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“Residency”- A Transforming Community Poem
Beckoned and gatheredDrawn ever closeWe beganSharing storiesOur yearningsOur souls Exposing deep woundsAnd time worn scarsWe shared hopesNamed our fearsAnd lifted our hearts Emboldened,EncompassedEnthralled We spokeWe listenedWe heard And we dancedAnd we stompedAnd we walked and we paused Wisdom teachings, traditionsShared and brought forthWe gathered as peersEncouraged, reinforced Summoned each by SpiritIn silence and prayerWe opened…
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Living From the Spiritual Heart – Interact
Learn – Interact – People – Resources Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 Praying for each other in whatever way feels right to you is the most important part of this community. You may journal in any way you wish: in a notebook, using art, or by adding a thought, comment, or journal entry with the class. By…
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Pause, Release, Return… Repeat as Needed
“Are we really as awake as we think we are?” The question jumped off the page and stopped me in my tracks. My immediate response was, “Well, sure I am…maybe…I don’t know…maybe not.” This question is posed by Caroline Oakes in the introduction of her book, Practice the Pause – Jesus’ Contemplative Practice, New Brain…
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A Letter from Rev. Jeffrey Ross, President of the Shalem Board of Directors
Dear Shalem Community, For the last ten years, the Shalem Institute has been blessed by the dedicated and skilled leadership of the Rev. Dr. Margaret Benefiel. As Margaret shared in her letter above, she has let the board know that she is ready to retire as Executive Director. As Executive Director, she enhanced the financial…
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Margaret Benefiel’s Retirement Announcement
Dear Shalem Community, I am writing to let you know that I will be retiring as Shalem’s Executive Director. Serving in this capacity for almost a decade has been an honor and privilege that is hard to express. My heart is full of gratitude for the opportunity I have had to get to know so…
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Lessons in Reflection and Self-Care
I was born and raised in Korea, where I first came to faith, nurtured my spiritual life, and studied theology. Yet, as always, God led me to an unexpected place. Now, I serve as a priest in an American church. While nationality and cultural differences should never be barriers to spreading the gospel and working…