“Emptiness as Spiritual Practice” – Presentations by Douglas Christie

These talks will focus on the idea of “emptiness as spiritual practice”— especially as this idea surfaces within the Christian spiritual tradition. Drawing on the ancient Christian understanding of “kenosis,” or self-emptying, the talks will explore the idea of what it means to allow ourselves to become emptied out for the sake of God, our own spiritual integrity, love. To think of emptiness as a spiritual practice invites a consideration of how we can learn to inhabit such a space, and how we can come to embrace it as a kind of teacher or companion. It also invites us to grapple with what it might mean for us to grow and deepen our spiritual practice as a continual exercise of self-emptying.

Event begins Friday May 3, with Centering Prayer from 6:00-6:30pm CDT, with the first presentation from 7:00-8:30pm. The event will resume Saturday May 4, with Centering Prayer from 8:30-9:00am and the presentation from 9:30-12:30. Attendance can be in person in the Sanctuary or online. Suggested donation is $50. All are invited to bring a bag lunch and have lunch in the fellowship hall at 12:30, to visit about what was presented in the talks by Douglas.