Many hands make light work – join us!
Today is Giving Tuesday! And while I am aware I am writing to you with a request for support, what I am feeling is immense gratitude for what The Contemplative Society has already received.
This year marks our 25th anniversary. Since 1997, we have grown from a tiny group organizing retreats on Salt Spring Island, BC to a significant hub of the contemplative network, providing countless resources to promote contemplative wisdom and sustain contemplative practice. With hundreds of members, and thousands more listening to and reading our work, not to mention participating in our retreats, The Contemplative Society is a vast tapestry of contemplative tradition and experience. And yet, together we maintain a precious intimacy that uniquely nurtures our spirit.
There have been so many people along the way that have contributed to this haven of contemplative practice and resources. As a valued participant, you are also someone who has contributed to The Contemplative Society. For that we are immensely grateful.
Our history and our present reality grounds the ethos “many hands make light work” in truth, and this Giving Tuesday we are especially inspired by this idea. We have an ambitious goal to raise $15,000 this year in order to strengthen and deepen this vast network. Specifically, this will help us
- train Centering Prayer group leaders;
- lend our expertise to organisations who wish to establish contemplative programming;
- offer a series of in-person and Zoom events and retreats with established and exciting new teachers;
- increase financial assistance and accessible practice opportunities;
- and hire dedicated staff to support these endeavours.
Along these lines, I hope you will enjoy this message from our ever-present teacher and guide, Cynthia Bourgeault:
As one of the founding members of The Contemplative Society, I am heartened to participate in yet another season—our 25th!!!—of requesting your support for this beloved and sturdy organization. To watch the evolution of the society from a local support network to a global midwife of contemplative awakening gives me great hope for our future. Just this September, I was able to reconnect with many friends in the Victoria, BC area and experience first-hand The Contemplative Society’s uniquely innovative contributions to the contemplative community. Our financial goal this year is indeed ambitious, but if everyone in our community gives what they can, I believe we can keep growing our contemplative network and deliver the impact the world is aching for. Not only do many hands make light work, they make for a bright future.
With blessings and gratitude,
I know there will be many requests for your support today, and that’s another reason why “many hands make light work” is so fitting. A gift of any amount from each one of us will be a major and foundational step toward global contemplative awakening (and enables you to become a member). A special group of donors have already contributed $3,795 toward this important project and next year’s initiatives, helping us achieve 25% of our goal. We hope that you will join them today!
Please visit contemplative.org/support-us to make your Giving Tuesday contribution quickly and securely (where you can also sign up to become a member)!
With hope and gratitude,
Henri
Henri Lock, Executive Director and Past President
On the traditional and unceded territory of the Lekwungen peoples of the Esquimalt, Songhees, and W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations.
