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| Newsletter: May/June 2009 |
Issue 3 | |
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A Light in the Forest
Offering spiritual tools to transform
our lives and make the world
a better place.
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Minister's Message |
Sifting, Sorting, Simplifying
As I prepare for my move to Florida, I find I have a great desire to pack lightly, to carry less 'stuff' with me on this move. It's quite a process. I'm an excellent packer. I had extensive early childhood training growing up in a military family and I can make really good use of every inch of space in a box, so that things won't get jostled or broken in the move.
I'm usually fast and efficient, too, but something is very different about this move. I'm going slowly, savoring the things that have shared my life for so many years and choosing to leave lots of them behind. Every drawer, closet or hutch that I open seems to contain a trip down memory lane. My attachments are obvious, yet my desire to travel 'light' is helping me to sift through the memories and sort out the things I really value from the things that really just take up space and weigh a lot, physically and mentally. Each decision to release something that I have held onto and carried for years, just let it go, truly simplifies my life and helps me to make this move with a light heart and a lightness of Being.
My mother's 'good' dishes are a great example. She got them for free as an incentive to buy a good set of stainless pots and pans about 50 years ago. I was 10 or 11 years old and this purchase was a BIG deal in our house! The dishes weren't even that nice, but they were our 'good China' and we only used them for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. They were special. When my mom died I got her dishes and I have carefully wrapped, packed, unpacked, washed and stored them for the past 25 years, only using them on special occasions. I'm not packing them up for Florida. I'm releasing them at my garage sale and this feels so right and good. My attachment is not to the dishes, it's to the loving and wonderful memories I have of my mother. The dishes have very little value. My memories are priceless and they don't even need to be packed. They are my constant companions.
May 31st will be my last Sunday to speak and I most likely will be on my journey as a super-granny by June 15th. I'll be traveling light, but you can be assured that my memories of you and my 5 years in Blessingham will be going with me. Packing my memories and gratitude for my time with you is so easy. It has absolutely no weight and is totally precious. I will carry you in my heart...always.
I love you.
Dr. Jaine
We're all related,
Although complecated.
We're in need of a nanny,
But we get a granny.
We're the Deeter Famaliy!
-Katie Ann Deeter, 7 years old
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| Goodbye Party for Dr. Jaine!! |
Please join us for Reverend Jaine's last Sunday on May 31st. A potluck and party will follow the service!! | |
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Sunday Talks
10:00 am - Meditation
10:30 am - Service |
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May 3 - "Fear Less, Laugh More" (Dr. Jaine Ryder)
May 10 - "The Perfect Mother" (Dr. Jaine Ryder)
May 17 - "See the Truth, Face the Facts." (Rev. Colleen MacGilchrist)
May 24 - "Good Seed, Good Soil" (Dr. Jaine Ryder)
May 31 - Wherever you go, There you are (Dr. Jaine Ryder)
JUNE
7th - "Imagineering 101"
(Rev. Colleen MacGilchrist)
14th - "Confessions of an Ex-Worryaholic" (Joanie Nielsen)
21st (Father's Day) "Qualities of the Paternal Heart" (Richard Tucker)
28th - "We Have a Dream"
(Rev. Colleen MacGilchrist) | |
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Annual General Meeting Recap |
 Recap by Deb Strom President, Board of Trustees
On March 29th the Annual General Meeting was held. The theme of the meeting was that we are in transition. In 2008 we started rebranding and recreating ourselves as The Center for Spiritual Living-Bellingham in response to the transformation of our parent organization Religious Science International adopting a change to become the International Centers for Spiritual Living. Moving forward into 2009, our transition continues as Rev.Dr. Jaine Ryder moves to Florida to be caretaking and enjoying her Grandgirls in Florida and we start the search for a new Senior Minister. Rev. Colleen MacGilchrist has volunteered to coordinate the Sunday Services and lead the Search Committee during this transtion. The Board is thrilled to have her on the board to support this process and hold a Minister Consciousness now and after Dr. Jaine departs.
