Abbey of the Arts » Fun

this week’s winner is . . .

Christine — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:48:19 +0000

. . . painter of blue! Sybil won my random drawing for a copy of Sacred Poetry: An Invitation to Write – please send me your snail mail and that will go out to you.

A deep bow of gratitude to everyone who offered their words of beauty and grace here in this virtual Abbey space.

I hope you will stop by this week’s Poetry Party in the next few days, pour yourself a cup of tea (what’s your favorite? these days mine is Yogi Tea’s India Spice with a touch of sweet and cream), and savor the poetic beauty found there. If you are already feeling your Lenten energy sag these poems will enliven you again, if you are experiencing your very own transformative Lent, these poems will celebrate the depth and power of that journey with you.

There are also some beautiful offerings at my post this week about the Theoblogger Challenge to write about God in 100 Words or Less. Stop by there to bask in the sacred beauty and to pen your own words and leave them (or a link) in the comments.

Blessings on the weekend ahead. Come back Monday for more reflections.

Poetry Party Random Drawing Winner

Christine — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 02:42:01 +0000

We had a smaller – but no less lovely – gathering for this week’s Poetry Party. Make sure to stop by and read the jewels offered there. The winner of the random drawing this week for a copy of Sacred Poetry: An Invitation to Write is Sharon – email me with your snail mail and I will send that out to you.

Blessings on your weekend, I will return on Monday with more reflections here at the Abbey.

Words for the Heart

Christine — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:41:09 +0000

They can be like a sun, words.
They can do for the heart
what light can
for a field.

-St. John of the Cross, Love Poems from God (translated by Daniel Ladinsky)*

On January 1st I posted this invitation to share your word for the year and over 130 of you responded! Reading through your words was moving, inspiring, and hope-filled, and I absolutely loved the explanations connected to them. I wanted to honor this communal offering in a creative way, so I entered the words you posted into Wordle to create a word cloud and here is the result (you can see a larger version by clicking here or on the image):

*ADDED NOTE: Feel free to share the Wordle on your blog with a link to the original post (it’s community art!).

And now the winners (with their words) of the random drawing for the four fabulous prizes:

GIVEAWAY #1: a one-month subscription to Flock (Maureen – REACH)

GIVEAWAY #2: a DVD of Mary Magdalene (Kel – SANCTUARY)

GIVEAWAY #3: a copy of Grace Unbound (Jemma – MOVEMENT)

GIVEAWAY #4: a copy of the French Republican Calendar (Jo-El – EXPAND)

*Thanks so much to everyone who participated!*

Feel free to still add your word to the beautiful pool of wisdom!

*thanks to Maureen for sharing this quote from one of my favorite books on another post

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* Come back on Monday for the next Poetry Party! *

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A Great Shout of Joy

Christine — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:06:06 +0000

Inside everyone
is a great shout of joy
waiting to be born.

Even with the summer
so far off
I feel it grown in me
now and ready
to arrive in the world.

-David Whyte (excerpted from “Winter of Listening”)

Thank you to everyone who participated in this week’s Poetry Party on the theme of “Sharing Our Deepest Joy” – make sure to pour yourself a cup of tea, stop by, and linger over the wisdom found there. The winner of the random drawing for a copy of Crossing the Threshold: New Year, New Beginnings is Deb Hillman! (Send me your snail mail and I will send that off to you.)

May you discover the “great shout of joy” in you waiting to be born.

May winter provide the rest you need to find the beauty growing inside.

Advent Evening of Prayer and Solstice SoulCollage (Seattle)

Christine — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:37:00 +0000

TWO INVITATIONS for my Seattle-area friends facilitated by two of my favorite people who I am blessed to work with – Betsey Beckman and Kayce Hughlett. I am planning to attend both and hope to see you there as well!

