Save the Dates
AwakeningSoul 2021 - November 4 - 7
with Catherine Meeks and Pádraig Ó Tuama
We Heard You -
As Fran and I make plans for this year's AwakeningSoul gathering we have been listening to our participants. We have heard that you want a gathering focused on healing. You want a place where weary souls can come together. You want to draw on wisdom teachings that will help you deal with grief and to find hope and courage. You want to be presented with ideas and experiences that challenge you to do your own internal work. You understand that this on-going personal work is critical because we each need to heal ourselves before we can turn our energies outward as effective agents of change for our communities and beyond.
Fran and I see both Catherine Meeks and Pádraig Ó Tuama as the kind of voices we need in this moment - they each bring great personal strength, vulnerability, authenticity, and resilience. Catherine and Pádraig both draw on the wisdom of many teachers. They embody that wisdom in ways that make them healers and reconcilers. We are thrilled that they have accepted our invitation to be with the AwakeningSoul community this November.
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Catherine Meeks -
We welcome Catherine back to AwakeningSoul. Catherine Meeks, PhD, is Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing in Atlanta. She is a sought-after teacher and workshop leader. The core of her work has been with people who have been marginalized because of economic status, race, gender, or physical ability as they pursue liberation, justice and access to resources that can help lead them to health, wellness and a more abundant life. This work grows out of her understanding of her call to the vocation of teacher as well as her realization that all of humanity is one family which God desires to unite.
Catherine is the retired Clara Carter Acree Distinguished Professor of Socio-Cultural Studies from Wesleyan College and Founding Executive Director of the Lane Center for Community Engagement and Service. She characterizes herself as a midwife to the soul of her students and workshop participants. She has spent many years sharing the insights that she gained from her pursuit of the truth. She has had many great teachers including her sons, the Bible, Jungian psychology, cross cultural stories, and other books of wisdom. But her greatest teacher is rheumatoid arthritis because it has forced her to learn new ways to listen to her body and to pay attention to the messages from her heart. She is frequently asked to present commentaries on Georgia Public Radio and other radio and television programs. She is the author of six books and one inspirational CD and is the editor of the bestselling book, Living Into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America and co-author of Passionate for Justice: Ida B Wells as Prophet for Our Times. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University and PhD from Emory University.
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Pádraig Ó Tuama -
Irish poet and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama’s work centers around themes of language, power, conflict, and religion. From 2014-2019 he was the leader of the Corrymeela Community, Ireland’s oldest peace and reconciliation community. He is the author of four books of poetry and prose: Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community, In the Shelter, Sorry for Your Troubles, and Readings from the Books of Exile.
Pádraig believes language is the original sacrament. Working fluently on the page and in public, he is a compelling poet, teacher, process facilitator, and a profoundly engaging public speaker. He works with groups to explore story, conflict, their relationship with religion and argument, violence, and reconciliation. Using poetry, group discussion and lectures, his work is marked both by lyricism and pragmatism, and includes a practice of evoking stories and participation from attendees.
He presents the podcast Poetry Unbound with On Being Studios, where he also has responsibilities in bringing art and theology into public and civic life. Poetry Unbound dives deep and immerses the listener into one poem every week. In 2011, with Paul Doran, Pádraig co-founded the storytelling event Tenx9 where nine people have up to ten minutes each to tell a true story from their lives.
His book In the Shelter weaves everyday stories with narrative theology, gospel reflections, mindfulness, and Celtic spirituality with poetry, ultimately revealing the transformational power of welcome. Sorry for Your Troubles, arose out of a decade of listening to stories of people who have lived through personal and political conflict in Northern Ireland, the Middle East, and other places of conflict. One poem, ‘Shaking Hands’ was written when Padraig witnessed the historic handshake between Queen Elizabeth II and former IRA commander, Martin McGuinness.
Pádraig is a regular guest on radio speaking on topics such as poetry, religion in the public square, loneliness, conflict and faith, LGBT inclusion, the dangers of so-called Reparative Therapy, and the value of the arts in public life. He is based in Ireland.
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Registration -
Registration for AwakeningSoul 2021 will open in June. We are waiting to see where the country is with Covid, virus variants, and vaccinations.
We hope to be able to host participants both onsite at Lutheridge and virtually.
Even though you can't register yet please mark your calendars now! November 4-7
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An Update on Fran -
Fran's dance with cancer continues. Since the first of the year, he has gone through a second round of chemo and 3 weeks of radiation. He is scheduled to start back on immunotherapy next week.
Fran continues to be an inspiration as he writes so eloquently about his journey. He shows us all what it is to draw on a deep well of faith.
Fran’s journey is documented at CaringBridge
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More news of interest -
Many of you know Jacqui Lewis from her time with us in 2019. Jacqui is the Senior Minister at Middle Collegiate Church in New York City. On December 5th the historic sanctuary of Middle Collegiate Church was destroyed by fire. After nine traumatic months of dealing with Covid in NYC, this loss seems especially tragic. Middle is a dynamic multi-cultural church that does amazing social justice work in the city and around the country. Support their work and help them reimagine, rebuild, and replace what was lost in the fire.
Middle Collegiate Church is hosting their Revolutionary Love Conference virtually again this year. The dates are April 15-18. If you chose to attend you will be exposed to an amazing line-up of voices. Registration is very reasonable.
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The Haden Institute will be offering their summer conference virtually again this year. The theme is "She: The Divine Feminine Rising" with Maribai Starr and Brian McLaren. More information and registration.
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AwakeningSoul Is the collaborative partnership of Fran McKendree and Ann Holtz. Fran is a gifted musician based in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Ann is both a spiritual director and an independent consultant. She lives in Waynesville, NC. Together they have formed AwakeningSoul to offer spiritual events to feed hungry souls. Ann can be reached at annawakening@gmail.com or 865-414-8509.
AwakeningSoul Banner Images are used by permission ~ Holly Doll (c)
Photo credits - Catherine Meeks by Mary Arose, Pádraig Ó Tuama by Trevor Brady
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