Articles on Prayer

  • Quilting as a Path to Love and Deep Listening

    Writing about love and deepening my ability to express the centrality of love to life itself is a goal I set for myself in retirement. Influenced by grace and serendipity, I had an unexpected awakening to how creativity and deep listening advance love and healing, while attending the annual American Library Association conference in Washington…

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  • Thrown Open Like a Window

    Thrown Open Like a Window

    All my life, I felt like I didn’t fit in. Raised Catholic and then married to a Methodist, I always felt like a square peg forced into a round hole regarding religion. I believed in a Higher Power yet recognized my belief didn’t fit within the established church and would jokingly refer to myself as…

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  • Stillness and Silence as An African American Contemplative

    Stillness and Silence as An African American Contemplative

    The 2022 lecturer for the Gerald May Seminar was the Most Reverend Michael B. Curry who leads the U.S.-based Episcopal Church as Presiding Bishop. As the 27th Presiding Bishop, he is the first person of color – and African American – to serve in this role. During the seminar, Curry said more than once, “I…

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  • Adventures in Leadership: from Sarge to Servant

    Adventures in Leadership: from Sarge to Servant

    Born on September 1, the second child but first of four girls, a Virgo, an ENFJ on the Myers-Briggs and, by adolescence, 5’ 10” tall, I found that leading was in my nature! From an early age, my siblings dubbed me “Sarge.” I ran for Student Council president in high school and was first chair…

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  • Blessings Upon Blessings

    Blessings Upon Blessings

    There’s a wonderful, little-known story in the Bible about a frightened king who wants to curse his enemies (the Israelites encamped on his border), a sorcerer with a big ego, a sword-wielding angel of the Lord, and a talking donkey. One day the frightened king seeks out a famous sorcerer, Balaam, to come and curse…

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  • Living Hospitality

    Living Hospitality

    The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, he said:…

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Mission

Our mission is to nurture contemplative living and leadership.

Vision

In 2025, Shalem will be a dynamic and inclusive community, empowered by the Spirit, where seekers engage in transformation of themselves, their communities, and the world through spiritual growth, deep connection, and courageous action.

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