Dear Friends of Middleway Urban Monastery,
We continue to seek new ways to show hope, comfort and peace in experiencing God's love for you. You were created just the way you are, and finding your way to God is your journey. We're here to walk alongside of you and offer ways that might help in your discovery and growth. If we're missing something you'd like to see, email us at the address at the top of this newsletter. Your suggestion might well be exactly what someone else needs, too.
This week, we're adding several new options. Read about them below and make a note to check out your areas of interest on our Facebook group page.
Middleway Urban Monastery joins in World Communion Sunday
World Communion Sunday is approaching! This day is a gift from the Presbyterian Church to the world and is held the first Sunday of October every year. It is a way we can celebrate our oneness in Christ along with our brothers and sisters around the world. Please join us on Facebook or our Middleway YouTube channel for an interactive Eucharist on Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. as we acknowledge unity in Christ and pray for peace in the world. Have your own bread and wine ready. The liturgy will be posted as the live event begins, hosted by Michael and Amy Thompson.
Beall offers daily prayers on current events
Current events can cause us to wonder where God is. Prayer helps, but sometimes we're at a loss for words. Rev. Sue Beall, Lutheran (ELCA) pastor, is writing prayers that speak to various situations. Her prayers are offered daily on the Middleway FB group at 11 a.m.
Soul Care Sabbath begins in October
A new group experience will be offered beginning in October to guide the practice of observing Sabbath with rest, stillness, and silence. The group, led by Aneya Elbert, will meet the second Sunday of the month: Oct. 11, Nov. 8, Dec. 13. It's one hour on Zoom (link to come) - 2-3 p.m. Included in this interactive group will be:
Contemplative Spiritual Practices
Express your voice through creativity
The gift of spiritual companions
Creativity continues in weekly book study
Discussions on "Creativity: Where the Divine and the Human Meet," by Matthew Fox, will continue on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. This week's discussion is on Chapter 4. It's not too late to join on this book, hosted by Kathleen Phillips. We read and discuss one chapter a week. Plan to join us on Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86289918385?pwd=SjcwUW5NMlZnWUtlNFFYd01waVZzUT09 Meeting ID: 862 8991 8385 Passcode: 164675 OR find your local number to dial in: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdizMlCaXm
Update on Friday Finger Labyrinth
Friday's guided mediation using a finger labyrinth will continue on a monthly basis, beginning Oct. 2 at 12:30 p.m.. A finger labyrinth to use with this meditation can be downloaded in advance from here. The meditation, led by Aneya Elbert, is a video so one can pause and start the meditation at one's own pace.
How to Enter Middleway Urban Monastery
If, for whatever reason, you feel "spiritual but not religious," or you no longer have a church or you are just "done" with organized religion, no worries. We do not ask you to join the FB group page in order to participate. Just come to the monastery online as often as you want. We're about providing you space to seek hope, comfort and peace as you explore ways of experiencing God’s love.
Imagine our Facebook public group page as a physical building. When you enter our URL, facebook.com/groups/TheMiddlewayUrbanMonastery, it is like opening the door of a physical building, because you will find all that is offered there.
Likewise, you can come to our website and explore the offerings, including links to our Twitter and Instagram accounts, if you like those formats and want to follow.
For the time being, our monastery is online only. We plan to eventually offer a physical space in Bryan, Texas. Even then, however, we will continue to offer our prayer times, meditations, centering, contemplation and various workshops and retreats online and led by spiritual directors and leaders around the Bryan-College Station area.
If you want to "join" to stay informed and take part in as many things as you can, subscribe to this weekly newsletter by going to https://www.middlewayurbanmonastery.org/contact and entering your email address at the Subscribe button on the lower right.
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