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April 2025
Contemplate Lincoln
Newsletter
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Headed Towards Holy Week.
The lectionary Gospel stories of Lent and Holy Week take us through Jesus’ ministry from the wilderness to the grave and his resurrection. The stories teach us about Jesus, yes, but as Rohr often reminds us they also teach us about God, the spiritual journey, ourselves, and humanity.
There are different ways we can read the stories: reflecting on what it means for us, for the collective, for the journey, or our image of God. The stories of Holy Week, for example, have meaning through every window of interpretation. They teach us about humanity's ability to turn in on itself, to deny and crucify the sacred. They teach us about grief and our mixed reactions and responses to it. We learn about community, love, and life following the Spirit. They also teach us about the universal pattern of resurrection. The pattern of dying and rising, letting go and gaining life abundant. Through Jesus' final days we learn that God is present in the poor and tender places, the grief stricken and unjust places.
This Lent and Holy Week may you hear the stories of Jesus as the message you most need and the message the Divine most wants you to hear.
Quick Notes
April 12th Prairie Church: The Codding Street entrance (where the bison statue is) will be closed that day due to a running event. Enter the park from Van Dorn Street and watch for runners crossing the road near the sledding hill. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Closings: No Activities April 21st - April 26th. No Contemplative Conversations on Sunday, April 27th.
Contact Adam if you would like to purchase a spot at the Mayors Interfaith Prayer Breakfast featuring Jacqui Lewis.
Holy Week is coming! RSVP on The Contemplative Cathedral, details below.
Don't forget to register for one of our Discussion Groups on Richard Rohr's new book, "The Tears of Things".
"Be"ing Together: Contemplation and Community, A Retreat by Contemplate Lincoln is coming up this May! Register Below.
Our Contemplative 12-Step Group has begun. Join us for any meeting, even if you haven't attended prior.
98% of our budget comes from your generous donations and support. Consider donating or setting up a recurring donation to support our ongoing activities.
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Mayors Interfaith Prayer Breakfast Featuring Jacqui Lewis!
Contemplate Lincoln purchased a table sponsorship and has four tickets to sell for $40 each, including taxes and fees. Let me (Adam) know if you are interested by emailing me at adam@contemplatelincoln.org.
We have read her books and watched several of her presentations in our community. This is an opportunity to see her in person and celebrate Lincoln's diversity of faiths.
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Join us for Holy Week on The Contemplative Cathedral as we journey from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday. We have a dedicated Space in The Contemplative Cathedral to host all of Holy Week. A place to find events, join via Zoom, and share with each other over the week.
Maundy Thursday
Thursday, April 17th, 7:00-8:00pm
Description: A Tenebrae service reflecting on The Last Supper, communion, the new commandment, and Jesus’ arrest in Gethsemane. This service incorporates periods of silent meditation/contemplation, readings from contemplatives, interwoven with scripture/lectio divina.
Optional Supplies: If you want to join us in communion, have supplies (food and beverage) nearby. Don’t worry about what you bring, God will make use of it! Have up to 6 candles if you want to extinguish candles during our journey through the story together.
Good Friday
Friday, April 18th, 7:00-8:00pm
Description: A Tenebrae service reflecting on the passion story. Our time will include liturgy, scripture/lectio divina, contemplative readings, and silent meditation/contemplation.
Optional supplies: up to 7 candles if you want to extinguish candles during our journey through the story together.
Holy Saturday
Saturday, April 19th, 9:00-10:00am
Description: We reflect on the liminality of Holy Saturday as Jesus’ followers did on the day between death and resurrection. We will have a short reading reflection/liturgy followed by a contemplative prayer sit.
Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 20th, 11:00am with our friends at The Reorient Collective
Description: A liturgical and contemplative celebration through liturgy and music. We gather as an Easter people in communion with all saints around the world on this sacred day to celebrate hope and resurrection.
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Richard Rohr’s new book "The Tears of Things" was released this month. In his first major work since The Universal Christ, Richard Rohr offers a wholehearted and hope-filled model for the world today, grounded in the timeless wisdom of the Hebrew prophets.
We are forming groups now!
If you wish to purchase the book and support Contemplative Lincoln, you can do so here:
What Happens Next
All groups are hosted on The Contemplative Cathedral, an online platform that allows for sharing, discussion, access to Zoom links, and multi-model learning and engagement. You will receive an invitation to join the group in The Cathedral at least a week before we begin.
