Spring 2008 Servant Leader Center of Toledo Newsletter

8/8/2019 Spring 2008 Servant Leader Center of Toledo Newsletter

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1618 W. Sylvania Ave + Toledo, OH 43612 + 419-476-0941 + www.servantleader.org

The Servant Leadership Center

disciples (Peter, James, and

John among them), helps them

catch a boat load of fish, andfixes them breakfast. Jesus

recognizes each of his

disciples, denials and betrayals

not withstanding, as the

beloved. Christ continues to

invite them into deeper

relationship with God and with

each other.

A couple of weeks ago we

offered for the first time the 3

day Authent ic Leader

workshop. This workshop,

developed by The Leadership

Circle, seeks to develop leaders

from the inside out. It

connects patterns of behavior

with habits of thought and

provides the insight andawareness that leads to

personal and organizational

transformation. This workshop

will be repeated in May andagain in early August.

The dividing line between

good and evil passes, not

between the other and me, but

right down the middle of my

forehead, between my left side

and my right. Lanzo del

Vasto

The way we view good and

evil is getting us into trouble.

Nowhere is this more evident

than in world events. Fiveyears ago the U.S. made a pre-

emptive strike against Iraq and

we are now mired there as

Sunnis and Shiites struggle

against each other. Once

p e a c e f u l n e i g h b o r s ,

Palestinians and Israelis are

destroying each other. The

same is true in African nations

and in South America. It isobvious that many of us have

not absorbed del Vastos

wisdom. Here at the Center we

seek to turn that around. Weseek to see ourselves and

others as the beloved of God

and to understand that within

each of us there is shadow and

light. Each of us is broken, yet

redeemed. It is this

recognition that helps us to see

the other as brother or sister.

Holy week and Easter were

wonderful times for us to

reflect on this dividing line

between good and evil. In the

garden of Gethsemane Jesus,

experiencing distress and

anguish beg his disciples,

The sorrow in my heart is so

great that it almost crushes me.Stay here and keep watch.

Peter, James and John were his

close friends, yet in his greatest

need these friends fell asleep.

James and John flee when the

soldiers come for Jesus. Peter

follows from afar and later

denies Jesus, I swear that I am

telling the truth! May God

punish me if I am not! I do notknow the man you are talking

about. Tradition tells us that

Peters tears over his betrayal

wore deep groves in Peterscheeks. (Mk 14 Good News

Bible)

Yet, after the resurrection

Johns gospel tells us that Jesus

appears to some of the

Special points of interest:

Reflections on The

Dream of God

Reminders and

Announcements

MAY 31 Day of

Visioning

Spring 2008

Volume 1, Issue 4

Center Staff:

Barb Aranyosi

Administrative Assistant

[email protected]

!"

Erin Battistoni

Director of Outreach [email protected]

!"

Nancy Westmeyer, OSF

Executive Director

[email protected]

Gods Dream ~ a short story

God awoke from a dream shortly after onep.m. on Easter Sunday, just as manyChristians began their post-feastsomnolence. He/She had dozed off mid-Lent. As the crowds (such as they were)diminished at Lenten suppers, Fish Fries,noon services, and weekly Stations of theCross, she also figured that the devotionswere in safe hands, and that she could get

some rest while some of her flock were ontheir best behavior. Some think of weeks 4-5as the boring part of Lents journey, the driveacross Nebraska, so to speak, or forOhioans, the drive from Lorain to Oregon,Ohio. Others feel the gathering tension asChristians get closer to having to walk theVia Dolorosa with their Savior. God,however, walks that road daily, and at timessorrow and ennui intertwine to seduce herwakefulness. They know the story, and if

not, they have the movie, She muttered, as herhead nodded and the good book dropped fromher hand, f iguratively speaking.

