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February 2025
Contemplative Connection
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Blessings on this Valentine’s Day,
Valentine’s Day has a lot of significance for Contemplate Lincoln. It was the day that we bought our original building and kicked off regular programming in 2017. The day also has significance in our culture for couples who celebrate their love through flowers and gifts. Also, for children who show thoughtfulness for their classmates through cards and candy. While the Church no longer universally celebrates the feast of St Valentine, the mythos behind it has significance for us even today.
While our knowledge of the figure is limited, or figures as it is posited St. Valentine was based on three different persons, the mythos surrounding the Saint is worth reflecting on. A simplified account of St. Valentine is that he primarily served the poor and outsiders in his ministry. Like Jesus, he served at the margins of the empire. In particular, he became known for marrying couples who would have been prevented from marriage by the empire because of social status, enslavement, forced military service, citizenship, not being able to pay taxes and fees, or violating societal norms such as being of different ethnicities. Eventually, the Emperor caught wind of St. Valentine's actions and had him executed.
The mythos of St. Valentine invokes wonderment about love, but it also reminds us of the obstacles we put in the way of love. The way we can become dams in the free flow of God’s love in the world. The little written history about the figure(s) of St. Valentine is in the records of martyrs where the early/middle Church recognized his subversive actions as divine intervention.
May we be subversive agents of God’s love in the world, helping it to move freely from the center to the margins and back again until we “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream”.
Quick Notes
Starting February 16th, we are moving our Sunday 2:30PM Contemplative Conversations to 2:00PM.
Our Next Ecology and Spirituality Book: Rooted Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit by Lyanda Lynn Haupt begins March 3rd. Learn More Below.
Next Prairie Church: March 8th at 10AM
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Our Next Ecology and Spirituality Book: Rooted Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit by Lyanda Lynn Haupt begins March 3rd.
When: We meet each month on the 1st and 3rd Monday at 1:00PM
Address: 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:
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?
Award-winning writer Lyanda Lynn Haupt’s highly personal new book is a brilliant invitation to live with the earth in both simple and profound ways—from walking barefoot in the woods and reimagining our relationship with animals and trees, to examining the very language we use to describe and think about nature. She invokes rootedness as a way of being in concert with the wilderness—and wildness—that sustains humans and all of life.
In the tradition of Rachel Carson, Elizabeth Kolbert, and Mary Oliver, Haupt writes with urgency and grace, reminding us that at the crossroads of science, nature, and spirit we find true hope. Each chapter provides tools for bringing our unique gifts to the fore and transforming our sense of belonging within the magic and wonder of the natural world.
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Richard Rohr’s new book "The Tears of Things" will be released on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. 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 will be forming Contemplative Conversations Circles to read this book in community in April. Stay tuned for more information in our next newsletter.
If you wish to purchase the book and support Contemplative Lincoln, you can do so here:
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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
10:00AM – Every 2nd Saturday of Each Month
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Saturday, February 8 at 10:00 AM CST
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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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, February 17 at 9:15 AM CST
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, February 17 at 1:00 PM CST
The Serviceberry Discussion Group
This group meets bi-weekly on Mondays at 1:00PM (Central Time). 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 jo...
RSVP
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Monday, February 17 at 6:30 AM CST
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, February 14 at 4:30 PM CST
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, February 16 at 11:00 AM CST
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, February 16 at 2:30 PM CST
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...
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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, & Saturdays at 8:30AM: 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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