2024 Spiritual Formation in Today’s World

Reading assignments from faculty of Spiritual Formation in Today’s World offered online via Zoom. Books are added when received from faculty presenters. Please check back frequently for new book additions.

Session 1: Meeting God in Our Longing
February 1-3, 2024 (Thurs – Sat)
Faculty: Sr. Kathleen Flood

  1. Meditations of the Heart by Howard Thurman
  2. Thirst by Mary Oliver

Session 2: Meeting God in Our Healing
April 4-6, 2024 (Thurs – Sat)
Faculty: Elaine Heath

  1. My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Healing our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem.
  2. Trauma Informed Evangelism: Cultivating Communities of Wounded Healer by Charles Kiser and Elaine A. Heath

Essays

  1. Elaine A. Heath, “The Church of Sheep and Goats,” The Other Journal, Issue 36, Creation, Fall 2023.

Videos

  1. Maki Aizawa, “Kintsugi and Embracing the Imperfect”
  2. Ray Buckley, “We Are All Related”
  3. Henri Nouwen, “Being the Beloved,”
  4. Bessel van der Kolk, “Healing Trauma and How the Body Keeps the Score”

Movies & TV

  1. Ted Lasso (Apple TV)
  2. Harry Potter (Books & Movies)
  3. The Green Mile
  4. Gran Torino
  5. The Secret Life of Bees (Book & Movie)

Healing Practices

  1. Yoga Breathing
  2. Gentle Yoga
  3. Rocking in a Rocking Chair
  4. Meditative Walking, Swimming, Weight Lifting…
  5. Singing or Chanting Simple, Repetitive Music (Ex: Taizé Chants)
  6. Engaging with Nature by Caring for Living Things (Gardening Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Caring for a Pet)
  7. Journaling
  8. Creating Art
  9. Reading Novels or Watching Movies with Healing Themes, for Vicarious Participation in a Healing Narrative
  10. Embodied Prayers of Compassion and Healing.

Session 3: Meeting God in Our Reconciling
August 22-24, 2024 (Thurs – Sat)
Faculty: Christopher Carter

  1. Jesus & the Disinherited by Howard Thurman
  2. All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks

Session 4: Meeting God in Our Justice-Seeking
October 24-26, 2024 (Thurs – Sat)
Faculty: Juan Carlos Huertas

  1. The Spirituality of Transformation, Joy, & Justice: The Ignatian Way for Everyone by Patrick Saint-Jean

  2. TheoEd Talks:

    a. Lisa Sharon Harper: “Four Words that Change Everything” – https://youtu.be/TB2pIcpYuaA?si=Zbgxxnu035Ez_3g4 (21 min.)

    b. Rev. Dr. Lydia Munoz: “Creating God in Our Image” – https://youtu.be/wZwki8_i3SA?si=xBaxGwkQ7UQY5MsG

  3. Prayer: https://reimaginingworship.com/an-immigrant-interpretation-of-psalm-139/