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THE COMPASSIONATE LIFE
The Soul of Kindness
During the month of MARCH Reverend
Glenda and Reverend Judy invite us to join them on a journey toward acting from our deepest understanding of what life is, listening intently for the skillful means in each situation, and working with others in a spirit of mutual respect.
They will help us cultivate the capacity to be present with love for ourselves and for all life.
They will help us see that life on earth includes all of us carrying the ability to respond to one another with tender care and loving-kindness.
They will help us see that acting with compassion is not doing good because we think we ought to, but rather, because of heartfelt passion; no matter how difficult, sad, demanding, or even boring it feels.
They will help us see that compassion begins with ourselves so that we can cultivate compassion for others. As we grow in compassion we become instruments for change and for the healing music of life.
This is a perfect topic for these times. Learning ways to open wide to the reality of suffering in the world without being frightened or repulsed helps us to go past our ideas, the headlines, and concepts, right to the ones who hurt.
Compassion is a courageous path that brings with it the tender opening of our hearts to the complexities of the human condition and the world.
Common Ground is the perfect place for anyone who is spiritually independent and open to spirituality without borders. We are an open accepting spiritual community where everyone is welcome.
Resources
include:
Field Notes on the Compassionate Life ,
by Marc Ian Barasch
Seven Thousand Ways to Listen: Staying Close to What is Sacred, by Mark Nepo
Compassion in Action, by Ram Dass & Mirabai Bush
Sunday Inspiration
Weekly:
12:00 Noon at The Chapel
Talk
titles for MARCH
March 1: Judge Not
March 8: The Human Garden (DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS)
March 15: Loving the Monster
March 22: The Road from Empathy to Compassion, Dr. James Rietveld, guest speaker
March 29: No Strangers
JOIN US MID-WEEK EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 7:00 PM FOR CONTEMPLATIVE EVENING PRAYER AND MEDITATION AT THE CHAPEL ~ "Come apart and rest awhile"
Watch Recent Talks On Video
Subscribe Today!
Robert Fields:Appearing
Sundays in
March
Thank You for Your Generosity!
Common
Ground is solely supported by the gracious
offerings of its spiritual community and
friends.
2014/2015 Newsletter Archives
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MARCH CLASSES & EVENTS
Sunday Services are held at 12:00 noon at our Chapel location, 19211 Dodge Avenue, Santa Ana 92705. All Classes are held at 550 North Golden Circle Drive, Santa Ana 92705
MARCH COMMUNITY EVENTS
ANNUAL SPRING YARD SALE ~ Saturday, March 14 ~ 7 am to 12 Noon
PALM SUNDAY POTLUCK LUNCH ~ Sunday, March 29 ~ 1 pm immediately following service
FOCUS ON OUTREACH
SERVING AT THE ORANGE COUNTY COLD WEATHER SHELTER PROGRAM FOR THE HOMELESS ~ Sunday, March 15 ~ 5 pm
FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
RECYCLE ~ Sunday, March 15
Orange County Farm Bureau Certified Farmers' Markets
ONGOING
ECKHART TOLLE BOOK STUDY~ New Earth ~ Tuesdays ~ March 3 & 17 ~ 7 to 8:30 pm ~ Love Offering
ECKHART TOLLE BOOK STUDY ~ Power of Now ~ Fridays, Weekly ~ 12:30 to 1:30 pm ~ Love Offering
MEDITATIVE BREATHING, with Jess Ly ~ Tuesday, March 17 ~ 6:15 to 7 pm ~ Love Offering
REIKI HEALING CIRCLE facilitated by Barbara Fukuda, Usui Reiki Master/Teacher ~ Tuesday, March 10 & 24 ~ 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
WEEKLY BOOK STUDY, with The Revs: Forgive for Good, by Dr. Fred Luskin ~ Ongoing Tuesdays ~ 1 to 2 pm ~ Love Offering
WOMAN'S WISDOM CIRCLE & Book Study: The Five Things We Cannot Change, by David Richo ~ Tuesday, March 10 & 24 ~ 10 to 11:30 am ~ Love Offering
NEW!