In her dream, she left a school basementwith the scent of fried fish clinging to the robethat swept some floor debris with it, walkedacross the parking lot, and entered the churchnarthex. No lights were on in the sanctuary, buta warm glow lit the altar area. Incense, notacrid, but a mixture of vanilla, apple pie, baking

Reflections on the Dream of God

Throughout our next several issues of the Servant Leadership Newsletter, we will share with you reflections on the various

principles and themes that are integral to living as a Servant Leader. It is an opportunity for you to experience a glimpse of what

the Servant Leadership: Threshold to a Life Transformed 10 month process and what The Servant Leadership Center are all

about.

A Note from Sr. Nancy~


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Page 2Volume 1, Issue 4

T h eD r e a m

of God

G o d h a sgraced each of us with talents. It isGod's dream for each of us touse our talents to join Him in thework He is doing in the world.Sometimes God meets us quietlywhere we are... instilling our spiritwi t h a sma l l whisper o f

calling. Sometimes He nudges usmore strongly, more urgently, tomove out into the world to followHis pre-determined path. God wantsus to be filled with faith andhope. Our steps of faith must openour hearts to His wisdom anddiscernment for every aspect of ourlife. God's dream is to bless us withunimaginable benefits and Hisglorious abundance.

Personally Living the Dream ofGod:

I believe to the depth of my being

that God's work is in constant,positive motion. It is ourresponsibility to tune in to the Spiritand the Word of God, and to be apart of His transformations.

It is my hope to live a life ofexpectancy.... "What will God bringto me today?"

Undoubtedly, God expects me to beaware of His blessings and torespond to His callings. Iplan to work toward the Dream ofGod .... to His purposes.... until Iam "all used up". It is my desireto rest in the confidence of Hisdirection and His desires for me.

Linda Hoover, SL participant 07-08. Linda is retired from a career inelementary teaching in 2006 andnow serves as a Deacon and on othercommittees at her church FairgreenPresbyterian

Gods Dream

The scent of lavender risesunaccompanied by shrieks of war

Sleep goes undisturbed

babies lie quietly for six hour stretches

The earth bears fruit

redwoods, aspens, oaks,spruces,

barley, spelt, rice, oats,tomatoes, melons,

pomegranates

Goats, geese, water buffaloporpoises, cheetahs, penguin

Each works with satisfactioplay abounds

music soothes and thrills

Bounding balls circle the earth

smashing no windows

Councils meet

families gather

Hands clasp

cheeks touch

the Great Amen

Gods Dream cont.

bread, spring grasses, and the cleannessafter rain reached her nostrils. On the altar,she could make out faint forms of all sizes,ghostly, ringing the central table. The sounds

of chairs scraping the tile floor mingled withchildrens laughter, the drone of eldersmidway through long tales, and the clinkingof silverware on china. Chile, come on up tothe table. What would you like? Hummus,ham, roast turkey, lentil soup, pita, lemonmeringue pie, coleslaw, tabouli, applesauce,sweet potatoes, fries, goat cheese . . .whatchou need?

God hadnt been called Chile for eons.And she had been wrestling, prior to dozingoff, with the realization that she had no plans

after the big Easter Sunday service. Yeah,Pentecost would come and then the outdooractivities of planting, tending, and harvestingduring Ordinary Time, but it all seemed tospread into the blahness of eternity. Is thiswhat Lent had built up to? Once the trumpetsblare and the breakfast eggs and dinner hamare eaten, what then? Would life change in

any perceivable way? Gods inner childanswered the invitation:

Id like some tabouli, sweet potatoes, goatcheese, and . . . do you have anyasparagus?

Sure do, sweetie. Come fill your plate,

and listen up cause council is gettingready to take a vote.

This is a council meeting?Yes, honey. Ever since we passed a

motion to invite all to our table who wantedto die with Jesus, the priest said we might aswell have council meetings while we weregathered. Business sometimes takes awhile, so we started bringing food.

But isnt this sacred space?Are you saying church business aint

sacred?Well, er, no, I mean, it should be . . .

