Welcome to the January issue of the monthly e-newsletter from Spiritual Directors International called “Membership Moments!”
If you are not a member of Spiritual Directors International and are reading the pared down version on-line, Membership Moments is one of many benefits of membership in the global learning community. Everyone interested in integrating into their New Year: spiritual care, prayer and meditation, compassionate listening, spiritual direction or guidance, and contemplative service is welcome to become a member. Membership dues make possible the Web site, publications and educational opportunities offered by Spiritual Directors International.
My New Year’s resolution is to take a half hour contemplative, prayerful walk during the midday mealtime and to look in these times of great change for the ways God is encouraging me to laugh and be a lightening agent for transformation amidst the darkness. What are your prayer-filled New Year’s resolutions? Post them on the blog, so we can all benefit and support each other to be more hopeful and contemplative in 2009.
Enjoy these opportunities to live and grow together in the global learning community of Spiritual Directors International.
1. Early bird discount expires January 15!
2. What’s new on the blog: YouTube story of spiritual direction
3. Are you looking for a roommate in Houston?
4. Twenty years of tending the holy
5. Is presenting your thing?
6. Are you feeling grateful?
7. New pilgrimage in Ireland
8. Not Godzilla, Mozilla
9. Looking for sunshine?
10. Do you know about FREE downloads …
11. Are you an author or musician?
12. Practice patience, please
13. January reflection by poet Jennifer Koiter
14. January blessing from the Executive Director
Classified Ads: “God is Into Groups” with Brian McDermott, SJ
1. Early bird discount expires January 15!
Did you know there are early registration discounts for the “Being Present” events? Spiritual Directors International 2009 events in North America will be held in Houston, Texas, April 15-21. The theme for the events is “Being Present.” Discounts on all events expire January 15, 2009, so REGISTER NOW using the online, secure, registration form. Visit the events section of the Web site for complete information and registration.
Did you misplace the events brochure we mailed you? No worries. Use the online brochure to choose your workshops and read more about the pre-conference Spirituality and Health Care Institute with Rabbi Samuel Karff with many others.
Don’t miss this opportunity to commune with colleagues, learn from the conference keynoter, Ron Rolheiser, OMI and conference spiritual director, Alexandra Caverly Lowery, and share your wisdom with the global learning community that will gather in Houston. Come Be Present.
2. What’s new on the blog: YouTube story of spiritual direction
Six years ago, Sister Anne Marie Lom, OSF, was hired as a part-time spiritual director for St. Raphael Parish, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. She meets with spiritual directees in a spare room in the parish house, which is also her home. At first, she promoted her ministry by speaking at weekend liturgies and handing out business cards at parish events. Now she meets regularly with about seventy-five people a year. Everyone is welcome without regard for faith tradition, parish membership or ability to pay.
Are you curious about Sister Anne Marie’s story? Visit the blog. On the blog, you can also learn about how spiritual direction is developing in the Unitarian Universalist tradition, plus much, much more.
3. Are you looking for a roommate in Houston?
If you would like to share a room (and split the cost of the room during the events), send your name and best contact information to events@sdiworld.org. Spiritual Directors International will post the information to the online Events in Houston Bulletin Board. Check the Bulletin Board often to find roommates, as well as updates and new information about Spiritual Directors International 2009 Events in North America, Houston Texas.
4. Twenty years of tending the holy
In 2010, Spiritual Directors International will celebrate twenty years of “Tending the holy around the world and across traditions.” We will celebrate a year of gratefulness. Spiritual Directors International 2010 Events in North America will feature a special celebration in the California San Francisco Bay Area where it all began. Surprise conference keynote presenters will be announced at the 2009 Conference in Houston!
To learn about the history of Spiritual Directors International, click here to read two Presence articles by member Carol Ludwig.
5. Is presenting your thing?
Do you have a gift to share with the global community involved in spiritual direction? We are now accepting workshop proposals for Spiritual Directors International in North America 2010 Conference. The Conference theme is “gratefulness” and submission guidelines are available at http://sdiworld.org/submission-guidelines.html. The workshop proposal deadline is April 30, 2009.
