Star service, 12-11-16
From all of us at STAR
to all of you,
May your holiday season be one of Peace Joy Love |
Friday, December 23, 2016
Happy Holidays
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Tranquility with Tea Service
Please join us
Sunday Evening,
November 27th
at 6:00 pm
Tranquility
With Tea
a service
devoted to quieting minds, opening hearts, soothing souls
*First Sunday
in Advent*
The
Advent Adventure – When Mary Becomes Cosmic
At this time
each year, like Mary, we begin our journey
of grace by saying “yes” to a
divine calling – inviting us to take that first step, again.
We might be
surprised to realize that this Advent journey
of grace is actually the journey of
our lifetimes! As part of the
service, everyone will receive the symbol of pilgrimage to carry during the journey
this year.
The color
associated with Advent and with Mary is Blue
… won’t you wear something Blue,
bring along a Friend and join us?
A
portion of the offering collected that evening has been designated for Safe
Homes-Rape Crisis – in Spartanburg.
In
the Fellowship Hall
At
Central United Methodist Church
233
North Church Street
Spartanburg,
South Carolina
Sacred Traditions And Rituals
a call to connection
Honoring Truth Tellers
a service and candlelight vigil devoted to reflecting the truth
Sunday Evening, November 13th
6:00 pm
Join us for the third of our three-year rotating tradition of ‘Honoring’ services.
As our services on the second Sunday each November, Honor Mystics & Prophets and Honor Heretics, this is the year we Honor Truth Tellers.
What is truth? How do we define it?
Where do we find it?
What is our responsibility?
How do we get into the habit of truth-telling?
Who are those who reflect the Truth?
We welcome Fayssoux Mclean & Randy Foster who will highlight our exploration of these questions with special music and Sylvie Parris who will share her creatively poetic words.
Then … we will be invited to light a candle identifying a Truth Teller and signifying our commitment to doing the same & to being one, too.
Please bring along a Friend or two and join us for this special moment-in-time!
Central United Methodist Church
Fellowship Hall
233 North Church Street
Spartanburg, South Carolina 29306
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Sacred Traditions And Rituals
a call to connection
Please Don’t Forget
The Final Event in Our Wisdom Connection 2016 Weekend
Exploring The Drum Time and Dream Time
Tranquility With Tea
a service devoted to quieting minds, opening hearts, soothing souls
October 23rd
at Six o’clock in the Evening
Reflection on Renewal and Reacquainting with the Lost Traditions of Drumming
Created and Offered by Bruce Silverman
Our time together will offer an opportunity to join together in prayerful meditation and reflection centering on a symbol, idea, reflection or need.
Incorporated into the service are contemplative prayers & silence; music & chants as well as sharing a sweet and a sip of bitter green tea – a sign of harmony & balance … both necessary for quieting minds, opening hearts and soothing souls.
Bruce Silverman is a transpersonal counselor, musician, ritual maker and dream instructor in the San Francisco Bay area, where he has taught at numerous institutions of higher learning. His approach to healing bridges ancient traditions with modern psycho-spiritual group work and community celebration.
BRING ALONG A FRIEND OR TWO AND, IF YOU HAVE ONE – A SMALL DRUM OR SHAKER.
AFTER THE SERVICE STAY AWHILE TO SHARE REFRESHMENTS& FELLOWSHIP!
In the Fellowship Hall – 6:00 pm
At Central United Methodist Church
233 North Church Street
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Thursday, September 1, 2016
2016 Labyrinth Weekend Event
A
Time for Peace and Healing: Three
Days of Prayer, Meditation and Reflection
Friday Evening
– 9th
Walking
The Labyrinth By Candlelight
With Music Provided by
Kathy Q. & Friends
Harp,
Dulcimer, Violin and Classical Guitar
6:30 – 9:00 pm
Saturday
Afternoon – 10th
Walking
The Labyrinth By Daylight
Noon – 4:00 pm
Sunday Evening
– 9/11/16
15 Years: Taking Time And Creating Space For Peace And
Healing
a service devoted to
being peacemakers and healers
6:00 pm
Our
gathering will provide a Sacred Space to commemorate the
tragedy we encountered 15 years ago and the “peacelessness” that continues to
confront our lives and our world today.
Together,
as part of the service, we will experience an intentional sharing of our
peacemaking and healing energy creating a moment-in-time to locate that Center
of Peace within ourselves.
We
will Hear
the prayers from Labyrinth Pilgrims, left on the altars throughout the
weekend. Then, we will create Prayer
Ribbons of Peace as reminders that, indeed, peace and healing begins
with me!
We Look Forward To Seeing You at the Labyrinth and at
the Service
Central United Methodist Church
Fellowship
Hall
233
North Church Street
Spartanburg, South Carolina
29306
Thursday, August 11, 2016
The Kingdom of God Is Who WE Are!
