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Community Newsletter October 2009 
in this issue
:: A Word From The President
:: Venice Beach Urantia Outreach
:: "But Who Say You That I Am"
:: In His Name
:: Correction Regarding UrantiaUniveristy
:: Getting The Urantia Book Into The Hands Of People
:: "Secrets of Jesus Christ" Website
:: Jesus Birthday - Smokey Mountain Style
Dear Urantia Book Reader,
 
This new monthly electronic newsletter is being sent for you by the Urantia Book Fellowship for the purpose of keeping readers like you connected with the Urantia community. In the upcoming issues, we intend to focus on:
  • Selected articles from the Fellowship web archive-offering a synopsis of an article to pique your interest, with a link to the full article for your continued reading. 
  • Societies at work-their activities, future plans, membership, etc. 
  • Current  Standing of Ad Hoc committees of the Fellowship-with updates on  committee work (including pictures!), and information to help you get to know  committee members better.
  • General Councilor members--spotlighting who they are, what they're working on, what motivates them to service, etc. 
  • On-going requests from Committee chairs for volunteers to help with specific  projects, etc.   
  • Upcoming events for your calendar!
  • Giving you ideas about how you can contribute and support the work of the Fellowship (oh there are many ways!)
With all of this in mind, we are looking for articles and ideas from all readers. Even if you don't have an article, we enthusiastically invite pictures, links to videos, etc., involving the Urantia movement.  So, don't be shy in sending us your ideas, your links, your written work, and any comments to [email protected].  We could also use additional assistance with editing and/or proofreading of newsletter articles.   
 
This is a community newsletter, and YOU can be part of it!  We welcome you!
 
Sincerely,
Robert Burns
General Councilor - The Urantia Book Fellowship 
 

A Word From The President

 
Michele Klimesh130:8.6 Jesus chose to establish the kingdom of heaven in the hearts of mankind by natural, ordinary, difficult, and trying methods, just such procedures as his earth children must subsequently follow in their work of enlarging and extending that heavenly kingdom.
 
I'm writing to this to you during the first hours after returning home from a visit to northeastern Iowa. In the town of Spillville (population 372) where my father grew up, I get online by walking to the local library during limited hours on weekdays. My cell phone doesn't work unless I stand under the water tower at the top of the hill by my cousin's house.
 
Life in Spillville without technology seems like a visit to the past: more insular, less hurried, more connected to immediate neighbors, less connected to the world at large. Ten days of tech deprivation provided a glimpse into how life might have been in the last century. It made me think about the mindset this lifestyle would produce in the early pioneers of the Urantia movement, and the dissemination methods they might embrace.
 
We know that Jesus chose to use ordinary methods to teach the people of his time about God's love. We, too, are to use ordinary methods.
 
But what do we consider "ordinary" in today's world? In 2009, we find information on Google. My baseball team "twitters." My kids are on Facebook. Social networks exploded into existence and have radically changed the way people stay connected with each other.
 
How fascinating to live in a time when we can watch how these phenomena will influence the dissemination efforts of Fellowship workers!
 
180:1.5 If you would share the Master's joy, you must share his love. And to share his love means that you have shared his service. Such an experience of love does not deliver you from the difficulties of this world; it does not create a new world, but it most certainly does make the old world new.
 
To joy and service,
 
Michelle Klimesh
 

Venice Beach Urantia Outreach
By Richard Omura
 Venice Beach

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Norman Ingram is back with his Urantia Book table on the "anything goes" Venice Beach boardwalk in Los Angeles, California, joyfully introducing the revelation to people from all over the world. Fellow readers were recently within that throng, a small part of an every week-end mass gathering, so diverse that could be likened to the Capernaum crossroads of Jesus' time.

What an opportunity to talk to myriads of people from all over the planet about the Urantia Book!   Besides international visitors, there are New Age aficionados, L.A. locals, Christian fundamentalists, henna tattoo artists, Rastafarians, Hare Krishna's, Jewish observants on their way to the Jewish Center, skaters, bladers, surfers, rappers, conservative businessmen, tourists, musicians, artists, store owners, free speech activists, lawyers, athletes, and every other type of person you can think of--all this amidst the many stores and vendors spread along the walkway in front of the sand and sea. .

