Greetings from the Journey Center staff!
As you can tell from our name, we love to offer support and resources for your journey. One of the most helpful resources to each of us as we live through the seasons of our life is the blessing of companions for that journey. Someone to walk with, to talk with, to pray with, to experience the presence of the Holy with. When I look back over my recent road trip through the Pacific Northwest, what I remember even more than the beautiful places I visited is the joy of sharing the journey with my husband. On that journey, as in life, it was a great gift to be with someone who knows me and supports me and could share the experiences with me.
We are coming up on the time when we can offer this kind of gift to some of you. We currently have eight men and women in our training program for spiritual directors and, beginning in October, they will each be offering nine monthly sessions of free spiritual direction to two people who want to experience the gift of a companion who is there to listen as you focus on your relationship with the Holy. Spiritual direction is about just that- a safe space in which you can become more deeply aware of the presence of the One who knows you and loves you…and more responsive to the movement of the Spirit in your life.
There are only a few spots available so if you are interested in this possibility, I encourage you to do these three things:
·Check out our webpage where spiritual direction is described, to see if this is what you are looking for: http://www.journeycenter.org/hapSpiritDirection.php
·On that page, you will see that we are offering a free workshop entitled “Spiritual Direction: an Invitation to Encounter the Holy”. Attending this workshop is a requirement for those who will meet with one of our interns, as it gives a thorough introduction to spiritual direction and prepares you to enter into the experience in the most fruitful way possible. You can register for this Friday’s session (July 27; 7-9 p.m.), or there is one on August 18 (10 a.m.-noon). The workshop will not be offered in the fall.
·Finally, please contact me by responding to this email and I will put you on the list and schedule a conversation with you. We are very pleased to offer this resource and are praying that you will sense the Spirit’s invitation if this gift is for you.
As July draws to a close, we look ahead to August and offer you the following wonderful resources, arranged by event category so you can easily find what interests you.
You can register on our website at www.journeycenter.org or by calling us at 707-578-2121. Thank you for signing up ahead of time for those events that require registration…
THIS WEEKEND
·This Friday! Spiritual Direction: An Invitation to Encounter the Holy (Free Workshop)- Fri., July 27 (7:00-9:00 p.m.) A growing number of people from many spiritual paths are discovering the benefits of meeting regularly with a spiritual director in order to grow in their awareness of the presence and movement of God in their lives . View the Spiritual Direction Workshop poster
THIS MONTH’S FUN EVENT!
·JAZZ CONCERT AND BBQ on Saturday, August 11 (6-9 p.m.)- a benefit for the Journey Center in memory of Jim Gruenholz. Jim was a founding member of the Journey Center staff and this exactly the kind of event he would have loved, supporting a mission he believed in. Join us on this summer’s evening for great jazz, wonderful food and relaxed time with friends, new and old. A limited number of tickets are available for $20 per person- call the Journey Center at 707-578-2121 to reserve yours. http://www.journeycenter.org/hapConcerts.php
THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE SERIES
·Come Away… To A Quiet Time – Friday, August 17 (7:00 – 8:00 p.m.) Do you long to: just stop …get quiet …calm yourself … breathe in God’s love and comfort and strength and peace? This is a drop- in group where there is a mixture of meditative quiet sitting. View the A Quiet Time Summer Poster
·New! Is Group Spiritual Direction for You? -Thursday, August 16 (7:00-9:00 p.m.) This is an Introduction to Group Spiritual Direction gathering for anyone who may be interested in being part of this type of community beginning in the fall. Group spiritual direction consists of groups of 4-6 individuals who are interested in meeting once a month to listen with each other for the movement of God in each person’s life. Facilitators: Dick Meyer and Linda Albert are Spiritual Directors at the Journey Center. Cost: Free
·Spiritual Direction: An Invitation to Encounter the Holy (Free Workshop)- Saturday, August 18 (10:00 a.m. – Noon) A growing number of people from many spiritual paths are discovering the benefits of meeting regularly with a spiritual director in order to grow in their awareness of the presence and movement of God in their lives . View the Spiritual Direction Workshop poster
·NEW!! A Holy Longing: Exploring the Contemplative Call -Thursday, August 23 (7:00 – 9:00 p.m.) Are you longing for something ‘more’ in your spiritual life, but are unsure of what that is? In this experiential workshop, we will share the ancient and discerning wisdom of the Christian contemplative tradition as a way for you to discover what is unfolding on your own spiritual journey. Facilitator: Ruah Bull, and the Spiritual Direction Staff. Cost: Free View the “A Holy Longing” poster
THE COUNSELING, HEALING AND RECOVERY SERIES
·Contemplative Healing Prayer Gathering : Friday, August 10 (6:00-7:00 p.m.) Once every quarter we gather on a Friday evening for a time of reflection and healing prayer. All are welcome to this peaceful, candlelit gathering where prayer is offered for physical, emotional, mental, relational and spiritual healing, as well as prayer for our community and our world. Cost: free. No registration required. Just show up! View the Contemplative Prayer Gathering poster
·”The Attorney is In” – A resource to help with your discernment if you have a legal question or find yourself in a legal situation. – Monday, Aug 20, ( 5:00-6:30 p.m.) Meet with our favorite attorney, Roy Johnston, at the Journey Center for a no-cost 30-minute consultation. Roy is a specialist in estate planning, probate, trust administration, mortgages, real estate and business, and is conversant in other areas of law, such as family law and bankruptcy, and can give referrals to attorneys who specialize in these other areas of law. View the Attorney Is In Poster
THE ENNEAGRAM SERIES
·The Enneagram: A Tool for Transformation (Free Introductory Workshop)- Saturday, August 11, (9:00 a.m. – Noon) Join Joanna Quintrell, spiritual director at the Journey Center, for this free workshop designed to introduce you to the Enneagram, an ancient tool for personal and relational transformation. Cost: Free View the Enneagram Summer poster
THE ARTS, CREATIVITY AND SPIRITUALITY SERIES
·Prayer/Journey Beads Workshop – Sunday, August 19 (2:00-5:00 p.m.) Prayer beads have been in existence in many spiritual traditions going back to the beginning of time. Create a strand of beads that can be used in your own spiritual practice and to chronicle your personal journey and life experiences. View the Prayer and Journey Beads poster
·Poetry Reading: The Wellness and Advocacy Center Literary Journal Writers and Friends- Fri., Aug. 31(6-8 p.m.) Please join us for a reading by the poets featured in the 2012 Wellness and Advocacy Center Literary Journal, Creative Linx . They will also be joined by poets Rebecca Del Rio and Raphael Block. The Wellness and Advocacy Center is a local daytime drop-in center for adults living with mental health issues and psychiatric disabilities. Creative Linx is a brilliant literary and arts journal begun three years ago by Wellness Center peer members. Please join us in celebrating and supporting these very unique and important voices in our shared community. Facilitator: writer/poet and Creative Linx contributor and supporter, Kalia Mussetter. Cost: Free http://www.journeycenter.org/hapLiteraryArts.php
FESTIVALS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
·Don’t forget the Journey Center will have a booth at the SR Downtown Market every Wednesday evening from 5 – 8:30 p.m. through August 29. http://www.wednesdaynightmarket.org
Blessings to you on your journey!
Joanna Quintrell and the Journey Center staff
The Journey Center
1601 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-578-2121
www.journeycenter.org