Please Don’t Forget To
Join Us …
Sunday Evening August
14th at 6:00 pm
The Kingdom of God Is
Who WE Are!
a service devoted to dancing our prayers
(Cross-stitch art by Jim Bowlin)
For the last service of 2015-16 year, we welcome back our
friend, Theresa Horton,
who will
guide us in offering our prayers through both voice and movement.
As part of the evening, we will celebrate the
Life and Gifts of Our Very Special Friend,
Jim Bowlin.
Jim was a dedicated and faithful member of our
S.T.A.R. community for many years
and his presence in our sacred circle will be
greatly missed.
After the service, please stay awhile and share Refreshments and Fellowship …
meeting Theresa, sharing memories about Jim and together blessing what was in this past year – and what will be for the coming year!
We Look Forward To Seeing You Sunday Evening!
Central United Methodist Church
Fellowship
Hall
233
North Church Street
Spartanburg, South Carolina
29306
Saturday, July 2, 2016
Reflection on Creative Energy
A Special Summer
Invitation To…
Tranquility
With Tea
a service devoted to
quieting minds, opening hearts, soothing souls
July 10th
at Six o’clock
in the Evening
Reflection on Creative Energy
*QUESTION*
What do a musician, poet, arranger of
flowers, wood carver, jewelry designer and others share in common?
Creativity Energy is the energy that offers hope, provides color for an otherwise drab existence, fashions
something beautiful out of nearly nothing, places a song in our heart, moves us
through vibration, encourages us to smile and laugh.
It often happens when we
least expect it and in ways we could hardly imagine. But when it does, Creative Energy touches
our hearts, our souls, our minds and our imaginations – every inch of our being!
Our service will be an
invitation to reflect on and experience the sacred and divine of Creative
Energy … which energizes us to hum in unison and in harmony with
God’s humming.
*ANSWER*
BRING ALONG A FRIEND OR TWO AND SHARE WITH US …
A Smorgasbord of Creative Delights
In the Fellowship Hall – 6:00
pm
At Central United Methodist
Church
233 North Church Street
Spartanburg, South Carolina
A portion of the offering collected is
designated for – Hatcher Garden in
Spartanburg, honoring a place bursting with Creative Energy that is
shared with the entire community
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Meeting Our Neighbors, Again, for the First Time
A service devoted to the sights, sounds, tastes of our
neighbors
Who are our ‘newest’ southern neighbors? How will we find their country after so many
years of separation? What could we
possibly have to share with one another?
They are so close and yet, still so far.
Sometimes it is hard to imagine what Cuba and the Cubans
could be like now. It has been so many
years. And, despite the fast paced world
we find ourselves negotiating, it is not the same world our neighbors have
shared.
Isabel Forbes – an artist, Lindsay Moore – a creative
artist, Betsy Bragg – a retired teacher and Molly Wilkes – a retired United
Methodist minister will all share their encounters on recent pilgrimages to
Cuba.
Through words, photographs and paintings we will experience
Cubans and their Cuba.
In addition to these vignettes, our service will reflect the
music and dance of the culture as well as the tastes associated with our
neighbors – as we share a bit of a Fiesta … Refreshments and Fellowship immediately
following the service.
We look forward to seeing you Sunday evening!
Central United Methodist Church
Fellowship Hall
233 North Church Street
Spartanburg, South Carolina 29306
Thursday, May 12, 2016
. Reflection on Finding Our Shadow Side
a service devoted to quieting minds, opening hearts, soothing souls
May 22nd
at Six o’clock in the Evening
Reflection on Finding Our Shadow Side
Our Meditation and Prayerful Contemplation has been
created and will be offered by
David Heatherly and Andy Crosland
Our Shadow is
some aspect of ourselves that we have pushed down or denied about ourselves …
leaving us unconscious about the existence of it.
As long as our Shadow stays hidden within us, we will
find negative and positive traits in other people, races, cultures and
countries … but we will miss them as part of ourselves.
Through Art and an exercise
of Meditation, David and Andy will share with us an opportunity to uncover our Shadow … then resultantly and
paradoxically find the Light that is
hidden within us.
David is a therapist in Spartanburg, long time member of
S.T.A.R. and currently serves as Chairman of the S.T.A.R. Board. Andy
is retired from USC-Upstate, now teaches Spiritual Direction with the Haden
Institute in Hendersonville and serves as a member of the S.T.A.R. Board.
A portion of the offering
collected is designated for the National
Alliance On Mental Illness – a grassroots mental health education and
advocacy organization offering support for millions of Americans affected by
mental illness – honoring David and Andy for sharing their creative energy
with us.
BRING ALONG
A FRIEND OR TWO AND JOIN US!
