Nurturing Program

Centering Prayer

Each Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. a small group gathers for twenty minutes in the Valley Presbyterian Church sanctuary for Centering Prayer.  Centering Prayer is a form of contemplative prayer.  In the Christian tradition, contemplative prayer is considered to be pure gift from God.  It is the opening of mind and heart- our whole being to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond thoughts, words and emotions.  It is a simple practice, but extremely powerful.  For further info:  contact Mary Jo Alderson by email or at 650-851-8282 x 114.

Have a prayer request?  Email our Prayer Chain.

Knit Us Together 2010

Reminiscent of a quilting circle, women gather to work on their knitting, crocheting, or stitching projects and share their stories.  Overnight retreat on October 22-23, 2010 at Presentation Center, plus monthly (almost) evening gatherings - supper at 6:30 pm, crafting from 7-8 pm on the following dates:

Tuesday, Jan. 5

Monday, Feb. 1

Monday, Mar. 1

Monday, May 24

Monday, June 28

Tuesday, July 27

Tuesday, August 31

Monday, September 27

Monday, November 15

For further info:  contact Karen Russell at 650-851-8282 x104.

Laying on of Hands Ministries

Love, compassion and faith provide a powerful opportunity for healing and restorative rest to take place.  Three new ministries have emerged with trained hands and loving hearts to care for us on our journey.

• Pilgrimage Integrative Healing Process: 

  Pilgrimage Integrative Healing Process-This unique process (featured in Prevention Magazine, March 2001) brings connection rather than isolation, joining together two trained members of the healing team and client.  The session includes non-invasive healing touch, presence, meditation and prayer. The Healing Partners are educated and skilled in the healing arts and committed to empowering self-care.  To schedule a session, contact Mary Jo Alderson by email or 650-851-8282 x114.

• Healing Massage: 

  Karen C. Russell holds an AA Degree in Massage Therapy from DeAnza College and has been practicing massage at her studio in Cupertino since 2005. She is also trained in CranialSacral Therapy and Egyptian Foot Reflexology.  Karen feels that each client holds an innate healing ability, and offer gentle modalities with light pressure that can penetrate and heal deeply, allowing for deep relaxation and a sense of peace and well-being.  She believes in working 'with' the body, not 'on' the body.  Karen offers a discounted rate to VPC members. To schedule a reflexology, cranialsacral, or massage session, contact Karen by email.

• Jin Shin Jyutsu Body Energy Work Treatments: 

  Experience a deep sense of well-being and emotional balance through an ancient Japanese healing art, called Jin Shin Jyutsu, that harmonizes the life energy of the body.

   While the principles and practices of this art are firmly rooted in ancient healing traditions, it is applicable to our modern stressful lives and is based on our innate ability to harmonize ourselves, to restore emotional equilibrium, relieve pain, and release the cause of acute and chronic conditions.

   Treatments are given on a massage table while you are fully clothed.  The practitioner places her hands gently on specific energy points allowing the vital life force (chi) to flow more freely.  This encourages the release of muscular tension, increase resistance to illness and promotes a longer, healthier and more vital life.

   Alice has been studying this healing art since 2005, has earned her Jin Shin Jyutsu certificate and now seeks to practice this art with her family and friends.  Sessions are complimentary to Valley Presbyterian Church members, and donations are encouraged to VPC Mission Program, for which Alice has a passion.

   Alice has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and has worked for IBM as software engineer for almost 30 years, has raised two children now in their 20’s, and lives in Ladera with her husband John Hurd, who is a Family and Individual therapist. 

To schedule a session, contact Alice.

RISEN Listening Circle

• On alternating Wednesdays a small group gathers for one hour beginning at 7 am to pray and to listen and to share in a Quaker listening circle format.  For further information, contact:  Mary Jo Alderson at 650-851-8282, ext. 114.

Soul Work

Do you long for serenity in your life, inner nourishment, and repose? Do you need to find a better balance between work, family, community, and your own need for replenishment? Soul Work restores you to greater awareness and helps you discern both meaning and direction for your life. Open to all those who seek what is most authentic in themselves, these small groups include instruction in meditation, a writing practice, wise discernment, and a chance to develop deep bonds with others. If you are ready to make this kind of commitment to yourself, a Soul Work group provides an opportunity to make a new beginning, to develop a committed spiritual practice, and to experience the healing presence of God. Ten two-hour meetings every other week beginning September in Portola Valley..  Safe, supportive environment, beautiful surroundings. Facilitator has over 30 years experience as a small group leader. If you are even tentatively interested in participating, please let Anne Hillman know, for the group’s size is limited and there are very few places left this year. There is a donation (sliding scale). annehillman7@sbcglobal.net  650-854-2947

Living A Surrended Life

This bimonthly group is for those who long to live a more surrendered life—to trust, to let go, to love what is, and to serve from that orientation. Real freedom, genuine forgiveness, and healing are the gifts of ‘putting our minds in another room,’ not only in meditation, but in our daily lives, moment, by moment. The church calls it aligning with the will of God. The intent of Living a Surrendered Life is to support this kind of ongoing alignment; to live our lives as a prayer. It will provide a set of very specific skills to help you identify the things that keep you outside ‘the other room,’ how to let them go; and how to anchor against being reactive or living on “automatic pilot.”

Living a Surrendered Life is open to a limited number of participants from any previous gathering during this 11-year series. It will be an experiential and interactive group, and meet for two hours every other week for 10 meetings, beginning September 21. If you are interested, please email or call (650-854-2947) Anne Hillman soon, since it is already heavily subscribed. There is a donation (on a sliding scale).

“I woke listening to the downpour outside and felt my thorns and bristles—all my barriers—being stripped away. I felt refreshed and so alive. If nature can send these rains to clean and nourish us, can’t my soul come down on me, surround me, and strip away the old? Can it awaken what is dormant in me? I want to know myself, be attentive to my being; listen to my heart beat, hear my breath, reach inside and pull out the passion deep within—so elusive. To find its outlet, however small or big, no difference. How to let go? This is my heart’s prayer. I want to put my mind in another room, the one I woke up in.” (J. M., a Soul Work participant)

Exercise for Body,

Mind & Sprit

Yoga

Yoga with Carla Germano

(650-851-0510)

The Fall Session begins September 13, 2010.

Yoga with Leslie Peterson

(650-322-1772)