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Advent Evening of Prayer

The Word Becomes Flesh: Longing for the New Creation

Thursday, December 10, 2009

7-9:00 P.M. at St. Joseph Parish Center, 732 18th Ave E, Seattle

Dance, Reflection & Prayer led by Betsey Beckman, MM & Matt Henley

Suggested Donation: $20

Join us during Advent for an evening of reflection on the Creation Story.
Witness the Word made flesh through the gifts of storytelling and movement.
Give yourself the gift of a holy pause during this season of longing.
Through meditative reflections, explore the invitations for the Word to become flesh in your own life.

Sponsored by the Ignatian Spirituality Center

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Friday Night SoulCollage® – Solstice and Silence for the Season

Friday, December 18, 2009 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Facilitated by Kayce Hughlett, MA, LHMC

Celebrate the arrival of the Winter Solstice and creating Silence for the Holiday Season by making your own SoulCollage® cards.

Beginners and experienced collagers are welcome at this three-hour studio. All supplies and instruction will be provided in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

Workshop held at Soma Yoga in Crown Hill. Pre-registration cost is $35. ($40 – night of the event.) Space is limited, so register today. For questions or to sign up, please e-mail kayce@kaycehughlett.com.

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UPDATE on ABBEY ONLINE LEARNING

ONLY THREE SPOTS LEFT for the SPRING Session of *Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist* – April 12-May 23, 2010 – so register today if you’d like to participate in that session!

*Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Contemplative Practice* for SPRING is about half full.

the winner of this week’s Poetry Party drawing is . . .

Christine — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:33:13 +0000

. . . The Pollinatrix! Send me your snail mail to Christine@AbbeyoftheArts.com and I will send you a copy of Crossing the Threshold: New Year, New Beginnings.

Make sure to stop by last week’s Poetry Party and revel in the expression of gratitude overflowing there. I am delighted so many of you took the time to offer your poetic wonder in that space. Many thanks to all of my wonderful poet readers.

Celebrate with Me!

Christine — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:37:10 +0000

I just hit the “SEND” button to deliver our manuscript to the Publisher right on time. Awakening the Creative Spirit: Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction (co-authored with Betsey Beckman) is scheduled for publication in early February 2010 by Morehouse (SDI Imprint Series). More details to come! For right now I am just going to celebrate the completion of this phase of hard, hard work and what has been a labor of utter love and passion. (oh and now to get some of my other work done . . .)

Poetry Party Drawing

Christine — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 04:32:38 +0000

This week’s Poetry Party was, as usual, a transcendent collection of poetic beauty! Take some time this weekend to pour yourself some tea and linger over these “moments.”

The winner of my random drawing for a copy of Sacred Poetry: An Invitation to Write is Beth Patterson of the Virtual Tea House – Beth, send me your snail mail and I will get that off to you.

Thank you to all of the wonderful poets who contributed. My apologies that I have been slow to comment, but I am in the final throes of finishing a book project! But I have read and cherished each poem in quiet moments.

this week’s winner is . . .

Christine — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:51:04 +0000

. . . Grady Patterson! Grady, send me your snail mail and I will send you a copy of Sacred Poetry: An Invitation to Write.

I invite everyone to go spend time over at the Poetry Party and bask in summer’s sweet slowness. So many luscious images there to linger with on a summer day with a glass of crisp iced tea.

It has been a full week of teaching for me, full of grace and shared wisdom!

Blessings on your weekend, may it be filled with summer’s gifts.

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this week’s winner is . . .

Christine — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:18:01 +0000

. . . Elizabeth at Mind Whisperings! Send me your snail mail and I will get your copy of Sacred Poetry: An Invitation to Write in the mail to you. Everyone else can order your very own copy at the Abbey Shop. Andy Wilkes at A Man Breathing has some very lovely things to say about this newest edition of my Reflective Art Journal series.

Make sure to stop by the Photo Party and the Flickr Group to see the beautiful images gathered there to celebrate “listening with the ear of your heart”.

Our next Poetry Party will begin Monday, July 29th!

Also stop by my newest discovery, Photo Prayers, by Danny Schweers for more photographic inspiration.

Blessings on your weekend, may you discover Sabbath rest and summer play!

Become a fan of the Abbey on Facebook, follow this blog on Facebook, friend me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter