Ideas / Creative Meditation

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This is an idea I had back in 2007. I had a few ladies yet it didn't really take off. Maybe some day it will take off for me or for someone else. Maybe this could become a plan for a meet-up group.

Time: Thursdays 8:30 – 10:30 am
Dates: May 18 - July 27, 2007
Age: 0 -99
Cost: FREE

Creative Mediations is for everyone interested in deepening their spiritual walk through partner meditations, walking in the woods, playing with children, painting, dance movement and community building activities. This is the 1st time that Creative Movements has been offered so please join us for this 10 week introductory class. Julia Yates Semmes Branch Library at Comanche Lookout Park 15060 Judson Road 78247. For questions please call Christy at 637-1245.



Opening @ Theater 10 minutes
a) Dance circle game[1]
b) Go over plan for day
c) Mission Statement – The purpose of this group is to bring you together with people of all ages, ethnicities, and walks of life to bring about the joy found in community. You will laugh, dance, draw, pray and play together as an extended family. You are given permission to care for those in the group as a shared experience, so you can reach out and hold someone else’s baby, and assist an elderly person in their dance but most of all open your heart to love and be loved.

d) Child Safety – As many of us here or mom’s, of little ones, it is important that you feel that your children are safe. There are two ways that you can keep your children safe.
i) Hold them or follow them around, or
ii) Let the group act as their safety net. I hope that at some point all of you will comfortable with this option. This means that wherever we are all of us are to purposely circle around the babies and continually coral them in or back to their mothers. We will become a living play pen.

e) Spiritual Safety - I had to ask myself, how I can be all inclusion yet be true to the God I worship. How do I let the spiritual person feel safe to listen, learn and experience love without watering down the Bible or allowing undue influence on the babes in our mist? All are welcome to dance, play and reflect but I must set some boundaries so that we will all feel safe with sharing our spirituality. As a Christian woman I have felt drawn by the Lord to provide this group to all that have a desire to express themselves in community. This means that people of differing beliefs are welcome to come together. I will not hide from you that my desire and hope for all of you is that you come into an enriching relationship with my savior Jesus Christ. Jesus is my life, my breath and the very reason that I stand before you today. He is at the beginning and the end of all I have prepared. He is the author to all that you find to be true in me. This being said please understand that the Jesus in me is not afraid or dismayed if you do not believe in him or his word the Bible. You are safe here to share the beliefs that you have without reservation. You are also safe to let others know how your beliefs differ from theirs. The only condition to this open interchange of thought is that it must be done in love, with kindness and without intent to judge or debate. No one should be asked or feel compelled to pray for or to something that isn’t part of their belief system. For example: If you desire to have me as your prayer partner I will only pray to Jesus for those things that line up with his word and I must ask that you pray to Jesus on my behalf.
f) Send Off

Meditation 30 minutes
Partner Meditation –You may go anywhere, for a walk, to the tables, in the library.
1. Welcome – all walk together sharing our stories
“Please share a story of your Spirituality. What has been your journey, where has it taken you and who answers your prayers? Life from the time we are little is a journey of pain and pleasure but without purpose and meaning what is it all for? I have lived a life of seeking pleasure, trying to avoid pain only to find that one can not truly be found without the other. Pleasure is not merely a tingling sensation of the body but an inner knowing in the heart when body, soul and spirit are one in purpose. For me this place is only found in Christ for it is in His mission and direction that all lines up. For he sees all places that I need to go so much clearer than I. Let’s write/draw our stories to be shared with all that join us.”
2. ACTS – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication[2]
3. My Roles[3] – wife, mother, employee, lover, teacher, homemaker, Christian, daughter, sister & friend
4. My Heart[4]
5. Lord’s Prayer[5]
6. My Family[6] – husband, kids, parents, brothers and sisters
7. Armor of God[7]
8. My Friends[8]
9. God’s Heart[9]
10. Closing – all walk together sharing our stories

Play or Library 20 minutes
We will take all the children to play at the playground or go in the library.
Activities 20 minutes
1. Centering / Touch and Go
2. My Story[10]: Everyone talking, repeating, listening, Writing/Drawing
3. Eyes, Ears & Mouth[11]
4. On the grid / Statue maker / Machine
5. Large, small, big, tall, etc. / Copy cat dance
6. Kids Games[12]: Musical Chairs/ Duck, Duck, Goose / Tug of War
7. ___
8. ___
9. Affirmation Circle[13]
10. Flower of Me[14]
Reflection/Snack @ Theater 20 minutes (15 min) + 5

Everyone should come prepared to share. Children are also encouraged to participate. Reflections will continue to be shared for 15 minutes.
something personal,
something you have learned,
a tip,
something practical,
art work
impromptu speech
poem,
scripture,
song,
skit,
dance
just about anything thought provoking or inspirational.

Closing Dance Circle 5 minutes

Total Time 1 ½ - 2 hours

Homework – make prayer cards for next week’s prayer topic. Write the words at the top after folding. Spend time reading and praying and journaling on back of full sheet. When inspired add clips from magazines, art work, verses, etc.





















SUPPLIES

EVERY WEEK BRING
[1] Water, breakfast, sunscreen, snack, prayer book, notebook, pen, pencils, crayons, dance music & jam box

HOMEWORK
[2] ACTS – 4 sheets of paper, put the following text on each sheet:
-Adoration
-Confession
-Thanksgiving
-Supplication
[3] My Roles – 1 sheet of paper and picture of yourself
[4] My Heart - 1 sheet of paper and magazine clippings
[5] Lord’s Prayer -9 sheets of paper, put the following text on each sheet:
-Our Father in heaven, -hallowed be your name, -your kingdom come, -your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. -Give us today our daily bread. -Forgive us our sins, -as we also have forgiven those who sin against us. -And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
-For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
[6] My Family – 1 sheet of paper for each person in your family and picture of each person
[7] Armor of God – complete at home what you didn’t finish in class
[8] My Friends – 1 sheet of paper and magazine clippings
[9] God’s Heart– 1 sheet of paper and magazine clippings

ACTIVITIES
[10] My Story – Notebook, pen, crayons for little ones
[11] Eyes, Ears & Mouth – blindfold, plate, bread, peanut butter and jelly (Don’t make the sandwich; this is part of the activity).
[12] Kids Games – cushion to sit on and rope
[13] Affirmation Circle – Notebook, pen, crayons
[14] Flower of Me – water colors, paint brushes, cup – for paint water, scissors, pencil, glue, (Christy Klepetko will bring water color paper, Stems, and Creative Companion Book).