The Season of Lent

The Season of Lent: A Call to Awaken and Embrace our Lives In reflecting about the season of Lent and particularly Ash Wednesday, the day that begins the season, Jeremy Rutledge, Pastor of Covenant Church, Houston, writes: Perhaps we are meant to understand that the human Jesus faced the same kinds of struggles that we all face. He felt the temptations of power, fame, longevity, yet his life took a different path. He was on the road to death just as surely as we are. He could see it.... He knew the old Hebrew: "From dust you have come," dear rabbi. Yet before he returned to dust he embraced his days. He called us to wake up. He invited us to see each other. He asked us to forgive each other. He taught us that loving each other was the greatest commandment. So we begin this season with this stark reminder... Wake up, we are saying. Do not miss this life. Do not miss each other. Do not miss the questions that still wait to rise, just as the moon this night... Crisp air enters my lungs and I remember Thich Nhat Hahn's words. "Breathing in, I have arrived. Breathing out, I am home." If only I could remember this.... This season we are each invited to contemplate our mortality and to live accordingly. GATHERING THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010 EXPLORING THE WRITINGS OF JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI Sunday, February 28, 2010; 5:30 pm; 618 Locust Street Sunday Neil will lead the discussion as we attempt to grasp a very different set of ideas about belief in God. Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895-1986), a renowned spiritual teacher, asks us to consider that across the human race the different beliefs in God only divide people with dogma, doctrine and rituals and create confusion and intolerance. He suggests, in fact, that beliefs in God actually impede spiritual development. But what are we left with if we don't believe in God? Come explore this very different dimension of spiritual concept. and wrestle, perhaps, with an idea that seems to make no sense. Our offering will be designated for The Gathering. In addition to our monetary offering, you are always invited to bring canned or boxed foods for our ongoing contributions to Project Dignidad. Our pot luck food theme is simple and healthy. We Celebrate... *The Beauty, Silence, and Fun of Snow! *That new folks continue to find The Gathering. If each person is a reflection of the Divine, then we more fully experience and know the Sacred Presence with the addition of each person. Communal Meal One piece of what makes The Gathering The Gathering is sharing our communal meals. Some may wonder, in fact, why our potlucks are so important to us. We believe that "Communion" is made as we sit down at a table together to share food and share ourselves. Our meal is a sacred way of tying us together and tying us to God. We ALWAYS have plenty, and in fact, the abundance is one indicator of our delight in gathering around the table together. So please know that you DO NOT need to bring something in order to come to The Gathering, and also please know that whether you bring anything or not, there is ALWAYS enough for all who come to the table. You are welcome to come and receive; you are welcome to be nourished from the abundance. You are welcome to bring and share. You are welcome at The Gathering - however you are inclined to attend!

Vote! It's a spiritual experience. Primary Election Day: March 2, 2010 Upcoming Events Sunday, March 7, 2010 - Gathering Worship Saturday, March 13, 2010 - Wesley Daily Bread Soup Kitchen Sunday, March 14, 2010 - Quaker Worship, led by Lisa Dale Saturday, March 20, 2010 - North Texas Association SCCUCC Spring Meeting Sunday, March 21, 2010 - Meditation, Co-led by Isobelle Fox

Sharing the Love on Valentine's Sunday
2/14/2010
Pennies for Peace: $382
The Gathering: $200
Total Offering: $582

Sharing our Abundance last Sunday
2/21/10
Meals for the Elderly: $276
The Gathering: $100
Total Offering: $376

~~~

St. John's United Church of Christ, Robinson, TX, continues to model generosity, vision, and encouragement for us and the South Central Conference by including new church starts in their 2010 annual budget. Through their gifts of prayer, letters of encouragement and $100 every other month, they are partnering with the Spirit and The Gathering (and possibly other new church starts, as well) in creating this new community. Thank you, St. John's!

~~~

2009 Total offerings collected at Gatherings: $11,194.00
2009 Total offerings given by The Gathering to other ministries:
$6,867.00 + $500 in-kind donations.
Thank you for continuing to live our practices of compassion, integrity, service, inclusiveness, humor, joy, and love.

