Active and engaging Mornington Peninsula Eremos Group welcomes new members


19th August 2018
By Elizabeth Alibiston
Elizabeth Albiston shares how the Mornington Peninsula Eremos group began and their activities. Their first Quiet Day held in April 2016 was a huge success, and participants identified a desire for regular quiet days throughout the year.

Active and engaging Mornington Peninsula Eremos Group welcomes new members

Elizabeth Albiston shares how the Mornington Peninsula Eremos group began and their activities.

In early 2016 three individuals got together for a conversation about the possibility of offering a non-church based gathering space for people to have an opportunity to grow spiritually in a safe non-judgemental setting, that would afford opportunities to receive food for thought, to share, to meditate/pray and to enjoy warm fellowship.  It was agreed during initial conversation, that Eremos was a movement that would fulfil our objectives of such a group, and so we commenced with the support and encouragement of the Eremos Council members in NSW.

Shortly after initial discussion, the first gathering was held.  Those who attended, were keen to continue the format of sharing morning tea, followed by dialogue and meditation gathering monthly on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. The Rev Ken Parker leads the dialogue on a special topic and a member leads the meditation/prayer time. 

In April of 2016 the first Quiet Day was held which was a huge success, and the response of participants identified a desire for regular quiet days peppered throughout the year.  Since then, along with our monthly gatherings, we have held four seasonal Quiet Days per year.  Each Quiet Day has a unique focus with a facilitator, e.g. a recent Quiet Day was entitled “Exploring the Energies of the Enneagram”.  In addition to local participants we have been privileged to welcome people from other parts of Victoria.

Currently our contact list comprises 52 people with the majority having attended several Quiet Days since our inception.  We also circulate information about events that fit with the Eremos ethos hosted by other organisations or churches and we believe this is a positive service we can offer to others. Some of our members have articulated what Eremos Mornington Peninsula means to them:

“I enjoy the companionship, listening and absorbing the wisdom from our group.  I leave energised after our time together”. (Margaret)

“I am privileged and grateful to be part of this beautiful group where I feel at home, welcomed, intellectually and spiritually stretched and known.” (Dorothy)

“It means to me that I am a sharing member of a community of like-minded, sincere people who are exploring spiritual dimensions of life in a structured, mutually supportive, yet adventurous way”. (Michael)

New members are always welcome. Please contact Elizabeth if you would like to know more.  MorningtonPeninsula@eremos.org.au or telephone 0407 187 199.

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