Events and Studies

Our speaker, David LaMotte, is a resident of Black Mountain, NC which was decimated by Hurricane Helene. David and his family are safe but this online event is now postponed while David and his community begin to assess the damage and assist neighbors. If you’d like to contribute to the relief efforts happening in this area, we suggest donating to Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, BeLoved Asheville, Bounty and Soul, World Central Kitchen, or the American Red Cross who are all on the ground there. The first three are local organizations providing immediate basic needs now and who will be serving the area for years to come. If you’ve purchased a ticket already, we’ll be in touch about refunds. Join in us holding Western North Carolina in prayer as the long road toward recovery begins.

Join singer, songwriter, speaker, author and leader on peace David LaMotte, for Inner Peace/Outer Peace, a virtual conversation offered by the NC Institute for Spiritual Direction and Formation. In this chaotic season, it is easy to go about our days with a warring heart. But, in order to build up the beloved community, we are challenged to approach the world with a heart of peace. This one hour session will leave you with not only a sense of inner peace, but a deep desire to work for peace in the world, creating harmony among the variety of notes we all play in our shared song. 

David LaMotte has performed over 3500 concerts and released 13 albums. His dense speaking and workshop calendar has included presenting at the PC(USA) Mission to the United Nations, keynoting peace conferences in India, Australia, Germany and at the Scottish Parliament, as well as offering the baccalaureate for 2016 graduates of Columbia Seminary. LaMotte suspended his music career for two years, beginning in 2008, to pursue his other primary vocation by accepting a Rotary World Peace Fellowship to study International Relations, Peace and Conflict Resolution at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. As part of that study, he also spent time in rural Andhra Pradesh, India working with a Gandhian development organization. David’s second TEDx talk (2024), Why Heroes Don’t Change the World, was chosen as a TED Editor’s Pick. Learn more about David at https://www.davidlamotte.com
Tuesday, October 15th, 2024, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. via zoom
Cost: $40/person
REGISTER HERE (click the drop down menu at the top of the registration page and look for Inner Peace/Outer Peace)

Political commercials, robo calls, and challenging conversations are increasing as we move towards election day. Imagine what it would be like to carve out some time for yourself to “center down” with others and keep calm in this intense season. Each 90-minute session will include a bible passage for reflection, a therapeutic education topic, and a simple art activity so you will have a tangible reminder of this time of calm and connection. Led by pastor, therapist, and coach Helen Svoboda-Barber of Heal, Grow, Go Mental Health and Wellness. Sign up today for one of these creative sessions or bundle all four to help care for your spirit in this season.
October 1: Strong Rocks: Psalm 31:1-4.  We will learn about the value of “finding the helpers” and supporting one another.  Participants will paint stones to keep or share with others.
October 8: Consider the Lilies: Luke 12:22-32.  Education will be around the value of connecting with nature and beauty.  Participants will use live flowers to make something beautiful.
October 22: The Power of Not Being Alone: The stories of Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:16-18) and Mary and Elizabeth (Luke 1:29-45, 56) center on the power of not being alone.  We’ll focus on connections with friends and loved ones as we make friendship bracelets to share.
October 29: The Value of Gratitude: Philippians 4:4-7. Helen will share information about the difference a gratitude practice can make, and we will make gratitude and/or prayer journals.

7:00-8:30pm at Trinity United Methodist Church, Durham NC
$55/session or bundle all four for $200.
REGISTER HERE (click the drop down menu at the top of the registration page and look for Keep Calm Sessions)

Lectio Poetica is a spiritual practice that invites the words of a poem to be our teacher, opening us to know ourselves and God more fully.   In this new Advent series, participants will be guided in a process of regarding the words of a poem as sacred reading, allowing the words and, perhaps, the images described to touch our soul. Meg McBride will be our guide, selecting poetry with some theme of the advent season, and walking us through this beautiful process of allowing a poem to unfold within us.   No experience necessary – just an openness to wonder.
Dates: Tuesdays: November 26, December 3, 10, and 17.
Cost: $70 per person for all four sessions.
REGISTER HERE (click the drop down menu at the top of the registration page and look for Lectio Poetica)