Deepening Community:

Change is upon us.   Whether we like it or not, it is here. We can balk and resist, but it will do no one any good. What is one solution to the challenges ahead of us? For me, it is to deepen our sense of community. When times are tough, there are always hidden treasures to be found. We have recently completed a Service dedicated to recognizing the “treasure” hidden in trauma (“From Trauma to Treasure”).

We can use the environmental/economic/political challenges of our times to propel us forward, to develop ourselves in new ways, not only to better manage what lies ahead, but to grow in ways which will forever enhance the quality of our lives. Perhaps we can comfort one another, cheer one another on, offer help in different ways, offer our heart’s compassion, encouragement and even share skills with each other. Perhaps our simple presence with each other is enough!

Safety, Belonging, Community as Circle and Intimacy are the topics we will cover this month, as we encourage everyone to consider deepening community, not only amongst our Church community, but in other communities we are involved with as well.

It is up to us to create the future we want for ourselves.   Isolation or intimacy, separation or oneness? What will we choose? Can we make this planet a thriving healthy one through individual plans and gains, or do we need to learn to consider each other in a caring communal global plan?

Please join us as we explore community, what it means, what we need to do to make it happen for us, and to develop deeper connections within our Community of Conscious Living.

Cedona Holly,  Spiritual Directions Committee

Sunday Service Schedule for September

Theme:  Deepening Community

September 5 Safety in Community

Moderator- Marvelous Trudeau

Meditator- TBA

Panel – Paul Monfette & Marvelous Trudeau

Sept.12th Community as Circle

Moderator- Joyanna Wilkinson

Meditator- Norm Smookler

Speaker – Andre Spencer

Sept.19th Community Service:  Sense of Belonging

Panel - Spiritual Directions Committee  (Pass the mic)
Moderator – June Swadron

Meditation – Marie Logan

Sept. 26th Community Service:  Invitation to Intimacy

Moderator –  Deborah Hawkey

Meditation – Laura Lane

THE POWER OF STORY:

This theme for this month of August 2010 is called The Power of Story. On each Sunday of this month the Spiritual Directions Committee has chosen to show a progression from the Power of story telling, Lessons from the tree of life, Using humor to go beyond story, then Trauma to treasure and on the last Sunday we will feature the community service.  We hope to show the whole range of the importance of story telling.

The oral narrative was a highly developed, sophisticated medium supported by ages of old teachings and explanations that were based on fact, observations, oral claims and contracts.  People’s lives and the health of the group were sustained by shared knowledge and experiences.

Good story tellers possess a capacity for connectedness.  The connections made by good story tellers are held not in their methods, but in their hearts- -meaning hearts in the ancient sense, as this is the place intellect emotion and spirit meet.

As story tellers share personal stories of their experiences, others can respond by sharing their own stories within a trusting relationship.  Equality.  Not one expert opinion.  An experience that will benefit everyone.

Sometimes we need stories more than food to stay alive.  It’s hard to dislike anyone who’s story you have heard.

All you are is story.  When you pass over, the stories, told by you and about you are all that remain.

Your spiritual essence.     Marvelous Trudea SDC

Sunday Service Schedule for August 2010

THEME:  THE POWER OF STORY

AUGUST 1     THE POWER OF LEGENDS AND STORY TELLING

SPEAKER—Andre Spencer

MODERATOR—Marvelous Trudeau
MEDITATION—Deborah Hawkey
AUGUST 8     STORIES WITHIN STORIES FROM THE TREE OF LIFE

SPEAKER—Carol Douglas

MODERATOR—Nikki Menard
MEDITATOR—Arkady Isakov

AUGUST 15 FROM TRAUMA TO TREASURE

PANEL: 1. Deborah Hawkey   2. Jan Falkowski   3. Paul Monfette

MODERATOR — Cedona Holly
MEDITATOR—Joe Carlson

AUGUST 22     USING HUMOR TO GO BEYOND THE STORY

SPEAKER- Bob Winkenhower

MODERATOR—Ella Brown

MEDITATION—D. Joan Thomas

AUGUST 29   COMMUNITY SERVICE—TELL US YOUR STORY

MODERATOR-Deborah Hawkey

MEDITATOR-Cedona Holly

SELF-CARE

I am sitting with my herbal Allergy tea, after putting today’s food and sketch book purchases away, washing the dishes and wiping down counters and stove in preparation for writing this article. The inner critic-editor is already at work, ready to pounce on any perceived flaw or mistake. I am ready, having flushed the critic out into the open and taken care of those little mundane tasks, which if left undone seem to niggle somehow in the background.

