This week Ronna Detrick is sharing a guest post of her love of scripture stories about women. Make sure to join her this summer at the Abbey (along with John Valters Paintner, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, and Roy DeLeon) for an exploration of the scriptures and the questions to which they call us. Exile and Coming Home: An Archetypal Journey through the Scriptures is a six-week online class which begins June 16th! What I know for sure: When I read the ancient, sacred stories of women I am ever-finding intimate, generous, wise companions who come alongside to strengthen me; who make sense of the

This week John Valters Paintner is sharing a guest post about how he fell in love with the Old Testament. Make sure to join him this summer at the Abbey (along with Ronna Detrick, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, and Roy DeLeon) for an exploration of the scriptures and the questions to which they call us. Exile and Coming Home: An Archetypal Journey through the Scriptures is a six-week online class which begins June 16th! When Christine & I moved to Seattle eleven years ago, I had just taken a job teaching an Old Testament course at an all-boys Catholic high school. I

At the Abbey we have weekly invitations to lectio divina, photography, poetry, and dance on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays respectively.  With a 5th Sunday this month, I am inviting you to allow this week to be a chance to revisit some of the previous invitations and savor what has been shared there, as well as your own unfolding response to the invitation to “Return to me with your whole heart” we have been exploring. Consider stopping by these posts and see what kind of return is inspired: Community Lectio Divina: Return to me with your whole heart Invitation to Photography

There are so many rich resources on the contemplative life available to us. Here at the Abbey we are going to start offering an occasional review of books we think are especially worth exploring, starting with The Wisdom Way of Knowing: Reclaiming an Ancient Tradition to Awaken the Heart* by Cynthia Bourgeault. This review is written by long-time fellow monk in the world Edith O’Nuallain: This book, penned by a modern day mystic and internationally known writer and teacher, offers a clear and concise introduction to Wisdom teachings as they manifest across a variety of faith traditions.  Though its primary locus

If you have loved the dancing monk icon series, you can now order prints directly from artist Marcy Hall of Rabbit Room Arts. The prints are made by a local printer in the town of Erie on archival quality mat board, so your purchase supports the artist, a local printer, and half of the profits go to support the Earth Monastery Project. Will you choose Mary Mother of God, St. Benedict, St. Hildegard, St. Brigid, or maybe one of each? (Discounts when you buy 2 or all 4!) Prints are 6 inches wide x 10 inches high and are mounted on an

A deep bow of gratitude to everyone who participated in this year’s Give Me a Word!  We had almost 700 responses and it was so inspiring to read through the submissions. It is time for our prize drawing (although you are free to keep sharing your word for 2014 here)! I will include the name and the word below, just in case there are two people with the same name. Winners of a signed copy of Eyes of the Heart: Photography as Christian Contemplative Practice: Maribeth Clancy (Adventure), Meheret Fikre-Sellasie (Relationship), James McDonald (Present), Marie LoParco (At Home) Winners of a copy of Naked

The Abbey is so delighted to be offering an online retreat for men starting January 20th – Exile and Coming Home: Priest, Prophet, Politician, and Poet – An Online Journey for Men – facilitated by John Valters Paintner, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, Roy Deleon, and Michael Landron. John shares some insights and an invitation to join him: Greetings My Fellow Monks! A year and a half ago, I made a huge life change.  I gave up a full-time job teaching theology at a Catholic high school.  The main reason for leaving my teaching position was because the Hebrew Scriptures class I had