Other areas discussed were:
-The change from a paid to a volunteer staff for the office
-Restructuring operating expenses and moving into a projected budget process
-Project Uplift and the changes to our public face
-Francine Kitchen was re-elected and Joanne Allison was elected to the Board of Trustees
-Membership Survey results were shared
-New look to the Sunday Service and the Pulpit Assistant and Ask Me Desk
-The great work being done to beautify our gardens and grounds
-Financial Report
-The move from a general membership board of trustees to a stewardship board consciousness.
-Visioning process for selection for a new minister and the processes to contribute to the search committee were presented
Actions of the board for the past year were ratified by the vote of the attending membership. A light lunch and informative time was had by all. Thank you to everyone that participated! The Board Members for 2009 are: President Deb Strom, Vice President Cathy Angell, Secretary Joanne Allison, Treasurer Debbie Savoya, Rev. Dr. Jaine Ryder, Rev. Colleen MacGilchrist, and Francine Kitchen. If you missed the meeting and would like more information, please feel free to ask any of us for more details. We have a glorious and exciting year ahead of us!! Let us know what you would like to do to be a part of it--
In Gratitude and Thanksgiving,
Deb Strom, President
Board of Trustees, CSL-Bellingham
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| Welcome new board members! |
 Debbie Savoya - I live with my husband, Robb, in Anacortes and have been a part of the CSL community for over 10 years, the past 2 years with CSL Bellingham. I truly enjoy helping others in need. One thing I do is sponsor contests that appreciate people in the community who do more for others than themselves. I volunteer weekly at the local hospital and senior center. I am a 28 year cancer survivor appreciating life's blessing in greater depths with every next year I am gifted. This year I was blessed with becoming a grandmother! The first CSL class I took was 'The Power of Decision' by Raymond C. Baker and knew CSL would always be in my life. Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer, Raymond C. Barker, Caroline Reynolds, Eckhart Tolle, Richard Bach and Oprah have been pivotal, uplifting and influential in my life. As treasurer of the Board of CSL, I bring over 30 years of accounting experience and a genuine intention of being a spirit in action for CSL-Bellingham.
 Joanne Allison:
I have been attending Woodside, now CSL, for about 2 years. I was searching for a spiritual community that is all inclusive and that believes communication with Spirit is direct. Woodside and the teachings of Ernest Holmes were exactly what I was looking for. Knowing that service is an integral part of my soul's development, I volunteered for kitchen duty. Volunteering was also a way for me to feel part of the community and meet fellow congregants. However, it wasn't until I started taking classes that I really discovered what CSL was all about. I learned the steps of affirmative prayer and suddenly Reverend Jaine's talks took on a new meaning and depth. I have completed level one classes and am on my way to completing level two. Not only do the classes teach me how to live my life, they are instrumental in developing friendships with other classmates. The classes have truly been a gift! My goal as a board member is to hold the Principles of the teachings in my awareness and demonstrate these Principles more and more in my life and for the benefit of Woodside. Outside of Woodside, I work in the medical field as a nurse and Physician Assistant. I love to be outdoors hiking Mount Baker, walking, snowshoeing, birding and gardening. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the board and be surrounded by such precious, fun-loving Spirits.
 Rev. Colleen MacGilchrist has been appointed to the Board of Trustees to head up the transition between Senior Ministers. She is the founding minister of the Center for Spiritual Living-Bellingham where she served for ten years. She is a former school teacher, residential designer and building contractor, as well serving as the Administrative Minister and Dean of Holmes Institute CSL-Seattle. A dynamic speaker and gifted teacher, she resides on Lummi Island with her husband Bob and cats Leo and Luna.
