rey with Susan Latimer on July 27, 2024. We had space for 40 and approximately 30 people came for the full day. Mary would like us to consider a regular day at the Mission in the summer of 2025 sponsored by CONSD.
CP Introductory Workshop at St. Peter’s on October 5, 2024, with Zoom follow-ups. Thank you to Nichola for helping us to secure St. Peter’s as our site. About 20-21 people attended this in-person event. The follow-ups were held on Zoom. Jan Simpson, Rick Martin, and Mary facilitated the follow-ups. Those sessions, which had about 5 in attendance each time, were recorded and made available to all who came to the workshop. Mary said that getting a convenient follow-up time for everyone was difficult.
“Happiness/Non-Dual Consciousness” with Chris Hagen on November 2nd. 80-85 registered for this event and 30-35 people actually came because it was recorded and many needed to see it at a different time. Mary won’t be able to edit the presentation into segments for prayer group use, but she can include time stamps on the YouTube recording. Chris said he tried to create segments of approximately 15 minutes to make it more convenient for prayer group use. Chris asked if we wanted him to continue to give presentations, and we assured him that we did.
• Possible Future Events and Workshops
Facilitator Enrichment Experience: Parth, Nichola, Mary and Chris need to meet on Zoom to talk about what they would like do and when. They decided to meet on February 1, 2025, on Zoom, a Saturday, at 9:30 am.
Elena Bertran Zoom Retreat: Elena would like to present on January 25, 2025, 9-11:30 or 12 on Zoom. She suggested that Lynne Prechel might help her. Lynne is a Spiritual Director.
Action: Mary will send Elena Lynne’s email address.
Introductory Workshop: Mary said that Lent is often a good time to schedule an Introductory Workshop. Parth said that she would like for St. Bartholomew’s to host the Intro and will talk to the rector about that possibility. She thought an inland workshop is also appropriate because the October 2024 workshop was coastal.
Action: Parth will talk to the Rector of St. Bart’s about a date for an Introductory Workshop.
Chris’s Presentation for 2025: Chris is willing to present again, but he also feels we shouldn’t feel locked into a repetition of CONSD presenters. If he does present in June, he would like the presentation to be more interactive, perhaps using breakout rooms for discussion and then reporting back to the whole group. Mention was made that Chris’s delayed presentation (from June to November) worked well with election tensions we were experiencing. Mary sent out the recording information to attendees.
Mission San Luis Rey Day Retreat: Mary asked us to be thinking about a topic and/or a speaker for the day. Possible suggestions included: Cinema Divina, watching a movie and contemplating on it; Journaling or “Scriptio Divina” as we did at St. Thomas More with Mary: and Nichola’s suggestion of Fr. Boyle. Fr. Boyle has presented at St. James in La Jolla and brought some of his “homeboys” with him. He does address Centering Prayer in his work, was interviewed for the CO, Ltd. podcast series, and Mary has seen him in person.
The Prince of Peace Retreat next year is October 16-19, 2025.
• Other Concerns/Miscellaneous
A discussion followed about other possible opportunities we might consider for any time of year: Susan Latimer and Taize. Mary said Susan has a service planned for November 16th at All Saints Episcopal Church in Vista. Mary has gone to two of the services--which were beautiful, but not well attended.
We would welcome Cynthia Bourgeault (if she ever returns to San Diego). We could co-sponsor her with COSD and use St. Paul’s Cathedral. Heather Ruce, who is local and has worked with Cynthia on Wisdom Practices, is another possible speaker, along with Susan Latimer. Parth suggested having CONSD and COSD sponsor an event together once a year or even more often. Diane said that years ago we had a shared intensive retreat at Prince of Peace with Fr. Carl Arico. Chris gave other recollections of working together, especially hosting United in Prayer Day. Linda talked about fostering younger leadership in the Chapter. Mary said that our Visioning Day may help with that in the coming year.
Our next SLT meeting is January 11, 2025.
Mary closed the meeting at 11:34 with a heartfelt prayer from the New Zealand Prayer Book:
“FOR PEOPLE FACING GREAT UNCERTAINTY”
God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to us
as we wait in uncertainty.
Bring hope that you will make us the equal
of whatever lies ahead.
Bring us courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you. Amen.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Dollins
• COSD has a new Coordinator: Brian Curry
• Financial Report: Linda
--CONSD’s current funds are $12,539.15 (Last meeting $14,801.67)
--Deposits this period: $7955.00
--Withdrawals: $10,689.39
• Financial Report: Linda
--CONSD’s current funds are $12,539.15 (Last meeting $14,801.67)
--Deposits this period: $7955.00
--Withdrawals: $10,689.39
--Scholarships since the last report: $3210.00
• Communications (Website and Newsletter): Mary
The Newsletter will be available in December this year rather than November.
Mary announced that CONSD purchased access to and a recording of a series of contemplative teachings provided by the organization Spiritual Wanderlust. Speakers included James Finley and Cynthia Bourgeault. The recording is currently stored on our CONSD computer. We discussed how this recording might be used and need more information about the limitations of sharing a recording from a Chapter computer. Mary wondered if the computer could, for example, be borrowed by a prayer group facilitator to share a recording with their group. Rick gave some information about more feasible ways to share information stored on a personal computer. These options will be further explored.
