Hello virtual world!

We're checking in with big hugs and prayers for you and yours! We continue to meet every Sunday morning at 10AM in the sanctuary, for inspiring music, deep connection, and a hope-filled message. You and yours are invited! We are also pleased to offer the celebration LIVE on YouTube. Stay tuned for exciting updates!

 

Upcoming Events

Stardust Wednesday Gathering

To be made of star stuff is no small thing. Just knowing that can help us see these times with new eyes. It is time to lift our understandably harmed hearts and make room for joy.

This gathering is an invitation to come together in community, to honor the wisdom of those who came before us, and to find light in the midst of uncertainty.

When: Wednesday, February 26 | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: NCC Sanctuary

Details:

• Special Music by Stacy Pendleton
• Indigenous Prayer and Loving Wisdom
• Words of Joy and Hope

Donations are welcome.

Meditation Course – Sign Up Now!

Meditation has gone mainstream in America, with scientific studies confirming what wisdom traditions have taught for centuries: we can train our minds to move beyond habitual thought patterns and reactivity. This training cultivates greater ease, resilience, and well-being.

When: March 5, 2025 – April 23, 2025 | Wednesdays, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Details:

Includes a daylong retreat on Saturday, April 5, from 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a research-backed training program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts. Its effectiveness has been confirmed by major universities and medical centers worldwide.

Topics Covered:

• Mindfulness: The practice of being present, without judgment
• Meditation: A training practice to cultivate awareness
• Benefits: Stress reduction, emotional balance, improved health, greater clarity, and more fulfilling relationships

Instructor: Beth Summerl, RN – Certified MBSR Instructor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society

Cost:

• $600 for full registration
• $480 early-bird rate for those who register before February 19

Pre-registration is required, and class size is limited.

For more information and to sign up, contact bethsummerL@gmail.com

Mindful Mondays – Weekly Meditation Gathering

An invitation to step away from the noise of daily life and nurture yourself with mindfulness and compassion.

When: Every Monday | 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM
Where: NCC Sanctuary

Details:

Gather with us in meditation to intentionally cultivate awareness, acceptance, and even appreciation for ourselves and others.

This 75-minute gathering is open to all. Designed for both beginners and experienced meditators, it offers guidance in mindfulness and compassion. Each session includes short teachings, sitting and/or walking meditation, compassionate movement, and time for Q&A.

Please bring:

• Comfortable layered clothing
• Socks
• A non-plastic water bottle

Suggested donation: $20 (or what you can afford) to support Neighborhood Congregational Church in providing these sessions.