Adult Spiritual Exploration
Soul Matters
What would it mean to create a space where we come together to connect with each other, with our deepest selves, and with the world? Members, friends, and visitors of Starr King, you are invited to share, reflect, and serve the larger community.
What Happens at a Soul Matters Session
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Chalice lighting and a short reading or piece of music.
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Brief check-in. Members briefly share what is going on “beneath the surface” for them. Typically takes no more than 20 minutes.
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Facilitated discussion inspired by the monthly participant packet (readings, questions for reflection and suggested spiritual exercises which participants receive a few weeks before the meeting). We will consider the question “What does it mean to be a people of ________?” (see monthly themes below)
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Check-out. An opportunity to briefly share reactions to the meeting.
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Closing words or music.
Soul Matters 2022-2023 Themes
What paths must we lean into and relearn as we travel together into our complex, challenging and hoped for future? This is the overarching question our 2022-23 themes invite us to explore!
Each theme will lift up a particular spiritual path crucial to helping us birth a new normal worthy of our hopes.
In particular, we will explore the challenges and paths of:
September: Belonging
October: Courage
November: Change
December: Wonder
January: Finding Our Center
February: Love
March: Vulnerability
April: Resistance
May: Creativity
June: Delight
How Do I Sign Up?
Soul Matters Sharing Circle sign ups have begun! Join us for small group conversations and reflections on the monthly themes that we use to frame our worship services. As described in the Soul Matters Sharing Circles website:
"In these small groups we use the monthly packets for individual exploration and spiritual discernment. Soul Matters participants read all the questions ahead of time and find the practice or question that 'hooks them' - one that speaks to and challenges them personally. Participants then live with - or 'walk with' - that question for a couple weeks leading up to the group, coming to their meeting, not with an answer to each of the questions on the list, but with a story about how their one personally chosen question led them to deeper, personal insight."
Groups of up to ten people meet once-per-month for two hours. To sign up for a Soul Matters group please call the Fellowship at (603) 536-8908 or e-mail your preferred group times to admin@starrkingfellowship.org. Both members and friends are invited to join. It is a meaningful way to explore the depth of our own lives and share with others.
Meeting Dates/Times
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2nd Monday of the month from 6-8 p.m. via Zoom (Full)
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4th Wednesday of the month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom
Monthly packets are available via SharePoint.
The packets contain wonderful exercises and links to other media relating to this month's topic. You do not need to be a member of one of the above groups to download your copy, but we hope you'll considering joining us!
Meditation Group
Meditation Group
Our meditation group meets every Monday from 6-7 p.m. in the upstairs foyer. We are a small informal group that shares an abiding interest in meditation. Usually, we have between 5 and 10 participants. We are not affiliated with any sect or religion, however we often follow meditations in the Buddhist tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, Jack Kornfield, Pema Chodron and the like.
We generally get together at 6 p.m. for brief hellos and pertinent comments. Then a facilitator for the week will offer a short reading or discussion on a meditation topic, followed by a guided meditation, related to the topic. The meditation can be anywhere between 20 and 40 minutes. Afterward we have a short debriefing and discussion of the experience. We adjourn at 7 p.m. There is no designated leader of the group and there is no effort to persuade anyone to any point of view.
We welcome newcomers to our group. This group is free and requires no dues or contributions. No previous meditation experience necessary.