Dearest dancing monks, artists, and pilgrims,
We are delighted to be celebrating our 19th anniversary at Abbey of the Arts and launching our 20th year of ministry and service.
For our 20th year we are planning some lovely offerings and gifts. One of these is our brand new prayer cycle Cultivating Seeds of Liberation with 7 days of morning and evening prayer center around Love, Vision, Hope, Justice, Peace, Joy, and Beauty. Each day includes an audio podcast that will be released weekly beginning next Sunday.
The new prayer cycle was created with the vision of our Wisdom Council to provide a free resource that amplifies our commitment to justice and joy. Daily prayers and blessings were written by Wisdom Council members Claudia Love Mair, Jo-ed Tome, Cassidhe Hart, and Melinda Thomas. The readings are from books we’ve featured in our Lift Every Book Club and center the voices of contemplative writers of color such as Howard Thurman, Cole Arthur Riley, Mihee Kim Kort, Kat Armas, Steven Charleston, and more. Psalm selections are from Christine Robinson and James Block with new interpretations and musical settings by Simon de Voil.
Here is an excerpt from the Day 1 Prayers of Concern written by Claudia Love Mair:
Gracious Divine, how can we say we love you, but not creation or humankind when you are the creator of all? How can we cry out for justice for those in far off lands, and ignore the injustices those in our own communities face? So often we are full of contradictions. Give us the will and ability to keep choosing love in both desire and action.
In partnership with Betsey Beckman we have created a companion album Cultivating Seeds of Liberation: Songs of Justice and Joy that includes 25 songs featured in the prayer cycle. The album is available now in Bandcamp.
Join us this Friday, May 2nd for a free event to celebrate the 19th anniversary of Abbey of the Arts and the launch of the prayer cycle and album. Our time together will include selections of blessings and prayers from each day, live performances from some of the musicians who contributed their artistry, and time for reflection.
Stay tuned next Sunday for the release of Cultivating Seeds of Liberation Day 1 audio podcast.
We are thrilled to share the new prayer cycle as an offering to meet the current moment with love, connection, commitment, and community.
With great and growing love,
Christine
Christine Valters Paintner, OblSB, PhD, REACE
