Families and Spiritual Practice

In her book The Shelter of Each Other Mary Pipher identifies the challenges facing American families today.  These range from poverty to racism, addictions to technology, too little time to consumerism.  Pipher suggests two of the most important things we could do to protect and nurture families is to slow down and have conversations together.  She calls for re-building families by creating a renewed sense of community or what the Sioux call a “tiospaye.”  This class will explore ways of strengthening families at home, in congregations and in the community through spiritual practice and care. Practices will include family rituals, sabbath time, prayer, meditation, small groups, community service, mindfulness, play, mealtimes, multigenerational worship, and gratitude.  Families of all kinds, across the generations, and from different cultural and faith traditions – including our own families – will receive our attention.