Originally Blessed!

an original blessing community


  February 6, 2014    
  eNewsletter from
  EVOLVEChesapeake

 

  Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Community

 

Our Core Values: 

We embrace all seekers of Creator.   

All are born in Original Blessing, not original sin.   

       
IN THIS ISSUE
February 9th Sacred Gathering
Income Inequality & Politics
Remember the Food Bank
Supporting Trans Equality
February Covenant Dates
In Memory of Fr. Nugent
Pete Seeger
Cove Point Rally
From Erine
"Jesus in the First and Twenty-First Centuries"
Program on Parole & Probation
Creation Spirituality Communities
"Painting the Stars"
"Integrating Spiritual Practice & Compassionate Action"
Support for our Ministry
Photo by Rick Dove
Find Us on Facebook
Our Business Sponsors
Chuck Riley
For your real estate needs in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, or across the country contact:

   

   

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Check out Evolve Chesapeake's online bookstore at:
CCCS Sphere  
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. 

 
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List

 February 9, 2014

  Sixth Sunday on the Path of Creativity 
art as meditation ... discipline ... imagination ... play 
birthing ... possibility ... aesthetic ... seed planting 
cosmogenesis ... co-creativity 
 
Sacred Gathering at 6 PM
at Annapolis Friends Meeting House 
351 Dubois Road, Annapolis, MD 
 
Reflection by the Rev. Dr. Wayne Schwandt 

Gathering Leaders: 
Set-up/Put-away: Erine Sedicum
  Greeter/Usher: Tom Good and Rick Dove   
Reader/Communion Assistant: Rick Dove and Tom Good 
Offering Invitation: Kim Hinken 
Community Hour Hosts: John Petrosillo and Tim Mortimer 
 
            
    Christianity Beyond Convention!     

FROM GAIN (GREATER ANNAPOLIS INTERFAITH NETWORK)

 

Symposium on Grassroots Democracy:
 A Response to the Impact of Money
on Politics

Date:           February 9, 2014
Time:           3 pm 
Location:    Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis 
Donation:   $5 is suggested for this event

     Congressman John Sarbanes will make a presentation and engage in a moderated discussion with the audience on his three pronged approach to addressing income inequality.  Through the Grassroots Democracy Act (HB 258) he seeks to package reforms designed to combat the influence of concentrated money in Congress, raise civic engagement, and to amplify the voice of everyday Americans in our nation's electoral process. 
     Congressman Sarbanes has represented Maryland's Third District in the United States Congress since 2007. The Third District spans portions of Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, and Montgomery County.  In the House of Representatives, he has been appointed to the Committee on Energy and Commerce where he serves on the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. 
     Come hear ideas and opportunities for us all to embrace the political and practical will to rewrite the course of our nation's wealth. 
 
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     Please remember to bring something
     for someone who is depending right
     now on the food bank: a food staple
     or any personal care product such as
     soap, disposable razors,  laundry 
     detergent, toothpaste, shampoo,
     deodorant, infant formula, etc.  

February Covenant Dates
Birthdays, Anniversaries, Covenant Days 
    
February  3  Karl D. Walker Birthday (d. 2008) 
February  8  Shane Matthew Riley Birthday 
February 15  Wayne E. Schwandt Ordination (2007)
February 17  Regina Rawlings Birthday

In Memory of Fr. Robert Nugent 
An excerpt from the Washington Blade
Photo courtesy of New Ways Ministry

Father Robert Nugent, the Roman Catholic priest who in 1977 co-founded New Ways Ministry as a first-of-its-kind ministry for gay and lesbian Catholics, died of cancer on Jan. 1 at a hospice in Milwaukee. He was 76.

 "When few priests would do more than whisper about homosexuality, Father Nugent was meeting with lesbian and gay people and encouraging them to claim their rightful place in the Catholic Church," DeBernardo [Executive Director of New Ways Ministry in Mt. Rainier, MD] said in a statement. "During a time of intense homophobia in both church and society, he exhibited uncommon courage and foresight in welcoming and affirming the goodness of God's lesbian and gay children."  Click here for more about Fr. Nugent.  