Contemplative Outreach Ltd. invited chapters to make a donation to CO Ltd, particularly if there was a profit from events. A rich discussion followed: Linda reminded us that we are making an indirect contribution to CO by creating generous scholarships for contemplative events and not charging for many of our events. Chris: in the past we have made a monthly contribution to CO. Rick: We should consider a request from CO as coming from a real need. Chris: “We are one body in Christ.” Mary: CO also gives out scholarships. Might donate once a year rather than monthly. Parth: I make a motion that we give CO $500 per year. Mary: Contribution may be based on profit from hosting an event. Linda: Nothing we offer makes a profit. Parth: Should we charge for events? Nichola: Perhaps give once a year to support the larger organization. Susan: Working on registration, it’s awkward when people can’t pay for an event or even donate to a free will basket. Linda: A freewill basket could be placed away from the registration table. Mary: We’re now doing more in-person events. With Zoom there were no charges. In-person brings us back to money. Chris didn’t remember charging for Intros. Diane and Mary recalled that in the early days of COSD and then CONSD, there was a $25 fee for Intros, although no one would ever be turned away if they could not pay. Rick suggested giving $500 this year to CO, with annual SLT discernment on future donations. The action was unanimously approved.
Action: We will donate $500 this year and revisit donations to CO, Ltd next year.
Mary is working to add a “donation button” to our CONSD website. She needs more information, however, to activate it and will probably contact the tech-aid company Codeable for assistance even though they can be expensive.
• Recent Events and Workshops:
Wisdom Day retreat at Mission San Luis Rey with Susan Latimer on July 27, 2024. We had space for 40 and approximately 30 people came for the full day. Mary would like us to consider a regular day at the Mission in the summer of 2025 sponsored by CONSD.
CP Introductory Workshop at St. Peter’s on October 5, 2024, with Zoom follow-ups. Thank you to Nichola for helping us to secure St. Peter’s as our site. About 20-21 people attended this in-person event. The follow-ups were held on Zoom. Jan Simpson, Rick Martin, and Mary facilitated the follow-ups. Those sessions, which had about 5 in attendance each time, were recorded and made available to all who came to the workshop. Mary said that getting a convenient follow-up time for everyone was difficult.
“Happiness/Non-Dual Consciousness” with Chris Hagen on November 2nd. 80-85 registered for this event and 30-35 people actually came because it was recorded and many needed to see it at a different time. Mary won’t be able to edit the presentation into segments for prayer group use, but she can include time stamps on the YouTube recording. Chris said he tried to create segments of approximately 15 minutes to make it more convenient for prayer group use. Chris asked if we wanted him to continue to give presentations, and we assured him that we did.
• Possible Future Events and Workshops
Facilitator Enrichment Experience: Parth, Nichola, Mary and Chris need to meet on Zoom to talk about what they would like do and when. They decided to meet on February 1, 2025, on Zoom, a Saturday, at 9:30 am.
Elena Bertran Zoom Retreat: Elena would like to present on January 25, 2025, 9-11:30 or 12 on Zoom. She suggested that Lynne Prechel might help her. Lynne is a Spiritual Director.
Action: Mary will send Elena Lynne’s email address.
Introductory Workshop: Mary said that Lent is often a good time to schedule an Introductory Workshop. Parth said that she would like for St. Bartholomew’s to host the Intro and will talk to the rector about that possibility. She thought an inland workshop is also appropriate because the October 2024 workshop was coastal.
Action: Parth will talk to the Rector of St. Bart’s about a date for an Introductory Workshop.
CONSD Visioning Day: It has been 6 years since our last Visioning Day, and C.O. recommends one every 5 years. Kathy DeFede facilitated last time and may be willing to facilitate again. Nichola said St. Thomas More was a nice location.
Chris’s Presentation for 2025: Chris is willing to present again, but he also feels we shouldn’t feel locked into a repetition of CONSD presenters. If he does present in June, he would like the presentation to be more interactive, perhaps using breakout rooms for discussion and then reporting back to the whole group. Mention was made that Chris’s delayed presentation (from June to November) worked well with election tensions we were experiencing. Mary sent out the recording information to attendees.
Mission San Luis Rey Day Retreat: Mary asked us to be thinking about a topic and/or a speaker for the day. Possible suggestions included: Cinema Divina, watching a movie and contemplating on it; Journaling or “Scriptio Divina” as we did at St. Thomas More with Mary: and Nichola’s suggestion of Fr. Boyle. Fr. Boyle has presented at St. James in La Jolla and brought some of his “homeboys” with him. He does address Centering Prayer in his work, was interviewed for the CO, Ltd. podcast series, and Mary has seen him in person.
The Prince of Peace Retreat next year is October 16-19, 2025.
• Other Concerns/Miscellaneous
A discussion followed about other possible opportunities we might consider for any time of year: Susan Latimer and Taize. Mary said Susan has a service planned for November 16th at All Saints Episcopal Church in Vista. Mary has gone to two of the services--which were beautiful, but not well attended.
We would welcome Cynthia Bourgeault (if she ever returns to San Diego). We could co-sponsor her with COSD and use St. Paul’s Cathedral. Heather Ruce, who is local and has worked with Cynthia on Wisdom Practices, is another possible speaker, along with Susan Latimer. Parth suggested having CONSD and COSD sponsor an event together once a year or even more often. Diane said that years ago we had a shared intensive retreat at Prince of Peace with Fr. Carl Arico. Chris gave other recollections of working together, especially hosting United in Prayer Day. Linda talked about fostering younger leadership in the Chapter. Mary said that our Visioning Day may help with that in the coming year.
Our next SLT meeting is January 11, 2025.
Mary closed the meeting at 11:34 with a heartfelt prayer from the New Zealand Prayer Book:
“FOR PEOPLE FACING GREAT UNCERTAINTY”
God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to us
as we wait in uncertainty.
Bring hope that you will make us the equal
of whatever lies ahead.
Bring us courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you. Amen.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Dollins
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