"If you put your soul against this oar with me,  

the power that made the universe will enter your sinew from a source not outside your limbs, but from a holy realm that lives within you."

Rumi

Welcome to this beautiful month of November in which we focus our attention on gratitude and thanksgiving. Our theme for this month is "Sacrament of Thanksgiving." My topic for this Sunday is "Into the Light! - The New World Order." My talk this Sunday will be setting the tone for our upcoming silent meditation on 11/11/11 at the Ojai Retreat.

There is no doubt that we are living in very exciting times. I call them exciting; others would call them challenging and perhaps even fear-inducing. I, however, am choosing to keep my eye single upon all that is grand and glorious about living. It seems clear that change is upon us simply as a consequence of living on a planet with a burgeoning population and dwindling resources. Yes, we are going to have to find more cooperative ways of living as a global community. How could it be otherwise? The good news is that there is a magnificent upwelling of consciousness on the planet at this time. Its nature is love and peace. I'm keeping my attention on all the positive infinite possibilities for this new world that is birthing itself right now. That is my prayer......peace and love.

So this month, we shall be grateful....so very grateful for all the blessings we have. Even those of us who are having a hard time right now can find something to be grateful for, and probably many somethings. When we place our attention on that, more good shows up, so let's focus on the good and see it everywhere!

Our affirmation of the day: I see beauty everywhere I look! I see love everywhere I look! My life is overflowing with goodness, abundance and prosperity!

In peace and love,    

Rev. Karen Wylie

Special Guest Artist 

Be sure to join us on Sunday, November 13. We have a special guest coming to town to play that piano that's been sitting on our stage just waiting for the maestro. Ray Davis is coming up from Agape where he appears most often. He will take the roof off the house so you might want to set that morning aside to be with us at the Symphony of Life.  

Ray Davis

Gratitude and Thanksgiving 

Our outdoor Sunday service at Help of Ojai's Little House was wonderful! We were outside in nature, and just looking at the beauty all around us was inspiring before a word was ever spoken or a song sung. I love how Spirit provides exactly what we need when we need it. Members of our congregation said that we should have our service in nature more often! Enjoy the pictures below to get a taste of our beautiful early morning experience.   

Spiritual Cinema Night

Thanks to team leader Leslee Goodman, our first Spiritual Cinema Night was a big success! The turn-out was great! The movie was wonderful, including the discussion afterwards. The venue was perfect, and we felt absolutely welcomed by Margaret and Lynn from the Casa.   We will be having our next Cinema Night on Friday, November 18. We are in the process of choosing our next movie and will let you know as soon as we make a decision. Put the date on your calendar. This is a free event (love donation appreciated). Meet at Casa de La Luna, 710 So. La Luna, Ojai 93023. Doors open at 6:30 PM; film showing at 7:00 PM. Chairs are provided but bring a folding chair if you would like or cushions to sit on the floor. Invite your friends! For more info or questions, contact Leslee Goodman (805) 625-1031 or Rev. Karen (805) 640-3743.

Andre, Rev. Karen and Sana Musson 

We wish Andre and Sana Musson well as they begin their journey to Tucson, Arizona.  Thank you Sana for all your great love, dedication and great service to the Symphony of Life and to our Youth Program! 

Annual Congregational Meeting 

Our Annual Congregational Meeting will take place on Sunday, December 11 right after our regular church service. Lunch will be served. There is one Board position which we will be filling this year. If you are interested in joining the Board of Directors of the Symphony of Life Spiritual Center, please submit something in writing regarding your work experience and/or church experience and why you would like to be on the Board. Your application needs to be submitted by December 1st to one of the members of this year's nominating committee, Rick Ricksen, Tiese Quinn or Rev. Karen Wylie.

Upcoming Silent Retreat  

To acknowledge an auspicious date on the calendar (11/11/11), on the morning of Friday, November 11, 2011, we will be in silent meditation at the Ojai Retreat from 8:00 AM to 12:00. Our first meditation will begin promptly at 8:00 AM, so if you are participating, plan to arrive by 7:45. Over the course of the morning, there will be meditation sittings, walks on the grounds, and a light continental breakfast at 10:15. Since the space is limited, you will need to sign up to participate. Contact Rev. Karen at (805) 640-3743 to sign up or for more information.

Sacred Service Saturday

On Saturday, November 19, from 9:00 AM to 12:00, we will be having our fourth Sacred Service Saturday. We will be working on the grounds at the Krishnamurti Foundation, 1098 McAndrew Road. Put that date on your calendar. We need you! Many hands make light work. To sign up, or for more information, contact Brian Pavelko, (805) 540-9635, or Rev. Karen at (805) 640-3743 .

Our New Membership Directories are Here! 

If you had your picture taken for the first-ever, Symphony of Life membership directory, yours is available for pick-up. We will be handing them out again this coming Sunday after service. If you did not make the pages of this one, it is not too late to sign up for membership in the Symphony of Life. We are a growing and expanding center, and there is vibrant, joyful, new energy all around us!

Symphony of Life Book Club

Our new book club selection for the month of October is Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.   Start reading now so you'll be ready for our next meeting on Friday, November 11. We meet at 6:00 PM and our meetings are a potluck so bring a dish to share. All are invited to join in at any time. Contact Peggie Williamson at (805) 640-2450 for more information.

Teachers/Facilitators for Our Youth Program 

We would like your help in our Youth Program even if you can only help out one Sunday a month or every couple of months. We have such a variance in the ages of our children in the program....often lots of babies.....and older children as well. Our children are important to us, and we want to provide a wonderful experience for them. We need your help!

Special Request

We would like to start making CD's of our service. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in helping us with that project, please give Rev. Karen a call at (310) 968-8928. We know you are out there!

Open Invitation  

Visit our SOLSC Website

Please go to www.solsc.org to visit our community website.

Visit SOLSC Facebook

THE 21ST ANNUAL HOLIDAY BASKET BRIGADE is here again! It will be held on December 4, 2011, at 1:30 PM. The group will meet in the lobby of the Ojai Valley Woman's Club. Feel the true spirit of the holidays! Bring joy to the lives of others by helping acquire or buy holiday food and/or gifts and then helping to anonymously deliver them door-to-door as a surprise to low-income families or seniors. Here's your chance to deliver gifts like Santa! Your tax-deductible donation makes this great event possible. (100% of donations go to recipients.) Please consider helping to purchase food/gifts or discuss funding or arranging for a particular item for each family/senior. To contribute or for more information, contact justine@justinewynn.com, (805) 640-5148. Also, you can check out http://holidaybasketbrigade.shutterfly.com  to find out more about the Basket Brigade.