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The Oratory

An Online Spiritual Community

Oratory Pages

The Oratory is the online spiritual community of Halcyon Arts. Together, we explore world spirituality and practice the contemplative arts. It is a virtual chapel, a society of seekers after truth, and a team ministry. We are a lay community leading lives in the world and offering a diversity of spiritual programs to those interested.

Oratory members have decided to more intentionally pursue their spiritual life in community. They also contribute their time and talent by becoming involved in some form of leadership in Oratory programs. 

There are many dimensions to the Oratory. How would you like to participate?

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Services & Silences

Learn more about our Oratory Services and Silence sessions and how to participate on Zoom.

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Spiritual Practices

Explore contemplative arts from world traditions through media and online discussions.

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Oratory Blog

Members of the Oratory write posts sharing insights and experiences. 

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Spiritual Companioning

Schedule a Spiritual Companioning  or Spiritual Direction session with one of our trained soul friends

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Rule of Life

Oratory members are invited to develop their personal "rule of life" as a container for their practice.

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Halcyon Oratory School

Engage with a core curriculum in world spirituality designed to be completed in two years.

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Small Groups

Register for an online group to explore world spirituality through sacred texts, history, or stories.

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Spirituality Media Exchange

Join our social group on this website. Read and share relevant posts from world traditions.

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Join the Oratory

Learn more about what it means to be a member of the Oratory.

Upcoming Oratory ProgramsSee all Halcyon Arts events on the Calendar page.
  • Oratory Silence
    Wed, Apr 05
    Online via Zoom
    Apr 05, 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM
    Online via Zoom
    Join oratory members in a shared time of contemplative practice.
  • Oratory Service
    Wed, Apr 12
    Online via Zoom
    Apr 12, 7:30 PM – 8:20 PM
    Online via Zoom
    Oratory services take place the second and fourth Wednesdays at 7:30 pm. Join us earlier, at 7:00 pm, if you wish to share informal social time before the service.
  • Centering Prayer
    Mon, Apr 17
    Online via Zoom
    Apr 17, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM
    Online via Zoom
    A Spiritual Practices Session on the book An Invitation to Centering Prayer, by M. Pennington O.C.S.O.
  • Spiritual Journeys
    Sun, Sep 17
    Eight monthly sessions online via Zoom
    Sep 17, 7:00 PM
    Eight monthly sessions online via Zoom
    Stories of wonder and transformation.
  • Eastern Paths
    Sun, Oct 01
    Eight monthly sessions online via Zoom
    Oct 01, 7:00 PM
    Eight monthly sessions online via Zoom
    Exploring spiritual texts from the East
  • Mindfulness in Daily Life
    Mon, Mar 20
    Online via Zoom
    Mar 20, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM
    Online via Zoom
    A Spiritual Practices Session on the book The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation, by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Oratory Members

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Beau had a high school teacher who taught world religions through basic spiritual texts as well as through science fiction, fantasy, and humanistic and transpersonal psychology. This sparked a lifelong spiritual exploration. He then majored in Religious Studies at Reed College with a focus on the western mystical tradition. He earned an M.Div. degree from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California and is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister. Eventually, he came to Vermont where he managed both a concert series, focused on world music, and also a retreat and conference center. His time in Vermont ended during the pandemic, but inspired him to start Halcyon Arts in 2020 and then The Oratory in early 2023 as the new monastic community that presents the Halcyon Arts programs in world spirituality. 

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Margaret started her music journey at the tender age of four when she started piano lessons. At five years old, she joined the junior choir at Church. By the time she hit high school, she was in the senior choir and deep into organ lessons. Also around this time she began playing the organ and directing choirs. After earning her BMus, she entered a Catholic Monastery where she spent 16 years planning liturgies (7 times a day, plus Mass), and led a lot of classes on the Bible and the Church Fathers. After leaving the monastery in 2000, she earned an MSM (Master of Sacred Music) degree from the University of Toronto, and is still singing and playing in churches and taking courses.

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