Physical Communication, with Bill Corriveau ~ 6-week series, Wednesdays, beginning March 4 ~ 12 Noon to 1 pm ~ Love Offering
VENUE EVENTS
DEVELOPING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, with Susan Faurot, MSC, LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist ~ Tuesdays in March ~ 12 Noon to 1:30 pm
SACRED DREAMERS: A DREAM INTERPRETATION CIRCLE, with Karla Ruedlinger ~ 1st & 3rd Wednesdays each month ~ 7 to 9 pm
SACRED SEATED YOGA, with Cecilia Steger ~ Weekly, Mondays beginning March 9 ~ 1:30 to 2:30 ~ $15 per class
SPIRITUALLY INDEPENDENT LESBIANS...CONNECTING THROUGH HEART-CENTERED DIALOGUE, with Rev. Stacie Buda ~ Monthly, 2nd & 4th Fridays ~ 6:30 to 8:30 pm
MINDFULNESS AND SELF COMPASSION ~ NO CHARGE INTRODUCTION, with Susan Faurot, MSC, LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist ~ Saturday, March 28 ~ 11 am to 1 pm
METAPHYSICS, with Charlene Carbone ~ Fridays weekly, beginning March 20 ~ 7 to 9 pm
A Course in Miracles ~ Mondays, Weekly ~ 7 to 8:30 pm ~ Love Offering
A Course in Miracles ~ Tuesdays, Weekly ~ First & Third Tuesdays, 11 am ~ Second & Fourth Tuesdays, 12 Noon ~ Love Offering
35 for Life, with Dr. Mick Hall ~ Tuesday, March 17 ~ 7 to 9 pm
Psychic Awareness Through Mediumship, , with Dennis Nozawa ~ Thursdays, March 5, 12 & 19 ~ 7 to 8:30 pm
Esoteric Tarot Master, with Dr. Charlotte Holmes ~ Wednesdays Weekly ~ 7 to 9 pm
The Journey of a Thousand Miles: The Tao te Ching Demystified, with Dr. Janet Woods ~ Mondays, March 2, 9 & 16 ~ 6:30 to 9 pm
Advanced Healing Technique: Awakening the Perfect Healer ~ Thursday, March 5 & 19 ~ 6:15 to 8:15 pm
The Selfless Self Book Study, with Doug Brown ~ Weekly Thursdays ~ 1:30 to 2:45 pm
Chakra Wisdom, with Cecilia Steger ~ Tuesdays, March 10, 17, 24 & 31 ~ 7 to 9
Holistic Moms Network ~ Thursday, March 19 ~ 6 to 7 pm
Oneness Blessing ~ Deeksha ~ Monthly the 2nd Tuesday, March 10 ~ 7 to 8 pm ~ $5 Blessing Giver/$10 Blessing Receiver
Orange County Spiritualist Gathering, with Medium Kathleen Vance ~ Wednesday, March 11 & 25 ~ 7 to 8:30 pm ~ $10 suggested donation
Development 1 & 2: 1: Developing your spiritual path & 2: Intuition and advanced students in spiritual and psychic awareness, with Bob Lewis ~ Saturday, March 14 & 28 ~ 9:30 am to 12:00 pm & 12:30 to 3 pm
Gentle Restorative Yoga, with Renee Schwan ~ Weekly ~ Tuesdays & Thursdays ~ 2 to 3 pm ~ $10 per session
The Untethered Soul/Tao Te Ching Study & Meditation Group, facilitated by Rev. Craig Phillips ~ Weekly, Wednesdays ~ 7:15 to 9 pm ~ $10 donation (no one turned away)
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 detailed information.
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MINDFULNESS AND SELF-COMPASSION
The Journey Toward Inner and Outer Peace
Common Ground is pleased to host an upcoming introductory workshop presented by Susan Faurot, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Susan has extensive training and experience in Mindfulness Based Compassion and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Anxiety and Depression.
She looks forward to helping others transform their lives through the cultivation of Self Compassion practices.
Susan asks the following questions of anyone considering attending the workshop:
What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you read the words self compassion? Do you think, "Oh! Self care is good. It is in my best interest to attend to my physical, emotional, and spiritual needs".
Or do you think to yourself, "taking care of me is selfish. I always put others' needs before my own".
