Margaret and I (Terry Alve) enjoyed a 3 day wander through the Catlins at the beginning of December after attending ordinations in the Dunedin Anglican Cathedral. Our Catlins experience began with a lighthouse visit across a very narrow and high pathway out to the Nugget Point promontory. It ended after a drive along many kms of shingle roads at South Point on the very bottom of the South Island, where the marcrocarpa trees lean at 45 degrees. Like many who visit this area we were wowed by its rich and untouched beauty and its diverse land forms and features.

May your summer be filled with the beauty of our land and rich relationship as you celebrate Christmas and as you meander into your new year. God bless you.

The SGM Wellington year has finished and we thank all who attended events and especially those who organised and presented them.

The National 2014 SGM Calendar has been published and is now available online. The Central Region (Kapiti Coast-Wellington) section begins on page 28.

An early event for 2014 is the 7 Day Silent Retreat (14-21 February) to be held in the Magnificat Community venue, South Wairarapa. I have just spoken to Andrew Pritchard who advises that due to a recent withdrawal there is one place remaining for someone to attend this event. Please contact Andrew, 04 904 6764 or email alp_resources@paradise.net.nz 

We value you as a member of this SGM Wellington eList. If you find it helpful to receive our occasional mailings, you may consider recommending it to another. Alternatively, we recognise that your membership may have passed its 'used by date' in which case we invite you to unsubscribe.

Very kind regards and Christmas/New Year greetings,
Terry

Oct 19 INTRODUCTION TO CENTERING PRAYER - WORKSHOP

Centering Prayer is a form of Meditation in the Christian contemplative tradition that guides the heart, mind and soul to deepen towards the Sacred. Through silence and an inner gesture of letting go, we learn to experience God beyond words, emotions and thoughts, and to release our attachment to our ‘false self’ as Merton named it. The practice cultivates a deepening relationship with Life, and opens us to “purity of heart” and compassion. This workshop is based on the teachings of Fr Thomas Keating and Rev Cynthia Bourgeault.

Facilitator: Molly King & Pip Nicholls

Venue: St Andrew’s Church, Reikorangi Valley, Waikanae (Wheelchair Access)

Time: Saturday 10:30am to 3.30pm. Cost: $50. BYO lunch

Enquiries/regis. by 11 Oct: Molly King (04) 904 6102 or email: mdking@clear.net.nz


Nov 7 THROUGH AGEING TO SAGEING – RETREAT DAY

Spirituality for an emerging vision of growing older - This retreat day uses Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi’s definition of Sageing. “... a process of approaching ageing as a positive journey filled with wisdom, learning and spirituality. It affirms the importance of the elder years and teaches how to reap life’s wisdom”.

Facilitator: Pip Nicholls

Venue: Pa Maria, 78 Hobson Street, Thorndon, Wellington (wheelchair accessible)

Time: Thursday Nov 7, 10am to 4pm

Cost: $50 BYO lunch

Enquiries/registration by 1 Nov. to: Pip Nicholls (04) 562 6364 or pip.nicholls@xtra.co.nz


Nov 21 THIRST, TAMBOURINES AND TESSA WITH THE CARMELITES -  RETREAT DAY

If we ever thought the life of a monastic was more the ‘Mary’ role, well Teresa of Avila would prove that it’s frequently the role of ‘Martha.’ For Teresa, it’s not what we do but how we do it that counts. Today we’ll explore the ‘dance’ of the Carmelites
through the eyes of Tessa Bielecki and what ‘embodied prayer’ may have to say to us today.

Facilitator: Pip Nicholls

Venue: Pa Maria, 78 Hobson Street, Thorndon, Wellington (wheelchair accessible)

Time: Thursday Nov 21, 10:30am to 4pm

Cost: $50 per day or $175 for all four days BYO lunch

Enquiries/registration by 15 Nov. to: Pip Nicholls (04) 562 6364 or pip.nicholls@xtra.co.nz


Nov 23 & 30 - TWO DAY RETREATS AT PETONE

Come away for a day with yourself and with your God. There will be a substantial time for personal reflection, some time of input and a little time for optional sharing with others. See themes below. 

Theme: Advent
Facilitator: Helen Tripp
Time: 9.30am – 4pm
Venue: Petone Baptist Church, 38 Buick Street, Petone. (opposite the large ceramic fountain) Wheelchair access.
Bring: Notebook/pen, Bible, and warm clothes if wanting to walk along beach.
Cost: $20 and bring your own lunch (cafes very close to church as well) Tea & coffee provided.
Contact/Registration: Helen Tripp Ph: (04) 586 4626 or Email: helen.tripp@xtra.co.nz  
Limited to 8 places.

