Spiritual Direction for Writers®

Thoughtful Readers Gathering with Cole Arthur Riley and Black Liturgies

Charlotte Donlon — January 21, 2024

Hi, everyone,

With a few tweaks and a bit more attention and intention, author conversations can be so much more than the typical experience.

I’m thrilled to host the first Thoughtful Readers Gathering this evening with Cole Arthur Riley and Black Liturgies. We will meet from from 5-5:45 p.m. CT, and anyone registered will receive a link for the recording later tonight.

All Thoughtful Readers Gatherings include a few simple liturgical elements to help participants have meaningful encounters. You can scroll down for a sneak peek of most of the email I sent out to all of our registered participants.

If this looks like something you’d appreciate, please join us. It’s not too late. And feel free to tell others who might enjoy this gathering, too.

All are welcome. Paid and free registration options are available.

Learn more and register here.

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Much peace and love to all of you. Life has been a lot for my family and me lately, and I’m so thankful for the opportunities to do this work that nourishes my heart, mind, and soul. If life is a lot for you, too, I hope you can put yourself in the way of some good nourishment, too.

Trying to notice the good,

Charlotte

P.S. If someone forwarded this email to you, I’d love for you to subscribe to Daily Nourishment. Learn more and sign up by clicking below:

P.S.S. If you’d like to learn more about additional upcoming events and gatherings, click below!

Sneak Peek: Thoughtful Readers Gathering Details and Liturgy Email That I Sent to All Registered Participants

Thoughtful Readers Gathering with Cole Arthur Riley
January 21, 2024 from 5-5:45 p.m.
Zoom: [ link URL ]

Please see the details below for our gathering. There are a couple of things I’d love for you to prepare for if you can, but no worries if you can’t.

Please Note: This online Zoom gathering will be recorded. If you are registered and aren’t able to join us from 5-5:45 p.m. CT, you will receive a link to the recording with other resources and notes later tonight.

The Zoom Room will open at 4:55 p.m. CT.
We will gather in silence. I’ll share my screen with a note of welcome and some reminders and instructions.

Please arrive on time, if possible. If you come late for whatever reason and miss anything lovely that happens in the chat before you enter the Zoom room, you will receive whatever you missed in the followup email that will go out later tonight.

Please email or text me if you have any questions or if you have technical difficulties before or during our gathering.

Trying to notice the good,
Charlotte

Thoughtful Readers Gathering Liturgy

—Gather
The Zoom room will open at 4:55. We will arrive in silence. As we wait for everyone to join, please take notes on the good things you have received from Cole Arthur Riley and her writing and work. A few prompts will be on the screen to help you think through this. This is an opportunity for all gathered to set apart this time and space to honor Cole Arthur Riley’s writing, work, and presence in this world.

Please stay on mute for the entire gathering. I prefer questions to come in writing via the Zoom chat and/or the Zoom Q&A option.

You are welcome to have your camera on or off—whichever you prefer.

I encourage you to respond, comment, etc. in the chat during the entire gathering. Please keep it kind. I don’t anticipate any problems, but I reserve the right to pause the gathering and remove anyone who is disruptive or causing harm. This gathering needs to be a safe and hospitable space for all, and it’s my role to protect the atmosphere.

—Encouraging Words
At 5:03 p.m. I'll welcome everyone and invite participants to add their location to the chat. Then I’ll invite participants to add to the chat one sentence/quote from one of Cole Arthur Riley’s books or one of her IG captions with words that help them feel less alone in this world.

I'll wait a minute or so for people to add these words to the chat.

—Deep Breaths + Invocation
At 5:04 p.m., I'll guide us through a few deep breaths then ask Cole to read a poem or prayer from Black Liturgies to serve as our Invocation.

—Reading and Writing Life Conversation

—Black Liturgies Conversation

—Q&A

—Closing Words

—Benediction

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Thanks so much for registering for the Thoughtful Readers Gathering with Cole Arthur Riley and Black Liturgies.

If you’d like to purchase a copy of Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human from my independent bookshop, you can do so here. I have a bunch of copies!