Souls on the Journey

CLICK HERE TO VIEW 2009-2010 BOOK LIST (.pdf)                                     Download a flyer w/bookmark

What is a Book day?

Spiritual Reflection

Book Discussion

Day of Retreat

Have you been longing for a day of retreat? a spiritual book discussion group? time to reflect with co-journeyers?

Souls on the Journey provides opportunity and space for retreat and dialog one day each month (Oct-May).

Join us for a day of sharing prayer time, discussion and experiential contemplation.

These days are open to anyone who would like to share gentle time together to meet Spirit through our shared love of books.

These gatherings foster openness and offer safety across lines of our various theological, political, and denominational positions.

The following poem was written as a group (9 people) at the closing of May 2007's Souls on the Journey Day -after discussing and praying The Wisdom of Wilderness by Gerald May; each person wrote two lines:

Wisdom of Wilderness Poem 5/1/07

This, This, This pond flows through me

Running, yet somehow still

     Green, Green, Greening my soul

The touch of grass enlivens me

It is the Earth within me

Nurturing all growth

     Ripples in the gray-green water

Sun off the water

Water to run in

    Play in, laugh in

Lily pad, floating on the water, rooted deep.

Turtles resting near them.

   Violets growing wild,

         Scattered like polka dots on green

This moment passing quickly

Knowing always the present moment

Is all we have

To thine own self be true,

   But only after truth in God and Creation.

And This-This-This you.

LEADERS: Both facilitators are spiritual directors and graduates of Oasis’ Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides and Deepening Year for Direction Ministries.

Kathleen Roney, M. Div. is a prison chaplain and is also a doctoral candidate in Spirituality at Drew
University. Her special interests are Celtic Spirituality and creating prayer beads.

Linda Klopp, B.A., is an artist, group leader, and yoga practitioner. Her special area of interest is in 12 step spirituality.

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Place: This year we are pleased to announce two locations for book days, which we will use on an alternate basis.

Please make note of the location with each date!

Kenbrook Camp, 190 Pine Meadow Road, Lebanon, PA, 17042    (Sept. 15, Nov. 20, Feb. 16, Apr. 21)

(Woodland Lodge, Cedar Room) (717) 865-4547; www.kenbrook.com

Or

Kirkridge Retreat Center, 2495 Fox Gap Road, Bangor, PA 18013    (Oct. 20, Jan. 19, Mar. 16, May 18)

(Farmhouse) 610-588-1793, www.kirkridge.org

Retreat fee: $35-$55 per gathering date

(discounts of 10-15% if you register for 4 or more at one time: $125 for four gatherings; $235.00 for all 8 gathering dates)

ADDITIONAL INFO:
What to bring: Lunch & utensils, treats to share with the group, and an openness to Mystery!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: We request that you register at least ONE WEEK prior to each discussion day.

To Register: Please contact Betsy Keller betsykeller@oasismin.org,

Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development, 419 Deerfield Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011; 717-737-8222; oasismin@oasismin.org

“How wonderful it has been to bask in God's healing love together.”
—Donna Kulik, Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides

CLICK HERE FOR 2009-2010 BOOK LIST

UNDERSTANDINGS AND INVITATIONS

“Let each reader travel prayerfully with the group when sharing fully in their convictions; let each reader search prayerfully with the group when sharing doubts; let each reader return prayerfully to the group when recognizing error; let each reader call each reader back prayerfully; In this way let us advance along the road of mystery toward the Divine.” Paraphrase from St Augustine, DeTrinitate

And,   “Let the reading read you! As you read each month’s book prior to our meeting, reading join your life. Be curious and attentive to where the book stops you, where it turns your head, where it stirs your emotion. Use those moments as prayer; be open to journaling, art, movement. Let the book lead you in to the invitation being offered through the reading. Reading in that moment becomes an icon for the Word behind the words. Trust your reading to read your life, to bring you to those moments of connection needed in your journey. Read expectantly. Read in gratitude for what is there; for what is waiting to be found.”               ~ Glenn Mitchell, Director of Training and Program

A RITUAL TO READ TO EACH OTHER

If you don't know the kind of person I am

and I don't know the kind of person you are

a pattern that others made may prevail in the world

and following the wrong god home we may miss our star.

For there is many a small betrayal in the mind,

a shrug that lets the fragile sequence break

sending with shouts the horrible errors of childhood

storming out to play through the broken dyke.

And as elephants parade holding each elephant's tail,

but if one wanders the circus won't find the park,

I call it cruel and maybe the root of all cruelty

to know what occurs but not recognize the fact.

And so I appeal to a voice, to something shadowy,

a remote important region in all who talk:

though we could fool each other, we should consider--

lest the parade of our mutual life get lost in the dark.

For it is important that awake people be awake,

or a breaking line may discourage them back to sleep;

the signals we give--yes, no, or maybe--

should be clear: the darkness around us is deep.

William Stafford

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