
Dear Middleway Urban Monastery friends, MMMMM, good. In other words, M&M, Music, and Middleway Monastery. That's how we'll close out August, and we hope you'll be there. It'll be more than good. Read about this and all our plans below. Middleway's Facebook Group
"MMMMM, good" set for Aug. 31
Middleway Urban Monastery is joining with M&M Food Truck for a community lunch on Aug. 31, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
You'll find M&M's truck in our parking lot at the corner of W. 24th Street and N. Washington Avenue with Major and Carol Moore cooking up the Cajun and Creole dishes they are known for. Order lunch, then bring it into the cool indoors of the monastery where a co-mingling of the spicey aroma and soothing music will waft throughout.
There's no agenda. Just come and go, enjoy meeting others, get some peace in the middle of the week, and kiss hot, dry August goodbye!
August is a banner month
The prayer flag banner is growing! All this month, visitors to the monastery are encouraged to make a prayer flag as a symbolic way to let your prayers be carried in the wind. The collective flags, which are about 8 x 8 inches each, are being strung together as a community banner. It's as easy as using a felt-tip pen to write or draw your prayers on the fabric.
This is an easy activity for all ages - adults, parents, children, grandparents, and grandchildren. Check our weekly schedule below to find open hours.
Pets and spirituality
Beginning with our booth on First Friday, Sept. 2, and then all during September, we will celebrate the importance of pets and animals to our soul. Throughout the month, we will have animal-related crafts in our art area.
Pet treats will be offered at the First Friday event, 5:30-7 p.m., and we will be in the parking lot at 217 W. 26th St., Bryan.
Then in the evenings of Sept. 14 and 28, you and your pets will be our special guests. That's right ... you AND your pet (leashed or in a carrier under your control) are welcome to interactive programs pertaining to the soulfulness of our beloved animals. If you don't have a pet or can't bring yours, that's ok, too. Pictures, and memories of pets and animal experiences are also welcome.
We'll open at 6-8 p.m. those evenings, with the activity component from 7-8 p.m.
Have we got plans for you!
Mark your calendars through the end of 2022. We've got a slate of programs to meet a variety of interests. To begin with, our presence at First Friday in downtown Bryan is pared each month with a special program or workshop. Plus, we have extra communities that are ongoing or are being formed now. Here's a sneak preview so you can save the dates.
Monthly theme for First Friday and special events:
September - Pets and Spirituality
October - Dia de los muertos, grief and loss
November - Learn to Chant for Advent
December - Wassail at the Monastery
We'll still have our book club, journaling group, Common Threads spirit talk, a repeat of our entrepreneurial spirituality workshop and kids spirituality programs the fall. And we'll have new gatherings for LGBTQ+ and 12-Step folks. Hopefully, we have something of interest for everyone. When we say ALL are welcome, we mean it. Journeys in Prayerful Silence This six-week series will introduce different styles of prayer and meditation focused around times of silence and stillness, beginning Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. Sessions each Thursday evening will begin with a short teaching on the background and purpose of each type of prayer, followed by 15 minutes of putting what is learned directly into practice. Come take a time-out with Heidi Campbell and learn how to cultivate peace and stillness through journeying into different expressions of prayerful silence. The series will continue through Oct. 13. Middleway will be open on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. and the prayerful silence segment will be from 7-7:30 p.m. Those who wish to come early or stay late can explore the space on their own. 12-Step Community to discuss "Breathing Under Water" Richard Rohr's "Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps" will be the topic for a Tuesday evening gathering Tuesdays beginning Sept. 6. The monastery will be open from 5-8 p.m. and the book discussion component, led by Amy and Michael Thompson, will be a part of the evening. People in any 12-Step program and their friends and families are especially welcome to the monastery during this time. St. Joan - LGBTQ and friends A gathering of people who are interested in spirituality and the LCGTQ community teens will begin Sept. 19 and continue every other week. Led by Jodie Robinson and Amy Thompson, the gathering will begin at 6 p.m. How to use the monastery While we offer a variety of programs you can attend, the monastery is also open for you to just come for a dose of the relaxing atmosphere where no one will bug you. Read, retreat from the hectic pace of your world, use the free art supplies, or partake of any of our prayer techniques that are gently explained in materials throughout the monastery. Children are welcome to come with an adult and may find the art area or special children's spirituality area a way to peace away from electronic distractions. Spiritual direction offered at Middleway A spiritual director is one who can listen to you with a holy ear and doesn't try to "fix" you with their solutions. Being listened to -- truly listened to -- is powerfully healing. You and your spiritual director normally meet monthly for an hour. Our current spiritual directors are listed at https://www.middlewayurbanmonastery.org/spiritual-direction. Email us at info@middlewayurbanmonastery.org if we can help you. We need you at Middleway Middleway is 100 percent volunteer operated. Come be one who welcomes others into this peaceful place. While there, you'll be able to enjoy the hope, peace and comfort as well. Sign up at https://timecounts.org/middlewaymonastery/. After you've selected the areas you want to volunteer in, you'll be able to click the Opportunities tab, then Assignments, then Available Shifts. Middleway Urban Monastery's Guide for Life
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