Events

Initially co-sponsored by the Peace and Justice Community of St. Joseph Church, Lakewood. We pair a book and a movie on a timely or compelling topic, reading the book in advance of the meeting and coming together to watch the video and discuss the book and film, the meanings and implications for our lives.

If there is sufficient interest, we plan to invite other congregations to host such events around the diocese.

The book for our June meeting is An Unfinished Life, by Mark Spragg. The film is The Power of Forgiveness.

In An Unfinished Life, Jean Gilkyson lives in a trailer in Iowa with her almost 10-year old daughter, Griff, and her latest abusive boyfriend. Out of options and needing a new start in life, she returns to Wyoming and her father-in-law's house. Einar Gilkyson detests Jean and blames her for his son's accidental death, but for his granddaughter's sake, he takes them in temporarily. Einar's best friend, Mitch, also lives with him. They served in the Korean War together and Einar blames himself for Mitch's disability. Griff, unaware of the strains on all these relationships, begins to explore a family she's never known. Mark Spragg's novel of forgiveness and rebirth in a small town of the high plains has received positive reviews with the Denver Post saying, "An Unfinished Life is a deft contemplation of completion, of change and of coming home." (The above review from this site.)

The Power of Forgiveness is a powerful documentary featuring stories of the Amish, Ground Zero, Thich Nhat Hanh, Elie Wiesel and others, with reflections from Thomas Moore, James Forbes and Marianne Williamson.

Consider joining us to watch the film and discuss, whether or not you’ve read the book.

St. Joseph Episcopal Church 11202 W. Jewell Avenue, Lakewood. Click here for a map: St Joseph

A pdf poster is available here.

PeaceFlix A Film & Book Discussion Group Friday June 27, 2008 7:00 p.m.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) strengthens our ability to inspire compassion from others and respond compassionately to others and ourselves. NVC guides us to reframe how we express ourselves, how we hear others and resolve conflicts by focusing our consciousness on what we are observing, feeling, needing, and requesting.

In this workshop you will learn how to transform the life alienating language and ways of thinking that we have learned from our culture into a language of life that connects us to others and inspires natural giving and receiving. We will explore how the practical tools of NVC support the transformation of violence, particularly the subtler, unacknowledged verbal forms such as blaming, moralizing, judging and punishing.

For example, how can we be the recipients of difficult behaviors without responding in kind? How can we stand up in the face of aggression without dehumanizing others? How can we respond with compassion to transform our own acts of violence?

About the Facilitator

David Shindoll has been practicing and teaching Nonviolent Communication since 1999 and is working to become a trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication. David facilitates Nonviolent Communication practice groups, does couples mediation, and helps children learn how to live in community as a 1st – 3rd grade teacher. David’s life work is to help create a world in which people have power with each other instead of power over.

This event is co-sponsored by the congregation of St. Peter and St. Mary and EPF Colorado, a gift from the Colorado Non Violent Communication community in thanks for the church hosting their regular monthly Non-Violent Communication practice meetings. (Those are open, if you would like to become a part of them, whether or not you come to the May 10th event. For more information contact Michele Quinn-Miscall at revquinn@aol.com.) No charge, though a free-will offering will be accepted. Consider coming in the morning for our Steering Committee meeting, joining us for a quick lunch nearby, and then coming to the training.

Click here to download a pdf flyer.