Gathered in Love in the family of Life, we are One Sacred Community.

Lent: Cultivating Greatness of Soul

Lent: Cultivating Greatness of Soul The Christian season of Lent began Wednesday, February 17, with Ash Wednesday. A traditional view of Lent is that it's a time of sacrifice and restriction, a journey to the desert of repentance. Spiritual guide and Catholic priest Edward Hays invites us to experience Lent instead as a time of expansion and growth. It is a journey, yes, and also a time of practicing spiritual disciplines, yes - but not for the purpose of diminishing and flagellating ourselves. Our efforts at things like contemplation, reading sacred texts, worship, prayer, service to others, practicing generosity and hospitality are to positively develop our relationship with God and enhance our connectedness with others. He states: Lent as a holy season challenges one to aspire to be as Godlike as possible in forgiving and loving. We've all heard how the average person actualizes very little of his or her potential mental powers; the same is true of our spiritual potential. Lent as a holy season challenges one to reach for that potential, to aspire toward the greatness of soul that comes from cultivating virtues like justice, mercy, and love. May this Lenten season be a time of deepening attention to the Sacred and also the ever-widening circle of Love and Compassion. The Gathering Sunday, February 21, 5:30 pm, 618 Locust Street This Sunday, February 21, we will begin this Lenten effort at cultivating "greatness of soul" with a time of meditation and reflection. Ann writes: Come and join us for this meditation experience as Neil, Ann and Karen help us discover our Soul's Genealogy. Our food theme (naturally) will be "soul" food - which means bring anything that makes your soul (and body) sing. Our offering will go to a local organization doing its best to bring forth singing and nourishment in both bodies and souls - Meals for the Elderly. Sunday, February 21, 5:30 pm Promenade Square - 618 Locust Street "I am the vine; you are the branches" Lenten afternoon of reflection and retreat Brenda Maiman is offering a two-hour contemplative retreat, 1:30-3:30, Sunday, February 21. The retreat will include significant times of silence and will be held at Holy Angels Catholic Church. Child care is available upon pre- registration. Please call 949-3308 to pre-register. Who We Believe the Divine is Calling Us to Be The Gathering's Purpose: Our dynamic community offers you an inclusive spiritual home. We gather as works-in-progress in a chorus of Divine Mystery, committed to the possibilities in all God's creation through authentic relationship. Our Practices: Service, Integrity, Inclusiveness, Love, Compassion, Humor, Joy Open and Affirming Statement: 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.

Wesley Daily Bread Soup Kitchen Re-Scheduled Due to a scheduling snafu at Wesley, we've been asked to reschedule our date of service from Saturday, February 27 to Saturday, March 13. The Saturday in March is the first Saturday of Spring Break, and I figure it's a great way for all you spring breakers to begin the week of vacation! For those of us who aren't going to be off the following week, it's just a great way to spend a Saturday! I would appreciate it if someone would offer to be the 'go-to" person for this service effort. Let me know that you'd like to be assume that leadership role, and I'll tell you everything you need to know to make it a satisfying day - not just for us, but also for those who will seek lunch that day at the Wesley Daily Bread Soup Kitchen. What an opportunity to cultivate greatness of soul. Celebrations & Concerns We celebrate the offering of $285 to the West Texas Organizing Strategy on February 7, 2010. This was part of our Souper Bowl of Caring offering. We also gave $75 to The Gathering on 2/7. Ellen is appreciative of both prayers and leads for both immediate and long-term jobs. Remember the Meeting Space Workgroup as they seek the next right Gathering place. Hold in Divine Light: *The rebuilding efforts in Haiti; *Those living in war zones; *The national health care conversation; *Local and state elections; *Refugees seeking peace, stability, freedom from fear, hunger, war, prejudice; *The environment - all of God's creation on this planet and in the universe; *Those working for Justice and Love. Upcoming Events Friday, February 19: Sweethearts and Jazz United Campus Ministry Fundraiser Saturday, March 13: Wesley Daily Bread Soup Kitchen Saturday, March 20: North Texas Association of the South Central Conference (UCC) Spring Meeting, Master's Workshop Camp, Waco area Friday-Saturday, March 26-27: Oneness Retreat Sunday, April 4: EASTER Saturday, May 22: Wesley Daily Bread Soup Kitchen Friday-Sunday, June 4-6: UCC South Central Conference Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana

Love Notes

Join us as we encounter Divine Love,
as we engage
poverty, education, and peace
this Valentine's Sunday

February 14, 2010
5:30 pm, 618 Locust Street

Beth and Harold Peterson will lead us as we "Gather for Education". The Petersons recently heard Greg Mortenson, author of THREE CUPS of TEA and STONES INTO SCHOOLS, speak in Dallas. They will share his philosophy and what he is doing in Afghanistan and Pakistan to educate students, reduce poverty and promote peace. The "Pennies for Peace" program, introduced by the San Angelo Peace Ambassadors, is connected to Greg's efforts.

Offering Recipient: Pennies for Peace
Food Theme: Something you "love" - after all, this is Valentine's Day

Sharing the Love

Thanks goes to Howard Green for making sure all turned out great for our turn at feeding ASU students this past Wednesday at United Campus Ministries' Food For Thought. We fed 58 students!! Howard made sure we had plenty of chili, fixings, and of course, cookies. He also stayed from 10:30 until after 2 managing the effort.

We've received a $100 check St. John's United Church of Christ, Robinson, TX, and a letter saying they've added us to their 2010 budget. We'll receive a $100 check every other month for this year. In addition to the financial contribution, what an incredible gift of affirmation and support! Thank you, St. John's!

Please Remember

Friday, February 19, Sweethearts and Jazz - a United Campus Ministries Fundraiser with Concho Jazz. 7-9 pm, The Venue, 4611 S. Jackson. Suggested donation: $15 for adults, $5 for students and military with ID. Great music, delicious desserts, coffee, door prizes, a raffle, and fun. I have tickets.

Saturday, February 27, Wesley Daily Bread Soup Kitchen.We will seek to share nourishment and alleviate hunger when we prepare and serve lunch at Wesley Daily Bread Soup Kitchen. We'll be serving casseroles and soup. For more information, please contact me, Karen Schmeltekopf, thegatheringsanangelo.org.

Be on the lookout for our new home!

The space we need is:

- somewhere between 3000-6000 square feet
- has a large room that will comfortably manage up to 75 people (so we don't have to move again when 50 people are regularly coming)
- has a second smaller room that will be used for children's learning and also the Zen sitting
- has kitchen or kitchen-esque facilities
- has accessible bathrooms
- is ours to rent so we can leave our supplies there
- is available for approximately $650 + utilities per month.

Please pass on all the possibilities to a member of the Meeting Space Workgroup: Larry Luvaul, Pat Hines, Nancy York, Tim McTaggart, Neil Snipes, Karen Schmeltekopf.

Survey Responses

Thanks to you all for sharing your perspectives about The Gathering via our recent on-line feedback opportunity. Some of the responses and comments follow:

We're enjoying our Sunday night Gatherings and want more: 61.5% of respondents would like more opportunities for Contemplation and Meditation, and 61.5% of respondents would like more opportunities for Education. In addition, 30.8% would like more worship opportunities; 30.8% are interested in more opportunities for service/ministry; and 30.8% would like more opportunities for reflection on sacred readings.

Comments:

"I love the people that attend and I love that the primary purpose of the tithing is to give to others."

"I am spiritually nourished; I have found a community; I am intellectually engaged."

"The Gathering provides me with a place and a time to connect to my spirituality and to learn and explore new ideas and beliefs. It also provides me with a much needed sense of community with warm and friendly people and a place where I feel safe and accepted as I am. The Gathering has been a genuine blessing in my life and has helped to restore and heal my faith both in people and in the divine."