Self-care and looking after the day to day details of life is so important yet some-day’s elusive.

Spending the past three months convalescing after a surgery which reattached a broken piece of my femur knuckle to the rest of my femur with three stainless steel screws, I have quite a bit of contact with our Health are system. Western medicine is good for fixing broken bones and the like but does not take a wholistic approach to the individual. Everybody knows that our health care system and health aren’t in alignment. The good news is we don’t have to eat hospital food and there are many good alternatives.

A couple of weeks back, loading myself and crutches in a friends car’ we made a trip up to Cowichan. Self Care. The companionship of a friend, traveling with new eyes through the primeval forests of Goldstream, up and over spectacular Malahat views, down the other side to Cowichan Station where my friends have an acreage along the meandering Kokesilah River. Lush from recent rains, the sun’s rays bring out a multiplicity of green hues. Verdant. Peaceful. Euphoric.

We hang out in each others presence, open, exploring, lunching together and accept an invitation to stay for dinner.

Self-care, company of friends, surrounded by nature, good wholesome food, sunshine and Water River. Just like much of the natural world, nurturing and growth happen when I plant myself in the right environment.

We have come to dig up and take home some Comfrey Root, also known as knit-bone and harvest some Stinging Nettles. Both to help promote the healing of my knee. My friends do the digging and gathering for me. I and we four-wheel crutch and walk to the meandering River edge, where we each in our own way spend a little time in sacred communion with garbling River Spirit.

We drive home that night having given ourselves over to the gift of company, planting ourselves in the renewing energies of nature, resourced to a place of knowing and peace… Self-care… Whole and healthy. Refreshed…. Whole and healthy.

Take Care of Your-Self

Paul Monfette SDC

Sunday Service Schedule for July 2010

TOPIC OF THE MONTH:  SELF CARE

JULY 4 - PANEL DISCUSSION: INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW SDC

SPEAKERS—Cedona Holly, Nikki Menard, Marvelous Trudeau, Paul Monfette

MODERATOR—Deborah Hawkey

MEDITATION—Carole Douglas

JULY 11 – PANEL: THE MANY FACES OF SELF CARE

SPEAKERS— Ella Brown,  Clive Langton, RawBC, and Alisa Kage

MODERATOR—Paul Monfette

MEDITATOR—Joe Carlson

JULY 18 – SPIRITUAL SELF CARE

SPEAKER— Rev. Cedona Holly

MODERATOR — Jan Fakowski

MEDITATOR—Cedona Holly

JULY 25 -  COMMUNITY SERVICE: WHERE ARE YOU WITH SELF CARE

FACILITATOR FOR DISCUSSION—Deborah Hawkey

MODERATOR—Cynthia Pattison

MEDITATION—Bernadine Sperling

PREJUDICE BUSTING

From my observation, this is for you and me. At some point in our lives, or even now, we have some form of prejudice. I would like to claim: “everyone else has prejudice, except for me” but the reality is I am not free of prejudice. I am aspiring to change it by being conscious of my/others language and reframing my thoughts, comments, perceptions and heart.

The dictionary has many definitions and I chose two:

1. The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or convictions

2. An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts.

The media has more than covered this topic on prejudice and its victims and it also has articles, which are detrimental to increasing prejudicial thoughts of groups, cultures etc. Socialization, conditioning and beliefs have permeated our cells and memories with all kinds of notions on people, places and things. Often we think these are harmless thoughts; for example, in our off colored jokes or strong opinions, such as men are….,women are…generalizations to name but a few. We have all had thoughts, though they seem harmless to us at the time. However, they do impact the recipient: our loved ones, our neighbours, co-workers and even ourselves.

Here is an example. Years ago I attended Co-dependents Anonymous, a twelve-step program. When I got there, I thought “who are these people”. They have so many problems. They all look like losers. I don’t want to be here with these people. I was judging them with all kinds of ill-informed information and preconceived ideas. Then I realized that I WAS one of them, being a person who needed help and support and love, instead of allowing fear to take over.

What is it that we say about ourselves, OR how we TREAT OURSELVES? How do we attack ourselves for not measuring up to our perceived perfection? Self-talk is pervasive. How do we treat our loved ones when we have unreasonable judgments about certain behaviors or situations that are not measuring up to our standards?