If you are in this category, how is that working for you?
Do you ever find yourself feeling angry and resentful because your own wants and needs are never met? Do you expect others to read your mind and anticipate your needs?
Do you even know what it is that you want and need?
What if I said that if you don't take care of you, no one else is going to?
Susan goes on to tell us that we are often our own worst enemies. While we might not be unkind to others, we often tend to beat ourselves up with harsh, judgmental thoughts that are repeated relentlessly and habitually, and automatically. These judgmental thoughts lead us to feel shame, guilt, anxiety, and depression and resentment.
The way out of these negative feeling states begins with self-compassion. When we can approach our own emotional pain with kindness and curiosity, the healing begins.
Kindness and a compassionate stance toward ourselves allows us to be skillful in our responses to stress, particularly the stress we place on ourselves to do more and to do better and perhaps, to do it perfectly.
When we are kind to ourselves, we can improve our own emotional and physical well-being, as well as improve our relationships with others. We can face our own pain in a manner that is helpful and healing.
Our compassion and kindness for ourselves translates into positive and loving relationships with others.
The Revs highly recommend checking out this transformative experience.
If you want to learn more about self compassion, mindfulness, and mindful meditation, then please join this two hour, no charge, interactive introduction to Mindfulness and Self Compassion, Saturday, March 28, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Common Ground Spiritual Wellness Center on Golden Circle Drive.
You will experience some mindful meditative practices, participate in self-compassion exercises, and learn about the mental, physical, and emotional benefits of a self compassionate life. This is a journey toward inner and outer peace.
Susan is also offering a weekly group, Developing Healthy Relationships, for people who struggle with issues of codependency.
The group will be held weekly on Tuesdays from 12:00 pm - 1:30 PM. beginning on March 3, 2015 at Common Ground Spiritual Wellness Center on Golden Circle Drive, in the White Room.
Cost of the group is $35.00/meeting
***A 30 minute, no charge, "meet and greet" with Susan is required prior to beginning the group. This can be done on the phone or in person at Common Ground.
Please call Susan for more information: 714-313-5198.
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MOVEMENT
Body, Mind and Soul
Common Ground is pleased to host new and continuing physical movement classes geared toward improving health, flexibility, mental clarity, and overall wellness; body, mind and spirit.
Gentle Restorative Yoga classes held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 to 3:00 pm have been in session for the past year and continue to offer participants a slow gentle practice geared toward opening and awakening both body and mind.
Attention is paid to deepening the breath, mental clarity and overall balance.
Classes are instructed by Renee Schwan and are appropriate for all levels of practice from beginners to experts. Fee is $10 per class.
Sacred Seated Yoga, instructed by Cecilia Steger, will be offered on Mondays from 1:30 to 2:30 pm beginning March 9th. Fee is $15 per class.
This new class is designed for anyone who has difficulty rising from a mat on the floor; has specific issues, perhaps with the knees; or has trouble standing for long periods of time.
Seated stretching involves using a chair, blocks and straps to achieve a full therapeutic yogic experience. Anyone wanting improved wellness, flexibility and relief from pain in a spiritual environment with themed music will benefit and is welcome.
Physical Communication, a six-week series based on wisdom from the martial arts traditions, will be taught by William (Bill) Corriveau, Fourth Degree Blackbelt in Uechi-Ryu Karate/Pangai-Noon Kung fu,
Classes will be held on Wednesdays from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm on a love offering/donation basis.
The classes will focus on interacting with people and with life.
Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing since there will be moderate levels of exercise and physical contact.
Objectives of the class include learning:
Passive yet powerful body positions to diffuse hostile situations
Single and partnered muscle strengthening exercises
Partnered exercises involving trust and communication
Basic Martial Art striking techniques for use in partnered exercises
Traditional exercises emphasizing philosophy and strategy
All techniques will be geared towards Physical, Emotional, & Spiritual Self-Defense promoting Life, Love and Peace.
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TITHING 2015
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 2015
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, 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; and Willows in the Wind, a not-for-profit organization supporting families with teens and young adults in crisis.
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.
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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 cultivate the capacity to be present with love for yourself and for all life
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FIRST....................................................
