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President
Treasurer
Secretary General
Judicial Chair
Membership Chair
Interfaith Chair
Outreach Chair
Finance Chair
Special Projects
Lara Amyx
Robert Bruyn
Robert Burns
Gary Deinstadt
Avi Dogim
Stephen Dreier
Janet Falbo
Tony Finstad
Cece Forrester
Marvin Gawryn
Janet Graham
Merritt Horn
Jack Kane
Al Lockett
Charlene Morrow
Dolores Nice
Charles Olivea
Thomas Orjala
Ken Raveill
Phillip Taylor
Jo Ann Wiedman
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Upcoming General Council and Executive Meetings
Executive Committee - July 24 6pm Techny Towers, Chicago - July 26 Noon Techny Towers, Chicago
- October 21-22 Radisson Hotel, Chicago - October 24 Radisson Hotel, Chicago
- November 13-14 Budget meeting via conference call
General Council - July 25 2pm -10pm Techny Towers, Chicago - July 26 9am - Noon Techny Towers, Chicago
Joint Meeting EC and ISB - October 23 Urantia Foundation Office, Chicago
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A Word from the President - July 2010
1:4.7 Mortal mind subservient to matter is destined to become increasingly material and consequently to suffer eventual personality extinction; mind yielded to spirit is destined to become increasingly spiritual and ultimately to achieve oneness with the surviving and guiding divine spirit and in this way to attain survival and eternity of personality existence.
Going out on a limb here, I will venture the assumption that everyone reading these words would like to avoid personality extinction and achieve oneness with spirit and survival into eternity.
My question is, just how do I achieve oneness?
What is it that I actually do on a daily basis to effect the yielding of my mind to divine spirit? Do I set aside time to be one with God? Do my current habits support my goal of oneness with the divine? Do I regularly check in with Father, or is this one of the things I think I can do later, when my list of "things to do" is more manageable? Do I persistently seek his advice, or only when I find myself in something so deep I can't get out of trouble without him? When, exactly, do I find time for oneness with spirit?
I pledge to myself and to the heavenly Father that I will keep God on my list of "things to do" today and every day.
To progress!
Michelle Klimesh
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The Fellowship's Summer Study Session
God Consciousness & Cosmic Morality:
Living the Gospel
July 22-25, 2010
The Urantia Book Fellowship will hold its Summer Study Session of 2010 from July 22 - 25 at Techny Towers, a conference and retreat center located on Chicago''s North Shore. The conference theme, "God Consciousness and Cosmic Morality: Living the Gospel," has drawn the attention of a number of experienced readers of the UB who have volunteered to lead workshops that will provide participants the opportunity to engage in in-depth discussion of topics related to that theme.
For the first time in recent memory, organized programs will be available for children age 3 and up. It will be run by early childhood educator Danielle Kulieke and conference during the morning and afternoon workshops. The program includes a playroom in the conference center with a sofa, soft chairs, toys, and music. Outdoor play will be provided on the beautiful grounds. Children will eat all meals with their parents and will be in their parents' care during the evening
Total cost per person, including meals, for the three-day conference, is $270 for a double room and $330 for a single room. There are several rooms with three single beds and the cost is $240 per person. The adult registration fee is $75.
The Education Committee considers Techny Towers to be ideal for the summer gathering. Built in the early 20th century as a seminary for the Society of the Divine Word, it is today an ecumenical conference center fostering creativity and strategic thinking. For further information about the site, please visit the Techny Towers website at www.Technytowers.org.
Registration may be done online, by phone, or by printing a PDF and returning the form by mail or fax.
In case of questions or to find out the latest details, you may phone the Fellowship office toll free: (877) 288-3772 or email Fellowship@Urantiabook.org
To register directly on-line go to www.regonline.com/Urantia_Fellowship_Summer_Study_2010
For more Program information, visit www.urantia-education.org |
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Pre Conference Spiritual Retreat
When: Wednesday evening, July 21 - Thursday evening, July 22,2010 Where: Techny Towers (just prior to the Summer Study Session) How: Select Pre Conference Retreat on the Summer Study Session registration form at: www.regonline.com/Urantia_Fellowship_Summer_Study_2010 Join Gard Jameson and friends as we explore the depth of the inner world of spirit through the lens of the Four Faith Attitudes: Humility, Yearning, Meekness and Sincerity. (140:5:4)
Join us as we explore together how these attitudes frame the richness of our spiritual journey. We shall be sharing many moments of contemplative silence
and drawing insight from our time together.
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Cherokee Legend
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of Passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him an leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.
 Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him . Maybe even some human might do him harm.
The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.  We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, Sitting on the stump beside us.
