Gathering for the Good of the Earth

"... all things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the man ... the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports." ~ Chief Seattle

Sunday's Gathering will continue Saturday's focus on the sacredness of creation as we observe Eco-Sunday. Some of the service highlights include spiritually and responsibly engaging environmental concerns, musical accompaniment by Valerie Tedford Queen, joining in the combined efforts of UCC-ers across the nation by participating in one million hours of engaged earth care, and designating our offering for San Angelo Friends of the Environment.  Because it's the fourth Sunday of the month, we will not share a potluck meal.

Sunday, January 27, 2013,
5:30 pm, 618 Locust Street

Being Aware

Opening to Our Lives: Jon Kabat-Zinn's Science of Mindfulness
Sunday, January 13, 5:30 pm, 618 Locust Street

This Sunday we will gather to hear, experience and discuss a recent On Being interview between host Krista Tippett and guest Jon Kabat-Zinn. Kabat-Zinn has learned, through science and experience, about mindfulness as a way of life. This is wisdom with immediate relevance to the ordinary and extreme stresses of our time - from economic peril, to parenting, to life in a digital age. According to the show's description, "scientist and author Jon Kabat-Zinn has changed Western medicine through his work on meditation and stress. He's clinically demonstrated the benefits of ancient traditions of mindfulness and meditation. And he's adapted these for people who are healthy or living with chronic illness, for Olympic athletes and corporate cultures."

The blog post goes on to say, "In this week's podcast, Jon Kabat-Zinn offers wise perspective on inhabiting the ordinary and extreme stresses of our lives. Technology may function 24/7, he points out, but our minds and bodies do not. He has practical and spiritual tools accessible to everyone - for slowing down time and 'opening to our lives.'"

Our offering recipient has yet to be determined. Because this is the second Sunday of the month, we will not share a potluck meal.

Epiphany Past & Present

 

Twelve days after Christmas day, January 6, begins the celebration of Epiphany, a season of following stars, being inspired, and noticing the incarnate presence of the Divine. The Epiphany story probably sounds familiar - three wise men from a foreign land follow a star to a Bethlehem manger whereby they encounter the Holy Presence in a poor baby named Jesus. After gifting the child with gold, frankincense and myrrh, they return to their home country via a different road.

During Sunday night's worship, we will travel with the magi, exploring the unexpected, surprising paths our lives and faith take. Heifer Project invites us to incarnate Sacred Presence with neighbors near and far. In honor of the Light that accompanies us and lights our way on what can seem the darkest of journeys, our pot-luck theme is: Eating Light-ly.(And please remember, our potlucks are intended for fellowship and conversation, so the most important thing is to bring yourself!  We always have more than enough of everything else.)