From Fly-Fishing

to Silent Meditation

ENDING RACISM
to Creating Mayhem

Who would've thought that learning to fly-fish is excellent physical, psychological and spiritual therapy for women recovering from breast cancer surgery? The American Littoral Society is who. Their Casting for Recovery program, sponsored by a variety of non-profits and local businesses, was held at Murray Grove on May 16-18 of this year. In addition to social events and a worship service in the Potter Chapel, the participants, all virtual beginners, spanned the athletic field one entire Saturday with their practice lines whipping the air, under the watchful eye of instructor Marina Schwartz. The next day they went off to a trout stream near Tuckerton.

Women from the Casting for Recovery weekend held in May practice casting in the athletic field.

The Morristown Unitarian Fellowship Coming-of-Age Group

In November the Diverse and Revolutionary UU Multi-Cultural Ministries (DRUUMM) will be holding their 2nd Annual Fall Conference at Murray Grove. DRUUMM is an organization working actively to organize and minister to UU People of Color, supporting the struggles of individuals and communities against white privilege and racism and engaging in multi-issue anti-racist advocacy that strives to recognize the linkage of oppressions. Recognizing the historical and current systems of racial, cultural and identity based oppression in North America, they are committed to building a culture of resistance and transformation. While here, they partake in two full days of workshops, community building and caucus meetings.

In May, the Joseph Priestley District branch of the Continental UU Young Adult Network (JPD UUYAN) held their spring retreat at MG, which they called "Mayhem!" Caravaning up largely from the DC area, there were workshops, music, a coffee house, a worship ceremony and just fun in general. But above and beyond all of that, members took full advantage of the season and took part in an honest-to-Goddess (not a typo) Maypole celebration. One of our most regular groups has been the Rutgers Zen Community, led by Master Kurt Spellmeyer. They have been coming nearly every other month for five-day sessions of totally silent intensive meditation retreats known as sesshin. Participants do 40-minute-on, 20-minute-off zazen (sitting meditation) through the day from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and also meet regularly with the master to discuss their progress both in their meditation and in the solution of koan - paradoxical Zen riddles.

Members of the Rutgers Zen Community sit in meditation during one of their five-day silent retreats.