 

Pete Seeger 
May 3, 1919-Jan. 28, 2014
Photo from BBC News 

"It's all according to your definition of God.  According to my definition of God, I'm not an atheist because I think that God is everything.  Whenever I open my eyes I'm looking at God.  Whenever I'm listening to something I'm listening to God."                                             - Pete Seeger
                                                                   
From CCAN (Chesapeake Climate Action Network):

WHAT: "Stop Cove Point" Rally in Baltimore
WHEN: Thursday, February 20th, noon-1:30pm
WHERE: War Memorial Plaza - downtown Baltimore
WHO: Hundreds of climate activists and fracking fighters from across the Mid-Atlantic and YOU. Co-sponsors include Calvert Citizens for Healthy Community, Citizen Shale, Food and Water Watch, HoCo Climate Change, Interfaith Power & Light, the Maryland Sierra Club, and many more!
Buses and carpools are being organized across the state.  click here to learn more/register to join the rally.
We're holding this rally at noon - lunchtime - in downtown Baltimore because that's when the Maryland Public Service Commission will begin hearings on permits Dominion would need to construct the $3.8 billion Cove Point facility targeted for Calvert County. We'll have music, banners, and great speakers including Lois Gibbs of Love Canal fame and the Rev. Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus.
From Erine
       Going through the craziness
       of the rain of our lives
       We discover the color within
       and the color on the outside.



        "Picture is a sand art project at SACC  
        from Oriental Trading Co.  I enjoyed  
        doing it...way-way too much!!!"


Jesus in the First and

Twenty-First Centuries

A Jesus Seminar on the Road

                                  

April 4 - 5, 2014 

 

At Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church

3401 Nebraska Avenue NW Washington, DC

 

What does the rediscovery of the historical Jesus and his vision of the reign of God mean for the heirs of the Christian tradition? Does this Jesus have any relevance for people who claim no allegiance to Christianity? The presenters offer their insights and engage participants in a discussion about the relationship of Christianity to contemporary politics, economics, and global power.

 

For more information: http://www.nationalchurch.org/  

 

 

THE GREATER ANNAPOLIS INTERFAITH NETWORK (GAIN)

 

PRESENTS A PROGRAM ON PAROLE & PROBATION  

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 - 7:30 PM

At the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Annapolis

333 Dubois Road

Annapolis, MD 21401

 

How are parole and probation structured in Anne Arundel Counte and the State of Maryland?  Are they working?  What issues need to be worked on?

    

PANEL: Judge Philip Caroom             

               Lea Green, President of Maryland CURE

               Ruth Ann Ogle, Maryland Parole and Probation Commission  

 

There will be time for comments and discussion.  All are welcome to attend and to participate.  The room for the program will be posted on the church front door. Refreshments will be served.  For directions or other questions contact: Liz Vanden Heuvel at liz2vh@comcast.net
or at 410-267-9009.  In case of inclement weather, contact Liz regarding cancellation.

 

Other Upcoming Programs of GAIN:  

 March 13, 2014 - Climate Change and Fracking in Maryland 

April 10, 2014 - Public Housing 

   
You can become an individual member of Creation Spirituality Communities or sign up as a participant in the online community for free. Join our online community,
Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Community and take CSC logo small
part in the discussion.  You can get more information
and/or sign up by clicking on the following link: 
http://originalblessing.ning.com.  NOTE: This website is well worth checking out, with its interesting videos of Matthew Fox and others on different facets of Creation Spirituality.  You'll also find news of upcoming conferences and much more.
  Reminder
Sunday, February 23:
Painting the Stars, Session 4 will be shown at AFM at 4:30 PM.
Tuesday, February 25:
At Open Arms we will have dinner @ 6:30 PM and view Session 5 of
Painting the Stars. Contact Pastor Wayne at SchwandtW@aol.com
for more information.

Ways to Support our Ministry  

WE HAVE EARNED $1,624.34 THROUGH iGIVE
AS OF FEBRUARY 6TH     
                      
This is the iGive Button, a very good way to raise funds when you shop on-line. 
 Get the button and name Evolve Chesapeake as your charity.  It's always absolutely free, no strings attached! I you need a little technical help in getting iGive, contact Pastor Wayne at SchwandtW@aol.com.
   

At our Welcome Table in the Lobby there are books for sale by Matthew Fox, John Shelby Spong, Marcus Borg, and others.  You'll also find Rick Dove's large selection of beautiful nature photography:  5x7 photocards @$3 and matted photographs @$10.  Buying these will help support Evolve Chesapeake's ministry. (See Rick's Rose at the bottom of the newsletter.) 
 
And remember, your used cell phones and empty ink jet and toner cartridges can also help fund our ministry.  These items fit nicely in the offering basket along with remembrance of time and talent you have offered to our ministries and your financial gifts.  Bring them to Gathering with you. 
Thank you to all who read this newsletter and to all who send contributions that liven it up!  Please send your poems, articles, news, photographs, announcements, etc. to:  EvolveSylvia@gmail.com.  And let us know how we can improve our newsletter.    
Photograph by Rick Dove
 Visit our website: www.EvolveChesapeake.com
and other great websites under Quick Links in the top left column. 

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If you have a profile on Facebook, become a fan of CCSC by clicking here. 
  Upload pictures, start a discussion, invite friends.
 
And visit us at our Sacred Gathering Sunday 6 PM.