Wednesday Evening Service

In 1979, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn developed an 8-week course on "mindfulness-based stress reduction," his way of repackaging meditation to allow for its use in caring for patients. Since then, more than 20,000 people have taken the class and talked about its value. This week, Dr. Edward explores journalist Jo Marchant's findings when she took a look at what science knows about meditation.  Based on Chapter 9, "Enjoy the Moment," in Cure: A Journey to the Science of Mind over Body, this week's free Wednesday night class begins at 7 pm. All are welcome, there is no need to register.

Photo collage courtesy of team member Nancy Reynolds They were and are an awesome team. They trained for countless (or perhaps Strava knows...) uphill and downhill bike miles and completed the 545-mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The team is deeply appreciative of our center's generosity which contributed to the more than $16 million raised by this year's ride. Those dollars support AIDS research and assist those living with HIV-AIDS. Wednesday evening, Dr. Edward and his teammates will share their stories in photos and videos. It will be a joyous celebration of the power of love and grit. All are welcome to the program which begins in the sanctuary at 7 pm, in place of our regular Wednesday Night Wisdom class.

Feeling alone and unsupported can make any task more difficult. In Chapter 7, "Talk to Me," author Jo Marchant shares examples of how a caring presence supports people through experiences as different as childbirth and the end of life. This Wednesday evening, Practitioner Siota Belle leads a free one-hour class on why caring matters. The class is open to everyone and begins at 7 pm in the sanctuary.

 P eople who are distracted or engaged in a pleasant activity may forget about problems and challenges; sometimes their awareness of pain or discomfort also decreases or goes away. Pain management specialists are exploring this phenomenon as a way to manage severe pain -- virtual reality may provide a remarkable complement or alternative to traditional pain medications. At this Wednesday's free class, Practitioner Siota Belle looks at Chapter 6, "Rethinking Pain," in Jo Marchant's book Cure. What we give our attention to makes a difference. Wednesday Night Wisdom is a free, one-hour class open to everyone. The class begins at 7 pm in the sanctuary.