(Written by Jerry Folk, Sunday Assembly member, for submission to Weekly Wisdom) John Dominic Crossan, an historical Jesus scholar, believes Jesus’ execution was not about martyrdom or atonement but about nonviolent resistance. Dom Crossan proposes that Jesus stepped into a tradition Jewish leaders had been developing for decades. Relying on the writing of first century Jewish historian Josephus, he describes a remarkable development in Palestinian Judaism between two violent revolts against Rome in 4 BCE and 66 CE. During these 70 years, Jewish religious leaders experimented with programmatic, strategic and deliberate nonviolent resistance to Roman power and oppression. This nonviolent …
Community of Joy: Stephanie Redinger
Can you tell us about your journey into the culinary world and how you came to join the team at Holy Wisdom Monastery? My first job was in a summer camp kitchen, and the majority of my jobs have been in food service since. I was looking for a job that aligned with my values, this last spring, and was led to Holy Wisdom Monastery. I am so thankful to have found a place that is filled with so much joy and light! What does a typical day look like for you in the culinary department, from meal preparation to interacting with guests or …
Community of Joy – Phyllis Lobdell
It is a warm feeling to know that someone is expecting you and that they are glad you came. It was a beautiful fall day when I had the pleasure of meeting Phyllis in the courtyard of the Retreat and Guest House. I was honored to spend the hour with her and learn more about her life and connection to Holy Wisdom. Phyllis discovered Holy Wisdom as a personal retreatant from Illinois back in 2011. “I was sole care-giver for my mother and I needed to find a place for some respite. I found Holy Wisdom Monastery on the internet …
Community of Joy – Al Heggen, Helen Christiansen and Aman Cara
Dear Holy Wisdom Community, During these harrowing times, when the news often leads us to feelings of despair, I am determined to also keep our focus on what is good, true and joyful. Often, at Holy Wisdom, it is no surprise that what is good, true and joyful is often our community members. Please watch for articles into 2026 that highlight our community, who they are, how they are involved and what they find at Holy Wisdom. As a community of communities, I often see my job as finding the overlap on the Venn Diagram as to where the many …
Center for Clergy Renewal staff transition
Submitted by Nancy Enderle, director, Center for Clergy Renewal Dear Holy Wisdom community members, I am writing to let you know about changes in the leadership of the Center for Clergy Renewal (CCR). As we round the corner into our sixth year of helping pastors thrive in ministry, I feel called to set down the director responsibilities that accompany this growing and important work. Depending on the timeline after the search for the next director is complete, I may transition out of the director role sometime in the fall, then conduct the winter immersion for Cohort 5 in January of 2025 …
This Precious Community
Submitted by Erin Trondson, executive director I started at the Monastery on January 15th, 2024, and made it a goal to meet with as many community members as were willing in my first 100 days. At that same time, I had been reading the Rule of St. Benedict who, on the first page, instructs us to listen with the ear of the heart. I had the privilege of listening with the ear of my heart while more than 100 community members spoke of this beloved community. It is a time I will not soon forget and has planted seeds in …
CCR Pastors Reflect on Spiritual Renewal
Submitted from Nancy Enderle, director, Center for Clergy Renewal As part of their experience with the Center for Clergy Renewal (CCR), pastors submit written assessments about their spiritual renewal and how their time at Holy Wisdom helps them thrive in ministry. After their summer immersion, pastors reflect on the following questions: After their second immersion in the winter, pastors are invited to respond to the prompt: These assessments create opportunities for pastors to reflect deeply on their lives and share those thoughts with me (Nancy Enderle). I meet with each pastor individually to provide feedback and support as they think …
A Story About a Lake and a Prairie and an Array of Solar Panels
Submitted by Amy Alstad, director of land management & environmental education, presented at the inaugural Spring Solar Tilt on Apr. 17, 2024 I’m here to share a story about a lake and a prairie and an array of solar panels. At first glance, this may seem like an unlikely trio of characters to encounter together in a single story. I hope to weave these three dissimilar threads into a common story that sets the stage for us today. We’ll start with the lake. The glacial lake that we know today as Lost Lake gets its name from the oral tradition …
What is a pilgrimage?
Submitted by Carol Kretschman, Oblate This is the question we raised after our arrival at the Saint Columba Hotel on the Isle of Iona on September 16, 2023. We concurred that it wasn’t exactly like a retreat. And yet it was very similar. I remained perplexed. Then someone suggested that I read “The Art of Pilgrimage” by Phil Cousineau. He reminds the reader that the complete circle is the universal symbol for the soul – an image of wholeness – and the goal of the sacred journey is to become as whole again as possible. Our longing is the sign that …
How in the world do songbirds survive freezing cold?
By Julie Melton The short answer is that they find food and shelter. But there is more to it. Many songbirds grow a third more feathers in preparation for winter. Fluffing up feathers creates thousands of tiny air pockets that hold heat close to birds’ bodies. Outer feathers help hold the heat in. Birds have to keep their feathers oiled to maintain waterproofing. Insulation isn’t enough. Shelter is vital to survival. Birds can reduce their nighttime temperature to save energy. They still need protection from wind, snow and predators. Some birds huddle together in dense conifer boughs, shrubs, and under …
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