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“Be”ing Together: Contemplation and Community
A Retreat by Contemplate Lincoln
When: May 9th at 7:30pm until May 10th at 5:30pm
Where: St. Benedict Center - 1123 Road I, Schuyler, NE 68661
Overnight: $175 - Includes Breakfast & Lunch on the 10th
Commuter: $130 - Includes Breakfast & Lunch on the 10th
A day-and-a-half retreat to deepen practice while immersed in community. We will also learn about “be”ing together through the relationship of contemplation and community. During our time we will immerse ourselves in contemplative practices such as Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, and Mindfulness Walks while hearing from speakers from Contemplate Lincoln on contemplation and community
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Next Meeting: April 12th at 10:00am
(Every 2nd Saturday of Each Month at 10:00am)
Join us for our monthly celebration on the prairie with drumming, short reading reflections, meditation, and a mindfulness walk through the majestic trails of Pioneers Park. Those who don’t wish to walk may sit on the Nature Center deck that faces a beautiful prairie and buffalo. We often close with a drumming circle (no experience required).
We will gather for about 30 minutes for reflections, drumming, and meditation before walking trails and regathering for a brief time of sharing.
We will meet inside the auditorium at the Nature Center. During colder months, we will meet for one hour and have a shorter walking time. In the warmer months, we will meet for 75 minutes and often meet on the back deck, weather permitting.
Bring a chair, a water bottle, and a drum. Some drums will be provided.
Nature Center and Deck are wheelchair accessible.
Location:
The Nature Center at Pioneers Park
3201 S. Coddington Ave
South Coddington- Lincoln, NE 68522
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Saturday, April 12 at 10:00 AM CDT
Prairie Church
Join us for our monthly celebration on the prairie with drumming, short reading reflections, meditation, and a mindfulness walk through the majestic trails of Pioneers Park. Those who don’t wish to walk may sit on the Nature Center deck that faces a beautiful prairie and buffalo. We often close with a drumming circle (no experience required). We...
RSVP
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Every Thursday at 7:00PM - 8:00PM
“Most of us assume addiction only affects others—those struggling with substances, gambling, or other self-destructive behaviors. Yet, addiction, at its core, is simply a pattern of unconscious habits. It emerges when we live on autopilot, reacting rather than choosing, grasping rather than allowing. We all have habitual ways of thinking, feeling, and acting that can limit our freedom and keep us from fully engaging with life. Healing isn’t reserved for crises; it’s available to anyone who wishes to live more skillfully, with greater awareness and intention. In essence, we are all in some form of recovery—from our conditioning, fears, and blind spots—as we continually navigate the tension between our illusions of control and life’s unfolding reality.”
— Patrick Dahlen
Join Our New Online Contemplative 12-Step Group
We invite you to embark on a transformative journey with our contemplative 12-Step group. Whether you’re a contemplative at heart, seeking deeper surrender to your Higher Power and Divine Source, examining unskillful life patterns, or simply looking for a non-dogmatic, transformational experience, this group is for you.
Group Details:
Meeting Format: In a safe and supportive environment, our gatherings include meditation, shared wisdom readings, and engaging discussions around the 12 Steps. We also incorporate three dedicated praxis weeks to work through Steps 4, 5, and 8.
Purpose: We’ll review the meeting format, outline the steps, and answer any questions you might have. This session is entirely optional and will be recorded for future viewing in The Cathedral.
We look forward to welcoming you on this path toward greater awareness, intentional living, and holistic healing.
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Thursday, March 27 at 7:00 PM CDT
12- Step Gathering
RSVP
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Our newest Ecology and Spirituality Book: Rooted Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
When: We meet each month on the 1st and 3rd Monday at 1:00pm
Where: 1893 Coffee & Cream at 6345 Havelock Ave Lincoln, NE 68507
This is an informal group where you are welcome to come when you can and jump back in after an absence.
During our time, we will talk about the book and life, enjoy our favorite treats, and practice. If you are interested in exploring the intersection of spirituality and ecology join us as we contemplatively work through the text.
RSVP to join The Cathedral Space for updates and reading selections:
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Monday, April 7 at 1:00 PM CDT
Rooted Discussion Group
In Rooted, cutting-edge science supports a truth that poets, artists, mystics, and earth-based cultures across the world have proclaimed over millennia: life on this planet is radically interconnected. Our bodies, thoughts, minds, and spirits are affected by the whole of nature, and they affect this whole in return. In this time of crisis, how c...
