Har Shalom to host Purim celebrations
Congregation Har Shalom, 2537 County Road 203, will host its Purim celebrations from March 6 to March 8.
On March 6, First Friday Services will begin at 6 p.m. with Rabbi Eliot Baskin. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., and the film “Call Me Kuchu” will be shown at 7:15 p.m. A discussion will be held after the film.
On March 7, morning services and a Torah reading with Baskin will take place at 10 a.m. A Children’s Purim Carnival will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. The adult-only Mediterranean Purim Feast will begin at 6 p.m., which will be followed by a megillah reading. Participants are invited to wear costumes and bring Hamantaschen to share.
On March 8, brunch and Judaism 360 will begin at 9:30 a.m. The group will talk about the Jewish religion and people-hood in Israel.
For more information, email programdirector@harshalomdurango.org.
Dharma center offers spring retreat
Registration is open for the Durango Dharma Center’s spring residential retreat at Kelly Place Bed and Breakfast in McElmo Canyon, near Cortez. The seven-day retreat will be held May 15 to May 22.
Led by meditation teachers Sally Clough and Carol Wilson, the retreat will focus on awareness and wisdom. Using the practice of insight meditation, participants experience momentary changes in the body, heart and mind to help cultivate a spacious, accepting attitude.
The program includes instructions about insight and loving-kindness meditation, meetings with teachers and daily talks about the Buddha’s teachings. New and experienced meditators are invited.
Clough began practicing meditation in India in 1981 and currently teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, where she also is chairwoman of its board of directors. Wilson has been practicing insight meditation since 1971 and has been offering retreats worldwide since 1986.
The cost of the retreat is based on a sliding scale. A discount is available if fees are paid by April 15. Scholarships also are available.
To register, visit www.durangodharmacenter.org. For more information, email Jim Bolton at jimbolton@mydurango.net or call 259-3226.
Pope takes retreat to correct ‘defects’
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is getting away from the Vatican for a few days and taking his advisers along to work, as he put it, on fixing the “many defects we all have.”
Francis told tens of thousands of Romans, tourists and pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square that he and top aides will begin a spiritual renewal retreat Sunday.
The pope said that amid “the noise, the confusion,” one hears “only superficial voices.” During the retreat, “we can listen to the voice of Jesus and also correct so many defects we all have,” he said.
Inviting prayers, Francis said the time away from the Vatican will also help participants “face the temptations that attack us every day.”
He didn’t list the “defects” he says needs fixing. But in the nearly two years since becoming pontiff, Francis has put prelates on guard against careerism, arrogance, hypocrisy, corruption and being too judgmental instead of merciful.
The Catholic church encourages spiritual renewal in Lent, when faithful prepare for Easter, which this year falls on April 5.
Herald Staff & Associated Press
