Community News & Reflections

The Community of Reconciliation

May 27, 2010

 
“… it is not perfection that Benedict insists on in a newcomer to the spiritual life; it is direction. … The Rule of Benedict wants to know at what we’re aiming …”

Joan Chittister, The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages

Reminder!

Memorial Day Holiday Monday, May 31

No Benedictine Life and Prayer Gathering on Memorial Day. Join us June 7 and stay for First Monday Creating a Rule of Life.

LEARN AND GROW

McGurk and Bourgeault Now Online

Audio from the Saturday Listening, Hearing, and Living sesions with Simon McGurk and Cynthia Bourgeault are available online as MP3 files, and video of Cynthia’s Monday evening presentation will be posted in the next week or so. Click here for online resources and event archives.

REFLECTIONS

Counting Silverware

From the Director

The way of Benedict cheers us on toward an everyday, lived-in holiness experienced in the most mundane of tasks—folding the laundry, reading the spreadsheets, mowing the lawn, waiting in traffic, paying the bills, and yes, counting the silverware. Revealed in spoons and forks, laundry baskets and faxes, dental appoints and telephone on-hold queues, and a thousand more of the mundane accessories and routines of everyday life, Benedictine spirituality insists that sacredness is woven throughout, and in fact, is intensified through its very partnership with “everydayness.”

Of late, the gleaming silverware tray in my kitchen drawer is serving as a Benedictine laboratory for balanced living. Utensil by utensil I am learning to experience Continue reading »

GATHERINGS & EVENTS

New 2010-2011 Calendar Now Online

You can visit the full calendar at www.nationalcathedral.org/community.

SUMMER EVENTS

Listening, Hearing, and Living

Crafting a Life Rule for Today, with Margaret Guenther

Saturday, June 12, 10:15 am–1 pm | Perry Auditorium

How do we make choices that bring balance to lives that have so many demands? How can we navigate the pushes and pulls of daily living with a deep serenity rooted in the Holy? What will we use to guide us along our shared journey?

Join noted author, retreat leader, and lecturer Margaret Guenther for this exploration of the Benedictine approach to life balance that infuses practical living with prayer, study, renewal, work, and hospitality. Learn to experience the Rule of Saint Benedict as a foundation for crafting a life way that sets intention, guides choices, embraces hospitality, and assures time for the truly essential aspects of life amidst the shallows of contemporary culture. Discover how daily rhythms we may already embrace can be set into frameworks of intention that reorient life, center us in the Holy, and bring refreshing balance to life in sometimes less than balanced world.

Register now »

SUMMER EVENTS

State of the Community Gathering

Saturday, June 12, 1:15–3 pm | Following Listening, Hearing, and Living Event | Perry Auditorium

It is with delight that I report that the Community moves toward the new fiscal year with abundance. I invite you to join me for a shared brown bag meal following the June 12 Listening, Hearing, and Living event as we reflect upon our journey, our stories, and our future ahead with the Community of Reconciliation.

Over the two years just past, The Community of Reconciliation has successfully transitioned from a pilot project into an expanding, increasingly self-funded program integrated into the life and ministry of Washington National Cathedral serving constituencies that include the Cathedral Congregation, staff and volunteers; diocesan partners; and a range of local, metro, and regional participants and partners. We continue to sound the rhythms of stability, wisdom, and transformation for a world in search of radical balance and reconciliation.

Every week the Community continues to host new guests at Benedictine Life and Prayer and a range of workshops and events. The Community is pioneering a new constellation site with Penny Morrow and Lynn Thonnard on the Eastern Shore of Maryland to establish a framework for ways to serve others beyond the metro area. This summer, new workshops in constellation facilitation and in Creating a Rule of Life are being offered.

Every benchmark for this year past has been exceeded. And with the generosity of participants, individual donors, volunteers and in-kind services, and judicious use of our F.I.S.H. Foundation sustaining grant—the Community enters the new fiscal year in the black.

Here is a snapshot of some of the growth of the Community of Reconciliation at Washington National Cathedral during the year past.

