Facilitated by Rev. Dr. Matta Ghaly

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REGISTRATION CLOSED!

In a culture of urgency, reactivity, and pronouncement, the work of racial justice can feel inaccessible, overwhelming, and exhausting. While it will always be challenging and require mutual bravery, engaging in healing and repair with activated and triggered nervous systems might not take us far. Blessed Audre Lorde reminds us that “the master’s tool will never dismantle the master’s house… they may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change.”

How might we rediscover the ancient tools of our contemplative lineages in order to dismantle the oppression we perpetuate and experience from within the heart?

During the retreat, we will deepen our understanding and engage in dialogue around the characteristics of white supremacy culture articulated by Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun (a summary will be provided). In bringing a contemplative lens to our commitment to racial justice, we will approach these characteristics as conditions of the human heart, examining the roots, so that we may be led by the Spirit to transform the fruits in loving and serving our neighbor. As we weave practices like Centering Prayer, the Ignatian Examen, Lectio Divina (scriptural meditation), Centering Prayer, Creative Writing, Storytelling, and Somatic Breathwork, we will discover how spiritual practice might support our continued repentance and renewal as followers of Jesus, who are called to live into the Kingdom of God, with tenderness, humility, and receptivity, here and now.

The retreat is open to everyone because as Okun writes, “White supremacy culture is constantly encouraging all of us in all our racial identities to cooperate and collude. Because we all live in this white supremacy culture, these characteristics have the potential to show up in the attitudes and behaviors of all of us, particularly as we strive to survive and gain a foothold in institutions and fields that either overtly or covertly adopt white supremacy culture values.” The only requirements to attending are:

1) a recognition of white supremacy culture in one’s self and one’s communities. 

2) a willingness to examine the characteristics of white supremacy culture with humility and vulnerability, in a community of practice and covenant. 

3) a longing to surrender our expertise, attainment, and perfectionism, to live into our baptism through daily repentance, a life-long journey of being set free in Christ, by the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God alone. 

Due to the nature of this retreat, creating a common agreement for our time together will be vital to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone in attendance. As we conclude our day, you will have the opportunity to hear more about going deeper with a community of practice that will meet weekly on zoom over the summer, to engage in mutual learning, practice, and accountability.

Schedule 

9 AM Gathering and Welcome

9:15 AM Centering Prayer 

9:30 AM Introductions and Covenant  

10 AM Exploring the Characteristics of White Supremacy 

11:15 AM The Ignatian Examen and Somatic Breathwork  

12 PM Lunch (Bring Your Own)

1:00 PM Attunement, Midday Prayer and Collective Scriptural Meditation 

2:00 PM Change Models, Transformative Practice, and Role Awareness

3:00 PM Writing and Storytelling in Small Groups

4:00 PM Large Group Discussion and Somatic Breathwork 

4:30 PM Review of the Day, Future Opportunities, and Closing Practice

5:00 PM Farewell 

To Expect

- A welcoming, grounded, and participatory sacred space.

- Attentive, responsive, and consensual facilitation.

- Light snacks, beverages and breaks 

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To Bring

- Lunch for yourself and a beverage or light snack to share if you are able.

- Paper and pen for journaling.  

- Whatever your body needs to be comfortable. ​

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To Consider

- All identities, experiences, and bodies are welcome in this space and invited to belong. Please indicate any accessibility needs or requests that will support you to attend the retreat in the message field. We will covenant together as we gather to create a safe and brave community, through which we can make room for each other to be who we are, while honoring our shared space and intention.

- This is an inclusive Christocentric space for spiritual practice and community. While people affiliated with any or no faith tradition are welcome, the retreat is grounded in the Christian tradition - prayers, practices, and discussions are all rooted in themes of Christian spirituality.   

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- No Registration Fees. Grounded in the words of Jesus, “freely you have received; freely give,” (Matt 10:8), all retreats led by Matta are based on gift economics. When generous giving effortlessly arises within you out of gratitude, then a donation to support the ministry of the facilitator is deeply appreciated. You may offer a donation through venmo, paypal, or a paper check. No one is ever turned away for lack of funds. 

"What we will do for love will always be far more powerful than what we will do for money. What we can do together will always be far greater than what we can do alone. And when we cultivate the heart of giftivism within ourselves, our companies and our communities, we begin to unleash our true prosperity. We begin to move from being a market economy to being part of a gift ecology.”
(Pavithra Mehta, Giftivism: Reclaiming the Priceless)