"I appreciate any organization or individual people who sincerely make an effort to promote harmony between humanity, and particularly harmony between the various religions. I consider it very sacred work and very important work"

-- The Dalai Lama

Sunday, July 3, 10:30 a.m.

Independence Sunday

"Freedom and Justice for All"

Pastor Retha Banez 

With gratitude for the liberty and freedom we enjoy, we gather together in our faith community to celebrate the 235th anniversary of our nation's independence. As people of the Christ, we hold in our hearts the ideals of freedom, peace and justice for all of our human family. What is our role? The American nation, Bah�'�s believe, will evolve through tests and trials to become a land of spiritual distinction and leadership, a champion of justice and unity among all peoples and nations, and a powerful servant of the cause of everlasting peace. This is the peace promised by God in the sacred texts of the world's religions. Let's talk about America's destiny and our part in it.

 Officiator: Rev. Bonita Plymale

"To Make a Silk Purse"

Sunday, July 17, 10:30 a.m.

"Inter-Faith May Be a Hidden Jewel"

Rev. Cynthia McGinnis   

We open our hearts and minds with the hidden Christ Within. How can we live that mystery daily and know we are a spark of God for every step we take and in every endeavor? Bring your Spark this Sunday, and know that it is a day of Service to Oneness. Let Your Light Shine!

Officiator: Pastor Retha Banez
Communion: Rev. Roberta Wilkes
Hierarchy Meditation/Offertory Blessing: Rev. Peg Willson
Co-Ministers of Music: Rev. Roberta Wilkes & Rev. Mary Jane Dicus 

Sunday, July 24, 10:30 a.m.

"Peace - A Soul Quality"

Rev. Peggy Eaton

Our Soul longs for serenity. Our personality longs for 5-sense stimulation. Our Soul's natural state is loving awareness. Our personality's natural state is busy-ness. Our Soul's expression is radiation of spiritual love and compassion. Our personality's expression is radiation of physical energy. We will be discussing what it takes to grow in our Soul expression and emote desires of the soul; to live in harmony with the people, places and things that surround us in our world and to be able to say from the Soul level, "I am at Peace."

"Finding Our Way to Contentment"

Zoroastrianism liturgy - The Yasna 43

Officiator: Rev. Cynthia McGinnis

Communion: Pastor Retha Banez

Hierarchy Meditation/Offertory Blessing: Rev. Pamela Ramsfield

Co-Ministers of Music: Rev. Roberta Wilkes & Rev. Mary Jane Dicus

 CONNECT GROUPS  

July 7 

Prayer Shawl Group, First Thursday, Fellowship Hall, 7:00 p.m.

The prayer shawl group meets to knit and crochet shawls and lap blankets with prayers, love and good wishes for those who would benefit from these comfort items.

Once a year we gather these items at our November Sunday Blessing service and take them to nursing homes, oncology units and the like as our service work.

All are welcome to join us, beginners and advanced needle workers. We are interested in teaching those who wish to learn to crochet or knit.

July 21
Monthly Toning Healing Circle, Third Thursday, 7:00 p.m. 

Those who participate in the toning circle come together for the purpose of experiencing the vibrational qualities of our crystal toning bowls, the healing power of chanting and the haunting sound of the free notes. Participants can choose to surround themselves with the energy of one individual toning device, or experience them all at once. Most importantly, the presence of each individual adds to the power of the group. All are invited to join in this experience. 

July 24   

Orin Meditation Group, Fourth Sunday, Sanctuary, 1:00 p.m.

Join the meditation group that holds short group meditations guided by channeled visualizations and meditation from the Orin material. Rev. Maggie Webb Adams-Karjens from Iowa, introduced this material to seven village folks about two years ago. The group believes these meditations have drawn the attention of those [in body and in spirit] who are in alignment with the higher plan by attracting people, resources and those with a servant heart to assist the journey of Light of Christ Community Church, Sancta Sophia Seminary and Sparrow Hawk Village.

If you are interested in meditating with a group of like-minded individuals, to add your positive energies to the healing and restoration of all levels of consciousness, humanity, Mother Earth and the solar systems beyond us -- come join us in body or in spirit. We welcome all to unite in our efforts to send out a positive, healing vibration into the ethers.

July 28  

Blessings of the Cosmos Group, Thursday, Sanctuary, 7:00 p.m.

Pastor Retha Banez invites all who would like to participate in a monthly group called "Blessings of the Cosmos," based on the Neil Douglas-Klotz Aramaic work highlighting nearly two dozen of Jesus' most powerful benedictions. His book reminds us that each one is a promise that "every person might become a son or daughter of God, living in wisdom and compassion, as Jesus did." Join Pastor Banez as she leads us through one of these powerful blessings each time we meet accompanied by a beautiful, guided body prayer.

The Celestial Hierarchy of Cancer

Cancer by Johfra

The Celestial Hierarchy of Cancer, ruling from June 21 to July 22, is called the Cherubim -- a particular category of angels. Part of the blessing the hierarchy of Cancer gives to Earth is the service of the many angels who work with her on the physical and etheric planes.

Here we also find the home of the glorious World Mother, a high initiate of the Cancer hierarchy. All great world religions recognize and deify this Being and the divine feminine principle for which she stands. Hidden within this hierarchy exist the spores that ensoul every earthly form belonging to the several kingdoms of planetary nature. When we accept the idea that forms evolve upward through the lower kingdoms of the planet, we sometimes forget those kingdoms consist of minute sparks of life expanding and evolving, even if vibrating with less consciousness than the human kingdom. These points of light exist within the celestial hierarchy of Cancer, awaiting potential human forms. The feminine "mother" expresses as innate intelligence in the mineral and plant kingdoms and in the instinctual mothering nature of the animal kingdom. In obedience to the principle of fecundity, all nature bursts forth in a cycle of manifestation when the Cherubim focus abundance, beauty, and light upon Earth.

This hierarchy also governs the human home, the family impulse, and the attributes of tender caring, in both men and women, that engender character and sensitivity.

Adapted from The Book of Rituals--Personal and Planetary Transformation by Reverend Carol E. Parrish-Harra � 1990, IBS Press, Santa Monica, CA, & 1999, Sparrow Hawk Press, Tahlequah, OK.