Originally Blessed!

an original blessing community


October 18, 2012  
eNewsletter from

EVOLVE Chesapeake

 

Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Community:   CHRISTIANITY BEYOND CONVENTION

 

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IN THIS ISSUE
October 21st Sacred Gathering
Covenant dates
What is Co-Create?
Community Dialogues on Referendum Questions
A banner for Via Negativa
Spong reading group
Weekly food/goods collection
Creation Spirituality Principles
Fundraising for ministry
Open Arms in new format
Books & cards for sale
Jesus didn't turn people away
Anti-racism training
Vote YES on Question 6
Becoming a CS community
Send in your articles
Find us on facebook
Our Business Sponsors

Chuck Riley

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Join our sacred gathering on Sundays normally at 6 PM at the Annapolis Friends Meeting at 351 Dubois Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.

 Click here for directions.  

 

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Every 
Child 
has known God. 
Not the God of names, 
Not the God of don'ts, 
Not the God who ever does 
anything weird, 
But the God who only knows four words, 
And keeps repeating them, saying: 
"Come dance with Me." 
Come 
  Dance. 
 
~ Hafiz, from The Gift: Poems of Hafiz, the Great Sufi Master, New York: Penguin Books, 1999, p. 270         

 October 21, 2012


  Fifth Sunday of Via Negativa
 
silence, emptying, darkness, nothingness, sinking, letting go, pain, loss, depth
 
Sacred Gathering at 6 PM
at
Annapolis Friends Meeting
351 Dubois Road, Annapolis

Reflection by the Rev. Dr. Wayne Schwandt

Gathering Leaders:
Setup/Put Away: Sylvia Oliva 
Greeter/Usher: Tom Good & Rick Dove 
Reader/Communion Assistant: Adri Eathorne 
Offering Invitation: Scott Bowling 
Community Hour Hosts: Kim Hinken & Adri Eathorne 
 
Continuing our progressive journey into our 15th year!

   October Covenant Dates     

birthdays, anniversaries, covenant dates 

Oct  1   Meta Ann Snyder death (1998)

Oct  7   Suzanne B. Hickmon death (2000)

Oct 10  Suzanne B. Hickmon Birthday (d. 2000)

Oct 10  Sylvia Oliva Birthday

Oct 15  Velma Blitch Birthday (d. 1999)

Oct 18  Jake Spencer Birthday 

Oct 19  Wayne Schwandt Birthday

Oct 21  Chuck Riley Birthday 

Oct 23  Wayne E. Schwandt & Chuck Riley Marriage in CA (2008)

Oct 23  Tim Mortimore & John Petrosillo Wedding (2010)

Oct 26  Phila Hoopes Birthday 

Oct 29  Dennis L. Myers Birthday (d. 2011)

Oct 29  Patrick Edward Price Birthday (2007)

Oct 29  Daniel Teitjen Schellhorn Birthday (d. 2008) 



What is Co-Create? 
We learned something about it last Sunday. 
Come with us on our journey to learn more.

COMMUNITY DIALOGUES  
ON MARYLAND'S BALLOT INITIATIVES 
 
Are you tired of the negative tone of this political season yet realize important decisions will be made in November that affect you and our whole community?  Then join in to the last two Community Dialogues, "respectful conversations" about the upcoming ballot questions:

Ballot Question 6    Marriage Equality     Thursday, October 18
Ballot Question 4    Dream Act                      Thursday, November 1

Venue:  Annapolis Friends Meeting, 351 Dubois Rd., Annapolis

Time:  from 7-9  pm

Agenda:  Presenters from each side will briefly state their case, followed by a
few questions for clarification--no debate.  The rest of the evening will focus on small-group facilitated discussions about what is important to you regarding that ballot question and what concerns or fears you may have.

The goal:  for citizens with varying viewpoints to discuss important political and social issues in a civil manner--listening deeply to and learning from one
another.  No one will pressure you to vote a certain way.

Sponsors:  Greater Annapolis Interfaith Network, Annapolis Friends Peace & Justice Center, and Community Forum of Annapolis.

For additional information click on: don5052@comcast.net.


The spiritual path seems to be creating more suffering, because it asks you to experience suffering that you used to avoid. Actually, of course, this paying attention is the way out of suffering.

~ Breath by Breath by Larry Rosenberg with David Guy, Shambala Publications, Inc., 2004, p. 71.

A Banner for Via Negativa

  

Turtle in shell 
Remember that you are invited to bring something to add to the Via Negativa banner which we will create during this season.

What should you bring?

Something that speaks of "emptying" or "letting go" or "darkness" or "pain."

It could be a picture from current events, picture of a lost friend or lover or spouse, a poem, a word or phrase.

Spong Reclaiming

Next Meeting of Spong Reading Group is  

October 27, 2012    

 

The group reading Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World
by John Shelby Spong will meet at PANERA, FESTIVAL AT RIVA at
11 a.m. on Saturday, October 27.  We are reading Part X, The Synoptic Gospels. There is still time to join the group.  If you need a copy of the book, contact Pastor Wayne at 
SchwandtW@aol.com.

