Category: Lent 2017 Adam: God’s Beloved

Lent 2017 book discussion facilitated by Brynn Lawrence and Ray Glennon. Greetings and introductions from March 1 – 4, readings and discussion begin on March 5 and continue until Easter Sunday, April 16.

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March 1st – 4th Lent 2017 Introductions

Reading: Adam: God’s Beloved Foreword and Introduction

I also write with the deep hope that many others, through Adam’s story, will be enabled to recognize God’s story among us and so be empowered to say in a new way,
“I do believe.”
(p18, Foreword)

Welcome!  It is always very exciting to write this Introductory post and anticipate, along with you all, the rich, encouraging and thought-provoking discussion that is ahead.  Lent is a very special time of year when we have the opportunity to intentionally prepare our hearts and focus our minds on Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Through Adam: God’s Beloved, Henri reminds us of the great truth that Jesus came to claim us as Beloved sons and daughters of God.  Not because we’ve earned it, but simply because He loves us.

If this is your first experience joining an online book discussion, you’ll have questions about how it all works.  Each Sunday you will discover a new “post,” indicated by the bold title, on the blog’s Home page.  There you will find the week’s readings and some questions for discussion.  It works best if you always add any new comment to the newest post, even if you are referring to an earlier post. That way, everyone will see your comment. After you submit a comment, either Will, Ray or Brynn need to “approve” it, so it may take a few hours before it actually appears on the blog page.  The instructions on how to submit and reply to comments are also included at the bottom of the reading schedule.  If you have any further questions about how the blog works, please feel free to ask.

Over the next few days we invite you to take a few minutes to introduce yourself.  You may choose to share:

a) Your general geographic location
b) To whom or what you dedicate your days or energy, and why
c) How you came to “know/read” Henri Nouwen and whether or not you’ve participated in a previous discussion
d) Insights, thoughts or questions that arose as you read the Foreword and Introduction
e) What you hope to experience during this discussion

We very much look forward to hearing from each of you!

Be sure to check back here on the Home page on Sunday March 5th!

In gratitude,

Ray and Brynn

RAY GLENNON: Ray volunteers in his parish Confirmation program and other ministries. He and his wife are members of a Catholic charismatic community. Ray came to know and trust Henri’s written word in a special way in 2004 when he found The Return of the Prodigal Son for sale after Mass at the cathedral in Singapore at an important point in his life.  If you have any questions for Ray, please contact him at ray.glennon@1972.usna.com and you can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/@RayGlennon.

BRYNN LAWRENCE: Brynn has been helping to preserve Henri’s Legacy for the last several years, mainly through her role as project coordinator of the Nouwen Archive Letter Project, and also by co-facilitating many of our online book discussions. Brynn is  the founder of Abundant Life Coaching. If you have any questions for Brynn, please feel free to contact her through her website.

Facilitators’ Note:  Participants in our Advent discussion of Love, Henri may have expected to read the remainder of Henri’s letters during Lent.  Brynn and Ray both thought that it would be worthwhile to discuss a book Henri conceived and wrote for a specific purpose before returning to his letters.  We selected Adam: God’s Beloved because it tells the story of Henri’s relationship with Adam; relationship was central to Henri’s life and ministry, as was readily apparent during our Advent discussion.  We are planning to return to Love, Henri for our Advent discussion this fall. 

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Announcing Our Lent 2017 Book Selection

We are delighted to announce that Adam: God’s Beloved has been selected for our Lent 2017 Nouwen Online Book Discussion.

On Ash Wednesday, March 1st, our welcoming and capable facilitators Brynn Lawrence and Ray Glennon will get things going with greetings and introductions.

Readings will begin on Sunday, March 5th and continue until April 13th.

Be sure to join us throughout Lent for engaging and inspired discussion of this classic Nouwen book.

bookcover_adam_softcover_249x383

In the year before his death in 1996, Henri Nouwen had planned writing a book exploring the Apostles’ Creed. His plans changed when he learned of the death of his friend Adam, a severely handicapped young man from the L’Arche Daybreak community in Richmond Hill, Ontario, where Nouwen lived. Through telling the story of Adam, Henri found a way to describe his own understanding of the Gospel message.

Adam could not speak or even move without assistance. Gripped by frequent seizures, he spent his life in obscurity. Yet, for Nouwen, Adam “became my friend, by teacher, my guide.” It was Adam who led Nouwen to a new understanding of faith and what it means to be Beloved of God.

This book is a gift. It reads like a walk with a friend. – P.B.

As usual, Nouwen doesn’t disappoint. He has a novel way of thinking
that gives me to a new appreciation for my faith. – Carole

Completed only weeks before his own death, Adam: God’s Beloved became Nouwen’s final, precious gift – and a fitting summation of his own message and legacy.

Adam: God’s Beloved is available at many bookstores as well as the HNS online bookstore, the publisher’s website, and most other online book retailers, including Amazon.com and Amazon.ca

Facilitators’ Note:  Participants in our Advent discussion of Love, Henri may have expected to read the remainder of Henri’s letters during Lent.  Brynn and Ray both thought that it would be worthwhile to discuss a book Henri conceived and wrote for a specific purpose before returning to his letters.  We selected Adam: God’s Beloved because it tells the story of Henri’s relationship with Adam; relationship was central to Henri’s life and ministry, as was readily apparent during our Advent discussion.  We are planning to return to Love, Henri for our Advent discussion this fall.