4/14/2008
I've attached two files for your preparation for the Ghost Ranch Desert Pilgrimage. One is an invitation to select an area of service to the Pilgrim community during our time together. Please indicate your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice and return at your early convenience (along with the information sheet sent earlier, if you have not done so already).
Also attached is a tentative summary of our schedule.There may be some adjustments that will need to be made as we draw closer to our gathering. However, this should provide an orientation as to how our week together will unfold.
The Pilgrimage leadership team continue to hold you in our prayers and anticipation as we come closer to gathering together at the Ranch.
As we come together for this experience we come from a variety of contexts. We will have a rather large group of Pilgrims this year, 29 as of this writing. Some in the group will have previous experiences of Ghost Ranch and even of the Desert Pilgrimage. Some are coming with spouses, partners, or family members. Others are coming together from the same community and congregation. In every instance it is our hope that each is coming in intentional openness to this new experience in a new community of pilgrims, whatever our prior connections and associations. A time of letting go of the familiar is a core part of the spiritual discipline of pilgrimage.
Tentative Schedule
Monday, May 12 Pilgrims arrive and secure housing arrangements
5:30 PM Dinner in the Dinning Hall
7:00 Brief orientation in the Arts Center Building
(our meeting place for the week)
Tuesday, May 13 Entering the Land; Land as Teacher 7:00 Welcoming the Day – gathering in the open field
7:30 Breakfast
9:00 Gathering in front of Cottonwood; processing to the Meeting Place (Art Center)
Journey to the Mesa
12:00 Lunch
5:30 Dinner
6:00 Journey to Casa del Sol, gathering with Tewa Elder, Gilbert Naranjo
Wednesday, May 14 Journey to Sacred Sites near Abiquiu: Opening to the Other 7:00 Welcoming the Day
7:30 Breakfast
9:00 Orientation at Meeting Place
9:30 Journey to the Abiquiu area
The White Place
Picnic by the Chama River
Visitation with Islamic neighbors hosted by Rahma Lutzin
5:30 Dinner
7:00 Gathering at the Meeting Place
Night prayers
Thursday, May 15 Deepening in the Land: Contemplative Meandering 7:00 Welcoming the Day
7:30 Breakfast
9:00 Orientation to the Day – Meeting Place
12:00 Lunch
3:00 Journey to Abiquiu; visitation at San Tomas Church and Alto Morada with
Dexter Trujillo
5:30 Supper
6:30 Journey to the Bear
Night Prayers
Friday, May 16 The Healing Place 7:00 Welcoming the Day
7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Journey to Holy Family Church & begin walk to Santuario de Chimayo.
Brief stop enroute at El Buen Pastor Presbyterian Church
12:30 Healing Service at the Santuario
1:15 Lunch at Leona’s in the plaza; visit to San Nino Chapel, Gallery
Return to the Ranch
5:30 Supper
7:00 Harvesting learnings and insights
Evening Prayers
Saturday, May 17 Wilderness Journey 7:00 Welcoming the Day
7:30 Breakfast
9:00 Gather to leave for Christ in the Desert Monastery
Picnic Lunch
Sharing in Prayers
5:30 Supper
7:00 Closing with Contemplative Eucharist; preparing for the journey home;
Bringing the Pilgrim Community to a close.
Sunday, May 18: Returning home.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4/22/08There are a number of registrants who have not yet returned the information sheet sent out in the first mailing and the areas of service form sent out with the 2nd mailing. Prompt return of these will help us complete the areas of service and also provide the leadership team with important background information.
Thank you for your attention to this note.
And I encourage your continuing prayer for our pilgrimage experience that God's Spirit will enrich all of us in nourishing and transformative ways.
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4/24/08I am forwarding this note from one of our participants who is inquiring about transportation assistance. Thank you for your attention to this.
