Book Talk
Led by Elin Stetz, Book Talk meets from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Come for some great conversation. Upcoming dates and book selections:

Sept 19: Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote Edith Grossman translation recommended
Oct 17: Marilynne Robinson, Home: A Novel
Nov 21: G.K. Chesterton, The Man Who Was Thursday
Dec 12: Bring poetry to share. We will also read: Dylan Thomas, A Child's Christmas in Wales

The fee for Book Talk is underwritten by an anonymous donor. Register the day before.

Prayer of the Heart Companions
Come for these days of prayer and reflection. Come for quiet and resting in God. Presented by Sr. Dorothy Pulkka, OSB.

Dates will be:
September 19, October 24, November 21, and December 12.
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
$45 per session, $15 deposit, $170 for the 4 Saturdays. Bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5
Register three days before presentation.

A Retreat on Benedictine Stability
Benedictines take the vow of Stability at profession. Teachings, prayer and discussions will focus on the theme of stability in the Rule of St. Benedict. Join us in exploring the value of stability and its implications for our spiritual lives in our daily living. Please bring a Rule of St. Benedict to the retreat or purchase one at Shalom's gift shop for $2.95. Presenter: Sister Dorothy Jean Beyer, OSB.

July 10-11, 2009
Friday, 7:00 p.m. - Saturday, 3:00 p.m.
$70, $25 deposit, meals included.
Register by July 9.

2nd Annual Garden Party
The Board of Directors of Shalom Prayer Center will hold the 2nd Annual Prayer Garden Party on July 26, 2009 from 2-4 p.m. in the Prayer Garden. Music, poetry, the beauty of the garden, and refreshments will delight the guests. All are welcome to this free event, held in memory of Sr. Eileen Kraemer, OSB. RSVP by calling 503-845-6773.

July 26, 2009
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Journey on the Daily Road to Carmel
What exactly is Carmelite spirituality? During this day of reflection, participants will look at the beginning of the Order, have the opportunity to pray with the words of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, and look at how Carmelite spirituality is lived and applied to us now. Presenter: Barbara Harrend, MA.

September 12, 2009
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
$55, $25 deposit, bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.
Register by September 9.

Walking the Labyrinth during Times of Transitions: Reflections on the Changing Season of Our Lives
As summer comes to a close, we harvest the fruit of the season and prepare to "winter over." On this retreat day, we will work with the fruits of the Spirit, asking questions such as: How do the seasons of our lives bear fruit? How do we winter-over the fruits of the Spirit? The labyrinth will be used as a guide for and experience of reflection, symbolism and metaphor. Through journaling and art, we will develop ways we stay present to the bounty of the Spirit even in the long winter. Facilitators: Peg Edera and DC Donohue

September 12, 2009
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
$55, $25 deposit, bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.
Register by September 9.

Oktoberfest Retreat
Willkommen to the Oktoberfest retreat at Shalom Prayer Center! Enjoy a prayerful, unique experience in the midst of the oompah bands and polka dancing in downtown Mt. Angel. Start with morning prayer with the Benedictine Sisters, enjoy learning about German mystic/saints, St. Hildegard of Bingen and St. Gertrude the Great, presented by Sister Gertrude Feick, OSB, on Thursday and Friday at 11 a.m., followed by Mid-day Prayer at 11:45 a.m.; satisfy your taste buds with hearty monastic breakfasts and lunches. Begin your afternoon with a refreshing rest and then take a short walk into the German culture in Mt. Angel. Evenings are unscheduled so you can enjoy the festival activities. Dinner on your own. Come for one day or all four days.

September 17-20, 2009
$55 per day, $200 for the four days. Deposit: $25 (Commuters: $25 per day)
Register by September 15. Space is limited.

Contemplative Leadership, II: Listening with the ear of your heart
Leaders of all kinds, whether in organizational, church or volunteer settings, lead lives of active engagement. As they work to guide and improve their communities, they can suffer from the steady depletion of inner resources. This one-day retreat, shaped by the values that have governed monastic communities for nearly 1,500 years, is designed for those who seek to bring a contemplative perspective to their daily decisions, actions and challenges. Discussions and activities will draw upon the wisdom of Scriptures and the Rule of Benedict, and will focus on the art of deep listening - to God, others and oneself - as a central practice of contemplative leadership. A variety of spiritual practices will help each leader to develop greater self-awareness and inner stability.

Participation in the previous Contemplative Leadership retreat is not a prerequisite. If you wish to extend your retreat, plan to arrive on Friday, September 18. Please register early; space is limited and names may be added to a waiting list. Presenters: Antoinette Traeger, OSB and Dr. Jodi Kilcup, Assistant Vice President for College Relations, Linfield College; and a Benedictine oblate.

