The Women’s Association and Golden Agers hope you’ll come to our next New Life for Old Bags gathering. Join us as we recycle old plastic bags and turn them into something useful – sleeping mats for the homeless. NLOB is open to all ages – women, men, girls and boys. Come out to cut, make plarn (plastic yarn), crochet mats and chat. Meet others and visit with friends while volunteering for a worthwhile cause.

NLOB collaborates with other nonprofits to make sleeping mats for the homeless. Click here to visit our New Life for Old Bags page for more information about this program.

Date: Every second Sunday of the month (note: NLOB does not meet during April, August, or October).
Time: After Service – noon to 2:30
Where: MBT Social Hall (or large conference room if Social Hall is occupied)
Bring: If you can, bring plastic bags and No. 18 crochet needles (if you have them)
Register: No need to register

Refreshments will be served and welcomed!

Our annual Mochitsuki will be held on December 15 starting at 8:30 am and ending around 1:00 pm. During Mochitsuki our temple’s social hall transforms in to a noisy and joyful gathering centered around the tradition of pounding rice and making small cakes filled with sweetened azuki beans. The Japanese tradition of Mochitsuki was started many generations ago as a post-harvest celebration and it continues today as a social event that connects us to our past.

To make mochi Mochitsuki teams of hearty volunteers take turns pounding rice with wooden mallets in an ever accelerating pace until the rice becomes smooth. Other volunteers form the finished mochi into small disks that are either left plain or filled with sweetened azuki beans. Either way, fresh mochi is a delicious treat. To learn more about this tradition visit our Mochitsuki page.

Everyone is welcome to join in this tradition and don’t worry, many volunteers will be available to show you how to make mochi. We hope to see you at Mochitsuki!

Where: MBT Social Hall
When: December 15, 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
Register: There is no cost (unless you wish to purchase some mochi to take home) and no registration. If you have questions contact the temple office at office@mbtchicago.org or call 312.943.7801.

Join us as we ring in the New Year (literally!) We will hold our annual New Year’s Eve service at the temple where we’ll have a brief service followed by the traditional “ringing of the temple kansho bell” 108 times. After the service we’ll enjoy a traditional meal of soba (buckwheat) noodles which symbolizes longevity.

Where: Midwest Buddhist Temple
When: December 31, 7:30 pm
Registration: Please let us know if you plan to attend so we can prepare enough noodles!

Everyone is welcome to attend and for more information please email (office@mbtchicago.org) or call (312.943.7801) our office.

Join us for our annual New Year’s Day Service (Shu-sho-e) as we bring in the New Year with a renewed appreciation for the spiritual guidance of the Three Treasures (the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha). After service we will enjoy ozoni – a delicious traditional soup featuring fresh mochi (pounded rice).

Where: Midwest Buddhist Temple
When: January 1, 10:30 am
Registration: Please let us know if you plan to attend so we can prepare enough ozoni!

Everyone is welcome to attend and for more information please email (office@mbtchicago.org) or call (312.943.7801) our office.

Each Sunday we have our regular Shin (Jodo Shinshu) Buddhist Family Service. During Service, children’s classes are also available. Everyone is welcome to attend and for more information please visit our Family Service page or contact our office at 312.943.7801.

Dharma Talk by: Rev. Ron Miyamura
(please note: the scheduled speaker may change without notice)

Zen Shin is a unique practice of Meditation combining Shin Buddhism’s awareness of oneness with the discipline of Zen practices. At our sessions sitting and walking meditation styles are practiced and there is typically a brief talk about Buddhism.

Zen Shin Meditation is held twice each week on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. All are welcome to participate. Please visit our Zen Shin Meditation page for more information.