Overview
From September 2025 through June 2026 we will be working on studying and living according to the Ten Commandments. We hope that you will join us in this work.
There will be monthly Sunday worship services, monthly seminars using the Rise Above It program, and monthly small groups.
Come to the Kickoff Event!
The best way to learn about what we have planned is to come to the Rise Above It Community Supper on September 5th.
Register for Rise Above It
We also would love for you to register for Rise Above It. If you are not ready yet, you can also register at the kickoff event. Read more about the program below and contact us if you have any questions about the program or registration.
Invitation from Ray and Star
The Vision
Bryn Athyn Church will be focusing on the Ten Commandments this school year in monthly worship services and special events. A significant part of this focus will be inviting you to join large and small groups to study and practice the Ten Commandments using the Rise Above It books by Ray and Star Silverman. We are thrilled to have the authors Ray and Star Silverman leading this effort!
What is Rise Above It?
Rise Above It is a book, a seminar and, most importantly, a way of life. It was created by Ray and Star Silverman as a course in 1989 and published as a book in 2000. Over the past twenty years, Rise Above It has been taught in a variety of settings (college campuses, prisons, religious centers, and homes) across America and in several countries around the world. This course combines spiritual principles with the latest research in the field of marriage education—all within the faith-based framework of the Ten Commandments.
Program Structure
This year's program will be run differently from previous Rise Above It programs.
- There will be 2-hour seminars, once a month, from September 2025 through June 2026.
- These seminars will be on the 2nd Wednesday of the month in Heilman Hall with Ray & Star.
- There will be a total of 10 sessions.
What Will Happen at the Seminars?
- Class begins promptly at 7:00 pm
- Welcome and warm-up exercises
- Brief review of the commandment followed by Group Sharing
- Break (10 minutes)
- Class resumes after the break.
- Introduction of the next commandment
- Exercises and group work
- Class ends promptly at 9:00 pm
How Will Groups Work?
During the seminars, people will share with each other at tables. Some people will do this with a pre-established group of people; others will do this with whomever they happen to sit near at a given seminar. You can let us know on the registration form whether you already have a group, would like to join a consistent group, or would share with different people each time you attend a seminar.
You will also have the option to meet with your group members midway through the month for discussion, inspiration, and community building.
Facilitators Needed
We envision one facilitator per table. These facilitators will serve as hosts and greeters, making sure that everyone understands the basic rules for group sharing. Facilitators will simply read a condensed version of the "Rules of Etiquette for Sharing and Listening," before the sharing session begins. For more information about what facilitating entails, please contact Clark Echols at 513-284-1236 or jcechols@gmail.com
Suggested Donation (All proceeds go to the BACS Scholarship Fund)
Rise Above It Book - $10 per book
Rise Above It Program for an individual - $125
Rise Above It Program for a couple - $200
Rise Above It Program for Seniors - $50 per person
Rise Above It Program for Enrolled Students - $Free
Rise Above It Program for Facilitators - $Free
Note: Do not order books on Amazon. They will be available at discounted prices at the event.
What if I can't afford the cost?
If you can't afford that cost, we still want you to attend the program, and we are happy for you to pay what you can, when you can. Please get in touch with Nina (nina.dewees@brynathynchurch.org) for more information.
What do I get for the cost of registration?
- 10 seminars (20 hours of first-class instruction and facilitation) led by Ray and Star Silverman
- Some snacks and surprises throughout the year
- Access to video recordings of the seminars (in case you miss one of them)
Are books included in the registration cost?
No, because many people already have a book. You can buy a book for the discounted price of $10 at the event on Sept. 5th or Sept. 10th.
What if I want to donate more?
We're so glad you asked. 🙂 There is a spot on the registration form where you can donate to support the program, if you have the financial ability to do so. As you would expect, putting on a program like this comes with many costs, and donations help to offset those costs.
What if I can't commit yet to the whole year?
It's tricky to sign up for a whole year when you don't know what your year will hold. Please still register so that we can be prepared for you with a name tag, materials, and a chair for you.
If you miss any sessions, you'll be able to watch the videos and we think that you'll be so enriched that you'll want to make it to as many as you can in person.
It is also just fine for you to start the program later in the year. It will be a bummer to have missed some of the sessions, but you can join in whenever it fits into your life.
