At the Redeemer, we know that asking deeper questions and exploring issues of faith helps us grow both as individuals and as a community.
Throughout the year, we offer a variety of speakers and learning series, providing opportunities to gather and learn together; details are provided here as well as through our eNews. A warm welcome awaits all who join – parishioners, friends and members of the wider community.
Living Our Questions: A Small-Group Experience with Fellow Seekers
“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”–Mark 2:21-22
Is there a “sticking point” in your experience of Christian community? A hymn that leaves you feeling, “I’m so not on board for this?” Words in the Creed that you struggle with? Sketchy versions of Christian doctrine and practice that seem to justify the status quo instead of liberating people?
It’s easy to feel isolated with our sticking points, easy to assume we’re alone with them. But we’re not. When we have a safe space within the community to share them, and our struggles with them, we’re reminded that they’re part of the journey of faith, not a departure from the journey of faith. We look for ways to go on saying, “I believe” on terms that are true to our experience and values. We try to pour new wine into new wineskins, following the advice of Jesus that pouring new wine into old wineskins doesn’t work so well. Searching together can strengthen our faith and give us courage for our journey. We can weave an experience of deeper, more intimate community with each other in the process.
Following on the success of the first BE YOU small-group experience in the fall, Learning@Redeemer invites you to share the questions you live with in a safe, confidential circle of fellow seekers. A group of 10 to 12 participants will begin meeting shortly after Easter, with the special invitation to share your “sticking points.” We’ll start by sharing from the heart about our journeys. In our later meetings, we’ll take up the topics that members most want to explore and take turns leading discussion on.
Please register your interest here, or contact david.townsend@utoronto.ca for more information.
Contemplative Radical: The Legacy of Thomas Merton
Amidst a monk’s life of silence and prayer, Thomas Merton (1915-1968) authored over fifty books. Deeply rooted in the contemplative tradition, he spoke prophetically on issues of war, race, and the economy. He was a chaplain to the peace movement of the 1960s. A pioneer of interfaith dialogue, he formed relationships with Buddhist, Hindu, Sufi , and Jewish mystics and theologians.
Four sessions were held between September 18, 2019 and January 15, 2020. Links to the audio of these presentations are below.
Thomas Merton: Global Visionary – with Michael Higgins. Audio of this September 18 session is here.
Woods, Landscape, City: The Prophetic Spirituality of Thomas Merton – with Paul Pynkoski. Audio of the October 16 session is here.
Thomas Merton and Wisdom-Sophia: Awakening to the Feminine Face of God – with Christopher Pramuk. Audio of the November 20 session is here.
We Are Already One: Indigenous Peoples and Race in Thomas Merton – with Paul Dekar. Audio of the January 15 session is here. During the session, reference was made to the Digging Roots’ performance of “Cut My Hair”. This video can be viewed on YouTube.
