RESILIENCE IN TIMES OF CHANGE
 An Unconditional Yes to Life

During the month of MAY Reverend Glenda and Reverend Judy will help us embrace one of the givens of life: changes are inevitable.

They will invite us to explore the idea that life is committed to variety and new growth, which comes at the price of change. They will share ways we can welcome change by shifting our perception from "Why is this happening?", to an unconditional 'yes' to the reality of the whole condition of things.

They will help us see that it is a mistake to become so attached to an experience or relationship that we think it will never change. Rather than becoming stuck in trying to control things so that they stay the same, they will show us how spiritual flexibility helps us find a way to live between our desire for things to remain the same and the need to let go of what will inevitably change.

Acceptance is key to this spiritual practice. And, with acceptance comes willingness to actually trust that the way things go will work out for the best.

The Revs will help us see that allowing life on life's terms gives us the capacity to honor and recognize our fear of change and at the same time courageously trust that we have the power to work through change without becoming devastated.

David Richo, author of The Five Things We Cannot Change, says: "Nothing in life is perfect, permanently satisfying, or permanently anything. ...It is hard to know why it has to be this way. ... This too is a mystery, and in the face of it, the only sensible etiquette is to change our 'Why?' to 'Yes'."

This is a perfect series of Sunday messages for anyone who is experiencing the complexity of every-day life.

Please join us at Common Ground for our 10:30 am inspirational service.

Resources include:

The Gift of Change: Spiritual Guidance for a Radically New Life, by Marianne Williamson

The Five Things We Cannot Change: and the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them, by David Richo

It's Not the End of the World: Developing Resilience in Times of Change, by Joan Borysenko

Living Beautifully: with Uncertainty and Change, by Pema Chodron

These titles are available in the Book Boutique. (Quantities Limited)

Sunday Morning Inspiration Service Weekly:
10:30 am

Kids' Care Program available during service for infants through 5th grade

Talk titles for MAY

May 5: Keeping the Door Open ~ Debbie Voltura, guest vocalist

May 12: Creating a Better Future

May 19: Letting Go of Control ~ Teri Wilder, guest vocalist

May 26: Participating in Change

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Robert Fields:Appearing Sundays in May

Thank You for Your Generosity!
Common Ground is solely supported by the gracious offerings of its spiritual community and friends.

2013 Newsletter Archives

 

 MAY CLASSES & EVENTS
 Sunday Morning Inspiration Service 10:30 am

MAY SPECIAL EVENTS

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER OBSERVANCE ~ THURSDAY ~ MAY 2 ~ 7 PM

CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION POTLUCK LUNCH ~ SUNDAY ~ MAY 5 ~ 11:30 AM TO 1 PM

MASTERS SERIES WORKSHOP, facilitated by Reverend Glenda and Reverend Judy ~ DAVID RICHO: THE FIVE THINGS WE CANNOT CHANGE ~ SUNDAY ~ MAY 5 ~ 1 TO 3 PM

HealthRHYTHMS GROUP EMPOWERMENT DRUMMING CIRCLE facilitated by Jamie Jones, trained and certified instructor ~ SATURDAY ~ MAY 18, 11 AM TO 1 PM

CELEBRATING SUCCESS: CAPITAL CAMPAIGN 2013 DONOR RECOGNITION ARTWORK EVENT ~ SUNDAY ~ MAY 26, 1 PM

KID'S CALENDAR

Kids' Care Program ~ ages infant thru 5th grade ~ Weekly, Sundays, 10:30 am

FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

COMMON GROUND ADVENTURES: Sunday ~ May 19 ~ 3 pm

RECYCLE SUNDAY ~ Third Sunday of the Month, May 19

Orange County Farm Bureau Certified Farmers' Markets



ONGOING

A COURSE IN MIRACLES, facilitated by Karen Akers (co-facilitated by Ken Radcliffe) ~ Tuesdays, Weekly, 12 Noon (Okay to bring lunch) ~ Love Offering

EVENING ECKHART TOLLE BOOK STUDY ~ Power of Now ~ Tuesdays, May 7 & 21, 7 to 8:30 pm ~ Love Offering

ECKHART TOLLE BOOK STUDY ~ New Earth ~ Fridays, Weekly, 12:30 to 1:30 pm ~ Love Offering

REIKI HEALING CIRCLE facilitated by Barbara Fukuda, Usui Reiki Master/Teacher ~ Tuesday, May 14 & 28, 7 to 8:30 pm ~ Love Offering

TED Talks, facilitated by Jamie Lang ~ Friday, May 24, 7 to 8:30 pm ~ Love Offering

THE NEW CO DEPENDENCY BOOK STUDY GROUP, facilitated by Lyla Ramirez and London Duran ~ Thursdays, Weekly, 7 to 8:30 pm ~ Love Offering

WOMAN'S WISDOM CIRCLE & Book Study: Still Here, by Ram Dass ~ Tuesdays, May 14 & 28, 10 to 11:30 am ~ Love Offering

