The Cobb Institute, a community for process & practice. That’s who we are. And if you are reading this, you’re probably part of our community. But what do we mean and hope for when we talk about building community? In this newsletter we consider a variety of ways in which togetherness has shaped our identity.

Help, Thanks, Wow! According to Anne Lamott all prayers usually fall into one of those three categories. As a process thinker and a hospice chaplain, I weave them together when I pray with my patients. That’s what I tried to do in this newsletter, because life is full of “Help, Thanks, Wows”. This woven prayer is the everyday prayer at the Cobb Institute. The work of the Institute requires the help of friends like you, and we are grateful for the help we receive. Thank you! When we look at this community of friends and all we have accomplished, we say Wow! We hope you enjoy this prayer-filled newsletter.

Gardening is a process in praxis. It is an act of rebellion. It is a creative act done in partnership with the earth, so it provides an excellent concrete example of one of the technical terms used by process thinkers: concrescence. Concresence means “growing together.” At the Cobb Institute we are imagining the possibilities of urban agriculture, restorative farming, and sustainable local sources of food. Check out our fall newsletter to see what’s been growing together at the Institute.

We have been thinking about beauty a lot lately, as we are imagining a beautiful world for the common good. Our aim is to build an ecological civilization that would include artists of all kinds. Beauty comes in many forms, and we hope you will be inspired to seek out beauty too.

February is a time to give special attention to those we love, and spring is just around the corner. In this issue we invite you to look forward with hope to the emergence of new life and to fall madly in love with the world. May world-loyalty and world-love fill our hearts and move us in a new direction.

At the Cobb Institute it’s time to look at the possibilities and “Dream Bigger.” In this issue we reflect on the changing seasons, and then consider what’s possible with ambition. Come Dream Big with us!

Ever since I joined the Cobb Institute, I felt like I gained an instant family. That is exactly how we want it at the Cobb Institute. Our theme for July is “Building Community.” In this newsletter you will find thoughts and poems about what it means to be connected with others.

What does the Cobb Institute mean to you? For me it means community. It is also a place where I can learn how to contribute to an ecological civilization. I think the time is right for us to make an impact. I put my hand in yours, so that together we can do what I cannot do alone. In this issue, we celebrate our community while planning for the future.

Through stories, we share passions, fears, sadness, hardships, and joys, and we find common ground with other people. Stories can be universal, conveying meaning and purpose that help us understand ourselves better and find commonality with others. The process family has stories to tell. We hope you enjoy the ones included here.

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22nd to demonstrate support for environmental protection. At the Cobb Institute it provides an opportunity to reflect on our commitment to bring about an ecological civilization.

In March 2019, the seeds were planted. In 2020, the seedlings sprouted. In 2021, the Cobb Institute is starting to bloom. We are grateful for the growth, and for all the volunteers who make it happen with their time, patience, and nurturing.

In this month’s newsletter, we explore theme of love from a process-relational perspective. We believe that if everyone fully understood and embraced the idea that we are interconnected, we would seek the well-being of others, and act in ways that are more loving and compassionate.