The Gift of Deep Rest: An Hour of Yoga Nidra Meditation (Online Program)
2026-06-30 19:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
What comes to mind when you see the word “yoga?” Downward Dogs? Sun Salutations? Sitting on the floor with your legs in a pretzel? Well, think again!
Yoga Nidra means “yogic sleep” and the only movement involved is whatever it takes for you to recline in a comfy chair or lie down on a bed, sofa, or mat on the floor. This is a guided mindfulness meditation practice that helps to relax the mind and body by simply listening to the teacher’s prompts and resting in stillness. One hour of yoga nidra is said to be as restorative as four hours of sleep.
The yoga wisdom teachers of the past knew the importance of rest and relaxation for health and wellbeing and passed this practice down through the ages to us. As the mind slows down, the whirlwind of thoughts holding our attention begin to move away from us as we float in the space between waking and sleeping. As you disengage from stress-producing thoughts, the body, mind, and spirit begin to rest and heal naturally. Modern research continues to affirm the benefits of Yoga Nidra, showing significant reductions in anxiety, stress, and depression after guided mediation. Many participants report improved sleep, a deep sense of calm, and renewed energy.
Rather than driving to a yoga studio, lying on the floor, and driving back home again, the Well invites you to rest comfortably in your own home (in your PJs with your camera off, if you wish!). Suggestions for your comfort include:
· A quiet place to lie down or recline
· A pillow for your head and under your knees
· A blanket and socks for warmth
· If desired, an eye mask or pillow to block light
· A glass of water nearby
The Well is delighted to continue offering this deeply healing and restorative practice in collaboration with certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide, Yoga Instructor, and I Am Yoga Nidra Facilitator, Jamila Keita. If you are new to meditation, have never tried or been successful at meditation, or are just curious about yoga without any yoga poses, we encourage you to give Yoga Nidra a try. You will be amazed at how easily you will achieve a meditative state with Jamila’s gentle guidance and soothing voice.
Plus – Never Miss A Session! Each Yoga Nidra session will be recorded. The sessions are being offered twice a month on a Monday and Tuesday evening. A link to the recording will be emailed to registered participants the following day and will be available for three (3) days. You can listen as often as you like until the link expires after 3 days.
Give yourself (and maybe a loved one!) the gift of deep rest and relaxation. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you!
Hear from Jamila in this video where she describes in great detail what Yoga Nidra is and its benefits for mind, body, and spirit!

DATES: Mondays – 3/9, 4/6, 5/4, 6/8/26 and Tuesdays – 3/24, 4/21, 5/26, 6/30/26
TIME: 7:30 – 8:30 PM ET
COST: $20
LOCATION: ZOOM
REGISTRATION is required; please register here.
IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from programming@wellforthejourney.org at least 24 hours in advance of the start of your program. If you are unable to find the email, please check your SPAM or JUNK email folders. This email will include details to help you prepare for your program including any pertinent handouts, location information, and the ZOOM link for online programs. Please be sure you have received and read this email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the program. Thank you!
FACILITATOR: Jamila Keita
FACILITATOR BIO:
Hi! My name is Evangeline “Jamila” Keita. I’ve been practicing yoga for almost 25 years and decided to teach yoga as my “retirement job.” It was during my yoga training (YT200) that I was introduced to Yoga Nidra. Immediately after completing YT200 in 2014, I took my first Yoga Nidra training. Since that time, I’ve taken subsequent trainings in Yoga Nidra in 2017 and 2021. I love this practice.
During the shutdown, I found “nature therapy.” This led me to complete a course through “The Kripalu School of Outdoor Leadership” and become a KMOG (Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide).
I currently teach two yoga classes per week on Zoom. Each class includes poses and a short Yoga Nidra session. Since 2022, I have provided weekly Yoga Nidra sessions for Hopewell Cancer Support Center and occasional Mindful Outdoor Experiences (MOEs). Additionally, I work for Nature Worx, a non-profit that provides MOEs to persons in recovery and the general public.
I never imagined this second career as it is, but it seems like a natural evolution to me. I hope you enjoy my offerings.

