common ground
January 2014 Newsletter - Volume 10, Issue 1 
 January Newsletter
 Embracing Humanity & Expressing Divinity
In This Issue
Quick Links

Please Like Us On Facebook

 RESET AND RELAX
 Soul Time

During the month of JANUARY Reverend Glenda and Reverend Judy invite us to join them in spiritual community as the brand new year gets underway.

While on the surface it seems to be a dormant month, January is actually when many of us take time to relax and reset intentions for the coming year.

Typically we look to start new things and release what no longer works well in our lives.

As with nature itself, we are called to rest, to watch and wait. This is actually an active process of opening space for 'soul time'.

During the month we will work toward seeing what matters most to us in life; to discover the purposes we have come here to live from.

Relaxing into this quiet time of reflection provides a stable place to be as we look out into the shifting landscape of our lives to uncover the blueprints for action that will carry us forward in the days and months ahead.

'Soul time' helps remind us of what is important in a way that empowers us to step into a field of creative potential.

Rest, relaxation, rejuvenation, and reflection taken in small, sweet steps, one at a time, helps create profound change and shifts our whole life to a new level.

This is a perfect talk series for anyone who is ready and willing to live an examined life and focus attention on what's meaningful and worthwhile.

Common Ground is an open accepting spiritual community where everyone is welcome.

Please join us for inspirational messages at Common Ground each Sunday at 10:30 am.


Resources include:
  • Mastering Life's Energies, by Maria Nemeth
  • Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul , by Deepak Chopra

    Sunday Morning Inspiration Weekly:
    10:30 am


    Care available during Sunday Inspiration for infants through 5th grade

    Talk titles for JANUARY

  • January 5: Small Adjustments Make a Big Difference ~ guest vocalist, Darius Lux
  • January 12: Present Over Perfect
  • January 19: Soul Sunday ~ An Interview with Barbara Fukuda ~ Teri Wilder, guest vocalist
  • January 26: Quality Over Quantity

    Watch Recent Talks On Video
    Subscribe Today!

    Robert Fields:Appearing Sundays in January




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


    2013 Newsletter Archives

     


  •  JANUARY CLASSES & EVENTS
     Sunday Morning Inspiration Service 10:30 am

    JANUARY SPECIAL EVENTS

  • MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE: MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION ~ Sunday, January 5 ~ 12 noon to 3 pm ~ $20 Donation
  • CHANTING AND KIRTAN FOR PEACE with SPIRIT SOUL AND FRIENDS ~ Sunday, January 19 ~ 12:30 to 2 pm ~ Free
  • WINTER POTLUCK LUNCH~ Sunday, January 19 ~ 11:30 am
  • SNEAK PREVIEW: DALAI LAMA AWAKENING ~ Friday, January 24 ~ 7 pm ~ $20 per person

    CARE PROGRAM
  • Ages infant thru 5th grade ~ Sundays, 10:30 to 11:30 am

    OUTREACH
  • Orange County Cold Weather Armory Emergency Shelter ~ Sunday, January 19

    FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
  • RECYCLE SUNDAY ~ Third Sunday of the Month, January 19
  • Orange County Farm Bureau Certified Farmers' Markets

    ONGOING
  • A COURSE IN MIRACLES, facilitated by Karen Akers ~ Tuesdays, Weekly ~ 12 Noon ~ Love Offering
  • EVENING ECKHART TOLLE BOOK STUDY~ New Earth ~ Tuesdays ~ January 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, January 14 & 28 ~ 7 to 8:30 pm ~ Love Offering
  • SACRED HISTORY ~ Historical Exploration in Religion & Spirituality, with Dr. James D. Rietveld ~ Weekly ~ Thursdays (drop in class), 7:30 to 9 pm ~ Love Offering
  • SUNDAY AFTERNOON WALK ~ Sunday, 26 ~ 3 to 5 pm ~ Balboa Island
  • TED Talks Discussion Group: Rob Bell ~ Friday, January 3, 7 to 8:30 pm ~ Love Offering
  • WOMAN'S WISDOM CIRCLE & Book Study: Still Here, by Ram Dass ~ Tuesday, January 14 & 28, 10 to 11:30 am ~ Love Offering

    VENUE EVENTS
  • Women Connecting with Heart ~ Tuesday, January 7 & 21, 11 am to 12:30 pm, Love Offering
  • Oneness Blessing ~ Tuesday, January 7, 7 to 8 pm
  • Gentle Restorative Yoga, with Renee Schwan ~ Weekly ~ Tuesdays & Thursdays ~ 2 to 3 pm ~ $10 per session
  • 35 for Life, with Mick Hall ~ Tuesday, January 7 ~ 7 pm
  • Recovery of the Real Authentic True Self: Creating Your Vision & Setting Your Intentions for the New Year, with Luke Benoit ~ Wednesday, January 15, 6:45 to 8:45 pm ~
  • Thich Nhat Hanh/Tao Te Ching Study & Meditation Group, facilitate by Rev. Craig Phillips ~ Weekly, Wednesdays ~ 7:30 to 9 pm ~ $5 suggested (no class January 1)
  • Development 1: Developing your spiritual path & intuition, with Bob Lewis ~ Saturday, January 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, January 11 ~ 12:30 am to 3:00 pm ~ $20 per person
  • Orange County Spiritualist Gathering, with Medium Kathleen Vance ~ Wednesdays, January 8 & 22 ~ 7 to 8:30 pm ~ $10 suggested donation
  • Drumming for Wellness, with Jamie Jones ~ Saturday, January 18 ~ 11 am to 12:30 pm ~ $10 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.


