|
WE HAVE A NEW COVER!
Congratulations to Gary Tonge for submitting the winning entry in The Uversa Press Committee's cover contest. Our fourth printing of The Urantia Book, projected to be available in Summer 2012, will feature the Standard Reference Text and Tonge's beautifully inspiring cover art. A special thank you to John Hay, Chair
of Uversa Press and his committee, Paula Thompson, and Don Greene, for seeing this project to fruition.
click here to see a larger image
|
|
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President
Vice-President
Treasurer
Secretary General
Judicial Chair
Membership Chair
Interfaith Chair
Youth and Young Adult Chair
General Council
Lara Amyx
Agustin Arellano
Andrea Barnes
Lawrence J. Bowman
Dana Bredemeyer
Robert Burns
Linda Buselli
Robert Burns
Barry Clark
Emilio Coppola
Lila Dogim
Stephen Dreier
Janet Falbo
Tony Finstad
Cece Forrester
Janet Graham
John Hales
John Hay
Tim Hobbs
Merritt Horn
Paul Klaver
Michelle Klemish
David Kulieke
Charlene Morrow
Dolores L. Nice
Charles Olivea
Teuvo Orjala
Thomas Orjala
Cristina Seaborn
Cayce Snider
Paula Thompson
Angie Thurston
Buck Weimer |
|
|
|
|
Our New Fellowship President
 For those of you who do not know me, my name is Lila Dogim (pronounced Leela, just to confuse you). I was born in Russia. When I was 14 my family moved to Poland and at the age of 19 we moved to Brooklyn, USA. Yay Brooklyn!
In 1974, my husband, Avi, and I were introduced to The Urantia Book by my cousin, Mark, and we started a study group. Since that time, I have been a member of several study groups, a member of the Connecticut Urantia Society, a founding member of the Urantia Society of Greater NY, a General Councilor of The Urantia Book Fellowship, Chair of the Urantia Fellowship's Education Committee for 3 years and now, President of the Fellowship.
My wish is that our work will fit with the plans of the Seraphic Planetary Government. They have a plan for the evolution of the planet. They have plans for the outworking of this revelation. We do not have written mandates or a script to work from, but the more we try to get insight into the plans of our unseen friends, the closer we will come to executing them.
All of us in this local Universe of Nebadon, high and low, work for our Creator Son Michael of Nebadon. Let us take an example from Van and Amadon who exhibited supreme faith and patience. After all, we are agondonters.
|
|
Our New Fellowship Councilors
Please join us in welcoming the new General Councilors.
|
 | | Angela Thurston |
| Angela Thurston is a playwright and arts administrator living in Brooklyn, New York. A founding member of The Fellowship's Youth and Young Adult Committee, Angela was raised on the teachings of The Urantia Book and is actively involved with fostering community among the next generation of readers. She is chairing The Fellowship's International Conference in 2014 and has enjoyed planning a series of regional conferences for young readers as the YaYA Committee's Events Chair.
|  | Arlene Weimer was born in 1943 in Brooklyn, NY, to Jewish parents who immigrated to the US from Poland. For the first 17 years of her life she followed the orthodox Jewish faith. She studied science and philosophy at Brooklyn College, which she says took the place of her religion and the fear and guilt associated with the Old Testament. She later found the Urantia Book and has been a student of the book for 40 years. She was a founding member of the Rocky Mountain Urantia Society of Denver (Currently the Rocky Mountain Spiritual Fellowship) and has hosted a Urantia Study group in Pueblo, CO, since 1975. Arlene would like to help all Urantia Book readers to find mutual respect and also to spread the teachings of the Urantia Book. She has enthusiastically accompanied her husband Buck on many international excursions to places like India and Africa, to share the revelation. | |
| Augustin Arellano has been reading The Urantia Book since 1985. He has started 3 study groups; in Mazatlan, Mexico City, and Monterey. He hopes to bring his personal experience with outreach into Latin America and begin new projects. |
 | | Cayce Snider |
| Cayce Snider is the President of Urantia Society in Glenview, IL. Cayce hopes to help the Fellowship to become fertile, central, and relevant in a world dominated by technology. Says Cayce, "For this to happen, the Fellowship must be agile, connected, and innovative. There is a great deal of will and inspiration to achieve these goals, and I believe my skills and experience can help facilitate this next phase of our organization's development."
