Board & Staff Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation

Anyone interested in centering prayer would do well to read this book. My Life with the Saints by James Martin, SJ, 2007 Martin’s memoir is wonderful, for it is testimony of the power of the saints in his own life. Very readable and with many subtle references to Ignatian spirituality interwoven, the book is a great resource for those whose spirituality is affirmed in learning about that of others. Kitchen Table Wisdom, Stories that Heal by Rachel Naomi Remen, 2006 These readings explore life through everyday experiences of life force, judgment, traps, freedom, opening the heart embracing live, live and help live, knowing God in addition to mystery and awe.

Education Outside

May this be for you and me, a Lent that enlightens the heart and brings freedom to the soul. The journey will never be more pure, more clear or more healing. Lent is (generally speaking) my least favorite season of the year.

People for Open Space/Greenbelt Alliance

Sometimes these distractions may resurface later precisely because God wishes to reveal something to us regarding them. Paying attention to anything closely can lead to experience God and a deeper relationship with God. Notice something beautiful each day and adore God in it. A Collage of Thoughts on Prayer is a collection of sayings about prayer and excerpts from Scripture. You could stick it on your refrigerator or put it on your bulletin board, or you could put it in a drawer or book and let it find you when you need it.

• Sometimes these distractions may resurface later precisely because God wishes to reveal something to us regarding them.
• The result is a feast of love for the senses and the soul.
• He would wake up early, stay up all night, take time out from the crowds and busyness to find a quiet and safe place.
• This book will likely challenge and expand your image of a loving, Trinitarian God and invite you deeper into that intimate love relationship.

By David L. Fleming, SJ, 2008 This fine volume brings the reader new to the Ignatian tradition a clear way in and provides the more familiar practitioner valuable thoughts and clear insights flowing from the depth of Fr. Fleming’s experience as director, mentor and writer. What an engaging story of healing and the power of God’s love! This book will likely challenge and expand your image of a loving, Trinitarian God and invite you deeper into that intimate love relationship. During prayer, there may be distracting thoughts or feelings. Rather than attempting to repress these distractions, it is often better to allow them to surface, to recognize them, name them, accept them and to let them go.

HOPE Collaborative (Tides Center)

Can sign up for daily meditation and weekly reflection e-letters. Cac.org The Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which was founded in 1987 by Franciscan Father Richard Rohr. Here you can read articles by Richard Rohr, sign up for daily email meditations, and more. Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope by Joan Cittister, OSB, 2005 A powerfully written, thoughtfully presented story that elevates the reader to explore how the challenges of life can be turned into hopeful ways of living. The daily examen (review of the day) can be a powerful way to become more aware of God’s presence in our lives.

Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice

• Renovare.orgRenovaré USA is a Christian nonprofit that models, resources, and advocates fullness of life with God experienced, by grace, through the spiritual practices of Jesus and of the historical Church.
• ‘Of all the ways God seeps out through my life…’ leads into one of Clarence Heller’s poems.
• And should a piece of goodness return to you,perhaps barely recognizable,welcome it into your arms and into your heart.Yes, if it should return to you,welcome your goodness home.

A Piece of Goodness is a daily excerpt from one of Clarence’s poems, with convenient access to the entire poem for those who wish to engage. It is available through a daily email or a post on Facebook. Lists the Scripture readings (no reflections are provided) for any day you choose. Sacredspace.ie An invitation to make a “sacred space” in your day, to spend ten minutes, praying here and now, as you sit at your computer, with the help of on-screen guidance and scripture passage chosen specially each day. By this process, we become active participants in our spiritual lives.

$17.95 plus shippingEveryday Sacred is a remarkable collection of words and images that remind us of the presence of God in each moment. Clarence Heller’s reflections will leap straight into your heart, and his striking paintings clarence heller bring his experience of the sacred to vibrant life. The result is a feast of love for the senses and the soul. Clarence Heller is a friend of Bridges, having served on the Bridges Board for five years, as a prayer companion for two years, and as the coordinator for the Moments of Grace + Prayer ministry (formerly known as Week/Month of Guided Prayer) since 2005. A significant number of Bridges retreatants are first exposed to Ignatian Spirituality through the MG+P and a substantial percentage of the MG+P spiritual companions have or currently are serving as prayer companions in Bridges.

Loyolapress.com/3-minute-retreats-daily-online-prayer/Loyola Press three minute retreat offers quiet music, scripture, a reflection and two questions that lead the pray-er into some quiet time. Bridgesfoundation.org The Bridges Foundation is a St. Louis based non-profit organization that offers the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola in everyday life, as well as related programs. Clarence Heller has offered us in these Lenten poems and reflections an opportunity to engage in total affirmation and transformation in Christ. The Resurrection of Easter Sunday will never be more real as day by day during your Lenten journey you reflect and pray with these poems, reflections and scripture readings to become the authentic you God created.

Golden Gate University School of Law

My Grandfather’s Blessings, Stories of Strength, Refuge and Belonging by Rachel Naomi Remen, 2001 The author shares life experiences through readings of brief story and spiritual nourishment. Through these stories, a table of attentive openness and invitation is spread for the reader. The meaning of strength, refuge and belonging exceeds one set of beliefs, encompassing life and living. The community of spiritual companions in this ministry has assembled a list of their favorite books which includes not only the title and author, but also brief descriptions for each book. Connecting New   is Clarence’s monthly sharing of a poem, painting, prayer, and/or reflection with a spiritual message.

Taking the Gospel for the day as our reference point, I offer a poem that I hope will open a door to a place in your heart where you can connect with the heart of Jesus. However, I am not only a poet, but also a spiritual director. So to invite you even deeper, I have included specific suggestions for reflection and prayer. Read what others who have read an advance copy have to say. Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit by Thomas Keating, OCSO, 2007 Keating argues that the spiritual journey is a gradual process of enlarging our emotional, mental, and physical relationship with the divine reality present in us. He discusses the fruits and gifts of the Spirit, but then relates them to the practices of contemplative prayer and living.

Sonoma Valley Education Foundation

A delightful way to stay in touch with friends and loved ones. The foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry from nonprofits with no deadlines. There are two rounds of funding each year in May/June and November.