Short History of the Kalamazoo Meditation Group
The Kalamazoo Meditation Group has been meeting continuously for meditation services since 1973. For many years services were held in the private residences of members who had generously opened up the doors of their homes to others seeking God-realization through meditation. The following are some highlights of the history of the group:
The Kalamazoo Meditation Group was formed in 1973. Meeting in a private home in Kalamazoo, the first one hour meditation was held with three members in attendance, Martha, Al and Carol.
By 1975 the group had grown, and the members decided to hold both Sunday and Thursday services.
In the summer of 1977, a Sunday school was formed to accommodate the needs of the growing members' families. The first Sunday School class students were Hannah, Bethany, Anna, Jason and Ben.
In the Spring of 1981 the meditation group moved to a member’s home near Paw Paw. The group moved to various other locations within member’s homes over the following years.
By 1994 many new members had joined so the group and rented office space at the Holiday Terrace Office complex on 11th Street in Kalamazoo for use as a chapel. Attendance at services soon outgrew even this space. In 1996, a committee explored the idea of building a chapel and presented its concepts to the Kalamazoo Meditation Group for approval. Thanks to the generous donation of two acres of land by a local member, the decision was made to build a chapel in suburban Antwerp Township, east of Paw Paw.
The group remained in the rented office space until the newly constructed chapel at 51755 30th St, Paw Paw, was ready for occupancy. The first services and Sunday school were held in the new chapel in September of 1997, followed by the formal dedication of the chapel in November of 1997.
As of 2011, the group continues to hold regular weekly Sunday and Thursday meditations, with additional meditations scheduled. Other meditations are scheduled for special events, and are posted on the website calendar. Sunday school is held twice monthly (every other Sunday) except during the summer months.
Highlights of the chapel construction project.
| 1997 | |
| January | Group approves chapel construction project |
| March | Legal partnership formed to administer the project |
| May | Zoning approved by Township |
| May | Groundbreaking Ceremony. |
| September | First worship service |
| October | Certificate of Occupancy from Township |
| November | Chapel Consecration |
| 1999 | |
| October | Mortgage paid off |
