Opening of Mercer Institute of Spirituality March 8

February,  2014

Dear Friends,

Consider joining the inaugural event of the Mercer Institute of Spirituality on Saturday, March 8!

On Being Human

The newly founded Mercer Institute of Spirituality begins with a series of lectures on the theme of Being Human. Attentiveness to what it means to live a human life will be approached from a wide variety of perspectives: Scripture, psychology, art, philosophy, and the sciences.

Our first guest is H. John McDargh, Associate Professor of Theology at Boston College. Dr. McDarth earned a Ph.D. at Harvard University. His  interests include the psychological study of religious development and the integration of psychotherapy and spirituality. Dr. McDargh is a sought-after professor at Boston College, where his courses include The Religious Quest. 

Focusing and Spirituality

Saturday, March 8, 2-7 pm
The Mercer School 

The work of philosopher and therapist Eugene Gendlin has taken hold in both the therapeutic and ecumenical spiritual direction communities. Gendlin and his colleagues teach the skill of paying close attention to the "knowing that is deeper than saying" and the body's "felt sense" of reality at any given moment. 

This workshop introduces participants to this way of attending to their own embodied experience.

 

$20 includes the cost of dinner.  Please register online or by calling the Mercer School at 516.248.4800, ext 140.

Mercer: we're your school.

Blessings,

John McGinty+

Canon for Formation

Diocese of Long Island

Good News for Eucharistic Ministers/Visitors

Dear Friends,

Eucharistic ministry is a blessing both to those to whom Jesus is brought in the sacrament and to those who undertake this ministry.  Upcoming through Mercer School are two moments meant to encourage and strengthen this ministry in the diocese of Long Island,

On Thursday, February 20, a training session for those chosen to serve as Eucharistic Visitors in the parishes of the diocese will take place at Mercer School in Garden City.  The session will last from 9 am to 12 noon and will include the required Safe Church training appropriate to this particular ministry.  Those who attend must have been asked to take up or two continue this ministry by their parish clergy.  For more information or to register, call the Mercer office at 516.248.4800, at extension 140.

Secondly on Saturday, March 22, we will have a diocesan-wide Day of Prayer for men and women serving as either Eucharistic Ministers or Visitors.  The day will take place at Camp DeWolfe in Wading River, a marvelous setting for prayer, set directly on Long Island Sound. The day will be led by Joseph Diele, who serves as an instructor in the Mercer School for Ministry.  Details on the day, including registration details follow here.  Do know that you can always call the office for registration as well as using online registration. 

The title for the day of prayer is
Food in the Desert
Lenten Day of Prayer for Eucharistic Ministers/Visitors @ Camp DeWolfe
March 22. 9:30am - 3:30pm

Registration is available online by entering this web address in your browser - http://tinyurl.com/EucharistPrayer - or by calling the Mercer School office at 516.248.4800, ext 140.

Do something good for yourself and your ministry!

Join us at beautiful Camp DeWolfe for a relaxing and inspiring gathering for all those who contribute to the good of their communities as eucharistic ministers and visitors. The day will be led by Joseph Diele, an experienced retreat leader.

Fee for the day is $20 to cover food and facilities at Camp DeWolfe.

Please spread the word with us!  Commit to share this news with three friends who may be interested or would benefit by knowing about these offerings.

Pray for springtime (and this from a winter-lover!).

Blessings,

John McGinty+

Canon for Formation

Diocese of Long Island

Group Spiritual Direction During Lent 2014

February 2014

Dear Friends,

Spiritual direction is a time-honored practice among Christians.  It provides the opportunity to look at our living in the light of God's loving presence and action with us and among us.  We are happy to offer two group spiritual direction opportunities during the upcoming season of Lent.  One of these is dedicated to the participation of laity and the other to clergy.  Details are below.  Please consider giving yourself this gift for Lent.

