Interfaith Conversations Fall/Winter 2021/2022

St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, in cooperation with G.I.F.T. (Gathered in Faith Together), is proud to be hosting a series exploring the different faiths in our community, and how these faiths inform our lives, including our life as a community. Speakers will include members of the Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and Muslim faiths. These introductory sessions will serve as a framework for panel and small group discussions to be held in early 2022.

Each program in the series will held the second Tuesday of the month, at 6:30, at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 347 S. Libal Street, De Pere, 54115. Presentations will also be live-streamed on the facebook and YouTube channels of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church.

September 14th: Judaism, presented by Rabbi Emeritus Shaina Bacharach

October 12th: The Society of Friends (Quakers), presented by Mary Klos

November 9th: Buddhism, presented by Jody Figgins

December 14th: Islam, presented by Dr. Andrew O’Connor

January 11th, February 8th, March 8th: Panel and small group discussions

St. Anne’s is happy to invite ALL members of the Green Bay Area community to these talks, regardless of faith affiliation. We’re also happy to welcome those who do not profess a faith. All people are welcome at St. Anne’s, without exception.

Winter Retreat Invitation

Dear Sangha and Friends,

We hope you are safe, with ease, and finding ways to experience the happiness that is always available. 

It is with great joy that we offer another winter retreat this year. This retreat is free and open to everyone: those who currently practice with our sangha, those who have practiced with us in the past, and those who have not yet practiced with us. We welcome all and meet you wherever you may be. 

At this retreat we will: 

  • Watch weekly Dharma talks 10-20 minutes each, on our own time
  • Set an intention of engaging in a daily personal mindfulness practice 
  • Participate in a weekly one hour virtual gathering with the Sangha
  • Optional: Participate in second body practice

What is a winter retreat? 

The winter retreat is offered in the spirit of the Buddha’s traditional three month Rains retreat when monastics gathered together to deepen their practice and take refuge in the Sangha. 

During our retreat, we will practice at home and come together virtually for an hour once per week for three months, starting the first week in December.

The retreat is a time of dwelling peacefully, with space for reflection and discovery. Together we can solidify and deepen our practice; recognize and let go of ideas, distractions, or disturbances (maybe the news, media, politics, certain websites that we go back to again and again); and reclaim our freedom and stability. 

Perhaps you might like to create (or perhaps you’ve already created) a beautiful physical space that is sacred and without distraction, for meditation and reflection. We can create protection for ourself, support each other, and take refuge in the Sangha.

To learn more about winter retreat practice, please enjoy this 70 minute Dharma talk by Brother Phap Dung (pronounced Fap You-mm): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EIvuC9tUS0

This year we have selected shorter Dharma talks, as many of us had trouble keeping up in past years. We will use a mix of Thich Nhat Hanh and Pema Chodron videos approximately 10-20 minutes each, all with closed captioning. 

For your personal practice focus/intention, we ask that you commit to daily sitting and/or walking meditation, or another personal practice of your choice. We will have the opportunity to share our aspirations and support each other on our path of practice.

We invite you to ask yourself: What in your practice do you want to fortify? How can you find additional ways to take refuge in yourself? What do you want to let go of? How can the Sangha nourish you during the retreat, and how can you help others in the Sangha take refuge?

Another part of the retreat is the optional participation in Second Body practice, where we connect more deeply with one person, to support one another in mindfulness and practice deep listening together about once each week. This year those selecting this option will partner one on one for second body, instead of ‘round robin’ as we did in past years. For a beautiful explanation of the second body practice, please visit http://www.stillwatermpc.org/practice-resources/second-body-practice-resources/.

If you wish to join us on the retreat, please:

  • Send us an email using the Contact Us on this website by Friday, November 20th to let us know.
  1. Tell us if you would you like to participate in Second Body. If yes, you will be paired with a single partner to connect with during the duration of the retreat.
  1. Share days and times are you available to meet for one hour each week. Ex: M-F 4:00 – 9:00 PM, Weekend mornings between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m., etc. 

We wish you a happy practice.

Bowing to you,

Open Heart Mindfulness Community

T. 11/26/19 Thanksgiving Interfaith Service

Open Heart Mindfulness Community once again is happy to participate in the Gathered in Faith Together (G.I.F.T.)  Thanksgiving Interfaith Prayer Gathering
Tuesday, November 26th, 2019, 7:00PM

All are welcome to the Greater Green Bay area annual ThanksgivingInterfaith Prayer Gathering co-sponsored by a variety of congregations known as G.I.F.T. (Gathered in Faith Together). The prayer service will be led by various religious leaders representing the co-sponsoring congregations.
In addition, the service will feature a message from Wa Ya Thao from the Friends of the Brown County Community Gardens, a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to the sustainability, growth and future of the Brown County Community Gardens. A free will offering will be collected in support of the Friends and their work.

