GreenFriends Get Growing Book Club

(Monthly event) Feb 24, 2024 to Apr 13, 2024 (ended)

Get Growing Book Club 2024, sponsored by MACC GreenFriends: Learn How to Grow Organic Vegetables Easily and Successfully

“Each family should plant a vegetable garden that can provide food for at least one day per month. Even apartment residents can grow vegetables in window boxes and on terraces.” - Amma

Here's how you can participate in this 3-session book club: 

Step 1: Get a copy of the Get Growing book written by GreenFriends – Ireland, available at multiple places:
a. The Amma Shop
b. Amazon Kindle download
c. MA Center Chicago bookstore

Step 2: Attend all 3 Get Growing book club sessions from 1-2 pm CST at the MA Center Chicago GreenFriends building on the following dates:
1. Saturday February 24 – Chapters 1-6 – Why grow? Thru Container Systems (26 pages)
2. Saturday March 23 – Chapters 7-12 Caring for Soil thru Natural Pest Control (31 pages)
3. Saturday April 13 – Chapters 13 – End of Book (42 pages) Bring your Grids and Vegetable Templates for your Garden.

Step 3: Get Growing!
a. In your own garden
b. Donate any surplus harvest to the MA Center Chicago kitchen or local food pantry.

Masking is now recommended in group gatherings and spaces at MA Center Chicago. Keeping the health and safety of all who wish to attend uppermost in our minds, please abide by the following Covid guidelines:

IIf you have any COVID symptoms, test immediately. If you test positive, isolate for 5 days after symptom onset. You can end isolation after 5 days but should wear a high-quality mask for 5 additional days around others. If you have severe symptoms for 5 days, please isolate for an additional 5 days. MA Center Chicago residents should notify a member of the COVID Preparedness Team to request help obtaining food/other supplies.

No testing is optional after international travel, unless you present symptoms.

If you have any questions, please email macenterchicago@ammagroups.org.

Monday
Nov
03
A Multi-Day Event
This year's AYUDH food and supply drive is underway! Please drop off nonperishable donations in the satsang hall for delivery to the local Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and Mission of Our Lady of the Angels (in downtown Chicago) in time for the holidays. Please check expiration dates on each item... more ›
Sunday
Dec
07
6:00am - 8:30am
"The silence that we acquire through prayer and meditation helps us find peace and true happiness in this noisy world." ~Amma Join us for a Silent Sunday Morning (with Swamini Ambikamrita Prana when she is here), starting with archana in the MA Center Chicago satsang hall at 6am, followed by... more ›
Sunday
Dec
07
8:00am - 2:00pm
Inspired by Amma's teachings, Mother’s Kitchen groups in North America prepare, cook and serve 150,000 meals for the homeless and hungry each year. At MA Center Chicago, on the first Sunday of every month, we prepare food in the MACC kitchen starting at 8AM and then serve it at a local shelter. If... more ›
Tuesday
Dec
09
8:00am - 9:00am
Location: South Lodge Community Room at MA Center Chicago Join us Tuesday mornings for an open yoga class with simple, gentle Amrita Yoga postures/asanas. No prior experience or training in Amrita Yoga is necessary.  "The purpose of Yoga is for our inner well-being. It does not belong to any... more ›
Tuesday
Dec
09
10:00am - 11:00am
The purpose of Yoga is for our inner well-being. It does not belong to any particular faith or religion. It was passed on to us by the ancient seers for the well-being of humanity.  Yoga helps us reconnect with nature and eventually become one with God. - Amma Please join us for gentle chair yoga... more ›
Saturday
Dec
13
2:30pm - 4:00pm
Amma says, "Bhajans are prayers in the form of songs, rich in meaning and full of devotional content." The MACC Bhajan Class meets virtually on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 2:30 to 3:45 pm. This class is offered for those who wish to learn bhajans and study devotional songs and... more ›
Saturday
Dec
13
2:30pm - 3:30pm
"A river that flows through many branches will not have a powerful current. If the branches are redirected and the river is redirected to flow only through the main stream, the force of the current will increase greatly. It may even be possible to generate electricity from such a strong current.... more ›
Saturday
Dec
13
3:00pm - 4:30pm
Amrita Bala Kendra (ABK) passes on Amma’s teachings to children through fun and engaging activities such as stories, bhajans, arts and crafts, celebration of festivals and service projects. ABK focuses on values, multi cultural traditions, and spiritual practices.  ABK is held in-person in the MA... more ›
Saturday
Dec
13
4:00pm - 7:30pm
Amma says, "Satsang has the power to turn our minds towards good thoughts. Children, don't waste any opportunity to participate in satsang." Join us Saturdays in the MA Center Chicago satsang hall for a community satsang, which starts with group archana at 4pm, and is typically followed by bhajans... more ›
Sunday
Dec
14
6:00am - 8:30am
"The silence that we acquire through prayer and meditation helps us find peace and true happiness in this noisy world." ~Amma Join us for a Silent Sunday Morning (with Swamini Ambikamrita Prana when she is here), starting with archana in the MA Center Chicago satsang hall at 6am, followed by... more ›

All are welcome to join the ashram residents for daily spiritual practices in the satsang hall:

WHITE FLOWER MEDITATION

Sunday through Friday at 5:50 pm (starts with 10-minute silent Ma Om meditation)

Amma requests everyone to regularly practice this meditation once or twice a day for the benefit of the entire world. Join us live or via Zoom: https://bit.ly/maccmed 

Meeting ID: 828 7832 9402

Passcode: 092753

One tap mobile

+13092053325,,82878329402#,,,,*092753# US
+13126266799,,82878329402#,,,,*092753# US (Chicago)

EVENING BHAJANS

Sunday-Friday at 6:30 pm (in-person only)

  • Guru Stotram chanting
  • Bhajans (devotional singing)
  • Closing prayers and arati