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Welcoming spring with Christian Contemplative Community events and resources

Why Do You Seek the Living among the Dead? 
 Luke 24:1-12

In spring as with Easter there is Light, Hope and Joy in the air. In this spirit we continue to pray for Ukraine and that their courageous and determined stand for freedom and existence will prevail against the Evil they're facing.

In this month's update In Via Lumen would like to bring your attention to some opportunities and resources to continue deepening your Contemplative Knowing and your relationship with God during this time.

You will also find the fall small group Contemplative programs that your votes have helped to select and other programs to be offered this summer and fall.
First of all, may we continue to keep the situation in Ukraine in our hearts and in our prayers. May their courageous and valiant struggle result in freedom and new life. May our witness to the loss of all life and destruction prompt us to renounce the violence of war. May our prayers inspire us to find ways to provide assistance to all those suffering.

I invite you to listen to this stunning rendition of Be Still and Know That I am God by the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York, who also sung a prayer for Ukraine in late February on Saturday Night Live just after they were invaded.
Do you do and feel things you don’t want to? Do you long to connect with God exactly as you are and not as you “should” be?

Join Jenna Riemersma, author of All Together You and master Christian Internal Family Systems Therapy teacher and therapist, as she explains why all parts of you are welcome and guides you into a deeply transformational connection with the Divine.

On May 14th, the Christian Contemplative Experience at Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT, is offering a day entitled All Parts of You are Welcome which is based on principles taken from her bestselling book: Altogether You, synthesizing Christian faith with the groundbreaking insights of Internal Family Systems.

This day is for anyone who is looking to more deeply understand and integrate the parts of themselves in relation to their own Divine Self. The material presented is especially useful for Therapists, Chaplains, Pastoral Counselors, Spiritual Directors and Companions. It provides deeper insights and connections to Body Presence and Contemplative Awareness methods like Welcoming Prayer and BioSpiritual Focusing among others.

Here's an interesting and informative YouTube podcast that will help you get to know Jenna and what she will be sharing, The Faces of God: Grace for all of your parts!
The Christian Contemplative Experience at Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT (CCE) seeks to affirm the oneness of all Christians and to transcend our outward differences by joining together in silent prayer. CCE's purpose is to provide a space where Christians can meet, share and pray together in the contemplative tradition.
Upcoming CCE workshops (online, hybrid and in-person):
Rev. Matthew Wright is coming to share our June 11, 2022 Contemplative Day of Reflection with us. Matthew is an Episcopal priest, writer, and leader working to renew the Christian Wisdom tradition within a wider inter-spiritual framework. He is a senior student of Cynthia Bourgeault. Alongside his practice of Christianity, Matthew has studied and practiced within the Islamic Sufi and Vedanta lineages.
You can find further information about the Contemplative Day of Reflection here: If you haven't yet heard Matthew teach, I invite you to listen to his sermons available on SoundCloud. Here is a recent sermon that talks about the Soul's Journey: https://soundcloud.com/stgregoryssermons/the-souls-journey
 
As part of CCE, a weekly Christian Contemplative Prayer group is offered each Thursday evening which meets online or in-person at Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT as conditions allow. For more information on how to join us, please contact Mike Smoolca at cce@holyfamilyretreat.org or msmoolca@hotmail.com
Spiritual Direction and Companioning
 
If you're a Christian Contemplative seeker in need of deep listening and a caring spiritual presence, In Via Lumen offers Spiritual Direction and Companioning specifically focused on serving Christian Contemplatives. 

If you would like to explore these options further, please use the contact form on these pages or email Mike Smoolca at: msmoolca@invialumen.org.
Contemplative Outreach of CT - ​The Connecticut Chapter's mission is to support, grow and share the Contemplative Outreach Prayer Practices as well as to foster and enhance the Christian Contemplative Community in the Connecticut and Southwestern New England area.  
Among various things, our Chapter offers Introductory workshops in Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina and Welcoming Prayer by Contemplative Outreach Commissioned Presenters as well as online training to become a Contemplative Outreach Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer.

Another class of Centering Prayer Presenter training is occurring this May. If you're interested in finding out more about becoming a Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer and expressing your interest in future trainings please visit: https://www.co-ct.org/co-ctpresentertraining.html
 
Contemplative Outreach of CT is offering a facilitated experience of Fr. Keating's follow-up to the Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop starting June 15, 2022: https://www.co-ct.org/co-ctsixfollowups.html

This experience is ideal to deepen your understanding and practice of Centering Prayer. It's especially recommended for those who have recently attended a Centering Prayer Introductory workshop. 
Body Presence and Contemplative AwarenessOur bodies are warehouses of our life experiences, and they connect us directly to the rest of Creation and to God. Getting in touch with how our bodies react to our daily experiences leads to integration and healing while also opening us up to a direct connection to Creation and God "In whom we live and move and have our Being" (Acts 17:28).
Upcoming Body Presence (BioSpiritual Focusing) events:
Mike Smoolca will be offering the following program for Contemplative Outreach of Atlanta on September 10, 2022:

