|
May 2025
Contemplate Lincoln Newsletter
|
|
|
Meeting in the Mountains
Last week, Joselyn and I had the tremendous opportunity to meet with 16 other contemplative community creators in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. This marked our fourth year gathering on retreat together. It has been a big year for our little organization that we affectionately call 3CN (Contemplative Community Creators Network). Over the last 12 months, we have launched a website https://www.contemplativecommunities.org/and organized as a 501c3 non-profit. At this year's retreat, we dug deeper into crafting our vision, mission, and values. We also laid the foundation for an online retreat that we will hold together later this year.
I am incredibly encouraged by both where the modern contemplative movement is and where it is going. Over the last few years, I have formulated a 4-wave model of the unfolding of the modern contemplative movement. The 1st wave is the reemergence of contemplative wisdom outside of the monastery through the writings of Thomas Merton and Howard Thurman, among others. The 2nd wave is the emergence of method and pedagogy through the work of Thomas Keating, John Main, and others. The 3rd wave came with retreat leaders and teachers traveling the country, creating week long and weekend spaces for seekers to learn practices and deepen them in a temporary community. The 4th wave is contemplation dispersed and the emergence of contemplative community itself. The contemplative movement is no longer isolated to a weekend retreat, monastery, or the basement of a church but dispersed into churches, contemplative communities like Contemplate Lincoln, social movements, and even the most unlikely of places.
We are a part of the 4th wave of the modern contemplative movement. We are a part of what God is doing now through silence, stillness, and surrender. Thank you for joining me in contemplative community.
Adam
Quick Notes
Join us for a new Contemplative Social Transformation Group with Rev. Zac Wolfe. Check out all of the information below.
Our Contemplate Lincoln Retreat is postponed. We are looking forward to scheduling this for another date.
There will be no Prairie Church this month, we will resume on June 14th.
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.
Every Sunday at 11:00am
98% of our budget comes from your generous donations and support. Consider donating or setting up a recurring donation to support our ongoing activities.
|
|
|
Join Us For A New Contemplative Social Transformation Group
with Rev. Zac Wolfe
8 Meetings: Beginning Sunday, May 18th & Tuesday, May 20th
In the #1 New York Times bestseller So You Want To Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo offered a vital guide for how to talk about important issues of race and racism in society. With Be A Revolution: How Everyday People are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World—and How You Can, Too, Oluo aims to show how people are working to create real positive change in our structures. Looking at many of our most powerful systems—like education, media, labor, health, housing, policing, and more—she highlights what people are doing to create change for intersectional racial equity. She also illustrates various ways in which the listener can find entryways into change in these same areas, or can bring some of this important work being done elsewhere to where they live.
This book aims to not only be educational, but to inspire action and change. Oluo wishes to take our conversations on race and racism out of a place of pure pain and trauma, and into a place of loving action. Be A Revolution is both an urgent chronicle of this important moment in history, as well as an inspiring and restorative call for action.
Our study group is a safe space for participants to reflect and share personal and communal experiences. Everyone is free to share without fear of being scolded or shamed for accidentally saying something that may be contradictory to what we are challenged to see, understand, and enact. Participants share, learn, make mistakes, and grow together in our engagement with material, each other, and the world around us.
We will meet 8 times via Zoom from May through August. We read a section of Be a Revolution in preparation for each gathering with other supplemental resources offered as well. We currently have two groups you can join. One will meet on Tuesday’s from 1:30pm-2:30pm and the other group will meet Sundays 7:30pm-8:30pm. Tuesday’s group starts meeting on May 20th, and Sunday's group starts meeting on May 18th.
If you want to participate but can't make it on Sunday or Tuesday, or already have a group of your own that is interested, indicate that on the registration and I'll reach out to you.
You are encouraged to invite your friends and others who would be interested! Since it is on Zoom you can join from anywhere!
Groups are facilitated by Rev. Zac Wolfe, Director of Social Transformation and Pastor for Contemplate Lincoln. Contact Zac at zac@contemplatelincoln.org with questions.
|
|
|
Next Meeting: June 14th 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
 |
Saturday, June 14 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
|
|
|
|
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.
 |
Thursday, May 8 at 7:00 PM CDT
12- Step Gathering
RSVP
|
|
|
|
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:
 |
Monday, May 5 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
|
|
Monday, May 19 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
|
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?
|
|
|
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.
 |
Monday, May 5 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
|
 |
Monday, May 5 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
|
 |
Friday, May 9 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
|
 |
Sunday, May 4 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
|
 |
Sunday, May 4 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
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
If you are not already subscribed, be sure to sign up to receive our twice monthly Newsletter for all things Contemplate!
PO BOX 29341, Lincoln, NE 68529
Unsubscribe · Preferences
|
|
|
