Are you looking to transform your heart and mind through spiritual practice?
Join us to experience the enrichment and community that online contemplation can offer. From Monday to Saturday, our virtual chapel provides ten different opportunities for prayer and reflection. Whether you choose to participate occasionally or regularly, have an established meditation practice or are just beginning, are affiliated with a church or are spiritual but not religious, you are welcome here.
Each chapel session includes a 20-minute period of silent meditation, a short reading for prayerful reflection, and an opportunity for simple faith sharing. Take a moment out of your day for a rendezvous with God in a hospitable and inclusive community. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Take a look at the chapel schedule below and register to participate.
Each chapel session includes a 20-minute period of silent meditation, a short reading for prayerful reflection, and an opportunity for simple faith sharing. Take a moment out of your day for a rendezvous with God in a hospitable and inclusive community. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Take a look at the chapel schedule below and register to participate.
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Please direct questions to Al Gustafson at [email protected].
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Online Chapel: Summer 2025
Becoming Rooted - A Journey into Sacred Connection
June 22 - August 30
This summer our online chapel community invites you into a season of grounding, connection, and sacred listening. Drawing inspiration from Randy Woodley’s *Becoming Rooted*, we will engage in daily prayer and practice that reconnect us to the Earth and its Creator. In a world marked by disruption, disconnection, and despair, we believe spiritual practice can anchor us in the love, wisdom, and healing power of the Sacred.
Over the summer months, we will share daily prompts, practices, and reflections to help you:
June 22 - August 30
This summer our online chapel community invites you into a season of grounding, connection, and sacred listening. Drawing inspiration from Randy Woodley’s *Becoming Rooted*, we will engage in daily prayer and practice that reconnect us to the Earth and its Creator. In a world marked by disruption, disconnection, and despair, we believe spiritual practice can anchor us in the love, wisdom, and healing power of the Sacred.
Over the summer months, we will share daily prompts, practices, and reflections to help you:
- Reconnect with the sacredness of the Earth
- Cultivate stillness, gratitude, and presence
- Listen deeply to the wisdom of creation
- Become a healing presence in a hurting world
Chapel Focus: Fall 2024
Is it possible to live with greater equanimity, living our lives from a deeper and steadier current than the troubled and turbulent waters we find ourselves in? Can this deeper current power us to respond with courage, love and high-mindedness? This journey to the wellsprings of hope and the vision of response is a spiritual journey. Join us this fall as we pray with the mystical and prophetic voices of our Christian Tradition, finding hope and response in troubled times.
Day of Prayer: Igniting the Heart’s Flame
October 23, 8am – 4pm
Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
Facilitators: Al Gustafson & Ellen Wiggins
Register Here
In most images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, his heart is aflame with love for humanity. He acts from the Indwelling Presence of God located in his heart space. The image prioritizes the heart over the head as it reminds us that the body is the temple of God. As followers of Jesus, how might we ignite the flames of our own hearts allowing the Presence of God to love more through us?
Join us to spend a day building a sacred fire in your heart through the Buddhist practices of loving kindness. The day will be spent mostly in silence engaging simple spiritual exercises to build our God given capacity to be a loving presence in the lives of others. Discover and experience how the Sacred Heart of Jesus is instructive for our own spiritual path.
Attendance and Presence: As a participant, you agree to stay for the entire day and commit to participating as fully as you are capable. This type of day is not the kind of experience that you can drop in and out of well. Our day of prayer will include sitting and walking meditation periods, teachings and guided meditations, as well as reflective time out in nature. Unless necessary for reasons of health, plan to leave your phone in the car ... our day will be a retreat from technology. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Participant: $75
Sustainer: $110
Benefactor: $150
(actual cost for room rental & food is $110/person)
Book Discussion: The False White Gospel
Tuesday, October 29
7:30pm -9:00pm
Facilitator: Al Gustafson
Register here
Looking to read a thoughtful book on politics and faith during this turbulent election season? In his book, The False White Gospel, evangelical thought leader and social activist, Jim Wallis, raises up the faith of all of us as he helps us see how we as a country have been stuck and captive to the ideology and idolatry of White Christian Nationalism that is leading us to such great danger. In doing so he advances a theology of democracy by turning our attention to six iconic texts at the heart of what genuine biblical faith means and unpacking them so they speak directly to our current political climate. It is a book that is sure to trigger constructive and meaningful discussion. Hope you will consider being a part of our online discussion.
October 23, 8am – 4pm
Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
Facilitators: Al Gustafson & Ellen Wiggins
Register Here
In most images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, his heart is aflame with love for humanity. He acts from the Indwelling Presence of God located in his heart space. The image prioritizes the heart over the head as it reminds us that the body is the temple of God. As followers of Jesus, how might we ignite the flames of our own hearts allowing the Presence of God to love more through us?
Join us to spend a day building a sacred fire in your heart through the Buddhist practices of loving kindness. The day will be spent mostly in silence engaging simple spiritual exercises to build our God given capacity to be a loving presence in the lives of others. Discover and experience how the Sacred Heart of Jesus is instructive for our own spiritual path.
Attendance and Presence: As a participant, you agree to stay for the entire day and commit to participating as fully as you are capable. This type of day is not the kind of experience that you can drop in and out of well. Our day of prayer will include sitting and walking meditation periods, teachings and guided meditations, as well as reflective time out in nature. Unless necessary for reasons of health, plan to leave your phone in the car ... our day will be a retreat from technology. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Participant: $75
Sustainer: $110
Benefactor: $150
(actual cost for room rental & food is $110/person)
Book Discussion: The False White Gospel
Tuesday, October 29
7:30pm -9:00pm
Facilitator: Al Gustafson
Register here
Looking to read a thoughtful book on politics and faith during this turbulent election season? In his book, The False White Gospel, evangelical thought leader and social activist, Jim Wallis, raises up the faith of all of us as he helps us see how we as a country have been stuck and captive to the ideology and idolatry of White Christian Nationalism that is leading us to such great danger. In doing so he advances a theology of democracy by turning our attention to six iconic texts at the heart of what genuine biblical faith means and unpacking them so they speak directly to our current political climate. It is a book that is sure to trigger constructive and meaningful discussion. Hope you will consider being a part of our online discussion.
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Chapel Schedule & Hosts:
Monday | 7 am CST | John Blumberg & Linda Tomasello Monday | 7:30 pm CST | Guided Loving Kindness Meditation Al Gustafson & Deb Wilson Tuesday | 5:00pm CST | Welcoming Prayer Practice Tuesday | 7 am CST | Ed Shurna & Vince Keenan Wednesday | Noon CST | Al Gustafson & Bill Hassett Wednesday | 7:30 pm CST | Mary Beth McEuen & Ed Siderewicz Thursday | 8 am CST | Susan Cisek, Mary Ellen Durbin, Sheila McCann Thursday| 5:00pm CST | Welcoming Prayer Practice Friday | 10 am CST | Al Gustafson Saturday | 7 am CST | Kate DeVries & Margie Rudnik |
Loving Kindness Meditation
Join us for a guided Loving Kindness meditation practice beginning every Monday at 7:30 pm. This meditation has its roots in the Buddhist tradition and is a practice for cultivating Christ like compassion for ourselves, those in our life and our sisters and brothers throughout the world. It can serve very practically as an antidote to the negative states of mind that are nearly impossible to guard against during these days of threat, polarization and uncertainty. This will also be an opportunity to join our hearts as one, sharing our prayer of care and becoming a collective channel of Light to a world that can use a little more love. To sign up and receive a Zoom link to access the chapel, visit bit.ly/contemplativecommunity |