Many of our prejudices are subtle and seemingly innocuous. Are they really? What about the prejudices we might have encountered towards us or our friends? How have we managed to deal with other people’s misconception of our culture, language, gender or even being white etc…? Have we been a victim or have we victimized others? How do we move from prejudice to compassion? How do we let go of any form of prejudice, within our minds, with others, in our communities, on the planet? How would it be to live in a world BEYOND PREJUDICE of all forms? It starts with us in our healing, our renewed understanding, our empathy toward others and ourselves for the highest good of all. Let the ripple effect permeate all things and people on the planet with love and compassion. The only cure is PREJUDICE BUSTING. — Nikki Menard SDC

Sunday Service Schedule for June 2010

TOPIC OF THE MONTH: PREJUDICE BUSTING

JUNE 6 — PREJUDICE TO COMPASSION

SPEAKERS—Marvelous Trudeau, Deborah Hawkey, Katarina Nolla
MODERATOR—Bernadine Sperling MEDITATION—TBA

JUNE 13 –EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN BUT NO-ONE WANTS TO DIE

SPEAKER—Gordon Thurston
MODERATOR—Marvelous Trudeau MEDITATOR—D. Joan Thomas

JUNE 20– A JOURNEY OUT OF VICTIMHOOD

GUEST SPEAKER—Joe Carlson
MODERATOR—- Paul Monfette MEDITATOR—Joe Carlson

Joe is a man who has packed much into one lifetime. A volunteer with hospice for twenty five years. A native Indian with Black blood Joe has Seminary training and a degree in Moral and Religious Philosophy. Being Queen Victoria in the Gay Pride Parade could not have been always easy. Above all Joe is a man who Loves indiscriminately…..

JUNE 27 — COMMUNITY SERVICE

FACILITATOR FOR DISCUSSION—Nikki Menard
MODERATOR—June Swadron
MEDITATION—Patti Huot

THE DREAM

Each one of us has a dream. What does that mean to you? Is it just something you dismiss as not being real or is it something you want to manifest. Is it a dream that can be manifested or do you believe that it is “pie in the sky” and only happens to others? It is a statement that I used to say and now feel no longer applies. Every one of us can do something to make a difference. I have a responsibility to listen to my Calling, my Dream and move it into action.

Action, on the other hand, might mean non-action. Being still or taking action and every other possibility have equal value and fluctuate at different moments. Where there is no duality, whatever we choose IS for the Highest Good. The energy used around judgment can be set aside and instead, transfer that energy into actualizing the Dream.

Times are changing as we are witnessing them in every quickening moment. The greater good is planetary and beyond. What do I choose? What do you choose? It is only ONE question and yet the answers are of great value and consequence.

The DREAM can be an amazingly powerful mantra for us. My DREAM. How can I contribute my SELF at this time of great need? I/WE could say:” I am part of the great collective and I am not alone. I can set fear aside for I am not the hero but as a collective WE ARE THE HERO.”  — Nikki Menard SDC

Sunday Service Schedule for May 2010

The Dream

May 2 What Happens to a Dream Deferred

To say Louise Rose is a well known musician around town is an understatement. She is a legend in her own right. A jazz musician, choral conductor, pianist and singer she has a multitude of musical gifts and will be offering them generously at our Sunday Service. A rare opportunity to hear a most eloquent and thoughtful speaker in addition to receiving the musical blessings of one of Victoria’s most renowned musicians.

Guest Speaker:   Louise Rose

Moderator:   Paul Monfette

Meditation/Music:   Louise Rose

May 9 Awakening From the Dream

Tomas Vieira is co-author of Amazon #1 Best Seller “Take Me to Truth” his personal journey of undoing the ego through the practical application of the principles of A Course in Miracles. He is known for his light hearted approach to life as he brings a special kind of humor to the sometimes daunting task of undoing the ego.

Guest Speaker: Thomas Vieira

Moderator:    Nikki Menard

Meditation:    Cedona Holly

May 16   The Dream – Community Service:

Facilitator: Esther Hart

Moderator:   Marvelous Trudeau

Meditation:   Paul Monfette

May 23   Dreaming Homefulness into Reality

Richard Leblanc believes in the idea of Homefulness. Rather than focusing on the negative aspects of Victoria’s crises of homelessness, Richard, founder and director of the Woodwynn Farms Therapeutic Community, dreams of the positive results that will come from welcoming Victoria’s homeless onto Woodwynn. At Woodwynn they will find respect, understanding, and a team of compassionate people offering a holistic approach to rehabilitation that encompasses all areas of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being. This dream, as it becomes reality, offers a hand up, not a hand out, on the road to Homefulness.