At the Venice booth one can encounter truth seekers who are sincere in their efforts to make some sense of this world, as well as religious fundamentalists trying to save our souls. To sit quietly at the booth, shining forth the Father's love, being available to anyone who wants to talk about Urantia Book concepts, or philosophy, religion and spirituality in general, is an act of service that is both enjoyable and productive. It is fruitful not only for those being introduced to the revelation, but also for the volunteers who tend the booth.  The experience gives us a chance to try to put into words and actions the teachings we've gleaned from the book.

One woman had the book but didn't know where to attend a study group--and she was from Chicago! We gave her the phone number for the study group closest to her, which was 533 Diversey Parkway-Urantia Foundation headquarters!  Will they ever be surprised to learn where she heard about their group!

The UBLA Society is sponsoring the Venice Beach booth, which is up every Sunday from 9am to 6pm, right where So, on Rose Ave., meets the boardwalk. We are always looking for volunteers to help out.  Even if it is for just a few hours once a month, this service opportunity is rich with insights into life. All are to invited to visit or drop by. Just to be safe, email Norman at [email protected]  Cell: 562 822 8316; Tel: 552 698 2122 first, to make sure we'll be there on the day you plan to come. If you are an artist or have a secondary work based on the UB, you are welcome to set up right alongside us to showcase your wares. This is one of the most dynamic and interesting UB outreach posts on the planet.  If you like the sun, the beach and people of all types, plus 10,000 to 12,000 folks passing by each week-end, come on down!
 
Got extra books?  Poor students, the homeless, and the financially handicapped often show interest in the book, but can't afford the cost of a new edition.  If UB readers have extra's (old) UB's lying around, contact Norman Ingram.  Your unused books can do some real outreach.  After all, we never know who will be drawn to the booth.  Think of the joy in learning (some day) that your book donation was utilized by the angels
 

"But who say you that I am?"
Reflections on the Bestowal of Michael, Mithras, and Mithraism 

By Dan Massey, Jr

Mithraism

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By the time of Michael's final review of the Urantian situation, just before embarking on the bestowal, the Mithras cult had developed its own, unique character and was spreading rapidly throughout the Roman Empire. Mithraism had, in fact, become the dominant, though unofficial, religion of the Empire.
 
In his pre-bestowal planning, did Michael choose to identify his mission as Jesus with elements of the Mithraic story? What is the significance of Jesus' question recorded in Matthew 16:15?
 
For the full article, Click Here
 

The articlde is.(C) Copyright 1997, L. Dan Massey, Jr. 10818 Fawn Drive, Great Falls, VA 22066; and is used by permission on the website.
 
Author's Note: Information in this paper about the historic antecedents and context of Mithraism is derived from the book, "The Origins of the Mithraic Mysteries--Cosmology and Salvation in the Ancient World" by David Ulansey (Oxford, 1989). The historical data and conjectures presented by Ulansey have been reinterpreted in light of statements in The Urantia Book about Mithraism.
In His Name: Kathy Hughes 
(Heart of America Society) 

By Lee Loots
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
As Jesus said, good works done out of duty imply that one hasn't entered the Kingdom yet. Service is joyful and a gift to Father, however, when it emerges from our love for him. 
 
What if a new reader in your Urantia Book study group declared, "I just don't get Jesus"?  In this case, the reader knew some of Part IV, but was confused about Jesus' over-all context.   Some of us when hearing this might pause to consider the easiest way to explain the purpose and origin of our majestic Sovereign, and why he means so much to this planet and universe.
 
When Kathy Hughes heard this comment at her Heart of America Society study group, it struck a chord in her, and lingered.  Before long, Kathy found herself deep in study, tracing the details of Michael's pre-Sovereign history, going back to his beginnings on Paradise.  The revelation, of course, weaves in periodic glimpses of Michael's early experiences.  Kathy's goal was to tell that story in a linear progression, including the essential presence of the Complemental Daughter.
 
