The Center for Spiritual and Religious Life is a welcoming space for curious, respectful engagement with persons of similar, different or no religious tradition. It is a place for quiet personal reflection and spiritual practice. 

 


New ways that we're using the space are as follows: 

  • The building won't be open to the public, please bring your ID to access the Esch Hurvis Center.
  • If you have an appointment, please plan to bring your own mask. Campus rules will apply.
  • The second floor of the Esch Hurvis Center for Spiritual and Religious Life is open.  Please refer to posted signs within the building for our current status. 
  • Private one on one meetings with the Dean and Associate Dean will be held in virtual or physically distanced spaces with masks in place. 
  • Please return the furniture to its general locations for the next guest(s). 
  • Please refer to the occupancy limits of each room when posted.  

Photo of Sabin House-Center for Spiritual & Religious Life

The Center for Spiritual and Religious Life is located one block south of College Avenue at the corner of Meade and Alton Streets. It includes a community area with a full kitchen, a living room with a variety of seating, a meditation room, and a second floor meeting room. Visitors will find art from several of the world's religious traditions, a library to support individual spiritual growth and multifaith exploration, quiet space, and supplies to support reflective activities.

As a display of intentional interfaith expression, the Center for Spiritual and Religious Life is home to a number of programs that allow visitors to find or express spirituality in a variety of ways. A visitor to the center will not find that faith or religion becomes an obligation as they enter the space, but rather will find both traditional and contemporary ways to express the faith they already hold. Visitors may also find a new unique expression of their existing spirituality.

Reverend Linda Morgan-Clement, Julie Esch Hurvis Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life and Chaplain to the University, Reverend Terra Winston-Sage, Associate Dean, Lee Sterling, Administrative Coordinator, and Amber Latimer and Della Haanen, Practices Fellows have offices on the second floor of the center.

Practices in Attention at the Center for Spiritual and Religious Life

The choices and actions that bring you to a place of contemplation are unique to each individual. Lawrence's Center for Spiritual and Religious Life provides a space for activities such as yoga, handcrafts, and morning meditation.

Activities intentionally vary so that new and natural exploration can be experienced. 

Weaving
     verb: to interlace (threads, yarns, strips, fibrous material, etc.) so as to form a fabric or material.

Weaving takes the individual into pattern and thought, design and art. Interlacing two or more distinct strings and creating something new is a practice in contemplation and attention.  Unplug and move into a thoughtful space connecting mind to action in simple and complex ways.  Weaving thread and beads available at the Center for Spiritual and Religious Life. 

Hammered Word Bracelets
There are many ways to be a catalyst for meaningful conversations and positive action. By exploring the one word that drives the intention of your personal journey, these bracelets are a reminder of the wearer's choices to embody that intention. A selection of the tools available to explore your intentional word and create a wearable reminder are available at the Center for Spiritual and Religious Life for an individual to use.  Practice, fail and practice some more as you explore what your word is and create your bracelet.

Drop-In Drops
This fun active meditation is a great place to share your energy with another. Using polymer clay, you can create a small 'drop' that Center staff will bake and make available to be shared with other visitors to the space.  Place your gratitude, worry, or just plain nervous energy into a tangible form, and then allow it to absorb a new meaning for someone else.  
Drop in anytime and create a water drop of your own.

Color and Spirit
There are a few books you will find to put your colorful expressions in a safe place.  Coloring for adults is a visit to a simple time and this active meditation allows the person coloring to let thoughts, emotions, grief, happiness, fear, joy or uninhibited assessments occur.  Color in our books, or bring your own.  Colored pencils provided.

Community Cooking
A bountiful buffet is made better by each piece that is added to the shared table. Community is happening in our kitchen (just ask the students). 

Water Drawing
What would you draw if there was no need to erase...if mistakes wiped themselves away with just air and time? On a water drawing pad, you can do just that. Fleeting sentiments hold a precious power in the fact that their impact is limited by time but a memory of the sentiment can remain. Create an impact in real time.    

 

Guided Contemplation

Meditation
A dedicated room within the center is available for your personal practice.

On campus there are several ways to find the right fit for your personal contemplative experiences. 
 

Library

The library within the center is intended to allow visitors space to stretch their practice by interacting with poetry, sacred texts, spiritual literature, and narratives from spiritual leaders and groundbreakers. Explore the list of available books and share your interest or engage with your fellow Lawrentians in a spiritual discussion. 

Books with the office of Dean of Spiritual & Religious Life
 

Sharing the Space

 

Spiritual and religious practice is welcomed and encouraged here. Our campus community includes persons who have diverse religious and spiritual practices and beliefs. We ask that users observe the following etiquette so that everyone feels welcome in this private/public space.
 

House Etiquette

REMOVE YOUR SHOES: If you are able, please remove your shoes as a way of respecting the space and keeping the floor clean for those who will use it for prayer and meditation.  
EMBODY TRUSTWORTHINESS: Personal sharing that takes place in the room stays in the room. Take out and share the ways in which the conversation or experience has changed your thinking or actions.
BE CURIOUS: What we presume to know about others is often based on  stereotyping or profiling and gets in the way of listening. We are here to learn and seek understanding not to debate. 
BE HONEST & GENTLE: Expect to react and for questions to arise as you share this space with others. It is appropriate to acknowledge your reactions and to ask respectful questions. 
SHARE, DON’T SHOVE: We encourage you to share your questions and your convictions with the intent to explore and understand rather than to convert or convince. 
PRACTICE FORGIVENESS: We learn from trying and making mistakes. Seek to forgive as others seek to learn. 
SPEAK FOR YOURSELF: Use “I statements” to relieve the pressure to speak on behalf of all others who share your identity. This practice also precludes generalizing about people with identities different from your own. 
STEP UP/STEP BACK: Some people participate by speaking up while others participate by listening. It is important for everyone to have opportunity to step up in conversation and for those who step up frequently to step back.