Originally Blessed!


February 18, 2012
eNewsletter from

EVOLVE Chesapeake

Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Community, an original blessing community

IN THIS ISSUE
Marriage in Maryland!
February 19 Sacred Gathering
Inclement Weather Policy
Gathering Time Change
Bridges to the World
what would YOU like to do?
Spong Reading Group
Covenant Dates
if you like these . . .
Jesus is with the 99%
Fundraising for Ministry
Becoming a CS Community
Find us on Facebook
Join Our Mailing List
Our Business Sponsors
Chuck Riley
For your real estate needs in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, or across the country contact

 

 

 

iGive Logo

 

 

SHOP AT
 and

 

Join us for worship on Sundays at 4:30 PM at the Annapolis Friends Meeting at 351 Dubois Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.

 

 Click here for directions.

Marriage in Maryland

By Rev. Dr. Wayne Schwandt

 

Yesterday, hoping against hope, I listened and read throughout the day to catch any news of the debate going on in the Maryland Assembly concerning the passage of the the marriage equality bill.  Maybe February 17, 2012, would be the day that marriage in Maryland would no longer be a priviledge for the heterosexual elite. 

 

Then, as I was leaving Annandale, I read on Facebook that it had passed.  I could hardly believe it.  I wished I were present to have heard the announcement and celebrate with the crowd gathered there.  Scott Bowling called me as I drove home and told me some of the details of the vote:  71 to 67!  After years of work by many people in this movement, the vote was behind us.   

 

It is a temporary moment of joy as those who remain unenlightened about the meaning of "justice for all" prepare to put the civil rights of a minority to a vote by statewide referendum.  We will celebrate and then we will transform our celebration into working to change the hearts and minds of Marylanders for the inevetable vote this fall.  I am astonished that those who have been the personal witnesses to bigotry turn their hearts in a kind of self righteous indignitation about their own superior ways. No ethnic minority person, no differently abled person, no woman, no Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgendered person, should ever forget the discrimination they have experienced and then become the oppressors of others.

 

I stand ready, willing and able to celebrate the first same sex marriage in Maryland of my career!  Get your license when it is available to do so and give me a call!

 

For more information on the passage of the bill, read here.     

February 19, 2012

  Seventh Sunday of

Via Positiva

Sacred Gathering at 4:30 PM

 

"Coming Home"

heavenism, alienation, homecoming

    

351 Dubois Road, Annapolis, Maryland 

 Annapolis Friends Meeting


GATHERING LEADERS:
Setup/Put Away:   Beth Lanier
Greeter/Usher:  Suzie Robertson
Reader:  Beth Lanier
Communion Assistant:  Rick Stewart
Offering Invitation: Dave Miller
Community Hour:  Adri Eathorne and Kim Hinken
We continue our progressive spiritual journey!
Inclement Weather Policy
 
Maybe 2012 will be the year when we have no Sacred Gatherings canceled due to weather, but the weather forecasters are putting that hope at risk for tomorrow. 

Sometimes we cancel Gathering because our hosts, the Annapolis Friends Meeting, close their building.  In any event, it should go without saying that each person should take responsibility for their own safety in inclement weather, whether that be excessive heat, thunderstorm, or snow and ice. 

If it looks like weather is a factor the Board consults by phone or email to learn what is going on where people live (remember we have people attending from Baltimore to Solmomons to Washingtion, DC -- weather can vary greatly throughout that area -- that's nearly 100 miles).  If the Board decides to cancel our Gathering, we will take every possible step to let everyone know by sending an email to all Companions who have email, make phone calls to those who do not, send out a special edition Constant Contact eLetter, and post it on our website.  If you haven't heard, call a Board member.  You must have a bulletin somewhere with the leadership's phone numbers and email!  