We dont do no business that aint fit forthe Lord to hear. And we figure as long aswe got him here with us, we could use someof his advice on the issues. On top of that,the harmony we have at the Lords Table issomething we really needed at council.

Whats on the agenda?Progress reports on World Peace,

Universal Healthcare, Hunger Relief, andtherapeutic care for child soldiers.

Isnt it time to start working on the parishfestival? And, I noticed some cracks in the blacktop as I was walking over here.

We have plenty of fellowship for young and

old at our council meetings, although sometimeswe hold them outside in the summer. Anyway,we dont hold fundraisers anymore.

Gods eyebrows shot up. Why didnt I knowabout this?

Arent you new around these parts?Well Ive needed to spread myself thin

lately, but I thought you might recognize me.Then she noticed her own glow wasntnoticeably brighter than that of the othersaround the table. She smiled. It had been a longwhile since anyone had called her Chile.Maybe after Easter she would have some time

to play. Seems like she might have some newfriends to play with. The only trouble was, whenshe awoke, they were napping.

Sarah Abts , SL participant 07-08Sarah teaches Composition at

The University of Toledo and works in theWriting Center at Owens Community College


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Gods Dream for Creation

God said: Let there be Light, and beholdout of the darkness a flaring forth of brilliantlight dancedacross the

d a r ku n i v e r s e .What had

been voidwas nowfilled withlight, heat,and particles that spun out in every direction.At that moment all of life that will exist inthis universe was created. But the unfoldingof this marvelous universe didnt happen inan instant. Time and the pulling together ofmolecules, energy, gases etc. wouldgradually unfold our fantastic part of the

universe and bring forth our beautiful home,Earth.

We know from scientific research that thisflaring forth happened over 15 billion yearsago and our Earth and solar system startedmaking its appearance 5 billion years ago.The process for life on Earth would be slow.What is most important here is not thescientific unfolding of the universe, and thusalso the unfolding of our life on Earth and allcreation, rather it is that as spiritual beingswe know in our hearts that God has had ahand in this from the beginning.

From the beginning God has had a dream forall of creation. That dream is recognized inthree main rules established to allowcreation to unfold as it does. Gods dreamfor creation includes that all of creation be:

Diverse: What a marvelous and tremendousdream. Without the diversity in creationwhere would we be? It would be a prettydull Earth if we had only one life-form.How would we see Gods beauty if therewere only frogs to look at and then how

boring if there were only bull-frogs. Take awalk someday in the woods or park where

you can be in nature. How many diversespecies and life-forms do you see around you?How many of these remind you of the loveGod has for all of us. All of this diversity isneeded to carry on Gods dream and to carryon life on Earth.

Communal: God has placed within creationthe command to be in community. Considerfor example the relationship we have withplants. Plants give off oxygen. We breathein oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Plantstake in carbon dioxide. That in itself is a

miracle. These miracles are happening allaround us at every moment of the day fromplants, to animals to the microbes in the soil.Creation is acting in harmony, in

community with one another so life cancontinue.

Unique Within every part of creation thereis an interiority that is unique unto its self.My interiority and expression of myself isdifferent from that of the mountain lion andyet we each have that uniqueness, thatuniqueness that belongs to us alone. Thatuniqueness is what makes the mountain lionthe mountain lion and not a human being.

Humans play a major role in this unfolding ofGods dream for creation. We are the

beings who have come forth in this unfolding

of the universe as unique creatures. Wehave the ability for the first time in this 15

billion year history of the universe to have aconscience. This conscience gives us theability to reflect upon who we are, what lifeis all about, to make decisions, and tointeract and relate with the rest of thecreated world in a unique way.

