Spiritually Anybody (Tuesdays 5:30-7:00 PM, starting 3/7 through 4/18) 6-week in person series open to any student (spiritual, religious, or nonreligious) who wants to explore different ways to connect, center, and make meaning. Spiritually Anybody is especially for students who are exploring their spiritual path and worldview (mostly) outside of religious tradition. For many, foregoing traditional religion means losing spiritual community as well as a structure of regular practice and ways to mark time through ritual and celebration. In this group, we will share and support each other as we each create our own spiritual compass, or our own set of practices and wisdom to nourish and orient ourselves towards lives of meaning and wonder. Group led by Lara Struckman (she/her, earth spirituality and interfaith leader) and Joel Harter (he/him, Associate Dean of Students for Spirituality and Meaning-Making). Lara's experience includes LGBTQIA+ care, trauma-informed yoga, energy work, restorative justice, and growing food & flowers.
Spiritually Queer (Mondays 6:00-7:30 PM, starting 3/6 through 4/17)
This 6-week hybrid series is an LGBTQIA+ affirming group designed to explore the nuance and spectrum of Queer spirituality. Open to LGBTQIA+ students (spiritual, religious, or nonreligious) who want to explore how spirituality intersects with their Queer identity, including students exploring their spiritual path outside of religious tradition. In this group, participants will share from their own perspectives and experiences, with space to unpack some of the challenges, celebrate the joys, and create community with folks on their own path of being Spiritually Queer! We will celebrate diverse examples of Queer spirituality, and we will share and support each other as we nourish and orient ourselves towards lives of ever evolving meaning and wonder. Group led by Kassidy Slaughter ILR ‘24, and Lara Struckman, earth spirituality and interfaith leader. Lara's experience includes LGBTQIA+ care, trauma-informed yoga, energy work, restorative justice, and growing food & flowers.
Feeling Human: Art as a Response to Human Emotion (Tuesdays 3:30-5:30 PM, starting 2/28)
Cancelled!
Queering Christianity (Tuesdays 6:00-7:30 PM, starting 2/28)
As more and more Christian denominations, traditions, and churches open their doors to the queer-identified, the conversations around such changes often center on how “we” (the church) can welcome “them” (LGBTQIA+-identified Christians and searchers) into what we’re already doing—usually without changing much. Meanwhile, God has been active in the lives of queer Christians and searchers in every time and place--regardless of whether the church has welcomed them—and has gifted them beyond measure. In this six-week session, we will name together the graces that queer Christians have, do, and will bring wherever we go—maybe even including the church—if the church is lucky. Participants will support one another in bringing our own gifts to our traditions, and together dream of what a truly queered Christianity might look like. This group is especially for queer-identified, Christian-identified participants, but people of any faith background are welcome. 6-week in person series facilitated by Rev. Quinn Caldwell with Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell and a student leader from the LGBT Resource Center.
Psalms and Soup (Wednesdays 5:00 PM, starting 3/1)
An open-minded look at this most ancient collection of texts, open to all and led by the Lutheran and Episcopal chaplains. We’ll examine the psalms from multiple perspectives: as historical documents, as great literature, as inspiration for our own prayers, as devotional poems, and as a sometimes-startling, always-interesting record of the human condition in relation to God. All are welcome. Weekly in-person gathering at St. Luke Campus Ministry Lounge, 109 Oak Ave, Collegetown. Group led by Rev. Taylor Daynes, Chaplain for Episcopal Church at Cornell, and Rev. Jason Churchill, St. Luke Co-Pastor and Lutheran Campus Chaplain.
Dealing with Chronic or Acute Illness (Thursdays 5:00-6:30 PM, starting 2/23 through 3/23)
Group for students who are dealing with chronic or acute illness, either their own or of a close family member. Young adults often assume they can take health for granted. It can be lonely dealing with serious illness, and hard to find peers that understand what you are feeling.This group is open to any student (religious, spiritual, or non-religious), and multiple perspectives and experiences are welcome. The group is led by Dr. Chana Silberstein, Director of Education for Chabad at Cornell, who has a Ph.D. in Psychology and is currently completing a certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education. Meets at the Chabad House on West Campus, 102 Willard Way.
