The Way of Sorrow

If you cannot contemplate high and heavenly things, take refuge in the Passion of Christ, and love to dwell within his Sacred Wounds. For if you devoutly seek the Wounds of Jesus and the precious marks of his Passion, you will find great strength in all troubles.
-Thomas s Kempis

'Jesus Falls a Second time'

From the earliest Days Christians have journeyed to Jerusalem to retrace the path that Jesus took as he carried his cross from Pilate’s house, the place he was condemned to death, to Golgotha, the place of his crucifixion. This path has become known, according to tradition, as the Via Delarosa (‘Way of Sorrow’) or the Via Crucis (‘Way of the Cross’). During the middle ages when pilgrimage to Jerusalem was a large part of the spirituality of the day, replica’s of the Via Delarosa were built all over Europe so that pilgrims would be able to walk the path of Jesus more than once on a lifetime.

We will be hosting our own stations of the cross, in honour of Easter this Sunday the 23rd from 5:30pm – 7:30pm. It will be a time of art, music, meditation and reflection. Come Walk and maybe fnd your way, in the Way of Sorrow, with (literally) millions of others, from all walks of life, who have walked this path before you.

So-where-to-tour (Soweto)

For some reason bewteen the six of us who attended the tour none of us rememebred a camera, I tried to take some with my phone but they are pretty dodge. Thankse to Mpho and Mzwandile for giving us the tour which was really informative and hopefully the beginning of more conversation over these issues. I thought that Mpho's views on the role of government and so-called 'experts' in the addressing of important issues affecting many people in our world was very interesting. Mpho stressed the role of individuals in their responsibility for the upliftment and betterment of our world (and not to place our hopes and blame on the government, although they do have a role to play)? This question has been raised throughout many discussions within monastic lounge and our exploration in the 'story we find ourselves', who is responsible for the evil in our worlds? Are not all the evils in the world as a result of countless individual choices? if that is so, is not the only way to overcome those evils through countless indivdual choices to do good? As Long as evil is something perpetrated 'out there' we never are willing to take the initiative to be part of the solution and may inadvertantly be contributing to the problems...

Feel free to post your experience of the soweto tour and what you found intersting, agreed with and disagreed with etc?

Peace Monastic lounge

The Story we find ourselves in: Episode 1 Creation

Our Discussions over the next few weeks will be explorations in the "the story we find ourselves in" (the discussion title has shamelessly been stolen from Brian Mclarens: the story we find ourselves in).

"I not only am many stories,but have many stories...I am constantly balancing -or juggling-a number of ways of telling my own story: the masculine version,the american version, the human version,the christian version...within this multitude of stories, i accord one story,or several stories, a higher authority than others...if things go well my normative story is increasingly bolstered and autheticated...but things may not go well"*The First episode in our exploration of the Christian narrative (which is the 'normative story' of monastic lounge) is creation ,which will be followed by crisis, calling, conversation, community,Christ and consummation . The Discussion will be cented around Genesis (the first book of the bible) one and two, so it would be good to idea to read and reflect on these two chapters with a few questions in mind

1. What would it mean to live in a story where God is creator?
2. Can anything bad come from the 'mind'of God?
3. What are the implications of seeing human beings been made in the 'image of God'?
4. How is God related to Gods creation (human beings and the cosmos as a whole)?
5. What is our relationship to creation as a whole?
6. What is the implications of God saying after each 'day'of creation...and it was (very) good?
7. What difficulties to you have in reading the creation narrative?

Monastic lounge seeks to be a place that seeks to interact with and articulate, the story we find ourselves in and leaves you with the option as to the authority you give to the story within your own story.

Monastic Lounge

*Robert Mcafee Brown, "My story and 'The story' "

So-where-to (Soweto) Tour Day: Sat 2nd March

Monastic lounge and some friends will be embarking on a Soweto tour day,of well...Soweto. It will be taking place on Saturday the 2nd of March from 8am - 2pm. It will include stops at major sites in Soweto like:

• Regina Munde Catholic Church
• Hector Peterson Memorial Museum
• Kliptown Informal Settlement
• Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication
• The only street in the world where two nobel prize winners live
• Lunch at Thokoza Park

For more info on any of these sites visit http://www.soweto.co.za/ or google them.

