Spiritual Ministries Institute

The role feelings play in our lives should not be underestimated. Too often, they are ignored or acted upon without any awareness of their impact. In this presentation, we will investigate the messages received about feelings and seek a deeper understanding of and appreciation for their power. We will discover how feelings affect our lives using images from ancient and popular sources. We’ll explore how feelings can be messages from God to provide knowledge about our inner lives and, through prayer and reflection, guide us. We will process the information presented in interactive and creative ways.

The poet Mary Oliver wrote that when we “ …patch a few words together,” we might open “...a doorway into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak.” Come patch some words together in company with others as a spiritual practice for the soul. Taking inspiration from poetry, images, objects, and more, we’ll play and pray on the page. We’ll have the choice to read and share in small groups, responding as supportive witnesses to one another’s words. No writing experience is necessary (and grammar and spelling don’t count!)

It is written to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Does a living faith require doing justice or is it enough to love receiving mercy for ourselves? Are we creating a world for our individualized faith or for the common good? Let’s explore the movement of personal spirituality that leads an active faith for the sake of human flourishing.

Renowned spiritual teacher John Philip Newell will outline the main themes of his award-winning book Sacred Earth Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What Our Souls Know and Healing the World (Harper One). Newell calls us to be aware of the sacredness of Earth and every human being as key to the way of transformation and healing in our lives and world.