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Our Business Sponsors
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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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Fall Congregational Meeting
Sunday, November 18th
in Annapolis Friends Meeting's large classroom
3 to 5 PM
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October 28, 2012
Sixth 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: Beth Lanier
Greeter/Usher: Suzie Robertson
Reader/Communion Assistant: Beth Lanier/Rick Stewart
Offering Invitation: Dave Miller
Community Hour Hosts: Chuck Riley and Wayne Schwandt
Journeying together into our 15th year!
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From an October 21, 2012 Letter to Companions
written by Dave Miller, Vice Moderator
on behalf of the Board of Directors of Evolve Chesapeake
Dear [Companions],
Our spiritual community recently celebrated our 14th anniversary. Since our inception we have blazed a path to studying wisdom and prophets and seeking the Divine in a way that is uniquely our own. Nearly two years ago, that path lead to a fork, and we chose the one less travelled. Today, we continue our journey. We have admirably modeled the name we have chosen. We continue to EVOLVE our community, our spiritual gathering, and our faith practices. We have broadened EVOLVE Chesapeake to a community where the members and all companions participate in defining who and what we are, and in leading our sacred gathering and ministering to each other. We remain very blessed to have the inspirational leadership of Reverend Dr. Wayne Schwandt, and many Companions have demonstrated our co-ownership of this community in so many ways.
The Board of Directors and the Celebration Team have chosen the word Co-Create to describe the leg of the journey we are currently blazing. In fact, you will soon learn of exciting plans for embracing this concept and optimizing co-creation to advance our community. We are planning a very special season leading to the winter solstice and Christmas that we have called Invent:Co-Create. The sacred gatherings in this season will provide much food for thought about the Divine, our lives and our faith practices. We will follow this season with a community retreat this winter where we will explore our spiritual paths, and those efforts that enrich us and those practices that diminish our awareness of our own holiness.....
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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)
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COMMUNITY DIALOGUE
ON THE DREAM ACT
The final in the series of Community Dialogues on the upcoming ballot questions will be Ballot Question 4, the Dream Act, on Thursday, November 1, 2012.
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. 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.
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OPEN ARMS WILL WELCOME YOU!
next meeting: Tuesday, October 30
"Open Arms," our community dinner & discussion group, is trying out a new format. We will have dinner together at 6 PM 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
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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)
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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.
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The meditation masters in ancient India often used a metaphor for fear:
a dimly lit room where you see a rope and think it's a snake. Much of our fear is like that. It begins with a misperception, then one frightened thought leads to another. The practice involves beginning to see clearly: a rope is a rope and a snake is a snake. If there really is a snake in the room, fear may be an appropriate response. But much of our fear is about ropes, which we have never gotten to know, so we spend our lives coping, running, concealing, denying, concocting elaborate verbal explanations.
~from Breath by Breath by Larry Rosenberg and David Guy, Shambhala Classics, 2004, page 73
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A Banner for Via Negativa
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. |
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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.
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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
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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 $1,428.64. Thank you for shopping through iGive.com and using iSearch.com for online searches!
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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.
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 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. |
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GAIN(Greater Annapolis Interfaith Network)
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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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