As happens so often with service impulses, Kathy soon experienced her task as a blessing.  At subsequent study groups, while she continued to research, she often expressed delight in her on-going discoveries--such that many of us (including yours truly) could hardly wait for her to finish! 
 
The night Kathy presented Michael's early history, the entire group was intensely engaged, despite the group's varied levels of book comprehension.  Personally, I'd grown up feeling close to Jesus, and later easily connected to Michael.  Even so, my inner picture of Michael expanded astonishingly that night, something I'd not quite anticipated.  Under Kathy's step by step direction, I absorbed some of the incomprehensible depth of Michael's earned competence, including the stunning enormity of its scope, and the mind-boggling eons of time invested in his training.  Before the meeting, I had general head knowledge of Michael's early stages. That night, however, as I contemplated it in detail, my heart rose into my expanding awareness, evoking splendid, heartfelt worship.   
 
We know that Michael was created in perfection.  Yet, he worked tremendously hard (and long) so he could likewise rule with perfection, even while offering his sublime companionship to each and every creature who desires it.  As such, he's the most exquisite brother/father/friend who exists in Orvonton.  (Likewise for Mother Spirit!)  Kathy insightfully noted that our Universe Sovereign did as much (or more) work to earn the right to serve us in his universe, as we ourselves will do in our extended evolutionary process to equip us for eternal service. Perhaps, she said with a smile, such awareness could help counter the predictable human tendency to whine (!).  
 
Looking ahead, Kathy plans to share her presentation of Michael's early life with others.  The first study group on her list is the Heart of America group which meets at the Independence Library, led by Ken Raveill.  Later, she'll do a presentation to a Heart of America study group in Kansas City, led by Barbara Heckathorn (a reader who also offers introductory Urantia Book classes as part of a community education effort called "Communiversity"). 
Correction regarding previous article on UrantiaUniversity

David Nash has requested a correction concerning the UrantiaUniversity article which appeared under his name in the Fellowship's recent Herald Magazine. The article was not written alone by David Nash. It was the collaboration of several dedicated Urantia believers working together on UrantiaUniversity and should have been listed as such. 
 
Mr. Nash wants to make it clear that he can take very little credit for the article. On behalf of UrantiaUniversity, David hopes you will excuse this mistake and know that the entire project is absolutely a team effort.
 
Getting The Urantia Book in the Hands of People 
A Happy Recipient
 
Cristina Seaborn tells us the story of meeting  Frederick Sostheim in an email.  Then read Frederick's uplifting email to Cristina upon recieving the book.  Very uplifting!
 
"The story on Frederick is that my husband Rick and I went to El Rancho Margot after the Costa Rica Urantia Conference in Puntarenas.  We stayed for 3 days and two nights.

It's such an awesome place and seems to me that the Garden of Eden exists here. 
 
A Chilean man, Frederick's father, was hiking on the mountain and saw this valley.  He had a vision for the valley and bought it from the rancher. There is so much running water that he had to create a series of 4 pools with water falls flowing into each one.  He runs the water pipes through compost piles to heat the water.  The first water fall is hot and runs onto your head, shoulders, and back.  Each of the next pools is cooler, with the fourth one being a lily pad pond with big blue fish in it.
 
El Rancho Margot was written up on 3 pages of the lonely planet, so the father thought he better build a bunkhouse for 40 people.  The rooms are 6 foot by 8 foot, so you don't want to spend much time in them. He has also built common areas for reading a book, socializing with friends, a great bar, restaurant, and large outdoor dining area, a reception area with gift store.  They have monkeys, horses, cows, chickens, pigs and an organic garden.
 
And the food is incredible!  He hired a gourmet cook to teach them how to make delictable entrees from all this organic food. If you want to volunteer for a minimum of one month at the organic farm, all your room and board is free. Otherwise, it's $35 a night  for bed and breakfast.

 
One hour away is La Fortuna where you can go on the zip line rides and all that tourist stuff.

They have just finished building a library and are ready to build cabins for teachers.  I sent the Spanish and English version of the Urantia book for their first books in the library.  Any university that wants to give credit for a course can design and teach it on this site.  That is the next step in the vision of this Chilean man.

