Diane W. Stephens
2316 Park Place
Evanston, IL 60201
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Our objective is to study liturgy as the center of our communal and personal spirituality. Consideration is given to those areas which appear to affirm or alienate members of the community in their faith expression. Careful attention to text, structure, climate and environment, symbol, presence or absence, historical change or lack thereof inform our study and concern. There is room for storytelling which reflects our personal experience of the connection or absence between liturgy and spirituality.
JAKE EMPEREUR – Liturgical Preaching as Liberative Preaching
BETTY LYNN SCHWAB – Liturgy and Spirituality: an Unlikely Couple?
JENNIFER DAVIDSON – Constructing Theologies of Prayer in the Midst of Worship
At the Intersection: What happens in the liturgy at the point where the vertical and the horizontal meet? Our time will be spent exploring the tension between the ordinary and extraordinary, divine and human as elements of worship that can lead to ever-deepening spirituality.
Where to Begin.
What is the liturgy for? ...and for whom? How can the liturgy be a starting point for the spiritual journey? ...and how can it encourage those already on a path of spiritual growth? Our discussion will focus on the role of catechesis and communication, as well as elements of worship that engage the soul and lead to ever-deepening spirituality.
Betty Lynn Schwab will focus on the Gospel of John as a Eucharistic entry point for new members.
Peter Fink will address the liturgy of marriage.
Jean Donovan will present a paper titled The Power of Gathering: What We Cannot Do Alone.
Mary Amore will present The Call to Discipleship, the Call to Self-Surrender.
Suffering and Healing
Today more than ever, people come to worship hoping – hoping to understand suffering, in their lives and in the world, and hoping to find healing, for themselves and for others. The Liturgy and Spirituality seminar group will explore those theologies, spiritualities, metaphors, symbols, texts and ritual action in the liturgy that give expression to despair and hope, healing and reconciliation. Featured papers and presentations are:
Branches of that Good Olive Tree: 21st Century Liturgical Challenges and Possibilities – Audrey Doetzel
Healing through Time: in Liturgy and in Life – Jean Donovan
Healing: The Focus of Gay/Lesbian Spirituality – Jake Empereur
An Age for Healings: RitualDiversityandClarifying Conversations – Shawn Madigan
Healing the Divine Comedy: Is there a ritual relation in Sacrament to Pastoral Care of the sick? – Willy Malarcher
Healing and Worship, on Retreat – Diane Stephens
Participants are asked to read Journey through the Psalms by Denise Dombkowski Hopkins (Chalice Press, 2002) in preparation for our meeting.
Number of participants: 10-12