March / April 2020

Posted on April 17, 2020 by hoffmanjms

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, all gatherings of Monterey Meditation Group are put on hold. We encourage everyone to join us at 7:00 on Thursdays as we continue to sit together, from a distance, at home.

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at First Presbyterian  

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in March and April (except Maundy Thursday April 9) from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the fellowship hall.  Our format is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  Afterwards there is a brief time for announcements and sharing prayer concerns. 

March Retreat Day

Saturday March 28, 2020

 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Fellowship Hall

The Poetry of Mindfulness

Poetry in all its beauty and truth has the potential to open our hearts to the mysteries of life and the wondrous workings of the Spirit in our lives. It can deepen our appreciation of the simple but profound truths that are found in our experience.  We can soar with the poets who fling themselves into the heart of things.  Join us for a morning of meditation and sharing poems of mindfulness, prayer, longing, and the timeless search for wisdom.

Coffee, tea and refreshment will be provided.  A freewill offering will be available.

Upcoming Events   

Ongoing                                Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

                                            Center Tue/Thur at 10:30 am

                                           Mondays 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Tuesdays                               Meditation at Hei’s   6:00 – 6:30 pm

                                            Call first 831-899-4845

May 1, 2020                          I-help for women dinner provided by

                                           Monterey Meditation Group—to help

                                     contact Juliet at jspohntwomey@gmail.com

May 30, 2020                     MMG Retreat Day     9am – 1 pm

In closing,

…We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own. 

– Oscar Romero

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January/ February 2020

Posted on January 23, 2020 by hoffmanjms

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at First Presbyterian  

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in January and February (except January 2) from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the fellowship hall.  Our format is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  Afterwards there is a brief time for announcements and sharing prayer concerns.

January Retreat Day

Saturday January 25, 2020

 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Fellowship Hall

The Master and His Emissary:

The Divided Brain and the Making of the

Western World

Our January retreat day will be a tribute to Joe Neary.  Joe was a dear member of our meditation group and was to lead our Saturday workshop on the topic, The Neuroscience of a Calm Mind.  With his recent passing on January 11, we would like to honor him with two of his passions.  A time of sitting together in meditation, and a video focused on neuroscience.  It came to our attention that he was interested in the work of Iain McGilchrist, the author of the book The Master and His Emissary:  The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World. We will watch a short video on McGilchrist’s book and have a time of discussion and sharing afterwards.

Coffee, tea and refreshments will be provided.  A freewill offering will be available.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                             Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

Center Tue/Thur at 10:30 am

Mondays 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Tuesdays                               Meditation at Hei’s   6:00 – 6:30 pm

Call first 831-899-4845

Feb. 28, 2020                       Taize service             7:30 pm

First Presbyterian sanctuary

March 6, 2020                      I-help for women dinner provided by

Monterey Meditation Group—to help

contact Juliet at jspohntwomey@gmail.com

March 28, 2020                     MMG Retreat Day – Inspirational Poetry

In closing,

…We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.

– Oscar Romero

 

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November/ December 2019

Posted on December 6, 2019 by hoffmanjms

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at First Presbyterian  

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in November and December (except Thanksgiving, Dec. 26 and Jan. 2) from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the fellowship hall.  Our format is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  Afterwards there is a brief time for announcements and sharing prayer concerns.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                            Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

Center Tue/Thur at 10:30 am

Mondays 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Tuesdays                          Meditation at Hei’s   6:00 – 6:30 pm

Call first 831-899-4845

Dec. 19, 2019                  Cookie party after meditation – 8 pm

Jan. 3, 2020                     I-help for women dinner provided by

Monterey Meditation Group—to help

contact Juliet at jspohntwomey@gmail.com

 

Jan. 25, 2020                MMG Retreat Day    9am – 1pm

THE NEUROSCIENCE OF A CALM MIND

With Joe Neary

In closing,

That the Father

trusts us enough

to put the brightness of Christ

into the fragile vessels

that we are

is a Christmas gift

come early.

