Dear Middleway Urban Monastery friends,
"Let your fingers do the walking" remains one of the most enduring and recognizable slogans in the U.S. It began almost 60 years ago to promote the "yellow pages," which are now probably less known than the slogan itself. Yellow pages were the section of a printed telephone book where people could turn to find businesses to solve issues and needs. Uhm, a telephone book was ... I digress.
Back to the fingers. The idea was that rather than go walking about town, a person could easily use one's fingers to flip through the pages and be led to the answer of which business to call or visit.
We offer a similar idea monthly at Middleway. It's called the finger labyrinth. On the first Friday of each month, using a drawing of a labyrinth you can print out, you can use your finger to trace the path during a guided meditation. And much like the "yellow pages," such a meditative prayer might lead you to discerning via a visit with God the answers to your issues and needs.
Read about what's going on at Middleway below. Make a note to check out our Facebook group page or website.
Poetry as Prayer set for Saturday mornings in June
How can poetry be used as prayer? Find out each Saturday in June. A video will be offered on our group page to help guide you each Saturday at 10 a.m. Then, on June 26 those who are in the Bryan-College Station area will be invited to an in-person gathering for the final Poetry as Prayer time. The event is led by Aneya Elbert.
Finger Labyrinth Friday set for June 4
For a peaceful way to ease into the weekend, plan to enjoy our monthly Finger Labyrinth Meditation Friday at 1 p.m. To be ready, go to our Facebook group page and click on the Files tab. There you will see the ChartresLabyrinth.pdf file. Download and print a copy. Then, return to the group page at the scheduled time to attend the meditation provided by Aneya Elbert.
The Way of the Heart begins in weekly book club
Our June book, "The Way of the Heart" by Henri Nouwen will begin on Tuesday, June 1, at 7 p.m. Central time. We will be using a study guide offered by the Henri Nouwen Society. This small but deep book offers "ancient spiritual wisdom to heal our troubled modern souls." Tuesday's gathering will focus on the prologue and first chapter, "Solitude."
The book is available in many formats in print or online. The group is open to all. Here's how to join:
Meeting ID: 862 8991 8385 Passcode: 164675
or call in 1 346 248 7799
Interested in spiritual direction or formation training?
If you've considered learning more about Christian spirituality and how the training might impact you and your ministry, check out FIND - School for Spiritual Direction and Formation. Applications are being accepted until June 30 for the ecumenical school which offers classes once a month on a Saturday so that busy lay and clergy people can attend more easily. NEW THIS YEAR: FIND is launching a second version of the school. After a successful transition to Zoom classes in 2020 to operate the school during the pandemic, the FIND board has agreed to offer a parallel school which will be exclusively online to enable anyone to attend without regard to location. The traditional school, which was founded in 1997, will return to an in-person venue at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Bryan, Texas. A person may choose to enroll in either the online or in-person school. FIND hopes to move to Middleway Urban Monastery when a physical location is established. For more information, see www.schoolforspiritualdirection.org.
How to Visit Middleway Urban Monastery
Ready to dig a little deeper spiritually? We're here for you.
You're a "member" if you are receiving this newsletter. Come and see what the monastery has for you online. When you enter our URL, facebook.com/groups/TheMiddan MonasteryReady to dig a little deeper spilewayUrbanMonastery, it is like opening the door of a physical building, and you will find all that is offered there.
Likewise, you can come to our website and explore the offerings, including links to our Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube accounts, if you like those formats and want to follow.
If you know others who would like to "join," ask them to subscribe to our weekly newsletter by going to https://www.middlewayurbanmonastery.org/contact and entering their email address at the Subscribe button on the lower right.
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