“Meditation, Metabolism, and the Alarm State”

Drawing from information presented in their LifeWatchers classes, Shanti and Dr John will discuss the relationship of meditation on metabolic health and how it relates to the alarm state that we can all experience physically, emotionally and mentally.

Facilitator: Libby Ware
Musicians: Big Light Trio (Shanti Price, Harold Torres, Jean Heinrich)

“Be a Man: Of Love and the Killing of Crabs”

Thomas Bell will be telling stories and offering thoughts about the struggle to stay soft and gentle in a world that tries so hard to mutilate our loving hearts.

Facilitator: Sara Drew
Musicians: Jeremy Glass and Jean Heinrich

“Open Mic: Narrating our Own Experience with More Spaciousness”

The congregation is invited to share in this “open mic” service led  by D. Patton White on the theme of spaciousness.  What choices have you made and then subsequently changed your mind about?  In what ways have you moved away from something only to come back to it from a new perspective? Do you know of a poem about the theme of spaciousness and possibility that you find meaningful?  Have you created a piece of visual art that conveys an aspect of potentiality?  Do you know a song that is inspired by flow that you would like to share?  Have you written in your journal about your own personal transformations?

The open mic COL  is inspired by this recent opinion piece by Melissa Kirsch in the New York Times.

Facilitator: Rev. Marsha Mitchiner
Musicians: Bill Chelton

“250: On Freedom and Coming Home”

As we now celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation, we are submerged in an incredibly tumultuous and dangerous time. Sartre, who lived through an even more intense time, wrote, “Freedom is what you do with what has been done to you.” It is only proper for decent human beings to abhor the bad things in the American experience. But, it’s a yin-yang thing. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water.

Facilitator: D. Patton White
Musicians: Craig Rafuse

“Navigating Spirituality as a Southern Black Queer Feminist Writer”

Facilitator: Cindy Lou Who
Musicians: Mick Kinney

“Becoming a Father through the lens of Existentialism”

Facilitator: Sara Drew
Musicians: Jasmyn Clark, Jean Heinrich, and Amos Warren

“Juneteenth: Looking Back on Our Journey to Freedom”

The history of African American Emancipation was explored and we were reminded that no one is free until all are free.

Facilitator: Rev. Marsha Mitchiner
Musicians: Jean Heinrich and Craig Rafuse

“Cultivating Sustainable Empathy”

We will explore the “third way of Compassion” as a way to explore sustainable empathy.  In this talk we will explore mindsets which are supportive of caring for ourselves as we care for others. 

Facilitator:
Musicians: Bill Chelton

“Vietnam and Me: Adventures and Apologies”

Facilitator: Wade Marbaugh
Musicians: Allen Cook