We are waiting for someone we already possess.

We are earthen vessels

filled with a treasure

a Christmas treasure

Christ.

Our earthiness

Is only the wrapping

that must be taken off

so that the gift can be seen.

I start early with my unwrapping

I am a slow unwrapper

Sometimes I am gentle with the wrapping

Sometimes I am firm

Sometimes I do nothing but wait.

It takes all,

gentleness, firmness, waiting,

most of all it takes believing.

Believing in the treasure

will strengthen the vessel

and yet,

the paradox is this:

We must destroy the vessel

to find the treasure

We must let it be broken

to give it wholeness.

This story will make no sense

except to those

with Christmas-eyes.

On this Christmas

the earthen vessel of me

greets the earthen vessel of you

and prays for a happy unwrapping

for all the earth.

 

Macrina Wiederkehr     Seasons of Your Heart

 

 

 

 

 

 

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September/ October 2019

Posted on September 24, 2019 by hoffmanjms

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at First Presbyterian  

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in September and October (except October 31) from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the fellowship hall.  Our format is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  Afterwards there is a brief time for announcements and sharing prayer concerns.

September Retreat Day

Saturday September 28, 2019

 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Fellowship Hall

Silent Retreat Day

Our September retreat day is our longer format that allows us time to deepen our silence.  The rhythm of our day will include an hour and a half silent meditation in the morning, reading a koan teaching together, a lunch break, and conclude with another hour and a half time of silent meditation.  Come join us as we learn and practice how to deepen our silence to bring more love and peace into the world.

Please bring a sack lunch.

Coffee, tea and refreshments will be provided.  A freewill offering will be available.

October Retreat Day

Saturday October 19, 2019

9:00 am -3:00 pm

Fellowship Hall

Inner Worlds Outer Worlds

Our October retreat day is our longer format that allows us time to deepen our silence.  In between our morning and afternoon sitting we will view the DVD “Inner Worlds Outer Worlds” which is a documentary film created by Canadian filmmaker and meditation teacher Daniel Schmidt.  The film could be described as the external reflection of his own adventures inmeditation.

Come join us as we learn and practice how to deepen our silence to bring more love and peace into the world.

Please bring a sack lunch.

Coffee, tea and refreshments will be provided.  A freewill offering will be available.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                                Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

Center Tue/Thur at 10:30 am

Mondays 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Tuesdays                               Meditation at Hei’s   6:00 – 6:30 pm

Call first 831-899-4845

Sept 6, 2019                       I-help for women dinner provided by

Monterey Meditation Group—to help

contact Juliet at jspohntwomey@gmail.com

Oct. 19, 2019                   MMG Retreat Day    9am – 3pm

Nov. 1, 2019                    Taize service             7:30 pm

First Presbyterian sanctuary

In closing,

“To be in and out of peace is normal in every period of prayer, although there might be some periods that are uniformly quiet throughout.  But in that case you are likely to find that the next time you pray, you will be filled with what airline pilots call turbulence, and you will be bounced around quite a bit by persistent and disturbing thoughts.  This is not a disaster but something one has to accept.  The alternation between peace and thought barrage is an important part of the process. They are two sides of the same coin.”

From Open Mind Open Heart   by Thomas Keating

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July/ August 2019

Posted on July 13, 2019 by hoffmanjms

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at First Presbyterian  

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in July and August (except July 4) from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the fellowship hall.  Our format is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  Afterwards there is a brief time for announcements and sharing prayer concerns.

