Originally Blessed! 


    March 13, 2015     
 
    eNewsletter from EVOLVE,
 
                    the Creation Spirituality Ministry of 
The United Church of Christ of Annapolis
Christianity Beyond Convention
IN THIS ISSUE
Sacred Gathering the 15th of March
Correction re: Chant Circle
"The Season of re-"
Coming Environmental Events
"The New Jim Crow"
Creation Spirituality Communities
Weekly Food & Goods Collection
"Third Thursday" Dinner
From Erine
March Covenant Dates
Impressions of "Journey of the Universe"
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Evolve P.O. Box Closed
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Join our Sacred Gathering on Sundays normally at 6 PM at
8 Carvel Circle
Edgewater, MD 21037

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Sacred Gathering
  March 15, 2015 at 6 p.m.
13th Sunday on the Path of Creativity
 
  
United Church of Christ of Annapolis 
8 Carvel Circle
Edgewater, Maryland 21037

Reflection by the Rev.Dr. Wayne Schwandt

  
Gathering Leaders:
Set-up/Put Away: Rick Dove and Tom Good
Greeter/Usher: Suzie Robertson
Reader/Communion Assistant: John Petrosillo 
Community Hour Host:  Chuck Riley    
PLEASE NOTE CORRECTION TO  LAST SUNDAY'S NEWSLETTER:
CHANT CIRCLE
is generally on the last Sunday of each month.
The next one will be held March 29th.
Continuing "the Season of re-" 
reForm,        reLent,   reOpen,
reSide,    reBoot,   reNew,  reMind,               reCycle,     reTire,               
   reVive,           reLax,    reFresh,
reStart,    reUnite,   reInvent, 
  reCreate,         reBirth,                reDeem,        reBound,     reClaim,    reCreate,
    reLieve,    reWard,      reFlect,   reBuild,
reDraw,   reNewal
Church Spring Cleaning Day
Saturday, March 21 - 9 am - 12 pm
spring-word-flowers.jpg

Give UCCA a hand in cleaning, painting, and cheerleading!

Evolve invites all the worker bees participating in the UCCA work day to join us in sharing food and fellow- ship on Saturday, March 21.  While reservations are not required, please email Suzie Robertson at
nancyshdysd@aol.com if you will be joining us for a free lunch after your labor of love.
D.C. Environmental Film Festival: Wednesday, March 18, 7 pm
Washington National Cathedral 
Charles A. Perry Auditorium, 7th Flr. 3101 Wisconsin Ave., NW    

The Wisdom to Survive tells the story of how thought leaders and activists in science, economics, and spirituality are responding to the ways in which unlimited growth and greed are harming human societies and the planet. This powerful film urges viewers to open up to the beauty that surrounds us and to get to work ensuring it thrives.
Free admission. Reservations are required. 
 
  Maryland Mama Summit and
  Lobby Day: Thursday, March
  19, 9am to 2 pm
  Maryland State Capitol
  100 State Circle, Annapolis
                
The Mama Summit in Maryland is a chance for caring moms, dads, grandparents, and kids from across the state to show united support for children's health. Together we will faithfully demand action to protect the air our children breathe and call for action on climate change.
For more information or to register, visit here. Make sure
you indicate you're with Interfaith Power & Light (DC. MD. NoVA) in the "Organization" section when you sign up!

Book Groups reading The New Jim Crow

Two  groups are meeting weekly in the church office to discuss The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.  One group meets on Sunday at 1:00 PM, and the other on Tuesday at 6:30 PM. This book is an expertly written in-depth study of the historical, documented causes of racism in our society, leading to it's tragic consequences of the mass incarceration of African Americans.  A chapter a week is read in preparation for the meeting.  Our final discussion will be The future of race in America: Michelle Alexander at TEDxColumbus together with Asbury United Methodist Church.
See the video at right of Michelle Alexander's summary of her book.  If you'd like to join one of the groups, phone Lisa at 410-266-8596 or email office@uccannapolis.org.  It's not too late to join! 
CSC banner
Creation Spirituality Communities

is a network of communities ranging from intentional groups to alternative churches, which are grounded in the tenants of Creation Spirituality and revere the sacredness of all creation. Through study, ritual, celebration and action, these communities support justice, compassion, transformation and sustainability for the Universe and for all living beings.  It is both tradition and movement, celebrated by mystics and agents of social change from every age and culture.  Our online community, Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Community, is waiting for you to join:   http://originalblessing.ning.com.   
 