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| Overview of Transition Process |
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Let the Journey Begin
Rev. Colleen MacGilchrist
Twenty-one years of dedication to the continuation of this center as a beacon of light in the forest have brought us to perfect time and perfect place to welcome our next Senior Minister. Your leadership team has a burning desire to see our center thrive and prosper during the period between senior ministers. As part of creating a smooth transition your board has appointed me to lead the search process, oversee the Sunday Celebrations and participate as an experienced minister and board member in stewardship of our organization. I'm counting on you to help. So let's roll up our sleeves, open our hearts and let the journey begin.
We'll start with a Visioning Process to "see" our community vision for the next Senior Minister. These sessions will be held on Sunday, June 7th from 12:00-2 pm., and Tuesday, June 9, 6-8 pm. Visioning will be open to all members and friends. Members who would like to be considered as part of the search committee must attend one or both of these visioning sessions. The results of the visioning process will be presented to the board.
 Ronna Biggs is the co-chair of the Search Committee. Ronna and I will select committee members from among the center members who have attended a visioning session and have indicated a desire to be on the committee. We will bring our recommendations to the Board for approval. Ideally we will have a representational mix of our congregation, young and old, various areas of interests and participation.
In the meantime, the board will be working on a candidating package to be sent out to the potential candidates. This package will contain information about our church and community, a job description influenced in part by the visioning process as well as the previous survey and a compensation package based on sound financial management of our contributions and good stewardship of our resources. We will reach out to potential candidates in a variety of ways throughout both ICSL and UCSL.
Interested Ministers will contact the ICSL placement director. Their applications will be sent to us along with a DVD. The search committee will review all of this information and speak to all references provided. This will include phone interviews with the promising candidates. The search committee will ultimately select three candidates to come to our center. They will speak at a Sunday Celebration, be interviewed by the board and search committee and be available for your questions and comments at a general forum of members and friends after the Sunday service. These candidates will be scheduled on three consecutive Sundays. The following Sunday members will select a candidate or reject all three candidates.
In the rare situation that we reject all three candidates we will continue the process until the perfect right minister for our center is found. This will be accomplished through Clarity of Vision, ongoing Affirmative Prayer, willingness to do the work, plus clear, respectful and honest communication among us as members and friends of CSL Bellingham. No goal date for the arrival of our new minister has been established at this time. I will be providing ongoing updates at least monthly as the process unfolds. Thank you for your past support and in advance for all of the love, contribution and positive energy you will provide all along the way.
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| Upcoming Events at CSL - Mark your calendar!! |
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2nd - Cedar Tree Montessori's 10th Birthday Party, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Woodside members were the key to launching Cedar Tree Montessori Elementary School ten years ago, when it was just a seedling of an idea. Take a trip down memory lane with photos of the portable (newly arrived and installed in place of the big green shed that only you old-timers will remember), outdoor and indoor shots from 1999 to the present. There will be tours of our new facility, entertainment, food and, of course, birthday cake. Join us at 2114 Broadway Ave. For more information, or just a dose of gratitude, call Kim Feerer at 714-1762.
7th - Speaker's Workshop, 6-8 pm, free
If you've ever dreamed of giving a Sunday Celebration talk, if you have the ability and consciousness to stand and deliver inspiration and wisdom on a Sunday morning, this ones for you! Rev. Colleen leads this 2 hour workshop for potential Sunday speakers to fill "guest" spots as needed during our time between Senior Ministers. Sign up sheet at the "Ask Me" table or email Rev. Colleen at colleen@colleenmac.com. For any Member or Friend wanting to be considered as a Sunday Speaker, this class is a prerequisite.
15th - Marimba Concert and Dance with the Sweet Pumpkin, 7-9 pm, $10/each; $15/family, (Tickets will be available at the Ask Me Desk)
SWEET PUMPKIN is an 8 member band that plays lively, irresistible Zimbabwean dance music, both traditional and contemporary. Their music is contagious with infectious, mesmerizing rhythms and harmonies. They play it as a way of bringing people together.
