Spiritual Journey Series

Two Locations

Des Moines     Ames

DES MOINES

The Dark Night of the Soul

A Spiritual Journey in Contemplative Prayer and
The Dark Night of the Soul

2nd Tuesday of Each Month
6:30 – 8:30 pm
2011-12 Flyer
View Series Schedule Des Moines

Plymouth Congregational Church
Center for Spiritual Growth
42nd and Ingersoll Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa

We’ll be studying the book by Gerald May (Copies available at the first session, $12) and exploring the works of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross as we seek to move deeper in the contemplative tradition of the Christian mystics. To that end, each gathering will also feature a time for centering prayer.

The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth, by Gerald May

The ancient Greeks taught that suffering yields wisdom; the Buddha found enlightenment through confronting the inevitable suffering that life brings; and the best Christian spirituality, from Jesus on, has known that a truly whole spiritual life has to confront and integrate the dark side of existence. The dark gives depth, dimension and fullness to the spiritual life. In this seminal work, distinguished psychiatrist and spiritual counselor Gerald May shows how our darkest moments are vital to the freedom and joy that result from authentic spiritual growth. May draws on the great Christian spiritual teachings and writing on the "dark night," especially by John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila, on other spiritual traditions, psychiatric ideas and resources, and on poetry and literature.

The study will continue to meet monthly on the second Tuesday of each month.

Series Schedule

AMES                Des Moines   

4th and 5th Tuesdays of the month
7 - 9 pm

First Christian Church
611 Clark Avenue
Ames, Iowa

Each session features an inspirational audio presentation on spirituality, either from Contemplative Outreach, or some other source. These include the "Spiritual Journey" audio series by Thomas Keating, the Trappist monk who has developed the contemporary practice of Centering Prayer, a prayer of silence deeply rooted in the Christian contemplative tradition.

All sessions begin with a greeting time followed by a 30 minute Centering Prayer period. Then we listen to the CD followed by discussion.

Questions: Darla Ewalt, 232-4716,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it