Seeking the Spiritual in Prose and Poetry:
A Conversation with Lynn Domina, Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew, and Susan Palo Cherwien, moderated by Steve Staruch
October 8, 2017 | 1:00 pm | Sanctuary
Writing is an art form we can use to explore our deepest hopes, fears, and questions; we also write to express gratitude and praise. Writing can heal us and bring us clarity.
In October of 2017, the Center for Arts and Spirituality welcomed Lynn Domina, Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew, and Susan Cherwien, three authors with different approaches to writing about spirituality and spiritual subjects. They shared their experiences and their work, and engaged in a discussion, moderated by Steve Staruch of MPR, about how we can develop a spiritual writing practice.
Lynn Domina is the author of two collections of poetry, Corporal Works which won the Intro Series Prize from Four Way Books and Framed in Silence published as part of the Editor’s Select Poetry Series from Main Street Rag. She is also the editor of a collection of essays, Poets on the Psalms. Her poetry appears in many periodicals, including The Southern Review, The Gettysburg Review, Prairie Schooner, Christianity & Literature, The Louisville Review, New Letters, and others. She has published creative nonfiction in the St. Katherine’s Review. After many years living in the western Catskill mountains, Lynn was excited to return to the more temperate region of the Upper Peninsula. She lives with her family in Marquette, Michigan.
Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew is a writing instructor and spiritual director living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is the author of Swinging on the Garden Gate: A Spiritual Memoir (Skinner House Books),Writing the Sacred Journey: The Art and Practice of Spiritual Memoir (Skinner House Books), and On the Threshold: Home, Hardwood, and Holiness (Westview Press). Her essays and short memoirs have been published in The Christian Century,Fourth Genre, The Florida Review, and other literary and religious journals, as well as in the anthologies, Riding Shotgun: Women Write about Their Mothers, Blessed Bi Spirit, and My Red Couch and Other Stories on Seeking a Feminist Faith. She teaches at The Loft Literary Center, Hamline University, and United Theological Seminary.
Susan Palo Cherwien is a freelance writer and musician. She received her bachelor’s degree in church music and voice from Wittenberg University, the Abschlussprüfung in voice from the Hochschule der Künste Berlin, and a Master of Liberal Studies from Mundelein College, where she focused on spirituality, ritual, and the arts. Susan has written numerous hymn texts which appear in denominational hymnals in the United States, Canada, and Europe, and she is the author of O Blessed Spring: Hymn Texts of Susan Palo Cherwien (AugsburgFortress), Crossings: Meditations for Worship (Morningstar), To God Will I Sing (AugsburgFortress), From Glory Into Glory: Reflections For Worship (Morningstar), and Come, Beloved of the Maker (Augsburg Fortress).Wednesday Night Series
Spiritual Journaling and the Language of Hymnody & Liturgy
About John Hermanson
We are happy to announce that we will be commissioning music artist, John Hermanson, for the writing of a liturgy for our chapel worship. John is a St. Olaf graduate, noted for his partnership with Chris Cunningham in the duo "Storyhill." John grew up as a Lutheran in Montana and cites his experience at Camp Christikon, as central to his faith. He is the owner of the music production company, EGG, and lives with his family in St. Paul. John has written liturgies prior to this, alongside other sacred music, most notably his work on the Prophet Isaiah, and his arrangements of Psalms. We hope that our work with John will be introduced in chapel worship during the Easter season 2018.