The Wisdom Within: Awakening the Intelligence of Head, Heart & Body (3-Part Online Series)
2026-09-17 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-09-24 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-10-01 19:00 - 20:30
Each of us possesses three remarkable centers of intelligence—the thinking mind, the feeling heart, and the knowing body. Often referred to as the head, heart, and gut intelligence centers, these three “operating systems” are the ways we navigate reality. Each of us naturally favors one center over the others. While this preference serves us well in many situations, relying too heavily on a single way of engaging life causes an imbalance that can limit our perspective and veil the sacred wisdom waiting to be noticed in the other two centers. In some traditions, this imbalance or lack of harmony is considered the root of our deepest suffering.
In this three-part series, participants will discover their natural center of awareness while exploring the unique gifts of thinking, feeling, and embodied knowing. Through presentations, contemplative practices, guided reflection, and group dialogue, we will explore the unique strengths of each center and discover how bringing them into harmony can deepen our relationships, transform life’s challenges, and foster a more grounded, compassionate way of living.
Each session will focus on one of the centers and be facilitated by an experienced and compassionate Enneagram Coach:

September 17 – The Body/Gut Center – Bev Gorman
September 24 – The Heart/Emotion Center – Paula McCoach
October 1 – The Head/Thinking Center – Jay Davies

Join Bev, Paula, and Jay for this engaging and life-affirming program. No prior knowledge or experience regarding the centers or the Enneagram is needed.
DATES: Thursday, 9/17, 9/24, and 10/1/26
TIME: 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET
COST: $90
LOCATION: ZOOM
REGISTRATION is required. Please register here.
IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from programming@wellforthejourney.org at least 24 hours in advance of the start of your program. If you are unable to find the email, please check your SPAM or JUNK email folders. This email will include details to help you prepare for your program including any pertinent handouts, location information, and the ZOOM link for online programs. Please be sure you have received and read this email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the program. Thank you!
FACILITATORS: Bev Gorman, Paula McCoach, & Jay Davies
FACILITATOR BIOS:
Bev Gorman
Bev is a Riso-Hudson Certified Enneagram Teacher through the Enneagram Institute. She is a professional member of the International Enneagram Association and has been working since 2012 as an Enneagram coach with individuals and assists couples/partners in their relational strengths and challenges using the Enneagram as a guide. Bev’s greatest joy and passion in life is to come alongside those who are seeking to grow deeper in their self-understanding and awareness. She leads Enneagram workshops for schools, businesses, ministries, nonprofits and Board of Directors and Enneagram guided retreats for small groups, churches, and businesses. Bev is a retired registered nurse and works for Chesapeake Mental Health Collaborative on staff as a health/ life/enneagram coach.
Paula McCoach
Paula McCoach is a former teacher and counselor with a passion for the Enneagram’s transformative potential. As an experienced Enneagram teacher and coach, she specializes in helping others discover their Enneagram type and harness the power of their unique strengths. Based in Timonium, MD, Paula also dedicates her time to community service, volunteering with the fundraising department at the Lutherville Volunteer Fire Department.

Jay Davies
Jay Davies oversees Greater Than Ministries, through which he offers training and mentoring to help people connect emotional health with their faith. Jay spent 22 years with Youth For Christ directing programs, camps and conferences for Middle and High School students. He lives in Timonium with his wife and teenage daughter.

