Becky Benes at The Gathering

Becky Benes will be this week's speaker. Her topic will be: How to Live and Work from a Place of Spirit

Becky is married and has two daughters. She has Master degree in Pastoral Studies with a focus in Spiritual Direction. She is an author, columnist, and speaker. Currently, she helps Spirit-led small business owners and entrepreneurs market and monetizes their gifts and talents so that they may attract ideal clients, show up authentically, work less, and make more, allowing more time for family, and friends.

Gathering for Worship

This Sunday Dr. Mark Bethune will lead us in worship. His sermon is titled "Eating Crunchy Sandwiches". Scripture readings are from Luke 24:13-35 and Acts 3:1-19. For worship this Sunday you are invited to bring an item to place on the worship table, one that is or has been meaningful to you in your faith journey. Our designated offering will go to "HOSA's Building Bridges Program."

Following worship we will have our pot luck dinner.

Gathering for Neighbors

This Sunday February 9th, Neil Snipes will be presenting a segment from the documentary series "Beyond Theology". The segment to be presented is "Church and State" to be followed by a discussion.

"Church and State"

The separation of church and state is one of the most fundamental principles of our democracy. While some contend that we need to return to our roots as a "Christian nation," others dispute the notion that the founding fathers intended this to be a nation dedicated to any particular religious tradition.

~ Our offering will be for "Neighbors in Need" one of the five UCC designated offerings. ~

Worship & Breaking Bread

"Leading us in worship this Sunday will be the Rev. Ellen King. Our offering will be for Concho Valley PAWS (in honor of the groundhog :-). Following worship we will have our potluck dinner.

~ Sunday

~ February 2, 2014

~ 5:30 pm

~ 618 Locust Street

Inspiration and Tradition

This Sunday at the Gathering we will discuss ideas from Thomas Moore's new book, A Religion of One's Own. Since this book is so rich and many layered, I  did not want to reduce it to a synopsis. Instead, I will bring several short quotes from the book and questions about the ideas expressed in the quotes as triggers to start the discussion. Below is a collage of various sentences from the book I put together to give you a feel for the essential theme of the book:

"I foresee a new kind of spiritual creativity, in which we no longer decide whether to believe in a given creed and follow a certain tradition blindly. Now we allow ourselves a healthy skepticism. We no longer feel pressure to choose one tradition over another but is able to appreciate many routes to spiritual richness. This new religion is a blend of individual inspiration and inspiring tradition. . . I think we need a religion that comes out of our own hearts and minds and tailor-made to our own values and sensitivities. This approach looks to formal religions for insight, but it takes root and flourishes in an individual life. It means going deep rather than being right. It means studying your tradition or others that attract you without taking them as they are offered. Struggle with them, work hard at extracting only what is valuable in them, and be ready to discard the dross. Follow them in your own way sincerely and wholeheartedly.   The point is not to join the right group but to find resources that will take you deep into your own wisdom."

~ SUNDAY 26 JANUARY 2014 ~

~ 5:30 pm ~ 618 LOCUST STREET ~

The Divine Who Knows Us

Reverend Tracy Baker will be leading the Worship Service this Sunday. She will be reading from Isaiah and meditation will be "The Divine Who Knows Us". There will be a pot luck dinner after the service, so bring whatever you like or just bring yourself there will be plenty for all who attend.

Sunday 19 January 2014 

5:30 pm ~ 618 Locust Street

The Power of Myth

Aretta Greer will lead this Sunday with a Film & Discussion

"People say that what we're all seeking is the meaning for life. I don't think that's what we're really seeking. I think that what we're seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances within our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive ".....___Joseph Campbell.

           

On Sunday the 12th we will see a segment of the series of 'The Power of Myth'. Bill Moyers interviews Campbell on the Hero's Adventure. The question is asked why are there so many, in mythology and what is the meaning of heroes for us in our lives today. We can be thinking of who our heroes are and have they changed over time and experiences.

~ SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2014 ~

~ 5:30 pm ~ 618 LOCUST STREET ~