Their seven wooden marimbas are hand-made - 3 sopranos, 2 tenors, 1 baritone and 1 bass. They also include hand drums and hosho (a gourd shaker). Their name - Sweet Pumpkin - is a translation of the word Manhanga. In Zimbabwe there is a saying "May all your pumpkins be sweet....."
20th - Meditation with Divine Light Blessing, 7-8:30 pm, donation
Slow down, be still, expand your awareness, and rejoice in the connection to Self. Join Jeni Miller (www.divinealchemyonearth.com), Megan McGeowin and Anana Integre for an evening meditation. This is an opportunity for those who are new to meditation as well as those who have a regular practice. The evening will include guided meditation, silence, chanting, crystal bowl work, and a Pure Light Blessing (Diksha). The Pure Light Blessing is an ancient physical energy transference of Divine Light into the brain that aids enlightenment. Optional donations are gratefully accepted and will be shared with CSL-B.
31st - Goodbye party and potluck for Dr. Jaine after the service!
JUNE
13th - Metaphysical Fair, free
The Center for Spiritual Living-Bellingham's Annual Metaphysical Fair June 13, 2009 10am-6pm.
Come and connect with providers of alternative, metaphysical and uplifting services and products to assist you in making your life the best it can be. Providers of Reiki, massage, EFT, tarot and psychic readers, aromatherapy, crystal healing, herbal and flower essences, are some of the healing/wellness practices that will be represented. Adorn yourself with jewelry and henna then enjoy strolling in our lovely gardens. Sample yummy foods while watching presentations by our providers then bid on your favorite items at our silent auction. Treat yourself and a friend to a lovely day of exploration and stock up on supplies to keep you at your best for the rest of the year.
We are still accepting registration for vendors. To register, please contact Chris Brewer at 756-1236 or chris@musicandlearning.com or Deb Strom at 319-2105 or dragonsongred@comcast.net or call the CSL-B office at 734-4160. Act fast; we only have 30 booths. Priority will be given to first applicants while ensuring that there is a good variety of services/products available.
17th - Meditation with Divine Light Blessing, 7-8:30 pm, donation
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE FUTURE EVENTS
August 9 - Summer Picnic Festival
September 25 - Silent/Live Auction and Dinner
October 30 - Rock Star Bingo! (Halloween costumes encouraged)
November 22 - Harvest Potluck
***stay tuned - additional events will likely be added |
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Affinity Groups! |
Ever want to just explore an idea equally with a group of peers for just a couple hours a week for a small number of weeks? That is what Affinity Groups are all about. Whether you want to host or just experience one, let Enid Wood ( enidwood@gmail.com) know your area of interest and she can match you up with others who want to explore the same topic. For example, 'creativity' is a topic that is bubbling up. If several people want to explore personal creativity together, an Affinity Group can be arranged. What Divine urges are speaking to you?
The following Affinity Groups are forming for May and June. If you are interested in joining, please email the facilitator. Unless otherwise noted, the facilitator will query all interested parties about time and date availability.
COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY: Based on Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D.
Participants will take turns facilitating the group using chapters from a well written, humorous book on communication skills. These skills help you understand how past beliefs can upset you now, how to express yourself when you feel stuck, and how to communicate in a way that is authentic, straightforward and respectful. Wed 7-9 pm May 13th-June 10th. Shila Moa's house: 1744 Sapphire Trail, Bellingham, WA 98226, phone 360 715 1298. Please contact Shila if you are interested in joining,
ShilaMoa@comcast.net
NOBLE PURPOSE: This group is based on the Noble Purpose Handbook by Barry Heerman. Participants will each lead a chapter of exercises designed to help you "Ignite Extraordinary Passion for Life and Work." The objective of this affinity group is to help you achieve your noble purpose, what you have come to earth to do, by revealing it through a visioning process. . There are 8 steps corresponding with 8 chapters. Enid will facilitate a discussion and exercises related to the first couple of chapters and anyone who wants can facilitate other chapters. You may wish to get a book. Books can be purchased used for $5 or less plus shipping and handling from Amazon.com. There is a hardback book, Noble Purpose: Igniting Passion for Life and Work, by Barry Heermann and a paperback workbook edition. This group will be held in the center office beginning in June (days and times TBD). 8 wks. To sign up, please contact Enid Wood, enidwood@gmail.com |
| Team CSL! (Volunteer Opportunities) |
Are you interested in connecting with others and sharing your talents with CSL?
