2020 Radical Hospitality Series

photo of steps with language of welcomeBeyond Fear

Helping Communities Choose Welcome

Thurs., Feb. 27, 9a-3p

The foundation of welcome is the inherent dignity of the human person, as created in the image and likeness of God.

We are called to welcome others with a presence that is more than just polite and that extends beyond our reservations. We are called to the kind of hospitality that is communal, revolutionary, and transforming. But there have always been challenges to such hospitality, like unknown travelers stopping for assistance and newcomers who come with their own ideas about community life. All the more reason for Benedict to insist that we “Welcome all guests as Christ.” Come as individuals or teams to improve your readiness for moving beyond discomfort toward truly human welcome.

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Radical Hospitality

Living with Real Generosity

Fri., Feb. 28, 7-9p

Seven years ago, S. Kathleen Atkinson did something that she had often thought about doing but had never pursued. She picked up the phone, called the chaplain of the North Dakota State Penitentiary and asked if there was anything she could do as a volunteer at the prison. That phone call began a journey that has changed her life and set in motion Ministry on the Margins, a volunteer-based ecumenical ministry committed to supporting those who fall through the cracks during times of transition. Now serving over 800 people a week with an average of 90 weekly volunteers, Ministry on the Margins was formed by people who come together believing in miracles—that Jesus who once was dead is now alive and present among us. They believe that ordinary miracles happen.

Come hear S. Kathleen’s story about Ministry on the Margins and how practical Benedictine values have led the way. Allow yourself to listen for your own unique desire to become a change-maker. Imagine what social engagement is possible within your own settings when you are tuned in to hope and resurrection.

This Public Presentation kicks off the weekend retreat, co-led by Rev. Zanne Ness, Everyday Prophets: How Small Acts of Courage and Compassion Change the World (Friday evening through Sunday, March 1 at 1p). Register Here for the entire weekend retreat.

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photo of steps with colored words and prophectic calls to action

Everyday Prophets

HOW SMALL ACTS OF COURAGE AND COMPASSION CHANGE THE WORLD

Fri., Feb. 28, 7p, thru Sun., Mar. 1, 1p

“When we think ‘prophetic’ we need not always think grandly about public tasks. . . It is the vocation of the prophet to keep alive the ministry of imagination.” ― Walter Brueggemann, The Prophetic Imagination

Being called a prophet may seem beyond the ordinary circumstances of our everyday lives. But what if it’s true? What if something needs to be done to confront the world’s numbness, and we’re the ones to do it? Even small acts of compassion and courage inspire hope. S. Kathleen Atkinson OSB and Rev. Zanne Ness are seasoned partners in ministry and skilled guides in awakening the imagination of ordinary people so that we might create more compassionate, just communities. Settle in to the prayerful monastic rhythms of St. Paul’s Monastery for a weekend, exploring how you are uniquely and meaningfully called to make a difference in the world. The retreat begins with Friday night’s presentation and continues through Sunday. Come for a prayerful and inspiring experience.

Learn more and register online

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