The Gathering Newsletter

Gathering with Amish Friends for Film Night

2012-02-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

Sunday, 12 February 2012, 5:30 pm, 618 Locust Street

Now there's a curious mixture - films and Amish and The Gathering. What?

Have you ever considered the similarities between The Gathering and the Amish? Think about it: We are both communities based on deeply held faith perspectives; we appreciate and intentionally seek to develop community; we actively help our neighbors; we respect nature and want to live in harmony with our world; and we strive to be relevant and vital in 2012. Of course, we also have a few differences - beginning with the fact that the Amish, in their effort to be vital, live far outside the cultural mainstream, while The Gathering is absolutely in the middle of it. But here's the curiosity: the Amish's strict adherence to community conservative values is contributing to their doubling in size every year. During the last century, they grew from 5,000, inhabiting a handful of states, to 200,000, living in 25 states and one Canadian province.

Sunday night, we will more deeply engage with and get to know our Amish brothers and sisters as we watch and discuss a 49-minute documentary entitled The Amish: How They Survive.

Just as Christians, people in the United Church of Christ and people of "faith" cannot be categorized in one box, neither can the Amish; there is a great deal of variance among the group-as-a-whole. The film provides an unprecedented look into the varied beliefs and lifestyles of the Amish, and much of the film's narration is provided by Amish people themselves (speaking off camera).

Discussion will be led by Neil and Karen, and our offering will be designated for the People/Plant Connection. In addition, you are invited to bring more soup and other canned/boxed food for Project Dignidad.

Super Gathering

2012-02-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

Newsletter for February 2, 2012

Service to Humanity

2012-01-27T21:39:00.000-08:00

Newsletter for January 26.

Revealing the Light

2012-01-21T10:33:00.000-08:00

Newsletter for January 19, 2012

A Warm Place in Cold Times

2012-01-13T22:13:00.000-08:00

Newsletter for January 12, 2012.

Epiphany

2012-01-07T15:52:00.000-08:00

Newsletter for January 6, 2012.

New Year's Greetings

2011-12-31T14:59:00.000-08:00

Newsletter for December 29, 2011.

Christmas Greetings

2011-12-22T19:25:00.000-08:00

Newsletter for December 22

Season of Light

2011-12-15T21:11:00.000-08:00

Newsletter for December 15.

Tis the Season

2011-12-08T20:36:00.000-08:00

Newsletter for December 1, 2011.

Gratitude

2011-11-25T14:00:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful
for each of you
and the spark you bring
to The Gathering.
May your Thanksgiving day and
season be filled with an abundance of
Gratitude, Joy, and Peace.
--Karen

Newsletter for November 23, 2011.

Gathering in Thanks

2011-11-18T16:13:00.000-08:00

Newsletter for November 17, 2011

Blessings

2011-11-10T21:23:00.000-08:00

Newsletter for 11-10-11.

Harvest Time

2011-11-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

Newsletter for November 3, 2011

Pre-Halloween Surprise

2011-10-28T21:18:00.000-07:00

Newsletter for October 27, 2011

Gathering Inclusivity

2011-10-22T10:07:00.000-07:00

Newsletter for October 20, 2011

Autumn Blessings

2011-10-14T20:05:00.000-07:00

Newsletter for October 13.

Circles of Trust

2011-10-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

Sunday, October 9, 2011, 5:30 pm, 618 Locust Street

In our journey toward inner truth,we need a supportive community--a circle of trust-- to guide us. ~ Parker Palmer

Teresa Rylander will lead us as we explore Circles of Trust with Parker Palmer, a Quaker author, educator, and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality and social change. We will learn about a way of sharing community, a particular kind of sacred discernment, and what can happen when a community welcomes a soul, via clips from Palmer's dvd "Circles of Trust", through specific readings from his book A Hidden Wholeness, and by creating our own Circle of Trust.

Our offering will be designated for the non-profit Center for Courage and Renewal whose mission is about helping people live with integrity from their souls - "reconnecting who you are with what you do." We will not share a community meal this week.

World Communion

2011-09-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

Newsletter for September 29, 2011.

UCC 101

2011-09-23T06:04:00.000-07:00

Newsletter for 9-22-11

Consider Compassion

2011-09-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

This Sunday's worship will build on the Season of Peace theme "Consider Compassion." Our offering will be designated for Calvary Episcopal Church, Bastrop, to help with wildfire recovery efforts in the Bastrop area. A former colleague of mine is the current Rector, and Father John Loving, formerly of San Angelo, recently served as their Transitional Rector. In addition, we will continue to receive beans and rice for Project Dignidad.

This Sunday is a Communal Meal Sunday, in that we will share a potluck following the worship service.

