YOUR LIFE IS YOUR PRACTICE
 Everyday Spirituality

During the month of JUNE Reverend Glenda and Reverend Judy will help us embrace the idea that in human life we experience both spirituality and engaged activity in the 'marketplace' ~ at the same time ~ within the same day, every day.

Most of us have ongoing responsibilities to attend to. Therefore, our ability to pay attention to both the human as well as spiritual nature of our experiences ~ on the spot, in the given moment ~ helps us to bring clarity to our everyday walk in the world.

Experiencing life as spiritual practice is a choice that helps to bring a mindset of awareness and purpose to everyday activities.

Conscious engaged spiritual practice can become a way of life in which patience, generosity and kindness flow into everything we do.

When we understand that life is a spiritual practice, it is easier to appreciate the sacredness of Being, of existence, and of the world around us.

Please join us at Common Ground every Sunday for our 10:30 am inspirational service.

Resources include:

Pocket Peace, by Allan Lokos

Wake Up to Your Life, by Ken McLeod

The Wisdom of Letting Go, by Reverend Leo Booth

These titles are available in the Book Boutique. (Quantities Limited)

Sunday Morning Inspiration Service Weekly:
10:30 am

Kids' Enrichment Program available during service for infants through 5th grade

Talk titles for June:

June 5: Mind Like a Mirror

June 12: Awake in the World
Karl Anthony ~ Music as Message

June 19: Lighten Your Load
Father's Day

June 26: The Wisdom of Letting Go
Reverend Leo Booth, Associate Minister

Watch Recent Talks On Video

Robert Fields: Appearing Every Sunday in June.

Thank You for Your Generosity!
Common Ground is solely supported by the gracious offerings of its spiritual community and friends.

2010/2011 Newsletter Archives

 

 JUNE CLASSES & EVENTS
 Sunday Morning Inspiration Service 10:30

JUNE SPECIAL EVENTS

KARL ANTHONY ~ Awake in the World ~ Music as Message ~ Sunday, June 12, 10:30 am inspirational service

REVEREND LEO BOOTH, Associate Minister ~ featured speaker~ Sunday, June 26, 10:30 am inspirational service

REVEREND LEO BOOTH, Associate Minister ~ Evening Recovery Celebration ~ Sunday, June 26, 7 pm

LUNCH AT SANTA ANA ZOO ~ facilitated by Dianne Maresh & Earth Ministry team ~ Sunday, June 26, Immediately following Sunday services at Common Ground

KID'S CALENDAR

Kids' Enrichment Program ~ ages infant thru 5th grade ~ Weekly, Sundays, 10:30 am

OUTREACH

Standing in Peace, facilitated by Carol Marshall, Irvine Blvd @ Prospect Ave ~ Tuesdays, 4 to 5 pm

Get on the Bus ~ Father's Day Trip to Soledad Prison ~ Saturday, June 18

FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

OCICE General Meeting ~ Thursday, June 2, 6:45 pm ~ Aldersgate Methodist Church

The Magic of Composting 2011 ~ Saturday, June 18, 9 to 11 am ~Shipley Nature Center

RECYCLE SUNDAY ~ Sunday, June 19

Local Farmers Markets

Local Environmental Projects ~
Zero Trash Laguna Cleanup
ROOTS, Restoration and Native Vegetation Program: Upper Newport Bay
Save Our Beach Program

ONGOING

Eckhart Tolle Book Study ~ New Earth ~ Fridays, Weekly,12:30 to 1:30 pm ~ Love Offering

Healing Grief Circle: Life Transitions ~ Tuesday, June 7, 7 to 8:30 pm ~ $10 suggested

Reiki Healing Circle ~ Tuesday, June 14 & 28, 7 to 8:30 pm ~ Love Offering

Way of the Bodhisattva: Training in the Six Perfections ~ Wednesday, June 1, 7 to 8:30 pm (Closed)

Women's Wisdom Circle ~ Tuesdays, June 14 & 28, 10 to 11:30 am ~ Love Offering

VENUE EVENTS

Beginning Astrology, with Paula Belluomini ~ Tuesdays, June 7, 14 & 21, 6:30 to 8:30 pm ~ $15 per class

Orange County Spiritualist Gathering, with Medium Kathleen Vance ~ 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month, 7 to 8:30 pm ~ $10 suggested donation

Development 1: Developing your spiritual path & intuition, with Bob Lewis ~ Saturday, June 11 , 9:30 am to 12:30 pm ~ $20 per person

Development 2: Advanced students in spiritual and psychic awareness, with Bob Lewis ~ Saturday, June 25, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm ~ $20 per person

LightLovers Studio, Readings & Energy Balancing ~ Saturday, June 11, 2 to 4 pm ~ $20 per session

Own Your Divinity, facilitated by Suzanne Banken ~ Thursdays, Weekly, 7 pm ~ $30 per person

Intenders' Circle & Conscious Enterprise, facilitated by Judith Freyer & team ~ Thursday, June 9, 7 to 8:30 pm ~ $5 suggested

Be sure to look for updates and details of activities in weekly email notices.

Ongoing weekly classes continue as scheduled. Check our At-a-Glance Calendar for information.

 

 SPIRITUALITY & RECOVERY
 Reverend Leo Booth, Associate Minister

Reverend Glenda and Reverend Judy are pleased to announce that Reverend Leo Booth has joined Common Ground as an Associate Minister.

Reverend Leo is an internationally acclaimed author, lecturer, and trainer on all aspects of spirituality and recovery from depression, addictions, compulsive behaviors, and low self-esteem. He is currently the Executive Director of Renaissance Malibu, in Malibu, CA. He has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America and other contemporary shows.

Reverend Leo will deliver the inspirational message during services at Common Ground every fourth Sunday of the month.

