Many Americans balk at the idea of setting aside a whole day for worship, rest, and time with those who matter most to them. Yet we long for more time to spend on what matters most—unrushed time to rest, reconnect with friends and loved ones, and deepen our relationship with God.
An ancient spiritual practice exists that can help restore balance to our lives: the practice of keeping sabbath. But how exactly do we manage to build time for sabbath into our busy lives? Instructor, Dana Trent, explores this question in For Sabbath’s Sake.
With humor and honesty, Trent reveals her own struggles with setting apart a day devoted to God, rest, and community. This online course traces the rich history of sabbath, helps you find ways to overcome barriers to this spiritual practice, and suggests achievable ways to build sabbath into your life.
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Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.
Prayer, Stress, and Our Inner Wounds (The Upper Room)
This online course explores Flora Wuellner’s book Prayer, Stress and Our Inner Wounds, and several types of pain are examined: physical pain, painful memories, forgotten wounds, the pain of uncertainty, the pain of stress and anxiety. Flora suggests practical ways by which prayer can help us experience inner healing. The reader learns how to cooperate with God, trusting the grace of God’s love rather than rigid discipline and techniques. As Wuellner says, “God is asking for relatedness not rules.”
A key practice Flora offers is guided prayer that engages our imagination. These guided prayer practices are found throughout the content of Prayer, Stress and Our Inner Wounds. We invite you to engage in a healing journey through Flora’s book and guided prayer practices.
This online course includes:
All essential content from Flora’s book Prayer, Stress, and Our Inner Wounds
Audio recordings of Flora’s guided prayer practices read by Marjorie J. Thompson
A place to post comments for others on this healing journey
A recorded interview with Flora Slosson Wuellner
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About this instructor: Flora Slosson Wuellner, a retired ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, is well-known throughout the United States and Europe for her writings and retreat leadership that focus on the inner healing God freely offers through Christ. She has been involved in a specialized ministry of spiritual renewal for over 40 years and has written 14 books on individual and communal healing.
Flora served as adjunct faculty member for 12 years at Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, California, in the field of spiritual wholeness. Educated at the University of Michigan and at Chicago Theological Seminary, she has served pastorates in Wyoming, Idaho, and Illinois.
Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.
Celtic Blessings (The Upper Room)
Through Beth’s written blessings and stories, you’re invited to live into a regular practice of gratitude and noticing—practices that encourage us to be aware of God all around us. Drawing on her own Celtic heritage, Beth weaves personal story and written blessings into a book you’ll want to have ready for life’s ordinary and extraordinary moments.
In our online course, you’ll meet Beth through brief videos, hear her read aloud both story and blessing, and be guided in writing blessing prayers of your own.
This online course includes:
- All essential content from Beth’s book, Christ Beside Me, Christ Within Me: Celtic Blessings.
- Introductory video for each section.
- Audio recordings of Beth reading blessings and telling her family story.
- A place to share your thoughts and blessings with others who will join in along the way.
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Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.
Practicing Spirituality with Buddhists (Spirituality and Practice)
This is not an online course on the history of Buddhism or a summary of its basic teachings. Instead, it will give you access to some of the finest Buddhist teachers of our day — the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chodron, Lama Surya Das, Sharon Salzberg, Sylvia Boorstein, and many others — through passages from their recent writings.
The online course is designed as a 40-day retreat, although you can choose a different frequency during the sign-up process. 40 emails each contain a thought-provoking and soul-stirring quotation from a contemporary Buddhist teacher for you to reflect upon during the day. This is accompanied by a suggestion for how you can practice being present, equanimity, compassion, generosity, patience and other essential Buddhist ideals during the day.
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Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.
Gutenberg to Google (Augsburg Fortress)
In this on-demand webinar, you’ll learn something about history and how reforming traditions are alive and well today. You will come away with fresh ideas for using your congregation’s website, social media and other new technologies to proclaim the Gospel!
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Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.
Offering Electronic Giving (United Methodist Church)
Electronic giving is not the future of charitable giving, it is the present reality. If your church is not offering this as an option for those who attend your church, you are missing out on generous giving. If there have been obstacles to making this option available to your church, then watching this on-demand webinar is for you.
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Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.
A Good Death (United Methodist Church)
This on-demand webinar begins by looking at what a faithful death looks like. It focuses on techniques to assist older adult ministry leaders to help those they serve by imagining their own deaths and overcoming fears of the unknown.
One concentration of the session will be on how to assist leaders in raising the larger existential questions about death when even leaders are uncomfortable with the subject matter. Finally, it will cover and educate leaders about how to evaluate and adapt death preparation resources for their own setting.
PRESENTER: Will Randolph, Director of Aging and Older Adult Ministries (recorded 08/04/2017)
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Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.
Clergy Taxes: Don’t Live in Fear! (United Methodist Church)
Clergy face some unique challenges when it comes to things like social security payments, estimated tax payments, housing allowances or exclusions, and reimbursed expenses. Your corner tax preparer may not understand the unique situation of clergy, and finding one who does can save you substantially in money and aggravation. This on-demand webinar was presented by Rev. Don Joiner, a certified financial planner, who can help you to navigate the preparation of taxes and planning for a sound financial future.
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Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.
Religion and Conflict (University of Groningen)
Many conflicts in the world today are framed in terms of religion, but there is much discussion and confusion concerning the precise role religion plays in these conflicts. According to some, conflict and violence are inherent to religion. Others claim that religion is only the guise under which social, economic or political conflicts are fought out. The first step to solving religiously framed conflicts is understanding the role of religion in them, and that is what this free online course is about.
One point of departure is that religion means different things in different circumstances and to different (groups of) people. Therefore, the aim of this online course is to show how a religiously framed conflict can be studied in the wider cultural and political contexts of these conflicts. In the course material, the instructors will refer to various religious, cultural and political settings. In addition, they will invite you to engage in some modest research activities in your own environment and compare your own findings with those of fellow students.
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Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.
Religion, Conflict and Peace (Harvard University)
This online course from Harvard University explores a series of contemporary conflicts in different regions of the world with a special focus on identifying and analyzing the diverse and complex roles that religions play in both promoting and mitigating violence in each context. Students will learn a method for recognizing and analyzing how religious ideologies are embedded in all arenas of human agency and not isolated from political, economic, and cultural life as is often assumed.
In addition to examining the conflicts themselves, this online course also explores the religious dimensions of the impacts those conflicts have on civic life in areas such as public health, education, and commerce by addressing a series of questions:
- What roles do religions play in fostering violence and what roles do they play in promoting peace?
- How do religious institutions and ideologies function to support and/or thwart public health initiatives?
- What are the ideological justifications for functional economic policies and how do they reflect and/or challenge diverse religious values?
- What roles do religions play in advancing or suppressing educational opportunities and for whom?
- Are media representations of the religious dimensions of conflict accurate?
This online course is led by Diane L. Moore (Senior Lecturer and the Director of the Religious Literacy Project, Harvard University)
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Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.