July Retreat Day

Saturday July 27, 2019

 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Fellowship Hall

Introduction to the Enneagram 

The Enneagram is a tool that delineates 9 ways the ego forms to create distinct personality types.   When we become more familiar with our own personality type, and how it is different from the 8 others, we develop more understanding and compassion for others and ourselves.  This introduction to the Enneagram gives an overview of the system, defines the nine personalities and illuminates each type’s relationship to the other eight Enneagram “points”.  Everyone will identify their type and learn more about how our motives, fears, beliefs, values and communication styles define a beginning point of spiritual growth. In conjunction with our meditation practice, knowledge of the enneagram can help us see ourselves more truthfully and free us to grow in the practice of Christian values. Linda has asked us all to invite our friends as it will help us all learn if we have all nine enneagram types represented at our retreat day!  The more the merrier!

Linda Petty is certified as an Enneagram teacher by Helen Palmer’s Enneagram Professional Training Program. She has taught individuals, couples and organizations the skills that enable all of us to be more aware and present in our daily activities and relationships.

Please bring a sack lunch.

Coffee, tea and refreshments will be provided

A freewill offering will be available.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                                Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

Center Tue/Thur at 10:30 am

Mondays 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Tuesdays                               Meditation at Hei’s   6:00 – 6:30 pm

Call first 831-899-4845

July 5, 2019                       I-help for women dinner provided by

Monterey Meditation Group—to help

contact Juliet at jspohntwomey@gmail.com 

Sept. 17, 2019                 “Opening the Heart Through Ecstatic Poetry”

Joseph’s class 4 – 6pm      Register beginning Aug 8 OLLIE website 

Sept. 28, 2019                 MMG Silent Retreat Day 9am – 3pm

Oct. 19, 2019                   MMG Retreat Day    9am – 3pm

In closing,

Abba Isidore of Pelusia said:  “Living without speaking

is better than speaking without living.  For a person who

lives rightly helps us by silence, while one who talks too

much annoys us.  If, however, words and life go hand in hand,

it is the perfection of all philosophy.”

 

From Illuminated Life:  Monastic Wisdom for Seekers of Light

Joan Chittister

 

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May/ June 2019

Posted on May 11, 2019 by hoffmanjms

 

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at First Presbyterian  

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in May and June from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the fellowship hall.  Our format is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  Afterwards there is a brief time for announcements and sharing prayer concerns.

May Retreat Day 

Saturday May 25, 2019

 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Fellowship Hall

Blue Theology

Saturday May 25 Rev. Deborah Streeter will join us as part of our morning 9-1 meditation time to share her Blue Theology Ministry – how we are called to care for the ocean and how the ocean deepens our spirituality.

The ocean is 75% of our planet surface.  It’s the source of our climate.  When we breathe, 3 out of 4 of our breaths come from oxygen from ocean plants. Thankyouocean.com.

Deborah writes a Blue Theology devotional blog every Wednesday on her Facebook page and at www.bluetheologytideings.blogspot.com.  She is authorized by the United Church of Christ to encourage ocean stewardship and spirituality.  Through the Christian Church of Pacific Grove and the La Selva UCC church she leads youth service trips and adult pilgrimages along Monterey Bay.  She has been a weekly volunteer guide at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for 20 years and was a docent at Pt. Lobos for 10 years.  Come and sea!  Dive deep into ocean spirituality.

Coffee, tea and refreshments will be provided

A freewill offering will be available.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                                Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer Center

Tue/Thur at 10:30 am

Mondays 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Tuesdays                               Meditation at Hei’s   6:00 – 6:30 pm

Call first 831-899-4845

May 31, 2019                       I-help for women dinner provided by

Monterey Meditation Group—to help

contact Juliet at jspohntwomey@gmail.com 

July 27, 2019                      MMG Retreat Day 9am – 3pm

In closing,

The Moses in my heart trembles

not quite willing

to accept the prophet hidden in my being

wondering how much it will cost

to allow that prophet to emerge.

O child of unnecessary shoes

cast them off

and stand in readiness

on this holy ground.

For the Egypt in people’s lives

Demands that you see the burning bushes

all around  you

aflame

burning wildly

calling you

away from the comfort

of well-protected feet.

The ground you stand on is holy.

Take off your shoes!

