To Enter the Virtual Chapel zoom room click HERE
To contribute to the overhead costs of our community click HERE
Our community has a few different aspects to it. We do community primarily on Zoom and Facebook, each has its own section below. Whether you’re new to the community or a long time friend, we hope this article will help to explain to you how everything works. It is pinned to the top of all our Facebook groups if you ever need to find it again and we will keep it updated as things inevitably change and adapt, so check back periodically.
You can explore our website by using the search bar at the bottom of every page or by using the main menu. If you’re on your computer the menu will be a row of headings underneath the photo at the top of this page, if you’re on your phone it will show as a drop down menu instead. We hope you will take the time to explore all that our website has to offer.
We maintain a safe and welcoming space where differences are encouraged and kindness is required.
Zoom Meetings
Below is the calendar for our zoom meetings followed by an explanation of each kind of meeting.
Chapel
Chapel meetings are the heart of what we do. They are led by various members of our community and each person brings their own insights to our time together. We usually follow the same format, but each meeting takes on a life of its own and you never know exactly what to expect. The order of the meetings is:
- 15 min of fellowship
- A short reading
- 15 min of silence
- A longer reading
- About an hour of discussion and sharing
We meet this way twice each week, the dates and times are in the calendar above as well as who is leading each meeting. Chapel meetings start at 4:00 pm est on Mondays and 12 pm est on Saturdays. Please remain muted during the silence as small noises become distracting when there is no other sound.
The second Monday of each month is a communion service led by one of our volunteers. The theme and format vary from month to month, but they often reflect the liturgical season. Eight times a year, during a regular Saturday meeting, we have a communion service for the solstices, equinoxes, and cross quarters. The dates are in the calendar.
The liturgies for communion and the readings for each Chapel meeting are posted in The Virtual Chapel Facebook group a day or two ahead of time. You can use the link at the top of this page to join. The link to this page is also included with each post in the Chapel Facebook group.
Everyone is welcome to join us. You don’t need to register ahead of time. You can come and go as you please, there’s no concern about arriving late or leaving early. We maintain a safe and welcoming space where differences are encouraged and kindness is required.
Silence
Our silent meetings are exactly what they sound like – an hour of complete silence. We meet in the Chapel zoom room, arriving in silence and leaving in silence. Silent meetings happen every Friday at 2 pm est. Everybody is welcome to join and you don’t have to stay for the entire time. Come and go as you please. If you are comfortable doing so, we ask that you leave your camera on and your mic off throughout the entire meeting. That way we can feel connected to one another even though we are not speaking. Some people choose to keep a candle going as a means to center and connect with the group.
Book Group
Our book study group meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 4:00 pm est in the Chapel zoom room. There are also discussion questions and other posts about the book posted in The Virtual Chapel Facebook group. If you are interested in the book group and would like to learn more, make a post in the Chapel and someone will be sure to respond.
Below is a link for our public page as well as the Facebook groups we facilitate. Each one serves its own purpose and you will get the most out of our community by learning what they are for. The titles below are clickable and will take you directly to Facebook.
In Search of a New Eden
This is the public Facebook page for New Eden Ministry. You can like and follow the page to receive more content (articles and memes) from us on your newsfeed. As this is a page and not a group, you cannot post to it yourself and you will not see posts from anyone else by following it.
The Virtual Chapel
The Virtual Chapel is a private Facebook group. That means only people in the group can see posts and what you post cannot be shared outside of the group. We keep it private to help it be a safe space to open up with others. It is where most of our community activity happens. You are welcome to share about your spiritual journey, ask questions you need some insight on, and be in community with us. We ask that when you post in The Chapel you keep in mind the following guidelines:
1. Comment more than you post. The best conversations happen when a dialogue can grow in a single post. Try to keep new posts to 1 per day.
2. When you make a new post, please have it be something that can start a discussion. If you’re sharing a meme you found, write a short explanation of why you like it and ask an engaging question to go with it.
3. Ask yourself if The Chapel is the right place for what you’re sharing. Are you also sharing to a bunch of other groups? Is it a resource better suited to one of our other groups?
4. Ask lots of questions. It can mean the whole world to someone when a person expresses interest in what they have to say. We all have the ability to be a shining light in someone else’s dark day and that’s a big part of what we’re here for.
5. Don’t be afraid to speak up. You don’t have to have it all figured out to be part of the conversation. We are all fumbling through faith and we want you to feel you have a space to be heard. Even though some of these guidelines may feel restrictive, they are actually meant to give space for your longings and questions to be heard.
6. Be kind and considerate. We welcome a wide diversity of voices but have a zero tolerance policy for aggressive or inappropriate behaviour. Ours is a safe space for all kinds of people and we take compassion very seriously.
Celtic Christianity
This group is focused entirely on Celtic Christianity, including the early medieval Christians of Ireland and Britain as well as contemporary writers and practitioners. We welcome material that is relevant to Celtic Christianity such as Anglo-Saxon or desert spirituality but the group is focused quite specifically on the Celtic tradition, its sources, and influences. If you are interested in learning more about Celtic Christianity or want to share what you already know then this is the group for you. Our intention is to curate a space where the Celtic Christian tradition can grow and thrive.
This is a public Facebook group. Because it is public anyone can see the posts and they can be shared with the world. New posts are held for review and approval by our moderators and only posts that are on topic will be approved. We welcome a variety of perspectives and ask that you be respectful of others even if you disagree with them.
Contemplative Christianity
This is a group dedicated to the contemplative life, including traditional monasticism, new monasticism, contemporary contemplatives, mysticism, meditation, and spiritual practice. It is a place where spiritual seekers of all kinds come together to share resources, learn from one another, and engage in meaningful conversations. While we are rooted in the Christian tradition, we are open to wisdom from all faiths and backgrounds. If you desire to live a contemplative life, already do live one, or teach others about contemplation, this is the group for you.
This is a public Facebook group. Because it is public anyone can see the posts and they can be shared with the world. New posts are held for review and approval by our moderators and only posts that are on topic will be approved. We welcome a variety of perspectives and ask that you be respectful of others even if you disagree with them.
The idea of virtual community is a new one in the history of the world. Never before have people been able to form the type of daily and personal friendships we see happening all around the world with people they have never met face to face. To all the generations who came before us, the mystery and potential of social media and other online resources would be nothing short of a magical realm, something from the tales of wizards and fairy folk. This uncharted territory is what we are currently exploring. Our community is constantly growing, adapting, and finding new ways to make the best of this magnificent and endless space.
I would like to give a big shout out to all the volunteers who make this possible by offering their wisdom, time, and kindness. You are all VERY much appreciated and loved. There are many volunteers who work together to keep the community healthy and engage with people’s questions and comments. The moderators approve new posts to make sure that we are able to stay focused and that nothing inappropriate is shared, please report anything inappropriate to the moderators.
While New Eden Ministry is a community with many dedicated members, they are all volunteers and not employees. As such they are not responsible for anything that happens or the conduct of any person. If you have any concerns please contact Justin directly by email: justin@newedenministry.com