September 19, 2009
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
$60, $25 deposit, bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.
Register by September 15.

With Open Hearts: Focus on Community
Is it your heart's desire to live the gospel life with greater commitment, consistency, and care? Do you want to be encouraged and meet others who are looking for ideas to better serve the needy, lonely, and overlooked of their communities? If this describes you, then I invite you to come to our first "With Open Hearts" retreat. My goal is that our time together will help us serve the needy of our communities and parishes with greater consistency and care. Bring your highest personal hopes, your ideas, and experiences and let us share and discover what God can do through people "With Open Hearts." Presenter: Linda Pawlowski, a parishioner of St. Mary's, Albany

September 26, 2009
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Free will offering for the day. Bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.
Register by September 23.

The Work of Our Hands: A Retreat for Needle Workers
Jesus reaches us through our needlework, and we in turn reach others through the work of our hands. Join us as we deepen our work through the Scriptures, the Rule of St. Benedict, discussion and silence. Please bring your current knitting, crocheting, quilting, or other needlework project when you come. Presenter: Hilda Kleiman, OSB.

September 26, 2009
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
$60, deposit $25, bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.
Register by September 22.

Women of the Bible
This retreat is a creative approach that focuses on the role of women in Biblical texts. Trace the significance of women from three historical periods beginning with Sarah in the history of Israel, the Samaritan woman and others in the parables of Jesus and women such as Lydia in the early Church. Presenter: Susan Casey, OSB.

October 3, 2009
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
$35, deposit $15, bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.
Register by October 1.

Will No One Let God Speak? A Weekend Writing Retreat with Martha Gies
Our stories document what is important in life, engage us in self-reflection and point us in new directions. But first we listen, in order to know the stories we must write. The instructor will give writing exercises, based on passages from the Book of Job, as a way of leading us deeper into our own life and work.

Oregon writer Martha Gies began publishing nonfiction in the mid-seventies. Her short stories and literary essays appear widely in literary quarterlies. In addition to teaching at Traveler's Mind, an annual writing program in Veracruz, Mexico, and at the Attic Writer's Workshop in Portland, Gies is an activist for low-income housing and for human rights.

October 9-10, 2009
Friday, 7:30 - 9 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$120, deposit $50, (includes breakfast and lunch)
Register by October 5. Space is limited to 15 participants.

Sorting the Wheat from the Weeds: Addiction and Spirituality
Being aware of the crossover of desire and compulsion is important for personal growth, spiritual and physiological. This workshop will discuss signs and symptoms of the addiction process, the roots and behaviors of co-dependency, the effects of the dysfunctional family on the child, and the healing power of a 12-Step spirituality. Presenter: Peggy McGurn, PhD.

October 17, 2009
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$65, deposit $30, bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.
Register by October 14.

Journey to the Center: A Mandala* Workshop
*Mandala: Sanskrit for circle with a center.

In this time of momentous change we look to our spiritual center. The Mandala, an ancient symbol in many cultures and spiritual traditions, is a simple meditative tool to assist us in our journey to the Divine, to the peace within. Rebecca will lead us on a gentle journey inward through relaxation, visualization, art, feeling and sharing. No art experience is necessary to create these highly personal and expressive Mandala drawings. Rebecca La Mothe is a lifelong visual artist and teacher, having painted personalized Mandalas and facilitated Mandala workshops for 25 years. www.rebeccalamothe.com

October 24, 2009
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
$55, deposit $25, bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.
Register by October 13.

When God Speaks to Our Hearts
Using teachings and Lectio Divina we will focus on the theme of silence as found in the Scriptures and the Rule of Benedict, as we search for the meaning of silence, we will discover how silence opens our hearts to God's presence. Please bring a Bible to the retreat. Presenter: Sister Jeanette von Herrmann, OSB, PhD.

October 31, 2009
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.(Option: Begin your retreat with a quiet evening at Shalom on October 30. Arrive by 5 p.m. and attend Vespers and dinner with the Benedictine Sisters. Cost of the overnight and dinner on Oct. 30: $46)
$55, deposit $25, bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.
Register by October 28.

Christ the Omega Point and the Postmodern Planet: Considering the Teachings of Teilhard de Chardin in the 21st Century
Come and explore some cutting edge thoughts with Benedictine monk and theologian Father Ezekiel Lotz, OSB, of Mt. Angel Abbey, who is a teacher and an administrator of Mt. Angel Seminary.

November 7, 2009
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
$50, deposit $25, bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.
Register by November 4.

