Our guest today is Donna Dismore.
Donna was raised in a small farming community in northern Maine, taught choral music in the South Carolina public schools for 17 years, and moved to Vancouver, BC in 1996 to read and write at Regent College for a couple of years. She spent nine years at Regent (!) studying, working and teaching as a sessional lecturer. Twenty-six years later she is an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada and will "play in any sandbox that will have her."
Donna has consulted for and with communities in New Zealand, Newfoundland, Washington, British Columbia and Alberta, mostly in the areas of worship, music and group discernment. Preparing and facilitating retreats that are organic to the group is one of her greatest joys.
Donna is passionate about delving into the spirituality of change for congregations and groups of any kind. She is a partner in the SoulStream Community, currently a Transitional Minister at Brighouse United Church in Richmond, a voracious reader, and a lover of her canine companion, Tucker.
During this conversation, we discuss Donna’s early spiritual influences
Why Donna started praying the Psalms at a young age.
Donna’s definition of contemplation
The goodness of God and the need and difficulty of focusing on it.
Donna’s life-changing interactions with Eugene Peterson
Donna’s story of what happened at Chapel at Regent College on 9/11 and the months that followed
Thoughts on contemplative community. Paying attention to what God is doing in community.
Circle conversations with a talking stick so we can listen to each other and understand each other.
Donna's Imaginative Exercise to help in times of conflict or uncertainty.