It is with great pleasure to share with you the latest Living Compass Newsletter. If you haven’t already, please be sure to visit their website at https://www.livingcompass.org/ and learn more about the amazing work they are doing around the globe.
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This newsletter is geared towards those who have completed a Living Compass training, but is also intended for, and can be shared with all those interested in Living Compass.
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Living Compass Community Wellness
Advocate Newsletter September 2018
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Living Well Through Advent 2018
 Practicing Generosity
With All Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind
A Living Compass Seasonal Resource
We will be accepting orders and shipping in October. Keep an eye out for your free CWA code and order early while supplies last.
Designed for use as an individual reflection or for group study, this guide provides a foundation for seeking a deeper experience of Advent, an experience that will help prepare us for the true meaning of Christmas.
Includes reflections from:
The Rt. Rev. Brian Cole Amy Cook Randall Curtis The Rev. Shannon Kelly The Rev. Dr. Scott Stoner
Available in both print and electronic editions.
We will offer a free downloadable Facilitator Guide for group use.
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Wellness in Action
Community Wellness Advocates share how they creatively adapted and promoted Living Compass programs specifically for Men
Men’s Health Wellness Toolbox:
Enhancing Your Life & Well-Being
by Judy Togbo and Katrina Kimble
Men’s Health Network (MHN) mission is to reach men and their families where they live, work, plan and pray with health awareness and disease prevention messages and tools, screening programs, educational materials, advocacy, opportunities, and patient navigation. After making several attempts to introduce the Living Compass to various men groups and local male clergy in the Memphis area, we quickly realize we had to develop a new approach to share Living Compass. Most people understand the purpose of a toolbox. Therefore, we took the Living Compass Wellness Program and presented as a basic toolbox for wellness. We stayed true to the Living Compass Program and assessment tools, but modified presentation method. When preparing to complete a home improvement project or repair, it is essential to ensure you have the correct tools in your tool box for the job. Each tool is uniquely design to complete a specific function. Men’s Health Wellness Toolbox was created out of the necessity to share Living Compass with men and boys in our community with a unique approach.
Men’s Health Toolbox:
Suddenly, the men were open and receptive to starting the journey to wellness. Since we changed our presentation method, there has been an increase of request from male organizations to learn more about Living Compass. We have had the opportunity to conduct Living Compass for men bible studies, fraternity meetings, health fairs, and health summits/conference.
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2
—————————— The Rev. Bill Miller Rector at Christ Episcopal Church, Covington, Lashares how he promoted a Living Compass Adult Faith and Wellness Circle for men.
Higher Life: A Six-Week Men’s Group
 Join Fr. Bill Miller at Christ Church Covington for a 6-week opportunity to reflect on your life – all of your life – your soul, heart, strength and mind. Grow in your faith. Become more healthy in your choices. Become more balanced and centered in your daily activities. Join Fr. Bill on Wednesdays in St. Cecilia House at Christ Church Covington from 6-7:30 p.m. Dinner is served at 5:00 in the parish hall, and we’ll gather for beverages at 5:30 (bring something to share). We will begin PROMPTLY at 6:00 and end no later than 7:30 (often earlier). Here are the dates: September 12, 19, 26, October 3, 10, and 17. There is no charge but you must register with the church office and you must commit to being present for all 6 sessions. This group is limited to 20 people!
Bill reports after two sessions it is going great, “I add music at the beginning as part of our spiritual practice (everything from jazz singer Cyrille Aimee to blues singer Eric Bibb to Country and Western singer Chris Stapleton). The guys have given us great feedback about how meaningful this is. We attract guys beyond our church for this. It has been amazing how many guys have participated and have openly shared their lives with each other. Several have had to deal with significant transitions during the group and have leaned on the group (and on God and the spiritual practices) for support.”
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Upcoming Trainings
 Pneuma Conference and Living Compass Training
Healdsburg, CA: Bishop’s Ranch Conference Center
October 1-4, 2018
Parent and Teen Wellness Circle Training
Madison, WI: Goodman Center October 12, 2018
Community Wellness Advocate Training with Parent Teen Focus
*Chicago, IL October 18-20, 2018
Parent and Teen Wellness Circle Training
Milwaukee, WI November 2, 2018
2019 CWA Trainings
Chicago, IL February 28-March, 2019
Chicago, IL April 25-27, 2019
*Chicago, IL July11-13, 2019
Chicago, IL October 3-5
*Chicago, IL November 7-9, 2018
*Parent and Teen focused CWA Trainings-
This training is a great addition to the traditional CWA training! This is not a traditional CWA training in that it is meant for people that want to focus specifically on parents and teen wellness in their school or church community. Visit our website,
livingcompass.org or contact edith@livingcompass.org for more details.
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Certification Celebration
Please help us to congratulate the following Community Wellness Advocates who has completed their certification:
Scott Beachy Austin, TX
Patty Ely Austin, TX
Lauren Greenwade Austin, TX
Laura Jackson Chicago, IL
Barbara Newman Austin, TX
Judy Seals-Togbo Marion, AR
Nancy Wade Monroe, LA
Many of you have already far surpassed the completion of what it takes to be certified and all you need to do now is fill out the form. If you are interested in completing your CWA List of Activities for certification email Edith@livi
We will be honored to send you your official certificate. Keep an eye out for future certified CWA promotions and events. ONLINE WELLNESS CIRCLES COMING SOON !
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Making Connections
Look for Living Compass
NAES-National Association of Episcopal Schools Conference November 7-9, 2018 in Atlanta Georgia where Living Compass will be attending.
Being Well: Connecting Church, Faith and Health on November 10, 2018 in Chicago at North Park University.
Explore the church ‘s important role in helping people be well, in addition to caring for the sick. Ruth Haley Barton, well known author and founding president/CEO of the Transforming Center will give the keynote address on Honoring the Body as a Spiritual Practice. Scott Stoner will provide a plenary address on the Living Compass Model of Wellness Ministries and also a workshop on Family Resilience and Wellness. For more information and to register for this third biennial faith and health symposium provided by North Park Theological Seminary and North Park University School of Nursing and Health Sciences click here or call (773) 244-5240. Continuing education is available for a number of professions. Early bird registration ends September 30.
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Closing Thoughts
by Scott Stoner
One thing I like to remind people of when talking about Living Compass is to remember there are always multiple compasses that are guiding our lives, often unconsciously. These include the compasses of our dominant culture, our families of origin, our gender, our faith, etc. Becoming more conscious of the True North by which we orient our decisions in all aspects of our lives is the foundation of our journey of wholeness and wellness. I am delighted to see reports in this newsletter that three of our Community Wellness Advocates-Judy Togbo, Katrina Kimble, and Bill Miller- are offering creative wellness programs for men. Many of us men (myself included) were raised with a compass that defined masculinity primarily by strength, aggression, individualism, power, and achievement. This older compass/model of masculinity has been described by many therapists today as “toxic masculinity” because it did not teach men the importance of spirituality, comfort with emotions, vulnerability, and the importance of nurturing and loving relationships. Living Compass programs provide the opportunity for not just men, but women, parents, and teens, to check their compasses and engage in honest self-reflection. Based on that self-reflection, participants then get support to set goals for any changes they want to make to grow into the people they feel called to be. Living Compass programs only happen because of people like you so thank you for doing your part in bringing wellness and wholeness to the people and communities you serve.
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