RSVP
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Monday, April 21 at 1:00 PM CDT
Rooted Discussion Group
In Rooted, cutting-edge science supports a truth that poets, artists, mystics, and earth-based cultures across the world have proclaimed over millennia: life on this planet is radically interconnected. Our bodies, thoughts, minds, and spirits are affected by the whole of nature, and they affect this whole in return. In this time of crisis, how c...
RSVP
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Order Book Here:
Rooted: Life at the Crossroads In Rooted, cutting-edge science supports a truth that poets, artists, mystics, and earth-based cultures across the world have proclaimed over millennia: life on this planet is radically interconnected. Our bodies, thoughts, minds, and spirits are affected by the whole of nature, and they affect this whole in return. In this time of crisis, how can we best live upon our imperiled, beloved earth?
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On The Cathedral
RSVP on The Contemplative Cathedral to receive links, reminders, and updates. The Contemplative Cathedral also connects you to the larger community and ongoing conversation.
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Monday, March 31 at 9:15 AM CDT
Lectio Divina
Join us as Pastor John Duling leads us in Lectio Divina often referred to as praying the scriptures. We read a small scripture several times with brief periods of silent reflection closing with a time of sharing.
RSVP
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Monday, March 31 at 6:30 AM CDT
Monday's Contemplative Prayer Sit: A Space to Practice
Join us in community for a 20-minute contemplative prayer sit. You are welcome to use whatever your silent prayer or meditation practice may be (centering prayer, Jesus prayer, etc.). Instructions for Centering Prayer will be provided. We often begin with community time which includes a short poem or other invitation into conversation followed...
RSVP
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Friday, March 28 at 4:30 PM CDT
Contemplative Movement
Contemplative Movement engages our physical selves in spiritual practice to promote wholeness, balancing activity with stillness. The practice is accessible by all body types and experience levels. Chairs, mats, cushions, straps, blocks, eye and bolster pillows may be used. Each practice may contain elements of body awareness, dance, yoga, praye...
RSVP
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Sunday, March 30 at 11:00 AM CDT
Sunday Gathering
Gathering to Grow: A Contemplative Sunday Gathering Simple-Contemplative-Communal Join us online for our Sunday Gathering where we practice, worship, process, and close with Communion. We meet for an hour to 75 minutes via Zoom.
RSVP
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Sunday, March 30 at 2:00 PM CDT
Contemplative Conversations: Films, Videos, and Presentations
Join us for a time of contemplation and conversation centered around videos with insights from some of today's most influential theologians and spiritual teachers. Videos from The Work of the People and other sources include Richard Rohr, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Walter Brueggemann, Brene Brown, Barbara Brown Taylor, Barbara Holmes, Ilia Delio, and man...
RSVP
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Tell Your Story & Support
Contemplate Lincoln & The Contemplative Cathedral
Help us tell the story of our community by sharing your experience. We know one of the best ways to invite others into our community is through the stories of those who have benefited from Contemplate Lincoln and The Contemplative Cathedral.
Excerpts from your gifts of sharing will be used in social media posts and newsletters. If you have benefited from our contemplative community consider adding your story through the link below.
Many Thanks,
Adam
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The Contemplative Cathedral
A Space to Deepen Your Spiritual Life
Join us online for contemplation and community. So many of us on the contemplative path eventually get to the point where we can go no further alone. The Contemplative Cathedral is a response to the inner yearning of many contemplatives for community. It looks a little like other social media platforms, but it is so much more. It's a space to conspire, connect, and contemplate, and our online home for all of our event info (both online & in-person), links, and groups. It also serves as a way to stay connected in between events.
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Meeting Links
Below are the Zoom links to events (Central Time Zone)
Sign up on The Contemplative Cathedral to receive alerts, and reminders, and be part of the ongoing conversation.
Lectio Divina - Mondays at 9:15AM: Link
Contemplative Prayer Lab - Mondays at 6:30AM: Link
Contemplative Movement - Fridays at 4:30PM: Link
Sunday Gatherings - Sunday’s at 11:00AM: Link
Contemplative Conversations - Sundays at 2:00PM: Link
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PO BOX 29341, Lincoln, NE 68529
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