Discover how God lets bad things happen to break us open; why who we encounter is no accident; how people of faith are called to respond in trying situations; the value of intentional slowing; how to let divine guidance direct what's next; how volunteering from giftedness is the highest form of gratitude. You'll leave feeling uplifted and more alive. Let's get started!
Certified Spiritual Director, Marital First Responder®, facilitated JustFaith® and Engaging Spirituality®, Global Volunteer in 27 countries, Freelance Writer/Speaker for Cultural & Religious Organizations, 19 years of religious education, previous Director of Birthright, Christian, former cancer caregiver, widow, mom of two.
If you are thinking of a retreat topic, our parish went with, The Value of Intentional Slowing. Julie Costa came with a great introduction to this subject along with stories from her life that tied into letting go and letting God lead with intention. Julie also brought us together to share discussion questions in a small group followed by an intentional slowing activity. We received many compliments from our attendees on what a great day of intention this was. Thank you, Julie, for sharing your time and insight with our women of St. Stephens.
Response from Julie Costa:
Thank you for your review. The women of St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Anoka are beautiful, faith-filled women. It was my pleasure to serve as the retreat lead for your spring event.
We had Julie Costa as our guest speaker for Peace Lutheran ladies holiday lunch.
Julie spoke from her heart and touched each of us in the room.
Her description of Christ's birth in us and steps to achieve a closer relationship with God was motivating and realistic!
We all were very inspired by Julie's faith in God's grace and love for us. She is an exceptional speaker and shares stories that will touch your soul.
Julie was able to connect with the ladies at the Refresh and Renew Women's Retreat 2018. She was able to bring light into bad situations and draw out the positive sides things. Her message spoke to the hearts of the women and was well received.
Sylvia!
Response from Julie Costa:
Sylvia: It was a such an honor to speak at your women's wellness conference and retreat. What an empowering event with such an amazing and diverse format to elevate women's journeys and voices.
Julie did a wonderful job fulfilling my request of a presentation that was inspiring, motivating, and involved lots of laughing ...all while living in the light of Christ! The responses from the guests were nothing but positive!
Response from Julie Costa:
What an amazing morning spent with the faith filled ladies of Lutheran Redeemer in Henderson, MN. Thanks for inviting me to speak at your parish's tea party.
She was a delight and all of the evaluations gave her an excellent review. She was enjoyable to listen to and had some great topics.
Response from Julie Costa:
Thanks very much Theresa for your kind words. It was a delighted to serve as the keynote address for United Methodist Church's (Black River, WI) women's retreat.
What a beautiful speaker! Julie weaves in relevant quotes and thought-provoking metaphors that help the listener visualize and understand how spirituality fits into their own life. She generously shares her own very personal experiences - sometimes heart-wrenching and sometimes comical - into the broader message. While her speech is scripted, her message is GENUINE!
Response from Julie Costa:
Susan:
I am so glad that you attended and enjoyed Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church's ladies brunch. Thanks for your kind words.
"Wonderful! Her words spoke to my heart."
"Great combination of education, understanding and humor."
"She kept my attention. Sometimes that's tough!"
"I wish she could have relied on her notes less."
"Excellent visuals, quotes, message of substance, hope and love."
"I have been looking for just this type of global volunteer experience."
"Beautiful and thought-provoking presentation."
Response from Julie Costa:
I was thrilled to speak at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church's (Apple Valley) Women's Ministries event. Thanks for asking me. I loved your community room's decoration and the fun theme!
When surveyed "How would you rate the speaker at this event?"
88% Very effective & interesting 11% Somewhat effective & interesting
One return stated Not at all effective & interesting.Comments to this question:
1. It made me think about a lot of activities going in my life.
2. Insightful, knowledgeable and inspiring
3. Excellent, clear and distinct, inspiring – a handout of the overhead / presentation would be helpful.
4. A lot of her comments hit home & enjoyed all the quotes from other authors, poets etc. Put a lot of problems in perspective. Will make a difference in how I look at things! Very inspiring and uplifting.
5. My mind is reeling! So much to think about, reflect on. Very grateful for the wisdom shared.
6. Speaker too long but brought interesting points out.
7. Would love to have sheets with her notes available to take home.
8. Wonderful speaker. (2 Comments) I enjoyed the references from different authors that she used. Timely and useful information.
9. She has some wonderful stories to go with her comments. It was nice to listen and learn from them.
10. She was absolutely wonderful, powerful and thought provoking.
11. I liked all the quotes and examples.
12. Enjoyed scripture readings in the presentation. The speaker was great – it would have been even more interesting if she had brought a couple people that had volunteered to be at a table & answer questions.
