All times listed are Eastern Standard Time – See links below to join us in the Sanctuary
8:00 am – Centering Prayer – Sami Ross
Sami Ross leads us in Centering Prayer on the weekends! This method is designed to seek the true Self by deepening into the intention to recognize and promptly empty ourselves of what is not true. In turn, we abide more and more fully in the heart as a symbol of the Truth of What We Are.
During the 20-minute silent practice period, we relax and allow everything to be as it is. When we notice attention has gone to a thought/image/feeling/perception, we ever-so-gently return to a sacred word of our choosing. We do not resist thought but we also do not follow it either. We let thoughts go by without thinking ABOUT them. We let them be by softly saying our sacred word inwardly as a symbol of our intention to consent to the Presence of God within and God’s action within.
Devotional music or words will be offered prior to the start of the 20-minute silent practice period and for a couple minutes directly following the practice period to allow a transition time back to our ordinary awareness.
This program is a daily, year-long devotional practice that focuses on contemplating the Thoughts of Awakening. This group will meet every morning at 8:30 am ET for 30 minutes to share our insights from the previous day’s contemplation with our inner teacher. The facilitators are Rev. Michele Hojnacki and Sami Ross.
The Thoughts of Awakening were given to Regina Dawn Akers in response to her prayer for help. In her book, Thoughts of Awakening, Regina wrote, “I found the contrast between profound spiritual devotion and her typical day-to-day state of mind unbearable”. The Thoughts of Awakening were given to help her from “falling back into the old state of mind after my morning devotional practice”. She says of the Thoughts of Awakening, “They are the thoughts that led from suffering with a split mind to the experience of a highly consistent, happy way of being. Each of the 365 thoughts is intended for a full day’s contemplation. They are to be read and contemplated repeatedly throughout the day. If you read and contemplate each thought deeply for a full day, you’ll experience shifts towards true perception this year.”
The group’s aim is to support one another in a daily practice of inner listening using the Thoughts of Awakening. This group could benefit those new to inner contemplation or anyone wishing to enhance their practice.
We will contemplate a single Thought of Awakening daily with our inner teacher.
Following Regina’s recommendation, we’ll write it down and carry it with us for reflection throughout the day, as well as reflecting on and putting into practice the guidance received from our own inner teacher.
The book ‘Thoughts of Awakening’ by Regina Dawn Akers is available to purchase on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2ag15vy
Our invitation to join extends to all, even if attending the daily sessions is not possible.
9:30 am – Prayer Circle hosted by Revs. Jane Sobel and Melody Brauninger
Jane and/or Melody will share a reading about prayer from different non-dual points of view or personal insight. Time will be given for participants to offer their prayer verbally to the group; a time for those wishing to offer their prayer in silence; and then time for everyone to be with all prayers as we sit in a virtual prayer circle.
Every other Sunday, 9:30-10:00am ET / 7:30-8:00am MT
10:15 am – Weekly Gathering – Rev. Billy Sintiris
Topic: The Direct Experience ~ Homeward Bound
Description: Rev. Billy will speak through his surrender and direct experience, that when we actually come back into our own absence, that then and only then do we discover what is actually living this life.
Reading: Stephanie Bellaluna will read selected excepts from NTI Mathew 22 and from Adyashanti’s Poetry and Sayings.
11:30 am – Weekly Fellowship Time – Hosted by Rev. Melody Brauninger
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 – Transcending the Addiction to Mind – Rev. David Hemphill
Join us in exploring the belief in separation through the lens of addiction to the mind! On this journey we will explore many topics such as:
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What does it really mean to have spiritual awakening as part of my path?
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What is my unique path?
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Why do parts of my path feel uncomfortable?
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How do I navigate the uncomfortable parts?
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Where is the inherent bliss and joy on my path that spiritual awakening says is there? How do I access it now?
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Why does my bliss come and go? Why do the bad parts always come back?
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How do I get “unstuck” if I’ve been on this path many years and yet still have the same issues I’ve always had?
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What is “Self-will” and why do I need to pay attention to it in order to get unstuck?
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What is the nature of “desire” and “aversion,” and how are they related to stuckness?
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Once I understand everything, or if I already understand everything, how do I actually make the realization happen?
