February 22:
Ash Wednesday Service
February 29, March 7, March 14, 21, 28, April 11, 18, 25:
Mind-Body-Spirit Skills Class- Dr. Simmons
A new class in MIND BODY SPIRIT Skills will begin on February 29th. It is an 8 week class that meets weekly for two hours. We will explore and learn various meditation skills from breathing to dancing and imagery, journaling, forgiveness, mindful eating. The goal of the classes is to increase self awareness, self expression and relaxation.
The benefits of programs such as this for cancer patients, patients with cardiovascular problems, chronic pain, and anxiety, depression and grief have been studied extensively at such places as Harvard University and are now well documented.
The class will be led by John W. Simmons, MD. John is an affiliate of WaterRock Institute (www.waterrockinstitute.org) in Asheville, and led a class at Central United Methodist Church last fall. He will be at Central on Wednesday evening February 8th to do a brief presentation, answer questions, and enroll those are interested. Some comments from previous participants are:
"I enrolled in Mind-Body-Spirit Skills Development with John Simmons hoping to find a coping mechanism for stress that would help me find an alternative to medication. I am more than pleased with the results I have had and hope to continue the progress in the future. Dr. Simmons created a loving, safe environment for healing and self exploration."
"Dr. Simmons was one of the best facilitators I have ever worked with. I was amazed at the positive support that I received as part of the group experience."
"John Simmons is an engaging and compassionate group leader. He is very knowledgeable about Mind-Body Medicine and communicates his knowledge to class participants in ways that are easy to comprehend. I highly recommend this class to anyone interested in improving their health through self care."
February 29, March 7, March 14, 21, 28:
Way of the Mystic
Central UMC, Five Wednesdays of Lent, 2012
The way of the mystic is a powerful and personal path to and with God and Christ. And while we tend to apply the word “mystic” to others and elevate them to some kind of higher realm, each of us has the innate and God-given potential to find our own mystical way even in this busy and technically challenging 21st century.
For the five Wednesdays in Lent we will explore the way of the mystic through the lives of three remarkable people: Thomas Merton (American, 20th century), Julian of Norwich (English, 14th century) and Teresa of Avila (Spanish, 16th century). And we will explore our own mystical qualities through prayer and experience of God as we open ourselves more fully to the life of Christ this Lenten season.
JANE MARY CURRAN is a United Methodist clergywoman and a spiritual director in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. She is certified in spiritual direction and dream leader training from the Haden Institute where she is currently on the faculty, both in North Carolina and in Niagara Falls, Ontario. She has training in Ignatius spirituality through the Ignatius Companions program offered by the Jesuits of the Maryland Province. Dr. Curran served as chaplain and later chaplain supervisor at Carepartners Hospice and Palliative Care in Asheville for sixteen years. In addition to hospice she served as a pastoral associate at Givens Estates in Asheville and has pastured local churches in the Asheville area.
Jane Mary Curran
305 Piney Mtn. Dr., P-4
Asheville, NC 28805
828-285-9092
janemary@buncombe.main.nc.us
April 4:
Holy Week- No Wonderful Wednesday
April 11, 18, 25:
The Power of Narrative: A Fresh Look at Some Old Parables
There is no denying the power of a story. When a group of energetic kids need to be settled, a parent, a teacher will often turn to the young and say: “I will now tell you a story.” And the room becomes quiet. As we get older, we often judge the success of an evening out on the town by the stories that we hear, and we often decide if we like someone based on the ability that person has to weave a tale. As adults, when we return to family reunions, there is often a favorite uncle, grandmother, or in-law whom we count on to tell us the story. Maybe we have a story that is so popular that we enjoy hearing it every single time we gather with those we love. Although we know the story, we want to hear it again. That story becomes part of who we are.
In the traveling days of Jesus, He was often asked questions by which he responded not with an answer, but with a story. His parables are stories that include a faith lesson, one which He lets us figure out. And though His parables are among the most well known parts of the Bible, we somehow manage to learn something new when we re-visit a familiar narrative. In Joy Williams’ 1988 novel, Breaking and Entering, she has one of her characters ask another: “Are we ever more than our stories?” As Christians, if we can live up to the lessons in the parables, we might not need be more…
- The Lost Parables of Luke 15: The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son
In each of these parables, something or someone is lost –and then found again. In each story the major cast is small—one to three people—but the supporting cast is large and sometimes we forget they are an important part of the story. Here we will pay new attention to those unnamed people who support the major plot lines.
- Breaking Bread Parables of Luke 14: Where to Sit at a Banquet and Who Comes to the Banquet
In these parables, Jesus reminds us about dinner invitation manners, but a larger issue is at the core, one having to do with hospitality, a concept that we probably still recognize as part of our Southern heritage. Here we will look at the importance of communal eating and what it means to visit in one another’s homes.
- The Brother’s Keeper Dilemma of Luke 10: The Good Samaritan
Even before we learned the baggage that went along with being a Samaritan, we knew that in the story, he was the one who showed mercy. In this parable, Jesus is responding to the question: Who is my neighbor? In 21st century American neighborhoods, what might this story mean for the way we live today?
Bring your Bibles to class so we can all be expanded by the various translations to old stories.
Margaret Whitt, University of Denver English Professor Emerita, also had a long history of adjunct teaching at Iliff School of Theology, one of the United Methodist seminaries, located in Denver, Colorado. This is her fourth offering for Wonderful Wednesdays at Central.