.
|
 | | David Kulieke |
| David Kulieke joined the First Urantia Society in 1973 and served as President for 14 years over 3 tenures. He also served on the Domestic Extension Committee (currently Outreach Committee) from 1976 to 1988. He created the first study group databank, which was the foundation for the study group directory. David has been instrumental in creating numerous study groups, publications, and conferences for readers of The Urantia Book. His aspirations while serving on the council are to help develop unity amongst readers, facilitate continuity and institutional memory, and strengthen and grow study groups.
|
 | | Dana Bredemeyer |
|
Dana Bredemeyer began studying The Urantia Book in 1972 in the San Francisco Bay area where he hosted a study group and joined the Urantia Society there. He has served as a delegate in two Triennial Delegate Assemblies, once in 1985 and at the most recent TDA in 2012. In 1998, he left his job at HP and started a software architecture consulting business with his wife, Ruth. Dana currently serves as a co-leader of his Urantia study group in Bloomington, Indiana and as Vice President of the Orvonton Urantia Society. He's thrilled to have the opportunity to serve on the Fellowship's General Council during this time of growing awareness of the revelation.
|
 | | Paul Klaver. |
|
The Urantia Book discovered Canadian Paul Klaver at the age of 21. He established the Kitchener -Waterloo study group in 2002. Paul is currently the President of "The Urantia Book Outreach Organization" which he hopes will introduce the Urantia Book to 10 million people in 10 years. He is producing and advertising animated shorts of Jesus' life and teachings. He also matches timeless Urantia Book quotes with intriguing images. All of which are posted on TUBOO's Facebook page and getting considerable attention. Paul looks forward to learning from and helping The Urantia Fellowship reach its goals during his 9 year term as a General Councilor. He has read the Urantia Book at least 20 times!Link to Facebook Page
|
 | | Teuvo Orjala |
| Teuvo Orjala first picked up the book at the age of 19. Teuvo says, "I feel the need to give my life over to God. That path is intertwined with The Urantia Book Fellowship. I desire to fully serve in all ways possible which leads me to participate at the General Council level." He hopes to "bring a new level of vigor and motivation to the Fellowship as a whole."
|
|
|
Help bring The Urantia Book
to the Middle East
With the help of generous donations, the Translation Oversight Committee of the Urantia Society of Greater New York has posted the first 34 papers in Turkish on http://www.theuniversalfather.com. That's the good news!
Our challenge is to keep the translation flowing. Our current funds will be exhausted by December. Can you consider making an annual pledge and having monthly increments automatically deducted from your bank account? Annual pledges of any amount will enable the translation to proceed smoothly. 
Here is some math: just $10 pledged monthly will accumulate $120 in the translation account annually; $50 a month will pay for the translation of one entire paper each year. Our translator works at the rate of two papers a month so you can see how valuable these incremental gifts are to our goal of putting a translation of the entire Urantia Book in the Middle East within the next five or six years.
To contribute financial support by making an annual pledge (twelve separate monthly transactions) and have these automatically applied to your credit card:
-
Go to http://www.urantia-nyc.org/turkishtranslation.html
-
Under "Annual Pledge," select the appropriate monthly amount
-
Click "Subscribe"
-
Follow the prompts to enter your account information
Please don't hesitate to make a onetime donation, if you prefer. You can use the feature above and select the "Donate" option, or you can send your donation via check payable to SGNY Translation to: Turkish Translation, c/o Clark, 4 Horizon Rd. Apt. 1202, Ft. Lee, NJ 07024. USGNY is a federally tax-exempt 501(c) (3) organization and your contributions are tax deductible to the maximum amount allowed by law.
We thank you for your genuine continuing interest and generosity.
Eileen Laurence, Chairperson
USGNY Translation Oversight Committee
Laurence@concentric.net 845 528-3490
|
|
Pipeline of Light Report
Dear Friends,
In the six months since my last report, Pipeline of Light volunteers have placed one hundred and ninety-seven copies of The Urantia Book into eighteen countries. Your donations to the Pipeline helped us deliver books to readers and study groups in Belize, Colombia, Ghana, the United States, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Argentina, Kenya, Peru, England, the Philippines, Mexico, Venezuela, Canada, Ecuador, and Nicaragua. We also placed books into two new locations: the Canary Islands and Puerto Rico.
A special thank you goes out to the Grand Canyon Society members, who have donated and placed one hundred copies of El Libro de Urantia into libraries in Mexico.
