Day 521 Thursday, August 19th, 2021

God wants us, with all our wandering weaknesses, to be human in his presence, with ease, with comfort, and with the feeling that we are home…”

Announcement for our upcoming Emmaus Liturgy August 22, 2021

In a little less than a month, on Saturday, September 18th, our good friend, Diarmuid O’Murchu, has offered to lead us in a Zoom Retreat to help us look at the losses that we, as a faith community, have experienced over the last year and a half (and there have been many!).

This Sunday’s liturgy, I hope, will be the “appetizer” for that retreat time, as we will begin the process of giving voice to all that we have experienced over these past months. We will give ourselves permission to name these losses, to sit with them…and in the process, lean into the very heart of them.

For me, this Sunday, August 22, is the one-year anniversary of the death of my sister, Barbara, who died of a glioblastoma brain tumor, way too early at the age of 62. During this intervening time, I have found myself drawn back to the Creation Spirituality tradition of Meister Eckhart, to the Via Negativa, which has helped me experience God even in these moments of loss, grief, darkness, suffering and letting go…to find and experience our God walking “with me” and present “within me” as I tried these new roads without my sister.

The Psalms, too, can also speak for us as a faith community, as we mourn our losses together. Though ancient, the Psalms speak of our shared humanity, and offer, if we listen, ways to navigate, assist and accompany one another, step by step, forward in our personal as well as collective life journeys.

Our liturgy will include readings from these traditions, and our dialogue homily will invite us to share the lamentations of our hearts over these many months, for we grieve the losses of not only our loved ones, but of COVID, racism, climate change and other wounds as well. You are invited to think about and share what you personally have experienced over this time, and how your life has been altered or changed in the process.

Ronald Rolheiser, in his book Wrestling With God writes: “…as I’ve aged, I’ve come to realize that being with God…is like being with a trusted friend…God wants us, with all our wandering weaknesses, to be human in his presence, with ease, with comfort, and with the feeling that we are home…”

May our gathering (over Zoom), and sharing our liturgy and homily together, be just that for all of us this coming Sunday.

- Victoria MacDonald

Announcement #2: Please put this on your Calendars

Step by Step: Accompanying Each Other Home

A Zoom Retreat Morning with Diarmuid O’Murchu

Saturday, September 18, 2021

9:00 am to 1:00pm

9:00 - 9:15 Introductions, Welcome and Opening Prayer (David and Victoria)

9:15 - 10:00 Life Grows Around Grief (Diarmuid)

10:00 - 10:20 Break Out Groups (Diarmuid offers questions for discussion)

10:20 - 10:45 Open Forum (Large Group Discussion)

10:45 - 11:00 Break

11:00 - 11:30 Accompanying Each Other as a Faith Community During Difficult Times (Diarmuid)

11:30 - 11:45 Open Forum (Large Group Discussion)

11:45 - 12:30 Dying and Rising to New Life Contemporary Theology (Diarmuid)

12:30 - 12:45 Open Forum (Large Group Discussion)

12:45 - 1:00 Closing Remarks and Closing Blessing (Diarmuid and Victoria)

Diarmuid writes of this time together: Sharing Discerning Space

As a Community, we have missed each other's presence, shared the loss of loved ones, grieved or departed, and prayed for all affected by Covid 19. To hold all that in a discerning way, we need some time apart to ask: Where is God leading us at this difficult time?

Diarmuid O'Murchu has kindly agreed to facilitate a discerning day with us on Sept. 18th., consisting of some inspiring input, a process for befriending grief and loss, and some affirmation and hope for the way forward.

Announcement #3: Global Conference on Fratelli Tutti

Dear Ones: I messed this up and forgot to remind everyone about this conference that happens today.

Check out the information at:

https://www.globalministriesuniversity.org/interfaith-studies/