This gathering will be interpreted for the deaf community, family and friends and will include the “Sign the Good News Deaf Choir”. A light social will follow.
Location: St. Anne’s Episcopal Church
347 S. Libal Street, De Pere, WI 54115
Opportunity Contact Name:  Dcn. Mary Lynn AdamsOpportunity Contact Email:  DcnMaryLynn@gmail.com

Cancellations & Information

With all of our summer schedules being pretty full, we have a few more changes to announce. Sangha on Monday, July 22nd will be cancelled due to several of us on vacation during that time. All other Mondays will meet as planned, with July 22nd being the only cancellation. 
Monday July 15th brings us a nice treat in the form of a special visitor to our sangha: A friend that Ellen and Margaret met when they were on retreat in Vietnam. Please consider joining us for this special day. 
I’m sorry to say that we are going to cancel the Wednesday evening practice for the time being. It is a busy summer and we hope to revisit adding back Wednesday sometime this fall. We will send out a notification with any changes. In the meantime you can always check our website for the most recent practice times and locations, or send us an email. 

Wednesday Practice Change

We are changing our Wednesday schedule and format at least through the end of the summer. We will meet twice a month instead of weekly on Wednesdays only.
Location: The Richard Mauthe Center, UWGB Campus.

2nd & 4th Wednesday from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. 20 minutes sitting meditation, 10 minutes walking meditation, followed by tea and light social. 

There is no change to Monday, and Monday will continue to meet weekly. Every Monday 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. 20 minutes sitting meditation, 10 minutes walking meditation, followed by a teaching and discussion. 

Spring & Summer Retreat Opportunities

May 3-5, 2019, LaSalle Manor Retreat Center, Plano, Illinois
In Deep Gratitude: Celebrating the Teachings of Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh
With Dharma Teachers Jack and Laurie Lawlor
Cost: $199, includes lodging
https://www.lakesidebuddha.org/2019%20planoretreat.pdf

June 7-9, Horizon Village, Oshkosh, WI. 

Smiling Dandelion Sangha 11th Annual Retreat- Roots and Wings: Grounded and Opened: Serenity and Insight with Steven Spiro and Janice Sheppard (not exactly in TNH tradition, but similar, and this is a well loved retreat) 
Cost: $175 commuter $255 w/ lodging.

June 29 – 30, Goodman Community Center, Madison, WI 

Snowflower Sangha: Harmony in our Home, Joy in the World, led by monastics from Blue Cliff Monastery 

August 4-9, The Christine Center, Willard, WI 

Milwaukee Mindfulness Community: Transformation and Healing The Four Establishments of Mindfulness, led by members of the Milwaukee Mindfulness Community 
Cost: $310 – $525 depending on lodging choice
Transformation and Healing The Four Foundations of Mindfulness with the Milwaukee Mindfulness Community, August 4-9, 2019

August 7-11, Magnolia Grove Monastery, Batesville, Mississippi
Mini US Tour: Breathe, It’ll Be Okay!
Led by Thich Nhat Hanh’s community of monks and nuns
Cost: TBD, usually around $160 – $350 depending on lodging choice
There are a couple people in Green Bay interested in attending, so we might have a carpool.


New Monday Location

We will no longer be meeting at Every Body’s Yoga on Mondays. Starting Monday, March 4th we will meet at The Richard Mauthe Center on the UWGB campus on both Mondays and Wednesdays.

Our meeting locations and times:

The Richard Mauthe Center, UWGB Campus, 2418 Leon Bond Drive, Green Bay, WI 54311

Mondays 1:00 – 2:30

Wednesdays 6:00 – 7:30

Monday Practice Notice

Effective March 1, 2019, we no longer will be meeting on Mondays at Every Body’s Yoga. We are actively looking for a new space and hope to have an update for you soon. In the meantime, please consider joining us Wednesday evenings at the Richard Mauthe Center on the UWGB campus.

We are very grateful to EBY for their generosity in allowing us to use their space for the past few years. EBY is expanding their yoga offerings, so check out their webpage if you are interested in classes.