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Beyond the Emerald City:
Praying with The Wizard of Oz
“Toto,
I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more.”
– Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz
“The journey is essential
to the dream.”
– St. Francis of Assisi
Play and pray with others as we journey beyond the Emerald City
and go behind the curtain, as we follow the yellow brick road of
our souls to draw personally closer to God. This retreat time
will draw on themes from L. Frank Baum's children's classic,
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the 1939 iconic film it
inspired, the Wizard of Oz.
Participants will be invited to times of personal and corporate
prayer, and will take home personal prayer exercises. Our time
together will weave scripture and practices (like guided
imagery, lectio divina, contemplative prayer, and
Ignatian prayer of daily examen) along with themes like:
“Somewhere
Over the Rainbow”
– praying our
dreams
“Now I know we
are not in Kansas” – praying our alienation
“Lions and
Tigers and Bears, Oh My!” – praying our fears
“If I only had
a Brain”
– praying our needs
Wicked witches
and flying monkeys – praying our obstacles and adversaries
“Pay no
attention to that man behind the curtain.” – praying our
identity
“There’s No
Place Like Home” – praying our belonging
In
preparation, participants are invited to watch the 1939 movie
The Wizard of Oz and read the original L. Frank Baum book,
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (first published 1900, can be
found at many libraries or read on-line at
http://www.goodreads.com/)
As you read and watch, ask yourself:
Where or how does this fantasy connect with my
spiritual story?
What characters in the story reflect me and where
I am on my journey?
Where is God? What is prayer?
Part of the Wild Goose Track at Kirkridge,
with its connection to the Iona Community and commitment to
living the Rule of Iona, this retreat emphasizes the rule of
growth in personal spirituality, daily prayer and Bible reading.
Retreat held at:
KIRKRIDGE
RETREAT AND STUDY CENTER
2495 Fox Gap Road, Bangor, PA 18013
610-588-1793
www.kirkridge.org
Register by
contacting Kirkridge directly at the information above.
About the Leader
Besides being a lover of The Wizard of Oz since her
childhood, Rev. Cindy Garis serves as the Executive
Director for Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development (www.oasismin.org).
Through spiritual direction, retreat leadership and her work
with Oasis, Cindy lives out her call to ministry, encouraging
all to a deepening spiritual life.
+ ordained in the United Church of Christ
+ graduate of Messiah College, B.A. in Christian
Education and Marketing
+ graduate of Lancaster Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity
+ graduate of Oasis' two-year training in spiritual direction,
Spiritual
Direction for Spiritual Guides
Before her present position with Oasis, Cindy
served as a co-pastor for six years to a congregation in
Lebanon, PA. She resides with her family in Dillsburg, PA.
Feel free to be in contact with Cindy via email
at
cindygaris@oasismin.org
Cindy will be co-leading a Celtic Pilgrimage to
Scotland (Iona and Lindisfarne) in May 2012.
See a full brochure for more details. |
