Contemplate Lincoln

April 2026 Newsletter

Holy Week is Here.

The lectionary Gospel stories of Lent and Holy Week take us through Jesus’ ministry from the wilderness to the grave and finally to his resurrection. The stories teach us about Jesus, yes, but as Fr. Richard Rohr often reminds us they also teach us about God, the spiritual journey, ourselves, and humanity.

Thus 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 afresh as the message you most need to receive and the message the Divine most wants you to hear.

Be sure to check out this month's newsletter for info about Holy Week and a special invitation for Pastors and Educators.

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Quick Notes

Holy Week begins April 2nd! Keep scrolling for more event details and the Zoom links.

There will be no Contemplative Conversations on Easter Sunday.

Learn more below about our upcoming Telluride Pastors, Teachers, and Leaders Retreat! June 7-11th in beautiful Telluride, Colorado!

Next Prairie Church: April 19th! - Note: There will be no Sunday Contemplative Conversations on Prairie Church Sundays

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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. All events are scheduled in the Central Time Zone.

Join via Zoom (Good for all Holy Week Services)

Maundy Thursday
Thursday, April 2nd at 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 3rd at 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 4th at 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 5th at 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.

Telluride Pastors, Teachers, and Leaders Retreat

A Christian Contemplative Retreat for Rest, Renewal, and Return

When

June 7–11, 2026, in beautiful Telluride, Colorado
​Beginning the evening of June 7th
Concluding the morning of June 11th

Registration

Register Here

Registration $750 – Register before April 1st for a reduced rate of $700. Early registrations are also eligible for payment plans split over 2 or 3 payments.

Registration includes:

• Four nights (June 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th) at Hotel Telluride

Hotel Link

• Catered lunch on June 8th, 9th, and 10th
• All retreat sessions and guided practices at Christ Church Telluride. Walking distance from the Hotel Telluride.

This retreat is made possible by a grant from the Trust for the Meditation Process, a charitable foundation encouraging meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative prayer. The grant helps make this experience accessible. Four nights at Hotel Telluride alone typically cost over $1,500. Learn more about the Trust for the Meditation Process here:

Trust Mediation

Description

Participants will retreat for rest and renewal through silence, nature, and contemplative practice in the breathtaking mountain setting of Telluride, Colorado.

This retreat offers:

• Training in contemplative practices
• Practical tools for incorporating contemplative spirituality into churches and denominational contexts
• Guided outdoor contemplative practices and mindfulness walks

There will be intentional rhythms of silence and community. The retreat will also offer opportunities and spaciousness to explore the many walking trails, views, and magic of Telluride. Local presenter Greg Durham and host Peter Traben Haas will offer tips and guidance on where to go and what to do during free time.

Participants will leave renewed in spirit and equipped to return to their ministries with depth, groundedness, and practical contemplative tools.

Presenters

Gregory Cash Durham is a dad, writer, minister, and retreat leader based in Telluride, CO, and Austin, TX. He is the founder of the contemplative spiritual community Contemplation In The City, and a founding member of the arts-centered church Life In The City, both in Austin. He received his education at Hunter College (NYC), Université de Paris (France), and St. Stephen’s University (Canada), but is most proud of being a 2022 graduate of Richard Rohr’s Living School at the Center for Action and Contemplation. He writes about the Christian mystics at lifeinthecity.substack.com and modern contemplative spiritual life at contemplationinthecity.substack.com.

Adam Luedtke is a pastor, spiritual director, and curator of contemplative spaces in Lincoln, NE. Since 2016, Adam has been the Director and Pastor of Contemplate Lincoln, a Christian contemplative community in Lincoln, NE. In 2020, Adam founded the Contemplative Cathedral, an online contemplative community and platform. In 2021, Adam co-founded the Contemplative Community Creators Network (3CN), a collective of leaders and community creators in the Christian Contemplative Tradition. In addition, Adam leads retreats for clergy, Christian denominations, churches, and individuals. Adam has a PhD in Psychology, an MA in Transpersonal Studies, and a BA in Psychology and Religious Studies. As well as certifications in transformational coaching and spiritual direction. Adam is a practitioner of meditation and centering prayer and a teacher of spiritual practices, Christian mysticism, and Christian contemplation.

Learn more at https://contemplatelincoln.org or check out the Contemplative Cathedral at community.contemplatelincoln.org​

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About Our Host

Christ Presbyterian Church

Christ Presbyterian Church is a progressive and inclusive Christian community in Telluride that honors each person’s unique spiritual journey.

Organized in 1889, it was the first church established in Telluride. Located one block off Colorado Avenue, the church is surrounded by historic homes and mountain beauty.

The church grounds include contemplative gardens and a labyrinth registered with the International Labyrinth Society. The sanctuary windows open toward the surrounding mountains, and the space reflects the warmth and welcome of the congregation.

Learn More

Rev. Dr. Peter Traben Haas

Rev. Dr. Peter Traben Haas is an ordained Teaching Pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) with over 25 years of ministry experience. He earned degrees from Moody Bible Institute, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Peter is the author of multiple contemplative works, including Contemplative Church and contributions to Paraclete Press’s Centering Prayers series.

He serves as Pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Telluride and is a respected Centering Prayer retreat leader and guest teacher.

Draft Retreat Schedule

June 7th Sunday Evening (Arrival Day)

• 7:00pm: Opening Practice and Altar Building

June 8th – 10th Monday – Wednesday

• 9:00am – 11:00am: Morning Practice & Workshop
• 11:00am – 1:00pm: Lunch
• 1:00pm – 2:30pm: Afternoon Workshop
• 2:30pm – 6:30pm: Open Time and Dinner
• 7:00pm – 8:30pm: Community Discussion, Conversation, and Evening Practice
• 8:30pm: Sunset in Telluride. See the Alpine Glow from Sanctuary and the Mountain Top Viewing on St. Sophia Gondola

June 11th Thursday (Departure Day)

• 9:00am - 10:30am: Closing Practice

Next Meeting: Sunday, April 19th at 1:00pm

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 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

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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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

Tell Your Story

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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.

Join The Contemplative Cathedral

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​

Sunday Gatherings - Sunday’s at 11:00am: Link​

Contemplative Conversations - Sundays at 12:15pm: Link​
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