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You are here: Home / Archives for birds

birds

Consider the Birds

January 13, 2021 By Collegeville Institute Leave a Comment

Community organizing is often hard and contentious work. How can people stay committed when the world becomes overwhelming?
birds

The Birds of the Air

November 7, 2019 By Karen Guzman 3 Comments

Every time we assist another creature—human or otherwise—through the pain of this life, even in a small way, we lighten our collective load.

God’s Breath

October 9, 2019 By Peter Spaulding Leave a Comment

"He said don’t breathe on them / or their mother won’t return." Read "God's Breath," a new poem by Peter Spaulding.

Lost and Found

May 8, 2019 By Deborah Cooper Leave a Comment

"I lost my first faith / somewhere in the pew, / and found another / in the April yard."
early birds

The Early Birds

April 1, 2018 By Angela Alaimo O'Donnell 2 Comments

"Now every bird / & beast & tree & leaf enacts his rising / and greens itself against the bitter dearth / that curses every creature until Spring / frees us from our winter sleep."
Crazy Backward Grace

Crazy Backwards Grace

February 28, 2018 By Andrew Taylor-Troutman 2 Comments

A new poem by Andrew Taylor-Troutman about birds, death, and backwards grace.
Autumn Day

Autumn Day

October 25, 2017 By Ruth Johnston 3 Comments

A new poem by Ruth Johnston, participant in the summer 2014 writing workshop, Poetry, Prose and Prayer: A Week with Michael Dennis Browne.
The Robin

The Robin

December 15, 2016 By Heidi Haverkamp Leave a Comment

How is the robin in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe a symbol for discernment? Find out in our third excerpt from Advent in Narnia: Reflections for the Season.

