Urban Abbey Community Meeting - Saturday January 16, 2010

Dear Urban Abbey Members and supporters, we are looking forward to upcoming meeting as a time of reflection for the Abbey. We will be asking, and prayerfully listening for God's guidance as we explore our future together. We strongly encourage all members of the Abbey to attend this meeting. We have important work to do together as a community. The future of our community is at stake.

We will be gathering from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm (US Eastern Time) on January 16, 2010. Please hold our community in prayer this week and during the meeting as we make important decisions.

For our members that have attended other Urban Abbey events and are in the Arlington Virginia area, please watch your email for information from Angela Churchill, or contact Angela directly at angelachurchill at mac.com.

The Virtual Abbey Launches

Last year during Lent, I began to pray portions of the Daily Office on behalf of the Urban Abbey via Twitter. I did this as a spiritual discipline for myself, but within a few days, people began to follow the prayers. They retweeted the portions they liked and a chorus of "Amens" rose up from the Twitter world; before I knew what was happening, over a thousand people were gathering for prayer each night on Twitter.

That prayer group has become a community and has now launched a new blog, The Virtual Abbey. Please check it out! We welcome your participation as readers, commenters and even as writers, if the spirit so moves you. Editorial and submision guidelines are available upon request by sending a message to info [at] thevirtualabbey.com.

The name of the Twitter account has been changed to @Virtual_Abbey to more accurately reflect the nature of the group that gathers to pray each night. Also, the online community has launched a new Facebook page to discuss Benedictine spirituality and modern monasticism and to share resources with each other. Please join us at any or all of these electronic venues!