Dear Middleway Urban Monastery friends,
Never is it convenient to have a car battery go dead. Whether you're driving to work, running errands or just cruising for pleasure, hearing click-click-click when you turn the key in the ignition causes an entire change of plans.
Lest you think finding a kind person nearby or calling your auto club will instantly solve the issue, let us update you.
Many of today's cars conceal their batteries toward the back of the engine and cover them - and other engine parts - with shields making them hard to reach.
In one recent incident, the owner was invited to "make yourself at home" at the dealership for three hours while mechanics operated under the hood extracting the old battery and replacing with new. There were no options. It had to be done to get the car operating well again.
Thus is our spiritual life. At first glance our souls might appear just a little dusty from our journeys. But how long is it before the "click-click-click" stops us in our tracks? And then, how hard will it be to locate our true hearts and renew them to get back on the road?
No matter which road you're on, we have many ways to help you check your ticker. You might feel like you're at a standstill, but there are ways to extract what's draining you to get you back up to speed and on your spiritual journey.
Read about what we can offer below.
Pets and spirituality
Sniff us out in September for a look at the importance of pets and animals to our souls.
For two September evenings, you and your pets (leashed or in a carrier under your control) will be our special guests. If you don't have a pet or can't bring yours, that's ok, too. We'll explore a Spiritual Autobiography with Pets on Sept. 14, and Visual Prayers with Pets on Sept. 28. We'll open at 6-8 p.m. those evenings, with the activity component from 7-8 p.m.
This series will wrap up with a Pet Blessing at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 217 W. 26th St., Bryan, at 11:15 a.m. Bring pets to be blessed and receive a St. Francis medallion for collars, cages or carriers.
September begins something for everyone
Between now and January there surely is at least one thing of interest for everyone. When we say ALL are welcome, we mean it. Mark your calendars and share with friends/family.
Explore 12-step spirituality through “Breathing Underwater” by Rev. Richard Rohr. This 12 week study, beginning Sept. 6, includes a short 12-step Compline every Tuesday from 5:30-7 p.m.
Journeys in Prayerful Silence – Experience different ways to find God in silence. Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. for six weeks beginning Sept. 8.
Spiritual Entrepreneurship: Using Spiritual Gifts to Create Change – Sept. 10, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Pets and Spirituality – Pets welcome! Spiritual autobiography with pets, Sept. 14; Visualizing prayers with pets, Sept. 28, both 6-8 p.m.; Pet blessing at St. Andrew’s Episcopal, Oct. 2, 11:15 a.m.
Friends of St Joan is a monthly gathering for youth and young adults who identify as LGBTQIA+. Join us in a safe place to explore spirituality monthly on the third Mondays beginning Sept. 19, 6-8 p.m.
Journaling One’s Story – Learn to write about your life to bring deeper spiritual meaning. Monthly on fourth Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-Noon.
Book Club – “The Lost Page: An Archaeological Thriller” by Joe Edd Morris, discussion Sept. 27, 10:30 a.m.
Dia de los Muertos and a look at grief and loss, Oct. 22, 10:30-Noon.
Sacred chanting – Learn this ancient method of singing, Nov. 5, 10:30 a.m.-Noon.
Wassail at the Monastery – Get a taste of our hospitality with a cup of this traditional holiday beverage. No agenda. We’ll merely open the doors for you to take a breather before the holiday rush, Dec. 3, 10:30 a.m.-Noon.
Post-Holiday life – Celtic Women’s Christmas, Jan. 6, 1-3 p.m.; The Spirituality of Gaming, Jan. 14, 10:30 a.m.-Noon.
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 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. The study will continue for 12 weeks on Tuesday evenings.
Spiritual Entrepreneurship: Using Spiritual Gifts to Create Change
This event, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 10, will explore in depth what entrepreneurship has to do with spiritual practices, and how cultivating an entrepreneurial outlook can help you find creatives ways to live out your spiritual life. We will recap key themes from a previous workshop, such as what is spiritual entrepreneurship and understanding your spiritual motivational giftings, before moving on to discuss how think like a spiritual entrepreneurs and learn how to leverage your own spiritual gifts to become agents of change and healing in their community. This workshop will be a combination teaching, personal reflection and experiential learning of how the themes shared can help bring a new focus to your spiritual journey.
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.
Friends of St. Joan
This new group is a monthly gathering for youth and young adults who identify as LGBTQIA+. Join us in a safe place to explore spirituality monthly on the third Mondays beginning Sept. 19, 6-8 p.m. , led by Jodie Robinson and Amy Thompson.
Middleway Book Club returns
The book club will discuss "The Lost Page: An Archaeological Thriller" by Joe Edd Morris. This book group is hybrid, so participants can either attend in person at the monastery or by Zoom.
Meeting ID: 862 8991 8385
Passcode: 164675
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
We've added several programs at night, which means the monastery will be open for some new times. If you've been unable to volunteer during the days, here's your chance. 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.
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