PARTNERS TWO November 5, 2011 St. Andrew, Fort Worth

Hello, Everyone!

We are hoping you have enjoyed studying-into DEEPER THAN WORDS, and that it has been of some help in bringing up-to-date some of the most ancient ideas of the Christian religion.

Also, we will be looking at Chapter 9 of Judy Cannato’s FIELD OF COMPASSION.

Other than that, we hope to view together some prayer reflections, and share ideas on current

Church dilemmas, seeing if we can “build some bridges.”

Hope to see you there! 9 – 2:30 or 3 pm…Saturday, November 5, St. Andrew.

Kay and Pat

PS This is a sort of summary of what we talked about last time we met:

DEEPER THAN WORDS (Steindl-Rast)

1. p. 19 “Only an ‘I’ brave enough for the radical confidence of unconditional trust can be our true Self.”

2. p. 20 “We discover the distinction between the self we observe and a bigger Self that does the observing.”

3. p. 21 What people call different faiths are merely different belief systems, different expressions of faith.

4a. p.24 Faith is far more than the sum total of beliefs…beliefs are merely pointers…

4b p. 24 Beliefs are only so many windows toward the one actuality with which faith is concerned: God.

4c p. 24 By belief one gives one’s intellectual assent; by faith one gives one’s heart in total trust. (Donovan…)

5a p. 25 Everything we experience becomes in our minds a story…

5b p. 25 God…the Listener for whom we make a story out of our life.

6. p. 27 Meaning springs from belonging…our deepest belonging is our belonging to God…to pray is to drink from the Source of Meaning.

p. 28 – see p. 21 again re: beliefs and religions

7. p. 29 The priest at the Eucharist who in Christ’s name says “this is my Body” cannot limit the meaning of these words to the bread he holds in his hands.

FIELD OF COMPASSION (Cannato)

Understanding “intention” helps in understanding “how prayer works.” Various experiences were shared. The group seemed to have some sense of being a “morphogenic field” because of the intentionality to explore the ideas together. Other ideas that you remember, please share them with us all.

Some have been using the prayer at the end of each chapter for individual prayer sessions.

What’s PARTNERS II ???

by Larry Peplinski

Well, the short answer is that Partners II is the next step. Partners in Ministry and Spirituality (PIMS) is meant to open the understanding of the followers of Jesus, the Christ, to what church and a life lived with God is all about. It broadens the participant’s outlook and opens the

window letting the fresh air of the Holy Spirit into their lives. Partners II continues that journey towards a better understanding of spirituality and religion and is available to any graduates of PIMS. Participants gather, in the precious fellowship of like-minded souls, for a day, four

times a year, to learn and openly share in a safe and loving environment. Generally there is a topic book which is used as a focal point. Field of Compassion: How the New Cosmology is Transforming Spiritual Life by Judy Cannato. Several chapters of this book will again be used when the new class starts September 10th. This is a special book that you get more and more out of each time you pick it up. Cannato writes:

Compassion changes everything

Compassion heals.

Compassion mends the broken and restores what has been lost

Compassion draws together those who have been estranged or never even dreamed they were

connected.

Compassion pulls us out of ourselves and into the heart of another, placing us on holy ground

where we instinctively take off our shoes and walk in reverence.

Compassion springs out of vulnerability and triumphs in unity.

In this Series will also use the book, DEEPER THAN WORDS by Brother David Steindlrast.

I think we can all relate to the need for compassion in ourselves and in the world, wouldn’t you agree? Again this year, the Partners II program will be held at St. Andrew’s in Fort Worth, from 9:00 to 4:00. The dates are

September 10

November 5,

January 14,

March 24.

I would encourage you to come and allow your hearts and minds to be expanded so that a greater love of God may be yours. The tuition is still only $10.00 per session. Books will be available. Let me close with one of Cannato’s beautiful prayers that end each chapter of her fantastic book.

Holy Unity, because of your gracious love, I share in the new consciousness that is emerging.

What an awesome gift this is, that you have poured yourself out so generously. May I grow in all?

The capacities I have — in my self-transcendence, in autonomy, in communion, so that I may

Know who I am in you and who you are in me. And then, rooted in the knowledge of your love,

May I walk freely and compassionately on earth? Amen.