The Thomas Merton Redwoods Chapter (Reading Group) meets at the Chapel of our Merciful Saviour (on the corner of 15th and G Streets – 1433 G Street) on the campus of Christ Episcopal Church Eureka CA on the third Tuesday of the month at 5 PM to 6:30 PM. We are currently reading aloud Merton’s New Seeds of Contemplation. No prior reading or knowledge is required. Copies of the book are available and participants are invited to join in the discussion, to read sections aloud, or to simply listen. We gather at 5 PM with the singing of The First Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6) to the hymn tune of “Thomas Merton,” composed by Ray W. Urwin. We then pray the Collect for Thomas Merton. After the opening prayer, we have a general check-in for announcements and then proceed to read aloud from selected works of Thomas Merton. We conclude our discussion at 6:30 PM, at which time we transition into an optional Centering Prayer gathering for further reflection, including a half hour of time devoted to silent prayer. The Centering Prayer time concludes at 7:30 PM, when participants are encouraged to depart in silence.
All are welcome!
Email eureka.rector@gmail.com to be added to the Thomas Merton Redwoods Chapter and to receive periodic email updates.
2025 – 2026 Dates:
September 16 (Introduction by Sue Monk Kidd, Preface, Author’s Note)
October 21 (Chapter 1: What is Contemplation?)
November 18 (Chapter 2: What Contemplation is Not)
December 16 (Chapter 3: Seeds of Contemplation)
January 20 (Chapter 4: Everything That Is, Is Holy)
February 17 (Chapter 5: Things in Their Identity)
March 17 (Chapter 6: Pray for Your Own Discovery)
April 21 (Chapter 7: Union and Division)
May 19 (Chapter 8: Solitude is Not Separation)
June 16 (Chapter 9: We Are One Man)
July 14 (Chapter 10: A Body of Broken Bones)
August 18 (Chapter 11: Learn to Be Alone)
September 15 (Chapter 12: The Pure Heart)
October 13 (Chapter 13: The Moral Theology of the Devil)
November 10 (Chapter 14: Integrity)
December 8 (Chapter 15: Sentences)
December 9 – Thomas Merton Eucharist (on the Eve of his Feast Day)
January 12 (Chapter 16: The Root of War is Fear)
February 16 (Chapter 17: Hell as Hatred)
March 16 (Chapter 18: Faith)
April 20 (Chapter 19: From Faith to Wisdom)
May 18 (Chapter 20: Tradition and Revolution)
June 15 (Chapter 21: The Mystery of Christ)
July 20 (Chapter 22: Life in Christ)
August 17 (Chapter 23: The Woman Clothed with the Sun)
September 21 (Chapter 24: He Who Is Not With Me Is Against Me)
Past Events and Announcements
Thomas Merton Redwood Chapter Email Updates
Mertonalia
Christ Episcopal Church Eureka 