 
By the way, he made his money by creating a patent for chiropractors.Here is the website if you want to check it out:    http://ranchomargot.org And here is the email Frederick sent recently as a thank you.
 
Hola Cristina,

This email composed by simple words can't possibly even come close to the sensation of bliss that I'm feeling at the moment.  Allow me to express my deepest gratitude to you by saying thank you with all my heart for the beautiful gesture of your thoughtful gift.

It's not everyday I receive a package in the middle of the jungle of Costa Rica. Reading your letter and opening 'The Urantia' book was and is Divine music to my soul. It came at the perfect time in my life as I find myself already in the 'Garden of Eden', feeling no need to search any longer for paradise on Earth.

It's an everlasting feeling of being home, here and now. It's my duty to serve others, as my intention is to share our paradise with as many people as possible and help all beings on their journey towards their souls.
 
As Rancho Margot keeps fulfilling its purpose in this lifetime, I feel the Garden of Eden is being expanded to the rest of the world. We are meeting people from everywhere coming to Rancho Margot in search for a better place, and open to spiritual growth. The tribe is gathering or as some of our Community brothers like to put it 'Satsanga' (the company of holy people).

I'm enjoying life each day more and more as my love and faith for the Universal Father grows continuously.We are all spiritual beings having an earthly experience, and God's presence is being felt stronger and stronger on Earth as we awaken to who we really are.

It gives my great joy to see the tremendous shift humanity is taking as consciousness is rising and people are realizing that the Garden of Eden
is within us and needs not to be found anywhere else.

Keep me posted on how your project of rebuilding the Garden is coming along. It's the perfect time in history to reintegrate in the Gardens of nature and learn to live in harmony with ourselves and our surroundings.

I wish you the manifestation of your dreams and I hope this email reaches you in good health and much love. 'All of the essential is invisible to the eye'.
 
With gratitude, peace and love,
Frederick Sostheim,
Rancho Margot,

Namaste y Pura Vida
 

"Secrets of Jesus Christ" website

 
The Urantia community has dedicated people doing all types of projects and works to advance the dissemination of the revelation.  One such interesting effort was just completed by Robert (Behz) Sarmast.  It has made the rounds in the SocAdmin list (email list of all current and previous officers of Societies and the Fellowship). 
 
Sarmast's video projects challanges traditional conclusions regarding how Jesus prepared and planned for his work here.  All  seven parts of this series are available on the "Secrets of Jesus Christ" website:  
 
Alternatively, if a YouTube search is done by plugging in these search terms, "Secrets of Jesus Christ," all seven sections will pull up there, also. can see it a www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWdc9KmF6-Y
 
This is part 1 of 7 -- the 6 remaining segments may be viewed on the "SecretsOfJesusChrist" website. 
Jesus Birthday-Smokey Mountain Style
By Paula Thompson


On the 15th of August I had the amazing honor and blessing of celebrating Jesus' birthday with some of the kind and gentle Urantia Book readers of North Carolina and Tennessee. 
 
On Friday the 14th I landed in Charlotte and was greeted by a dear old friend, Rabia Harris. Rabia and I studied together for several years in Boulder in the early 90s. From Charlotte we had a leisurely drive through the Great Smoky Mountains to where Rabia now lives in a picturesque liberal arts college town.  Rabia is an Interfaith Minister and a Sufi.  Driving for nearly two hours gave two "Celtic Americans" (as Rabia dubbed us) a wonderful opportunity to "catch up."  She lives just down the hill from two other devoted UB students, Rick and Jane Morgan.  The angels have done great work in bringing these three in close proximity to each other.  
 
On Saturday the 15th, Rabia and I caravanned with Rick and Jane to the area of Elizabethton, Tennessee and the peaceful mountain home of Jim and Cheri Miller. A Jesus Birthday picnic has been happening annually in the mountains of Tennessee for over 20 years. Years ago, 4 Urantian families went together and purchased a huge tract of land, which they divided four ways.  Their Jesus Birthday celebration is typically a picnic on this land, which is stunningly lush and beautiful. Jim and Cheri are musicians and their home is full of handmade dulcimers and other heavenly sounding instruments.  Pickin-n-grinnin is the order of the day in this neck of the woods. Cheri had a gleam in her eye when she told me, "My son was ten years old before he realized that not everyone plays an instrument."
 
