Springs Mountain Sangha July 2025 Newsletter
All times listed below are Mountain Time
July Offerings
Tuesday, July 1; 6:30 PM, on Zoom, Steering Committee Meeting, all are welcome
Thursday, July 3; 6:30 PM, on Zoom, Great Matter Series with Sarah Bender, Roshi
Monday, July 7; 6 PM, on Zoom & in person at Shove Chapel, Meditation, Sutra Service, and conversation
Thursday, July 10; 6 PM, on Zoom & in person at Creek Bend Zendo, Precepts Group; more information about this series is below
Friday, July 11; 6:30 PM, on Zoom, Movie Night “The Boy and the World” please watch the movie ahead of time and join in the discussion about the movie at Movie Night
Monday, July 14; 6 PM, on Zoom & in person at Shove Chapel, Meditation and Dharma Talk with Sarah Bender, Roshi
Thursday, July 17; 6:30 PM, on Zoom, Great Matter Series with Sarah Bender, Roshi
Friday, July 18; 6 PM, monthly dinner at Rico’s; the weather will hopefully be nice so we will sit outside and share a meal; everyone welcome – including families frank.actis@gmail.com
Monday, July 21; 6 PM, on Zoom & in person at Shove Chapel, Special Wayfaring Mind Talk by Clay Taylor on his becoming a Soto Priest
Clay Taylor was recently ordained as a priest in Shunryu Suzuki Roshi’s Zen lineage, and he’s also a long-time practitioner in two traditions, leads a meditation group at First Congregational Church, and is a treasured member of SMS.
We’re delighted that Clay has agreed to talk to us about his journey and his practice on Monday, July 21 at Shove Chapel.
Thursday, July 24; 6 PM, on Zoom & in person at Creek Bend Zendo, Precepts Group; more information about this series is below
Monday, July 28; 6 PM, on Zoom & in person at Shove Chapel, Meditation and Dharma Talk with Sarah Bender, Roshi
Candlelight Meditation
Every Sunday from 8 to 8:30 PM, you are invited to join candlelight meditation online. Simple and lovely.
More information on the offerings listed above:
The Great Matter of Livingdying
a series of conversations with Sarah Bender
continues Thursday, July 3 and 17, 6:30-8 PM MT
Zoom Zendo
suggested dana $10-$15 per session, offered directly to Sarah
If you’d like to join the series and haven’t let Sarah know already please do so, to be added to the email list.
http://sembender@gmail.com
Refuge and Precepts study series:
Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way
Extends from June 2025, all the way
to March, 2026 at our Spring retreat, where we will hold
a Refuge Ceremony for any who are ready to formally
take refuge in the Bodhisattva Way.
We’ll be holding two meetings per month, as consistently as we can through the year. This month these will be July 10th and 24th at 6 PM Mountain Time.
You are welcome to participate whether or not you are considering formally taking refuge. All of us long for refuge, and wish to offer refuge, and this process of deep inquiry into refuge itself, and vows, and ethical teachings is one we find most powerful when we take it up both individually and in community.
Questions? Feel free to contact Sarah at sembender@gmail.com.
And if you are considering taking refuge, please let her know this, especially if the times listed do not work in your schedule.
Movie Night July 11 at 6:30 PM
The Boy and the World
“An amazing Brazilian animation that truly exemplifies the power of imagery and music as a combination that has more than enough to portray a powerful and deep message. It shows an adventurous quest that illustrates the issues of the modern world through the eyes of a child. A cautionary tale of globalization, The Boy And The World teaches above all the dangers of the massification of the economy, of the mind, and of the soul.”
This can be watched for free on Kanopy (with your library card) at this link:
Monthly Dinner at Rico’s
Friday, July 18th, 6 PM, monthly dinner at Rico’s; the weather will hopefully be nice so we will sit outside and share a meal; everyone welcome – including families frank.actis@gmail.com
Upcoming Retreats
Save the dates – more information coming
Ullambana Retreat
September 7
The Ullambana retreat celebrates the power of sangha to heal past karma together by opening to the great broken heart of the world. Each retreat, even a one-day retreat needs someone to step forward as coordinator. Is it you? If so please let Kelly McFarland know s.kelly.HLS@gmail.com
Open Source Fall long retreat:
October 13-18th at Bodhi Manda Zen Center
Jemez Springs, New Mexico.
The Open Source is excited to return to Bodhi Manda Zen Center, in the gorgeous Jemez River Valley.
Center staff have been able to make some significant repairs and improvements, and work on the privacy wall is progressing well.
They’ve issued a warm invitation to us to return, and it is such a treat to retreat in this wonderful place, dedicated to awakening.
Bodhi Day Retreat
December 7 hybrid
Ongoing Meditation Schedule, All available via Zoom; Monday Eves available in person as well
Many Arms of Guanyin
Volunteer with SMS
Are you interested in volunteering to help with a specific project within the sangha? Do you have a particular skill or enthusiasm for something that might be helpful? Would you like to help out, but not sure how? SMS truly values and depends on the many efforts given freely by the sangha to the sangha. This is dana and is so much appreciated. If you have questions or want to help, please contact Kelly McFarland S.Kelly.HLS@gmail.com
Support for Springs Mountain Sangha
You can donate to Springs Mountain Sangha in person at Shove Chapel using the dana bowl at the entrance to the dharma hall. You can also donate through our PayPal account. You can get to the SMS PayPal link on the SMS web site at:
http://www.smszen.org/supportsms/
or by selecting the donate icon
Or you can mail a check to:
Springs Mountain Sangha
P.O. Box 2613
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
*We depend on the generosity of our members to support the work of our sangha*
If you want to make a donation to Sarah Bender specifically, for example, dana for classes, group meetings or work on the phone (suggested donations for these are $10 per class, or $20 for a 20 min. individual meeting) you can do this by sending a check directly to her.
Sarah Bender
7528 Jenkin Place
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
or by Paypal to sembender@gmail.com
Support for Cloud Dragon
The easiest way is to make a donation at the website, here:
https://joansutherlanddharmaworks.org/cgi-bin/dharma/page.cgi?g=Support%2FDonate%2Findex.html;d=1