Worldy Monasticism

Adult Formation now begins a 2-part series on Contemplation, Spirituality, and Worldly Monasticism. On Sunday, February 23rd, our own Roy Maurer ill lead us down some foundational pathways of the spiritual life and our need to embark on our own spiritual journey. After receiving his Master of Divinity from Yale, Roy pursued full time spiritual development, living in both Christian and Buddhist monastic communities over a period of 4–5 years. During this time he studied and practiced a variety of meditation techniques through a series of silent intensive retreats, each lasting from 1 week to 3 months in duration. He subsequently taught religion and psychology at Choate before returning to Yale for a MBA. Since that time, he has balanced raising a family, working as an executive and consulting to senior executives in business, and maintaining a personal spiritual practice centered on Christian and Buddhist meditation disciplines. Roy is a member of the Clarion Group, where he consults with companies all over the world on matters of renewal, strategic thinking, and sustainable practices, helping them to discover clarity and transformation in the work they aspire to do. 

The 2nd session, on Sunday, March 2nd, will feature Dr. Janet Ruffing, RSM, Professor of the Practice of Spirituality and Ministerial Leadership at the Yale Divinity School. Janet will lead us through a reflection on Lent as a journey from Transfiguration to Transformation. We will do some hands on work, utilizing Fra Angelico's painting of the Transfiguration, and participants will be invited to contemplate it. We will ultimately look more closely at the transformation that contemplating the Christ mysteries achieves. Dr. Ruffing’s work with us promises to be a great way of opening ourselves up further to the potential promises of not only Easter, but of the Lenten journey as well.

All are invited, on each respective evening, at 6:30 p.m. in the parish hall for some fellowship time with refreshments and casual conversation. The presentations themselves begin at 7 p.m. Please let us know if you need assistance getting to St. James; arrangements can happily be made. Please invite your neighbors and friends.