April 7

Jimmy Smith

“My Continuing Education”

Zoom Recording

Jimmy Smith is a near death experiencer (NDE) and writer.  After a 25 year career as a mail carrier in Norman Oklahoma, he started his studies at Naropa University (a Buddhist inspired, ecumenical, and nonsectarian private university located in Boulder, Colorado)  and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies from Colorado University.  He studied Kriya Yoga under Audle Allison at the Lotus Center in Oklahoma City for over 20 years and married Dolcelyn Imperio-Smith in 2011. They currently live in Bakersfield California.

Jimmy says, “Life continues to teach me things about spirituality, hardships, reincarnation, and karma.”  We’re blessed and in for a real treat to be able to welcome one of our early Morning Star members back home to share with us!

April 14

Denise McGough

“The Power and Grace of Blessing One Another – Honoring the Legacy of the Celtic Poet and Philosopher John O’Donohue”

Zoom Recording

Denise McGough is a spiritual director, partnering with both individuals and groups in the spiritual journey. She is a registered nurse, and served as the spiritual director for the Faith Community Nurses of Oklahoma. She resides in Oklahoma City with her husband Don, and they have two lovely and adventurous adult daughters.

Denise was privileged to be a part of the “Wellspring of Presence” tour of West Ireland, joining the O’Donohue family and John’s close friends, for an intimate journey of the landscapes and people that formed him and deeply influenced his writing. The group learned first-hand the transformative and deeply spiritual power of John’s practice of blessing one another.

For her talk Denise will be discussing the crucial thresholds in our lives, where the ritual of a blessing can serve to protect, encourage, and guide us as we enter new realms.  She shares, “A blessing can be a gift for healing and transfiguration. Our times are ripe for just this sort of ritual for deep meaning and belonging and it will be an honor to share the beauty of Ireland, and John’s teachings regarding the value of ancient wisdom in our modern world with the Morning Star community.”

April 21

Amy Thurman

“The Power of Sharing Our Stories: Lessons from a Broken Neck”

Attend via Zoom

Amy Thurman, owner of Polish the Mirror, co-author of the International Best-Selling book, Resilience A.F.: Stories of Resilience, has a Master’s Degree in Educational and Community Renewal from the University of Oklahoma, is one of The Real 50 over 50: Women Who are Quietly Making a Difference in the World, is an Inspirational Speaker, Podcast Host, Disabled Entrepreneur and Story Development Coach whose resilience is unmatched and hasn’t let life with a broken neck deter her from realizing her dreams. She has spoken on stages to over 2,000 people and is part of a series that will air on Apple TV, Amazon TV, Roku, and Hulu. Amy, her teenage son and two chickens Lumos and Nox reside in Norman.

Through Amy’s journey of living the past decade with a broken neck and learning to polish the mirror of her life, she hopes to inspire and empower others to embrace their own stories, and find strength and purpose in the face of adversity. She will share from personal experiences ways she has found that can be helpful when walking through adversity. Whether it be speaking on stages, authoring books, writing in a personal journal, or simply having a conversation, there are so many opportunities to help others when we own our stories and are willing to share them.

April 28

Steve Krejcik

“Turn Your Pain into Your Power”

Attend via Zoom

Steve Krejcik has been a dedicated student and influential teacher in the realm of human transformation for over five decades. As the Director of the Coptic Fellowship, he embodies the roles of a leader, minister, teacher, and healer. His multifaceted expertise includes being an Advanced Master Shaman Practitioner, a Certified Hypnotist, and a published author of insightful works. As the visionary founder of Grey Wolf Healing Therapies, Steve has positively impacted the lives of countless individuals, guiding them through the intricate process of clearing emotional and energetic roadblocks. He adeptly utilizes the profound techniques of the Q’ero Shamans of Peru, facilitating profound healing and personal growth for those in need. Steve’s philosophy revolves around the belief that our aim in life is self-awareness. He passionately advocates that our spiritual evolution is best measured by the depth of inner peace, joy, and love that we both experience and radiate to the world.

Recordings from previous gatherings:

January 7 – Morning Star Speaker Committee presentation, “Building a Blueprint For A Happier 2024”

Watch Zoom recording of service

January 14 – Carol Briskin, “Messages from Inner Space – A Body Based Approach to Finding your Spiritual Path”

Watch Zoom recording of service

January 21 – Lauree Dash, “Listening Deeply”

Watch Zoom recording of service

January 28 – Petros Zenieris, “Pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain”

Watch Zoom recording of service

February 4 – Jamie Della, “Tending the Sacred Flame in Midwinter”

Watch Zoom recording of service (NOTE: Audio and Video problems–inconsistent quality)

More about Jamie @ jamiedella.com

February 11 – Imam Jamal Rahman, “Practical Spirituality in Islam”

Watch Zoom recording of service

More about Imam Rahman @ http://www.jamalrahman.com/ and www.interfaithcommunitysanctuary.org

February 18 – Claudia Watts Edge, “Gifts from the Edge”

Watch Zoom recording of service

More about Claudia @ [email protected]

February 25 – Jeanne Fell, “In Search of Awe and Beauty”

Watch Zoom recording of service

March 3

Philip Goldberg

“Staying Spiritually Sane in Crazy Times”

Watch Zoom recording of service

Philip Goldberg has been studying the world’s spiritual traditions for more than 50 years, as a practitioner, teacher, and author. An Interfaith Minister, spiritual counselor, and public speaker, he has presented at major venues throughout the U.S. and has been featured in numerous publications. He has authored or coauthored more than 25 books, including Roadsigns on the Spiritual Path; American Veda: The Life of Yogananda; and Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times. 

