Attendees: Mary Williams, Nichola Riggle, Kathy Mendoza, Elena Bertran, and Joan Thompson.
9:35 Opening Prayer, “Be Still and Know that I am God” followed
by a short period of silent prayer
Reports
Financial Report: Linda
--CONSD’S current funds are $14,893.71
--Deposits this period: $600
--Withdrawals $1,779.61
--Scholarships since last report: $180.00
Mary added that two scholarships totaling $1200 have been approved. [In the end, just $750 was
used. One recipient had to back out of the retreat they signed up for].
Communications (Website and Newsletter): Mary
The next CONSD Newsletter will be ready for
August/September. Mary is also
continually adding information to the website about events. The “donation button” is not yet operational,
but donors can always mail donations directly to Mary. Discussion: Linda suggested PGFs email their
members a link to the Newsletter when it comes out. Mary said she would mention that suggestion
at the upcoming Facilitator Enrichment.
Nichola suggested combining COSD announcements with CONSD announcements
since COSD is not posting their events online. Mary said that COSD does have a Newsletter,
but people need to subscribe to receive it. Events offered by COSD are generally
added to the CONSD Events page.
CP Intro Team:
Mary, Jan, Rick and Parth (follow-up on Intro at St. Bartholomew’s)
Mary reported for the team that the last Introductory
Workshop was on April 26th in the chapel at St. Bart’s, and 16
helpers and participants attended. The
chapel was an ideal setting with a big screen for Intro presenter slides and
space enough for both the conferences (classroom setting) and for the prayer
circle. Parth and Mary presented, Joan provided hospitality, Rick provided
coffee, and Jan, Rick and Mary led the follow-ups. The workshop was in-person, and the
follow-ups were on Zoom and recorded for those who couldn’t come. Mary said that having the Workshop in-person with
Zoom for the follow-ups were appropriate formats for each aspect of the
Intro. Thank you to St. Bart’s for
hosting.
Since
we have been getting requests for in-person events, Mary wanted us to be aware
of a contemplative nondenominational event that is open to all of us. Susan Lattimer is offering (usually the 4th Thursday of the month) a beautiful contemplative Taize service at All
Saints Episcopal Church in Vista on Thursday from 6:30-7:20 pm. The
service is ecumenical, candlelit and includes some newer sacred chants.
Events/Workshops, future and potential:
Facilitator Enrichment on July 17,
10:00 am: Mary, Nichola, Chris, and Parth
Mary announced that SLT members are invited
to attend this enrichment day as well as facilitators. The morning will refresh facilitators about
their roles and expectations. Parth is
the primary facilitator for the meeting, and she will focus on how to introduce
newcomers to an existing Centering Prayer group. We will also see a 15-minute CO video on
facilitator training with Nestor de Armas.
Postponed Chapter Enrichment and
Visioning Day: Mary, Kathy, Parth, and Nichola
Mary announced that the Chapter
Enrichment and Visioning Day scheduled for August 9th has been postponed until
2026 because Mary cannot be available to help plan it. Postponing also allows
the possibility of including COSD. Before the decision to postpone, Mary had a
meeting with the team and Ardy Woodmannsee of COSD to discuss a possible two-chapter
gathering to discern what our contemplative community wants and needs in the
days to come. (The COSD Coordinator, Brian Curry, was unable to attend but
expressed interest in a two-chapter event).
An Enrichment and Visioning day for both CONSD and COSD could be a kind
of “contemplative family reunion” for these two chapters.
“Space for Grace,” a morning of prayer,
on August 9th at St. Thomas More:
Mary
Since St. Thomas More had been
reserved for Chapter Enrichment and Visioning Day, Mary would like for us to
use the opportunity for a quiet and simple in-person gathering especially since
there have been a number of requests for in-person contemplative meetings. Mary has recently been trained as a food
handler by St. Thomas More, so she is updated on their kitchen resources &
how to make coffee. She thought a simple
menu of grapes, muffins and cheese could be served. The 9-11:30 schedule could be: Centering
Prayer, break, Lectio Divina, break, visit outside prayer grounds, another
period of Centering Prayer, chanting, and sharing. It would be like an extended Centering Prayer
meeting. We discussed the suggestion,
and ideas for food, whether to invite COSD, and logistics were mentioned. Joan Thompson is going to check her calendar
to see if she could help with food. She
also has a food handler’s certificate. Kathy Mendoza volunteered to do Lectio
Divina or anything else that is needed.
Chris Hagen’s “The Third Way: A
Response to Personal, Social, Cultural, and Societal Discord,” September 13 on
Zoom.
Since Chris was not present, Mary
recapped the plan for the day. He would
speak for 45 minutes and then we would break into small Zoom groups to discuss various
topics. After the small group work, we
would reconvene and report out.
CONSD Prince of Peace Retreat: October
16-19
Mary reminded us of this retreat and
noted that we would have flyers available for it at the “Space for Grace”
morning of prayer on August 9th.
Elena Bertran Retreat: Jonah and
Julian of Norwich, November 8 on Zoom
For her November retreat, Elena plans
to share her 30-year experience of Centering Prayer—a practice which, at times,
has made her cranky, just like Jonah.
She wants to encourage us to not give up but to continue the journey—to
“let go of our desire to change ourselves” and to consent to divine
transformation. She will also be sharing
the Julian of Norwich meditation where we look at God, look at someone, and look
at God looking at someone.
Introductory Workshop—Inquiry from
Kristi Kincheloe at Solana Beach Presbyterian
Mary told us that yesterday (July 11) Kristi
Kincheloe emailed that she would like us to present a workshop for them. Mary is going to call her to clarify her
understanding of the nature of our workshops.
Nichola commented that 20 years ago Solana Beach Presbyterian was a very
large and “hip” church with a younger congregation.
Future Possibilities
Mary said we may want to offer more
Silent Saturdays/Space for Grace events.
Barbara Hamilton has expressed an interest in hosting one, and the
different prayer groups could also take turns hosting. Nichola suggested that
Ilia Delio would be good to have as a presenter – apparently her 2026 schedule
has openings.
Other Concerns
Nichola won’t be able to attend the
Facilitator Enrichment program July 17 and is hoping it is
recorded. She is also concerned about newcomers to her prayer group which is
composed of seasoned practitioners who appreciate sophisticated formation
material which may not be appropriate for newcomers. Mary said that the Facilitator Enrichment
program will be recorded and posted on the blog.
Closing
Mary offered a closing prayer by Peter
Traben Haas and ended the meeting at 10:50am.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Dollins
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