About the Speakers
Ray and Star Silverman are authors, teachers, and program developers who lead seminars on spiritual development, creative conflict transformation, and relationship enhancement. Their popular seminar, Rise Above It: Spiritual Development through the Ten Commandments has been taught across America, as well as in Africa, Japan, Korea, France, Brazil, England, Sweden, Australia, and in the Philippines. Portions of their first book have been translated into Czech, Swedish, Japanese, French, Portuguese, and Korean. Their new book, Rise above It: Spiritual Development for College Students, summarizes and synthesizes their experience of teaching this course to college students over the past eighteen years. Additionally, they have completed the first draft of Rise Above It: Spiritual Development for Educators (2025), and are making plans for a fourth book in the series, Rise Above It: Spiritual Development for Couples.
Star has an MA in Education (University of Denver). Ray has a PhD in English and Education (University of Michigan), a MAT in English (Wesleyan University), and an MDiv (Bryn Athyn College). Ray servs as Professor Emeritus of Religion and English at Bryn Athyn College. He has also taught at Lincoln University, Urbana University, Mercer University, and the University of Michigan. He is the editor/reviser of Helen Keller's spiritual autobiography, Light in My Darkness, and has written the introduction to Helen Keller's How I Would Help the World, a USA Book Awards finalist. His book, The Core of Johnny Appleseed, was published in 2012 by the Swedenborg Foundation.
In 1986, Ray and Star became certified Marriage Enrichment Trainers (Association of Couples for Marriage Enrichment), studying with David and Vera Mace, the founders of the marriage enrichment movement. They have also completed training sessions in PREP: Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (with Susan Blumberg, Scott Stanley, and Howard Markman), PAIRS (with Lori Herman Gordon), Imago: Couplehood as a Spiritual Path (with Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt), Life Coaching with Couples (with Patrick Williams and Lisa Kramer), and The Ultimate Relationship Program (with Tony Robbins and Chloe Madanes). They have presented at Smart Marriages in Boulder and San Francisco on The Spiritual Dimensions in Marriage and are planning another book in the Rise Above It series, Rise Above It: Spiritual Development for Couples.
Ray and Star have been married since 1976. They have seven children and thirteen grandchildren. They currently live in Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania.
FAQ's
Will there be food, or can I bring food?
Please eat dinner before the event. Refreshments (like coffee and snacks) will be provided during the program break.
How will the room look?
There will be round tables to seat around 8 people at each table. You will sit with your small group.
Can my children come to the seminars?
Anyone from 9th grade and up is invited to join Rise Above It.
Can I live-stream these events?
No, these events will be recorded, but not available for live streaming.
A rough cut version of the recordings will be made available to people registered for the program, within about a week of when the seminar happens. These recordings will only include the presentation sections from Ray and Star; they will not include things like people's personal testimony. You'll need to come in person to experience those.
What about my young children?
Your children are invited if they are in 9th grade or older. If not, we would love to still have you! We are not providing childcare, but we are happy to contribute $25 each month toward babysitting costs; please let us know if you would like help with that.
How do I register? How do I pay?
You can fill out the online registration form, or you can fill out a paper registration form at the Community Supper.
You can pay with a credit card or a check made payable to "Bryn Athyn Church."
Please note that the March 2026 and June 2026 monthly scheduled meetings may conflict with various school events. We will provide an update on a makeup date once the program begins.
Additional Resources
Listen to Ray & Star Silverman on the Ethan Lewin Podcast.
Clark Echols' invitation to become a facilitator:
About the Rise Above It books
If you want to enter into life – a joyful, peaceful, vibrant, and deeply spiritual life – the path is simple: believe in God and keep the commandments. Sometimes, however, this is easier said than done.
The Rise Above It books explore each of the Ten Commandments and demonstrate how we can apply them in our daily lives. Drawing from different sacred texts, including the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, these books show how, by living a life according to the commandments, we can be happier not only here on earth, but also as we continue on into the next life.
Filled with candid and inspiring journal entries from seminar participants, and enriched by the teachings of the great religions, these books invite you to enter into a life of ever-increasing love, wisdom, and service.
There are 3 different versions of the book available:
- Rise Above It: Spiritual Development Through the Ten Commandments (2000; 276 pp)
- Rise Above It: Spiritual Development for College Students (2018; 310 pp)
- Rise Above It: Spiritual Development for Educators (2025 just completed; 280 pp)
These books will all be available for the discounted price of $10 per book. You can get the discounted price if you buy the books at one of our events.
Upcoming Rise Above It Dates
Contact
If you have thoughts or questions, please email nina.dewees@brynathynchurch.org or lana.tang@brynathynchurch.org.