Women at the Well: What's Love Got to Do with It? Rewriting our Stories Through the Lens of Love (Online Program)
2026-09-23 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-09-30 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-10-07 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-10-14 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-10-21 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-10-28 10:00 - 11:30
Many claim it is impossible to love others without loving ourselves. When we look at essential aspects of wholeness, we find that caring for ourselves helps us better recognize the unshakable goodness in everyone and to love with fierce tenderness. Join us for a six-part series exploring themes of living in community, self-compassion, facing fear with love, self-forgiveness, setting healthy boundaries, and whole-hearted living.
Drawing from the wisdom of Gregory Boyle’s book, Cherished Belonging, Brené Brown’s book, The Gifts of Imperfection, and John O’Donohue’s book, Anam Cara, we will seek to rewrite our stories through the lens of love. There is no need to purchase or read these books to participate in the program.
Women at the Well is a spiritual companioning program open to all women seeking space to listen for, become more aware of, and respond to the Divine in their daily lives. This small group program includes time for reflection and sacred conversation in the community of other women on the journey.
Two sessions of this program will be offered – one In-Person at the Well and one Online. This website page is for the Online session.
Materials will be mailed to those registering for the online program. To be sure you have them prior to the start of the program, please register early and with the address where you want the materials mailed. Thank you!
DATE: Wednesdays – 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, and 10/28/26
TIME: 10:00 – 11:30 AM
COST: $135
LOCATION: Zoom
REGISTRATION is required; please register here. (Note that registration will close on 9/16 to allow for materials to be mailed to participants.)
IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from programming@wellforthejourney.org at least 24 hours in advance of the start of your program. If you are unable to find the email, please check your SPAM or JUNK email folders. This email will include details to help you prepare for your program including any pertinent handouts, location information, and the ZOOM link for online programs. Please be sure you have received and read this email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the program. Thank you!
FACILITATORS: Mabeth Hudson and Terri Smith
FACILITATOR BIOS:
Mabeth Hudson
Through her leadership and writing, Mabeth encourages people to listen to their inner wisdom, discover meaningful connections, grow through challenges, and better love and be loved in the nitty-gritty of everyday life. Mabeth is passionate about attending to the spiritual dimension of being human in a practical way, as it impacts all of one’s relationships. For over 20 years, she has been developing and leading programs for spiritual wellness, personal growth, and leadership development. Her workshops, classes, retreats, and writing offer accessible tools to integrate into daily life.
After practicing law for several years, Mabeth entered a discernment process which led to the co-founding of Well for the Journey in 2002.
Terri Smith
Terri is a retired professional educator who has a special interest in encouraging spiritual growth by honoring the different learning styles with multi-sensory exercises and creative exploration. As one of the founders of the Well, she develops curriculum and leads Women at the Well, facilitator training, and retreats. Terri believes that she is similar to many others in always seeking to enrich her spiritual growth and development. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the mother of three adult children.

Back to the Dirt: Down to Earth Spiritual Practices for Wounded Souls (Online Program)
2026-09-23 19:00 - 20:00
When coping with wounds of the soul, connection with Spirit can sometimes feel uneasy or uncertain. What brought comfort or connection before might fall short or even bring up pain now. But through a lens of spiritual wellness, tending to our souls and connecting with Spirit often furthers and deepens our healing.
Through gentle, earth-centered spiritual practice, we can engage in a more whole and connected spirituality that nourishes our spirits. The natural world offers a steady invitation to return to ourselves, reconnect with Spirit, and nurture the healing already unfolding within us.
In this program, eco-spiritual facilitator and guide Charity Muse will review types of spiritual wounds and the importance of tending them with care and compassion. Participants will then be guided through three eco-spiritual practices that can be easily replicated and incorporated into daily life. These practices include:

A reflection practice of re-membering our connections with nature
An embodied practice of recognizing the abundance present within the natural world
A practice of perspective taking and shifting to appreciation.

Participants will then have the opportunity to reflect and share their experiences of engaging in this down-to-earth spirituality. Copies of the practices will be provided for home use.
Weather permitting, some practices will take place outdoors. All activities can also be experienced indoors while gazing out a window, and alternative options will be offered as needed.
Join Charity for a gentle and grounding exploration of the healing wisdom found in the natural world.
DATE: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
TIME: 7:00 – 8:00 PM ET
COST: $25
LOCATION: ZOOM
REGISTRATION is required. Please register here.
IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from programming@wellforthejourney.org at least 24 hours in advance of the start of your program. If you are unable to find the email, please check your SPAM or JUNK email folders. This email will include details to help you prepare for your program including any pertinent handouts, location information, and the ZOOM link for online programs. Please be sure you have received and read this email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the program. Thank you!
FACILITATOR: Charity Muse
FACILITATOR BIO:
Charity Muse is an eco-spiritual facilitator and guide with a background in mental health, higher education, and ministry. She holds a Master’s of Science in Mental Health Counseling and is credentialed as a professional coach. She has extensive experience in working with spiritual trauma and training others to do the work. Charity is also a singer/songwriter, and her first novel Broken to Belong was published in 2022. She currently resides in Georgia with her wife and kids. Charity facilitates a small eco-spiritual community as part of the Wild Church Network. You can learn more about Charity and her music and eco-spiritual work at charitymmmuse.com.