13. Julie was great. A little bio available on the speaker prior – perhaps at the tables would be great.
14. I like speakers to be a little more interactive with the audience, but her content was spectacular!
15. Julie should write a book. What a phenomenal communicator and spiritual role model.
16. Very interesting.
17. Exceptional.
18. Good content – presentation – too much script reading.
19. Liked her quotes & slides. Left us with thoughts/ideas to ponder in days to come.
20. Lots of folks taking notes. Very prepared and enlightening. All hung on every word spoken. Really touched our hearts and thoughts.
21. Wonderful background. She walks the walk as well as talks the talk.
22. The focus of volunteerism was fitting with the Circles & she really spoke well to the women’s soul.
23. Great choice!
24. I enjoyed the many phases of the presentation.
25. Would have appreciated more vocal info on Global Volunteers.
26. Super! Very inspiring, uplifting, eye opening. Thank you.
27. Julie is engaging and the topic and quest for holiness is something that should always be repeated.
28. Nice slides, nice speaking voice, good thoughts to live with.
Response from Julie Costa:
Thank you to everyone at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Oak Grove, MN for letting me speak at your incredible parish ladies brunch. It was a lovely.
Julie Costa is a gifted communicator who spoke on how we can integrate spiritually in our daily lives. I walked away from this presentation with tools to make that attainable. She wove in quotes and personal stories to tie this all together. I came to realize that God is always closer then I think- and it's usually a matter of me getting out of my own way to see this! In the end, I was totally inspired and just wanted more!
Response from Julie Costa:
Ann:
I am so glad that you had a great time at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Oak Grove, MN ladies brunch. Thanks for your feedback.
Price Range: $150-$250 for a keynote address and/or a workshop
Gig Length: 30 - 60 minutes
Languages: English
This inter-denominational presentation is ideally suited for a Parish Women's Luncheon, Key Note Address at a Retreat, Christian Mom's Group, or a Spiritual Wellness Center.
The talk is a typically 45 minutes long but can be shorter or longer as needed.
The speaker also hosts break-out sessions on various topics for groups attending daylong or weekend retreats in and around the Twin Cities.
In addition to being an inspirational speaker, Julie is a professional spiritual director, meeting with individual directees in private practice. Spiritual direction creates an environment for a person to tap into their inner wisdom and discern God’s presence within the circumstances of their very real life.
For 30 years, Julie has been a Senior Volunteer Manager at Global Volunteers, an international non-profit organization based in St. Paul, MN. Julie has placed nearly 7000 individuals, couples, families, and groups on one- to three-week service programs in the United States and abroad. Julie provides human and economic development assistance through personally volunteering service teams in the USA, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the West Indies, the South Pacific, and formerly, the People-to-People Educational Exchange in Cuba. Julie is committed to providing the everyday American an opportunity to be of genuine service on projects determined by local leadership. Each volunteer serves as a global neighbor and everyday diplomat, providing interpersonal peace waging.
She is the former director of Birthright of St. Paul, an all-volunteer crisis pregnancy center that is a “friend to turn to” for girls and women who fear they might be pregnant, providing free and confidential emotional and practical support for those experiencing a distressing pregnancy.
As a cultural and religious freelance writer, Julie wrote for the Bois Forte News, the community paper of an Ojibwa tribe in northern MN, and a ghost-writer of first-person vocational stories published in national recruitment magazines for single women considering a vowed religious vocation.
She is the widowed mom of two young adults, has nineteen years of parochial education, is a lifelong learner and practicing Christian, active in the ecumenical, interfaith, racial equity & justice communities.
This talk includes a power point presentation.
How often do we say “There has to be more to life than this”? What is the answer to feeling like we’re being pulled in a thousand directions?
Do we wake up in the morning saying, "Here I am Lord, I come to do your will?" If not, is it because we’re afraid where God might send us?
I will provide inspiration and practice information on how to incorporate intentional slowing in life, creating a clearing to hear God’s will. So it’s less about having to do it all and more about letting divine guidance direct you to what’s next. This frees us up to live with intention. When we live with intention we are making decisions with God as a partner; directly connected or spiritually integrated into all aspects of our life.
We’ll examine why God may let bad things that happen to us and the difference between being broken down and broken open. We’ll look at how struggles and challenges provide us the opportunity to live lives of radical compassion.
We’ll consider the Latin phrase Carpe Diem or “seize the day” and explore whether there are areas of our life in which we living too small.
We’ll consider how we are changed by every encounter. That people and situations that bump up against our lives are no accident; and how we might be called to respond, as people of faith, to challenging interactions.
We’ll explore specific ways to be more alive in our life while integrating God desires with our own. God has a bigger dream for you than you can dream for yourself.
I will help you see God in everything.
I am deeply inspired by Father Mychal Judge who was an American Franciscan friar and Catholic priest who served as a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department. While serving in that capacity he was killed, becoming the first certified fatality of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
This was his daily prayer and is certainly words to live by:
"Lord, take me where you want me to go; have me meet the people you want me to meet; tell me what to say; and keep me out of your way."
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