Holy Yoga 

Tricia Chester, Certified Holy Yoga Instructor

Holy Yoga is the intentional practice of connecting our entire being— body, mind, and spirit— with God: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

If you are interested in trying a gentle, scripture-based yoga practice, please email Tricia@umcstmarks.org.

Open Minds One-Session Book Discussion

Leaders: Celeste Pardee and Ann Reaban

• Sept. 24: Isaac’s Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History, by Erik Larson (1999). On Sept. 8, 1900, the port city of Galveston, Texas was submerged by a category 5 hurricane that destroyed most of the residential area and killed more than 6,000 people. Based on telegrams and reports from meteorologist Isaac Cline, as well as the testimony of survivors, Larson presents a suspenseful account of what can happen when human arrogance meets an uncontrollable force of nature.

• Oct. 22: Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward (2011). In contrast to the middle- class family of the meteorologist featured in Isaac’s Storm, Ward’s novel introduces us to a poor family eking out a living on the coast of rural Mississippi in August 2005. Over the span of 12 days, we are immersed in the world of 15-year-old Esch, a world in which birth and death aren’t far apart and the only safety net is that which the siblings create for each other. The novel’s power comes from the depiction of two violent events: a vicious dog fight and the monstrous Hurricane Katrina.

• Nov. 19: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson (2020). Wilkerson describes an invisible phenomenon in America as she explores, through researched narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings. Beyond race, class or other factors, caste influences our behavior as well as our nation’s direction. Wilkerson’s book is an eye-opening examination of what lies beneath the surface of American life today.

• Dec. 17: Becoming, by Michelle Obama (2018). This intimate and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady begins with her childhood on the south side of Chicago, where she was influenced by members of her extended family. Other experiences that shaped her include her years as a student at Princeton, her position as an executive balancing the demands of work, marriage and motherhood, and finally her role as the wife of a president. With honesty and wit, she describes her triumphs and disappointments, both public and private, and challenges us with these questions: Who are we, and who will we become?

Books may be borrowed from the county library or purchased through Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Monday Bible Study 

Led by Roger Pierce

Start the week the right way! Scripture selections are read during the week and then discussed in a group.

Wednesday Bible Study 

Led by Marcia Rostad

Courage: Jesus and the Call to Brave Faith by Tom Berlin. Jesus was a model of brave faith throughout his ministry on earth. This study will challenge us to unlock the courage we already possess as Christ followers.

Passages in Caregiving: Turning Chaos into Confidence

Presented by the Counselor in Residence program and facilitated by Mary Lu Kiracofe

This is for those of you currently facing the challenges of caregiving for a loved one.

As a caregiver, you understand how difficult it is to make time for your own needs, and yet it is essential to your own stamina, mental health and quality of caregiving. Using the book by Gail Sheehy, Passages in Caregiving: Turning Chaos Into Confidence and the support and insight of the class participants, we will explore issues ranging from receiving and understanding the diagnosis, the art of advocacy, ways of mobilizing family, friend and community resources, and last but not least, valued self-care strategies.

Please contact Mary Lu Kiracofe (see church directory) to register or if you have questions. Class size is limited, so be sure to register early.

No charge for the class. Book is available at the church library or the county library.