At Bodhi’s Annual Meeting, held on March 1st, the Core Council announced an important decision: our current Executive Director, Rev. Lola Wright, would become our new Spiritual Director. Exciting news! Please join us for her installation service, in which she’ll be appointed to her new role as Spiritual Director, as officiated by Rev. Gaylon McDowell and other Chicago clergy. The installation is scheduled for Sunday, May 3rd at 10 a.m. at Bodhi Spiritual Center, with a reception to follow.
As we conclude the last segment of our Building the beLOVEd Community series with a focus on our eight Spiritual Practices, Rev. Lola Wright gave her message, “Grateful for No-thing,” in which she talks about three different types of gratitude. See the message notes below.
Thanks to all who attended the Annual Meeting this past Sunday, and for those of you who were not able to join us, I would like to make sure that I provide the community with some details and background on a major decision the Core Council announced at the meeting.
When our Founder and Senior Minister Rev. Mark Anthony Lord announced his departure in July, we communicated to the community that an Interim Spiritual Council was being assembled, in order to hold the high spiritual watch as well as to guide Sunday messages and schedule speakers. This we believed would provide continuity and stability to our Sunday programming. This decision and the move to provide dynamic speakers for our Sunday talks, proved to be something that was well received and appreciated by our community. Read More
I realized that I have an unconscious theme in my titles as of late: “Change is Always at Hand” and “Good is Always at Hand.” So now, I will add “New is Always at Hand.” In July, the Core Council learned that our Founder Rev. Mark Anthony Lord would be moving on from his role as Senior Minister. In preparation for Rev. Mark Anthony’s departure, an Interim Spiritual Council was formed of Joan Coletto, LSP, Kim Revere, LSP and myself.
Since that time the Core Council and Spiritual Council have listened and acted intentionally and prayerfully while leading our Community. It has been beautiful to witness and participate in. As part of our practice, Rev. Dr. Kathy Hearn was engaged to lead us through the transition. Read More
With each week between January 1st and April 4th focusing on one of our 8 Spiritual Practices, I have noticed myself becoming increasingly intentional on my daily practice! I really enjoy deepening my appreciation for why our 8 Spiritual Practices are what they are. Our shared commitment to practice is what brings us together in community—we support each other in being accountable, for which I am so grateful! A Course in Miracles says we “teach” what we need to learn most. Amen to that! Read More
Rev. Lola Wright, Bodhi’s Executive Director, continued our January focus on the spiritual practice of Visioning with her message “Stop the Toiling … it’s spoiling your life!” Below is an outline of her message, featuring notes, quotes and takeaways.
It can be easy to experience change and wonder why … why is this happening? And often, why is this happening to me?! I’ve found it to be one of the most painful and least satisfying inquiries. It leads me nowhere but further suffering.
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it and join the dance.”
— Alan Watts
Bodhi’s very own Lola Wright kicked off “Stories of Light,” our holiday-centered theme for December, as we continue our Building the beLOVEd Community series. Below is an outline of her message, featuring notes, quotes and takeaways. Read More
Today is #GivingTuesday, a global day inspired by Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday with the intention of celebrating generosity and giving. In learning of #GivingTuesday, I heard my inner cynic come out. “Oh geez, here we go, we’ve commoditized one more thing! Now, even non-profits have to ‘get in where they can fit in.”
And, it’s true, culturally we do that … everything we can get our hands on we will work to package and sell. I think Chris Rock said it best on his recent visit to Saturday Night Live. Read More