When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.
Moral of the story:
Just because you can't see God, doesn't mean He is not there. "For we walk by faith, not by sight."
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Grand Canyon Society Celebrates 20th Year Anniversary
The Grand Canyon Society celebrated their 20th anniversary at Larry Bowman's house with a catered buffet.
Larry says: "After dining on Italian cuisine accompanied by Italian wine, beer, and a liqueur called Tuaca, we had a program that included watching excerpts of a video of our 1990 installation ceremony. It was fun to see how several of us have changed over the years. It was also sad to recall those who were in attendance then who are no longer with us, such as Peggy Johnson, Duane and Lucile Faw, Berkeley Elliott, and Fred Farha, to name a few.
Saturday's program concluded with a talk by future fulltime Arizona resident (so he says) Anthony Finstad. Tony recalled meeting several of us at a social in Jan. 1990 when the General Council had its midwinter meeting in Phoenix. He was the youngest member of the Council at the time (and perhaps the youngest in history). Later he served on the planning committee for IC 96 in Flagstaff, which he regards as one of the best Fellowship conferences ever. Tony drew comparisons between Arizona and Alaska, his present home. Besides the most obvious (both states begin with A), both are border states (Alaska's border is with Canada, not--as some believe--Russia), and the two states entered the Union in consecutive order: Arizona as number 48, Alaska as 49. Tony talked about teamwork and how Grand Canyon Society persevered during the dark days 20 years ago to become the first Urantia Society of what was then called Fifth Epochal Fellowship (that's what's on our charter).
I should mention that in the video, which preceded Tony's talk, we listened to comments from Avi Dogim congratulating us on sticking it out and proceeding after only a short delay to become a Society. Avi was then chairman of the Charter Committee."
Our 20th anniversary celebration seems to have been a success. We realize now that we will REALLY have to come up with something for our 25th. I wonder if the Phoenician Resort will be available.
Thanks for your fine comments."
In sincere fellowship,
Larry Bowman
Secretary for Life (or so it seems)
Grand Canyon Society for Readers of the Urantia Book
OTHER COMMENTS
"Hi Larry:
Congratulations to Grand Canyon Society on their 20th anniversary. From personal experience last winter, I know how dedicated the group is to studying the book. They meet regularly year 'round, and dig deeply into the meanings of the teachings. I was impressed by how open Dick Johnson is to travelers passing through the Phoenix area. Their insights into to meanings and long experience enhanced the quality of study at each meeting. They made everyone feel welcome.
I'm sure everybody had a good time at the celebration at your house. Sorry I wasn't there to help.
Your loving sister,
Carolyn"
"Kudo Arizona! Our son now lives there and Steve & I most certainly will be visiting a lot. Looking foward to seeing y'all. Love, Ann.
(Ann Whitehead Garner, USNT)"
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Sheik Abdul Aziz Bukhari of Jerusalem
Dear friends,
I received the sad news today that a respected peace maker in Jerusalem, Sheik Abdul Bukhari met an untimely death on May 31st. Sheikh Bukhari was the co-director of the Jerusalem Peacemakers and founding member of the Abrahamic Reunion group of religious leaders. He was a unique spiritual leader who dedicated his life promoting peace, harmony and unity in Jerusalem, in the Middle East and the world. This article about his life and legacy was published in the Jerusalem Post.
I was fortunate to cut an interview with him this December in Melbourne, Australia at the Parliament of the World Religions.
In one segment of the interview his cell phone goes off and he quickly grabs it and tosses it off camera. He was obviously embarrassed. Though I usually edit these out, I kept the segment in to illustrate that while he was a Sheik and spiritual leader he very much lived in the modern world and dealt with modern problems.
Also while there you can view the latest show added the website, an interview with Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim from Yale. They speak on religion and ecology and a spiritual connection to reverence for life -- translated into action.
Warmest regards to each of you.
Bettina Gray |
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The Urantia Book Fellowship
The Urantia Book Fellowship -- founded in 1955 as Urantia Brotherhood -- is an association of individuals, families, and various groups inspired by the teachings of The Urantia Book. The Urantia Book Fellowship supports the study and dissemination of The Urantia Book worldwide and is committed to the ideal of spiritual unity, which embraces individual diversity, as embodied in the teachings of The Urantia Book.
Reader Services and organizational business are managed by the General Council consisting 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. The Urantia Book Fellowship is a member of the North American Interfaith Network.
For more information, visit About The Urantia Book Fellowship or our home page at www.urantiabook.org
The Urantia Book Fellowship
PO Box 6631
Broomfield, CO 80021
Toll Free 877-288-3772 | |
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