SOULJOURNING
SOULJOURNING is a new interfaith, inter-spiritual community of parents and children aged 0-18 hosted by UCC Simi, promoting the spiritual nurture of young people. There is mounting scientific evidence showing that spirituality is a natural developmental process which, if supported, results in positive life-outcomes. Souljourning serves the large and growing population of parents who may not be affiliated with any religion, but recognize the importance of encouraging this process in their children.
Souljourning’s resources and events are rooted in secular mindfulness meditation, featuring practices from world faith traditions and non-religious sources.
Souljourning offers a free 2x/month e-news/blog and conversation among parents about ways to encourage the spiritual growth of their children. It holds a free monthly event at 11:00 – 12:30 (after 10 am worship) at UCC Simi, gathering parents and their children. Families of any or no faith background are encouraged to participate, without any expectation of formal affiliation. Each month’s event offers different experiences: making sand mandalas, story-telling, making home altars, learning meditative chants of the world’s religions. A simple lunch is served at each session. Sign up for the enews and event announcements by emailing admin@uccsimi.org .
UCC Simi is a progressive Christian congregation. This form of the faith is focused on compassion rather than on dogma, and it embraces the wisdom and spirituality of other religions.
Souljourning is directed by Rev. Jim Burklo, UCC Simi’s pastor, and by Colleen Briner-Schmidt, a beloved elementary teacher in the Conejo Unified School District and a member of UCC Simi. An interfaith educator, Jim Burklo retired as the Senior Associate Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at the University of Southern California in 2022. He is a co-founder of Mindful.USC.edu, a campus-wide initiative training students and staff in mindfulness meditation practice. He is ordained in the national United Church of Christ denomination.