6. Are you feeling grateful?
Prayerfully consider getting involved with planning the 2010 “Celebration of Gratefulness” events. Would you like to be part of the Planning Committee for Spiritual Directors International in North America 2010 Events? Do you have gifts, resources, and or time to contribute in the areas of prayer and ritual, aesthetics and environment, sponsorship, volunteer coordination, hospitality, or community celebrations? Are you filled with good ideas or suggestions about gratefulness? Many hands and lots of prayers make light work! Contact the Events Coordinator, Sue Espinosa, events@sdiworld.org
7. New pilgrimage in Ireland
October 16-18, 2009 Spiritual Directors International Conference in Europe: Dublin, Ireland will be held at the Regency Hotel Conference Centre. Following the conference, Spiritual Directors International will host a pilgrimage in Ireland from October 18-25: “Being Present – A Pilgrimage into Celtic Spirituality” with member guides Marcus Losack and Regina Roman. If you know people who are not currently members of Spiritual Directors International who would like to learn about these events in Europe, please invite them to fill out the online form, and we will include them in updates. All the Spiritual Directors International in Europe details will be available on the Web site soon.
8. Not Godzilla, Mozilla
Seek and Find: A Worldwide Resource Guide of Available Spiritual Directors has a new easy-to-search interface that is powered by Google Maps. Spiritual Directors International chose Google Maps because of its world-wide accessibility and its elegant ease of use. If you use the Safari browser on a Macintosh computer, however, you may not be able to see the Seek and Find Guide. Safari is incompatible with some versions of Google Maps. Spiritual Directors International suggests you download the Firefox browser, which is compatible with Google Maps. To install Firefox for the Mac, go to this download link: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/products/download.html?product=firefox-3.0.5&os=osx&lang=en-US
If you use a Windows XP or Vista computer with either the IE (Internet Explorer) or Firefox browser, you should have no problem viewing the Seek and Find Guide. More than 90 percent of all people searching the internet use Internet Explorer and Firefox. If you are a Mac user, fear not, we are listening to your suggestions. Spiritual Directors International is working on a fix to make Safari compatible with the new Seek and Find Guide. Stay tuned. In the meantime, check out Mozilla.
9. Looking for sunshine?
Spiritual Directors International is hosting a one-day Leadership Institute titled, “Where Heaven Meets Earth: Spiritual Direction and Health Care,” February 5, at the San Pedro Franciscan Spirituality Center in Winter Park, Florida. For members, the program costs USD$85 and includes a midday meal. Lodging is available. Click here for more information and registration.
More sunny opportunities to learn and network:
Spiritual Directors International in Southern California, USA
Spiritual Directors International will be present in a prominent way during the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress with an exhibitor booth number 658. On February 27 to March 1, Spiritual Directors International will be educating thousands of people about the ministry of spiritual direction. To learn more or volunteer to help, go to: http://www.sdiworld.org/events/spiritual-directors-international-outreach.html
Spiritual Directors International hosts international events and Leadership Institutes, and when you are a member of Spiritual Directors International you receive special tuition and conference rates! To piqué your interest about upcoming dates and places in 2009 and beyond, go to http://www.sdiworld.org/events.html.
Still more Spiritual Directors International Outreach
Join Spiritual Directors International at a variety of conferences, symposia, workshops, congresses, and online teleconferences where you can learn, network, and share the value of spiritual direction with others. You or someone you know might be interested in these upcoming events. Go to http://sdiworld.org/events/spiritual-directors-international-outreach.html for additional details.
The Spiritual Directors International starburst logo 
indicates the program is sponsored by Spiritual Directors International.
January 2009
The Third Eye: Contemplation as an Alternative Consciousness with Richard Rohr, OFM
Denver, Colorado, USA: January 16-17, 2009
Sponsor: Spiritual Direction Colorado
To register or learn more about the Spiritual Direction Colorado events click here.
February 2009
Spiritual Care Summit. Health and Hope: The Hard Reality of Living Intentionally in a Village of Care. Orlando, Florida, USA: February 1-4, 2009. Dawn Grinenko, MD; Dan Robinson, PharmD, Carol Ludwig, MA; and Liz Budd Ellmann, MDiv co-present workshop, “Spiritual Care for Health Care Providers.”
Spiritual Directors International Leadership Institute
Where Heaven Meets Earth: Spiritual Direction and Health Care
Orlando, Florida, USA: February 5, 2009
To register or learn more click here.
March 2009
Los Angeles Religious Education Congress Anaheim, California, USA: February 27 - March 1, 2009. Come visit the Spiritual Directors International booth, Exhibitor space 658!
To register or learn more about the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress click here.
