SAVOR: MINDFUL EATING, MINDFUL LIFE

Thursday, September 9

7:00 – 8:30 PM

With Savor, world-renowned Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh and Harvard nutritionist Dr. Lilian Cheung show us how to end our struggles with weight once and for all. Savor teaches us how to easily adopt the practice of mindfulness and integrate it into eating, exercise, and all facets of our daily life, so that being conscious and present becomes a core part of our being. It is the awareness of the present moment, the realization of why we do what we do, that enables us to stop feeling bad and start changing our behavior. This evening is best followed by joining Taste & See, beginning September 16. Donation: $35 (includes $20 hardcover book)

MEETING CHRIST IN PRAYER
8-WEEK EXPERIENCE OF THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

8 Wednesdays  7:00 – 8:30 PM

September 15, 22, 29

October 6, 13, 20, 27

November 3

This is another wonderful way to experience the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. You will be invited to pray about 30 minutes each day. If your relationship with God is pleading for attention and if you feel called by God to be more attentive and prayerful, please treat yourself to this 8-week retreat.

You will:

• Learn to pray more deeply
• Grow in friendship with God
• Come to know Jesus more intimately
• Savor the Word of God as a primary means of recognizing the presence and action of God

Love offering.

MERTON SERIES: SOUL SEARCHING

4 Thursdays    7:00 – 8:30 PM

September 16 & 30

October 14 & 28

Merton speaks to the soul like no other. He gently leads us toward spiritual transformation and a more contemplative and peace-filled life. Merton reminds us: “Your life is shaped by the ends you live for. You are made in the image of what you desire.” We will study Merton in these four sessions and let his pursuit of his true self in God foster our own search. Topics include:

Entering the School of Your Experience
Traveling Your Road to Joy
Writing Yourself into the Book of Life

You will receive a book each evening to lead you through your two weeks of prayer between sessions. Come to as many as you can, but please come to the first one if possible. Please register early. Donation: $50 for the series, including books, or $20 each session.

SPIRITUAL READING GROUP

9 Fridays    6:30 – 8:30 PM

Good spiritual reading is a must for spiritual growth. Companions on the journey help with the practice of this spiritual exercise. This will be fun as well as fruitful. Can you devote one Friday night a month to this pursuit? This year we will feast on a variety of spiritual gems:

Becoming Who You Are……… James Martin, SJ
Mystical Hope………………….. Cynthia Bourgeault
The Gift of Peace…… Joseph Cardinal Bernardin
Faith in the Darkness……………. Mother Teresa

Donation: $150

CLASSICS ON CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER

10 Tuesdays     6:30 – 8:30 PM

We will be instructed in contemplative prayer by the best teachers.  We will begin with the classic, The Cloud of Unknowing and follow that with The Contemplative Heart, by James Finley. The evening includes Lectio Divina and two 20-minute sessions of contemplative prayer.  We will also view some 20 minute DVD’s of Thomas Keating as time permits.     Donation: $150 (includes both books).

NOTHING BUT PRAYER

4  Tuesdays    6:30 – 7:30 PM

We will gather for one hour of prayer, nothing but prayer. We will have two 20-minute periods of Centering Prayer with Lectio Divina between them. Come and pray!  Love Offering.

LEARNING TO PRAY
THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS

Thursday, October 7

7:00 – 8:30 PM

So many people say the have a desire to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, but find the book confusing to follow. This night at Francis House will clarify the method and make it possible for you to enjoy this wonderful way to pray throughout the day. If you need the book, register by September 24 so I can order it. Donation: $10 for the session; $30 for the book if needed.