Autumn Seasonal Reset: Invitation to Release and Harvest (Online Program)
2026-09-27 16:00 - 18:00
As Autumn arrives, nature invites us into a season of release, harvest, and gratitude. The air shifts, the light softens, and we find ourselves standing at a threshold — between the abundance of summer and the quiet stillness of winter. The Autumnal Equinox offers a rare moment of balance, when day and night stand equal, inviting us to restore balance in our own lives.
You are invited to join Spiritual Director and Coach, Lisa Beacham, for an Autumn Seasonal Reset to honor the rich, reflective energy of the season and the balancing power of the Equinox. This is a time to pause, acknowledge the fruits of your labor, and let go of what no longer serves you as you prepare for the months ahead.
Through guided reflection and the Personal Heart Compass tool, the Autumn Seasonal Reset invites you to:

Reconnect with your heart and inner wisdom.
Celebrate your personal harvest and cultivate gratitude.
Release what no longer serves you from the past season.
Explore themes of balance, abundance, and the wisdom of transition.
Create intentions to guide you through the changing season.

Whether you are in a season of new possibilities, endings, or somewhere in between, this gathering offers space to reset and re-align. Join a community of like-hearted individuals for a meaningful pause in your year — a time to step back from the busyness, reflect on your journey, and step into the next season with clarity, gratitude, and grace.
Let’s welcome Autumn together – with open hands, balanced hearts, and a deep sense of purpose.
DATE: Sunday, September 27, 2026
TIME: 4:00 – 6:00 PM ET
COST: $40
LOCATION: ZOOM
REGISTRATION is required; please register here.
IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from programming@wellforthejourney.org at least 24 hours in advance of the start of your program. If you are unable to find the email, please check your SPAM or JUNK email folders. This email will include details to help you prepare for your program including any pertinent handouts, location information, and the ZOOM link for online programs. Please be sure you have received and read this email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the program. Thank you!
FACILITATOR: Lisa Beacham
FACILITATOR BIO:
Lisa works with accomplished, spiritually minded men and women in their mid to late career who are feeling empty, burned out, and know they cannot continue doing what they’re doing. She helps them to create a fulfilling and impactful career and life path that will carry them through to retirement. Even after making bold moves and big transitions multiple times in her life, the decision at age 51 to leave a stable job, volunteer for a year in Haiti, and return to carve out a new career and life path was a challenging one. Listening for guidance, practicing discernment, and learning to embrace the support available for each step of the way has been transformative. Lisa creates a personalized approach for each of her clients based on their particular needs and goals. She draws upon an extensive set of practices and tools from her training and experience as a coach, spiritual director, Enneagram guide, and lifelong seeker and learner. In addition, she leads workshops and retreats.

The Gift of Deep Rest: An Hour of Yoga Nidra Meditation (Online Program)
2026-09-29 19:30 - 20:30, 2026-10-13 19:30 - 20:30, 2026-11-10 19:30 - 20:30, 2026-12-08 19:30 - 20:30, 2027-01-12 19:30 - 20:30
What comes to mind when you see the word “yoga?” Downward Dogs? Sun Salutations? Sitting on the floor with your legs in a pretzel? Well, think again!
Yoga Nidra means “yogic sleep” and the only movement involved is whatever it takes for you to recline in a comfy chair or lie down on a bed, sofa, or mat on the floor. This is a guided mindfulness meditation practice that helps to relax the mind and body by simply listening to the teacher’s prompts and resting in stillness. One hour of yoga nidra is said to be as restorative as four hours of sleep.
The yoga wisdom teachers of the past knew the importance of rest and relaxation for health and wellbeing and passed this practice down through the ages to us. As the mind slows down, the whirlwind of thoughts holding our attention begin to move away from us as we float in the space between waking and sleeping. As you disengage from stress-producing thoughts, the body, mind, and spirit begin to rest and heal naturally. Modern research continues to affirm the benefits of Yoga Nidra, showing significant reductions in anxiety, stress, and depression after guided mediation. Many participants report improved sleep, a deep sense of calm, and renewed energy.
Rather than driving to a yoga studio, lying on the floor, and driving back home again, the Well invites you to rest comfortably in your own home (in your PJs with your camera off, if you wish!). Suggestions for your comfort include:

A quiet place to lie down or recline
A pillow for your head and under your knees
A blanket and socks for warmth
If desired, an eye mask or pillow to block light
A glass of water nearby

