The Gathering sponsors singalong concert for hope and solidarity

People of ALL ages are invited to a singalong concert at Bethany Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Oct. 28. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the concert begins at 7:30. This event, sponsored by The Gathering, will be led by Annie Patterson & Peter Blood of Rise Up and Sing, a series of songbooks reflecting a commitment to peace and justice.

Join Annie and Peter for another terrific singalong concert this evening in Sacramento. This is a great opportunity to experience hope and solidarity and community together in these challenging times! We had a sellout crowd three years ago at our Rise Again release concert in Sacramento.

You can buy tickets here or at the night of the concert for a suggested donation of $15-20 for adults, $5 for those under 18. All are welcome regardless of singing experience or skill! No one turned away for lack of funds.

Coming Oct. 14: “MORE Stuff of Story”

Join The Gathering for the 2nd annual showing of original art and favorite things

Do you draw? Paint? Quilt? Sculpt? Take pictures? Do you have a collection of things that others might like to see? Be thinking of what you can put on display at the art show presented by The Gathering on Sunday, October 14, 12-5 p.m. in the Bethany Social Hall.

We’ll be looking for needlework, paintings, sketches, photos, sculpture, collage/mixed media, poetry and more!

Entering is easy. Just fill out this form (or download it here) by Oct. 1 so that we can plan accordingly. Items for the show must be delivered Saturday, Oct. 13 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., to the hall at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5625 24^th Street, Sacramento (about a mile south of City College).

There’s no cost to enter the show, and there’s no judging. This is a free show, and all are welcome. Refreshments will be served. Those submitting art/collections will be given invitation postcards to send to friends and family.

Questions? Want to help? Contact Cathy Sapunor. See pictures from last year’s show here.

“Dreams: A Path to Soul-Making” explores the meaning behind your dreams

“WHEN WE ARE ASLEEP IN THIS WORLD, WE ARE AWAKE IN ANOTHER.” – SALVADOR DALI

Ever wake up from the craziest dream and wonder what it all means, and even more, how God might be speaking to you through your dreams? Join the crowd!

Join us on Thursday, July 19 at Bethany Presbyterian Church and welcome Dr. James Goss, Professor Emeritus, as he presents Dreams: A Path to Soul-Making. He will speak about dreams and their implications. Dr. Goss taught in the Religious Studies Department ad California State University, Northridge for over thirty years. He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, was a member of the Jesus Seminar, and advocates Process Theology. His areas of interest are New Testament, theology, religious themes in American literature, and dreams. He has been working with dreams for over forty years, and believes dreams are one of the ways communicates to help people heal and grow. He is a member of the Davis Community Church, where he teachers Bible and theology classes, and will be leading a dream work group in August.

A free spaghetti dinner will be served at 6 p.m. The program will begin at 7 p.m. with an introduction from Rev. Judy Davis, Director of the Gathering, followed by music led by Peter Baird, and Dr. Goss’ presentation. To conclude, Dr. Goss will lead a Q & A session, so get your questions ready!

As always, this event is FREE and all are welcome!

Hear stories of four faiths at Apr. 25 storytelling event

On Wednesday, Apr. 25, The Gathering will present “Let Me Tell You a Story: Four Faiths.”

Join us for this powerful & harmonious evening! We will hear from people of four different faiths: Islam, Sikhism, Judaism, and Christianity. What makes us different? What makes us similar? How can people put aside religious differences to find common ground as human beings?

Meat our speakers:

Imdadulla Imdad: Muslim, from Afghanistan. The Imdad family recently arrived in Sacramento as a refugee family, with the aid of World Relief Sacramento & Bethany Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Gurtej Singh Cheema: Sikh, a medical doctor
Michael Hirscher: In the Reformed Jewish congregation B’nai Israel in Sacramento
Joy & Peter Baird: Christian, members of Bethany Presbyterian Church

This event takes place in the Social Hall at Bethany Presbyterian Church. A FREE dinner will be served at 6 p.m. (meat & vegetarian options available), followed by storytelling at 7 p.m.

As with all events for The Gathering, this event is FREE and open to all!

Workshop coming March 24: The Healing Arts of Storytelling & Listening

REV. JUDY DAVIS TO HELP LEAD WORKSHOP IN MARCH

Please join us for a new workshop: “The Healing Arts of Storytelling & Listening.” By sharing our stories and listening to one another, we discover our shared humanity. Through this telling and listening, we can discover effective ways of creating connection, community, and caring for each other. We will each select a story from our experience, learn how writing helps in forming our telling, and practice supportive listening.

