The Center for Spirituality, Action, and Transformation

01/22/2025

At a National Prayer Service at Washington's National Cathedral attended by President Trump and Vice President Vance, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde: "The vast m...

10/07/2020

Great song for such a time as this

If Not Now by Carrie Newcomer Words and Music by Carrie Newcomer ©2019 Carrie Newcomer Music (BMI), Administered by BMG Chrysalis Available on Rounder Record...

05/05/2020

conversation, poetry, and song with Carrie Newcomer and Parker Palmer - for such a time as this

In this Growing Edge Podcast Parker J. Palmer & Carrie Newcomer have an open-hearted conversation about maintaining hope in the time of covid-19, including an exploration of a quote by Joel Elkes about gardening in the dark, Marge Percy’s powerful poem, “The Seven of Pentacles.” and the ma...

04/16/2020

Mirabai Starr shared this poem at the start of her 12 week course "Sacred Blessings of Women Mystics and Goddesses". A good reminder from Mirabai and Mary.

It doesn't have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don't try to make them elaborate, this isn't a co

04/12/2020

Blessings in these days still abound

Experience the serenity of six blessings for everyday life in our new meditative film, "Blessings." Read by Br. David Steindl-Rast, "a man whose humble teach...

03/24/2020

A respite for COVID - Sat. 28th Free and online
Register for your spot online

Receive the Sacred Blessings of St. Teresa of Avila, Mary Magdalene & the Goddess Durga A Free Video Event With Mystic Scholar Mirabai Starr

02/04/2020

Let us begin again...and again

Beginning Again

Because we spill not only milk
Knocking it over with an elbow
When we reach to wipe a small face
But also spill seed on soil we thought was fertile but isn't,
And also spill whole lives, and only later see in fading light
How much is gone and we hadn't intended it

Because we tear not only cloth
Thinking to find a true edge and instead making only a hole
But also tear friendships when we grow
And whole mountainsides because we are so many
And we want to live right where black oaks lived,
Once very quietly and still

Because we forget not only what we are doing in the kitchen
And have to go back to the room we were in before,
Remember why it was we left
But also forget entire lexicons of joy
And how we lost ourselves for hours
Yet all that time were clearly found and held
And also forget the hungry not at our table

Because we weep not only at jade plants caught in freeze
And precious papers left in rain
But also at legs that no longer walk
Or never did, although from the outside they look like most others
And also weep at words said once as though
They might be rearranged but which
Once loose, refuse to return and we are helpless

Because we are imperfect and love so
Deeply we will never have enough days,
We need the gift of starting over, beginning
Again: just this constant good, this
Saving hope.

~ Nancy Shaffer ~

(Instructions in Joy)

Photo by Lars Leber Photography

12/20/2019

blessings abound
take time - 6 minutes - to listen, reflect, and sit with a blessed life.

Experience the serenity of six blessings for everyday life in our new meditative film, "Blessings." Read by Br. David Steindl-Rast, "a man whose humble teach...

11/29/2019

ADVENT MIDRASH

The Center for Spirituality, Action, and Transformation
invites you to an
ADVENT MIDRASH RETREAT
facilitator – Miriam Bush

Sunday, December 8, 2019
3:00 – 5:30
Covenant Community Church
134 E. Barney – Muskegon Hts, MI
(please register: www.c-sat.org - go to “contact us”)

WHAT TO EXPECT :
As Christian enter this season of ADVENT one might be all too familiar a birth narrative with Mary, Joseph, and little baby Jesus born in Bethlehem. With the tool of JEWISH MIDRASH, we will explore the story from a modern and more personal angle as we wonder about this age-old story creating a story about the story to see what might uncover about our own stories.

“Midrash aggadah, interprets biblical narrative, exploring questions of ethics or theology, or creating homilies and parables based on the text”. (myjewishlearning.com)

Sharing the gospel writer Luke’s story, we will re-image the story anew. Find here one re-imaging prompt for considering our time together.

Providing spiritual direction, spiritual retreats, workshops and study groups. Open to all faith traditions. Many spiritual practices and opportunities available

10/28/2019

Drum Circle
Sunday, November 10th – 3:00 to 4:30 PM
Covenant Church (134 E. Barney, Muskegon Hts, MI)

Drumming is an ancient instrument used for community gatherings, dances, rituals, and communication. In recent years drum circles have become therapeutic and even medically beneficial for some participants. As we gather to form a drum circle our shared experience focuses on mutual intention found in active prayer. Our learning together suggests that participants come with or without previous experience, open to allowing heart beats to join in the drum beat.
Bring your own drum or borrow one on site.
Donations to C-SAT welcomed
Please register at www.c-sat.org by Nov 7

01/31/2019

A long read but worth it. Benedictine Spirituality from Christ in the Desert Monastery - a reminder to keep WORK and PRAYER, Ora et Labora in balance and to watch for that demon of driven compulsion that keeps us from what is most important.

Our modern obsession with workplace efficiency has a simple answer: the prayerful, peaceful pace of Benedictine monastic labor