Meditation Opportunities

Thursday evenings at First Presbyterian  

We will meet for meditation on all Thursdays in July and August 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 will begin a new contemplative listening book reading.  The book was recommended to us by Ruben Habito and is titled Selfless Love:  Beyond the Boundaries of Self and Others  by Ellen Birx.   Ellen shows how meditation can help us realize that we don’t love — we are love.  She draws from the Zen tradition, her experience as a mental health therapist, and the Gospels.  We will read a short portion of the book together out loud, sit with it in silence, and then share with each other.  You do not need to read the book ahead of time or even buy the book if you don’t want to.  You can just listen.

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.                                                                           

July Retreat Day 

Saturday, July 26, 2014

8:30 am -1:00 pm

In the Fellowship Hall 

The Gift of Life 

Our July Retreat Day will feature a newly released video by Fr. Thomas Keating titled:  “The Gift of Life:  Death & Dying, Life & Living”.  During four days of filming, Fr. Thomas sat with the founding director of Contemplative Outreach, Carl Arico, and shared an intimate conversation focused on the transformative process of death and dying as part of, rather than the end of, life’s journey.

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 MMG retreat day in August

September 27                         MMG Retreat Day   8:30 am – 1:00 pm

In closing,   

O Brother Jesus

who wept at the death of a friend

and overturned tables in anger at wrong

let me not be frightened by the depths of passion.

Rather let me learn the love and anger

and wild expanses of soul within me

that are true expressions of your grace and wisdom.

And assure me again that in becoming more like you

I come closer to my true self

made in the image of outpouring Love

born of the free eternal Wind.

J. Phillip Newell