Lent: A Time to Nurture the Soul: Lent: A Time to Nurture the Soul Mt. St. Mary Alumnae
Evening of Reflection
February 27, 2007
Overview: Overview Check-in/Ice-Breaker
Opening Prayer
Content:
Probe our understanding of tonight’s PURPOSE
Share some reflections about being WOMEN
Provide some “tools” for Lenten Prayer
CLOSING
Lenten “Journey”: Lenten “Journey”
A definite beginning point…
Mixture of paths, roadways, curves;
Challenges of various obstacles; transitions;
Stopping for rest – Intentional Choices;
ENDING point… to only BEGIN AGAIN…
(Group Activity)
“A Time”: “A Time” Biblical connotation
Our purposes = opportunity to BEGIN…
Not necessarily a specified period
Intended to be ongoing
Integration
Nurture: Nurture Awareness of emptiness, longing;
MAKE time to “be in the PRESENT;”
Assess WHAT IS…
Discern options
Feed = “food” for LIFE
Soul: Soul Holy Space;
God-Life in our Humanity;
Language of VULNERABILITY and AUTHENTICITY;
Capacity for life, suffering, forgiveness;
Seed for intimacy, companionship…
(Group Activity)
Vocation to be WOMEN : Vocation to be WOMEN Reference: Gift from the Sea (Lindbergh)
Question: How do I create empty space?
“Woman must come of age by herself – she must find her true center alone.”
Sabbath Keeping: Sabbath Keeping “Sabbath” – “Shabbat” in Jewish thought
Translation = God’s time…
Donna Schaper, Minster for the United Church of Christ
“Sabbath is a way of living, not a thing to have or a list to complete.”
Sabbath Keeping (continued): Sabbath Keeping (continued) Not meant to be prayers, deeds, activities we feel obligated to address;
“Sacred time of leisurely meeting Our God;”
Options: simple quiet, prayer, reading, conversation, listening to music, recreational activity, etc.
(Group Activity)
Unique Possibilities: Unique Possibilities Sabbath remembering…
Personal reflection of “journey” as woman, as daughter, as friend, as neighbor, as spouse, as parent;
Personal insights/learnings as member of various communities, as co-worker, as “team player” in various groups, as mentor, etc.
(Group Activity)
Unique Possibilities (continued): Unique Possibilities (continued) Sabbath de-cluttering… *What is lost? For what purpose?
Mind, soul, heart of unnecessary concerns;
Daily routine of purposeless activity;
“Control” of others’ lives (spouse, children, friends, etc.)
Unworn clothing, unused furniture, etc.
(Group Activity)
Helpful “Tools” for Lent: Helpful “Tools” for Lent Symptoms of Inner Peace (*Maria Rosario Gaite, RSM – Guam)
A Different Kind of Fasting (*Shirley Murphy, RSM – Springfield)
Suggestions for Developing a Wholistic Spirituality (Thomas Merton)
“Resolution” Considerations: “Resolution” Considerations What do I long for in my soul?
How can I cultivate a spirit of “Sabbath time” in my life? What structures will need to be re-ordered?
How can I make this Lent be “a new beginning” of the rest of my life?
With whom can I share periodically to help “call me” to my intentions?
Closing: Closing Thank YOU for enriching my life this evening;
Together, we have looked more deeply at “Lent – time – nurturing – soul;”
We have truly prayed about our role as women – blessings and challenges; and,
We have looked at some options for weaving these insights as we begin Lent.