SACRED GATHERING TIME

CHANGES WITH

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME

 

BEGINNING MARCH 11 OUR GATHERINGS RETURN TO 6 PM


Spring Forward   

Bridges to the World: 

International Film Festival

A FREE Activity Suggested by Beth Lanier

 

World Artists Experiences and the International Division of Maryland's Office of the Secretary of State, in conjunction with Frostburg University, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, Salisbury University, and Towson University, invite the public to attend free screenings of five international films, one each from Austria, Brazil, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.  The Bridges to the World International Film Series is a statewide, month-long initiative in recognition of the State's global reach and a reflection of those connections here in Maryland.

 

The series will run for five weeks from February 13 through March 16 at five venues throughout the state and will feature films chosen by the embassies of the respective countries.  Each film will be introduced, screened, and followed by a discussion.  Presentations begin at 7:00 p.m.  All films will be shown with English subtitles. 
 
Beth Suggests, in particular, a film from Turkey,
Thursday, March 15 from Turkey   Ice Cream Scream
at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
801 Chase Street  Annapolis, MD 21401
Telephone: (410 647-4482 or (410) 263-5544
or
Wednesday, March 14 at
Southern Maryland Higher Educational Center, Building 2
Center Hall, 44219 Airport Road  California, MD 20619
Telephone: (301)737-2500 x203
For more information and a complete listing of the films and locations, click here.

what would YOU like to do?

Looking for an activity partner?


See a movie?

Go out for dinner?
Go to a bar?
Go bowling?
Read a book with a group of people?
go hiking?  camping? trip to Rehoboth? New York? Asheville?

Something else?

We'd love to hear from you about things you'd like to do.  Send an email to ChesapeakeCSC@aol.com and we'll be in touch about setting up an activity group!

Spong Reading Group

Saturday, February 25

 

The group reading "Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World" will meet at Cafe 49 West at 11 AM on Saturday, February 4.  We are reading PART III:  The Rise of the Prophets, Chapters 7-9.  There is still time to join the group.  If you need a copy of the book contact Pastor Wayne at SchwandtW@aol.com.  Price has risen to $18.17.

COVENANT DATES
birthdays, anniversaries, Covenant Dates

 

February 3, 1964 Karl D. Walker birthday (d. 9/4/2008) 

February 5, 2005 Shane Matthew Riley birthday

February 15, 1997 Wayne Schwandt Ordination

 

IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU'LL LIKE
EVOLVE CHESAPEAKE! 

 

              Elizabeth Schusler Fiorenza
Rumi                                          Jesus of Nazareth
            John Shelby Spong
                                                      Matthew Fox
 John Dominic Crossan
                                    Marcus Borg   
    Starhawk                               Gandhi
Buddha          Joseph Grizone 
                                                 Andrew Harvey
Jesus 99%
available at your church this Sunday 
FUNDRAISING FOR MINISTRY
USE iSEARCH AND HELP CCSC!  
one cent per search!
Do you search the web? If so, you could be raising a penny for Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Community every time you search! iSearchiGive.com is a search engine powered by Yahoo! Search and iGive.com, the internet's first online shopping mall where a portion of each purchase is donated to your favorite cause. Try it today - it's free! To try iSearch, click here.  After you click on the previous link, in the upper right corner will be CLICK HERE TO ADD ISEARCHIGIVE TO YOUR BROWER.  Make it your default search engine and earn a penny for every search.  Every penny counts! 

YOUR USED CELL PHONES AND EMPTY INK JET AND TONER CARTRIDGES CAN HELP FUND OUR MINISTRY. BRING THEM TO WORSHIP WITH YOU! These items fit nicely in the offering basket along with remembrance of time and talent you have offered through our ministries AND your financial gifts.  
  
When shopping online always go through www.iGive.com!  Register Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Community as your charity and shop away!  To date we have earned $1,281.00.  Thank you for shopping through iGive.com and using iSearch.com for online searches!
CSC logo small
Become an individual member of Creation Spirituality Communities by clicking here or sign up as a participant in the online community for FREE!  Join our community, Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Center, and participate in the discussion.  Go to www.CreationSpirituality.info for more information and to sign up!  Join the online group, Chesapeake Creation Spirituality.

Find us on Facebook

If you have a profile on Facebook become a fan of CCSC by clicking here.  Upload pictures, start a discussion, invite friends.