Greetings beloved,
I love November. Where I live in northern Ohio, the colorful leaves are slowly falling from the trees, the air is growing crisper, garlic cloves are planted in the cooling earth, cozy sweatshirts reappear, and candlelight & cocoa return to my morning prayer routine.
It is also the month of two annual traditions that I cherish - a day to celebrate the spiritual practice of giving thanks and the advent of Advent.
There is much in our world today that brings heavy hearts and discouraged spirits. We are deeply weary of the seemingly unrelenting uncertainty, animosity and rancor during these days of lingering pandemic and political polarization.
And yet...
And yet, there are still plenty of reasons to give thanks as we eagerly journey toward the manger with hope, love, joy and peace. I pray that some of the reflections and resources in this month's newsletter may add a bit of light to your Thanksgiving and Advent celebrations.
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Calm and Colorful Advent Retreat - November 20, 2021
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"Spouting Off" Blog: Advent Speed Bumps
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Color-Your-Advent Archival Video Series - NOW available
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Thanksgiving Poem
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Belly of the Whale Silent Retreat - Summer 2022
- Spiritual Direction Resources
A blessed Thanksgiving and light-filled Advent season to you all!
With strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Sharon
Sharon Seyfarth Garner, Director
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Won't you gently ease into the holiday season this year and join me for a calm and colorful Advent retreat? Treat yourself and/or gift your friends with a ticket so that you can share the sacred experience together.
Our virtual gathering will be based on reflections from two of my favorite holiday books: The Snow Tree and Mandalas, Candles and Prayer. We will slow ourselves down, breathe deeply, pray, journal and color an Advent wreath mandala that you can use throughout the season.
You can choose to print your own Advent wreath or opt to receive the Advent Wreath Gift Box that is packed full of goodies to make your morning retreat even more special and relaxing. All participants will receive weekly candle-lighting prayers that you can use with your new, colorful Advent wreath.
Please note that you do not need to have your own copy of the above mentioned books to participate. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email me.
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"SPOUTING OFF" BLOG
Advent Speed Bumps
It has become a tradition of sorts for me to suggest a few simple "Advent Speed Bumps" as we enter into the liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas - simple suggestions that might help us slow down and savor the seasons rather than give in to the consumeristic mad dash that shoves us headlong toward Christmas day. Advent is a sacred invitation to slow down and savor the true gifts of the season - hope, love, joy and peace. Consider these possible Advent Speed Bumps...
Open your eyes to color - Choose your own sacred color for the season. As you go about your daily tasks, whenever you see that color allow it to be a sacred reminder for you to slow down and savor God's love for you.
Buy Less - Yep. Resist the temptation. Contrary to what the barrage of advertising would have us believe, Christmas is not about counting down shopping days. The greatest gift we can give one another is time together, not more stuff.
Lollygag - We are a society of fast walkers. In our rush to get from here to there we frequently zip right past God moments in the midst of our days. I suggest that you literally slow your pace as a way to resist the holiday rush. Invite Jesus to walk alongside you and enjoy a little sacred lollygagging during the holidays.
BYOSB - Bring Your Own Speed Bump - What would be a helpful adaptation to your daily routine that would help you slow down this season? Give it some prayerful consideration and then commit to make this change for the four weeks of Advent. I would venture a guess that this new "Speed Bump" might actually become such a gift that you may opt to continue it on into the new year!
I pray that these "Advent Speed Bumps" might help us all to slow down and stay centered on the love of Christ as we journey together toward the manger this year.
To read previous "Spouting Off" blog entries, click here.
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COLOR YOUR ADVENT
ARCHIVAL VIDEO SERIES
I have decided to make the archival videos from last year's Color Your Advent online retreat available for use this year on a pay-what-you-can basis. Anything you can offer to help sustain Belly of the Whale Ministries is deeply appreciated.
Gather your colored pencils, a copy of Mandalas, Candles and Prayer, and let these weekly videos serve as your companion as you journey through Advent this year.
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PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
With a voice of thanksgiving, we turn to you, O God.
Even amidst the exhaustion of
an ongoing pandemic,
political polarization,
and family grief,
we turn to you.
Reassure us that
light still shines in the darkness,
grace still dwells among us
love still abounds and
hope still endures.
Give us strength to give thanks
for shared meals,
shared laughter,
shared tears and
shared memories.
You are still God.
We are still your beloved.
And, no matter the struggles or celebrations of the day,
nothing - absolutely nothing - can change your love for us.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Sharon Seyfarth Garner
November 2021
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The Seasons of Life: Discerning God in Change
November 5-7, 2021
Lakeside, Ohio
There is still time to register for this life-giving retreat
led by two spiritual directors I hold in extremely high regard - Tom Frost & Ginny Pippin.
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SAVE THE DATES
Belly of the Whale Spiritual Renewal Retreat
July 10-13, 2022
Plan ahead for your soul care and join us for next summer's spiritual renewal retreat - 3 days & 3 nights of shared sacred silence at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Together we will explore the book of Jonah, listen for God's whispers in the sacred silence, worship together, and dive into creative contemplative practices.
Email me if you'd like to be among the first to get the details as they emerge.
Registration will open on January 1, 2022.
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SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
Spiritual Direction is a sacred opportunity to direct your attention to God's presence in your daily life. I often think of spiritual direction as spiritual wellness training. Just as you might meet with a fitness trainer in order to keep your body healthy, you meet with a spiritual director to help keep your spiritual life healthy and thriving.
I always encourage folks to meet with 2-3 spiritual directors (there is often no fee for an informal conversation) to determine who is the best fit for you. Check out any of the links below to learn more about spiritual direction in general or to find the names of directors in your area.
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What people are saying about spiritual direction...
"Spiritual direction carves out a safe, sacred space in which I am free to share whatever is on my heart and mind... no guilt for talking too much and no artificial rules about what I "should" or "shouldn't" say. It is amazing how speaking my joys and struggles aloud brings them into better focus and opens the door to seeing situations in a clearer and more Spirit-filled light!"
"The safe space of spiritual direction encourages me to practice listening deeply to the hopes, longings and movements of my imperfect yet beloved being, so I may walk more faithfully in loving service."
"This has been an especially difficult year for all of us in dealing with change and grief. My time in spiritual direction helps me to stay focused on growing in my own faith journey and becoming healthier in my ability to lead my congregation. I believe it can strengthen anyone’s walk with God and be transformational."
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Connect with Belly of the Whale Spiritual Direction & Retreat Ministries on Social Media |
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