October’s Garden Gathering, with the autumn theme of The Sacred Shelter and the topic Hallowed Fellowship, invites you into the mystery of sacred protection — how we can move beyond the veils we wear to protect ourselves and discover the shelter of love, trust, and belonging. Inspired by the Byzantine feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, we will contemplate Mary’s protecting veil as a symbol of maternal intercession and divine care. Through journey journaling, deep dialogue, sacred stillness, sowing scripture, and a contemplative wonder walk, we will explore the boundaries and defenses we carry, what it means to be held in love, and how we can become a shelter for one another. We will conclude with a Hallowed Fellowship Family Feast, celebrating the holiness of hospitality and human connection. This gathering is about moving from self-protection toward sacred connection, discovering refuge in the midst of life’s uncertainties, and cultivating a fellowship where love can flourish.
About:
Location: St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, 246 E 15th St, New York, NY 10003
Date: Sunday, 25th of October 2026
Time: 12:00-16:00
Autumn Theme: Sacred Shelter
"Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” — John 19:27
October Topic: Hallowed Fellowship
Under the protecting veil of the Theotokos, discovering the sacredness of being sheltered — and sheltering one another.
The Garden Gathering x St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church
The Garden Gatherings have new themes every quarterly season. You are invited to bloom beyond yourself into a personal and collective communion with the sacred through contemplation, connection, and contribution. Together, we turn our stories from graves into gardens.
Read all about The Garden: bloombeyond.com/the-garden
Contributors:
Martine Sorthe (29) is the founder of Bloom Beyond (bloombeyond.com) and facilitates The Garden Gatherings. She is a creator by heart — a NOW BLOOM certified Christian Life Coach and a Clinical Psychology Student at the University of Oslo with interest in the overlap between psychology, theology, and art.
Join:
Join The Garden for monthly membership: bloombeyond.com/the-garden
Max 12 spots for this gathering.
RSVP your spot in The Garden Gatherings WhatsApp Group within the St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church NYC Community Group.
Overview:
12:00-12:15 — Greeting and Intro
Focus: Holding Hands, Connection
Activities: Warm Welcome, Introduction to The Garden Gatherings, Group Introductions
Purpose: To establish a welcoming and inclusive space where believers, seekers, and unbelievers can explore sacred protection, psychological safety, and the holiness of fellowship.
Contributor: Martine Madeleine Sorthe
12:15-13:00 — The Profane Veils We Wear
Focus: Journey Journaling, Contemplation / Deep Dialogue, Connection
Activities: Guided reflection on psychological defenses and healthy boundaries, personal journaling, paired or small-group dialogue.
Purpose: To recognize the protective patterns we have developed, discern which serve our well-being and which may limit connection, and explore how vulnerability can coexist with healthy boundaries.
Contributor: Martine Madeleine Sorthe
13:00-13:30 — Beneath the Sacred Veil
Focus: Sacred Stillness, Contemplation / Sowing Scripture, Contemplation
Activities: Introduction to the Protection of the Theotokos, Scripture meditation on John 19:26–27, contemplation of the feast's icon, guided silence and personal prayer or reflection.
Purpose: To encounter the theological meaning of Mary's maternal intercession and explore the possibility of receiving care, belonging, and spiritual shelter without denying life's vulnerability.
Contributor: Martine Madeleine Sorthe
13:30-14:00 — Break
Time for bathrooms, refreshments, rest, and informal fellowship.
14:00-14:30 — Walking With the Sacred Veil
Focus: Wonder Walk, Contemplation
Activities: Guided contemplative walk, observation of autumn's changing landscape, reflection on protection and hospitality, optional paired sharing.
Purpose: To carry the symbolism of the protecting veil into everyday life and contemplate how we can become a source of refuge, kindness, and belonging for others.
Contributor: Martine Madeleine Sorthe
14:30-15:30 — Hallowed Fellowship Family Feast
Focus: Family Feast, Contribution
Activities: Forming contributor teams, preparing and serving the meal, setting and decorating the table, sharing food and fellowship, and cleaning up together.
Purpose: To embody sacred hospitality through collective contribution, transforming individual acts of service into a shared experience of fellowship, belonging, and love.
Contributor: Martine Madeleine Sorthe & All Participants
15:30-16:00 — Outro and Farewell
Focus: Holding Hands, Connection
Activities: Closing circle, shared reflections, expressions of gratitude, optional holding hands, closing prayer, and introduction to the next Garden Gathering.
Purpose: To integrate the day's reflections, strengthen the sense of belonging, and encourage participants to carry the spirit of Hallowed Fellowship into their everyday lives. To conclude the autumn gathering with gratitude while introducing the winter theme of Hidden Holiness.
Contributor: Martine Madeleine Sorthe