All times listed are Eastern Standard Time – See links below to join us in the Sanctuary
9:30 am – Shiny Things – Claire Bhavani
What is Truth? And how do we find it in a life that is pushed and pulled around by the cravings, aversions, and ignorance of the human mind and senses? There can be no confusion about where to start, for it is all laid out within the eight limbs of Raja yoga, as described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Shiny Things provides practical guidance to apply the path of Raja Yoga in daily life, relieving suffering and accessing an inner sparkle, within a supportive group environment. It includes consideration of how we conduct ourselves in the world, how we relate to our spiritual practices, appropriate care of the body and vitality, a gradual quieting of the mind and senses, throwing out what is false, and glimpsing what is True.
We will initially use the book by Bhava Ram: The Eight Limbs of Yoga, Pathway to Liberation, as an introductory guide. If you don’t have the book, you can still join us. Later in the year, we will commence a deeper immersion into a full commentary of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
10:15 am –Weekly Gathering – Rev. Jackie Walden
Topic: Awakening Is Still Happening
Description: Despite whatever is going on internally or whatever appears to be happening externally “awakening is still happening.” We can keep letting go of everything that pretends to block loves presence or its full expression in, through and as you.
Reading: Joseph Schmidt will read from The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself, by Michael A. Singer, Chapter 11, “Pain, the Price for Freedom”.
11:30 am –Weekly Fellowship Time – Laura~Joy Bedford
This is the time when Awakening Together joins 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 – Random Love Songs with Rev. Kelly Barber
We are often touched deeply and moved by Spirit through the vehicle of music. During Kelly’s program, she will randomly choose a song from her iTunes Library to play. If there is a YouTube video available, she will share that as well. She will then contemplate and explore with everyone, what messages and guidance it holds for each of us. Join us as we tune in to Channel WGOD and listen to songs with the heart!
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 & compiled by Rev. Devan Jesse Byrne. Experience the teachings of the first 60 Workbook Lessons of A Course in Miracles in a crisp, new, and child-like way.
1:00 pm – Sacred Inquiry – Rev. Shawna Summers
Rev. Shawna demonstrates the art of Sacred Inquiry in real-time. Join her as she follows the guidance, questioning each layer that arises as thoughts, in an attempt to hide the wisdom that is Inherent in us all. She is learning to go deeper into beginners’ mind with humble and honest curiosity. This is an evolving process, as she learns to feel 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 spiritual practice. The original inspiration for this half-hour came from Adyashanti’s book ‘Sacred Inquiry’.
1:30 pm – Freedom Practice Sangha – Facilitated by Rev. 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 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 pm to 4:45 pm – Awakening Together Sanctuary is Closed
5:00 pm – LIVE! The Mighty Companions – Rev. Yolanda Mapes is Live today ♥
Yolanda just let me know that she will be live in the sanctuary with us today!
6:00 pm – Enlightened Leadership: Building the Foundation – Revs. Rhoda Makled & David Hemphill
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 Vice President-Minister, Rev. Rhoda Makled, and Rev. David Hemphill share from the Tao as they contemplate its principles to fully embody them. In addition to the 2 versions already being read from the Tao, the pair will also read Regina Dawn Aker’s translation of the Tao Te Ching.
7:00 pm – Deepening into Clarifying the Teachings – Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert
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 at the moment. We may also spend time practicing what Regina is teaching. And…we will start at the very beginning.
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.
8:00 pm – Movie Watchers Discussion Group – Connie Poole.
The movie to watch before this discussion group is A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks.
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.
Tom Hanks plays Otto Anderson in this 2022 film. Otto Anderson is a 63-year-old widower, living in a rowhouse in suburban Pittsburgh. Six months after losing his wife Sonya, a schoolteacher, Otto has become a cynical fastidious curmudgeon. Pushed into retirement from his job at a steel plant, he cancels his utilities and plans to kill himself to join his late wife, but when a lively young family moves in next door, grumpy Otto meets his match in a quick-witted, pregnant woman named Marisol, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world upside down.
Everyone is always welcome!
Here is a link to the playsheet designed to assist with a Spirit centered movie watching experience:
A Man Called Otto Playsheet
Click here for A Man Called Otto Movie Trailer
All times listed are Eastern Standard Time – See helpful links below.
Enter the Sanctuary or see the complete listing of speakers.
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