     


  •  SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW SCREENING ~ DALAI LAMA AWAKENING
     "A Beautiful and Thought Provoking Film"

    On Friday, January 24, 2014, at 7:00 pm, Common Ground has been invited to host a special Sneak Preview Screening of a new transformational documentary film entitled Dalai Lama Awakening (which is narrated by Harrison Ford).

    Producer-Director, Khashyar Darvich will be personally screening the film at Common Ground and offering a Q&A afterwards.

    Advance ticket sales online and at Common Ground: $20 per person


    Ticket Price
    Open Seating. Limited.


     


     ONENESS BLESSING ~ DEEKSHA
     Divine Grace

    On the first Tuesday of every month from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Common Ground is pleased to host Oneness Blessing/Deeksha.

    The Oneness Blessing/Deeksha is a process of transfer of divine grace that initiates a journey into higher states of consciousness.

    The Deeksha is believed to affect different lobes of the physical brain, therby reducing stress levels and intensifying the levels of love, joy and awareness.

    Millions across the globe testify to the calming and awakening effects of the Oneness Deeksha, which is now slowly gaining recognition as an easy and effective approach to enriching human consciousness.

    Oneness Blessing/Deeksha is given by an initiated Blessing Giver lightly laying hands on the recipient's head.


    For more information contact Nandita at nanditaoneness@gmail.com. (714) 768-4917

    Suggested Donation: $5.00 Blessing Givers/$10.00 Receivers


     


     FYI
     A Gentle Reminder

  • Winter Clearance Event
    Shop The Greenlady Boutique for extra bargains. Deep discounts on most seasonal items and winter fashions. Look for new items arriving weekly. Nothing priced over $20.


  • Please sign up to share Hospitality on Sunday mornings.
    Bring a simple plate of cookies, veggies or fruit ~ nothing fancy required!

  • Recycle plastic and aluminum.
    Please bring your recyclables on the third Sunday of each month. Help create a sustainable planet. And, help Common Ground pay its rent!


     


  •  PRAYER & MEDITATION
     I Wait in Silence

    Original Watercolor by Robert Fields

    Lord, I do not rush on.
    I do not hurry on into the noise.
    I silence my whirring mind, my racing thoughts.
    I close my eyes.
    I sit. I pause. I rest.
    I stay here a moment in the quiet.
    I wait in silence
    .
    ~ Ann Voskamp




    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 2014
     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; , The Humane Society of Dover-Stewart County, a not-for-profit organization rescuing abused, abandoned and neglected animals and placing them into good homes, Mercy House Fare Share Program, providing bus passes for homeless men, women and children in search of a better life, and The Avielle Foundation, a non-profit foundation created by the parents of a child victim of the Sandy Hook killings, aiming to support and protect vulnerable loved ones and to strengthen communities through brain health initiatives and community engagement.


    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 2014 EVENTS
     Mark Your Calendar Today

    CURRENTLY SCHEDULED:


    Valentine's Potluck
    Mardi Gras Potluck
    Palm Sunday Potluck
    Easter
    Cinco de Mayo Potluck
    Mothers Day
    Summer Potluck
    Fathers Day
    Picnic Potluck
    End of Summer Potluck
    Autumn Potluck
    Halloween Potluck
    Tenth Anniversary Celebration ~ November 14
    Holiday Boutique
    Thanksgiving Potluck
    Holiday Potluck
    Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
    New Year's Eve Reflection Service


     


     SOUL SUNDAY
     Sharing Our Best Selves

    Using the format of the popular Super Soul Sunday series featuring interviews between Oprah Winfrey and prominent guests, on one Sunday each month during 2014, Common Ground will present its own version of Soul Sunday featuring conversations between The Revs and 'normal people', authors, visionaries and spiritual leaders in the local community.

    They will explore themes and issues including happiness, personal fulfillment, spirituality and conscious living.


    This new format and series will highlight the lives of everyday people who are 'walking the talk' and expressing divinity within the human activities of their lives.

    Conversations will reveal how people in our community have awakened to their best selves and discovered a deeper connection to the world around them.

    The story of Jesus, the great example from the Christian tradition, taught that everyone has the capacity to do the works he demonstrated in his lifetime, and even to do greater things than he did.

    These meaningful Sunday Soul conversations will prove this idea to be true.

    Please join us.


     


    Common Ground is a Teaching-Learning Center

  • where people bring their very souls
  • where people grow one another by sharing what they know
  • where people learn spiritual practices to support them in working with the complex possibilities of today's world

    May you appreciate the miraculous possibilities that the holidays provide