That same evening at 7:00 pm, Reverend Leo will present a new 'Spirituality and Recovery' evening celebration for those who are interested in 12-Step Program, recovery from destructive or compulsive behaviors and addictions, and saying 'yes' to life.

This will be an open gathering and will be hosted by Reverend Leo's Recovery Committee.

This exciting opportunity to include Reverend Leo in Common Ground's vision and mission broadens our intention to embrace our humanity while remembering our divinity.

Please join us in celebrating this awesome new relationship with Reverend Leo.

 

 FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
 Black Gold

What do we do with the enormous amount of food waste generated in and out of our homes, by businesses, or as a result of surplus farming?

On the grand scale, it is estimated that about one-half of all food that is produced or consumed in the U.S. is discarded. The main culprits are spoilage and overproduction/surplus.

A typical American household throws away an estimated 474 pounds of food waste each year. Put another way, that is about 1.5 pounds per person per day. Food scraps generated by all households in the US could be piled on a football field more than five miles (26,400 feet) high!

Food scraps are the third largest segment of the waste stream with nearly 26 million tons generated each year. Of the overall waste stream, about 12% is food-related, behind paper and plastic.

Why not create a home food waste plan?

Use this plan for food preparation, food waste storage, and ultimately for a personal compost bin. Compostable food scraps are one of the best and most readily available sources of organic materials.

What better way to return to the Earth than to recycle your own food waste into 'black gold'!

To learn the magic of composting, plan to attend the upcoming informative seminar at Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach on Saturday, June 18th, from 9 to 11 am. Pre-registration required.

 

 KARL ANTHONY
 Music to Feed the Human Spirit

During Sunday service on June 12, Common Ground is pleased to present Awake in the World, the inspiring, life changing music of Karl Anthony.

Music as Message is designed to help give our minds a simple release and awaken overlooked places in our hearts.

Music goes deep into our consciousness as a pathway to experience pure joy and the sweetness of life, to open our hearts and rejuvenate our bodies, minds, and spirits.

Karl brings new insight to his music having recently returned from a mystical tour of India where he sang for children in both slum schools and a special needs school. He experienced a deep personal connection with India, the culture, and her people.

Karl's focus was less about what he saw in the way of sights, than on being fully present and of service through his amazing journey.

Karl Anthony is a master singer, songwriter, producer, and humanitarian who has toured the world. He has received several Gandhi/King Season For Nonviolence Peace Hero Awards for his humanitarian efforts and uniting music.

As a musical spokesman for cooperation and unity, Karl Anthony sings for all of us who are concerned with the present state of our world.

Karl's music is stirring and dynamic with a compelling sensitivity that involves everyone. His strong, articulate voice takes us on a journey and communicates hope for our future.

This is a 'don't-miss' experience. Plan to attend.

 

 PRAYER & MEDITATION
 Be Grateful for Whoever Comes

This being human is a guest house ~ every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they are a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

Rumi ~ Guest House



Life is prayer at Common Ground.

Those needing prayer support are invited to make Prayer Requests on-line at info@embracehumanity.com or by placing a request in the prayer box in the Lobby.

There are no fees for prayer at Common Ground.

 

 TITHING 2011
 As We Give, So Shall We Receive ~ Common Ground is truly blessed and in turn becomes a blessing in the world

Common Ground reaches out to the global community through our spiritual practice of conscious giving.

Giving back to the world is an important aspect of our mission and vision. A balanced integral approach is reflected in conscious selection of 501c3 qualified programs and institutions to which Common Ground provides tithes each month.

Recipients of Common Ground 2011 tithes include: IONS (Institute of Noetic Sciences), advancing the science of consciousness and human experience to serve individual and collective transformation; Kiva, empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty; Disability Rights California, affirmatively addressing the needs of the traditionally underserved and underrepresented disability community; Project HOPE School, (Homeless Outreach Program in Education), helping children without permanent homes transition into the mainstream educational system; Walking Shield, helping to improve the quality of life for American Indian families; Direct Relief International, supporting the immediate medical needs of earthquake victims in Haiti; Direct Relief International, supporting the immediate medical needs of earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan; and, Get on the Bus, serving as a conduit to assist children in crossing barriers that separate them from parents in prison.

The organizations to which Common Ground tithes are meaningful programs where people from the spiritual community and its friends are already serving with heart and hand, and supporting with time and treasure.

 

 UPCOMING 2011 EVENTS ~ REVISED
 Mark Your Calendar Today

CURRENTLY SCHEDULED:

July 4th Pool Party: Mon, Jul 4

Melissa Suzanne: Sun, Jul 10 (guest vocalist)

Covenant Dedication: Sun, Jul 24

Daniel Nahmod: Sun, Jul 31

Jagadish: Sat, Aug 6 & 20

Darius Lux: Sun, Aug 14 (guest vocalist)

Backpack Outreach Project: Aug/Sept

Annual Common Ground Picnic: Sun, Sept 4

Daniel Nahmod: Sun, Sept 11

Karie Hillery: Sun, Sept 18 (guest vocalist)

Earthdance & Global Peace Prayer: Sat, Sept 24

Debra Barbre: Sun, Oct 16 (guest vocalist)

Seventh Anniversary Celebration: Fri, Nov 18

Daniel Nahmod: Sun, Nov 20

Thanksgiving Eve: Wed, Nov 23

Christmas Eve: Sat, Dec 24

Christmas: Sun, Dec 25 (CLOSED)

New Year's Eve: Sat, Dec 31

 

 WHAT'S NEW?
 Review, Renew & Revise

Common Ground is pleased to introduce our newly revised website. It has been designed to be more user friendly, include more information and be easier to navigate.

Take time to check out the new features and let us know what you think.