Phil teaches courses on various online platforms, hosts the Spirit Matters podcast, and serves on the board of the Association for Spiritual Integrity. He also leads journeys to India through his company, American Veda Tours. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, lived in various places including many years in Los Angeles, and now lives with his wife in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts. He has just completed his second novel. Learn more about him and his work at philipgoldberg.com.

At Morning Star, Mr. Goldberg will address a couple of questions:

• How can we maintain our inner peace and remain spiritually grounded and emotionally centered in the midst of many dangers and uncertainties? and
• How can we make the world a little more sane?

Mr. Goldberg’s presentation will point the way to a Spiritual Two-Step: enter the sanctuary of peace within, then step out as strong spiritual citizens.

Mar 10

David Lowry

“Quieting the Noise: Tuning into Your Heart for a Life of Inner Peace”

Watch Zoom recording of service

Dr. David Lowry is a professor of communication with a passion for fostering peace through leadership, ethical communication, and conflict resolution. He teaches courses on these topics and is the author of the textbook “Peacemaking 101: Interpersonal Approaches for Ending Drama and Conflict.” Dr. Lowry is also a dedicated student of the inner self and believes in the power of the heart to guide us towards wisdom and peace. He shares his insights through his website, peacemaking101.com, and his upcoming podcast, A Peaceful Life.

Today, Dr. Lowry combines his expertise in communication and his spiritual exploration to offer insights on finding inner peace through listening to the heart. He puts forward, “have you ever yearned for a truly peaceful life, one free from constant inner turmoil and conflict? While peace may seem elusive, it’s actually our natural state.” David will explore how we can tap into this inherent peace by learning to listen to the wisdom of our hearts.

Our lives are often filled with “noise” – external pressures, anxieties, and ego-driven thoughts that mask the deeper guidance of our hearts. Dr. Lowry will unveil the difference between the ego’s voice and the heart’s wisdom, and how confusing the two leads to a sense of disconnection and a struggle to find peace. His talk will offer practical tools and insights to help attendees:

• Quiet the noise and reprogram negative conditioning
• Discern the wisdom of your heart from the chatter of the ego
• Connect with your inner guidance and access the Divine source of peace that resides within you

Dr. Lowry has lived in Oklahoma since 2005. He and his wife Cary Williams have three sons and four granddaughters.

March 17

Suzette Chang

“The Culture of Politeness in Inclusive and Equitable Spaces”

Watch Zoom recording of service

A staple within most cultures is politeness/manners. This choice is often due to our own experiences and social constructs/external factors. From the lens of anthropology, Suzette will briefly discuss the relationship between politeness, equity and inclusion in Oklahoma spaces. Attendees can expect role playing, discussion and tools for sustainable inclusion and equitable environments.

Suzette V. Chang, a Native Californian/adopted Oklahoman and official Okie, is drawn to humans and our experiences. She traces this passion to her family, who are members of the Great Black Migration. For over two decades she has attained histories and understandings of identity, social constructs, and how these influences impact their daily lives and are linked to humans and our different historical/cultural/biological/linguistic experiences. In 2008 she launched Thick Descriptions, which grew into a tax-exempt organization in 2016 with domestic and international networks.

Thick Descriptions’ mission is to disrupt traditional educational methods with anthropology, building stronger communities. Partnering with educational institutions and community organizations, Thick Descriptions executes s.t.e.A.m. (science, technology, engineering, Anthropology, and math) Learning Journeys; our Signature Event, the Crowns Tea; and Elephant in the Room – Unboxed. Each initiative, grounded in anthropology, teaches the skills necessary to build healthier and more sustainable communities for all. Find out more about the organization and its activities at thickdescriptions.org.

Suzette is the mother of two amazing new adults, a published author and holds a Masters in Cultural Anthropology and a Masters in Library and Information Studies from the University of Oklahoma.

March 24

Sara McFall

“The Journey Feels Like Home”

Watch Zoom recording of service

Sara McFall has been lucky to enjoy some epic trips to far-away places the last few years, in a continuation of Morning Star members’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go Series,” she will draw on those recent, as well as past, experiences of travel to share a glimpse of her journey to her experiences of the sacred.

Sara starts her story while living in Hawai’i on the island of Oahu, then will skip forward in time to reflect on her recent experience in the Australian outback, of the monolith and dome formations of Uluru and Kata-Tjuta, where the creation stories, ceremonies, and rules for living of the Anangu-the traditional owners-converge. She will also share the experience of seeing Ubuntu – an African word meaning “humanity to others,” among its many other meanings – in action while in Kenya in 2023 when she and her travel partners visited a Maasai village project empowering women in this patriarchal culture, and Ubuntu Life Foundation, a school for kids with special needs alongside a training and job center for their parents.

Sara McFall is a longtime member of the Morning Star community. She recently retired from her law practice of 30 years, and launched a new life of discovery. Adjusting to minimal external structure has allowed luxurious encounters with spontaneity and stillness. She recently discovered tai chi and now is starting to train for a trip to the Camino later this year.

March 31

Cindy Merrick

“Rebirth, A Spiritual Awakening”

Watch Zoom recording of service

Easter is a special event in our culture which honors the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Easter is also celebrated as the time of the spring equinox, when the sun and the moon are in balance. This time of the year offers us the valuable opportunity to become introspective and examine where we are in our spiritual path.

Cindy believes once we become open and aware of a need for change, our egos melt away and the universe will magically point us in the right direction. Coincidences and synchronicities guide us as we create a new and enriched sacred communion with God, one that fills our hearts with abundant joy and love.

Cindy is a longtime member of Morning star and still considers herself as a work in progress.