December 31 and January 1: Ring in the New Year! New Year’s Eve/Day Meditation, 8:00 p.m. to 1 a.m. New Year’s Eve, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. New Year’s Day; CC’s Woman’s Club. Linda Hodges is the coordinator. See the posting on the SMS web site Community Life page for more details. Note: ***There will be no meditation at Shove on Monday Dec 31st**
January 6, Winter Koan Series 3 to 5 p.m. at 7528 Jenkin Place; All are welcome; suggested donation, $10 per session. Contact: sembender@gmail.com
Monday, January 14: Orientation for Newcomers. 5:45 p.m. at Shove Chapel for anyone who would like a brief introduction to Zen practice with SMS: our forms, our community, the kind of practice we do. This is especially designed for newcomers, but if you’d just like a refresher, you are welcome to attend, too. Following the regular Monday meditation, we will have Community Night with Tea, Cookies and conversation.
Tuesday, January 15: Steering Committee meeting, 7 to 9 p.m. Contact: Linda Hodges for the location
Saturday, January 19: Work in the Room (WIRT) with Sarah Bender, Sensei, 6:40-8:00 a.m. at Shove Chapel. For an appointment, please contact Liz Cramer at elizabeth.cramer51@gmail.com. WITR is time spent with one of our teachers. Face-to-face, you encounter the dharma together. It is a good time to share questions about your meditation practice and how it moves in your life. WITR is supported by your donations. A bowl for dana (the spiritual practice of generosity) will be next to the bell you’ll ring before your WITR. We encourage people to give what they can.
January 20, Winter Koan Series 3 to 5 p.m. at 7528 Jenkin Place; All are welcome; suggested donation, $10 per session. Contact: sembender@gmail.com
Saturday, January 19: Sarah house workday 10-2 PM, lunch served, come for all or part. Work practice is a traditional way of offering dana (giving) to each other, the Sangha and the greater world. We help maintain Sarah’s house and grounds, which she generously has offered for meetings, classes and retreats. Please contact Clay Taylor at bluewildrye@gmail.com if you are able to attend or have any questions.
Monday January 21: Dharma Talk for the month will be given by Sarah Bender, Sensei
January 27, Winter Koan Series 3 to 5 p.m. at 7528 Jenkin Place; All are welcome; suggested donation, $10 per session. Contact: sembender@gmail.com