Guest Speaker:   Richard Leblanc

Moderator:   Deborah Hawkey

Meditation:   Joyanna Wilkinson

May 30 The Elder’s Dream

Michael Tacon is a retired psychotherapist from Sooke who has organized and facilitated various retreats and programs on Vancouver Island over the last 10 years. He combines many interests: earth-based spirituality, ecology, resilience and learning how to be a co-creator of the unfolding future. He is currently the Program Director for the Well Foundation (Victoria) and is a facilitator for the Pachamama Alliance. He can be reached at bevmoki@telus.net

Guest Speaker: Michael Tacon

Moderator:    Joyanna Wilkinson

Meditation:   Michael Tacon

Being Human

In February we explored “Love in Action”, in March we explored “God – by any other name”. In April we will explore “Being Human”.

We begin the month with celebrating New Life – the abundant expectancy that comes with spring and the equinox. Patricia Coleman has once again worked her magic and created a special celebration that will include a great deal of music and community participation.

Next we explore that controversial aspect of being human – the ego. Some love it, some want to transcend it. There will be a panel presentation of individual thoughts on this topic.

We follow that with an exploration of the body. Do you love your body or hate it. Again we will have a panel present their thoughts and experiences with their body.

We wrap up the month with a community service where you will be asked to consider if the challenges of being human have changed over time, historically or in your own personal experience.

I look forward to many lively discussions on this topic throughout the month.

Esther Hart
Board / SDC Liaison

Theme:  Being Human

April 4 — New Life – A Special Easter Celebration created by Patricia Coleman.  There will be a finger food potluck lunch after the service.  Everyone is welcome to attend.

Special Easter Program 2010

April 11 — Panel:  The Ego - Love it or leave it – coordinated by Esther Hart

April 18 —  Panel: The Body – Love it or hate it – coordinated by Nikki Menard

April 25 — Community Service:  Being Human Today -   Have the Challenges changed? – coordinated by Cedona Holly

“GOD by Any Other Name”

God has become a controversial word. When I was growing up, God was predominant in my life. And, of course, it was the God that my father believed in – the way he believed – that was the one and only “True” God. I gradually moved away from that notion of God. I moved so far, in fact, that eventually I wanted nothing to do with anything called God.

One day my friend Linda told me excitedly that she had read a great book called Conversations with God and the author Neale Donald Walsh was going to be in town. Would I like to go? Absolutely not. I thought, “Poor Linda. I thought she was doing so well. And now she’s been sucked back into that God crap.” I’m not sure how long after that I felt compelled to read Conversations with God. I giggled as I read. Here was a God that I could relate to. Here was a concept of God that fit with what I had been calling “the source” or “the voice”.

I once again allowed myself to feel free to use the word God as it fit my understanding. God to me is gender neutral. Not a male God and not a female Goddess. To me, God is It. (See the article called IT later in the newsletter)

For the month of March we will be exploring our relationship with God – the word and the essence of God. We begin with “God Speak.” A panel of people will share their experience of God through different religions – or no religion. Then we will hear from Robert Keegan, a local author who has written a book called The Logic of God. This is Robert’s first time speaking to us. You can learn more about him at www.alliswell.com.  Next we will hear from our own beloved Gordon Thurston who will address “The Evolution of God – an interpersonal experience.”– during the services and in conversation before and after.

Esther Hart – SDC/Board liaison

Theme:   GOD by Any Other Name

March 7 — God Speak

A panel presentation of the voice of God presented by people of different religious (or none) backgrounds

March 14 — The Logic of God

Speaker:  Robert Keegan

March  21 — The Evolution of God – An Interpersonal Experience

Speaker:  Gordon Thurston

March 28 — Your Relationship with God

Community Service

LOVE IN ACTION

The movie “Fierce Light” examines the idea of change motivated by Love. Gandhi termed it “Soul Force” and Martin Luther King called it “Love in Action”. Spiritual Activism is yet another way to describe the necessity for spirit-based action in today’s world.

If we are the ones we have been waiting for, it would seem the time is right to get on with whatever we deem necessary to transform this world and our lives into what we have been envisioning for centuries, ie. heaven on earth.

This is the time to put aside the distracting pleasures of purely mystical experiences and start living an even deeper level of reality in our everyday affairs. Put another way, we need to come down off our mountains or out of our closets and caves and start taking responsible action for what we know and believe in is our spiritual heritage and potential. The earth needs us, humanity needs us and we need each other. We’ve come into this world laden with gifts to share with one another. It is time we started sharing those gifts in benefit to all. And, yes, this will present new challenges and obstacles, but what is the alternative? Are we willing to sit back and let all life on earth, including our own, go down in flames? What will it take to mobilize humanity on its own behalf? What does it take to motivate you to act on your own behalf? How are you putting your love in action? What challenges are you facing and how are you resolving them?

