Welcome, summer.
Let's set some wider margins.
How are you? How is your soul? Are your life rhythms serving you well? We at The Well know that this time of year can leave us spent, exhilarated, and more than a little frayed around the edges. We’re conscious of our need for a little more space, a little extra margin in life.
In her book Sacred Self-Care, Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes writes: “Margin is free space, time that is intentionally left open to allow us to slow down, to breathe, and to recenter throughout our day.” If you feel as though your margin has evaporated, you’re not alone. Let’s move into a time of reclaiming that margin in life this summer. Would you like to join us?
Whether your work schedule is intimately connected with the academic year or not, the summer offers a unique opportunity to step back and take a deep breath. What kinds of rest do you need in your life after a full year? What practices do you use to reflect and plan for the future?
At The Well, we’re creating space for our own rest, reflection, and planning this summer by pausing new publications in June and July. You won’t see new pieces at The Well, or find new episodes of The Women Scholars and Professionals Podcast, receive your favorite weekly newsletter, or see us on social media.
We'll be back in August with new pieces for a new semester, new podcast episodes, a new book club, and the return of our weekly prayer meetings. In the meantime, we have a few suggestions for things you might enjoy:
If you're looking for some summer reading, we recommend checking out one or both of our summer book clubs this June.
If you’d like to consider hosting a book discussion of your own, check out our list of book club discussion guides.
If you would like to implement a summer practice for spiritual refreshment, you might enjoy using our visio divina series or our “Poems for Contemplation” series.
If you’re a podcast listener, catch up on our podcast archives.
If you appreciate the work our team does, would you consider supporting our work financially with a one-time gift before the end of our fiscal year or a monthly gift? You can find more information about giving here.
And if you have questions or ideas, you can always reach out to us on email or send your greetings through a comment on this newsletter!
So until August, enjoy some of our most recent offerings at The Well!
Blessings to you all,
The staff at The Well
As we work through the details of everyday tasks, our sense of being a whole and integrated person can get worn down, priming us for a time of refreshment. In this finale of our Spring Book Club, we engage in conversation with Jeff Haanen about his book Working from the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to Inner Work That Transforms Our Outer World. Jeff Haanen shows how we can seek deep spiritual health rather than be formed by our culture which influences us to live fragmented lives. Start your summer with this rich conversation — and consider joining us for one .
“"Lots of people don’t have eyes to see how good and important their work is.”
As we head into summer, we’ve found that it can help to spend a little time in reflection to clarify our hopes for this next season. We’re reminded of this journaling guide to plan a summer for growth, this article that encourages us to avoid the summer funk, and this very practical piece of advice to establish boundaries and boost productivity. For some of you, it might be best to simply sit down for a little while and stare into the middle distance — a holy practice for all those who find the need to heal frazzled nerves. The Lord knows your needs and is ready to tend to them. Blessings to you as you receive God’s good gifts to you this summer.
“But as my school-year responsibilities draw to a close, I find myself looking ahead. What might God have for me this summer?”
You’re Invited!
Weekly Prayer is taking a break for the summer! Prayer meetings will resume in August 2024. Stay tuned!
Women, Work & Calling — Summer Book Club. Join us and InterVarsity’s MBA Ministry for a special two-session book club this June 6 & 20 as we discuss Women, Work & Calling (IVP 2024). Joanna Meyer provides a theological framework for women's work and influence and offers resources for the challenges of working life. Click through to register!
Moms at the Well — Summer Book Club. Join us for a special single-session book club this June 10 as we discuss Moms at the Well. This seven-week Bible study offers a modern-day "well" for mothers. We invite you to “take a sip with us” by joining us to do the first chapter. If there is enough interest, we will figure out how to do the rest together! Click through to register!
IVP Faculty exam copies. Professors can request a free exam or desk copy for InterVarsity Press titles adopted for classroom use up to three times a year. Your free exam or desk copy will be sent to you within four weeks. Register for a professional account to access this benefit!
Are you an InterVarsity alum? Use promo code IVCFALUMNI to get a 25% discount at ivpress.com.
Are you an Asian American college student or recent post-graduate dedicated to your Christian faith? Apply to the Asian-American Christian Collaborative Next Gen Leadership Cohort. AACC has established this cohort to mentor our next generation, empowering them to realize the depth of their God-given talents and identity. (Deadline extended! Applications due Sept 1.)
Are you a Christian woman working in a STEMM field? WISH (Women in Science & Humanities) aims to encourage and support Christian women in STEMM. Check out their new website, support them by filling out their survey, and forward to your networks of women who might also be interested in participating in the WISH project.
Jesus Works Through Nurses. Celebrate National Nurses Month with a new Bible study from Nurses Christian Fellowship "Jesus Works Through Nurses." Share this with nursing students, nursing faculty, and ministry partners as you celebrate all the nurses in your life this month!
Four More Things We Loved This Week
“New research suggests people tend to be lonelier in young adulthood and late life. But experts say it doesn’t have to be that way.” (NY Times, unlocked)
We might just give a toast to summer with a glass of this easy and festive strawberry lemonade.