Retreat 2022
with Carrie Newcomer
Thank you to all who participated in our online retreat on July 20-21!
This was a rich time of processing, worshiping, sharing, and creating together! Carrie was a wonderful leader for our time apart.
Thanks also to all who helped shape the retreat: planning, worship, retreat boxes, etc.
A few quotes were shared on our Facebook page during the retreat. You can see the quotes shared by clicking here.
The picture below was taken during the virtual retreat.
Hearts On Fire Board Transitions
We announce with both sadness and gratitude the departure from the board of (now) past president, Cynthia Good, and vice-president, Chris McHenry. They have served faithfully and with grace for many years and are rotating off the board in the wake of our retreat. We are sad to see them go, and are grateful for all they have done as board members.
Our deepest appreciation goes to them for the many hours and depth of leadership they have gifted to our organization!
Cynthia and Chris, we love and appreciate you! Sending you into new adventures with love and blessings for the journey!
Our new president is Rev. Linda Holbrook, who was serving as treasurer. We look forward to moving forward with her leadership for our community. Our new treasurer is Sieglinde Rogers.
Wonder what’s involved with being on the board? Interested in serving in this way? Contact Linda at [email protected].
Book Review
Big Panda and Tiny Dragon
This book by James Norbury is delightful. He shares lovely ink drawings and the story of two creatures who share the journey of life, offering encouragement, humor, hope, and wisdom along the way. The book emerged from his own struggles in life, and his own spiritual connections.
Here are a couple of quotes:
- If you seek happiness for others, you may find it for yourself.
- It’s possible to find a little peace, even in a storm.
- Time doing nothing is never wasted.
- The most important thing is to pay attention.
- Sometimes even the smallest step is better than no step.
- Autumn is nature’s way of showing us how beautiful letting go can be.
Recalibration LIVE! on Zoom
with Rev. Jane Vennard
September 24, 2022
1 – 4 pm Eastern
12 noon – 3 pm Central
11 am – 2 pm Mountain
10 am – 1 pm Pacific
White Supremacy and the Experience of White Privilege: An Interior Journey
Details and registration are coming soon! Mark your calendar and plan to participate.
Save the Date!
Retreat 2023
July 17 – 20
at Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center,
Atlanta, Georgia
Check out the location by clicking here. Details are coming soon.
Open Letter from Hearts On Fire Board
Dear Members and friends of the Fellowship of United Methodist Spiritual Directors and Retreat Leaders,
Our organization was founded almost 20 years ago. At that time there was no discussion about being named United Methodist. Times have certainly changed since those days.
In the coming year we plan to consider renaming our organization to ensure that the emphasis is on community and networking, practices and skills needed for spiritual direction and retreat leading, and on providing a place of education, resources, and enrichment for all spiritual traditions.
Everyone is welcome and it is our intent that this organization be a safe and supportive place for Spiritual Directors and Retreat Leaders in the United Methodist Church, the Global Methodist Church, other Methodist organizations, or other spiritual traditions.
If you would like to ask questions, suggest a name, or be in discussion with the board, please send an email to [email protected] so that we may respond.
Thank you for your patience and support during this transitional time.
The Hearts on Fire Board
July 21, 2022
Membership in Hearts On Fire
- Please join.
- Enrichment/educational/networking/community zooms are being held at intervals throughout the year, and will continue into 2023.
- Retreat in 2023 – in person! (Members receive a discount on registration.)
- Additional resources for you: daily prayer, links
Click here for the membership page on our website. You will have the option to complete your member profile and pay online, or print a form and mail a check.
A Book List to Encourage Your Summer Reading
Here are a few books to entice you to read something new – or read something wonderful again!
- Still Possible by David Whyte: A book of poetry – and hope, love, embracing imperfection, and so much more. The poem “Still Possible” was written in the times of deep isolation of pandemic – yet speaks of many things that can still happen, still be experienced. It is rich and full of invitations.
- Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller: This modern classic was published in 1999, and contains much wisdom for us as we seek to navigate the busyness, challenges, and demands of daily life by remembering and practicing a rhythm that includes rest, play, and creativity.
- Stitches: A Handbook of Meaning, Hope, and Repair by Anne Lamott: In the midst of devastating loss, frantic and frazzled times, how can we find meaning, peace, wholeness? The author speaks to this with humor and humanity, compassion and wisdom.
- Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West by Daniel Ladinsky: Includes wisdom from Meister Eckhart, Hafiz, Catherine of Siena, Kabir, Teresa of Avila, Rumi, John of the Cross, and more. Wonderful insights, beautiful words, deep wisdom.
- A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver (or any of her volumes of poetry): Beautiful imagery, the wonder of nature, being open to what small moments can teach us, embracing mystery.
- Polishing the Mirror: How to Live from Your Spiritual Heart by Ram Dass: Living with awareness, in the present moment, dealing with changes, opening space in life for the Holy, wisdom, harmony, compassion – and so much more.
- God Is A Black Woman by Christena Cleveland: Explores the way “whitemalegod” has shaped religious thought and practice, embraces the Black Madonnas and what they can teach us about ourselves, our inner resources, and more.
Share your thoughts, and what you are reading, on our Facebook page here.