The Well is delighted to continue offering this deeply healing and restorative practice with certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide, Yoga Instructor, and I Am Yoga Nidra Facilitator, Jamila Keita. If you are new to meditation, have never tried or been successful at meditation, or are just curious about yoga without any yoga poses, we encourage you to give Yoga Nidra a try. You will be amazed at how easily you will achieve a meditative state with Jamila’s gentle guidance and soothing voice.
Plus – Never Miss A Session! Each Yoga Nidra session will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to registered participants the following day and will be available for five (5) days. You can listen as often as you like until the link expires after 5 days.
Give yourself (and maybe a loved one!) the gift of deep rest and relaxation. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you!
DATE: Tuesdays – 9/29, 10/13, 11/10, 12/8/26, and 1/12/27
TIME: 7:30 – 8:30 PM ET
COST: $25 per session
LOCATION: ZOOM
REGISTRATION is required; please register here.
IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from programming@wellforthejourney.org at least 24 hours in advance of the start of your program. If you are unable to find the email, please check your SPAM or JUNK email folders. This email will include details to help you prepare for your program including any pertinent handouts, location information, and the ZOOM link for online programs. Please be sure you have received and read this email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the program. Thank you!
FACILITATOR: Jamila Keita
FACILITATOR BIO:
Hi! My name is Evangeline “Jamila” Keita. I’ve been practicing yoga for almost 25 years and decided to teach yoga as my “retirement job.” It was during my yoga training (YT200) that I was introduced to Yoga Nidra. Immediately after completing YT200 in 2014, I took my first Yoga Nidra training. Since that time, I’ve taken subsequent trainings in Yoga Nidra in 2017 and 2021. I love this practice.

During the shutdown, I found “nature therapy.” This led me to complete a course through “The Kripalu School of Outdoor Leadership” and become a KMOG (Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide).
I currently teach two yoga classes per week on Zoom. Each class includes poses and a short Yoga Nidra session. Since 2022, I have provided weekly Yoga Nidra sessions for Hopewell Cancer Support Center and occasional Mindful Outdoor Experiences (MOEs). Additionally, I work for Nature Worx, a non-profit that provides MOEs to persons in recovery and the general public.
I never imagined this second career as it is, but it seems like a natural evolution to me. I hope you enjoy my offerings.

Anam Cara - A Soul Care Group for Clergy, Chaplains, and Spiritual Caregivers (Online Program)
2026-10-05 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-11-02 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-12-07 10:30 - 12:00, 2027-01-04 10:30 - 12:00, 2027-02-01 10:30 - 12:00
Anam cara is an old Gaelic phrase meaning “soul friend”—a relationship grounded in deep listening, trust, compassionate presence, and welcome. In the Celtic spiritual tradition, the anam cara was someone with whom one could share the deepest parts of oneself and be received without judgment. Spiritual caregivers are often the ones creating this kind of meaningful space for others. For ministers, chaplains, spiritual companions, and others who offer soul care, the act of holding sacred space for others can come at the cost of your own spiritual nourishment. Where do you go to be held? Who tends to the person who is continually tending to others?
The Well’s Anam Cara is a space created just for you— a small, sacred community where spiritual caregivers (active, retired, or on sabbatical) can set down their roles, rest from responsibility, and receive the nourishment they so often offer to others, and simply be. Each session follows a spacious rhythm of connection and reflection, including check-in time with one another, reflection prompts, off-screen personal reflection time, optional sharing, and a closing blessing. This is intentional time to pause, breathe, listen inwardly, and receive.
We are honored to welcome back Cecilia Amaral for another year of Anam Cara. Cecilia brings extensive experience accompanying spiritual caregivers and clergy from many faith traditions, both individually and in groups, as well as working with denominational staff. Cecilia is uniquely gifted at holding compassionate space for those navigating the weight and complexity of spiritual companionship and leadership today.
Come be part of this nurturing sacred community. Let this be a season where your soul is tended with the same compassionate soul care you offer others.
DATE: Mondays – 10/5, 11/2, 12/7/26 and 1/4, 2/1, 3/1, 4/5, 5/3, and 6/7/27
TIME: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM ET
COST: In our ongoing effort to provide meaningful programming for all, we are pleased to offer three cost options for this program – $70, $90, $110. Please choose the option that works best for you.
LOCATION: ZOOM
REGISTRATION is required; please register here.
IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from programming@wellforthejourney.org at least 24 hours in advance of the start of your program. If you are unable to find the email, please check your SPAM or JUNK email folders. This email will include details to help you prepare for your program including any pertinent handouts, location information, and the ZOOM link for online programs. Please be sure you have received and read this email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the program. Thank you!
FACILITATOR: Cecilia Amaral
FACILITATOR BIO:
Cecilia Amaral has a deep commitment to encourage others to nurture authentic and thriving relationships with themselves, others, and their environments. Her decision to retire after more than 25 years as a Pastoral Psychotherapist and Educator has transitioned into her current practice as Spiritual Director and Certified Professional Life Coach. Cecilia’s integrated approach in companioning others on their journey leads to meaningful, personal, and relational transformation.

