Location: Aug. 21 & 28, 6-7 PM, Community Room 121
Facilitator: Rev. MaryJane Pierce Norton

In her book, Right Here Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness, Amy G. Oden writes, “Christian mindfulness is the practice of paying prayerful attention in the present moment to God’s abundant Life.” Oden states that the claim, “God is right here, right now” is pivotal to a Christian understanding of mindfulness. Pastor Sam has challenged us all to consider what depletes us and what fills us. Mindfulness can fill us and help us live with an overflow. We will pay particular attention to five key marks of renewal in Christ: freedom, authenticity, rootedness, gratitude, and open compassion. And we will practice Oden’s 4-step process of Attentive Breathing; Attentive Embodiment; Acknowledgment and Discovery - identifying habits and practices that we can weave into our daily lives.

Right Here Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness by Amy G. Oden can be purchased from Cokesbury or Amazon.
ISBN: 978-1501832499

About the Facilitator
Rev. MaryJane Pierce Norton is an ordained deacon in the UMC. She retired from Discipleship Ministries in 2016 and enjoys teaching classes, confirmation, and Belle Meade 101. She and her husband, David, met in 1981 through the Belle Meade UMC Young Adult group. Their youngest son, Bradford, was in the first infant class at Belle Meade Children’s Center when it opened in 1991.