The ground of your being is holy.

Take off your shoes!

Awaken your sleeping prophet

Believe in your Moses

And go . . .

 

Macrina Wiederkehr

 

 

 

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March/ April 2019

Posted on March 15, 2019 by hoffmanjms

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at First Presbyterian  

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in March and April (except Maundy Thursday April 18) from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the fellowship hall.  Our format is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  Afterwards there is a brief time for announcements and sharing prayer concerns.

March Retreat Day

Saturday March 30, 2019

 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Fellowship Hall

Inspirational Poetry

Our March retreat day is a yearly tradition with Monterey Meditation Group.  Joseph Cotham gathers a rich collection of poems from diverse poets and offers them for us to share.  We read each one out loud and listen with a contemplative ear, as if doing lectio divina.  Then the wisdom from the group is shared and the poetry comes to life.  The beauty of the poetry becomes a blessing for those who attend.  Join us for a morning of meditation and poetry reading.

Coffee, tea and refreshments will be provided.

A freewill offering will be available.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                             Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer Center

Tue/Thur at 10:30 am

Mondays  5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Tuesdays                             Meditation at Hei’s   6:00 – 6:30 pm Call first 831-899-4845

May 3, 2019                       I-help for women dinner provided by

Monterey Meditation Group—to help

contact Juliet at jspohntwomey@gmail.com

May 25, 2019                      MMG Retreat Day 9am – 1pm

Blue Theology

In closing,

i thank You God for most this amazing

day:  for the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything

which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(I who have died am alive today,

and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth

day of life and of love and wings; and of the gay

great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting, touching, hearing, seeing

breathing any – lifted from the no

of all nothing—human merely being

doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and

now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

e.e. Cummings

 

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January/ February 2019

Posted on January 17, 2019 by hoffmanjms

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at First Presbyterian  

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in January (except January 3) and February from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the fellowship hall.  Our format is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  Afterwards there is a brief time for announcements and sharing prayer concerns.

January Retreat Day

Saturday January 26, 2019

 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Fellowship Hall

THE NEUROSCIENCE OF COMPASSION AND WELL BEING

Is it really “better to give than to receive”? In our “survival of the fittest” culture, it can often appear that this old adage is wrong. However, recent research on the neuroscience of emotion and pro-social behavior indicates that indeed it is correct. In our time together, we will examine the neural pathways underlying empathy, compassion and altruism.  Joe Neary, our resident neuroscientist, will discuss the benefits in our physical and mental health and well-being that come from the practice of these pro-social behaviors, including reductions in stress hormones and inflammation, decreases in anxiety and depression and increases in immune function – and longevity!

Join us for a morning of meditation and talks.

Coffee, tea and refreshments will be provided.

A freewill offering will be available.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                             Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer

Center Tue/Thur at 10:30 am

Mondays 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Tuesdays                           Meditation at Hei’s   6:00 – 6:30 pm

Call first 831-899-4845

Feb. 22, 2019                     Taize at First Presbyterian  7:30 – 8:30

March 1, 2019                       I-help for women dinner provided by

Monterey Meditation Group—to help

contact Juliet at jspohntwomey@gmail.com

March 30, 2019                      MMG Retreat Day 9am – 1pm

Inspirational Poetry

In closing,

And because I love this life

I know I shall love death as well.

The child cries out when

From the right breast the mother

Takes it away, in the very next moment

To find in the left one

Its consolation

—-Rabindranath Tagore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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November/ December 2018

Posted on December 7, 2018 by hoffmanjms

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at First Presbyterian  

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in November (except Thanksgiving) and December (except Dec. 27) from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the fellowship hall.  Our format is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  Afterwards there is a brief time for announcements and sharing prayer concerns.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing                                Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer Center

Tue/Thur at 10:30 am

Mondays 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Tuesdays                               Meditation at Hei’s   6:00 – 6:30