Cecilia began her involvement with the mission of the Well by referring clients to use the programs offered for their well-being. This evolved into her service as a board member, Board Chair, Circle Chair, and Spiritual Guide to the Board of Directors.

Living and Dying with Creativity and Joy (Online, 3-Part Series)
2026-10-05 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-10-12 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-10-19 18:30 - 20:00
Acknowledging that we will die may seem daunting, yet it can also open remarkable possibilities for living more fully and creatively. When we accept the reality of our mortality, we often discover deeper joy, greater presence, and a renewed appreciation for the time we have.
Sam Stebbins, certified end-of-life doula, grief educator and coach, frequent Death Café host, interspiritual counselor and seminarian, and retired family physician, invites participants into a thoughtful and creative exploration of life, spirit, and mortality. Through reflection, conversation, and experiential exercises, participants will explore how acknowledging the inevitability of death can deepen creativity, awaken joy, and enrich everyday living.
Session 1: Awareness and Deep Listening
Exploring awareness, deep listening to ourselves and to others, and the “Aha!” moments of insight that arise when we become more attentive to life. Participants will begin developing their own personal collection of spiritual practices and insights from various wisdom traditions.
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” — W. B. Yeats
Session 2: Exploring Death and Dying
We will gently explore what it means to acknowledge and accept death. Together we’ll reflect on presence, living in the moment, and how awareness of mortality can transform the way we live.
“I never knew it [dying] could be so sweet… like candy or chocolate.” — a recent client of Sam
Session 3: Creativity, Joy, and Surprise
Putting it all together: Cultivating joy, spontaneity, creativity, gratitude, and the wonderful surprises that rise up when we do so.
“The object isn’t to make art, it’s to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.” — Robert Henri
Come explore how creativity, spirit, and the awareness of our mortality can lead us toward a fuller, more meaningful way of living.
DATE(S): Mondays – October 5, 12, and 19, 2026
TIME: 6:30 – 8:00 PM ET
COST: $90
LOCATION: ZOOM
REGISTRATION is required. Please register here.
IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from programming@wellforthejourney.org at least 24 hours in advance of the start of your program. If you are unable to find the email, please check your SPAM or JUNK email folders. This email will include details to help you prepare for your program including any pertinent handouts, location information, and the ZOOM link for online programs. Please be sure you have received and read this email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the program. Thank you!
FACILITATOR: Sam Stebbins
FACILITATOR BIO:
Sam Stebbins is a retired family physician with a passion for serving people. He is a certified Interspiritual Counselor/Companion and an INELDA-trained and certified end-of-life Doula with an active practice in the DC Metro area. He is also a certified Grief Education Coach (David Kessler’s program), dedicated Hospice volunteer, and experienced Death Café facilitator. A happy husband, father, grandfather and pet caretaker, Sam is also seminary student in an interspiritual program who expects to be ordained in July 2026.

Noticing the Gifts: A Praying in Color Meditation with the Poetry of Mary Oliver (Online Program)
2026-11-23 19:00 - 20:30
“Every day I see or hear
something
that more or less
kills me
with delight…”
– Mary Oliver

