January 5
Morning Star Community
“Finding Ourselves by Letting Go”
During a time when events in the exterior world can be anxiety inducing, we are ever more inspired to go within, seek peace and find our truest, most authentic selves.
2025 is numerologically considered a “9” year, a time of winding down and shedding all that doesn’t aid us in our individual quests of spiritual growth. Join us at Morning Star this Sunday for community activities to help us release past traumas and create the foundation for a positive future.
Bring a childhood photo of yourself when you were at your happiest for a fun “Guess Who I Am” exercise, followed by our annual burning bowl ceremony to transmogrify negative energy into positive, then a calibration meditation for a beneficial new year.
January 12
Rabbi Rami (speaking via Zoom)
“The Ultimate Vaccine: Realizing the I AM”
Rabbi Rami shared, “Two events sparked my spiritual quest, and both happened when I was sixteen. The first was when my mom entered my bedroom shortly after midnight, sat on my bed, and asked if I were the Messiah. The second occurred some months later while I was meditating on the shore of a lake in Cape Cod, MA. I disappeared. When I returned, I knew that I wasn’t who I thought I was.”
Since those life-altering events in high school, Rabbi Rami has earned two master’s degrees, two doctorates, and two rabbinic ordinations. These all were focused on world religions and Perennial Wisdom, the realization that all life is the manifestation of nondual Aliveness called by many names.
He was a United States Air Force chaplain; a congregational rabbi; an author of 36 books, the most recent, Zen Mind, Jewish Mind coming out in February 2025; a Contributing Editor with Spirituality & Health Magazine; and creator of a bi-weekly Substack called “Ask Rabbi Rami” at rabbirami.substack.com.
At Morning Star, Rabbi Rami will share the following, “Humanity is afflicted by a psychological disorder that manifests in both homicidal and suicidal tendencies. We waste tens of thousands of years of evolutionary energy learning the art of killing each other and destroying our planet. There is a vaccine for this disorder, but few are willing to take it. In this talk we will define the disease, the vaccine, how to take it, and why we won’t.”
January 19
Dara Fogel, Ph.D.
“Navigating 2025: AI, Leadership, and the Crossroads of Social Transformation”
Dara Fogel, Ph.D., is a teacher, philosopher and author. Fogel holds a doctorate in Philosophy (specializing in Ethics and the Philosophy of the Self) from the University of Oklahoma, and has taught Philosophy, Religious Studies and Humanities at several universities and colleges in the Southwest.
Fogel underwent a series of spiritual awakenings after a life-threatening illness in the 1990s. She began sharing her insights and experiences in the hopes that others might benefit. Today, Fogel will focus on why current events and astrology promise unprecedented times ahead. Through analysis of trends and patterns, we will seek a path with meaning. Her website is: www.provinceofthemind.com
January 26
Mark Davies
“Love No Matter What”
Mark Davies is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics, and Director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility at Oklahoma City University.
Mark engages in advocacy and activism in the areas of peace, social justice, and ecological sustainability. Locally this is expressed through his work with the Human Community Network, which works to create non-violent systemic change for a just and flourishing human and ecological community through collaboration, education, innovation, and action. See www.humancommunitynetwork.org.
During his talk at Morning Star, Professor Davies will discuss: “In a world of fiercely urgent social and ecological challenges, deep and worsening divisions, and ongoing violence and war; how can we continue to love others when so much hate abounds and holding onto hope is increasingly difficult?”
Mark and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK and they have two daughters who attend Oklahoma City University.
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Recordings from previous gatherings:
September 1 – “To Everything There Is A Season”
Zoom Recording
September 8 – Conrad Draper, “Shock to Awe”
NOTE: Due to a power outage during the speaker’s presentation, the recording was interrupted for several minutes but it does resume.
