The Lenten Season is a fertile time to journey with Jesus in a contemplative way and to employ our prayerful imagination as we encounter him in his life and ministry. It is a time of connecting intimately with him while pursuing opportunities that help to nourish and renew our faith. As spiritual seekers, we can engage with the person of Jesus as way-maker and healer and discover (or rediscover) God’s healing love for each of us in the miracles and signs he revealed.
With this understanding, you are invited to join us for a delicious lunch and dialogue about Come Forth: The Promise of Jesus’s Greatest Miracle by Jesuit priest and author, Fr. James Martin, SJ. In this 2023 work, Fr. Martin vividly explores the biblical story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead while meditatively highlighting the diverse meanings embedded in Jesus’s words for Lazarus and contemporary readers when he calls out, “Come forth.” Fr. Martin also offers a compelling analysis of the biblical text alongside insights into the historical setting of the story. With his renowned sense of humor and candid approach to living spiritually, he invites readers into a deeper connection with the person and lessons of Jesus as we navigate life in these challenging times.
During the program portion of this session, participants will have opportunities for engaging in prayerful pauses, creative and spiritual-oriented exercises around the text, and small and large group dialogue sessions. Media clips from/about the text will also be woven into the program. Prior reading of Come Forth is not mandatory, but may prove beneficial. Please bring a journal for use during the program to participate in writing prompts. Guided by Gordon Creamer.
Gordon Creamer, MA, creator of the Mission Bridge, currently serves as Program Director at Well for the Journey, a spiritual wellness center in Lutherville, Maryland. He has held leadership roles in healthcare programming and operations since 2001 at various assisted living, skilled nursing, and hospice communities. He earned a Master of Arts in Spiritual & Pastoral Care from Loyola University and a Master of Arts in Theology from the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s Seminary & University. Currently, he is a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry Program at the Ecumenical Institute. Gordon has facilitated numerous retreats and workshops that focus on creating opportunities for participants to explore and enhance their spirituality and well-being through various media and formats. He also participates as a peer group leader in the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation’s Transforming Community Program. His passions include uplifting the journey of adults, individuals with memory impairment, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as fostering support groups and programs for caregivers and those who are grieving losses. Trained as a spiritual director/companion, end-of-life doula, and Reiki practitioner, Gordon welcomes all in discovering the spiritual life as a means of healing, expanding, and flourishing. For more information, visit TheMissionBridge.com.