Current efforts bring our Pipeline all-time totals to three thousand, five hundred and forty-four books placed into seventy-five countries around the world. We deeply appreciate the contributions of our volunteers and our donors. If you would like to contribute to this work, donations can be made online at:
http://urantiabook.org/support.htm
or by mail to:
The Urantia Book Fellowship, PO Box 6631, Broomfield, CO 80021
Thank you so much for your support!
Michelle Klimesh, Pipeline Coordinator |
|
Coming Soon--New Ways of Serving the Revelation!
 In 2003, looking toward long-range strategic planning, the Fellowship decided to sell its building in Chicago and become a virtual organization. The goal was to optimize the use of available funds for dissemination and minimize the costs of infrastructure maintenance.
In 2008 the architecture of the virtual organization was finalized and passed by the Executive Committee. By 2010, economical software to enable the realization of our vision began to appear on the market. In 2011, after exhaustive review, a software platform was chosen that will enable the integration of administrative as well as dissemination efforts, providing the ability to monitor and manage our mission in real time; a single set of resources that can provide support for substantial growth while significantly reducing costs. By the end of 2012 the initial phase of the transition will be online as a new web presence and suite of administrative services.
Watch for further announcements! A new website; a new approach to dissemination; a new way for you to be involved in the Fellowship! |
A FOND FAREWELL and
A NEW OPPORTUNITY
Mr. Tom Choquette has resigned from the Fellowship's General Council. Said Tom, "Due to a few of life's challenges out of my control, and a few within my control, I find I must humbly and with regret resign as a General Councilor from this amazing organization."
We thank Tom for his service. You will be missed Tom!
Because of this resignation, the General Council must now find somebody to fill his empty seat. The Council will be meeting in Los Angeles, the weekend of February 6-10, 2013. If you would like be considered for leadership service in this "amazing organization" please fill out the online form: Application for Organizational Service or print this Application for Service and then send it to the Fellowship office via:
Fax - 303-403-4091
Email - fellowship@urantiabook.org
Snail Mail - Fellowship, PO Box 6631, Broomfield, CO 80021
|
|
Book Review
 Announcing the Launch of Steve McIntosh's New Book: Evolution's Purpose: An Integral Interpretation of the
Scientific Store of Our Origins Does the science of evolution really prove that life, humanity, and the universe as a whole are meaningless accidents? On the contrary, as science has increasingly shown how everything in the universe is subject to evolution-including matter, life, and human culture-these very facts reveal that the process of evolution is unmistakably progressive. And as we come to see how evolution progresses, this reveals evolution's purpose-to grow toward ever-widening realizations of beauty, truth, and goodness. McIntosh argues that the purpose of evolution is not "intelligently designed" or otherwise externally controlled; rather, its purpose is being creatively and originally discerned through the choices of evolutionary creatures themselves. Without relying on any spiritual authorities, the author shows how the scientific story of our origins is actually a profound and sacred teaching compatible with many forms of contemporary spirituality.
STEVE MCINTOSH J.D. is a leader in the integral philosophy movement and author of the books Evolution's Purpose, and
Integral Consciousness and the Future of Evolution
He was the featured speaker at our Summer Study Session.
He currently works as a Founding Partner of the new social policy foundation, The Institute for Cultural Evolution. In addition to this think tank, and his work in philosophy, McIntosh has had a variety of other successful careers, including founding the consumer products company Now & Zen, practicing law with one of America's largest firms, working as an executive with Celestial Seasonings Tea Company, and Olympic-class bicycle racing. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia Law School and the University of Southern California Business School. He now lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife and two sons.
|
|
ONLINE STUDY GROUPS - SO EASY TO JOIN IN!
Pato Banton and Antoinette Hall's
Groups are as follows:
Urantia Skype Study Session 1:
For "New Urantia Book Students Only" to study Spiritual Growth at our HOME or via Skype on Tuesday evenings at 6 pm PST.
Urantia Skype Study Session 2:For Our "International Family" of new and experienced Urantians to study the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ "Via Skype Only" on Wednesdays at 12 Noon West Coast Time. (8 pm UK & West Africa)
Urantia Skype Study Session 3: For "Experienced Readers & Intellectually Gifted New Students" to participate in the study of the Advanced Teachings of the Urantia Book at our HOME or via Skype on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm PST.
Skype Address is patobanton123
Tuesday Night
Symmetry of Soul 6pm to 8pm PST
www.symmetryofsoul.org
A weekly study of the unifying concepts of The Urantia Book, mindful of the threefold nature of the cosmos: 'philosophy, religion, and science are welded into a meaningful unity by the conjoined action of wisdom, faith, and experience.'
