Originally Blessed! 


    March 27, 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 29th of March
From the Minister's Keyboard
Chant Circle March 29
Holy Week & Easter
Weekly Food & Goods Collection
MD House Passes Fracking Moratorium
Jean Vanier awarded Templeton Prize
From Erine
March Covenant Dates
"The New Jim Crow"
Creation Spirituality Communities
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8 Carvel Circle
Edgewater, MD 21037

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Sacred Gathering 
March 29, 2015 at 6 p.m.

Palm Sunday and the 
2nd Sunday on the Path of
Transformation 
 
United Church of Christ of Annapolis 
8 Carvel Circle
Edgewater, Maryland 21037

Reflection by Rev. Ryan Sirmons

 

Gathering Leaders:
Set-up/Put Away: Sylvia Oliva
Community Hour Host:  Suzie Robertson   

From the Minister's Keyboard 
The Rev. Dr. Wayne Schwandt  
  
Pastor Wayne
This Sunday, our Second Sunday on the Path of Transformation and Palm Sunday, come to Sacred Gathering
and welcome Rev. Ryan Sirmons to
our Circle where he will share the
Reflection.  Suzie Robertson, along with others, will co-lead the
Gathering. 

I came to Wisconsin yesterday morning to be with my mother in what hospice had told me would be her final days.  After a nine year journey with Allzheimer's Disease she got the fulfillment of her wish to "go Home."  She died before I got to her side but my brother, sister and I all had experiences in the night of being intensely with her as she passed into her Source of Being.  My brother's and mine were similar, we were sitting next to her bed, touching her arm and singing the old hymns which would have been a comfort to her.  I was singing "Jesus Loves You" over and over as a chant.  Then "Sweet Hour of Prayer," "I Come to the Garden Alone," and "Amazing Grace." Even after I woke from the dream I stayed in bed and continued to sing to her in my mind.  At 3:55 AM EDST the phone rang and Jennifer, the hospice nurse told me "she is gone."  
 
Howard Hangar at Jubilee! Community in Asheville, NC, often says, "there's more going on here than we know."  I have known he is right, that our rational mind cannot perceive all that is happening around us. The connections we have with our Source, Creator, G-d, are beyond our rational knowing.  But, nonthe- less, we know in our hearts the deepest of truth.
 
I appreciate all the love and support which is being poured out on my family at this time.  
 
I will be back at Sacred Gathering on Easter and hope to see you there.  Blessings for this week of reflection on the cycle of Birth-Death-Resurrection for all of Creation.
Peace, 
Wayne   
Chant Circle Sunday, March 29
in Caton Hall from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. 

Kids Chalk Art by Nicole Porcaro 
All are welcome in our circle of chant, body prayer, and drumming, inter-
spersed with a little silence to reflect
on what this may bring to you.  A wholesome practice, simple, non- threatening, nourishing.  No exper-
ience necessary.  Come, try it and see! 
Holy Week 2015 at UCCA
Maundy Thursday, April 2 at 6:30 PM            
          Potluck Soup Dinner and Service of Foot
          Washing
Good Friday, April 3 at 12:15 PM
          Meditative Service and Stripping of the Altar
Good Friday at 7:00 PM
          "Seven Last Words" Service at Asbury
          Broadneck UMC.  Pastor Ryan is delivering one
          of the "word" sermons at this ecumenical
          service. 

April 5, Easter Sunday
  6:45 AM   Easter Sunrise Service at Wilelinor Estates
                  Dock.  (Meet at UCCA at 6:30 AM to walk
                  or carpool to docks.) 
  9:00 AM   Pancake Breakfast in Caton Hall (Youth
                  Fundraiser for their trip to Synod)
10:00 AM   Easter Egg Hunt
10:30 AM   Service of the Word and Sacrament
  6:00 PM   Evolve Sacred Gathering
  7:00 PM   Evolve Coordinated Easter Dinner
Weekly Food/Goods Collection at EVOLVE
Our brothers' and sisters' needs are urgent.  Please
bring a donation when you can and put it by our
Community Table.  Suzie will deliver it to the Food 
Bank.
Love, faith, and hope are the elements the soul needs to make its journey home. Love of truth motivates the soul to want to set out on the journey; faith sustains and supports it as it proceeds; and hope gives it the optimism that things will unfold in the right way.                            
                      - from Facets of Unity by A. H. Almaas
Good News from Chesapeake Climate Action Network

"This swell of grassroots action against
fracking is unlike anything we've seen before in our state. With the fate of drilling currently in Governor Hogan's hands, a moratorium is urgently needed now to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the natural resources that are the foundation of so many Maryland livelihoods."


The world's most vulnerable people honored by the awarding of the Templeton Prize 2015 to Jean Vanier (from Vanier's website):  

The Templeton Foundation has just announced from London that has awarded the 2015 Templeton Prize to Jean Vanier, for his innovative discovery of the central role of vulnerable people in the creation of a more just, inclusive and humane society. The Templeton Prize, which has previously been awarded to Mother Teresa, Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama and others, is one of the most prestigious honors in the world, and is valued at close to 1.7 million USD.

According to Jean Vanier, this prize honors primarily the most vulnerable among us, often marginalized in our societies, and to whom he attributes his discovery.  It is these people who revealed to him that any person who has been previously rejected, when welcomed, becomes a source of dialogue, of healing, of unity and of peace for our societies and our religions.

To read more about Jean Vanier or view his videos, click here.
Science is not only compatible with spirituality; 
it is a profound source of spirituality. 
                                                                                                           by Carl Sagan
  From Erine
Photo by Erine Sedicum

The Sunlight is a warm, 
       welcoming friend
It is a welcome to those great
       or small...
Remember that when you see
       the Sun.    
We also are partners---
As partners we share the Earth...
       Welcome Spring!!!

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) 


Lenten Study Groups reading The New Jim Crow
Sunday, March 29 Group B meets from 1:00-2:00 PM at UCCA to study Chapter 5.  Tuesday, March 31 Group A meets from 6:30-7:30 PM at UCCA for Chapter 5. 
Discussions have also begun with the Asbury UMC
Community at 87 West Street, Annapolis.  Thursday, April 16 at 7:15 PM will be the next meeting there and Chapter 7 will be discussed. Prior to the discussion we are welcome to participate in their 6:30 PM Vesper Service.


The great secret of death, and perhaps its deepest connection with us, is this:   
that, in taking from us a being we have loved and venerated,  
death does not wound us without, at the same time, lifting us toward
a more perfect understanding of this being and of ourselves.

                                                               Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by Joanna Macy and Anita Barrows
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.   
Many thanks for reading Originally Blessed!!  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.
 From Waftings from the Ether Community

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