Southport, CT - Episcopal Priest, Writer and Retreat Leader Matthew Wright to share insights drawn from the wisdom teachings of Islamic Sufi tradition.
The mystical traditions of Islam and their relevance to prayer practice across multiple faiths will be the topic of an in-person, weekend workshop hosted by Trinity Spiritual Center on Friday, April 26th and Saturday, April 27th.
The two-day workshop will be led by renowned Episcopal priest Matthew Wright, priest-in-charge for St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Woodstock, NY, who is a student within the Mevlevi Sufi tradition of Islam under the guidance of Shaikh Kabir and Camille Helminski. He is also a longtime student of Cynthia Bourgeault and serves as a teacher for Wisdom Waypoints and The Contemplative Society.
Matthew will discuss the tenets of Sufism: the mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. The practice consists of a variety of mystical paths that are designed to ascertain the nature of humanity and of God and to facilitate encounters with the divine.
On Friday evening, April 26 at the beginning of a dinner from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, Matthew will introduce the basics of Sufi teaching. Then Saturday, April 27, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, he will show how the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’an unfolded in the work of such spiritual giants as Ibn al-Arabi and Jalaluddin Rumi.
Participants will get to experience various practices of Islamic spirituality: embodied prayer, chanting the names of God, attending to the breath, and anchoring awareness in the heart. Attention will also be given to the connections between the Islamic and Christian Wisdom streams.
This mini retreat is the latest in a series of workshops that Wright has offered at Trinity Spiritual Center to deepen understanding of contemplative practices and their relevance in today’s world.
This offering is particularly timely in light of increased awareness of how much we need to better understand the commonalities among the spiritual traditions of the Middle East, despite the political conflicts that have exploded. The retreat is also a continuation of the Center’s well-attended panel discussion led by a rabbi, priest, and imam who are working for peace last January 21, and a workshop on forgiveness led by Mpho Tutu van Furth.
Trinity Spiritual Center is pleased to host this event as the latest of its conversations on contemporary issues that deeply impact our community and contemplative practices that can enrich our lives.
The workshop is open to all. No participation in Wright’s earlier workshops or affiliation with the church required. There is a $40 fee for the event, which includes Friday dinner and Saturday lunch. Registration is required (details below).
WHAT: Weekend Workshop on the Mystical Traditions of Islam
WHEN: Friday, April 26th (6:00 pm - 7:30 pm) and Saturday, April 27th (9:00 am - 2:00 pm)
COST: $40 in-person
REGISTER: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-weekend-mini-retreat-with-matthew-wright-tickets-875271118477
QUESTIONS: (203) 255-0454
Trinity Spiritual Center is a dynamic and growing community of people of all ages and beliefs, engaging in a broad range of learning experiences to inspire and support their own journeys of spiritual growth. It offers programs and practices that inspire and engage the greater community.