Each week the soup supper is followed by a prayer service and a speaker. If the soup was the main course, this week’s prayer service was the dessert. The prayer service featured a series of readings and Ionic spiritual songs. The Ionic tradition has its origins in Celtic music of Scotland, but also draws from music of South Africa, Malawi, South America and the Far East. The beautiful harmonies of the St. Joan’s choir echoed in the intimate setting of the church. The reflective readings reminded us of the struggles for peace and justice that people face throughout the world.

“God bless to us our bread,
And give bread to all those who are hungry,
And hunger for justice to those who are fed;
God bless us to our bread.”

The Wednesday evening Lenten programs also include a series of speakers. This week’s session was the second in a series on the topic of “Mysticism”. Fr. Jim DeBruycker shared his insights and experiences on the topic. He described mysticism as the ways we experience God in our lives. Throughout the ages people have tried to describe their experiences about the nature of God, and theologians have wrestled with how to put those experiences into words. An example of this is the Nicene Creed, which we still recite today. It was written during the 4th century AD in an attempt to unify the Christian church.

Our Catholic tradition includes many holy people we consider mystics, including St. Theresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and St. Joseph of Cupertino. Both St. Theresa and St. Joseph were reported to levitate during their prayers. In fact, St. Joseph became such a spectacle and drew such crowds that he was not allowed to attend choir or say Mass in church. Ironically, he was named the patron saint of astronauts and aviators.

In our own lives we have mystical experiences in the many ways in which we see or experience God. Fr. Jim showed us a number of Escher prints to illustrate how different people will perceive the same image. Some people see the fish, some people see the birds. Our perception of God is always influenced by our culture and our language. Similarly, we all experience the divine in our own ways; through prayer, nature, music, solitude or in the presence of loved ones. Occasionally, when someone has challenged us to take a different direction in our lives we may later recognize that as God, directing us on our spiritual path.

After Fr. Jim’s presentation, we broke into small groups and shared our own mystical experiences with each other. We were also asked how we knew it was God that we experienced. Many in my group described times in their life when they were certain that they encountered the presence of God. Their sense of wonder, love, comfort or connectedness defined their mystical experience as divine.

Teresa Nowak has been attending St. Joan for about 10 years and also belongs to a Small Christian Community. In her day job, she works as a technical trainer and consultant for a large business software company. When she's not writing for the St. Joan's web site, she can often be found tending the perennial gardens around her home in NE Mpls, rollerblading, golfing, or traveling somewhere off the beaten path. Teresa can be reached at tnowak@isd.net.

Nancy Lynch says, "Joy is being a wife, Mom of fourteen, eight with varying disabilities and living at home, Grandma of thirteen, and Great Grandma of three. Serenity is listening and watching the ocean, alone, at our home on Maui. Passion is friends, photography, reading, swimming and children. Nancy can be reached at NALYNCH@aol.com.