Wednesday Night
Atlanta Urantia Study Group
We post our meetings on line every week in video and mp3 format for anyone who would like to watch or listen. Our Wednesday night study session is usually posted by Saturday each week. We are limited to 10 people on Skype as a video call, but by posting the video on line everyone can listen.
User Name rogerpauldc email rogerpauldc@yahoo.com
Friday Night
Please join us for the live Skype broadcast study group with Chris Halvorson, Friday evenings at 7:30 - 9:30pm MST.....Call 720-457-3606 or search Skype name "perfectinghorizons". Please call in 5-10 minutes early so you are all set up before the start of class....we are unable to log anyone on after the start of class. This is not an interactive call so PLEASE MUTE your phone or computer...just listen and enjoy.
Previous audio/video classes and study aids can be found at www.perfectinghorizons.org
Saturday Morning
9 AM Mountain Daylight Time
The Cosmic Citizen is a show for progressive religionists and spiritual people who are ready to find spirituality worthy of an age of science and enlightenment. Our two hosts, Paula Thompson and Christilyn Biek-Larson are both long time students of The Urantia Book. We interview guests on topics related to modern and progressive spiritual growth and religious interests. We always incorporate Urantia Book teachings, welcome callers and have lively interactions in the live chat room. We embrace diversity, intelligent dialogue and a willingness to serve. We also feature a show for Spanish Speakers called Ciudadanos del Universo on Wednesdays at 9 AM Mountain Daylight Time. Please join us! Click here for the link. AND If you want to run virtual / telephone study groups, or support an existing physical one, I have the perfect free tool: http://www.freeconferencing.com/ I was amazed and thrilled after successfully testing this service with three phones and screen sharing. Also, people not on an unlimited calling plan can get in for free with Skype.This tool enables the group leader/facilitator to let everyone have an equal chance to talk and to hear what's going in. It levels the playing field and encourages interaction: · Telephone Access· Skype Access· Up to 1,000 callers· Facilitator can mute individual callers· Facilitator can share slides pictures, a computer screen· The session can be recorded· Session can be up to 6 hours Link to FAQ'sHappy virtual study grouping! Sincerely,Chris Lepine
|
| Volunteer with The Urantia Book Fellowship! |  We have several positions available for volunteers. Depending on which one you choose, 1-4 hours per month is required. We sincerely ask you consider how important it is to put your time or money or both towards what you believe is important. For many of us that is THE FIFTH EPOCHAL REVELATION!
If you cannot donate your time to help and volunteer, then please consider donating one hours' worth of income each month.
(monthly donations are excellent!) |
|
We welcome your contributions to this online publication. We accept articles no more than 10 paragraphs long that deal with Urantia Book related events, ideas, outreach, gatherings, or reminders. Articles should be submitted to volunteer@urantiabook.org before the 22nd of every month. |
|
ANNOUNCING THE NEW UVERSA PRESS
ONLINE CATALOG
The Urantia Book Fellowship is pleased to announce that we are now offering, via our web store, many of the books that used to be offered in the Morning Star Catalog (formerly the Good Cheer Catalog.) Our newly redesigned web store is now open for 
business and contains many of the great books and study aids that Urantia Book readers love as well as some brand new gems for your contemplation and inspiration. As you peruse this new online catalog, remember that it represents how the revelation has personally inspired each individual author. Most of our authors are not professional writers, but dedicated and long-time students of the revelation who were moved to reflect, in some humble way, the light of truth, beauty, and goodness found so abundantly in The Urantia Book.
|
|
REMINDERS
 Please support The Urantia Book Fellowship You can make a secure onetime contribution online at our website, Click Here or perhaps consider giving a 'gift that keeps on giving' by agreeing to make an affordable monthly donation (auto-debit donation) that is automatically deducted from your bank account (available by clicking the above link). As always, we'll send a deluxe leather Urantia Book to all new monthly auto-debit donors who pledge to make at least a $20.00 monthly donation or a onetime equivalent.
|
|
FROM THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Are you a member of The Urantia Book Fellowship? Maybe you're not sure? If not please contact us and we'll let you know. Contact Membership by clicking here.
If you would like to become a member please click on this link and fill out the easy online membership form. Your credentials will be sent to the Membership Committee for consideration.
Please join us! - click here for the online form. |
|
|
|
