December 1
Rev. Dr. Rhonda Schienle (speaking via Zoom)
“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. Happy New Year, see you Jan 5, 2025!
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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
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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).