We will be offering an inter-faith dialogue with Rabbi Shalom Bochner from the Congregation Beth Shalom on the evening of Feb. 6th, 2018, during our regular sangha meeting time from 6:30-8:30pm.

Rabbi Shalom will open our time together with an “Amidah” practice leading us into a short silent meditation. He will give a short presentation on “what is Judaism” and then we will engage in a conversation exploring some “juicy” topics, with the intention for all of us to learn about and bring understanding across faith traditions. There will be an opportunity for open Q and A before we close the evening together.

In order for us to plan for the evening, please RSVP if you plan to attend. Depending on how many plan to attend, the meeting may be held in the sanctuary or the Kuti. Please RSVP no later than Jan. 31, 2018 using the form below so we may get a head count and to contact you if there is any change:

We will be offering an Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation course this spring that will consist of six 2-hour sessions from 12:30-2:30 pm beginning on February 4th, 2018, on these dates as follows: 2/4, 2/18, 3/4, 3/18, 4/1, and 4/15. Each interactive class will consist of short talks, meditation practices, exercises and class discussion.

The course will be held at IMCV located on the grounds of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County at 2172 Kiernan Ave., Modesto, CA. We can be found in the small, stand-alone building at the south end of the east parking lot of the church.

April Hejka-Ekins will be teaching the course. She has been practicing meditation for the past 17 years in the Zen and Vipassana traditions and is a certified Mindfulness Teacher by the Mindfulness Training Institute.

It is recommended that you attend all of the classes to get the most benefit from this course.

If you have questions, you can email April at ahejka-ekins@csustan.edu or use the form below.

If you are new to meditation, or if you would like to refresh your meditation practice, please register for this course using the form below:

Please let us know if you’ll be attending our special evening on New Year’s Eve by Dec. 21st. We need to have a head count by Dec. 21st so we can reserve a larger space, if needed. Otherwise, any RSVPs after that date may be subject to our available space.

We will begin the evening with a vegetarian potluck meal from 5pm to 6:30pm in the Johnson Building at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County (UUFSC) on 2172 Kiernan Ave., Modesto, CA. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share (and label the food if it contains dairy, gluten, or nuts as this will help people who may have food allergies). We would like some volunteers to help with set-up, clean-up after the meal, and closing. If you’d like to volunteer to help, please use the pull-down menu to indicate you’d like to help in the RSVP form below. We will provide paper products, eating utensils, cups, and tea. If your dish needs a serving utensil, please bring one.

At 6:30pm we will convene in the Sarana Kuti for a program of meditation, perhaps some chanting or singing, reflection, and setting intentions. We will end the evening at 8:30pm so that you can have time to spend with family or participate in other activities.

In order for us to plan accordingly, we ask that you RSVP using the form below. This helps us know how to set-up the space and other materials needed for the evening. We also need to know if you will be bringing any children. We cannot watch your children, but if children are attending, we will try to provide a program that is family-friendly. We offer this freely to anyone who wishes to come.

Please submit the form below to let us know you will attend and if others are coming with you (be sure to check the appropriate boxes):

We will be offering an inter-faith dialogue with Pastor Michael Schiefelbein from the College Avenue Congregational Church (United Church for Christ) on the evening of Dec. 5, 2017, during our regular sangha meeting time from 6:30-8:30pm.

Pastor Michael will open our time together with a listening practice that he uses to start his congregation’s Sunday services. Lori and Pastor Michael will then engage in a conversation exploring topics about how we, as leaders of our faiths, are meeting specific challenges, and along the way we’ll share a little about our respective spiritual backgrounds, with the intention for all of us to learn about and bring understanding across faith traditions. There will be an opportunity for Q and A at the end of the evening together.

In order for us to plan for the evening, please RSVP if you plan to attend. Depending on how many plan to attend, the meeting may be held in the sanctuary rather than the Kuti. Please RSVP no later than Nov. 28, 2017 using the form below so we may get a head count and to contact you about the location (if it changes):

Introducción a la meditación y atención plena en Español
5 semanas comenzando el 14 de julio hasta el 11 de agosto 2016
de las 7:30 p.m. a las 9:00 p.m.
Lugar: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County
2172 Kiernan Ave., Modesto CA

Se ofrecerán instrucciones sobre varios aspectos de la meditación y la atención plena. Por favor, use ropa suelta que le permite sentarse cómodamente.

El curso incluye instrucciones básicas en la meditación de atención plena  enseñada de forma secuencial, comenzando con atención a la respiración, seguido de la atención plena del cuerpo, las emociones y los pensamientos y finalmente  la aplicación de la atención plena en la vida diaria.

Este curso se ofrece gratuitamente a todos. Donaciones serán aceptadas con gratitud para apoyar a los maestros y eventos en el futuro.

Favor utilice este enlace para inscribirse ya que las maestras necesitan saber cuántas personas participarán.

Las maestras

Andrea Castillo PhD, originaria de la ciudad de México, ha practicado la meditación introspectiva con su maestro Gil Fronsdal desde 1998 y ha asistido a numerosos retiros residenciales. Andrea es actualmente miembro de la mesa directiva del Insight Meditation Center en Redwood City y del Buddhist Insight Network. En 2009, Andrea empezó a enseñar meditación introspectiva en español en la clínica Ravenswood de East Palo Alto y desde el 2011 en el Insight Meditation Center, donde ofrece enseñanzas de meditación y atención plena en español cada semana. Andrea también se entrenó en la reducción del estrés a través de la Atención Plena (MBSR) y enseña en el Área de la Bahía.

Bruni Dávila ha practicado Vipassana y Zen (en varias tradiciones) desde 1995 y en el IMC desde el año 2006, con Gil Fronsdal como su profesor de primaria. Es graduada de la Sati Centro Budista Capellanía Capacitación y está actualmente en el Programa de Mentores Dharma IMC. En su medio de vida, se las arregla proyectos ambientales.

Carrie Tamburo es el fundador y director del Pacifica Traducción y Tutoría Associates. Ella tiene un Ph.D. de la Universidad de California en Los Ángeles, en Lenguas y Literaturas Hispánicas. Ella es una maestra de la atención plena y enseña también la atención plena en las escuelas.