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Spirituality

[click "Play" to hear the first of Rev. Bailey's interviews]

 

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Rev. Pat Bailey

Since Thanksgiving, Christmas has been top of mind, top of media, injecting mistletoe (and for some, holiday misgivings) into the bubble we call Telluride.

Turn on any TV and holiday chestnuts such as "It's a Wonderful Life" light up the screen. (And give the cynics in the crowd a seasonal toothache.) The glossies are packed with gift ideas, recipes for the holidays, what to wear, some intrepid souls even tackling what to believe about Christmas. Several years ago, both Newsweek and Time featured cover stories about the First Noel, articles that raised controversial questions about the Nativity: Who were the Wise Men? What about the star? Is it possible Jesus was born in Nazareth? Who exactly were the two Marys?

Christmas is surely a good deal more than buy, cry, fry, wonder what and why.

Telluride Inside... and Out has asked local religious leader, Reverend Pat Bailey, of Telluride's Christ Presbyterian Church, to shed some light on the subject of Christmas, it's meaning and real magic.

21 December, 2010 /
[click "Play" for Pastor Pat's conversation with Susan]

Pat_bailey_photo Telluride's Christ Presbyterian Church launches a series on luncheon talks about world religion on Wednesday, June 16, noon – 1:30 p.m.. The event takes place downstairs at the church, 434, West Columbia Avenue, across the street from the Telluride Elementary School. (Lunch and the program are free.)

A defining characteristic of human society is tribalism, a tendency to huddle in groups with common ideas/characteristics that set themselves apart and often at odds with groups that don't share their views. Tribes breed distrust and engender fear. The fear is of "they" who cannot be trusted. "They" who could be a danger. "They" who is The Other. Religious groups are tribes. And crimes committed in the name of God, Allah, Ishvara, Yahweh, you name it, against The Other are legend throughout history. (The Crusades and the Holocaust are just two examples among hundreds, perhaps thousands). How to staunch the venom and learn to live together?
14 June, 2010 /
[click "Play" to hear Susan's conversation with Michael Freeman]

IMG_2121 Telluride Yoga Center instructor Anne Roemer welcomes her dear friend and spiritual mentor Michael Freeman to town. His visit includes a gift to our community: a spiritual practice including a guided meditation on Friday, April 30, 7 – 8:30 p.m. and on Saturday, May 1, 1:30– 4:30 p.m., in the basement of Christ Presbyterian Church. (On Columbia, across the street from the Telluride Elementary School.)

Although people come to Yoga for a variety of reasons – to learn to bend like a pretzel, develop strength and focus, distraction from physical aches and pains – the refinement of awareness is what the practice is really all about. The process which begins with just showing up and being present, can end with personal transformation.
27 April, 2010 /
[click "Play" to hear Jeff Tretsven speak about Nonviolent Communication]

One of the best gifts one partner can give another on Valentine's Day is not roses or chocolate. It is listening so the other feels heard. The Telluride's Christ Presbyterian Church, 434 West Columbia, hosts a workshop on Saturday, February 20, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. that aims to teach that skill. The theme:  "Compassionate Communication." The facilitator: Jeff Tretsven, who has been coaching in the discipline for more than two years.


Compassionate Communication is based on  the work of Marshall Rosenberg, author of "Nonviolent Communication: A Language of LIfe." Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is itself based on the first of the five restraints or vows (yamas) in the ancient text "Yoga Sutras of Patanjali," thought-threads dating back at least 4,000 years. The grounding yama is ahimsa.

13 February, 2010 /