Lenten Group Spiritual Direction for Laity  

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”  Matthew 18:20    

During the season of Lent we will be offering a weekly Spiritual Direction Group that will meet on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm at the Mercer School of Theology in Garden City, beginning on March 11 and continuing for the following five (5) Tuesday evenings.   The goal will be to discern God’s actions in our lives in the here-and-now and share that journey with others.  Most of us tend to learn more effectively with one or a few persons present.  The presence of others supports us as we realize that, although God deals uniquely with each individual, there are often similar concerns and challenges that face us all.   During the weeks of Lent as we journey through the Paschal Mystery we will share dreams, hopes, spiritual urgings, questions and doubts as we walk with Jesus through His Saving Death-Resurrection.    The format will be a meeting of about 1.5 hours which will be interspersed with limited reflection presentation, quiet, and shared thoughts.  The work is, of course, done by the Holy Spirit and our job will be to listen and try to discern what God is trying to do within each of us.  The Director’s job is to “get out of the way” so that God can work within us.  There are, however, tried and true methods and techniques which may place us in a more receptive mode to God’s urgings.   If you are a person who believes that you can share with others and help support others in their journey, this will be a wonderful opportunity to experience a community in Christ.  If there is an expressed need, the meetings could continue past Lent.    

Lenten Group Spiritual Direction for Clergy   “nemo dat quod not habet”  (One cannot give what they do not have.)  

As clergy persons, we are called to the service of God’s people.  The variety and scope of this call and its attendant demands can be bewildering, exhausting, and often can lead to burn out and negativity.  Lent is a time for us as clergy to readjust our sights and re-experience God’s workings in us.  In most groups, the cleric is the leader to whom everyone looks, either consciously or unconsciously and we often respond to that expectation.  But in a group of our peers, there is an opportunity to relinquish the demands of leading and reacquaint ourselves with sharing our values, attitudes, needs and expectations as they have shifted, been birthed or diminished during the past year.    God NEVER stops calling and speaking to us as well as working within us.  Often, when God knocks, we are so busy being helpful to someone that we don’t give a fitting response.   The weeks of Lent can provide us with some time to share and reflect our awareness of God’s abundant presence in our lives as well as our own need to “be still and know that I am God.”    Come aside each week at the Mercer School of Theology on Wednesdays at 10:30 am to walk together into the Saving Mystery of Easter.  The first session will take place on March 12 and continue on the following five (5) Wednesday mornings   These groups will be led by Professor Samuel M. Natale, D. Phil. (Oxon.) of Adelphi University.  You can learn more about him here: http://tinyurl.com/SamuelNatale  

Interested? Email to merceroffice@dioceseli.org to register or to get more information; or phone to 516.248.4800, extension 140.    

Blessings,

John McGinty+

Canon for Formation

Diocese of Long Island

The Bible in the Life of the Church -Opportunity Coming in March

February 1, 2014

Learn more about The Bible in the Life of the Church project in this video with Rowan Williams . . .                

Dear Friends,
We continue to share here and elsewhere word of many of the upcoming events at Mercer School of Theology in Garden City. 

We are expanding our offerings in the area of spirituality.  I am sharing details about six upcoming events in this important area.  Here is exciting news coming our way in a visitor from England in March:
The Bible in the Life of the Church

This ongoing project of the Anglican Communion was begun in 2009. The project has already published its first report, and offered several resources to the churches to encourage a deeper engagement with the scripture in the daily life of the church everywhere.

The Reverend Stephen Lyon, project director, will visit the Diocese of Long Island in mid-March. He will speak at three sessions, two for laity and clergy together, and one solely for clergy to discuss how the Bible in the Life of the Church project might benefit your congregation.  

·      Saturday, March 15 @ Saint George's Church in Flushing, 135-32 38th Avenue, Flushing - for laity, clergy welcome;

* Sunday, March 16 @ Saint Stephen's Church, 9 Carlton Avenue, Port Washington - for laity, clergy welcome;

* Wednesday, March 19 @ Saint Philips Church, 334 MacDonough Street, Brooklyn - for clergy.

To indicate your intention to attend a session, please send an email to the office of the Mercer School. Use as the subject line: "The Bible in the Life of the Church."  Within the email, indicate which of the three sessions you plan to attend. Or phone to 516.248.4800, ext 140.

As I have invited you before, please share this good news with 2 or 3 friends you believe may be interested.  We need your assistance in spreading the word.

Blessings,John P. McGinty+
Canon for Formation

Spirituality @ Mercer School

Dear Friends,
I am taking the opportunity to share here and elsewhere word of many of the upcoming events at Mercer School of Theology in Garden City. 

We are expanding our offerings in the area of spirituality.  Beginning today I will share details about six upcoming events in this important area.  Here are the first two:
Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps; a Lenten program to deepen your spiritual journey

Wednesdays in Lent at the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew, Brooklyn
March 12,19,26
April 2,9,16
7-9pm

We are all addicted in some way.