Insights Discovery
Do you want to gain skills to build stronger interpersonal relationships? Insights Discovery is a personality profile tool based on the work of Carl Jung. Your customized profile, generated by the on-line Insights Evaluator, offers a framework for self-understanding and development.

The workshop requires that you complete the Insights Evaluator tool on-line before November 6. Email Sue Schneider for the Insights Discovery Profile at suschne@aol.com. Sue is an independent consultant focusing on high performance teams, strategic planning and organization design/development.

November 13, 2009
Friday, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
$60 workshop + $65 Discovery Profile. Deposit: $85, bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.
Register by November 6.

Appreciative Living for the Individual
How do we nourish and appreciate life? How do we live out of hope, inspiration and joy with one another? Join us in exploring these questions using the Appreciative Inquiry model that flows from a prayerful, faith-filled context. Presenters: Sue Schneider and Dorothy Jean Beyer, OSB.

November 14, 2009
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
$60, deposit $25, bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.

For those taking both Insights Discovery and Appreciative Living, the fee is $100 + $65 for the Discovery Profile. Overnight accommodations and dinner are $46. Register for both workshops by November 6.
Register by November 11.

Always Our Children: Day of Reflection for Parents and Other Family Members of Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons
Do you have a son or daughter or other family member who is gay or lesbian? Do you wonder and even pray how you should react and show your love for them? Do you wonder what the Catholic Church says about homosexuality? The presenters will use the American Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Letter of 1997: "Always our Children" to talk about God's love for all of us. The Day of Reflection will be in a safe, confidential environment and will be positive and not argumentative in tone. It will include short presentations, a DVD, and small group discussions along with group prayer. This Day of Reflection will assist the participants to see more clearly that our gay and lesbian family members are a "gift" and in them "God's love is revealed." A copy of the pastoral letter will be available for each participant. The presenters: Florence and Steve Balog of Mt. Angel. Florence and Steve are Catholic parents of twin lesbian daughters. They have over 15 years experience in parish gay and lesbian ministry and Catholic Parent Support Groups. Any questions about the Day of Reflection, please call Florence and Steve at 503 845-7850.

November 21, 2009
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
$40, deposit $15, bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.
Register by November 18.

An Advent Retreat with Owen Cummings
Advent is a time of both awaiting and arriving. It is a time marked by hope, personal and ecclesial. This retreat will explore the meaning of Advent in terms of the liturgy and with the use of poetry and story. Dr. Cummings is a deacon, a teacher at Mt. Angel Seminary, and an author of a number of books and articles. He has given a number of retreats and presentations at Shalom as well as other church groups.

December 5, 2009
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
$55, deposit $25, bring a sack lunch or buy lunch for $5.
Register by December 3.

The Annual Thomas Merton Retreat with Morgan Atkinson
In this retreat we will use the award-winning documentary, Soul Searching: The Journey of Thomas Merton as a lens through which to examine the spiritual path of the great 20th century spiritual master. Thomas Merton has been called many things, a believing beatnik, brilliant author of books, essays and poetry, all rooted in his lifelong search for meaning. He is one of the most authentic and enduring voices of the 20th century, a man who truly lived the search he writes about. During the retreat we will consider the great gifts of the Trappist monk together with the very human aspects of the man. Some points of emphasis will be: Merton as a young man entering the monastic life; Merton's joys and struggles in the monastic life; Merton in solitude; Merton's love of nature; Merton the artist; Merton the teacher (including his students in the monastery and those millions of us who have learned from his writings); Merton's engagement with religious traditions of the East; Merton's lasting legacy. Participants can expect to gain greater knowledge of Merton's life and critical turning points in it. By growing in understanding of the whole Merton we can appreciate his spiritual path more fully and it is hoped gain insights into our own.

Morgan Atkinson is an award-winning filmmaker and author based in Louisville, Kentucky. He has studied the life and work of Thomas Merton for more than thirty years culminating with his most recent production, Soul Searching: The Journey of Thomas Merton, which was broadcast nationally on PBS in December of 2008. In addition Atkinson has produced two other documentaries on the monastic life, which have been broadcast on public television. Atkinson's first book entitled, Soul Searching: The Journey of Thomas Merton, was published in December 2008 by the Liturgical Press. In recent years Atkinson has presented his work on Merton and the monastic life to groups nationwide.

December 11 - 12, 2009
Friday, 7 - 9 p.m. Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
$114, deposit $45, (includes breakfast and lunch)
For Saturday only, $60, deposit $25 (includes lunch)
For Sunday, December 13 only, 1 - 2 p.m. $5 pay at the door.
Register by December 9.

Shalom Event Registration
To register for a Shalom event, click here or call 503-845-6773.

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