Call first 831-899-4845

Jan. 4, 2019                          I-help for women dinner provided by

Monterey Meditation Group—to help

contact Juliet at jspohntwomey@gmail.com

Jan. 26, 2019                        MMG Retreat Day  9am – 1pm

The Neuroscience of Compassion and  Well-being

In closing,

At the center of our being is a point of nothingness which

is untouched by sin and illusion, a point of pure truth, a

point or spark which belongs entirely to God, which is

never at our disposal, from which God disposes of our

lives, which is inaccessible to the fantasies of our own mind

or the brutalities of our own will.  This little point of noth-

Ingness and of absolute poverty is the pure glory of God

written in us, as our poverty, as our indigence, a our son-

ship.  It is like a pure diamond blazing with the invisible

light of heaven.  It is in everybody, and if we could see it, we

would see these billions of points of light coming together

in the face and blaze of a sun that would make all the dark-

ness and cruelty of life vanish completely.  I have no pro-

gram for this seeing. It is only given.  But the gate of heaven

Is everywhere.

 

Thomas Merton

From A Merton Reader

 

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September/ October 2018

Posted on September 11, 2018 by hoffmanjms

Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at First Presbyterian  

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in September and October from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the fellowship hall.  Our format is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  Afterwards there is a brief time for announcements and sharing prayer concerns.

September Retreat Day

Saturday September 29, 2018

 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Fellowship Hall

Silent Retreat Day

Our September retreat day is our longer format that allows us time to deepen our silence.  The rhythm of our day will include an hour and a half silent meditation in the morning, a DVD of a talk by Pema Chodron, a lunch break, and conclude with another hour and a half time of silent meditation.  Come join us as we learn and practice how to deepen our silence to bring more love and peace into the world.  Please bring a sack lunch.  Coffee, tea and refreshments will be provided.  A freewill offering will be available.

October Retreat Day

Saturday October 27, 2018

 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Fellowship Hall

Body Prayer Practices

During our October retreat day we will explore some healing and wellness practices developed by Capacitar International. These simple practices work holistically with mind, body and spirit. They are based both on a traditional Eastern understanding of healing as well as some contemporary Western psychology practices. In the field in over 40 countries, these practices have been used for thirty years with small grassroots communities healing from the trauma of war, natural disasters and extreme poverty. We will explore how these “body prayers” can prepare for and enhance our meditative practices. The retreat will be offered by Juliet Spohn Twomey who has led the practices for 13 years in a training program in Santa Barbara at La Casa de Maria, and has travelled with the founder, Pat Cane, to establish groups in Israel and Palestine.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing

Hei’s Tai Chi class at Oldemeyer Center

Tue/Thur at 10:30 am

Mondays 5:30 – 6:30 pm

Sept 7, 2018 

I-help for women dinner provided by Monterey Meditation Group

to help  contact Juliet at jspohntwomey@gmail.com

October 12-14, 2018               Villa Maria Del Mar Retreat

Title: The Neuroscience of Contemplation, Gratitude and Compassion
Presenters: Dr. Joe and Judy Neary
Retreat Description:
Emerging evidence from the new fields of contemplative and social neuroscience reveal that practices such as meditation, gratitude, compassion, as well as mindful movement practices such as yoga and tai chi, can enhance our health and lead to enduring happiness and well-being. The benefits of these mindful living practices include increases in immune function and longevity and decreases in levels of stress, chronic pain, anxiety and depression. We will discuss recent neuroscience evidence and conduct exercises to give experience of these practices. Included: contemplative time, group sharing, individual conferences, yoga sessions and 4:00 pm Villa Mass on Saturday for those who wish.

In closing,

We think that the point is to pass the test

or overcome the problem, but the truth is

that things don’t really get solved.  They come

together and they fall apart.  Then they come

together again and fall apart again.  It’s just

like that.  The healing comes from letting there

be room for all of this to happen:  room for

grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.

Pema Chodron

 

 

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