In the Fellowship Hall – 6:00
pm
At Central United Methodist
Church
233 North Church Street
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Reflection on The Creation: Awe and Gratitude
You Are Invited to Join Us in Celebration of
EARTH DAY - 2016
April 24th
at Six o’clock in the Evening
Tranquility With Tea
a service devoted to quieting minds, opening hearts, soothing souls
Reflection on The Creation: Awe and Gratitude
Our Meditation and Prayerful Contemplation has been created and will be offered by
Gardener Extraordinaire Steve Willis
We will mark the occasion of Earth Day with a celebration of God’s wondrous creation.
As Matthew Fox has often mentioned in his writing and lectures on Creation Spirituality – “Awe, wonder, mystery and gratitude are at the root of religious experience.”
This experience will explore how a sense of spiritual gratitude stems from a sense of spiritual awe and how the very first prayer was likely not “Gimme” but “WOW!”
Steve is a member of the S.T.A.R. Board and has delighted us with several reflections on Creation. He is retired from teaching horticulture to special education students and now spends much of his time tending his large ornamental garden – which he has graciously shared with us … except in the winter, when he frequently chases snow to the mountains of North Carolina!
A portion of the offering collected is designated for S.P.A.C.E. – honoring Steve for sharing his creative energy with us.
PLEASE BRING ALONG A FRIEND OR TWO …
In the Fellowship Hall – 6:00 pm
At Central United Methodist Church
233 North Church Street
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
The Gospel And Blue Grass
The Gospel And Blue Grass
a service devoted to listening and
hearing
Blue Grass and Gospel Music
comes from the country and a place of spontaneity. It has the ability to create ‘trance like’ or
‘in-the-moment’ experiences.
We will welcome back
Byron McCane & Friends
For an evening of rhythm, singing, foot-stomping and
hand-clapping
Byron
teaches religion at Wofford College. He
does field archeology in Israel during the summer and his pastime &
meditation time include playing guitar … specifically Blue Grass music!
So, why not bring along a Friend or two and join us …
We look forward to seeing you!
Central United Methodist Church
Fellowship
Hall
233
North Church Street
Spartanburg, South Carolina
29306
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Reflection: Stations of the Resurrection.. Journey Into Joy
You Are Invited to Join Us on March 27th
at Six o’clock
for an Easter Evening Service
Tranquility With Tea
a service devoted to quieting minds,
opening hearts, soothing souls
Reflection
Stations of the Resurrection …
Journey Into Joy
The Service will offer an opportunity
to stop, breathe deeply and think about the meaning of Easter in our lives as
we gather to better understand Easter as not just one day, but a season.
And, the Easter season has great
significance for our lives, sending us on a journey …
A JOURNEY INTO JOY!
This Journey leads us to a
time of renewal and time to focus on recapturing the energy, grace, and
potential available to all of us as we move toward our own resurrection …
our own season of transformation …
filled with surprising moments of Joy!
Won’t you begin this Joyful
Journey with us?
Our reflection has been created and
will be offered by Kay Foster and The Rev’d
Franklin Dotts.
Kay is
retired from practicing dental hygiene, finding S.T.A.R. around that same time
and appreciating it as an authentic blessing. She enjoys traveling as way
to recognize and experience our common human spirit. Currently, Kay is
reading and exploring the ideas offered by Richard Rohr.
Franklin is a retired United Methodist minister who served for 23 years
at the United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville, TN, developing Sunday
school curriculum resources for the denomination. He has been a member of
the S.T.A.R. community since the first service and is currently serving on the
Board and Executive Committee.
A portion of the offering collection
is designated for the S.P.I.H.N. in Spartanburg
honoring Kay and Franklin for
sharing their creative energy with us.
Don’t Miss This Wonderful Experience
… We Look Forward to Seeing You!
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Meditation With A Potter
Don’t Forget to Bring Along a Friend or Two and Join Us …
Don’t Forget to Bring Along a Friend or Two and Join Us …
Sunday Evening, February 28 at 6:00 pm
Tranquility With Tea
a service devoted to quieting minds, opening hearts, soothing souls
As part of the service, our senses will share the excitement of an age old creative process with the earth … as we meditate with clay. We will have an opportunity to touch ancient 1500 CE Galilean potsherds from an archaeological dig at Huqoq – 5 miles from Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene, on the Sea of Galilee. And, put our fingers in the ridges made by human hands in that day, visualizing that scene and the pot that was made.
Our reflection has been created and will be offered by
Patsy Simmons and Nancy Williamson.
Patsy Simmons and Nancy Williamson.
Patsy has been a potter for 13 years and is addicted to the meditation of centering and creating from clay. Nancy has a degree in ceramics from the University of Georgia. She has been teaching pottery classes for 20 years and is the Immediate Past Chair for the Hub City Empty Bowls Soup Event.
A portion of the offering collection is designated for the Hub City Empty Bowls in Spartanburg
honoring Patsy and Nancy for sharing their creative energy with us.
Don’t Miss This Wonderful Experience and We Look Forward to Seeing You …
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