Please join the SIM Board of Directors on Thursday night, March 14, to thank Barbara Colton. Barbara is completing many years of dedicated service on our Board and beginning her work as President of the SDC Board. The SIM community potluck (Nurturing Sangha Over Dinner) that night will be in her honor, and we’ll have cake and an opportunity to appreciate Barbara during the break. Please plan to come and celebrate with Barbara and with all of us on the Board!

Registration opens February 14, for the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) eight week course with Matt Russell. You can RSVP to a free introduction session held April 10 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The eight session course meets Wednesdays, April 24 through June 12, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm and there’s an all day retreat on Sunday, June 2, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. To pay the $375 registration fee or for more information about the course, click here.

Designed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979, MBSR is an integrative and scientifically validated approach that combines mindfulness practices with group processing and psycho-education around stress. MBSR helps participants mobilize their inner resources to alleviate suffering associated with chronic pain and illness, as well as conditions such as anxiety, depression, headaches, high blood pressure, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems and the stresses of everyday life. This work was featured in Bill Moyers’ television special, “Healing and the Mind” in a dated but still compelling piece.

SIM is grateful for all our donors and has already emailed tax letters to those who gave $250 or more in 2018. If you have not received the tax letter and you think you should have, please check your email Inbox, as well as your Spam or Junk folder. If you still don’t find it, please contact SaraD@sactoinsight.org.

Here is the update from Vicki Ruben regarding some recent holiday donations to support the “Adopt a Family” effort from Saint John’s Program for Real Change.

Although this project was launched on short notice and not “officially” organized by SIM, thanks to the donations of this giving community we were able to jointly raise about $420. With Barbara Colton single handedly taking on the wish list for the youngest child we were able to most of the wishes for this family. Funds that came in after the shopping was completed, as well as an extra pair of rain boots, were funneled to other families in need at St. John’s. Thank you for trusting me to run with this project; it was truly an honor and a joy.

If you’re curious, or if you gave a donation through Vicki, here are some details on the shopping distribution:

• Brenda, a 9 year old girl Brenda received a dress for church, rain boots, tennis racket and balls, craft set to make bracelets, and a scrapbook and stickers.
• Her nine year old twin brother Brandon received nice pants and shirt, two sets of Legos, a science kit, and the twister game.
• The seven year old girl Bethaney received two or three sets of pants and shirts, socks, under wear, baby doll, troll stuff, troll giant coloring book, and rain boots.
• The mom received bras and underwear, black tennis shoes, faith based journal, and personal hygiene items as requested by her.
• As a family they received a 120 piece art set, drawing pad, and Scrabble game.