The total cost for the day has been Budgeted at +-R70 (including lunch) if money is a problem please speak to us, which includes entrance to all the places, a knowledgable tour guide and lunch in the park.

Monastic lounge has spoken of itself (see below) as a conversational community (in conversation with other cultures, economic brackets etc) and so this is one way in which we can meaningfully be in conversation (although I suspect and would suggest that our attitude be one more of listening and learning, which often says more than when one speaks) with people who differ (and at the same time share commonality) with us. This is a trip of exposure, learning and growth for us as individuals and a community and the openess and humility with which you come to it, will define what kind of experience this could be for you.

The final logistics will be confirmed closer to the time but if you want more info contact Curtis on (072-900-4680). The places are limited, so if you are keen please let us know.

Peace Monastic Lounge

"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance -- it is the illusion of knowledge."

Liturgy anyone?

Liturgy: A form of public worship, often following a written, set design.

This Sunday we will be disussing the introduction of liturgy into monastic lounge which will include discussing

What are your apprehensions when it comes to liturgy?
What are some of the things you think could be of value within the liturgical approach?

As well as actually looking at the prayers we will be introducing and discussing the content of the prayers which will include.

Opening Prayer

Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them?

God may we live in love and so in turn live in you
Amen

(Based on 1 John 4:12ff taken from 'how (not) to speak of God')

Parting Prayer

Keep Watch dear God, with those who work or watch this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous, all for love’s sake, amen

(Anglican Book of Common Prayer)

The prayer of Thomas Merton

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following your will
Does not mean that I actually am doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore, I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear for you are ever with me,
And you will never leave me to face my perils alone

Finally we shall end with the reading of them.

Peace Monastic Lounge

Monastic Lounge Tensions and Identity

Monastic Lounge
'Tensions'
Identity

Monastic: Of, relating to, or characteristic of a monastery. Used often of monks and nuns, derived from Greek monos, meaning alone
Lounge: A room in which people may relax or wait, e.g. in a public building such as a hotel or airport, or in a vehicle such as a ship

These are some ‘tensions’ that we as Monastic Lounge strive to keep in balance (symbolised by the tension that exists in the very name Monastic Lounge) as we seek to explore spirituality, in the way of Jesus. Another way to think of these ‘tensions’ is to think of them as ‘false dichotomies’ or 'paradoxes'. This means that while some elements of our culture may believe these things to be in (direct) opposition, we believe these things should be held in creative tension. We believe this creative tension will lead to a holistic, integrated, responsible and authentic spirituality. These tensions seek to act as a window into the identity of Monastic Lounge and that which underlies and informs our values, approaches and practices.

Sacred & Secular

Acknowledging the divide between ‘sacred’ and the ‘secular’ is indeed a false dichotomy and in a real sense acknowledging that all is sacred, believing God to be God of all dimensions of life including what has often been defined as ‘mundane’, ’secular’ or ‘profane’.

Contemplation & Activism

Acknowledging the personal dimensions of spirituality (personal faith, ‘knowing God’) through spiritual practices while having confidence that Jesus never separated a Love for God from a Love for neighbour (both being the ‘Greatest command’). Having confidence that personal aspects of spirituality have public consequences i.e. in political, social and the environmental realm.

Individual & Communal

Acknowledging that while all of us have different defining experiences and traditions from which have emerged (individual) we belong to a community who are connected through their quest to follow God, to support one another in our quests and a desire for transformation of our world, in the way of Jesus, in whatever sphere of influence we may have (communal).

Disciplined & ‘Space-to-Breath’

Acknowledging that spiritual growth requires discipline (through spiritual practices, commitment to ones spiritual quest and ultimately God), while at the same time spiritual growth requires a place to be authentic and vulnerable about ones struggles, doubts , fears and flaws i.e. a ‘space-to-breathe’

Monastic lounge welcomes all and sundry seeking to create space for you to interact with and connect with fellow travellers in the way of Jesus.