Charles in Nebraska, Day 2

The first full day here at the St. Benedict Center (www.stbenedictcenter.com) is almost done!

The typical day for a Five-day Academy looks like this:

7:30-8:00 Morning Prayer
8:00- Breakfast
9:00-10:00 Curriculum I
10:00-11:00 Silence and solitude for prayer and reflection
11:00-11:30 Plenary discussion with faculty
12:00- 2:30 Lunch & Free Time
2:30-3:30 Curriculum II
3:30-4:30 Silence and solitude for prayer and reflection
4:30-5:00 Plenary discussion with faculty
5:15-6:00 Eucharist
6:00-7:30 Dinner & Free Time
7:45-9:15 Covenant Groups
9:30-9:45 Night Prayer
9:45 - Great Silence ('till morning prayers)

Friday morning, we'll wrap up with final discussions and a concluding Eucharist around 1200. There are some 40 of us here, clergy, lay, men, women and come from all over Nebraska and even one from Arkansas and one from south Texas!

The sessions are interesting. The first is led by the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Canham, an Episcopal preist from North Carolina (formerly from the UK). Her topic is finding the voice of God in our lives. The second session is led by the Rev. Dr. Bill Mallard, a retired UM clergy from Georgia. His topic is taken from a study on the Gospel according to John.

The weather today is simply splendid and a real treat. The last time I came to one of these was in February 1999 and it was cold! I don't have the ability to post pictures from the community computer but will add some on Friday.