 Friday 20 to Tuesday 24 September  2013

(Wheelchair  access)

 Begins 7:30pm Friday and Ends 3pm Tuesday.

 A substantial part of each day will be in silence in order to listen more closely to God.

 Typically each day will offer:
• Morning Prayer and optional other resources for the day
• Evening Prayer & Communion to close each day
• an individual daily spiritual direction session (30-40 mins)
• personal space for your own  journey
• periods of communal silence  will be kept
• clay and material for drawing and painting will be available
• provision will be made for those who want to make a fully silent retreat

Venue: Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, Island Bay, Wellington

Facilitators: SGM Team

Cost: $300.00 or $285 if fully paid online by 30 August 

For More Info and Registration Form

As the image right indicates, SGM have published the print version of the National 2013 Calendar. This has been posted to all on the national database.

You didn't get one?

Send an email to Joanne Garton - National SGM Administrator or phone 09 267 5957.

The Calendar has info about a number of SGM related activities including their spiritual director training programme and how you may subscribe to the Refresh magazine. In fact the latest mailing came with a new copy of Refresh entitled, "I and Thou." The SGM 2013 Calendar will shortly be added as a PDF file to the www.sgm.org.nz website.

A full programme of contemplative spirituality events and activities has been planned for 2013 in the Wellington-Kapiti Region and is being promoted by the SGM Wellington-Kapiti organising group. Most of these events will appear on this website, along with additions and ammendments as they are advised. A link to News Blog posts like this will be emailed to those on the Wellingto-Kapiti "list" periodically.

The following events are planned for February 2013:

February 11 and every second Monday of the month
LECTIO DIVINA AND TIME FOR SILENT PRAYER - Pa Maria, 78 Hobson St., Thorndon - 7:00-8:15pm
Suggested Koha: $5
Contact: Pip Nicholls 04 562 6364

February 12 (also 12 Mar., 9 Apr., 14 May, 11 Jun., 13 Aug. - 6 MONTHLY SESSIONS
WOMEN'S SHARING GROUP - Broadmeadows - 7:30-9:30pm
$90 (negotiable) payable in advance - Max. 8 participants
Facilitator: Trish McBride 04 478 6332

February 15 - 22  SEVEN DAY SILENT RETREAT
Venue: Magnificat Community, South Wairarapa
Contact: Andrew Pritchard 04 904 6764
NB: Message received from Andrew Pritchard just before Christmas:
The last two places on the retreat were filled this week and so I will now have
to put any more on a wait list in case there are any withdrawals.
 
February 23  -  Unless you become like a Child - A Day Retreat
Venue: Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street, Island Bay
Fee: $20 plus bring lunch - tea & coffee provided
Facilitator: Helen Tripp 04 586 4626

February 26 and every last Tuesday of the  month
LECTIO DIVINA AND TIME FOR SILENT PRAYER - St Jame's, Lower Hutt - 12 Noon to 1pm
Contact: Pip Nicholls 04 562 6364

ERRATA: The following two ammendments to the Wellington Programme have been received:

1. Advised by Pip Nicholls: There is a workshop down for me as the 21st  November and it should be the 23rd November….  
it’s the Thirst, Tambourines and Tessa one….

2. Advised by Maureen Lamb: the monthly date for LECTIO at St James is now going to be on the last Tuesday of the month NOT the first as advertised in the SGM programme. It will start on Tuesday Feb 26th 2013.

Another Blog post will be appear here and an email sent advising of it mid-late January.

Until then have a wonderful festive season, perhaps some holidays and May 2013 be a time for you full of the awareness of God's grace.

Terry Alve

Each year Spiritual Growth Ministries produce a national events programme booklet.

This is being compiled currently.

If you are planning an event or series of events in 2013 that are in keeping with our broad aims please let us know by Thursday 6 September. 

Our aim is summarised in our Home Page:
"We are members of local Christian churches and groups who broadly speaking are drawn together by a contemplative approach to Christian prayer, worship and practice...."

Terry Alve is compiling the Wellington - Kapiti Coast - Wairarapa section of the 2013 Programme.

Click on his name above to email your info or send it via the Contact Form.