As Thanksgiving approaches, we are invited to pause and notice the many gifts that surround us—both ordinary and extraordinary. Yet the invitation to live with gratitude is one we can carry with us every day. In her poem Mindful, Mary Oliver reminds us that a life of gratitude begins with the simple practice of being present to the world around us.
You are invited to start your Thanksgiving week in a guided, contemplative meditation inspired by Mindful. Together, we will listen deeply to Mary’s words as an invitation to awaken our senses, open our hearts, and cultivate a deeper awareness of the blessings woven into everyday life.
We will then spend unhurried time responding through the spiritual practice of Praying in Color—a simple, creative form of prayer and meditation that uses color and doodling to quiet the mind, focus the heart, and make space for insight and wonder.
No prior experience or artistic skill is needed. All you need is white paper and colorful doodling utensils such as colored pencils, markers, crayons, or pens. Lorie will guide each step of this gentle and meaningful practice.
Whether you are discovering Praying in Color for the first time or returning to a familiar practice, this spacious time offers a gentle space to notice, wonder, and give thanks for the gifts that are already here.
DATE: Monday, November 23, 2026
TIME: 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET
COST: In our ongoing effort to provide meaningful programming for all, we are pleased to offer three cost options for this program – $20, $25, $30. Please choose the option that works best for you.
LOCATION: ZOOM
REGISTRATION is required. Please register here.
IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from programming@wellforthejourney.org at least 24 hours in advance of the start of your program. If you are unable to find the email, please check your SPAM or JUNK email folders. This email will include details to help you prepare for your program including any pertinent handouts, location information, and the ZOOM link for online programs. Please be sure you have received and read this email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the program. Thank you!
FACILITATOR: Lorie Conway
FACILITATOR BIO:
Lorie has a passion for deep listening and accompanying others on their spiritual journeys through spiritual direction, small groups, and retreats. It is Lorie’s ongoing journey of transformation and spiritual discovery that fuels her desire to offer spiritual companioning to others. Lorie’s spirituality is rooted in the Christ tradition and is welcoming of the many paths and unique journeys enfolded within Divine Mystery. Lorie received her certificate in spiritual direction from the Kairos School of Spiritual Formation and holds a M.A. in Religion from Lancaster Theological Seminary and a M.A.S. in Behavioral Management & Human Resources from Johns Hopkins University. She is also a Veriditas trained Labyrinth facilitator and a SoulCollage® facilitator. Lorie is delighted to serve both on the programming staff at the Well and as a program and retreat facilitator. She is also Director of the Shalem Institute’s Transforming Community: Leading Contemplative Spiritual Groups & Retreats program.

Resisting the Rush: The Practice of Advent (Online Program)
2026-11-30 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-12-07 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-12-14 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-12-21 19:00 - 20:30
To the animals it makes all the difference.
Their hope, and the hope of all that breathes,
is that human ones abandon themselves to the One Great Love.
For that, all creation waits.
~ Gayle Boss, All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings

Advent is a season of waiting—not passive waiting, but the sacred practice of making space for what is coming. In the midst of busy days and full calendars, we are invited to resist the rush toward Christmas and instead pause, listen deeply, and make room for the mystery of One Great Love.
Join us online on Monday evenings during Advent for a time to slow down in sacred community. Drawing on stories from All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings by Gayle Boss, we will ponder the wisdom of animals as they respond to the changing season by slowing down, entering the darkness, and surrendering to the Mystery.
Each week will include an opening prayer and time of centering, a story from All Creation Waits, an invitation for reflection and deepening, and an opportunity to share or simply listen, as you feel comfortable.
Rather than adding one more thing to your Advent calendar, consider this invitation an act of resistance to the rush—a sacred pause in which to breathe, receive, and make room for the Mystery. In the company of one another and the creatures of the earth, we will listen for the quiet ways Love is being born among us.
Each week stands on its own, so you are welcome to join us for one, several, or all four as your Advent journey allows.
DATE: Mondays – 11/30, 12/7, 12/14, and 12/21/26
TIME: 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET
COST: $25 per week or $80 for all 4 weeks
LOCATION: Zoom
REGISTRATION is required; please register here.
IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from programming@wellforthejourney.org at least 24 hours in advance of the start of your program. If you are unable to find the email, please check your SPAM or JUNK email folders. This email will include details to help you prepare for your program including any pertinent handouts, location information, and the ZOOM link for online programs. Please be sure you have received and read this email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the program. Thank you!
FACILITATOR: Lorie Conway
FACILITATOR BIO:
Lorie has a passion for deep listening and accompanying others on their spiritual journeys through spiritual direction, small groups, and retreats. It is Lorie’s ongoing journey of transformation and spiritual discovery that fuels her desire to offer spiritual companioning to others. Lorie’s spirituality is rooted in the Christ tradition and is welcoming of the many paths and unique journeys enfolded within Divine Mystery. Lorie received her certificate in spiritual direction from the Kairos School of Spiritual Formation and holds a M.A. in Religion from Lancaster Theological Seminary and a M.A.S. in Behavioral Management & Human Resources from Johns Hopkins University. She is also a Veriditas trained Labyrinth facilitator and a SoulCollage® facilitator. Lorie is delighted to serve both on the programming staff at the Well and as a program and retreat facilitator. She is also Director of the Shalem Institute’s Transforming Community: Leading Contemplative Spiritual Groups & Retreats program.