To whet your appetite, here's an excerpt from our last meeting's reading: 
"In and through Jesus, as Jesus had been presented to him, Paul experienced the healing presence of the love of God, a love that accepted him as he was and called
him to be all that he could be.  That was the meaning of salvation for Paul....." (p. 2)

Food/Goods Collection at Evolve Chesapeake
Please bring, if you are able, some pantry staples (e.g. tinned meat and fish, boxed
pasta products, infant formula) or personal care products (e.g. laundry detergent,
toilet paper, disposal razors, bath/shower soap, dish soap, deodorant, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products) for the Anne Arundel County Food Bank.  Collection is ongoing every Sunday evening at Evolve Chesapeake.

Twelfth Principle of Creation Spirituality 

Ecology is the local expression of cosmology and so we commit to live in light
of this value:  to pass on the beauty and health of Creation to future generations.
 
 
 FUNDRAISING FOR MINISTRY 
 USE iSEARCH AND HELP CCSC!  
one cent per search!   

Do you search the web? If so, you could be raising a penny for Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Community every time you search!  iSearchiGive.com is a search engine powered by Yahoo! Search and iGive.com, the internet's first online shopping mall where a portion of  each purchase is donated to your favorite cause. Try it today - it's free!  To try iSearch, click here.  After you click
on the previous link, in the upper right corner will be CLICK HERE TO ADD ISEARCHIGIVE TO YOUR BROWSER.  Make it your default search engine and
earn a penny for every search.  Every penny counts! 

 
YOUR USED CELL PHONES AND EMPTY INK JET AND TONER CARTRIDGES CAN HELP FUND OUR MINISTRY.  BRING THEM TO GATHERING WITH YOU! These items fit nicely in the offering basket along with remembrance of time and
talent you have offered through our ministries AND your financial gifts.  
  
When shopping online always go through www.iGive.com!  Register  Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Community as your charity and shop away! 
As of 10-18-2012 we have earned $1,427.74. Thank you for shopping through iGive.com and using  iSearch.com for online searches!  
 
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OPEN ARMS WILL WELCOME YOU!


"Open Arms," our community dinner & discussion group, is trying out a new format. We will have dinner together and then bring up any weighty (or not-so-weighty) questions we may have, drawn anonymously "from a hat." All are welcome to pose their
questions on, e.g., life, sacred scripture, something that was said
in a Sunday reflection, sexuality, spirituality, what it means to be human, what is "dark matter!" etc, etc. (whatever matters to you). Contact Pastor Wayne for more details at SchwandtW@aol.com.  As always, everyone welcome!


Books for Sale at our Welcome Table
 
 Titles by Matthew Fox, John Shelby Spong,
 Marcus Borg, and more. 
 Beautiful Note Cards also for Sale  
Photography by Rick Dove

Jesus didn't turn people away
Anti-Racism Training 
Sponsored by one of our GAIN churches: 
St. Luke's Episcopal Church 
1101 Bay Ridge Avenue 
Annapolis, MD 21403 

Friday, Nov. 9 from 3--9 pm & Saturday, Nov. 10 from 9 am--4 pm  

Led by facilitators from the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, this excellent workshop-style training encourages us to address the legacy of systemic racism that still pervades our churches and communities while reflecting deeply on our own assumptions and prejudices.

Participants must commit to both days of the training.  Dinner is provided the first night. Bring a brown bag lunch on Saturday. Snacks and beverages
provided throughout the weekend.


Free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required.  Deadline for registration is October 27th. For more information contact Sheila Mackertich at sheila.mackertich@gmail.com.

Here's what the ballot will say for Question 6:
                                                     
"Establishes that Maryland's civil marriage laws allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain
a civil marriage license, provided they are
not otherwise prohibited from marrying; protects clergy from having to perform any particular marriage ceremony in violation
of their
religious beliefs; affirms that each religious faith has exclusive control over its own theological doctrine regarding who
may marry within that faith; and provides that religious organizations and certain related entities are not required to provide goods, services, or benefits to an individual related to the celebration or promotion of marriage in violation of their religious beliefs."


VOTE YES ON QUESTION 6.
It will uphold Maryland's Civil Marriage Protection Act, which allows same-sex couples
to obtain marriage licenses.  When upheld, this law will go into effect on
January 1, 2013.
CSC logo small Become an individual member of Creation Spirituality Communities  by clicking here, or sign up as a participant in the online community for  FREE!  Join our community, Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Community, and participate  in the discussion.  Go to www.CreationSpirituality.info for more information and to sign up!  Join the online group, Chesapeake Creation Spirituality.
 
Check out our website at www.EvolveChesapeake.com

Note from Editor
Originally Blessed!! is sent out every Thursday.  News, notices of events, articles, poetry, etc. are always welcome and should be sent to EvolveSylvia@gmail.com by the
previous Wednesday night for publication in the upcoming newsletter, or at any time if not time-sensitive.   

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