When we learn to identify our addiction, embrace our brokenness, and surrender to God, we begin to bring healing to ourselves and our world. In Breathing Under Water, Richard Rohr shows how the gospel principles in the Twelve Steps can free anyone from any addiction—from an obvious dependence on alcohol or drugs to the more common but less visible addiction that we all have to sin.

Join us on a lenten journey with The Rev. Dr. Stuart Hoke that is sure to strengthen the bonds between us and draw us deeper into the divine mystery of healing.

Online registration available at: http://tinyurl.com/BreathingLent   The subsidized cost of registration for the entire series is $25. This course is generously underwritten by The Mercer School of Theology’s “Mercer Avenue” series.   Need based scholarships available.  All are welcome!

And the second:
Food in the Desert
Lenten Day of Prayer for Eucharistic Ministers/Visitors @ Camp DeWolfe
March 22. 9:30am - 3:30pm

Do something good for yourself and your ministry!
Join us at beautiful Camp DeWolfe for a relaxing and inspiring gathering for all those who contribute to the good of their communities as eucharistic ministers and visitors. The day will be led by Joseph Diele, an experienced retreat leader.

Registration is available online at http://tinyurl.com/EucharistPrayer - or by calling the Mercer School office at 516.248.4800, ext 140.  

As I have invited you before, please share this good news with 2 or 3 friends you believe may be interested.  We need your assistance in spreading the word.

Blessings,John P. McGinty+
Canon for Formation

With "Focusing and Spirituality," Mercer Institute of Spirituality to Open

Dear Friends,
Looking ahead just a bit, Mercer School of Theology late last year announced the establishment of the Mercer Institute of Spirituality.  The Institute's first work will be the planning and execution of a series of lectures on the theme of Being Human.  This foundational topic will be approached from a variety of angles with the help of the best presenters we can find.

The Institute's first event is scheduled for Saturday, March 8 from 2:00 to 7:00 pm.  We look forward to welcoming Dr. John McDargh of the theology department of Boston College.  Dr McDargh will be inviting our participation in an afternoon of learning about Focusing and Spirituality: exploring a foundational practice for both pastoral conversation and spiritual growth.

The work of philosopher and therapist Eugene Gendlin has taken hold in both the therapeutic and ecumenical spiritual direction communities here and abroad. Gendlin and his colleagues have developed practical and accessible ways of teaching the skill of paying close attention to the “knowing that is deeper than saying”, the body’s “felt sense” of the individual’s personal reality at any given moment. This workshop will introduce participants to this way of attending to their own embodied experience as a way of living close to the wisdom that is part of the Spirit’s endowment to human beings.

Consider joining us on March 8 for this first event in the series.  You can register online at
http://tinyurl.com/MercerSpirituality1

Blessings,John P. McGinty+
Canon for Formation

Phillips Brooks, Us, and Mercer UPcoming Events

Dear Friends,

Today, January 23rd, the church remembers and celebrates Phillips Brooks, the 19th century priest, preacher, and bishop of Massachusetts.  His reception of the Word of God and his ability to speak a word worth hearing to the people of the time remain an inspiration to our own day.

Not surprisingly, there are many words of Brooks worth recalling as we go about our own lives of faith and service.  Today I share but one for your consideration:
“The danger facing all of us--let me say it again, for one feels it tremendously--is not that we shall make an absolute failure of life, nor that we shall fall into outright viciousness, nor that we shall be terribly unhappy, nor that we shall feel that life has no meaning at all--not these things. The danger is that we may fail to perceive life's greatest meaning, fall short of its highest good, miss its deepest and most abiding happiness, be unable to render the most needed service, be unconscious of life ablaze with the light of the Presence of God--and be content to have it so--that is the danger. That some day we may wake up and find that always we have been busy with the husks and trappings of life--and have really missed life itself. For life without God, to one who has known the richness and joy of life with Him, is unthinkable, impossible. That is what one prays one's friends may be spared--satisfaction with a life that falls short of the best, that has in it no tingle and thrill which come from a friendship with the Father.” 

To be alive to learning is part of avoiding this greatest danger as Brooks names it.  Please have a look at the Mercer calendar to the left under "Coming Events/Register."  Explore by clicking on a date and then clicking on the event title.  Also make sure to subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter on what's coming up at Mercer.  And call us at 516.248.4800 extension 140 for more information.  

With you in Christ,

John P. McGinty+
Canon for Formation