Category: Reflecting

Reflecting · Seeing

Art & Spirituality

Anne DoyleLeave a comment

I went with the Art & Spirituality group to see the exhibit, 2009 Pastel Society of Colorado: Mile High National Exhibition, and found it delightful. If you haven’t been, go! It is at the Longmont Museum until 27 September.

One of our group said he found that most of the pieces were “heart-work, not head-work” suggesting that they offered something at all levels. Our discussion ranged from technique to style to color to context. Wow!

(If you have an interest in art and spirituality, we meet once a month, the second Thursday morning. Sometimes we visit exhibits together and “process them” ensemble; sometimes we share the works from within the group and offer comments; sometimes we listen to writings and talk about the words. Let me know and I’ll provide you with more information.) In the meantime, go see the pastels!!

Reflecting

Technical difficulties

Anne DoyleLeave a comment

If you’ve visited this site very often, you might have noticed that I love to post photographs.  They are usually of something that has captured my fancy, perhaps something slightly whimsical.

But I haven’t put up very many of late because my camera has developed a big problem:  it has no clarity.   It comes with a wonderful feature known as autofocus.  That feature is malfunctioning or just plain broken.  All the pictures come out looking fuzzy.

Afflicted with my own bout of the same, I haven’t been able to decide whether or not to send it for factory repairs.  Finally the other day, I just declared that it would be silly to send it off for $80+ to be fixed when I could buy a new camera with better features for $130.  Yet, when I went to the store yesterday the model I desired was out of stock.

And so, we wait.  I will get a new camera and I will take more pictures that I post here to help show bits of my world.

Now if I could reach the same level of clarity about my own status…

Stay tuned.  There is definitely more to come!

Becoming Perceptive · Listening · Reflecting

Listening to Listening to…

Anne DoyleLeave a comment

Today I visited St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in Boulder for both the 8:15 and 10:00 a.m. services.  I went to announce the start up of a new Listening to… group there and to talk about what topic might be of most interest to the folks in the congregation. The list of possibilities includes (but is not limited to) Listening to Stress, Listening to the Blues, Listening to Money, Listening to the Noise of the World, Listening to Parenthood, Listening to Uncertainty, or Listening to Creativity.  Several folks expressed interest so I expect that a new group will begin just after Easter.  (If you would be interested in one of those topics email me.)  After I hear from those who would like participate, I will select a time and make the announcement here, in the new newsletter, The Listener, and in local bulletins.

Listening to Parenthood will start after Easter at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in Boulder. I will announce dates and times for this group soon.  I spent the last four Wednesday nights participating in the Lenten program with folks there.  Each evening started with Centering Prayer, then the Eucharist with an emphasis on a different form of prayer.  After the service, folks gathered for a potluck dinner (the food was so good that I bought a cookbook the Altar Guild was selling that featured many of the recipes served) and then one of three programs.  I led Listening with Expectation; the other two offered sounded wonderful too…one about journaling, another about forgiveness.  What a delight to meet new people and to participate in their Lenten program!  I look forward to having Listening to Parenthood meet there.

And this Thursday Listening to Uncertainty will begin in my home parish, St. Aidan’s.  It is such a pleasure that the time I spend at other local churches only strengthens my connection there.

Of course, people from other churches and the community can participate in the Listening to... groups; they are not just for the local congregants.   There are no restrictions on who may attend the groups.  The churches are kind and generous to offer their facilities so the groups can meet.  They also do a lot of work to let folks know about the Listening to… offerings. I appreciate their support in helping this work begin.

I’ve been to services at various churches in the Boulder area and I feel part of every one.  Each has its own personality, character and spiritual emphases, offering in the collective a broader view of what community is all about.

I went this morning to make an announcement, but I left with so much more.  I worshiped in that glorious setting open to the Foothills, heard words familiar yet individualized, experienced a heart felt homily, spent time with folks I didn’t know.  And this happens every Sunday…isn’t that wonderous?