The Franciscan Earth Literacy Center in Tiffin,Ohio was founded to teach others aboutcaring for creation. Our mission is: In thespirit of St. Francis the Franciscan EarthLiteracy Center recognizes our oneness withall creation. We promote active learningand healthy relationships with our naturalenvironment to achieve sustainable living.The Center promotes active learning throughhands-on environmental education programs

for people of all ages. We have school fieldtrips that are aligned with State EducationStandards, Summer Day Camps, and BoyScout and Girl Scout programs in whichscouts can earn a variety of badges they arerequired to achieve. Seeds of Hope Farm wasstarted in 2005 by the Franciscan EarthLiteracy Center to become a model forsmall-scale, sustainable agriculture. Witheight acres under production in 2008, Seedsof Hope Farm will provide quality, chemical-free produce to a variety of venues. Our

Community Supported Agriculture programallows families to purchase a share in the farm atthe beginning of the season and return receiveproduce every week during the growing season.

An added benefit for those who have time is theworking share. With a working share familiesshare in the labor of the farm and gives peoplean understanding of what it takes to grow foodand the important role small scale, sustainablefarms play in growing food. As part of itscommitment to teach others, several youngpeople will work as interns on the farm andcome to learn the importance of small-scaleagriculture and its importance to the future offarming. A childrens garden will provideopportunities forchildren to learnhow to grow their

own food and seethe miracle thatlies within the seedthat becomes aplant and food forthem to eat. Weare teaching othersabout the diversity,community, and uniqueness of the natural worldand the beauty of Gods dream for all ofcreation.

One of the greatest icons of this century is thepicture of Planet Earth from space. That picture

with its blue oceans and massive continentsshows no boundaries, only a solitary planet withmany life forms and systems that call Earth itshome. The Dream of God for Creation is thatwe recognize that diversity, community, anduniqueness are the strands that bind all creationtogether. Each particle of creation plays a rolein the life on this planet and in the universe. AsGods creation continues to unfold may we seethat Dream and become advocates to protect itand care for it and know that who call Earththeir home are intimately connected like thespiders web.

Sr. Rita Wienken is the Manager ofSeeds of Hope Farm in Tiffin, OH, a

former Board member of ServantLeadership and past participant.

www.earthliteracy.org

The Dream of God for Creation is

that we recognize that diversity,community, and uniqueness are the

strands that bind all creationtogether.


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Up Coming Events and Announcements


Non Profit Org

US Postage PaToledo OH

Permit # 322

The Servant Leadership Center1618 W. Sylvania AveToledo, OH 43612

Whats the Buzz? Equal Exchange FairTrade Coffee, and Cocoa is available for

purchase at the Center. If you are interestedin learning more about Fair Trade go tow w w . e q u a l e x c h a n g e . o r g o r

www.globalexchange.org.

Prayer for Peace: every third Tuesday ofthe month from 6:30pm to 7:30 p.m. inQueen of Peace Chapel, on the grounds of

the Sisters of St. Francis, 6832 ConventBlvd, Sylvania, OH. Contact person:Sr. Karen Zielinski (419-824-3627) or

[email protected]

Free Workshop on Racism- "The Sankofa

Project" on Saturday, April 12th from 9amto 3:30pm at The Padua Center,1614 Nebraska Ave, Toledo, OH. Bring a

Dish to Share: RSVP to 419-885-5626

Womens Peer Spiritual Direction Group

beginning April 19, 2008 It will meetonce a month. More info will be coming

shortly. Contact Sr. Nancy for moreinformation.

Creating a Culture of Peace: Nonviolence

Training for Personal and Social Change,

April 18-20, St. Francis Spirituality Center,Tiffin. Call for brochure and registration,419-443-1485. Brochure available at

www.tiffinpaxchristi.org.

SL CONTINUING EDUCATION

Tuesday April 8 6:30pm

Sr. Paulette Schroeder will discuss he

experience working with the Christian

Peacemaker Team in the Palestinian West

Bank. Sr. Paulette recently spent a monthin Hebron and helped bring a convoy ofsupplies to embargoed Gaza. She has many

personal stories to tell that show us hownonviolence can respond to violence.All are welcome.

