We seek to be instruments of God's peace,

bearing witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ for all people.

St. Francis Episcopal Church ~ Holden, Massachusetts

Senior Ministry Event - September 2015

The Senior Ministry Planning Group is please to announce a series of activities for Seniors, as identified following the luncheon held in May. Some of the activities may also be of interest to families with older members.

Each presentation will include refreshments and an opportunity to meet and greet fellow parishioners. Questions? Please contact members of the Senior Ministry Planning Group: Betty Ann Degon, Deborah and Ted Harris, Judith Morrissette, Marge Tremblay, Jane Williams, Sue Williams.

September 17: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall

The Great Courses

Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation

An Audio Lecture by Mark W. Muesse, Ph.D.

Facilitated by Deborah Johansen Harris and The Rev. Dr. Ted Harris

What is meditation? For thousands of years, human beings have practiced refined techniques of mental focusing, designed to change the habitual conditioning of the mind. Central to many spiritual and philosophical traditions and known in English as "meditation," these practices are considered a major means for enhanced awareness and self-mastery.

In recent decades, modern science has dramatically confirmed what advanced meditators have long claimed-that meditation, correctly practiced, offers deep and lasting benefits for mental functioning and emotional health, as well as for physical health and well-being.

The many practical benefits of meditation include

marked and lasting reduction of stress;
increased ability to focus and concentrate, as well as clarity of thinking;
freedom from detrimental patterns of thought and emotion;
increased learning capacity and memory; and
greatly enhanced well-being and peacefulness.

If practiced consistently, the results are real and very far-reaching. In the largest sense, meditation allows you to live in harmony with the realities of the world-to embrace life's ever-changing impermanence, to live in equanimity with the inevitable ups and downs of being human, and to feel deeply connected to the whole of life.

Now, in Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation, award-winning Professor Mark W. Muesse of Rhodes College takes you on a dynamic exploration of your own mind, giving you a clear and useable understanding of the essence of meditation and how to practice it.

In 24 detailed lectures, using numerous guided exercises, Professor Muesse teaches you the principles and techniques of sitting meditation, the related practice of walking meditation, and the highly beneficial use of meditative awareness in many important activities, including eating and driving. As a major strength of the course, you learn in depth how to use the skills of meditation in working with thoughts and emotional states, in deepening sensory awareness of the body, and in becoming deeply attentive to the operation of your mind. Emphasizing clarity and practical understanding, this course will leave you with a solid basis for your own meditation practice and for bringing meditation's remarkable and empowering benefits to every area of your life.

Session One (one-half hour)

Mindlessness-The Default Setting

Do you control your mind or does your mind control you? Investigate how the mind operates and the condition of "mindlessness"-the pervasive swirl of thoughts and judgments that separate you from the world around you. Consider the possibility of cultivating the mind in ways conducive to deep well-being for yourself and others.

Session Two (one-half hour)

Mindfulness-The Power of Awareness

Consider the notion of mindfulness-non-judgmental attention to experience-as it occurs in everyday life and as a deliberate practice. Note the many benefits of mindfulness practice, from the freedom of how you choose to respond to life, to releasing detrimental emotions and patterns of thinking, to its effect on your physical health.

Mark W. Muesse, Ph.D. - Rhodes College

Dr. Mark W. Muesse is W. J. Millard Professor of Religious Studies, Director of the Asian Studies Program, and Director of the Life: Then and Now Program at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. He earned a B.A., summa cum laude, in English Literature from Baylor University and a Master of Theological Studies, a Master of Arts, and a Ph.D. in the Study of Religion from Harvard University. Before taking his position at Rhodes, Professor Muesse held positions at Harvard College, Harvard Divinity School, and the University of Southern Maine, where he served as Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He is a recipient of the 2008 Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Teaching, Rhodes College's highest faculty honor. Known for his experiential teaching style, Professor Muesse was honored for his effective use of imaginative and creative pedagogy as well as his ability to motivate his students toward lifelong study. Professor Muesse has written many articles, papers, and reviews in world religions, spirituality, theology, and gender studies and has coedited a collection of essays titled Redeeming Men: Religion and Masculinities. He is currently compiling an anthology of prayers from around the world. Professor Muesse is a member of the American Academy of Religion and the Society for Indian Philosophy and Religion and has been Visiting Professor at the Tamilnadu Theological Seminary in Madurai, India. He has traveled extensively throughout Asia and has studied at Wat Mahadhatu, Bangkok, Thailand; the Himalayan Yogic Institute, Kathmandu, Nepal; the Subodhi Institute of Integral Education, Sri Lanka; and Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.

Reviews

Reviews......

"Best Investment of Time Ever! Mindfulness Meditation has greatly enhanced every aspect of my life. It is simple to learn with this course. I tried for a long time to learn meditation on my own. This course was definitely the way to go for my wife and I. It is something I come back to time and time again.

At first, I purchased this course on DVD, before it was available as a download. There were so many places that I wanted to use it (on vacation, traveling, cooling down at the gym) that I finally decided to also buy it as a download. I now purchase all my courses as downloads, because it is so easy to carry them on my iPad, iPhone or iPod; where they are readily available anywhere I go. But, that is me, and you may prefer another option. I believe that everyone -- children, teenagers, adults, seniors (like myself) -- can benefit from Mindfulness Meditation. There is good value here. I wish everyone could try it. "

"This is the first Great Course I purchased with the intent of learning a skill rather than just gaining insight. I was very pleased with Professor Muesse's presentation. As expected, he provides good guidance on how to prepare for and conduct a breathing meditation. But I really liked the fact that he first described the difference between mindfulness and meditation, and then went to some length to describe what mindfulness and meditation were NOT. This helped me establish appropriate expectations. Muesse prepared me for how hard it is to learn the practice of meditation, but he is also very encouraging. He effectively uses his "meditation voice" rather than his "lecture voice" in the appropriate sections of a lecture. I found the other meditations about eating, driving, compassion, perfectionism, anger, pain and death particularly enlightening and useful. While I am not yet "one with the universe" I do set aside some time each day to practice and I believe I am better off for it. I highly recommend the course. "

Coming in October:

October 1, 8, 15: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall: "Living and Dying as Responsible Christians: Planning for LIfe's Transitions". Presented by Attorney Kathleen O'Connor

St. Francis Episcopal Church 508-829-3344

70 Highland Street stfran@verizon.net

Holden, MA 01520 www.stfrancisholden.org

Services of Holy Eucharist

Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. | Sundays at 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. | Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.