April 2009
Spiritual Directors International Pre-Conference Institutes in Houston, Texas, USA
Men’s Spiritual Journeys: Signposts on the Way: April 15-16, 2009
Spirituality and Health Care: A Time of Renewal: April 16, 2009 from 9:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Health Care as Sacred Vocation: April 16, 2009 from noon–5:00 p.m.
To register for a pre-conference Institute click here.
“Practices of Spiritual Presence” Houston, Texas, USA: Thursday, April 16, 2009, 5:00 p.m.
Spiritual Directors International Public Event
Spiritual Directors International North America Conference "Being Present" Houston, Texas, USA: April 17-19, 2009
To read the brochure or register for Spiritual Directors International in North America click here.
Spiritual Directors International Leadership Institute “Wide Open Spaces: Discerning New Horizons with The Next Generation” Houston, Texas, USA: April 20–21, 2009
Please participate in the Spiritual Directors International outreach efforts by e-mailing Pegge Bernecker, Listen@sdiworld.org about conferences and events that communicate the value of spiritual direction and spiritual care and offer educational and networking opportunities. Spiritual Directors International is committed to educating and raising awareness about the ministry and service of spiritual direction. Thank you!
10. Do You Know …
FREE downloads are available for you at the Spiritual Directors International Web site!
Go to: www.sdiworld.org
>Click on the “Resource” Tab
>Click on the “FREE Downloads” Tab
Choose from Poetry Readings, Poems and Prayers, Presence journal Articles, and more! The newest FREE download is a poem by member Joyce Rupp, OSM. Thank you, Joyce!
11. Are you an author or musician?
When you attend the 2009 Spiritual Directors International North America “Being Present” events in Houston, Texas, USA, we want to celebrate you and share your books and music with the contemplative learning community. Please plan to come to the “Artist and Author” celebration, Thursday, April 16, 2009.
After you have registered for “Being Present” please contact Pegge Bernecker at reviews@sdiworld.org for more information about how to participate in the Thursday evening events, April 16. You will be asked to provide your book title(s), publisher contact(s), and ISBN number, or CD or DVD information. All Houston conference presenters and attendees are invited to participate in the celebration, and you must RSVP no later than January 30, 2009.
12. Practice patience, please
The home office of Spiritual Directors International experienced significant trials during December. We ask for your prayers and patience as we start this New Year afresh. Snowstorms and power outages plagued the office during the latter half of December, and Jason Martinson, one of two Membership Services Coordinators, resigned in the first week of December. Jennifer Williams has been promoted to Membership Services Coordinator and will be working more hours. She works with Donna Trainum to serve you and the growing number of seekers who contact Spiritual Directors International for help in learning about the ministry and service of spiritual companionship. Rest assured that the snow in Seattle, Washington is melting, and we continue to be here to serve you. Yet there may be a little delay as we catch up. Thank you for your patience and prayers.
13. The January reflection is by poet Jennifer Koiter. This poem won an honorable mention in the 2008-2009 Presence poetry contest.
Advice for Afterwards
drink herbal tea
and not so much alcohol
before noon answer the phone
sometimes let people
take you to lunch
describe in excruciating detail
the life you envisioned
how you seemed
to be walking on water no
speeding motoring toward it
till you were tipped
overboard watching it
skip off into non-
existence and you left
bobbing in the wake
of your own metaphors
laugh at yourself
a little wait till it’s dark
to go to bed sleep long
sleep late but get up
at some point
each day open a tin
for the cat water the plants
feed what needs you
to live
14. January blessing from the Executive Director
January comes with the seriousness of new resolutions and the lightness of laughter at yet another chance to begin again. Thank God for new beginnings and for the Zen spiritual practice of Beginner’s Mind. May your January be gentle and inspiring with plenty of opportunities to “laugh at yourself a little.” May your sacred companioning of others be encouragement to LIVE! L’Chaim and Happy New Year from all of us at Spiritual Directors International!
Peace be with you,
Liz
CLASSIFIED ADS
Dominican Center for Religious Development offers a Colloquium for Spiritual Directors March 9-11, 2009. “God is Into Groups: Thinking Systemically About Spiritual Direction.” Presenter: Brian McDermott, SJ. Explore dynamics of authority/leadership in organizational life; paradoxes of organizational life and God’s involvement in them. Save--register before January 16. Details at http://www.dominicancenter.org/.
If you would like to place a classified announcement or advertisement about your programs or new books, etc., in Membership Moments, fill out the form on the Web site.
