RAIN: Meeting Life with Compassion and God's Loving Presence
Wednesday, November 4 | 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Life brings moments of joy, but it also brings anxiety, grief, disappointment, self-doubt, and uncertainty. Rather than pushing difficult emotions away or becoming overwhelmed by them, what if we could learn to meet them with greater awareness, compassion, and God's loving presence?
Join us for a peaceful evening of guided meditation, reflection, and conversation as we explore the RAIN practice—a gentle mindfulness meditation that offers a compassionate way of relating to whatever we are experiencing.
RAIN is an acronym for four simple steps:
Recognize what is present.
Allow the experience to be there without resistance.
Investigate with curiosity and compassion.
Nurture ourselves with kindness and care.
During the evening, Diane Anderson, ordained UCC pastor, certified mindfulness meditation instructor, and spiritual director, will guide participants through the RAIN meditation. After the practice, there will be time for gentle discussion and shared reflection, allowing participants to deepen their understanding of the experience and learn from one another. Sharing is always welcome but never expected.
RAIN can be especially helpful when we are facing difficult emotions such as fear, sadness, anger, shame, loneliness, or overwhelm. By learning to turn toward our inner experience with curiosity and compassion rather than judgment, we begin to discover greater resilience, emotional freedom, and a more spacious way of being with life's challenges.
No previous meditation experience is necessary. Whether you are new to mindfulness or have an established contemplative practice, you are warmly welcome.
Together we will discover how mindful awareness can become a doorway to prayer, healing, and resting more deeply in the loving presence of God. Come as you are and leave with a practical practice for everyday life, along with a renewed sense of peace, compassion, and hope.
Cost: $25 per person