Aloha for Advent!

If you (or someone you love) is in Hawaii, let's connect!

Dear friends, if you or someone you love lives in Hawaii (especially Oahu or the big island), or will be visiting there between Thanksgiving and Christmas, then I hope to see you soon. I’ll be in Hawaii between November 29 and December 17, speaking at several different churches.

Let’s connect on the island of Hawaiʻi

I’ll be speaking at three different churches on the big island of Hawaiʻi. On the weekend of November 29-30, we’ll celebrate the beginning of Advent. I’ll be preaching at the “Beach Mass” on the shore of Kawaihae, sponsored by St. James Episcopal Church of Waimea, and the following morning I’ll preach at St. James.

I’m presenting advent programs at two different churches: on Mondays (December 1, 8, and 15) I’ll be at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Pa’auilo; and on Wednesdays I’ll be back at St. James in Waimea. It will be the same program both nights: “Contemplative Wisdom and the Word,” drawing from my book Read the Bible Like a Mystic but with a special eye to the rhythm of contemplative waiting and gentle rest that forms the character of the Advent season. The Wednesday night presentations will be live-streamed, so if you are not on the big island, you can still join in. Visit www.stjameshawaii.org for more information.

For the second Sunday of Advent I’ll be visiting St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Kapa’au, also on the big island. I’ll be joining the St. Augustine’s Community at their 10:30 AM adult education hour to reflect on the gifts of Advent — and how this season is so conducive for a contemplative (mystical) approach to the sacred word! Check out St. Augustine’s by visiting their website at www.staugustineskohala.com.

Let’s connect in Honolulu

For the third Sunday in Advent, Gaudete Sunday, I’m heading over to the Island of Oahu to visit the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Andrew in Honolulu. We’ll gather at noon on December 14 for a light lunch and conversation on the Advent theme of “the Wisdom of the Heart,” drawing not only on Read the Bible Like a Mystic but also Eternal Heart. Program runs from noon to 2 PM; there is no charge although donations to help defray costs will be gratefully received. All are welcome. For more information or to register, please email the cathedral office at Office@CathedralHawaii.org.

This will be my first time speaking in Hawaii (God willing, hopefully not the last!), and I’m so looking forward to seeing some old friends (Fran and I are staying with a dear friend from my childhood) but also making lots of new friends.

For My Friends Who Aren’t In Hawaii…

If you don’t live in Hawaii… well, why not help to arrange for me to visit your community? If you are connected to a church, monastery or retreat center that sponsors visiting speakers and retreat leaders, please tell them about me and my work. Contemplative and mystical spirituality is the future of Christianity — but it’s not just for Christians, it’s for everyone. To learn more about my speaking ministry or to make a booking inquiry, please visit www.anamchara.com/speaking/ — hopefully I’ll be heading your way soon!

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