Thursday May 8th at 6:30 PM Toby

Hoover, Executive Director of The Ohio

Coalition Against Gun Violence will talkabout the effects of Gun Violence in our

community and what we can do to end it.

Monday Night Prayer @ the SLC: All

are welcome to participate in communal

prayer from 7-8:30pm every Monday

night.

Spring 2008 Check out the Erase the Hate

events that will be held through out the

coming months. For more information

check out www.erasethehatetoledo.org.

Flyers are available at the center.

Women of Faith Outreach Ministry

meets each month, and is open to anyoneinterested in joining. The group gathers in

prayer as a faith community, and is

working on projects to reach out women

who have been marginalized in our

community. If you are interested in

participating in this outreach ministry,

email or call Erin at the Center. All are

welcome to participate. Our next project

will be assisting with a Retreat for the

Women who attend Women Blessing

Women on Friday April 18,

www.womenblessingwomen.org .

FOR ALL CURRENT PARTICIPANTS AND ALUMNIJoin with the community of servant leaders to gather for a day ofprayer, reflection and reconnection with one another.

The purpose of the day is to:

Gather as a community of Servant Leaders

Reconnect with folks from your group and connect with others

who have participated in the Servant Leadership processes.

Network with other servant leaders around NW Ohio.

SATURDAY, MAY 319:30 AM3:30 PM

The day will include a potluck meal, time for prayerful refection onyour journey thus far. There will also be time to connect with otherson a similar journey and from next steps for on-going formationand/or action steps.PLEASE RSVP by May 5 by calling the Center at 419-476-0941, or

emailing: [email protected]

Location will be determined by group size

SAVETHE

DATE:Day of VisioningandReflection


5/6

Volume 1, Issue 4

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month

Current Board

MembersBob Anderson,

President

Gene Kobylak,Secretary

Denny Recker

Dave Schlaudecker, Treasurer

Bob HussMary Jo Anderson

Fr. John Blazer

Dick Faist

Sr. Joanne Lammers, OSF

Bishop Albert Ottenweller

Elaine Sheehan

Sr. Nancy Westmeyer, OSF

Founding Board MembersBob Anderson, President

Gene Kobylak, Secretary/Treasurer

Richard Kaverman

Ben NunezBishop Albert Ottenweller

Maria Povsic

Sr. Rita Wienken, OSF


FacilitatorsBob FisherGene Kobylak

Maria Povsic

Ruth Woodworth

Consultant CircleSara Best

Fran Carr

Ken Herwat

Susan Lowrey

Sue Wilhelm

Vision Team

Bob FisherRichard Kaverman

Gene Kobylak

Dot Kobylak

Alejandra Nunez

Ben Nunez

Bishop Albert Ottenweller

Maria Povsic


Office VolunteersKate Ackley

Sydney CondrayBob FisherLinda Hoover

Kathy Kertez

Margaret and Brooke Knicely

Dot Kobylak

Peg OHearn

Rich SchmidtBarb Schwieterman

Carol Stoll

Dusty TykodyVicky Wiltse

Recruitment VolunteersGary Brown

Sr. Alma Rose Langenderfer, SND

Mike Sordyl

Sr. Joselyn Weeman, SND

Sr. Cynthia Shaffer, SND

Womens Ministry TeamSydney Condray

Dot Kobylak

Linda Hoover

Peg OHearn

Barbara Roadruck

Mary Serote

Barb Schwieterman

Leadership Toledo working groupMike Baxter

Sarah Best

Chris Denman

Collette Cordova

Greg Braylock, JR

MaintenanceBob Fisher

Gene Kobylak

Ben NunezChris Amato and The Notre Dame

Club Members

Committees:

ReunionPlanning

Bob Fisher

Susan LowreyRev. Karen

Shepler

Vicky Wiltse

Fundraising

ToledoMarge McDainel

Marge Nadolny

Gary Brown

DelphosAlice Aruzen

Joyce Klausing

Mare Lous Pohlman

Bob Shulte

Tom Odenweller

Trina Shultz

Fr. Mel Verhoff

Mel and Pat Williams

Sue Gerkin

Treat people as ifthey were what they

ought to be, andhelp them become

what they are capa-ble of being.

