June 2009 VAF Gathering
Announcing the 2009 Via Affirmativa Gathering in Colorado Springs, June 5-9. You may now register on line for this event at www.regonline.com/gather09.
This year’s gathering promises to be one filled with celebration and beauty. We do hope you will be able to join us. We are making some changes to our format that you will want to know about. The morning sessions will include discussions on our topic “Free to Flourish” and performances from some of our guests. The afternoon sessions will be outdoors and will give significant time for artists to engage in conversations with like-hearted art makers. If you are a painter, there will be time to paint and some instructions if needed. If you make music, imagine being on the lawn with a few others making music. Perhaps you will enjoy a walk on the beautiful grounds of Glen Eyrie. The evening sessions will feature a few artists and a celebration of their art.
We hope to explore with one another how men and women can best flourish. This is an issue to which the fullness of the Gospel is the exemplary response. It is connected to the nature of the Good: the good city (civics), the good society (politics), the good organization (social dynamics). God, of course, is the highest Good. This topic connects with our emphasis in Via Affirmativa on rehumanizing our culture. It also brings into focus the scope of Shalom. Those who do not flourish are those who languish. Multitudes of them. They lack much and live in disorder and desperation. Their relationships are fractured. John 10:10 has Jesus declaring his advent to be so that we “can have real and eternal life, more and better life than we ever dreamed of” (The Message). Superabundant life…life that is perisson as regards the blessings of the fullness of salvation.
We are looking forward to being with you in June and expectantly await a time where we will be free to flourish.
Warmly,
Gary Bradley
Via Affirmativa.