Dear Middleway Urban Monastery friends,
We want to give you a sneak peak inside part of Middleway as we prepare to open. The picture above is one of the rooms that will be used for centering prayer groups, individual spiritual direction, as a classroom or even for individual reflection.
We'll be showing more of the monastery as we get close to our pubic blessing and opening in a few weeks. But you, as a receipient of this newsletter, are invited to come for a sneak peak!
On Oct. 30, we will have a volunteer training at 10 a.m. That will give you a chance to explore the space, decide how you want to participate and learn how we will operate the monastery together. Remember, Middleway is 100 percent volunteer operated under the guidance of spiritual directors in the area. We especially welcome those who are "spiritual but not religious" as well as regular church goers who want a quiet space for peace, prayer and perhaps a deeper connection to God. The wonderful thing about volunteering at Middleway is that you, too, get to experience the peace and comfort away from the busy world while helping host visitors.
So, mark your calendars and plan to attend the training. We need you.
Read about what's going on at Middleway below. Then check out our Facebook group page or website.
FIND - School for Spiritual Formation and Direction at Middleway
Middleway will host FIND - School for Spiritual Direction and Formation beginning Oct. 16. FIND is a three-year school that meets once a month on a Saturday, September-May with a year-end retreat in June. The school trains those who want to become spiritual directors and those who seek training in spiritual formation for a variety of ministries. People attend the school from a wide geographic region - from Oklahoma to Louisiana to Central Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. Beginning with the class of 2024 which started in September, a hybrid, online version is being offered. For more information, see http://schoolforspiritualdirection.org.
Prepare for October's book study
Our Zoom book study group will meet Oct. 14 to continue "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus" by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg. It's not too late to join. Get your copy or check with a library now. It's also available as a free read for Amazon Prime members.
For this meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 14, read the Chapters 4 – 7 plus Appendix A.
Here's how to join:
Meeting ID: 862 8991 8385 Passcode: 164675
or call in 1 346 248 7799
In November, we plan to offer an in-person book study at the monastery during the daytime. Watch for more information.
Upcoming books are:
November - "Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith" by Kathleen Norris
December - No meetings
January 2022 - "The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are" by Brene Brown
Volunteer at Middleway through a Circle of Stewards
Come be a part of the Middleway community! We need volunteers who can be there in person. The volunteer training will be Oct. 30, our grand opening in November, and then the monastery will be open for visitors.
Offer your talents in administration, reception, hospitality, plants/greenery, library, arts, technology/information, worship, cleaning, and growth/sustainability. Each of these areas are called Circles of Stewards, which are groups of people within the community who share similar interests and want to help make Middleway as special, sacred space for all. Trainings will be offered prior to volunteering, if you can't attend the Oct. 30 general training.
And no worries if you don't live near. There are some ways to be part of our circles whether you live nearby or far away. Ask how.
You can sign up at https://timecounts.org/middlewaymonastery. Simply fill in the form and make your choices. Then when opportunities become available in the Circle(s) of your choice, you will be notified and can decide if you are able to participate at particular times. For example, if we have a need for a receptionist on Tuesday, 9-noon, everyone who has expressed an interest in being a volunteer receptionist would receive an email in advance noting that opportunity. Each person would decide whether to volunteer for that time. That is how each of you will be notified of volunteer opportunities.
These opportunities are more than volunteering -- they are community forming. Being at Middleway will be less of the typical "doing" associated with most volunteer activities and more of the "being," that is, being present to welcome visitors and enjoy the surroundings yourself! With this in mind, our volunteers are in community with the Middleway Urban Monastery's Guide for Life:
Conversion of Life “Conversatio”: Living our life as if it were a conversation with God, in a commitment to personal spiritual disciplines.
Humility: Living our life in perspective, in a commitment to assess and honor one’s own gifts and those of others.
Hospitality: Living our life in service of others, in a commitment to welcome guests in love and a spirit of prayer.
Prayer: Practicing a spiritual discipline that includes daily prayer.
Ecumenism: Honoring all expressions of Christian faith and respecting in Jesus’ name all persons of other religions and faiths.
Other ways to experience Middleway Urban Monastery
Ready to dig a little deeper spiritually?
Join our Facebook group page. Doing so will let you receive notices about events as well comment and see what others in the Middleway community are saying.
Come to our website and explore the offerings, including links to our Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube accounts, if you like those formats and want to follow.
Pass the word. Ask your frieds to subscribe to this newsletter by going to https://www.middlewayurbanmonastery.org/contact Enter the email address at the Subscribe button on the lower right.
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