Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at 1^st Presbyterian 

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in February and March (except Maundy Thursday March 28) from 7:00 – 9:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Our format for the first hour is two 20-minute periods of sitting in silence with a 10 minute walking meditation in between.  For the second hour, we are practicing group contemplative listening.  We listen to a short reading from a contemplative author or poet, sit together for a period of silence, and share our reflections with the group.  This is a wonderful way to practice deep listening to each other.  All are welcome to join us at any time. 

Tuesday evenings at Hei’s house

Hei has opened his house to those who would like to join him for meditation from 6:00pm – 6:30pm on Tuesdays.  It is one half hour of sitting meditation.    Please call him at 899-4845 for directions and to let him know that you are coming so he can prepare a place for you.

February Retreat Day

          Saturday, February 23, 2013   8:30 am – 3:00 pm                    In the Fellowship Hall

A Day of Zen Sitting
Rev. Hei Takarabe will lead our February retreat day with a focus on Zen meditation.  We will have three sittings of meditation in the morning, a time for listening to a Zen teaching, a lunch break, and conclude with another three sittings of meditation.  Come join us as we learn from Zen practice how to deepen our silence and 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 (Tu/Thur at 10:30 am)

No Saturday retreat day in March

April 27                                     MMG Retreat Day with Fr. Cyprian

9:00 – 4:00 pm in Fellowship Hall

Summary of January Retreat Day

For our January retreat day we were treated to Susan Raab’s second talk in her series on the Harry Potter books, “Christian Symbolism 101”.  We were invited to come along on an adventure to go deeper and explore J.K. Rowling’s second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.   The Harry Potter books appeal to so many of us because they describe a journey that leads to the discovery of our spiritual center.  Susan helped us uncover the symbolism used by the author to convey her spiritual message.

My favorite part of the talk illustrates how J.K. Rowling used the character of Malfoy to show the hurt that prejudice causes in our lives.  Malfoy represents the Purebloods, who don’t want the Mudbloods (part mogel/ part magic) included.  This is a big social separation in the Harry Potter books and is a reason for prejudice.  It is a symbol for the prejudice we experience in our lives.  Malfoy represents a tribal leader, and the Mudbloods represent gentiles, guijin, or the people not of our tribe.  These “others” are “separate” and pose a threat to tribal leaders.  In this book, Harry talks to outsiders (like the character Dobby) as equals.  This shows Harry to be like Jesus in including all people as equals.

In closing,

God is a circle whose centre is everywhere,

Whose circumference is nowhere

Voltaire