Beyond Thin Places:
You’re invited to experience a Three-Part Series Exploring How Celtic Spirituality Can Enhance Your Contemplative Practice
Wednesdays, March 15th, 22nd, and 29th. 6:30pm to 7:45pm Central via Zoom (75 minutes each session)
Captured by the wisdom and beauty of Celtic Spirituality as shared by such treasured authors as John O’Donohue, Christine Valters Paintner, and John Philip Newell, some Eremos friends have sojourned to Ireland, Scotland, or Wales to experience “thin places” (where the veil between spirit and earth is perceived as thin). Others have been captured by what we’ve read or heard about Celtic Christianity and seek to know more.
This three-part series will explore and invite experiences in how Celtic wisdom can strengthen your contemplative practice and deepen your connection to God and nature, especially in spring when the earth is offering us powerful examples of renewal and rebirth.
Designed to be experienced as a series but open to those wishing to attend only a session or two, we hope you’ll join us in going Beyond Thin Places this spring!
Part I: March 15th
God is Everywhere
God is Everywhere with Dr. Kirk Webb of The Celtic Center in Seattle. We start off our series exploring how the Celts connect with nature and sense the Divine in and around everyone and every place. Bringing his experience facilitating many Celtic courses and explorations in nature to his talk, Kirk will support us in fully embracing this understanding to positively affect our attentiveness to the natural world and each other, and our ability to live a more contemplative life.
Part II: March 22nd
Crossing the Threshold
Crossing the Threshold with Melvin Dowdy, Ph.D. Bringing the awareness that God is everywhere into our daily lives opens us to sensing the sacred opportunities, which crossing even the most mundane thresholds can offer us. Using poetry to light the way, Melvin will help us recognize the opportunities and prepare us to honor these thresholds as they open the way for peace and joy.
Part III: March 29th
Blessing the Journey
Blessing the Journey with Rev. Brad Highum of Abiding Love Lutheran Church. He spent a recent sabbatical at Iona immersing himself in the Celtic Christian tradition and will share his experience, the power of a journey or pilgrimage, and the gift of blessing. Pastor Brad will invite us to bring more blessings into our lives and to consider how thin places, a pilgrimage, or an inner journey open us to blessings we may not even know we need or yearn for.
INVESTMENT:
Suggested Contribution of $50 for all three sessions or $20 per session.
(All sessions recorded, with viewing available through April 30th)
About our Speakers:
Dr. Kirk Webb
Dr. Kirk Webb is the Director and Founder of the Celtic Center, a teacher and facilitator, Spiritual Director, and Psychologist. He describes himself as “a Celt in soul and heritage.”
He has a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, a Masters degree in Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Seattle Pacific University. Dr. Webb has had the privilege of working as a spiritual director and psychotherapist for over 25 years and taught extensively in graduate programs for psychology, counseling, spirituality, and theology. In addition, he delights in leading regular pilgrimages to Ireland.
Dr. Melvin Dowdy
Dr. Melvin Dowdy, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, has more than 40 years of experience in executive coaching, organizational consultation, and academic instruction. His practice includes spiritual direction and counseling those confronting serious life transitions. He holds a B.A. degree from North Carolina Wesleyan, an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School, a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Duke University Graduate School, and an M.A. degree in Clinical Ethics from University of Virginia.
Dowdy has been exploring Celtic spirituality, especially through the gift of poetry and enjoys sharing this passion with others. His book of poetry, “Night Weavers,” was published in November 2020. He returns this spring to one of Ireland’s thin places where he will conduct a leadership retreat at Notre Dame Kylemore Abbey Global Center.
Pastor Brad Highum
Pastor Brad Highum was ordained to ministry in 2007 following a career of more than twenty years in operations and marketing management. He has served as Minister of Adult Education and Development at Riverbend Church in Austin and as mission development pastor at New Life Lutheran Church in Dripping Springs. He was called to Abiding Love Lutheran Church in Austin in 2011 and brings great gifts of spiritual leadership, preaching, teaching and pastoral care to the wider community. Drawn to Celtic spirituality, Pastor Brad has made pilgrimages in Scotland and Ireland and recently spent his sabbatical at the community of Iona, Scotland, enhancing a deep reverence for Celtic wisdom.
