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Spring Term: An Opportunity for Rigorous Tuning
March 28-June 7, 2008
If we are to be the change that we want to see in the world (Gandhi), if we are compelled by the question, “What does the Lord require of you?” and the answer “to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8), then we must recognize ourselves as instruments being tuned in and through a process of deep transformation to the callings of the Spirit.
This Spring Term Pendle Hill offers formats designed to support and excite the attunement of our “outer” nature and actions to our growing inner knowing – to the guidance of the Inner Light. As Chris Ravndal described, “By the rigor of knowledge many participants in the Resident Program have been greatly enriched. By the rigor of love many have been transformed.” It is within this transformative love that the Rigorous Tuning term finds grounding.
Each resident student will choose a pace for this term:
- A Slow and Steady Rigor: Choose 1 to 3 termlong courses
- More Diverse and Dynamic Rigor: Take 6 short courses
- A Combination of Options 1 and 2: Take 1 or 2 termlongs and a number of short courses
Discerning Our Calls
Marcelle Martin
As we seek greater clarity about how God may be calling us to live and work, we have the opportunity to practice spiritual discernment. We will learn about leadings, the nature of a call, and being attentive inwardly and outwardly. Class exercises are designed to hone our skills in helping each other toward greater clarity.
Through Quaker tools of discernment, such as the clearness committee, and methods from other traditions, we will sort through our various motivations in search of those that come from God. Classes will include time for discussion, experiential exercises, prayer and sharing with partners and small groups.
Organic Gardening: Coming Home to the Earth
Laura Jackson
Growing food with love and attention invites us to explore questions about science, biology, spirituality, politics, and the economy. When we put our own hands and strength into the soil we invite a more intimate relationship with the mysteries of life here on planet Earth. Students will learn and practice the basic skills of organic farming: the garden will become our classroom for study, reflection, physical labor, creativity, and adventure. We will share our own histories - stories of when and where we first came to love the earth - and read excerpts from the writings of others. The cooks at Pendle Hill will help us decide what to grow, so that we can share with the community the fruits of our learning and labor. Students will be expected to visit the garden every day
The Synoptic Gospels
Tony Prete
Mark, Matthew and Luke preserve the oldest and most time-trusted traditions of the primitive Christian church. Instead of mere collections, each is a dynamic narrative, arranging colors and textures into recognizable order, structure and purpose. And like any skillful story, each is peopled by intriguing -- often puzzling -- characters and events. So we will approach these gospels with both a sweeping and a seeking eye, shifting between overarching themes and representative particulars. We will puzzle over parables, probe the real meaning of miracles, listen for the call to commitment and community. Our goal will be a fresh awareness of the peasant prophet, Jesus of Nazareth -- ordinary and mysterious, obedient and defiant, compassionate and confrontational -- and of the God he listens to and loves.
Claiming the Creative Path
Carol Sexton
Accepting and nurturing our own creativity is an important step on the journey towards becoming the person we were meant to be. Art activities such as creative journaling, collage, painting and crafts will help us to engage in the important tasks of self-reflection and discernment of direction in our lives. We will also seek to deepen our connection to the source of our creativity by exploring art as spiritual practice.
April 21-25, 2008
Understanding Islam
A short course with Anthony Manousos and Muslim guests
James Michener called Islam “the world’s most misunderstood religion.” In this short course, we will deepen our understanding of Islam, both as a spiritual practice and as a religious movement. We will examine:
- Basic Islamic beliefs, practices, and history;
- Islam from a Quaker perspective;
- Sufism as a mystical and political practice;
- Muslims in America today; and
- How we can respond effectively to religious conflict locally and internationally using approaches such as Compassionate Listening.
April 28- May 2, 2008
Exploring Sacred Geometry
A short course with Carol Sexton
We will explore many concepts of sacred geometry, including the spiritual meanings traditionally associated with numbers and shapes, the mathematical archetypes found in nature, the application of geometrical principles in art and architecture, and the meditative and healing possibilities offered by the mandala and the labyrinth. The course will offer participants a lively mix of hands-on art activities, presentation of ideas, group discussion, and personal reflection.
May 5-9, 2008
Re-discovering Elias Hicks
A short course with Paul Buckley
Elias Hicks is blamed for (or credited with) sparking the 1827-28 separations, which shaped all the current branches of North American Friends. Despite the obvious importance of Hicks’s career and beliefs to all Friends, a clear picture of him is not readily available. He published little during his lifetime, and his literary executors seem to have been more interested in presenting a “proper” view of Hicks than an accurate one, leaving out of the published versions of his journal and letters much that could be illuminating. Paul Buckley has been reviewing the original manuscripts of Hicks’s memoirs and letters for the past 10 years and is eager to share his findings. When Hicks speaks for himself, he has much to say to contemporary Friends. Working with transcriptions of the manuscripts, we will explore who Elias Hicks was, what he believed, and what motivated him.
May 12-16, 2008
The Unifying Legacy of Rufus Jones
A short course with Stephen W. Angell
Quaker teacher, philosopher, organizer of service work, prolific author, and inspiring presence, Rufus Jones built bridges and brought diverse sets of folks together. Beyond an introduction to this Friend’s life and thought, we will examine his work in bringing together branches of Quakers, lifting up the contributions of saints and mystics through the ages, promoting ecumenical and interfaith discussions, and reaching out to potential enemies and attempting to appeal to the Inner Light in them. What example does Jones set for us today? No prior knowledge of Rufus Jones is required; we will start from the basics.
May 19-23, 2008
Making Time/Taking Time
A short course with Barbarajene Williams
Why are so many people in our culture suffering from overwork and time poverty? To get to the heart of the matter, this course will draw from the work of the national Take Back Your Time movement, the Quaker sense of a “guided life,” and other sources as we seek practical steps to create more meaningful time in our lives. We will aim toward a good balance of presentations, large and small group discussion, and ample opportunity for deeper reflection.
May 23-27, 2008
Nurturing Faithfulness
A short course with Marcelle Martin, Laura Melly, and Beckey Phipps
In this course, we will explore specific practices to identify and nurture spiritual gifts, leadings, and ministries. We will highlight a peer group process, in which each person benefits from the focused listening and prayerful support of others, as an effective means of deepening faithfulness and assisting ongoing discernment. We will offer each other the gifts of deep listening, evoking questions, and holding one another in the Light. Each participant will be supported to take the next step in hearing and responding to the Spirit. Meetings or pairs who travel or work together may find this course especially helpful.
