All times listed are Eastern Standard Time – See links below to join us in the Sanctuary
9:30 am – Contemplating Poetry Using Lectio Divina with Rev. Susan Telford
Rev. Susan Telford will be guiding us in learning the contemplative practice of Lectio Divina using poetry. In each session, Susan will read a poem, drawing from a wide range of poets, including Rumi, Hafiz, David Whyte, Mary Oliver, John O’Donohue, and many others (including her own work), then guide participants through the four steps of Lectio Divina. Susan shares that this direct practice is a beautiful way to connect with Inner Wisdom and obtain clarity.
10:15 am –Weekly Gathering – Rev. Rhoda Makled
Topic: “It’s Right Here!”
Description: No matter how much confusion there is, let’s be clear IT… is right here. What is the “it”? Well, the short answer is “everything.” Over the past many years, I’ve been discovering how every idea I have about the world isn’t true. There are so many assumptions placed on reality in the form of “I know.” Everything I think I know is completely false when I look directly at it. Whether “it” is a feeling, an idea, or an experience, “it” is never somewhere else. So, all this time language has been used to compound this illusion and can only fail to describe what is…wait what?!? I love the way Byron Katie describes it. Together we will explore the confusion of illusion and the reality that is always what IT is, using Bryon Katie’s description of how “everything happens for you, not to you.”
Reading: Sami Ross will read an excerpt from “A Mind At Home With Itself” by Bryon Katie with Stephen Mitchell, Ch. 16, “Everything Happens For You, Not To You”.
11:30 am – Fellowship Time – Hosted by Rev. George Maddox
This is the time when Awakening Together joins together in fellowship as a community. We share what is on our hearts and minds from the recent homily or anything else that is truly inspiring us.
12:00 pm – Just Being Here Now – Anja Janssen
Everything is already here now, so all we have to ‘do’ is be. In this program, Anja will look deeply into the now – the present moment, to explore how truth presents itself. She will be using everyday experiences and events to practice being present with what is. She will also share a variety of teachings about the now, the illusion of time, and resting in beingness. Some of the teachers and texts she will draw from are Eckhart Tolle, Lao Tzu, Angelo Dilullo, A Course in Miracles & NTI. Join Anja in using our everyday experiences to embrace the present moment and be.
12:30 pm – God Through Audz – Audrey Whitehead
Join Audsie for her program ‘God through Audz’ as she reads and contemplates from Guiding Ollie Through “A Course in Miracles” Book One. It is directed and compiled by Rev. Devan Jesse Byrne. Experien
1:00 pm – Sacred Inquiry – Rev. Shawna Summers
Rev. Shawna demonstrates the art of Sacred Inquiry in real-time. Join her as she asks to see with Clarity, questioning each layer of the thinking mind, to see what beliefs are hidden in the sub-conscious. She opens deeper into beginners’ mind with humble curiosity. This is an evolving process, as she discerns for the vibrational level of each thought, exposing the source. She invites all listening to join her in their own Inquiry to experience the strength of this powerful and often surprising spiritual practice.
1:30 pm – Freedom Practice Sangha – Facilitated by Anne Blanchard
Following the recent Awakening Together online retreats it has become clear that many feel called to dive into intensive follow-up work. While the practice of unearthing and looking directly at our individual beliefs is primarily solitary in nature, we all recognize that the sharing of that work with others who are undergoing the same process can be enormously beneficial and supportive. This is a time of sharing our inquiries, insights and challenges, listening to others, or just knowing that we are in community, as we find that undefended place within ourselves that longs to be free.
3:30 to 4:45 pm The Sanctuary Is Closed
5:00 pm – The Mighty Companions Hour – The Voice that Likes You with Rev. Yolanda Mapes
Please join Rev. Yolanda as she continues to share her beautiful voice and heart during The Mighty Companions Hour. This is a program she and her late, beloved husband, Rev. Glen Ganaway began in 2020.
Rev. Yolanda Mapes, who is an interfaith minister, shares a delightful, funny, and inspiring hour of A Course in Miracles. Come join in on the fun, the laughs, and the music while unlearning the ego through the lessons and chapters of ACIM.
You can discover more about the Mighty Companions on this website: www.themightycompanions.com. Also, Rev. Yolanda has a site where you can purchase her beautiful, spiritually uplifting music: www.Yolanda.net/audio If you feel to contribute to her ministry, you can do so here: www.patreon.com/RevYolanda
The Tao Te Ching (The Way), written by Lao-Tzu (Old Teacher), is a guide to enlightened leadership. While most people believe effective leadership lies in knowledge and power, the Tao teaches it lies in emptiness, stillness, and presence.
Awakening Together’s President-Minister, Rev. Rhoda Makled, and Rev. David Hemphill share from the Tao as they contemplate its principles to fully embody them. They will read Regina Dawn Aker’s translation of the Tao Te Ching, and may refer to other translations as guided.
7:00 pm – Deepening into Clarifying the Teachings – Facilitated by Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert
During this program, Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert will guide us as we will listen to a portion of each previously recorded “Clarifying the Teachings” program, which was originally taught by our Founding Minister, Regina Dawn Akers. Afterward, we will spend time contemplating and sharing what is most alive for us now. We may also spend time practicing what Regina is teaching. Bring your journals, openness, and curiosity as we explore what is revealed and ready to be seen. We invite you to join us.
8:00 pm – The Movie Watchers Discussion Group – with Julie Butler & Kelly Barber
This month’s movie, Official Competition (original title Competencia Oficial), is a Spanish-language satire starring Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas, who dazzle as two egomaniacs preparing to make a movie together. It’s a delightful film within a film packed with irony and flawless performances by both Cruz and Banderas, as well as the third member of the main trio, Argentina’s Oscar Martínez. The film opens with a billionaire in search of social prestige deciding to fund a unique, groundbreaking film. He hires famous but idiosyncratic director Lola Cuevas (Cruz), who in turn casts blockbuster star Félix Rivero (Banderas) and aging thespian Iván Torres (Martínez). They boast enormous talent but even bigger egos. In preparation for the shoot, Lola submits both actors to a series of increasingly hilarious tests forcing them to confront not only each other but their competitiveness, self pride, and triggers.
As you watch with Inner Wisdom, you may be led to contemplate things like to what lengths you go to protect and project a cherished self-image and how you manipulate and play mind games with others.
All Times are Eastern Standard Time – See helpful links below.
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