Body Presence and Contemplative Awareness - BioSpiritual Focusing Day of Presence  - Discover a deeper awareness of healing and wisdom accessible to each of us through our bodies. During this day we'll establish BioSpiritual Focusing’s place in Body Awareness Practice and then progressively and experientially introduce participants to the focusing concepts which will conclude with a demonstration and discussion of Focusing. Participants will be invited to welcome and hold their feelings with curiosity and loving care in order to achieve integration into greater wholeness. The day provides the necessary foundations to pursue further practice and study of BioSpiritual Focusing. 

We're looking to offer the following online BioSpiritual Focusing Book Study:
BioSpiritual Focusing - An Introductory Exploration and Experience. This is an online Intensive Beginner's introduction to the Process and Experience of BioSpiritual Focusing that's been initially developed and offered by BioSpiritual.org. We'll focus on the process and experience important sections of Rediscovering the Lost Body-Connection within Christian Spirituality, the BioSpiritual Focusing handbook. In addition, each week will include facilitated sharing and experiences of BioSpiritual Focusing.
North-Central CT Chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society (NCCTITMS)

OUR VISION:
The NCCITMS was formed to study the writings, work, life and influence of Thomas Merton, in the hope of inspiring, affirming and enriching every member to embrace life and the God who created it..
The recording of our Spring 2022 Quarterly meeting with Brother Paul Quenon, OSCO from the Trappist Abbey at Gethsemani, KY and Judith Valente, Author and Journalist  is available on our past meeting's page: https://www.invialumen.org/north-central-itms-past-meetings.html

Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming Christian Contemplative Experience November, 2022 workshop featuring Br. Paul and Judith.
Our summer Quarterly meeting will be held on Wednesday July 13, 2022 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 

The topic we'll be sharing is: Merton - Art, Creativity and Contemplation.

This will be a hybrid meeting held over Zoom and in person at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road West Hartford, CT. More details and a registration form will follow soon. 

Members of the North-Central CT Merton Chapter email list will receive more information on this event. If you're not already a member our Chapter's email list, you can sign up at the bottom of our web  page: https://www.invialumen.org/northctitms.html
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Paul Pynkoski, current Secretary of the International Thomas Merton Society and Peace Activist shared information on this new film about the Berrigan Brothers. You can find a schedule for screenings here: https://theberrigansmovie.com/all-screenings/
In Via Lumen will be offering the following programs in fall 2022.

One of In Via Lumen's focus areas is offering facilitated Contemplative sharing groups. Based on the feedback we've received, the following programs will be offered this fall.

A registration page will be set up in the summer for these programs.
Gospel of Thomas and the themes of Christian Non-duality -  A two-year Gospel of Thomas study group and insights from other sources, has suggested that the Logia (sayings) comprising this Gospel can be categorized into themes expressing Christian Non-duality.  This program will review these Christian Non-dual themes. Each meeting will include a facilitated, Lectio-style unpacking of selected Logia related to these themes.
Richard Rohr's Falling Upward is wonderful book covering a person's movement into the Second Half of Life. This group will be using Falling Upward as a guide to Contemplative Sharing on the themes of transition and deepening.
Partnership programs -  Special arrangements with leading teachers and organizations are being made through In Via Lumen, LLC to offer programs of unique interests to the Christian Contemplative community.
 
This first series of programs has featured Peter Fritsch, an Episcopal priest, spiritual director, writer, and a vigorous proponent of the inner life and listening to one’s intuition. He writes and teaches in the fields of Jungian/Christian Dialogue, dreamwork, healing prayer, and the life of the soul.

Starting in the fall, we look to offer more programs by Peter which might include some from the following list:
  1. The Reality of Evil in our Times 
  2. Restoring the Divine Feminine
  3. A Christian Understanding of the Afterlife
  4. Finding and trusting your Inner Intuitive Voice
In addition, we're exploring other partnerships, stay tuned for more information as these evolve.
In the spirit of enriching yourself and strengthening the Christian Contemplative Community, I hope you will take part in the programs mentioned here and perhaps participate in some that you just became aware of.

I invite you to visit the In Via Lumen, LLC web page for more information and other resources. Among a variety of resources, you'll find a month-by-month list of featured programs that is updated periodically.

Please forward this email to anyone who you feel might be interested in any of this programming. Also, if you have a need or an idea for a program that you feel would enrich the Christian Contemplative Community, please send me an email!


Hoping that spring and Easter will be a time of Light, Hope and Joy on your continuing Christian Contemplative Journey!

Peace, Prayers, and Blessings of Hope and Joy,
                                                                 Mike Smoolca
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