The need for food is urgent at this time.  Please bring a
donation when you can to put by our Community Table and it will be delivered to the Food Bank.
"Third Thursday" Community Dinner,  March 19, 6:30 to 8:30 PM  
Affordable Fine Dining with Friends at U.C.C.A.
Please RSVP by phoning 410-266-8596, ext. 200 
 or emailing: office@UCCAnnapolis.org  
From Erine           
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    On the left is a photo of a peace sign drawn by one of the Evening Care kids, age 8.  It was also half braided by this boy.
    On the right is my drawing of a lion, as requested by the children.

March Covenant Dates
Birthdays, Anniversaries, Covenant Dates 
March     1    Tom Good Birthday 
March     5    Jean M. Dove Birthday (d. 2012) 
March     6    Gail Curry Birthday 
March   12    Delores M. Van Steenburg Birthday (d. 2001) 
March   22    Jordan Michelle Riley Birthday (2003) 
March   24    Kim Hinken Birthday 
March   27    Joshua Braelon Lekberg Baptism (2011) 

Impressions of "Journey of the Universe"
PBS Film narrated by Brian Swimme with beautiful photography

This "Journey" is totally awesome to me, and to see it emerge in a film shorter than one hour was quite a breathtaking experience! Here are a few things I learned--hopefully conveyed to you without too much disjointedness and error on my part.  I just felt compelled to share it!

Humankind has written stories of its beginnings, and the current one is much about capitalistic consumerism.  Clearly, it has failed!  We need to write a new story.  At the Big Bang, the infinitesimally small Universe was born and began its ongoing expansion at a speed just right in order to create what is.  It may also have an end; at some point the Universe as we know it might explode or implode! 

As the Universe emerged it developed and organized itself in dynamic structures,--e.g. the whirlpool--and patterns.  Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is not so much a "thing" but rather an action, a movement.
  In our galaxy we have living energy which is aware:  life in all of its forms, and this life is not an accident.  The Universe was preparing for it! This awareness began in tiny cell membranes, then in molecules in such organisms  as those who use photosynthesis to draw in sunlight for their food and development.
Life learned to change its forms and to remember these changes; thus it evolves.

The essence of life is in number and pattern.  D.N.A. holds the essence of life.  Life has learned to learn.  One way it does this is through seeing.  The trilobite eye evolved over time into many different forms.  Humans have eyesight plus another development:  insight!  Another way is through dealing with death:  it learns ways to protect and defend itself.  Life even learns compassion:  mother fish who used to eat their young gave way to mothers protecting their young by scaring away predators.

What is unique about US?  Humor, perhaps.  We don't really know what gave rise to humans, but we know humans spend more time in the childhood stage.  This points to the qualities of children such as play, exploration, curiosity, joy of living, freedom, flexibility, and movement.

Symbols (when we developed language and mathematics) opened our consciousness. When we externalized that consciousness we burst open our super-consciousness in expressions of art, culture, dance, music, writing and love-making--sharing what's inside us.  We humans are consciously participating in giving birth to ourselves. 

Then we began to control nature for our own use.  We exploited our resources. Tech- nology turned against us because we altered the dynamics of Earth.  Each year thousands of species are going extinct!  We are the Earth Community, the mind and heart of the Universe.  Let us not use these energies coursing through us for the destruction of our Earth! 
                                                                                   Sylvia Oliva 
  FREE COUPON HERE   
Newcomers to our Sacred Gatherings, this coupon is for you!  It entitles you to a fresh loaf of home-baked bread, usually with raisins and honey, made by our Minister, the Rev. Dr. Wayne Schwandt.  Just clip this coupon, place it in the offering basket on Sunday, and at the close of our Sacred Gathering you will receive along our welcome, this delicious bread.  
"Slán agus beannacht Dé libh"  May you all have a lovely, happy and blessed St. Patrick's Day!  Thanks for reading Originally Blessed!! and remember to send your articles, poems, news, photos, announcements, petitions, pictures, cartoons, and whatever else you might like to see in our newsletter to EvolveSylvia@gmail.com by Thursday night.
 "A Red-winged Blackbird helps herald in the coming of Spring" Photo by Rick Dove

Visit our website:  www.EvolveChesapeake.com 

Evolve has closed the post office box, so please update your records
to show our address as:  8 Carvel Circle, Edgewater, MD 21037