Here are some current opportunities for you to get involved:
Perpetual Rummage Sale: The rummage sale would like it's donations to be arranged and sorted out occasionally. Please contact Francine (francine4us@yahoo.com)
Events Team: We are forming an Events team for general planning of what events happen and the basics of what they are, to be ongoing and not event-specific. Want to join? Contact Francine.
Summer Picnic: Joanie Nielsen is looking for someone to join her in planning the Summer Picnic, which is on Aug. 9th. Contact Joanie (beherejoan@gmail.com) or Francine.
Auction and Dinner: Kate Molling is looking for someone to join her in planning the Fall Auction and Dinner, which is on Sept. 25th. Contact Kate (kathrynmusic@earthlink.net) or Francine.
Family Night: Our second Family Night of food and games generated another good time, Please let Francine know whether you want to do another one this summer or wait until Fall
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| News from the Interfaith Coalition |
Sign up now to be a Friendly Visitor
Individuals who wish to make a difference in the lives of seniors who are isolated with little social contact may attend one of the following upcoming training sessions for Interfaith Coalition's Friendly Visitors program: Tuesday, May 12 from 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, June 9 from 1 to 4 p.m., or Thursday, July 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. Friendly Visitors offers trained volunteers the opportunity to work one-on-one with individuals in need of caring human connection. The program matches compassionate volunteers with older members of the community whose health and well-being may improve with increased social contact. Please call the Friendly Visitors office at 756-5179 to reserve a space at either session. |
| Flower Power! |
Do you have a bouquet to share?
 Please consider signing up to bring flowers for the platform on Sunday mornings. It is a beautiful way to share from your house to OUR HOUSE. Whether you bring your own bouquet or one from the florist, providing flowers is a wonderful way to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions.
Contact the office at 360-734-4160 or
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| Perpetual Rummage Sale |
Everyone loves a rummage sale, and it's so convenient right outside our back door! Please don't hesitate to take home anything that strikes your fancy. As long as you leave any contribution in the cash box, it's OK if you choose to pay less than the hoped for price on the tag.
If you have good used items, we welcome your donation. |
| Please support our sponsors! |
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Michael's Books
"Many metaphysical books in stock"
An established used bookstore in downtown Bellingham.
Michael Elmer, Proprietor, 109 Grand Ave, Bellingham, 360-733-6272
Mili Rauwolf
"Stay in control of your life"
Weight Management, Career Cultivation, PSTD Absolution, Tabacco Abstinence
Mili Rauwolf, Neuro-Linguistic Hypnotherapist and Reiki Master, 360-380-2273
 Sky Chiropractic
"Health care for the entire family" A trusted chiropractor located near Lakeway Drive.
Dr. Michael Selinsky - 1420 King Street, Ste A, Bellingham, 360-738-9139
 Sterling Real Estate Group "Experience the spirit in real estate"
Serving you as a buyer or seller with experience, warmth and wisdom.
Colleen MacGilchrist, Associate Broker, 360-961-4932,
Steve's Tech Solutions
"PC, Mac, and Network Specialist"
New office near the farmer's market!
Rates: $45 for remaining 3 issues; or $20 per issue. | |
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| CONTACT INFORMATION: Center for Spiritual Living - Bellingham
Rev. Dr. Jaine Ryder, Senior Minister
2224 Yew Street Road, Bellingham, WA 98229
360-734-4160
Office Hours: By appointment
Newsletter Editors: Cathy Angell & Dan Villiott | |
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