Mark Scandrette

ANCIENT ORIGINS & OUR PRESENT QUEST
A theology salon featuring Evan Howard
Thursday January 21, 7-9:30 P.M.
Cost: Free– bring an hor d oeuvre or bottle of wine to share

Please R.S.V.P. here.

REIMAGINE THEOLOGY SALONS. At its worst, theology is an ivory tower discipline for the over-educated. At its best, good scholarship and theology can inform and inspire vibrant living communities of love and faith. With this Soirée we hope to create an interactive space where a generative conversation can occur between academics, seekers and practitioners.  If you are new to the Bay Area or want to connect with others who are living in the questions, join us and bring a bottle of wine or a party snack to share.

ANCIENT ORIGINS & OUR PRESENT QUEST. Current interest in spiritual formation,  monastic community and justice living have origins in the impulses of the earliest followers of Jesus and the friars of the middle ages. Rediscovery of a more holistic and embodied understanding of faith brings up new questions about how to believe and practice well when “everything matters.” Evan Howard provides a perspective and guides a discussion about how we can cultivate holistic intentional practices.

Evan Howard, director of the Spirituality Shoppe: A Center for the Study of Christian Spirituality, is a frequent lecturer and retreat leader on topics related to the history and practice of Christian spiritual formation, and is author of the book, Christian Spirituality. (Brazos),  He prays in a cave, tends chickens and goats and enjoys life with his wife in Montrose, Colorado.

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION: Casa ReIMAGINE is a private resident located 4 blocks from the 24th St./Mission Bart Station in San Francisco’s Mission District. Public transportation strongly advised. Street parking is limited.

Go here to register. This course is based on the material for my new book. Participants will get a sneak peak.
An Emerging Generation: Young Adult Ministry in the 21st Century Mark A. Scandrette
Registration Deadline: September 1, 2009
September 8 – October 25
2 CEUs

Today’s young people are passionate, spiritually engaged and socially active. They want to be the change that brings a revolution of hope. Yet they are largely absent from traditional forms of church life. How can we create Christ-conscious communities that connect the sensibilities of an emerging generation with the ancient roots of Christianity?  This course explores a practice-based and participatory model for creating vibrant spiritual communities among young adults.

All readings will be provided online.
Mark A. Scandrette is a minister, noted spiritual teacher and author of SOUL GRAFFITI: Making A Life in the Way of Jesus. He is the cofounder and Executive Director of ReIMAGINE, a Center for life integration based in San Francisco offering a series of workshops and retreats that integrate Christian spiritual formation, the arts, community-building and social action.

Two meeting nights & locations available in San Francisco:

Tuesdays April 21-May 26, 7-9 P.M.  (Richmond/Haight)
Wednesdays April 22-May 27  7-9 P.M. (Mission District)

Cost: $60-$120 Sliding Scale

In an age of high mobility and social fragmentation, we search for ways to connect with one another around our deepest values and highest aspirations. Our longings for “community” are charged with great hope and too often, with deep disappointments.  What did Jesus model and teach about our life together? And what skills and practices help us cultivate generative Christ-conscious relationships?

In this Learning Lab participants will:

•    Explore what Jesus taught about our life together.
•    Experiment with core relational postures taught by Jesus (service, humility, forgiveness, reconciliation, mercy, discernment, love, honor, integrity & mutual submission)
•    Practice skills essential to Christ-conscious group life (hospitality, prayer, midrash, collaboration & common table)

This Learning Lab is a launching pad for ReIMAGINE Tribe’s experiment. At the conclusion of this workshop, participants may opt to attend a weekend retreat and join a ReIMAGINE Tribe for the summer.

To register email: info@reimagine.org and include your name and which evening and location you wish to sign up for.

I’m traveling to Chico California this week (Wed-Friday) for two events:

1. Wednesday March 24th in the evening I am meeting with several cohorts of Christian Intentional Community types at Bustolini’s deli & coffee house | chico, ca. 7-9 P.M.

2. On Thursday March 25th I will be speaking at The Jesus Center fundraising event on the Campus of Chico State.

If you live in the area I would love to connect at one of these events or set up to meet for coffee during my stay.

EXPERIMENTS IN TRUTH:
A laboratory for personal transformation.

REGISTER HERE

Tuesdays February 24-April 7

65 Dorland San Francisco 94110

Cost: $60-$100 sliding scale (scholarships available upon request)

Sponsored by ReIMAGINE!

The master invites us to rethink or reimagine our whole lives in light of the Maker’s dream of greater wholeness for our world.  This workshop explores the physicality of spiritual formation. If I change what I do in my mind and body or emotions, how will it effect my capacity to flow with the creators energy & love? (what I eat? how I spend my time?  The media I consume? How I use my money? Who I spend my time with?) This practical workshops seeks to deal with the disparity we often feel between how we want to live and how we actually live. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting and facing his greatest shadows and temptations. Participants in this workshop will engage in practices aimed at confronting our own shadows and obstacles to the spiritual life through “experiments in truth.”

Our goal for this workshop is that you will have:

•    a transformative experience applying disciplines of abstinence and engagement to your personal growth issues through a 40 day experiment.

•    a greater understanding of the holistic nature and physicality of spiritual formation. (Spiritual development as holistic life development)

•    a comprehensive personal growth plan and rule of life that helps you maintain momentum & consistency

•    an identified mentor who will meet with you at least six times a year to help you work through your growth plan

•    a practical understanding and experience of group discernment that helps you listen to your life, hear the voice of the Spirit and receive the wisdom and insight of friends to help you have greater clarity about your decisions.

COURSE SCHEDULE:

February 24    Introduction to spiritual formation and “experiments in truth” including how Jesus modeled and taught acetic practices and watchfulness.

EXERCISE: Develop and commit to a 40-day “experiment in truth” that addresses 3 key life growth areas with abstinence and engagement.

(February 26)    Begin 40 day experiment

March 3:    Discernment and listening as individual and communal practices.

EXERCISE: Send feedback inventory to 5 trusted friends/ elders.

March 10:  Developing your personal growth plan—setting goals for growth in various life dimensions.

EXERCISE: Work through outline for your personal growth plan.

(March 17)        (No meeting—St. Patrick’s Day)

March 24: How to identify and utilize the power of having a spiritual mentor.

EXERCISE: Make initial contact with a potential spiritual mentor or peer mentor.

March 31: Developing your personal rule of life—yearly rhythms, commitments and practices to sustain your spiritual formation.

EXERCISE: Develop a personal rule of life in conjunction with your growth plan.

April 7: Processing the benefits and insights gained through your 40-day “experiments in truth.” (potluck dinner/celebration)