(p.s. still looking forward to receiving the information sheet and areas of service form from several)
----- Original Message -----
From: Janet Nadel
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 9:59 AM
I'm having problems arranging travel. Is there anyone else who is from Kansas City area, or who might be passing close (driving) who would ride share (split cost)?
Please pass along my request as you see fit.
Janet
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5/8/08I've attached to this note the "Areas of Service" responses. A complete list will be available at the Pilgrimage, including those who have come in more recently.
We are looking forward to seeing each of you in the next few days.
Areas of Service to the Pilgrim CommunityAlmoner: collects money or other resources to give to special causes selected by the community: Joy Strang, Elspeth Peterjohn
Anam Chara/ Spiritual Friend: intentionally sets aside time each day to pray for the pilgrims in the community; is available, if requested, to meet with another for prayerful reflection: John Lentz, Nancy Wyss, Robert Nemcek, Mary Ball
Bard/Poet: offers poetry readings or creates poetry at various times throughout our journey; also collects poems written by other pilgrims: Peg Weissbrod, Mary Jane Skala, Marilyn Allen,
Joann Shaner
Ceremonaria/um: makes arrangement for and presides over ceremonial events such as celebrations of birthdays, anniversaries, other remembrances. Jeannette Soinski
Chronicler: keeps a written and/or photographic record of the events of the pilgrimage. (This may be two different positions). Arranges for these to be made available after the Pilgrimage. Mary Jane Skala, Peg Weissbrod, Kay Ramsey, Joanne Shaner,Graham Creasey, Katie Weissbrod
Infirmarian: in charge of all arrangements for the sick (bring small first aid kit) Nancy Wyss, Janet Nadel
Music Maker: supports the life of the community through music (bring instruments, CDs, etc.) Melody Obery, Linn Obery, Graham Creasey
Sacristan: makes all preparations for worship: Jeannette Soinski, Elspeth Peterjohn
Wrangler: helps round-up wandering pilgrims as needed. John Lentz, Robert Nemcek, Richard Peterjohn
Servants to the Community: guides and cares for the well-being of the pilgrim community Anne Avalone, Ken Cuthbertson, Wallace Ford
SUGGESTED BIBLIOGRAPHY (** indicates highly recommended but not required, the rest are good books you may wish to explore for personal enrichment.)
** THE SOLACE OF FIERCE LANDSCAPES; DESERT AND MOUNTAIN SPIRITUALITY by Belden C. Lane; Oxford University Press. 1998 (includes essays on Ghost Ranch and Christ in the Desert Monastery)
** VALLEY OF SHINING STONE; THE STORY OF ABIQUIU BY Leslie Poling Kempes; U. of Arizona Press, 1997.
**THE SCHOOL OF THE PILGRIM: AN ALTERNATIVE PATH FOR CHRISTIAN GROWTH by Brian Webb-Mitchell, Westminster John Knox Press, 2006
DEATH COMES FOR THE ARCHBISHOP by Willa Cather
MY PENITENTE LAND; REFLECTIONS ON SPANISH NEW MEXICO by Fra Angelico Chavez
THE ART OF PILGRIMAGE: THE SEEKERS’ GUIDE TO MAKING TRAVEL SACRED by Phil Cousineau
PONDERINGS FROM THE PRECIPICE; SOULWORK FOR THE NEW MILLENIUM by James Conlon
WILDERNESS SOJOURN; NOTES IN THE DESERT SILENCE by David Douglas
DESERT NOTES/RIVER NOTES by Barry Lopez
THE WISDOM OF THE DESERT by Thomas Merton
THE WAY OF THE HEART; DESERT SPIRITUALITY AND CONTEMPORARY MINISTRY by Henri Nouwen
SANTOS AND SAINTS; THE RELIGIOUS FOLK ART OF HISPANIC NEW MEXICO by Thomas J. Steele,
ON PILGRIMAGE by Douglas Vest
MASKED GODS: NAVAHO AND PUEBLO CEREMONIALISM by Frank Waters