Originally Blessed!

an original blessing community


  February 13, 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 16th Sacred Gathering
February Covenant Dates
Howard Thurman
Supporting Trans Equality
Food Bank
Cove Point Rally
re-Source!
African-American History Month
Michael Sam
Creation Spirituality Communities
"Jesus in the First and Twenty-First Centuries"
"Painting the Stars"
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 16, 2014

  Seventh 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 

 
             
    Christianity Beyond Convention!     
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 
Howard Thurman

There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.        -Howard Thurman

Who was Howard Thurman? 

"A century ago, an African American seventh grader from segregated Daytona, Fla., prepared to board a train for Jacksonville and high school. His family dropped him at the train station with the fare, but neglected to give him enough money to ship his luggage. A boy like other boys, without an adult's self-sufficiency, he did what any stranded child might do-he sat down and cried. Then a black man, a stranger, covered the bill for him. Years later, when the boy became a man and wrote his life story, With Head and Heart: The Autobiography of Howard Thurman, he dedicated it to the stranger who "restored my broken dream."

The above was taken from a Boston University web- site,"BU Today."   Howard Thurman was Dean of Marsh Chapel at B.U. from 1953-1965.  His is an inspiring journey.  Read more by clicking here.  


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     Remember the food bank, please.
     Bring along a food staple or personal
     care product when you come to
     Sacred Gathering, if you can. Thanks!
  
   FREE COUPON 
If you are a newcomer to our Sacred Gatherings, this coupon is for you.  It entitles you to a fresh
loaf of delicious home- baked bread, usually with raisins and honey, made by our Pastor. Just cut out the coupon and place it in the offering plate next Sunday, then at the close of our Sacred Gathering you will receive, along with our welcome, the loaf free of charge.  Note: fish not included!!
"STOP COVE POINT" RALLY, FEBRUARY 20

FROM 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.

African-American History Month Event, February 2014
From The Capital, January 29, 2014

"In celebration of Black History Month in February, the public is invited to attend the following performances by storyteller Baba Jamal Koram at... county libraries. His performances, "African Stories in the Americas," bring
the heritage and traditions of Africa to life with drumming, song and call-and-response."

Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.: Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library, 269 Hillsmere Drive
Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.: Severna Park Library, 45 McKinsey Rd.    
Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.: North County Area Library, 1010 Eastway, Glen Burnie 
Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.: Crofton Library, 1681 Riedel Road.
Michael Sam

From NYDailyNews.com

LGBT advocates:  Michael Sam coming out
will be inspiration for other gay athletes.

"The former Missouri defensive end will give athletes  
who struggle with their sexuality, from high school
kids to professionals, a path to publicly and proudly  
acknowledge their true identities...."

You can become an individual member of Creation Spirituality Communities or sign up  as a participant in the online CSC logo smallcommunity for free. Join our online community, Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Community and take 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.
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, click here. 

For a seminar flyer and registration form, click here. 

                                  Reminders:
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 $1,624.87 THROUGH iGIVE
AS OF FEBRUARY 13TH     
                      
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 Eastern Bluebird at the bottom of this 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.    
Eastern Bluebird photographed 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 (Evolve Chesapeake)
by clicking here. Upload pictures, start a discussion, invite friends.
And visit us at our Sacred Gathering Sunday 6 PM.