VENUE EVENTS

Adyashanti: Way of Liberation Study Group facilitate by Rev. Craig Phillips ~ Wednesday, May 1, 8, 15 & 22, 7:30 to 9 pm ~ $5 suggested (no one refused)

Tao Te Ching Study and Meditation, facilitated by Rev. Craig Phillips ~ Wednesday, May 29, 7:30 to 9 pm ~ $5 suggested (no one refused)

Breathwurx, facilitated by Linh James ~ Tuesday, May 7, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Orange County Spiritualist Gathering, with Medium Kathleen Vance ~ Wednesdays, May 8 & 22 ~ 7 to 8:30 pm ~ $10 suggested donation

Development 1: Developing your spiritual path & intuition, with Bob Lewis ~ Saturday, May 11 & 25, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm ~ $20 per person

Development 2: Advanced students in spiritual and psychic awareness, with Bob Lewis ~ Saturday, May 11, 12:30 am to 3:00 pm ~ $20 per person

Be sure to look for updates and details of activities in weekly email notices.

Ongoing weekly classes continue as scheduled. Check our At-a-Glance Calendar for information.

 

 CELEBRATING SUCCESS
 Making Commitment Visible

In December 2012, Common Ground launched Capital Campaign 2013 to help fund the upcoming move from Newport Avenue in Tustin to a new location at La Linda Plaza in the City of Orange.

The target goal of the campaign was $90,000 by April 30, 2013. Reverend Glenda and Reverend Judy are pleased to announce that the goal has been reached thanks to the enormous outpouring of financial support from the spiritual community and its friends.

Common Ground received more than one hundred and twenty separate contributions to the capital campaign between December 2012 and April 2013. Individual donations ranged in amount from $16,000 to $25. Contributions came from sixty generous individuals (many of whom made multiple contributions), fundraisers, gold and silver sales, the Annual Spring Yard Sale, and memorial gifts.

To celebrate this awesome success, those who made a financial contribution to the campaign will be invited to attend a fun event on Sunday, May 26th, at 1 pm to help create a unique art piece. The artwork will be personalize with individual signatures and handprints of everyone who donated to the fundraising effort.

Upon completion, the artwork will be hung in a prominent place in the new spiritual center in Orange. It will take its place of honor along with the donor recognition mosaic that was created to recognize those who contributed to Capital Campaign 2008, which supported the move from First Street in Tustin to Newport Avenue in Tustin.

Without the enthusiastic support of spiritual community, Common Ground is not a possibility. Every gift of prayer, creativity, talent, presence, and financial resource sustains the vision and mission for which Common Ground stands.

Reverend Glenda and Reverend Judy are deeply grateful for the abundance that flows to, through and as Common Ground.

It's not too late! If you did not have a chance to make your contribution yet, there is still time. Everyone who makes a financial donation by May 24th will be recognized and invited to help create the artwork.

Don't miss out!

You can still give your gift to Capital Campaign 2013. Every dollar counts!

 

 FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
 Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose

As Common Ground makes plans for relocation to its new facility at La Linda Plaza in the city of Orange, attention is focused on maintaining an environmentally responsible approach.

With the addition of kitchen facilities, including a dishwasher, we will be able to use durable and reusable cups, plates and utensils for hospitality and events. This will be a cost-saving factor as well as conserve precious resources and eliminate waste in landfill.

Our current furnishing, artwork, appliances, area rugs, and miscellaneous items will be refreshed and repurposed for use in various locations throughout our new center. The existing carpet in our Sanctuary is an environmentally friendly recyclable product that can be easily moved for use at our new location. We will continue to use durable cotton hand towels in our three new restrooms as well as our kitchen.

We anticipate the features of our new center to be advantageous with respect to use of energy. The Sanctuary area is well constructed and maintains a pleasantly cool environment on hot days even without air conditioning. Natural lighting in the Sanctuary and classrooms will allow for less use of electricity during daylight hours. Careful attention will be paid to monitoring energy use as we move forward into full operation at the new location.

The public grounds at La Linda Plaza include numerous fountains and a water feature resembling natural streams and ponds. With the permission of owners, Common Ground has been invited to add a unique look to landscaping material adjacent to our suite. We are pleased to have the opportunity to plant drought resistant foliage to beautify and personalize our area.

Addition of natural elements, the sound of running water, and ample outdoor space for meditation and contemplation are awesome features of our new location.

Common Ground at La Linda Plaza is sure to become a popular destination for those seeking beauty, serenity, and conscious spiritual community.

We are excited to share our new facility with everyone!

 

 KEEPING CURRENT
 Tell Us How We're Doing

Common Ground is in the process of making many upgrades, changes and additions to the already well designed program of information distribution currently in place.

In general, information is made available through digital technology with limited use of 'paper and ink' resources with the exception of a few self-published pamphlets available for visitors. Self publishing in small quantities makes it more cost effective and efficient to change text and information when necessary.