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Collegeville Institute
Andrew Taylor-Troutman's new sonnet, "Safe," explo Andrew Taylor-Troutman's new sonnet, "Safe," explores grief and the comfort we get from what is left behind. Read it at the link in our profile.⠀
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#poetry #poetryWednesday @ataylortroutman
What books are you reading this January? If you're What books are you reading this January? If you're looking for inspiration, check out these recently published books written by Collegeville Institute alumni. Find out more by clicking on the link in our profile⠀
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#BookNotes #amreading #bookstagram #books #JoyceHollyday @wipfandstock @aprilxstace #JuliaJordanZachery @azpress
We need your help to recruit the next Executive Di We need your help to recruit the next Executive Director of the Collegeville Institute! Do you know someone who might be a good candidate? Nominate them or share this post with your networks.⠀
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Find the link to the position description and application information in our profile. Applications are due Monday, March 1, 2021.⠀
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#myCollegeville #JobAnnouncement #ExecutiveDirector
#mycollegeville #mycollegeville
How has the message of white supremacy and tacit s How has the message of white supremacy and tacit support of its rise worked its way into Christian churches? Benjamin Tapper asks this in his essay, "What does faith have to do with justice?" Read the essay by clicking on the link in our profile. ⠀
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#racialjustice #faith #CRT @mr.tapper
Community organizing is often hard and contentious Community organizing is often hard and contentious work. How can people stay committed when the world becomes overwhelming?⠀
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In this podcast episode, writer and congregational organizer Nicholas Tangen describes how observing the natural world is connected to his work for justice within the ELCA church. Nicholas has relied on birdwatching as a spiritual practice during the pandemic. The birds remind him that there is a wide diversity of gifts and strengths needed in movements for social change. Nicholas also speaks about his role as a writer in the Lutheran Church and how Benedictine spirituality has been important in sustaining his work.⠀
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To listen to the podcast, please click on the link in our profile.⠀
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#NicholasTangen #podcast #UnlikelyConversations #birdwatching #ELCA #Lutheran #Minneapolis #faith #justice #writing
For many of us this is a period of heightened awar For many of us this is a period of heightened awareness of our personal responsibilities on a larger historical stage that includes deep racial, economic, and political divisions, intensifying climate change, and the brokenness laid bare by the pandemic. What does it mean to live in our present moment, yet with a deeper moral sense of our own connections to larger historical events?⠀
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Former Collegeville Institute Resident Scholar Victoria J. Barnett has spent her career exploring this question with regard to Germans during the Nazi era, focusing especially on the example of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In our virtual event tomorrow, she will explore the connections between how we think of our own moral responsibility in light of a historical perspective provided by Bonhoeffer and his times.⠀
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Register now for our Collegeville Connections virtual event with Barnett tomorrow on Wednesday, January 13th, at 12 PM CST. Find the link in our profile.⠀
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#CollegevilleConnections #Bonhoeffer
Ellie Roscher's new book 12 Tiny Things offers sim Ellie Roscher's new book 12 Tiny Things offers simple, small practices that ground us in our bodies and ready us for the work of justice. ⠀
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Read an interview with her at the link in our profile. ⠀
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#NewYear #tinythings #spiritualpractices @EllieRoscher #12tinythings @broadleafbooks @heidicbarr
#mycollegeville #mycollegeville
It's one of the oldest questions: What is the purp It's one of the oldest questions: What is the purpose of suffering? Catherine Hervey's interview with Liuan Huska explores this question in relationship to her book, "Hurting Yet Whole: Reconciling Body and Spirit in Chronic Pain and Illness."⠀
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Read it at the link in our profile.⠀
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#suffering #spirituality #wholeness
Gideon Iching Okpeta's poem "Prie Dieu" offers a p Gideon Iching Okpeta's poem "Prie Dieu" offers a prayer at the beginning of this new year. Read it with the link in our profile.⠀
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#poetryWednesday #poetry #prayer #forgiveness
There is still time to register for our first Coll There is still time to register for our first Collegeville Connections gathering on Wednesday, January 6! In this virtual event, moderated by Collegeville Institute Executive Director Don Ottenhoff, De'Amon Harges and Mike Mather will share stories and reflections on what they have learned in the church and community across their 20 year friendship.⠀
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Find the link in our profile for more information.⠀
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#CollegevilleConnections
Did you catch our latest email newsletter in your Did you catch our latest email newsletter in your inbox this week? It includes news about our Resident Scholar and writing workshop programs, as well as great resources like our Leading Lives That Matter small group modules. Read it by clicking on our profile link.
As we anticipate entering a new year, we’re taki As we anticipate entering a new year, we’re taking a moment to look back at the Bearings Online articles that our readers and staff have most enjoyed in 2020. Read the top posts from this past year by clicking on the link in our profile.
A call for Sabbath rest, especially for those doin A call for Sabbath rest, especially for those doing the hard work of anti-racism and social justice. Read Onleilove Chika Alston's "Rhythm and Balance: A Litany for Anchoring and Energizing Justice Work with Sabbath, Contemplation, and Community," which was published in Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Jesus and Justice.
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Find the link to this book excerpt in our profile. ⠀
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#sabbath #prayer #NewYear #socialjustice #activism #rally @propheticwhirlwind @britneywinnlee @upperroombooks
We are grateful for all the ways you connect with We are grateful for all the ways you connect with the Collegeville Institute. In this loveliest of seasons may you find many reasons for happiness.⠀
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From: Amy, Carla, Don, Elisa, Jessie, Kathleen, Stina, Susan, and Viv⠀
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(photo credit: Fall 2020 Resident Scholar Eric LeCompte)
In this time between the darkest day of the year a In this time between the darkest day of the year and the birth of Christ our Light, we offer "A Prayer for Light in Darkness," by Tiona Cage. ⠀
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Read the prayer using the link in our bio.⠀
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#solstice #light #PoetryWednesday #Advent @tiona_cage
As we near the end of the year, let us reflect on As we near the end of the year, let us reflect on those moments, people, and jobs that have brought us into our vocations, into our true selves. And let us look forward to the next step on the journey. ⠀
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Read "Called to Life: Vocation Stories about Identity" at the link in our profile. ⠀
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#vocation #identity
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, light a candle an On this fourth Sunday of Advent, light a candle and pray with the Communities of Calling Initiative.
The Collegeville Institute's one-of-a-kind Fall 20 The Collegeville Institute's one-of-a-kind Fall 2020 Resident Scholars program wrapped-up on Friday, December 18 just as it began four months earlier—over Zoom.⠀
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While this semester's Resident Scholars Program did not operate in the same way it has over the preceding 50 years, we had a wonderful group of short-term and full-time resident scholars who pursued their individual work under the circumstances of the pandemic. We conducted scholar seminars and social conversations over Zoom, and while sheltering-in-place on-campus, the scholars made use of the Saint John's and Saint Benedict's library resources, worshipped with the Monks (from a safe physical distance), hiked through the Abbey arboretum grounds, and explored the crisp, clear Minnesota skies for meteors and planets and the northern lights.⠀
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Although it wasn't what we had anticipated the program to be even just one short year ago, the resident scholars rose to the challenge and exhibited resilience, patience and persistence as they sank deeply into their work, and the place and space of the Collegeville Institute.⠀
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#myCollegeville #ResidentScholars @ericlecomptejubilee #ColumbaStewart #JanPranger #LizetteLarsonMiller @saintjohnsabeey
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Latest News

Job Announcement: Executive Director

January 8, 2021

Resident Scholars Conclude Program on Zoom

December 18, 2020

Lauren Winner Leads Final 2020 Writing Workshop Online

December 14, 2020

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