By Patricia Alexander
“We may work and live in Atascadero,” said Rev. Dr. Terry zumMallen, “but we believe in the oneness we have with the whole community. That’s why we have always reached out to be a positive influence in the county.”
Rev. Dr. Terry and her husband, Rev. Dr. Frank zumMallen, are the much-beloved spiritual leaders of Awakening Ways Spiritual Community, which has been meeting in Atascadero for ten years. It is a New Thought community in the tradition of Religious Science that attracts people throughout the entire county to its Sunday gathering at Atascadero’s Pavilion on the Lake.
“We appreciate this area so much,” said Dr. Frank. “It is important to us to reach out beyond ourselves. That’s why we are active supporters of RISE here in Paso, which offers crisis intervention and treatment services to survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence. We also donate to Woods Humane Society and Friends of Atascadero Lake and have a special volunteer crew that works on the Highway Cleanup between Del Rio Road and San Ramon Road. AWSC has been longtime participants in serving meals and raising money for the El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) and are weekly contributors of food to Loaves & Fishes, as well as clothes to NCI Thrift Shops. We’re committed!”
Awakening Ways embraces the belief that there are many roads that lead to the divine…
Awakening Ways embraces the belief that there are many roads that lead to the divine, that there is a Oneness that connects us all, and that all life is interdependent. They offer a meditation time prior to their 10 a.m. gathering each Sunday, a special children’s group, and many classes and social opportunities to inspire personal growth and connection. They are also offering an unusual world peace meditation from 4 to 5 a.m. on the morning on December 31 at AW’s Atascadero offices at 7350 El Camino Real, Suite 101. This is a very special meditation that happens at the same time every year all over the world.
“Over the ten years of our existence, we’ve noticed that about half of the people who attend our gatherings are from Paso Robles,” said Rev. Terry. “We’re pleased that our teachings and welcoming community have attracted so many Paso residents. We look forward to welcoming more Paso people in the upcoming year and continuing our service to the county where we all live.”
