Talk 1: The Circle of Life: Awakening to Graced Opportunities for Growth

The flow of the seasons pulses through both our inner and outer lives, moving in a circular process of life-death -life. Every step in the circle of life is an invitation to grow. Each of these movements calls us repeatedly to enter into and accept the seasonal periods of our lives. As we journey through these patterns of the year and of the heart, each step offers us a graced opportunity for further development and maturity.

Talk 2: Walk in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons on the Camino

Life is always offering graced teachings for our growth if we are awake and listening. In Joyce Rupp’s pilgrimage of walking 450 miles across northern Spain, she discovered many significant lessons that now guide her life. Among the lessons she will share there is the central one of learning how not to push and hurry so much in life. Her life lessons on the Camino will re-energize and re-orient your own life and ministry.

God is always present in our lives, always there waiting for an invitation to come in. Our busy, overly-active lives can keep us from being aware of this beloved presence. This retreat afternoon is an opportunity to renew one’s relationship with the Holy One and to restore a balance between a busy life and prayer.

Joyce Rupp, well-known author and retreat leader, will facilitate this time of spiritual growth. She will develop insights and practical suggestions for how to reenergize one’s spiritual life. The day will include opening and closing prayer services, conferences, quiet time for reflection, and small group dialogue.

Dusting Off Our Prayer Life

Does your prayer life need to be re-energized or revitalized? Are you looking for some new forms or ways to enger into relationship with the Divine? Joyce will offer insights about the theory and expressions of prayer, as well as suggest creative pproaches for individual and communal ritual. She will also lead the group through many of her suggestions.

Macrina Wiederkehr and Joyce Rupp will facilitate a retreat on The Circle of Life: a spirituality of the four seasons, based on their new, coauthored book. The retreat with these two well known women writers will include presentations by each of the writers as well as opening and closing creative rituals, quiet time for reflection, and an opportunity for dialogue in small groups. Following the retreat, the authors will be available for book signings. The Servants of Mary Bookstore will be present at both locations for sale of the authors’ books and other resources. (Only newly purchased books will be signed.)

This retreats are sponsored by Emmaus Retreat House in Des Moines.

Macrina Wiederkehr and Joyce Rupp will facilitate a retreat on The Circle of Life: a spirituality of the four seasons, based on their new, coauthored book. The retreat with these two well known women writers will include presentations by each of the writers as well as opening and closing creative rituals, quiet time for reflection, and an opportunity for dialogue in small groups. Following the retreat, the authors will be available for book signings. The Servants of Mary Bookstore will be present at both locations for sale of the authors’ books and other resources. (Only newly purchased books will be signed.)

This retreats are sponsored by the Servite Center of Compassion in Omaha.

We all have so many jewels deep within us that are waiting to be discovered. In our busy world we often get caught in the whirlwind and miss this beauty of our truest, deepest self. This retreat day is a time to slow down, to turn to our Divine Guide and let ourselves be led within to the place where much is yet to be revealed. It is a creative venture, an invitation to stretch and grow. It is a time to become clearer about our purpose in life and to gain greater inner freedom.

The retreat will include opening and closing prayer services, conferences by Joyce Rupp, time for quiet reflection and for sharing in small groups. Most of all, the day will be about recognizing, accepting and celebrating the marvelous women that we are.

This keynote address will explore spiritual and religious diversity with a focus on the how those involved in health ministries can understand and benefit from knowledge of various religious traditions and practices. Joyce will share stories from her lived experience of exploring religious diversity as well as offer practical suggestions for how those in health ministries can be more at home with this diversity in as they minister to their clients.

The seasons of the earth: spring, summer, autumn and winter, circle through our days blessing both our inner and outer lives. Every movement in the circle of life is a dance of life-death-life. Each of the external seasons is like a mirror for our soul’s seasonal journey. As we pass through these patterns of the year and of the heart, we are offered graced opportunities for spiritual transformation.

