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PCUSA Spiritual Formation —
Hungry Hearts
Upcoming Issues:
Spring '08:
Weeping for A Child
There are inconsolable tears when losing a child. No matter why — infertility
or abortion, accident or suicide, stillbirth or sickness — our confidence in
God is shaken. How do we pray when our hearts
our broken? How do we recover a sense that God's mercies are new every
morning?

"www.spiritualbookclub.com is an on-line global community of kindred spirits who explore
spirituality through books, music, discussion, and ways to get
involved in changing the world for the better. It's a spiritual
home on the web. . .
we ask
about the book, "What new insight has it given you about life?" If it is a good
book, chances are it contains at least one new thing to work over in your brain
about how life and your spirituality is configured. " . . . from site's
web page.
Join the
Spirituality Book Club
— a discussion group, which is led by Rev. Susan Baller-Shepard. The group meets at the Bloomington Illinois Barnes and Noble — on the second Sunday of each month - 1:30 PM.
Books
April 13
National Poetry Month —
We are reading a number of poets. . . so you can take your pick. We will have poets present that day.
Thirst
— by Mary Oliver
The Essential Rumi
—
trans. by Coleman Barks
Rilke's Book of Hours:
Love Poems to God
—
by Rainer Maria Rilke
April 17-19
Festival of Faith & Writing (for anyone wanting to carpool up together)
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Spiritual Journey Ministries

Prayer on your Personal Journey
in the Labyrinth and Chapel
— To schedule use, call the church office 217.528.4311.
One thought circulating in pop culture is that there may be only three choices in our consideration of God:
1- There is no God.
2- God is a couch potato who doesn't care.
3- God is a benevolent and powerful being that we, in our finiteness, cannot comprehend.
These are not really answers that satisfy. There are no short and easy answers to our questions about God.
Some are taking time from busy schedules to allow their questions to lead personal, spiritual journeys for answers. To aid in the quest, all are welcome to schedule the Chapel and/or Labyrinth for prayer and meditation.
Many find the small, intimate space of the Chapel a worshipful place. Its Georgian Colonial Style is enhanced with stained glass, which portray missionaries who have embarked on their own spiritual quests of listening for, and responding to, God's call. One is Sheldon Jackson, who established several schools in the Arctic Circle, including an industrial school now known as Sheldon Jackson College. He is a hero to the Eskimo people for addressing starvation brought on by unrestricted whaling and slaughter of seal and walrus.
The labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool for praying, familiar to many Christians and many cultures. It incorporates a slow walk to the center and out again, representing life as a journey. Some people use this prayer tool to ask for healing, others to bring questions to God with this tool of listening prayer. The labyrinth is located in the basement of the educational building, and can be lighted with dozens of red votive candles that are placed along the path.
Other resources — Consider using the book listed below for a personal spiritual study. Join the Spirituality Book Club, listed in the right column of this page.
Please visit the labyrinth page on our website — linked here.
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