Sunday, September 20, 7pm – Autumnal Equinox

The celebration of the autumnal equinox, with its roots in many pagan traditions, is a ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Creator during the coming winter months. It is also a time to reflect on balance as day and night match in length.

Sunday, October 4, 7pm – St Francis Day – Celebrating the Divine in Nature

As a mystic who saw God reflected in nature, Francis of Assisi (whose feast day this is) was a great lover of God’s creation. In the Canticle of the Sun, he gives God thanks for Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Wind, Water, Fire and Earth, all of which he sees as rendering praise to God.

Sunday, October 18, 7pm – Emptiness and Openness

The Sanskrit word Sunyata is usually translated as “Emptiness”. This is perhaps the most misunderstood word in Buddhism. Many people hear “Emptiness” and think it means nothingness, a void, or a black hole. It actually means the exact opposite. In Buddhism, to say something is “empty” means it is full of everything else. When you truly understand Sunyata, you realize that there is no real boundary between “you” and “me.” If I hurt you, I am eventually hurting myself because we are parts of the same whole. If I help you, I am healing myself.
[from  walkforpeaceusa Facebook page]