Leaders, staff, volunteers, and colleagues of the Friends of Saint Benedict, Washington National Cathedral, the Cathedral Center for Prayer and Pilgrimage, and the the Community of Reconciliation at Washington National Cathedral have:

• Successfully transitioned from a pilot project into an expanding, self-funded program increasingly integrated into the life and ministry of Washington National Cathedral serving constituencies that include the Cathedral Congregation, Cathedral staff and volunteers, diocesan partners, and a range of local, metro, and regional participants and partners. Spiritually impacted the life and practice of more than 500 individuals affiliated with the Community through on-site, online, partner, and constellation resources and events.
• Developed a program infrastructure and curriculum with a full complement of more than 70 weekly, monthly, and quarterly, Cathedral-sited contact events that support existing constituencies and draw new populations to the Cathedral.
• Hosted an online presence, social networking site, and constellation blog featuring resources and tools for spiritual growth and renewal consistently receiving in excess of 10,000 direct inquiry hits a year;
• Provided a bi-monthly Community newsletter received by more than 500 local, regional, and national subscribers; a complement of audio and video resources of major teaching and celebration events for individuals who desire continued study and those unable to attend or at distance; major teaching events with national and international scholars and authors, and developed an integrated registration system that invites participants into various communication vehicles of Washington National Cathedral.
• Begun the process of collaboratively piloting 2 regional constellation communities (Maryland and Northern Virginia); with requests for the development of distance constellations in North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Northern California.
• Heightened Washington National Cathedral’s visibility as an emerging nexus for Benedictine spiritual life and resources throughout the metro area, region, and nation through convening events.
• Introduced Benedictine spiritual life to a next generation of young adults that includes: 30 young adults for a day retreat if the 20’s and 30’s group from the Cathedral Congregation, 30 students from the University of Maryland at Baltimore campus, 27 Young Adult Pastors from around the country in the Wesley Theological Seminary Lewis Scholars Program, 36 confirmation students from the Church confirmation class.
• Built foundations and partnerships that will allow us to selectively pilot affinity initiatives in transformational spiritual life including: university students; seminarians; interfaith communities; young adults; seniors; medical students; healthcare and professionals;
• Developed frameworks and dialogue partners to convene focus events, theological scholarship, and scientific and medical research addressing ecological, interfaith, cultural, wellness, and peace challenges with unique faith perspectives.
• Leveraged development grant funding, participant donations, in-kind donations, volunteerism, and earned income for a balanced year end budget with resources that will carry over into the new funding cycle.
• Provided renewal opportunities for all Cathedral and Protestant Episcopal Foundation staff renewal by providing access to all programming without fee and encouraged increased volunteerism through scholarships, discounted program fees, special retreats and training sessions as value-added benefits of volunteering.

Every week, at gatherings and events we are hearing stories of life balance and reconciliation as folks are able to embrace a way of living in the world that centers us in the Holy, bringing stability, wisdom, and transformation into our daily living. This inaugural State of the Community Gathering provides opportunity to reflect upon our stories, let you know about the frameworks that are supporting us, and have time to ask questions and share wisdom.

We embrace this as a model for informed, shared, leadership. I invite you to take part, as part of each of our contributions to community. We hope to audio tape the event as well for those at distance or not able to attend for other reasons.

Guests, newcomers, and regulars are all invited to attend. I look forward to seeing you there.

Peace,
Greg

Summer Reflection Retreat

Saturday, June 26, 10:15 am–1:30 pm | Perry Auditorium, CCPP, Olmsted Wood, and Cathedral Close

Explore life balance, reconciliation, and your own personal spiritual journey surrounded by the summer beauty of the Cathedral and grounds. Benedictine practices of prayer, wisdom, recreation, work, and hospitality guide this time of exploration and discovery as participants experience wisdom reflection and refreshed intention.

Participant fee $35/$20; scholarships available. Register now »

COMPANION VOICES

SaintBandMe

The rhythms and expressions of Benedictine life foster great flexibility and creativity. Take a quick peek at one of the newest manifestations of Benedictine exploration at SaintBandMe, a brand new blog created by Vikki Montgomery.

Using her skills as a writer and educator along with her familiarity with social networking through her work with students at Georgetown University, Vikki is weaving together her passions as she reflects upon her journey along this way of Benedict. Rather than adding another thing to an already full schedule, Vikki has chosen virtual reflection to maintain connection in community while teasing out the implications for her life rule.