Gathering for Worship
5:30 pm, 618 Locust St.
Sunday, September 18

Upcoming Gatherings

Monday, Sept 19, Season of Peace event, 6:30 pm, First Christian Church

Tuesday, Sept 20, Season of Peace event, 6:30 pm, Courthouse lawn

Wednesday, Sept 21 - HERO, 8:00 pm, ASU, UC 201

Thursday, Sept 22 - West Texas Organizing Strategy, 7:00 pm, Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Saturday, Sept 24 - Regional WTOS Meeting, Midland, TX

Sunday, Sept 25 - Gathering for Education: UCC 101

Holding Close

Hold in prayer Nancy York and parents as her mother continues recovering from recent hospitalization.

Connect with Us

Join our mailing list.

Contact by email: Rev. Karen Schmeltekopf

by phone: 325-374-1566

Engagking the Legacy of 9-11

2011-09-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

Newsletter for September 8, 2011

Good Work, Justice

2011-09-02T16:29:00.000-07:00

Newsletter for September 1, 2011

Gathering at the Well for Retreat

2011-08-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

Like the deer that yearns for running streams,
so my soul is yearning for you, O God.
All who are thirsty, come to the water.
My soul is thirsting for God, the living God.
All who are thirsty, come to the water.

Sunday's Retreat

You are invited to "Go Back to the Well" - a day of communal and individual spiritual renewal and care.

* Sunday, 28 August 2011, 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
* San Saba River Ranch outside of Menard, TX (approximately 80 miles from San Angelo).

* The day will include times of community gathering, as well as individual and small group time. The planning team anticipates the day including fun, meal sharing, meditation, silence, soul exploring, walking, sitting, being by and in the river, worship, and possibly a drum circle.

* Those interested will carpool together: meet and park at 9:00 am at Mosaic Redwine Childcare Center, 5191 S. Bryant Blvd. (just off 87 South at Ben Ficklin Exit; in between Word of Life Assembly of God and Unity Church of Christianity).
* If you don't want to carpool, please GET DIRECTIONS FROM ME BEFORE SUNDAY AM.
* We will return to San Angelo refreshed and renewed by about 5:30.
* Morning snack, lunch, coffee, tea, and water provided by Side Oats Cafe and Bakery, Menard, TX.

* Suggested donation is $15/person for food, with scholarships available to cover the cost for anyone who's hesitant to attend because of cost. While there's no set fee to use the lodge and property, we'll also collect an offering to contribute to the upkeep of the retreat facilities.

*Things to bring: your Self; something on which to write (pad of paper, tablet, journal, etc); writing utensils; a vessel of some sort that has meaning to you that will hold water; drumming instrument if you're interested; lawn chair; light snacks for the afternoon; drinks if you'd like something other than coffee, tea, or water; money for meal and offering.

* Attire is casual - we have access to the lodge (called Selah, A Place to Pause and Reflect), which is air conditioned and comfortable, as well as the outside patios, walking paths, river, and acreage. Be comfortable for a day of retreat.

*Please let me know by Friday, August 26, if you plan on attending so I can give some kind of food guess-timate to our hosts and we can make some kind of arrangements for carpooling. If, for some reason you won't know until Sunday morning, August 28, that you can come, that's ok - COME.

For more information, to tell me you're attending, to share your anticipation about the retreat, call or email me:

thegatheringsanangelo@yahoo.com
325-374-1566

No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome at The Gathering's Retreat!

Service Through Giving

31 July 2011
Total Offering Received: $627.00
The Gathering General Fund: $529.00
Gathering Benevolence Fund: $44.00
Gathering Facility Fund: $54.00

7 August 2011
Total Offering Received: $321.00
Project Dignidad: $191.00
The Gathering: $130.00
Plus sacks of canned and boxed food for Project Dignidad

14 August 2011
Total Offering Received: $488.00
West Texas Organizing Strategy: $208.00
Project Dignidad: $50.00
The Gathering: $230.00
Plus sacks of canned and boxed food for Project Dignidad

21 August 2011
Total Offering Received: $329.00
Humane Borders: $209.00
The Gathering: $120.00
Plus sacks of canned and boxed food for Project Dignidad

Important Notes

Because of our retreat, we will not gather at 5:30 pm, 618 Locust St. this Sunday, but will do so on September 4.

What does "God is Still Speaking" mean to you?

First HERO - Helping Educate Regarding Orientation Meeting of the Fall 2011 Semester is this coming Wednesday, August 31, 8 PM, UC 201. All are welcome to attend! For more information about HERO, ask me, Isobelle or check out their page.

For More Information about The Gathering:

Contact by email:
Rev. Karen Schmeltekopf
325-374-1566

Meet Up with Us:
Meetup.com

Visit Us Online:
The Gathering San Angelo
Our Blog

Join Our Mailing List!

The Gathering affirms the inherent dignity and sacredness of human beings and the value of all life in the universe. We welcome and celebrate persons of all racial and ethnic heritages, all gender identities and sexual orientations, and all faith perspectives into the full life and ministry of The Gathering.