Facilitators:

Mary McGrath – Oracle Award Nominee, National Storytelling Network
Rev. Judy Davis – Director of The Gathering
Rev. Karene Piccolo – Conscious Community

The details:

Saturday, March 24 / 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Bethany Presbyterian Church (Social Hall) – 5625 24th St., Sacramento 95822
Suggested donation: $10 – $20 (includes materials), scholarships available
Bring a sacked lunch (drinks & dessert provided)
Wear comfortable clothes appropriate for moving exercises
Pre-register: e-mail storytellermcgrath@yahoo.com

Jan. 27: Free screening of “The Uncondemned”

Former Gathering speaker Dr. Lisa R. Pruitt to be featured in documentary

“The Uncondemned” tells the story of a group of international lawyers – including former Gathering speaker Dr. Lisa R. Pruitt – and activists who fought to make rape a war crime, and the Rwandan women who came forward to testify. Learn more about the documentary here.

There will be a FREE screening of the documentary THIS SATURDAY (JAN. 27) at 2 p.m., at Pacific-McGeorge Law School, Room E (3285 5th Ave., Sacramento) – click here for a campus map.

Q & A with Dr. Pruitt to follow!

Travels Near & Far: Come hear personal stories of hope and wonder

Our next storytelling evening will be Wednesday, Jan. 17

All are invited to attend our quarterly storytelling evening on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at Bethany Presbyterian Church when we will hear “Personal stories of hope and wonder.” A free Mexican-style meal, catered by one of the night’s speakers, will be served at 6 p.m. and at 7 p.m. we will hear from our storytellers. Music will be led by Peter Baird.

Learn more about our speakers:

Rosa Martinez came to the United States from Mexico and started a food business. Rosa will be making our meal, which is sure to be delicious!
Be Patterson is a hospice chaplain and serves on the Advisory Board for The Gathering.
Bob Miller is a local artist who worked as the artistic director for KCRA Channel 3 for many years
Nga Chau is a member of Bethany Presbyterian Church. She came to the United States from Vietnam and will tell her story of being rescued off a fishing boat.

All of our events are FREE and everyone is welcome.

We look forward to spending this uplifting evening with you all!

A Christmas Message from Rev. Judy Davis

Friends of The Gathering,

During this season of Advent, I am feeling grateful for the blessings all of you have brought to the ministry of The Gathering. Throughout this past year we have continued to hear amazing stories from ordinary, remarkable people. We have been blessed with the stories of Middle Eastern refugees and Japanese Americans who experienced Internment during WWII. We have worshiped in Evensong services, written in workshops together, shared the creativity of artists, shared our thoughts in book studies, and had table fellowship while sharing delicious meals.

In 1995 I was in a class of Worship and Music at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Our last assignment was to find a familiar hymn tune and write new words. On the last day of class that December, we went into the chapel and together as a class sung every new hymn written by the members of that class. It was a glorious time of sharing. I wrote a Christmas hymn, written as a lullaby to Jesus, and I set it to a familiar tune for the hymn “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” (The tune Hyfrydol). I invite all of you if you would like, to write a new hymn to a familiar tune also. Then in the coming year, perhaps we can have our own songfest and share some of the creativity and inspiration rising up in our own community.

This Christmas of 2017 I send you my Christmas hymn from long ago that blessed my life that Christmas of 1995. Click here to read it.

Christmas blessings to all of you…we are so grateful to have you as a part of The Gathering.

– Rev. Judy Davis, Director

“Write Christmas” Returns Dec. 13

OUR FREE “WRITE CHRISTMAS” HOLIDAY WRITING WORKSHOP RETURNS DEC. 13 FOR FIFTH YEAR

Write down all those holiday memories for sharing with family members–or simply for your own enjoyment–and join us on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at Bethany Presbyterian Church (5625 24th St., Sacramento, 95822).

Rev. Judy Davis again leads this popular free workshop, which helps participants capture seasonal thoughts and ideas on paper, notebook, laptop … whatever you wish to use.

Refreshments are served at 6:30 p.m., followed by our workshop at 7 p.m.

There is no cost to attend, and ALL are welcome. Donations of canned goods for the South Sacramento Interfaith Partnership Food Closet are gratefully accepted at the door.

Questions? E-mail sacgathering@gmail.com.

“Writing Your Life Story” takes November off, “Weekly Writing Wednesday” prompts to begin

Our monthly writing workshop will not meet in November.

Due to a scheduling conflict and Thanksgiving, “Writing Your Life Story” will not meet in November. We will reconvene in December.

Starting Nov. 8, we will begin “Weekly Writing Wednesday.” Every Wednesday, check our website or Facebook page for an idea to get you started writing. You can respond by commenting each week, or keep your writing private in your own journal at home. No matter how you express your thoughts, just remember that we all have a story to tell.