Finding the Stillpoints

Issue Number 26~ November 2013 FOR REFLECTION

The disciple asked the elder, “What action shall I perform to attain God?” “If you wish to attain God,” the elder said, “there are two things you must know. The first is that all efforts to attain God are of no avail.” “And the second,” the disciple insisted. “The second is that you must act as if you did not know the first.” The elder said. Joan Chittister

Once upon a time, a disciple asked the elder, “Holy One, is there anything I can do to make myself Enlightened?” And the Holy One answered, “As little as you can do to make the sun rise in the morning.” “Then of what use,” the surprised disciple asked, “are the spiritual exercises you prescribe?” “To make sure,” the elder said, “that you are not asleep when the sun begins to rise.”

Joan Chittister

FOLLOW THAT STAR

You are invited to “Follow that Star” and journey with the Magi or Wise Men through Advent to Christmas in search of the Christ Child.

You don’t have to mount a camel or walk many kilometres to make this journey. Instead you are encouraged to simply give time and space to travel into an ever-deepening relationship with Christ and to consider the gift you might offer in worship.

Choose to come to one of the following:

Friday 29 Nov: 9.30am-4pm or

Wednesday 4 Dec: 9.30am–4pm or

Saturday Dec 7: 9.30am-4pm To register click here

The ministry of Stillpoint

offers you a place where you can “come away…and rest

awhile, a place to nurture your deeper self and deepen your

relationship with God. .

Phone: (08) 81780048

E-mail: stillpoint@internode.on.net

5 Burnell Drive

BELAIR SA 5052

www.stillpointsa.org.au

STILLPOINT FAITH COMMUNITY

CONTEMPLATIVE WORSHIP

Holy Communion, singing, prayers,

meditation, silence, and a time of

community afterwards for those who wish.

6.30pm in Nunyara Chapel

5 Burnell Rd Belair

10th

Nov & 24th

Nov

8th

Dec & 22nd

Dec

MID-WEEK MEDITATION & HOLY

COMMUNION Tuesdays and Thursdays 11.30am -

12.15pm Stillpoint House

We gather in the Lounge to say the Office

of Sext followed by a time of Meditation.

At 12 noon we gather for Holy

Communion. Feel free to bring your lunch

or just have a drink and enjoy catching up

with others.

The last one for 2013 will be the 24th

Dec.

We will resume on 14th

Jan 2014.

BE STILL AND KNOW

The last meeting for this year will be on

Tuesday 12th

November 1pm -2045pm

Stillpoint House

News from Stillpoint

VISIT FROM THE

COMMUNITY OF TRANSFIGURATION

We had a wonderful visit from Srs. Miriam and Naomi from

the Community of the Transfiguration, Teesdale, Victoria,

with special times of sharing and worship. Sr. Naomi, a

Theatre Nurse and Sr. Mriam a Uniting Church Minister, are

Monastics living in a Monastery within the Baptist Union of

Victoria, that was founded 40 years ago. They reflected on

living the monastic life; its invitation and applicability for life

in the 21st Century. The following is from a paper written on

Monasticism by Sr. Miriam.

“I live with amazing people from all walks of life who have

the same desire for GOD. We make our living like everybody

else, through employment in the work force. We pool all we

earn in a common purse which is administered by our

trusted treasurers and pays not only for our own need but

also for that of many people outside the monastery and even

overseas.

We are celibate Brothers and Sisters and married Brothers

and Sisters with children. Over the years, we have raised 14

children, carrying the same pressures and responsibilities as

everyone else.

We are a contemporary expression of monasticism. Monastic

vows have always been counter-cultural – an alternative way

of life to that of society and conventional church. Today, in a

culture of self-obsessed individualism, we live in life-long

community, where relationships are more important than

careers, money, mobility or consumerist choices.”

Sr. Mirriam

Stillpoint is a service of Mission Resourcing SA, Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of SA

`

“Our sign at the entrance of our new

monastery reads:”

“Welcome to all who believe

and all who do not.

Welcome to all who believe

in another way

and all who cannot believe anymore

May you find ease and peace

in your visit today.”