RETREATS / EVENTS
Save the Date!
Internationally known author and speaker Sister Joan Chittister, OSB, will be at Holy Wisdom Monastery on November 14-15, 2009. Saturday, November 14 is a campaign fundraiser that begins with a late afternoon reception and concert by Father Robert Koopmann, OSB, from St. John's Abbey in Minnesota. Joan's talk, entitled "God, Women and the World," will follow. The new monastery dedication will take place on Sunday morning, November 15. To add your name to a list of those interested in receiving additional details as soon as they are available, please contact Eva at
eschlicht@benedictinewomen.org.
Volunteer in Community
Our Benedictine community invites single women between the ages of 20 and 50 to broaden their spirituality by working on the prairie. Continue your spiritual journey here with people of different faiths and backgrounds. Internships of two weeks to two months are available June 15 through August 15. Room and board provided.
Taking Pause
August 20-22, 2009
Taking pause in the midst of our busyness is a chance to come home to our hearts and to the presence of God.
Personal Retreats Year Round!
Need some time away from your busy schedule? Come for a few hours, a day or longer. Contact Gloria at 608-831-9304;
monastery@benedictinewomen.org.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Help Move the Books
Construction of the new monastery building is progressing on schedule. Volunteers are needed to help move books, shelving units, desks, card catalogs, chairs and tables in late July or early August.
For more information about this or other volunteer opportunities, contact Jan at 608-836-1631,
ext. 123 or jlottig@benedictinewomen.org.
SUPPORT US
Support Us as You SearchBenedictine Women of Madison and Benedictine Life Foundation are registered with Internet search engine GoodSearch! Simply by making GoodSearch.com the default search engine on your computer, you can help raise funds for the monastery! Click here to learn more. PRAYER / WORSHIPMonastic Community
Prayer ScheduleAll are welcome to pray in the monastery each day at morning, midday, and evening according to the monastic pattern of worship using hymns, psalms, scripture, and prayer. Click here for prayer schedule. Sunday Worship Join our Sunday Assembly at 9 a.m. each Sunday at our temporary location, Waunakee Village Center, 333 S. Madison Street, Waunakee. Our liturgy is ecumenical and inclusive and all are welcome. Centering PrayerA group of Sunday Assembly members and Oblates hold Centering Prayer gatherings on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m. in the COB room of the Monastery. All are welcome. For more information about prayer and worship contact Lynn at llemberger@benedictinewomen.org or 608-836-1631, ext. 138. RESOURCES Reading ResourceTurning to One Another by Margaret J. Wheatley Purchase this book through Good Shop, Choose Benedictine Women of Madison, then Amazon or Barnes and Noble and a donation will go to the monastery just for using Good Shop. | |
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Sunday Assembly Mission Statement
When we gather for worship, we proclaim the Word of God and share the Bread of Life. Seeing Christ in one another, we offer hospitality to all as we care and serve both within our Sunday Assembly and in our daily lives.
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All are Welcome at Sunday Assembly
Sunday Assembly is a unique gathering of people who come together on Sunday morning seeking God in prayer and worship, in community building, in social justice and in ecumenical hospitality. We are women, men, children and youth from places near and far who worship and walk together with Benedictine Women of Madison. We welcome everyone to join us for prayer and to participate fully. In the early 1970s the Sisters of St. Benedict opened their prayer and worship to the public and in the years since, a simple and inclusive rite for the celebration of the Eucharist has evolved. The prayer reflects the monastic spirit of the Benedictine community and its roots in the Judeo-Christian tradition while embracing the ecumenical makeup of Sunday Assembly. We proclaim and listen to the Word of God and share the Bread of Life drawing texts and music from various religious traditions. Inclusive language, a broader image of God and respect for the dignity and sacredness of all humanity and all creation are incorporated in song and prayer. more
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Why Does Everyone Smile
When You Say, "Sunday Assembly?"
Members of Sunday Assembly are a diverse and unique group of people. Listen to their own words explaining why they come to Sunday Assembly.  Joan and Jim McCarthy, long-time Sunday Assembly members "The reflections each Sunday assume we are intelligent adults who are open to insightful interpretations of the Gospel and also give us insight into integrating the word of God into our personal lives."  Erica and Mike Sweitzer-Beckman, new members of Sunday Assembly We come from different faith backgrounds (Roman Catholic and Church of the Brethren). We knew we wanted to find a faith community where we could find friends, a well-done liturgy, a welcoming spirit and a place where we both felt like we fit in. Mike was accustomed to receiving communion every Sunday. I needed a potluck or a coffee hour every Sunday. We have found a home at Holy Wisdom. more
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The Emerging Church
Something new is emerging in the religious landscape around the world. At the recent Emerging Church conference I attended, in Albuquerque, NM, author Phyllis Tickle noted that every 500 years the church undergoes a major shift as part of a larger societal change. During each of these shifts, the question that calls for a new answer is: "Where now is our authority?" At the time of the Reformation, the Protestant churches said authority was in Scripture. In our time, the emerging answer to this question is that authority is found in community. What is emerging today is non-hierarchical and emphasizes the growth of the reign of God rather than the growth of any particular denomination. According to Brian McLaren, author and former pastor, the core of this new emergence is a fresh vision of Jesus. more
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What is LEED Certification All About?
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ (LEED certification) is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an  immediate and measurable impact on their building's performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance and awarding points in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. more |
2008 Annual Report
The Benedictine Life Foundation was blessed with
an outpouring of generous support by hundreds of donors and volunteers in 2008.
Much of the financial support was directed to the Restore the Land, Renew Your Spirit campaign to build the new "green" monastery. Also, more than
200 volunteers provided more than 2000 hours of time and talent. We are deeply
grateful to all who give of their work, wealth and wisdom throughout the year. more
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