We arrived at their house in early afternoon and it was legendary Southern hospitality from that point on. The garden was in full bloom and home grown produce was everywhere. Rabia laughed, telling me, "The joke here is you need to roll up your car windows and lock the doors or you'll come back to find that you have a back seat full of zucchinis!"
 
I was especially delighted to see two more old friends from Boulder when Eric and JoiLin Johnson walked in. They had driven up from Charlotte. I'm always amazed how nothing is lost between loved ones when you see them again; it's so effortless to pick up right where you left off. It reminds me that the heart is a timeless and spaceless place. That is, when you reunite with people you love, it's as though no time or distance had ever come between you.  I can imagine that reunions on Mansonia and throughout the universe are always just this sweet.
 
Shortly after arriving, the group of about 20 gathered in the Miller's rec room for some Dances of Universal Peace.  Jim and Cheri played and a friend from the local church was there to teach us several different dances and chants. It was a splendid way to start the celebration.  We offered our love, gratitude and prayers in honor of Michael's bestowal and then dined on an exquisite potluck, the kind of sumptuous feast that only loving hearts and hands can create.  Later the group discussed plans for what promises to be a very special Urantian retreat there in May of 2010. It's still in the planning stages so to help out or for more information please email Rabia at: [email protected] 
 
Of course, no gathering of Tennessee Urantia Book readers would ever be complete without the indelibly devoted Ms. Dean White.  The Urantia movement is punctuated by people like her who have opened their homes for decades to facilitate socialization and study of the book.  
 
Paula's group pic
Sunday Worship: from left, Jane, Rabia, Eric, Dean, Evangel, Paula, Sue and JoiLin.
 

I like to call them "lightning rods" for the Urantia teachings. They work tirelessly to introduce people to the revelation and then to nurture them once they do start to study it.  Without people like Dean there would be no movement in the movement.  Such people, mostly study group leaders, are the unsung heroes of the revelation. That's why I like to sing their praises whenever I get a chance. Thanks Dean!
 
On Sunday morning, before I headed back to the airport and Colorado, I joined the NC/TN readers once more to worship in Rick and Jane's home. Everyone was blown away by the incredible mountain views they have from their back porch.  Eric and JoiLin drove me back down through the Smokey Mountains to Charlotte to catch my plane.  Jesus Birthday will always be a special day for us Urantia Book readers and this one, that I spent in the old and mystical mountains of the South, will always be a treasured memory. 
GET A FREE
"Paramony" with purchase of The Urantia Book
 
Get a FREE "collectors" edition of the Paramony, by Duane Faw,  with each purchase of the fully indexed Uversa Press edition of The Urantia Book. Just call 877 288-3772 and mention this offer.  
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BY THE WAY, BEFORE YOU GO
 
The work of The Urantia Book Fellowship is possible because of your spiritual and financial support.  Please keep the work of the Fellowship in your prayers. 
 
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About The Urantia Book Fellowship
 
The Urantia Book Fellowship -- founded in 1955 as Urantia Brotherhood -- is an inclusive association of individuals, families, and groups inspired by the transformative teachings of The Urantia Book. Through worldwide support of study, dissemination, and reader services, Fellowship members seek understanding among all readers of The Urantia Book and the peoples of the world.
 
The Fellowship is committed to the ideal of spiritual unity, which embraces individual diversity, as embodied in the teachings of The Urantia Book.  The Urantia Book Fellowship is unaffiliated with Urantia Foundation. Reader Services and organizational business are managed by the General Council which consists of 36 members elected from the readership. The Council is assisted by an Executive Committee comprised of Council members who manage various working committees of The Fellowship. For more information, visit  About The Urantia Book Fellowship
or our home page at www.urantiabook.org
 
The Urantia Book Fellowship is a member of the North American Interfaith Network
 

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