Zoom Recording
September 15 – Talina Davisenn, “Reconciling the Relationship with the Self”
Zoom Recording
September 22 – Michelle Carbone, “Thought Power: Pivoting Your Life Using Your Thoughts”
Zoom Recording
September 29 – Morning Star’s Jubilee Gathering: Celebrating 25 Years
Zoom Recording
October 6 – Katherine Skaggs (speaking via Zoom), “Heart and Soul – Signs, Symbols, and Messages from the Divine”
Zoom Recording
October 13 – Dr. Susan Sharp, “Restorative Justice Inside the Carceral”
Zoom Recording
October 20 – Tamara Van Hook, “An Ecology of the Spirit”
Zoom Recording
November 3 – Tori Rose, “Hope in Times of Uncertainty”
Zoom Recording
November 10 – Brenda Shoshana (speaking via Zoom), “To Separate What We Like from What We Dislike, Is the Disease of The Mind”
Zoom Recording
November 17 – James McCrae (speaking via Zoom), “Creative Alchemy”
Zoom Recording
November 24 – Karina Vega Ahumada, “Normal Grief”
Zoom Recording
December 1 – Rev. Dr. Rhonda Schienle, “Living with No Regrets”
Rev. Dr. Rhonda is the founder of Interfaith Ministry Services LLC, established in 2011 and based in the Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan regions. She is a “Circle of Life” minister, author, publisher and Doula, whose work passions include weddings, celebrations of life, dedications, writing books, and end of life facilitation (Doula). Rev. Dr. Rhonda has worn many hats. In 2021 she received her Doctorate in Spiritual Wellness (D.Sw.) from New Seminary in New York while at the same time serving as Board Chair for World AWAKE, Inc., a home for Interfaith Clergy and Spiritual Care Professionals. After retiring from World Awake in 2022 she graduated with a certification as an End of Life Doula Specialist in 2024. During her talk at Morning Star, Rev. Dr. Rhonda will share real stories of how others have taught us to live with no regrets, by way of our bucket wish lists. How can we apply this methodology throughout the holiday season and beyond? For more information about Rev. Dr. Rhonda and her services, go to: https://interfaithministryservices.com
December 8- Jerry Arias Watson, “A Man After Your Own Heart”
Subtitle: Faith, Self-Discovery and the Pursuit of Acceptance; Navigating Challenges and Finding Happiness as a Gay Man”
The subtitle of Jerry Watson’s talk for Morning Star provides an intriguing roadmap to the journey he will be inviting us to travel with him. Jerry’s entire life has been one of self-discovery; he has had to constantly re-build and reconcile his faith with his identity as a gay man. Along the way he’s learned the importance of love, acceptance, and the pursuit of joy for both himself and others. Jerry’s life experiences are now the tools he uses to inspire hope and bring a message of belonging to those who may feel forgotten or unseen. Jerry Arias Watson started life as a preacher’s son, which shaped his faith and instilled a deep commitment to serving others. He is a dual citizen of the United States and Costa Rica, and the first openly gay man in his family to be married. He is a passionate advocate for equality and currently serves as the President of the PFLAG Norman Chapter. He is also a computer drafter and designer at Landmark Fine Homes LLC. Jerry passionately embraces life’s joys and loves traveling with his husband, making new friends, remodeling his home, painting landscapes and creating new things. The desire of his heart is to advocate continuously for a world where everyone is accepted and loved for who they truly are.
December 15 – Thomas Webb, “Life After Exoneration”
Exoneration is defined as “the action of officially absolving someone from blame; vindication.” But for our guest speaker, Thomas Webb, that word has a level of meaning few of us can even begin to understand. For a period of 13 years Thomas was imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Accused of rape, he spent time in four different Oklahoma prisons before DNA finally proved his innocence. Now a free man, Thomas has an important message to share as he reveals the challenges of transitioning from a life in prison to a life of freedom. Thomas was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He has one older sister, Dolly. He graduated from Bolingbrook High School in 1978. He currently wants to work and explore his independence in what is for him a brand, new world.
December 22 – Morning Star Community, “Holiday Jam”
Did you know that singing and listening to our favorite melodies releases dopamine, known as the feel good hormone, which activates our brain’s pleasure and reward system? If you’d like to try a personal experiment to see if that’s true, please join us for our Annual Holiday Singalong! Our Awesome Morning Star Band will lead us as we “make a joyful noise” together. Then we’ll circle in small groups to share our most memorable tales of holidays past while partaking of brunch goodies and holiday cookies. All that and dopamine, too! We hope to have the gift of your presence to make the celebration complete.
December 29 – No Service
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HOW TO JOIN OUR VIRTUAL ZOOM OPTION
The virtual meeting room will be open at 10:00 a.m. for virtual visiting and the service will start at 10:15 a.m. If you have trouble connecting or have technical issues on your end, please don’t worry or concern yourself about it. Just disconnect, go on about your Sunday, and wait for the recording to be posted on our public Facebook page (Morning Star Center for Spiritual Living) and on our website (www.morningstarcenter.org) under the Speaker’s tab. Instructions for you to download ZOOM and connect are included below.
You have 2 options.
- Attend by using the computer or laptop.
- Attend by using your mobile phone.
Choose the option that works best for you. Be sure to prepare and install ZOOM in advance. It takes a few minutes to set everything up.
Know that using ZOOM as an attendee is always free. You don’t need to buy an account.
Instructions for using ZOOM on the computer or laptop.
- Be sure that you have internet.
- Click on this link to download the software >> https://zoom.us/download
- Install ZOOM.
- Accept all the features and questions (don’t worry. It’s safe!)
- On Sunday morning, click on this link around 9:30 to join the meeting. We want to be sure everything is working. Be on time so we can help you out! https://us04web.zoom.us/j/441871663
- Turn up your sound so you can hear us.
Instructions for using ZOOM on your phone:
- Be sure that you have internet.
- Go to the app store on your phone and download the ZOOM app.
- Accept all the features and questions (don’t worry. It’s safe!)
- On Sunday morning around 9:30, open the app on your phone and click on ‘ join meeting’.
- Fill in the following meeting id number: 441-871-663.
- Accept using camera and phone (otherwise you can’t hear us).