What’s Happening in the Sanctuary Sunday, November 3, 2024

All times listed are Eastern Standard Time – See links below to join us in the Sanctuary.

9:30 am – Shiny Things – Rev. 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. Regina Dawn Akers
Topic: Our Role in the Awakening Process

Description: If you’ve been on the spiritual path long, you’ve probably heard some spiritual teachers emphasize the importance of spiritual practice while other teachers say spiritual practice has no effect and may even encourage the sense of ‘me doing something.’ In this talk, Rev. Regina Dawn Akers will point toward a middle way, a way between doing something and doing nothing, which is what Regina sees as our role in the awakening process.

Reading: Laura Joy Bedford will read excerpts from Regina’s personal journal.

11:30 am – Weekly Fellowship Time – 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 truly inspires 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
*Cancelled today: 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. 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 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 Joseph Schmitz
Joseph will be guided by Inner Wisdom to look at what is up for contemplation and invite the Sangha to participate as they are prompted to share.

2:30 – WELCOME BACK: Qigong the Movement of Now with Ian McArthur
Join us today as we warmly welcome back Qigong ~”The Movement of Now” with Ian McArthur! In this one-hour program, which airs on the first Sunday of each month, we will explore the traditional practice of Qigong (Chi Kung), focusing on the integration of Mind, Body, and Spirit.

Qi meaning life energy, referring to the energy circulating through the body and Gong meaning cultivation or work. The two words are combined to describe a practice to cultivate and balance life energy. By following movements (forms) and a simple breathing technique, we encourage more Qi to flow, which in turn allows us to feel more peaceful and at One with ourselves.

This practice has been followed for thousands of years in order to promote balance and wellbeing as well as a means of encouraging Spiritual Awakening. Ian’s meditative approach to Qigong allows us to experience the many benefits of Qigong. One of the beauties of Qigong is its simplicity, which makes it easier for the forms to be learned. You can start your practice at any age and begin a journey of discovery into Qigong.