In addition, we distribute weekly emails with relevant Sunday message information and class and event schedules to help people keep current.

Now, a new website has been developed to provide pertinent information about most things that go on at Common Ground, including a current calendar of activities, details about the community and leadership, and up-to-the-minute news.

Included on the website is a new Photo Album reflecting the birth and growth of Common Ground since 2004. It is a gentle walk down memory lane for those who have been with Common Ground for a long time and for newcomers it's a fun look at the past and how far the community has come since its founding.

An online survey inviting people to share their experience in spiritual community is also included on the website. Participation is encouraged so that programs and services can be tailored to fit the needs of the community.

Take time to check it out. Your feedback is valuable.

 

 FYI
 What's Up?

Take our Online Survey

Shop the shops at Common Ground. The GreenLady Boutique and Bookstore offer a great way to be a conscious consumer.

Support GreenLady Boutique. We are now accepting summer items. Please donate upscale women's fashions and accessories as well as artwork and fine quality decorations. Tax receipts available.

Giving-Made-Easy Offering Envelopes for the purpose of mailing checks or giving by credit card are available on the wall in the Gallery.

Share Hospitality on Sunday mornings. Bring a simple plate of cookies, basket of grapes or other easy treat to share after services. Sign up now for remaing Sundays in 2013.

Visit our well stocked Used Book Cart. All items are available at a cost of $2.00 each. (Donations of used books, CD's, and DVD's are always welcome ~ all genres accepted.)

Common Ground offers Hearing Assistance in the Sanctuary on Sundays. Please let the sound technician know if you would like to have a receiver ordered for your use

Recycle plastic and aluminum to support a portion of Common Ground's monthly rent expense. Please participate by bringing your recyclables each month.

 

 PRAYER & MEDITATION
 To Everything There is a Season

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3 (King James Version)



Life is prayer at Common Ground.

If you need comfort and inspiration please visit our website to submit a request .

Common Ground and its friends are served by a Prayer Team comprised of a large circle of loving people who hold in their hearts and in their awareness the prayer needs of all those in need. Carol Marshall graciously serves as team lead.

Those needing prayer support are invited to make Prayer Requests on-line at judy@embracehumanity.com or by placing a request in the prayer box in the Lobby.

There are no fees for prayer at Common Ground.

 

 TITHING 2013
 May All That We Give and All The We Receive Be Blessed and Multiplied. As We Give, So Shall We Receive ~ Common Ground is truly blessed and in turn becomes a blessing in the world

Common Ground reaches out to the global community through our spiritual practice of conscious giving.

Giving back to the world is an important aspect of our mission and vision. A balanced integral approach is reflected in conscious selection of 501c3 qualified programs and institutions to which Common Ground provides tithes each month.

Recipients of Common Ground 2013 tithes include: IONS (Institute of Noetic Sciences), advancing the science of consciousness and human experience to serve individual and collective transformation; Kiva, empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty; Project HOPE School, (Homeless Outreach Program in Education), helping children without permanent homes transition into the mainstream educational system; Walking Shield, helping to improve the quality of life for American Indian families; and, The Humane Society of Dover-Stewart County, a not-for-profit organization rescuing abused, abandoned and neglected animals and placing them into good homes.

The organizations to which Common Ground tithes are meaningful programs where people from the spiritual community and its friends are already serving with heart and hand, and supporting with time and treasure.

 

 UPCOMING 2013 EVENTS
 Mark Your Calendar Today

CURRENTLY SCHEDULED:

Daniel Nahmod
Father's Day
MOVE TO LA LINDA PLAZA IN ORANGE ???
Summer Solstice Potluck Supper
July Fourth Picnic
Labor Day Picnic
Autumn Equinox Potluck Lunch
Halloween Potluck Lunch
Ninth Anniversary Celebration
Thanksgiving
Advent
Holiday Boutique
Holiday Potluck Lunch
Christmas Eve
New Year's Eve

 

 NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
 Prayers for Healing of the Nations

Common Ground is pleased to participate in National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 2, 2013, a time for people of all faiths to pray together in their own way.

The observance of a day of prayer has a long history going back to April 17, 1952, when President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law in the United States. President Reagan amended the law in 1988, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the National Day of Prayer.

Since that time, people all over the United States have gathered in prayer for the healing of the nation.

Common Ground is pleased to join this meaningful time of prayer as we expand our prayers to include the healing of individuals, families, our nation, all people of the world, and the Earth itself.

Members of Common Ground will participate in offering prayers and blessings from many world spiritual traditions during this rich evening filled with sacred music, candlelight, and quiet contemplation.

During these sometimes-troubled times in our own lives, the lives of our families, our circle of friends, our nation and the world, it is good to remember to return to the power of prayer to heal and sustain us through difficulties.

Please take time to be present with us as we join with people throughout America in uplifting the vibration of love and compassion for healing the heart of the world.