Reaching Out

A series based on our community-wide reading of a book of the same title by Henri Nouwen, who writes, “In the midst of a turbulent, often chaotic life, we are called to reach out: with courageous honesty to our innermost self, with relentless care to our fellow human beings, and with increasing prayer to God.”

Message line-up:

8/18

The Movement From Loneliness to Solitude

Autumn Gallegos Greenwich

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Nouwen’s first movement of the spiritual life deals with our relationship to ourselves. “Instead of running away from our loneliness… we have to protect it and turn it into a fruitful solitude.”

8/25

The Movement From Hostility to Hospitality

Pastor Scott Austin

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The second movement forms the basis of our relationship to others. “It is our vocation to convert the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhood can be formed and fully experienced.”

9/1

The Movement From Illusion to Prayer

Pastor Scott Austin

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The third, final, and most important movement of the spiritual life structures our relationship with God. “The greatest obstacle to our entering into that profound dimension of life where our prayer takes place is our all-pervasive illusion of immortality.”

9/8

Q&A and Discussion

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We conclude this profound and challenging series with an interactive forum in which we will ask and answer questions of each other, learning not only from our various readings of the book, but also from our various experiences of trying to apply Nouwen’s teachings to our lives during the past month.

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If you don’t see a transcript for a particular sermon you’re interested in, contact accessibility@artisanchurch.com and we’ll transcribe it for you!