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What are paradoxes and how should I react when I find one?
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What specifically is it that will permanently lead to spiritual awakening? How do I cultivate this?
If any of these seem interesting, then I hope to see you there!
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 Rev. Melody Brauninger
A host will lead the Sangha in the practice of looking directly at our beliefs and Inquiring into the root cause. With the recognition that the sharing of that work with others who are undergoing the same process can be enormously beneficial and supportive. This will be 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.
2:30 – 5:00 pm – Sanctuary Closed
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
When our Founding Minister, Regina Dawn Akers, announced that the “Clarifying the Teachings” program had come to its natural end, Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert felt guided to re-listen to these transformative teachings with us.During this program, we will listen to a portion of each previously recorded “Clarifying the Teachings” program. Afterward, we will spend time contemplating and teaching ourselves what is most alive for us in the moment. We may also spend time practicing what Regina is teaching. Bring your journals, openness, and curiosity as we explore what is most alive in us and ready to be seen. We hope you feel inspired to join us!
7:00 pm – Resting In Our Immaculate Nature – with Rev. Laura Joy Bedford and Jill Grace
Join Jill and Joy to gently rest and invite our immaculate nature into awareness. As we rest into our natural state, we relax beyond fear (i.e., energy, beliefs and egoic-desire frequencies of suffering); beyond what may arise that feels different than our natural resonant peaceful immaculateness. Together, as a sangha, we strengthen our awareness of our True nature so that the energy invested in beliefs about ourselves returns to its natural state as Pure Divine Light. Gathering as a sangha heightens our ability to detect obstacles — blocks to our immaculate nature…dense, lower frequency Light — so that these aspects of our being that we made up are welcomed into awareness, hastening their return to the original state as Pure Divine Light. As a sangha, we will use practical examples from our lives. Notably, resting in our True, immaculate nature supports noticing how the false identity that isn’t really what we are, enjoys, even wants!… to believe limiting beliefs (the false/unreal) until we realize what we actually are, immaculate, unaffected Divine Spirit. Join us as we put obstacles on the altar of Truth and free light that has been blocking our palpable awareness of Divine Love. The pointings are from The Way of Mastery, ACIM, NTI and more will be used.
8:00 pm – Monthly Movie Watchers Discussion Group – Hosted by Revs. Laura Joy Bedford and Rhoda Makled
The movie chosen for discussion this month is “Father Stu.” Movies are modern day parables. Watching movies with your inner guide can inform rather than just entertain you. This Spirit Led Movie Watchers Discussion Group, facilitates the participants’ ability to identify spiritual themes in everyday movies and to use movies as a way of uncovering unconscious beliefs about ourselves and the world we live in.
Father Stu is a 2022, biographical drama starring Mark Wahlberg. This film is based on the true story of Stuart Long, a Montana boxer turned Catholic priest, Stu has a troubled relationship with himself, his parents and with life. When he moves to California to pursue an acting career, his choice to follow his heart leads in more than one unexpected direction.
This film was chosen for its powerful spiritual topics, including living in the anger-frequency (and other frequencies) as a separate self then opening to the One Self/Divine Radiance (transformation); following an unexpected calling and being utilized by the Divine; becoming aware of two inner voices, and growing discernment regarding which of these voices is wiser; making the conscious choice for What Is over the magnetic pull to believe ego/the hidden desire to believe and experience distortion (fear-pain in all its forms/suffering); becoming aware of the power of being honest with and true to one’s self and where we’re not being true to our self; inspired sharing; meeting beings where they are; subconscious doubts about ourselves being reflected by characters around us and choosing to say no to those doubts; forgiveness of God and others; absorbing the fact that we are the script writer (i.e., God is not letting things happen “to” us, or causing our suffering); retranslation of life choices.
Father Stu Playsheet
Father Stu can be streamed on on Hulu/fubo TV/Max Amazon Channel/Channel 4/Apple TV/Google Play Movies/Fandango At Home/Microsoft Store/Amazon Video/Sky Store.
Movie Trailer for Father Stu
9:00 pm ET – The Sanctuary is Closed
All Times are Eastern Standard Time – See helpful links below.
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