--Goethe

We wish to thank those who have contributed in somany ways to The Servant Leadership Center:

Unless someone like you cares awhole, awful lot. Things aren't going

to get better, they're NOT!-- Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

How wonderfulthat no oneneed wait a sin-gle moment toimprove theworld."--Anne Frank

INSERT

When we honestly ask ourselves which

person in our lives means the most to us,we often find that it is those who, instead

of giving much advice, solutions, or cures,

have chosen rather to share our pain andtouch our wounds with a gentle and ten-

der hand. The friend who can be silentwith us in a moment of despair or confu-

sion, who can stay with us in an hour ofgrief and bereavement, who can tolerate

not knowing, not curing, not healing and

face with us the reality of our powerless-ness, that is a friend who cares.

--Henri Nouwen


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Volume 1, Issue 4

Servant Leadership:Threshold to a Life Transformed10 Month Process Information Re-quest

SESSION PREFERENCES (please Rank 1-3)

Daytime Session ___Mon___Tue___Wed__Thu

Evening Session ___Tue___Wed___Thu

Preferred Location: ___Toledo___Bowling Green ___Defiance___Delphos

(Thu. Only)

I would like to make an appointment tolearn more about the process.

Im not ready to register but please send memore information

Not interested at the present time, but keepme on the list.

Name:

Address:

HM # Cell #

WK # Email:

The Servant Leadership Center, 1618 W. Sylvania Ave. Toledo, OH 43

2008-2009 GROUP INFORMATIONCost: $40 per month ($400 billed over the 10months), this includall course materials

Please mail your $40 non-refundable deposit due by August tohold your place in the group to The Servant Leadership Center-Address is below. The check will not be cashed until the groupbegins.

Sessions are 3 hours in length, 2x per month (For instanc1st/3rd Thursday)

Session times are decided upon by the group (For Instance: daytime groups usually go from 10a-1p or 11a-2p; evening groups f

5:30-8:30p or 6-9p depending on the needs of the group memberThis will be determined at your groups first session

Scholarships are always available.

NEW SERVANT LEADERSHIP GROUPS BEGIN SEPT 2008We at The Servant Leadership Center firmly believe that each of us is called to play a part in working for justice. Using group and personal prayer,

common readings, dialogue, and shared meals, the process, Servant Leadership: Threshold to a Life Transformed provides an opportunity to:

Form community with others traveling a similar journey

Be more intentional about ones spiritual journey

Surface and explore deeply held beliefs and values

Discover how God is calling me at this time and place

The place God calls you to is the place where your hearts deep gladness and the worlds hunger meet. - Frederick Buechner

Connect with others who share your passions

Groups will begin in September 2008. Day and evening sessions are available. See registration form below for details. Or contact the office419-476-0941, [email protected]

A VOLUNTEER is a person who is a light to others, giving witness in a mixed-up age, doing welland willingly the tasks at hand-namely, being aware of another's needs and doing somethingabout it.

A VOLUNTEER is a person who remembers to do the thing to make other people happy, whotakes the loneliness out of the alone by talking to them, who is concerned when others are

unconcerned, who has the courage to be a prophet and to say the things that have to be said for

the good of all.

A VOLUNTEER is a person whose charity is fidelity, who is faithful in an unfaithful world,grateful in an ungrateful world, giving when all about are grasping, listening when others needto tell about their fears and problems.

- from "The Beacon," newsletter of Birthrite, South Africa

INSERT

A Reflection on Volunteers

Documents

Spring 2008 Servant Leader Center of Toledo Newsletter