Macrina Wiederkehr and Joyce Rupp will guide retreatants through the four seasons by offering creative rituals, conferences, quiet reflection, and group dialogue. These well-known authors and seasoned retreat leaders invite you to come prepared to celebrate the beauty of your personal story hidden in each season’s story.

Joyce and Macrina have recently coauthored The Circle of Life on which this retreat is based. The book will be released in March 2005.

The flow of the seasons pulses through both our inner and outer lives, moving in a circular process of life- death -life. Every step in the circle of life is an invitation to grow. Each of these movements calls us repeatedly to enter into and accept the seasonal periods of our lives. As we journey through these patterns of the year and of the heart, each step offers us a graced opportunity for further development and maturity. The more we enter into the dynamism of the four seasons the more meaning and inspiration we can find for our life’s journey.

This evening conference is based on a new book, The Circle of Life, co-authored by Macrina Wiederkehr and Joyce Rupp. This book and other resources by Joyce Rupp will be available for purchase and book signing before and after the conference.

The compassionate heart is one that is in deep communion with all of creation. This day is based on quantum theology which recognizes the interdependence of each element in the universe. It is a call to rediscover and celebrate the Divine Presence moving among all of life. It is an invitation to remember the beauty and graciousness of existence. The day will include a look at contemplation, gratitude, compassion, awareness, and the inner dance of Spirit within us. Participants will be invited to experience creation through the Jewish and Christian scriptures, the five physical senses, numerous literary and spiritual sources, varied religious traditions, and their own life experience.

The day will include conferences by Joyce Rupp, chanting, body movement, quiet reflection time, journaling, small group dialogue, and creative ritual.

(This day is based on one of Joyce’s books: The Cosmic Dance: An Invitation to Experience our Oneness. (Orbis Books, 2002)

Sophia: A Lost Biblical Treasure

Come enjoy “a Sophia day,” a day of spiritual growth and vitality!

A divine, inner dynamism is ever at play within us, inviting us to change, beckoning us beyond where we now are. Sophia (the Greek word for divine wisdom) shines within us, guiding our way as we experience both the anguish and the happiness of spiritual transformation. Retreatants will meet Sophia as personal and as feminine, the way she is described in the First Testament (also known as the Old Testament or Jewish scriptures). Although there are only four persons who have more written about them in these scriptures, Holy Wisdom is not well known by many readers of the Bible. The biblical wisdom literature presents this Enduring Radiance as a faithful companion who guides and influences each one’s life. This day will focus on a view of Sophia through Biblical references, historical perspectives from various traditions, and Joyce’s personal experience of Sophia.

Joyce Rupp has studied Sophia and prayed to her daily for many years. She is the author of two books on this topic. Joyce’s presentations extend an invitation to meet Sophia and discover her qualities. She also offers suggestions and opportunities for participants to ponder how Sophia is alive and active within each one’s spirit and experience. Together, Joyce and the participants will celebrate the gift of Sophia with creative ritual, reflective quiet times, dialogue and other processes of integration.

Each participant will receive free copies of Joyce Rupp’s books: The Star in My Heart (Experiencing Sophia) and Prayers to Sophia. Joyce will be available for signing these books before the opening and at the close of the retreat day.

Spring, summer, autumn and winter are a dynamic circle of life-death-life. The characteristics of each of these external seasons are mirrored in our soul’s seasonal journey as well. Each season is filled with marvelous secrets and amazing discoveries that can bring greater awareness and a deepened capacity for spiritual growth. These four seasons encourage us to enter into the patterns of dying and rising that are inherent in our process of spiritual transformation. The more we enter into the dynamism of the four seasons the more meaning and inspiration we can find for our life’s journey. Religious educators will be encouraged to see these four seasons in their own lives as well as in the lives of those with whom they minister.

The retreat will include conferences by Joyce Rupp, creative ritual, quiet reflective times, and opportunities for group dialogue. Silence that nourishes growth and deepens wisdom will be honored and respected during this weekend. Please bring a notebook or journal with you.