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| Our Community Newsletter | February 18, 2011 |
"Your task is not to seek for love,
but merely to seek and find all the barriers
within yourself that you have built against it."
Rumi
When we know love, nothing looks the same. The deeper we can go with our loving, the sweeter the life. The barriers that would separate us fall away. I'm not talking about the conditional love that so many of us think is the real thing....that love that says "I love you if you do what I say" or "I love you if you love me"..........or the love that we express on Monday, Valentine's Day, and forget about by Tuesday. I'm talking about the unconditional love that you can feel listening to a particular piece of music, looking at a brand new baby or puppy or an aspect of nature that opens your heart. We have all had those moments of feeling the expansion in our heart. The core of our being has been touched, and it is pure love, pure being. It is the LOVE that is within all of us.
Some of us may be so disconnected from our core being that we can't identify that feeling; we are barren and empty inside. Every day is a new day and a new opportunity to wake up and do life differently. We can begin again....we can find a way to give love in service to humanity. We can become a giver without thought of what we are receiving. We discover that in our giving, we receive everything. Our service becomes sacred and we find more to be grateful for...more love, more peace, more joy. In our service, we find the truest love. We BECOME THE LOVE, and then finally, we are truly free.
Our affirmation for the day: I am a radiant expression of God's infinite love. I become ONE with the ONE!
In peace and love,
Rev. Karen Wylie
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Announcements
My Valentine Gift for You This Sunday, February 20, is the day your Valentine's present will be delivered in the form of Rafael Bejarano. Through the use of indigenous instruments from around the world, Rafael becomes an "instrument" himself, as he is not just a performer but a tool for promoting a message of connection and greater possibilities for us all. He will be creating an environment for us in which to experience physical and emotional healing, allowing us to tap into the potential of our hearts and uncover the infinite potential within ourselves and one another. It will be a special, powerful experience!
Special Guests This Past Sunday How appreciative I am to Rev. Joanne Coleman who brought a powerful message to us this past Sunday. She took us to a new level of awareness about unconditional love.
Rev. Karen and Rev. Joanne Coleman
My gratitude also to three lovely ladies who created heaven on earth with their beautiful dancing....Markeida Newton (mom), Destiny Brumfield (daughter) and Angel Monjet (young cousin). They drove all the way from Carson to be with us. The experience for me was like watching angels dance.
Finally, my deep gratitude and appreciation to Renee Mandala and Miyuki Harley who provided our amazing, heart-opening musical inspiration. Renee is pictured below.
Renee Mandala
The New Symphony of Life Membership Directory Don't forget that it is today and tomorrow that we are being photographed for our new Symphony of Life Membership Directory! For the first time in our church's history, we are developing a membership directory for our spiritual center which will be available in print and also on line. Everyone will receive a complimentary 8 x 10 individual or family portrait, as well as a printed directory that includes our entire membership.
The photo sessions will be held at Ojai Healing Movement, 960 East Ojai Avenue, Suite 106, Ojai, Ca 93023. To view a Google map click here. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Rev. Will Castagna, (805) 646-4756 or Randee Vasilakos, (310) 722-1933.
We will be collecting pertinent information from each member to be included in the directory. You can choose what kind and how much information you wish to share with the congregation. This is a great way to let your spiritual family know what your unique gifts and talents are and to create more business for yourself. We see this as an exciting step forward in building our spiritual community. More information about this project will be forthcoming.
Creative Adventures Winter Program Rick Ricksen took some wonderful pictures of our children this past Sunday. Below they are pictured in various stages of their creative projects.
We love our youth program which supports parents in raising joyful, happy children who are self-confident, spiritually aware, global citizens. Each Sunday, our children 3-11 years old enjoy prayer, story telling, visual arts projects and/or music and movement. Our program is enriching and appropriate for young people regardless of their religious backgrounds. As part of our Sunday program, children get to explore the roots, purpose and meaning of special holidays throughout the year.
We welcome assistant teachers who enjoy children and are willing to give of their time once monthly or quarterly. Please call Rev. Marilyn Miller if you are interested (805) 640-0498.
We are grateful to Rev. Will Castagna and Steve Weed who facilitated the children's program this past Sunday.
Visioning on Sunday, February 27th We will be having our monthly visioning meeting on Sunday, February 27th, right after church at 12:15. Please join us as we dive deep into the stillness to catch God's idea for our lives individually and for our spiritual community. Some interesting and valuable things are coming out of our visioning meetings.
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GRAPEVINE
A JOURNEY TO NICHOLAS ROERICH'S HOUSE IN MONGOLIA with Carl Olmstead, Barbara Jones & Degii. Presented by Jean Bates, Friday, February 18, 2011 at 7:00 PM at High Spirits Center, 206 Signal Street, Suite S, Second Floor, Ojai....behind Wells Fargo Bank, enter inner courtyard, take steps by Topa Topa Travel. For more information, contact jean.bates@me.com. All are welcome!
DREAMAKERS CENTER FOR ASPIRING PERFORMING ARTISTS, ALL-IN-ONE CLASS, Beginning February 28th, Monday Evenings, 7:00 to 10:00 PM, Singing, Dancing, Improv, Writing, Acting, Movement. Growing together through art. For more information, call (310) 546-2604, www.dreamakersperformingarts.org.
DREAMAKERS SEMINAR FOR ASPIRING ARTISTS, Friday, March 11, 6:30 to 10:30 PM; Saturday, March 12, 10 AM to 8 PM. Everyone is an artist. Learn why. This is not "The Artists Way" but the way of the artist. What is the real anatomy of the artist? What is the real significance of art? Call for more info and to make reservations (310) 546-2604 or (805) 640-3630.
HEALING LOSS: A WOMAN'S JOURNEY FROM GRIEF TO GRACE, Saturday, March 12, 10:00 to 4:30 PM, St. Andrews Episcopal Church (401 Topa Topa Dr., corner of Ojai Ave. & Topa Topa). A gentle day for meditation and creative processes to transform pain and confusion into self-appreciation. Facilitated by Rev. Marilyn Miller and Dr. Marcia Leventhal. Contact Rev. Marilyn at (805) 640-0498 for more information or to register.
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Upcoming Speakers
| SOLSC Music with Miyuki Harley on Vocals and Keyboards
Sunday February 27
Reverend Karen Wylie
Spiritual Director
Sunday March 6
Reverend Karen Wylie
Spiritual Director
Sunday March 13
Reverend Karen Wylie
Spiritual Director
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SOLSC Vision Statement
We live as Love, thriving and participating as a community in celebration of our Oneness with All.
SOLSC Purpose Statement We are participating and thriving as an inclusive, multicultural spiritual community. We provide an environment where we realize our individual connection to God, the Love Intelligence that governs the universe. We promote, through the energy of unconditional love, the realization of the Divine magnificence within.
SOLSC Service and Contact Information Sunday Services ... 10:00 AM Silent Meditation
10:30 AM Worship Service and Youth Church
Location ... Historic Ojai Valley Woman's Club, 441 E. Ojai Avenue, Ojai CA 93023
Symphony of Life Spiritual Center
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 322, Ojai, CA 93024
Local (805) 715-9796 Toll free (800) 921-7505
Email: info@solsc.org Web: www.solsc.org
(please visit our website for additional information) |
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