There is much to consider regarding Love in Action. More importantly, we must develop the capacity to act on our considerations and not merely contemplate them. The Sufi mystic, Rumi, put it thusly:

“Let yourself be loved, O Beloved, in the One. And from this One move out into the world, carrying within you the great potent energies of life to green your world, to create planets, suns, stars, stones, waves, oceans, to create new forms of life and expression – whether a friendship, a feeling, or a new form of vocation.”

Are we willing to take up our beds and walk and in the process create a living, sustainable world community based on the universal value we call Love?

Our world is changing rapidly to say the least.  Every human being is being called to action in some form or another. The question arises, how are we to be spiritual beings amidst our human doings? What does it take to “Crack Open the Heart”  and reveal the gifts and blessings residing in each and everyone of us? How can we “Honour Our Love in Action” in our own lives as well as those with whom we share this world?

Does “The Courage to Love” not demand of us great inner strength and resolve to sustain our actions whether it is in facing our demons, creating our relationships or conducting our worldly affairs? What does it take to “Love What Is” and not hide behind excuses or old worn out beliefs that only serve to keep us in limitation and bondage?

Come prepared to be stimulated and motivated from within to put your Love in Action.

Brian Martin, SDC member

Theme:   LOVE IN ACTION

February 7 —- Cracking Open the Heart

Speaker: Cedona Holly

February 14 —- Honouring our Love in Action

Community Service – Coordinated by  Brian Martin

February 21 —- The Courage to Love

Speakers:    Brian Martin and Nikki Menard

February 28 —– Loving What Is

Speaker: Esther Hart

Just Forgive and Move On…..Yeah Right!!!

It seems we all WANT to forgive but some of us feel we are challenged when the time comes to actually get down TO it. So we have a whole month dedicated to honing our skills of forgiveness.

What happens to families, relationships, communities and countries when people DON’T forgive? What is the opposite of forgiveness?  Perhaps it is blame, judgment, resentment and ultimately separation…the stuff wars are made of.   So when we take on this project of learning how to forgive and practice with one another, we are helping not only our Community but everyone. Unity, Oneness, inner and outer peace are the result.  Please join us for the month of January as we deepen our inquiry into the forgiveness process and hone our communication skills with one another. All are welcome. — Cedona Holly,  SDC

Just Forgive and Move On….. Yeah Right!!!

January 3 –  There’s Only Me To Forgive

Speaker:  Cedona Holly
Coordinated by Marvelous Trudeau

January 10 — Can That Really be TRUE?
Community Service Coordinated by Brian Martin

January 17 – I’m Right… So What’s To Forgive?

Speaker: Esther Hart

January 24 –  Living in the Heart

Speaker: Julia Day
Coordinated by Cedona Holly

January 31 –  Are We There Yet?
Community Service Coordinated by Nikki Menard

The Light in the Darkness

How can we maintain some light as we go into the
darkest time of year?

Nikki will share with us how mystical experiences shed light. Carol
will share a story about bringing the light to the birthing process,
Patricia Coleman will share the light of music and then the last Sunday,
when the light is returning, Brian and Cedona will share the light of humour.

We hope you join us for this month of exploration and invite you to share
with us what works for you and what you would like to see us add to the
services.  — Esther Hart, Board/SDC Liaison

The Light in the Darkness

December 6 — The Light of Mystical Experiences

Coordinator:  Nikki Menard

December 13 – Bringing the Light into Birthing

Coordinator:  Carol Douglas

December 20 –The Light of Music with Patricia Coleman

(See below for details)

Coordinator:  Joyanna Wilkinson

December 27 –  The Light of Humour

Coordinators:  Brian Martin and Cedona Holly

December 20th – The Light of Music with Patricia Coleman

The coming of the Light through music and the spoken word embraces
the magical, mystical aspect of religion. Earth-based faiths have
always included rituals to mark the hope of the return of light.
First there was dark and then came the rituals to drive back the dark,
held around the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere’s
longest night that falls on Dec. 21.

The seasons change, and since we’re part of creation, these seasons
move in us, and we move with it. The pagan roots of the Christian
tradition were born with the winter solstice traditions. We celebrate
the birth of a baby born in a manger to bring light to the world. We
also are reminded of the miracle of oil lasting eight days –
Hanukah the Feast of Lights. It’s all about hope. We also look for the
return of light, which is symbolic of the return of love, enlightenment
and new ways of seeing things.

That’s what this holiday is all about: stepping into the light, and
remembering that no amount of darkness canput out the light of even
one candle. The service will be filled with music, a few spoken words
and candle lighting ritual.