Vikki reminds me that we express the deep rhythms of spiritual life in a vibrant kaleidoscope of ways. With this kind of creativity we can only look forward to great things ahead!

With permission, following is an excerpt from the blog.

“…taking a Rule in small bites in community helped me to see the beauty of it and to discuss the puzzling parts… Things started to make more sense.

With my daughter graduated from high school, I was able to make more of the [Community of Reconciliation gatherings] and think about the Rule in relation to my life. Last fall, with a number of others I was inducted into the Community of Reconciliation as a companion (something like oblate or an associate in other communities). Since that time I have been working on constructing and trying to live by a Rule of my own.

Trying is the operative word. Despite my best efforts, I have bungled it big time. My rule is still in outline form despite attending many Creating a Rule of Life meetings and other teaching sessions.

Often I think the good Benedict would be appalled by my progress—or not. The week before last, in our meeting we read Chittister’s commentary that said, “… it is not perfection that Benedict insists on in a newcomer to the spiritual life; it is direction. … The Rule of Benedict wants to know at what we’re aiming … “

I’m aiming for a life lived in all its fullness in which all my gifts come to fruition in my life for the glory of God and the good of myself and others. Through the grace of Christ and the support of my beloved Community (I really do love it!), my personal rule—based on Saint B’s Rule—will provide the vehicle for that to happen.

I invite you to join the journey with Saint B and me.

CONSTELLATION GATHERINGS & EVENTS

Constellation and Facilitator Learning Day

Saturday, June 26, 10:15 am–4:30 pm
Perry Auditorium, Cathedral Nave, Library, Cathedral Center for Prayer and Pilgrimage, and Grounds

Trainer fee $30 | Scholarships available | Fee includes BOTH morning and afternoon sessions and training materials. Scholarships available. Register now »

This day is designed for individuals interested in facilitating Community of Reconciliation gatherings along with individuals and leaders of communities either hosting, or considering hosting Constellation Gatherings.

The morning session begins in stillness and centering and includes a pilgrim walk, shared dialogue using a Benedictine model, and time for personal renewal. Participants will share Noon Eucharist in the Great Choir along with a brown bag lunch in the gardens and grounds of the Cathedral. The afternoon session is filled with training, shared learning, conversation, silent and shared reflection, and concludes with Evening Prayer in the Cathedral.

This session is a Constellation Primer Event for constellation community leaders.

Benedictine Experience

June 23–27 in Dallas, Texas

Join Dwight Longenecker, Catholic priest and author, and Sr. Donald Corcoran of Transfiguration Monastery in Windsor, New York, along with directors George Trauth and Lynn Witherspoon at the Catholic Conference and Formation Center. Hosted by the Friends of St. Benedict, Benedictine Experiences offer a unique opportunity to step outside the daily routine to more fully experience the rhythms of Benedictine Life in community. Learn more and register »

BUILDING COMMUNITY

The Work of Giving

Volunteering, Serving, and Giving

The way of Benedict reminds us that our work, our acts of charity, our financial resources, and our hospitality comprise our care for the very communities that renew us. Learn more about giving, volunteering, and serving alongside The Community of Reconciliation. Learn about opportunities to serve »
 

Make a donation now » Select the Community of Reconciliation button to direct your gift.

 
“Life is a way of walking through the universe whole and holy.” —Margaret Guenther

The Community of Reconciliation at Washington National Cathedral is an expanding, ecumenical network of individuals seeking balance in life and a deepening commitment to reconciliation in the world. The Community engages ancient yet evergreen wisdom and practices of Benedictine spirituality to discover the balance and harmony found in a cloistered community—right in our own environments—family, the workplace, and daily life in a complex world.

Anchored through a complement of gatherings and resources at Washington National Cathedral—and experienced through an expanding constellation of individuals, communities, and organizations—the Community offers a practical alternative to our often fragmented existence. As part of this monastery beyond walls we experience daily living infused with stability, wisdom, and transformation as we honor the refreshing rhythms of prayer, study, renewal, work, and hospitality. Friends of every faith and tradition are welcome.

The Community of Reconciliation is a collaborative project between the Friends of Saint Benedict and Washington National Cathedral.

 
The Community of Reconciliation at
Washington National Cathedral
3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016

 
www.nationalcathedral.org/community
companions@cathedral.org | (202) 537-6217