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The Light - 2011 Summer Edition - CentersofLight.org

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  • 8/6/2019 The Light - 2011 Summer Edition - CentersofLight.org

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  • 8/6/2019 The Light - 2011 Summer Edition - CentersofLight.org

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    CO-DIRECTORSOFTHE

    ORDEROFCHRISTSOPHIA

    Moher Clare Wats

    Faher Peer Bowes

    DIRECTOROFOUTREACH

    Rev. Margare Laveda

    [email protected]

    414.248.7405

    DESIGN & LAYOUT

    Grace Tenner Design LLC

    DIRECTOROFPHOTOGRAPHY

    Rev. Meira Leonard

    EDITORS

    Rev. Rachel Bernard

    Siser Camille Sikeleaher

    COPYWRITER

    Rev. Timohy Lin

    The Light is published four times annually

    by the Order of Christ Sophia and is

    distributed through regional

    Centers of Light.

    For Information on Local

    Classes & Events

    at the Centers of Light:

    Ann Arbor: 743.864.2017

    Boson: 617.990.7411

    Charlote: 704.526.8301

    Chicago: 312.623.4418

    Denver: 303.913.7053

    Dolores: 970.882.2123

    Durango: 970.882.2123

    Milwaukee: 414.248.7405

    Minneapolis: 612.205.5545

    New Haven: 203.785.9085

    New York: 347.884.1709

    Oakland: 510.207.6593

    Philadelphia: 215.421.7821

    Providence: 857 231 1920

    Seatle: 206 525 8488

    Copyrigh 2011 by he Order o Chris

    Sophia. All righs reserved. Facsimile

    reproducion, including phoocopy or

    xerographic reproducion, is sricly

    prohibied under copyrigh laws.

    The Centers of Light are Mystical Christian schools and

    communities dedicated to consciousness, spiritual growth, and

    empowerment. Much like the spiritual communities that mystics

    such as St. Francis of Assisi and Paramahansa Yogananda

    created, the Centers of Light are shining, warm places for people

    searching for inner truth, meaning, and direct relationship with

    God. In each of our 13 Centers across the country, we teach,share, and cultivate spirituality through sacraments, meditation,

    seminars, classes, and practical instruction in order to bring

    people into real, deep experiences of God.

    Centers ofLight

    It is not enough for us to say:

    I love God, but I do not love my neighbor.

    Saint John says that you are a liar if you love God

    and you dont love your neighbor.

    How can you love God whom you do not see,

    if you do not love your neighbor whom you see,

    whom you touch, with whom you live?

    And so this is very important for us to realize,

    that love, to be true, has to hurt.

    - Mo t, nobl Pz ccpc pc, 1979

    CentersOfLight.Org

  • 8/6/2019 The Light - 2011 Summer Edition - CentersofLight.org

    3/16AskFatherPeter.com

    Easterntc y w d o kll o, d o d ubdu clly.

    no ll e c xp wy,

    bu mo pk o o b

    dco d obcl o u pul

    dlopm. t m o o

    mll l w ll o coc, ud,

    opo d d. t o p o

    ou cocou md p

    o oul ml body x

    m d pc. W colloqul wod

    o lp u xpl bo uc

    wod o p w po c

    lk y mo mpo po

    wol wold. W y omo

    b o w ud o o b

    mo mpo yo l. W cll

    po ocl w y dply

    o b b d mo mpo

    yo l.

    i W lu, w would y

    o l-p d poc

    p o ou md dm y

    d cuy. t o cuy ud

    o pyc job o do bu o

    u y-dd mod o cu

    pm d up ullc oud

    pycolocl cl. i bolocl

    , o w old c d

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    u l w ou ow po m

    d pc.

    t poblm o wll l

    w oud w d k cool

    muc pobly c. t o ll

    u c ol ll poblm d u

    y ou d o b lud. i

    pompouly poclm bly o cc

    l ou md o y ubjc d pull

    omo om o l u

    w o lmo y. i lk

    do jump up o popl ul

    d. i omm b popl w

    l xcpolly loy d ld pd. i w l o u , k

    o d o cool ll p o u. t

    mo pow w , mo k

    c cool y ou wold

    d w xpc po d

    dcoco om o popl.

    t o co kow l d

    o ou u d cooudd w

    l p. Fl ump

    k. Fl dp d mpl.

    eo co do y w l l

    xcp y o cu d woy ou

    md, o w wll ly o o

    o ol ou poblm. t o mu b

    coolld, o klld, bcu w

    dd o kow muc. W ould

    k bck cool o ou l, u

    ou l l o ud u d o

    oud cm o o. t o

    o quppd o ld, oly o ollow. t

    o mpo o o d wll

    oo d l o kp poo.

    t o cool k pd

    o kow d ubl o xpc u

    wdom. humly wll k o o

    o.

    Egot Obcl o

    tu spuly

    For over 25 year

    father Peter BOwe

    has devoted his life in service to Go

    as an ordained Priest and Maste

    Teacher. As Co-Director of the Orde

    of Christ Sophia, he teaches th

    ministers and guides the Cente

    of Light around the country. Know

    for his sense of humor, Father Pete

    is also an accomplished musicia

    and author who has compose

    twelve albums and four books abou

    Mystical Christian teachings. H

    holds a Masters and a Doctorat

    degree in Educational Psycholog

    Father Peter lives at the Center o

    Light, Chicag

  • 8/6/2019 The Light - 2011 Summer Edition - CentersofLight.org

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  • 8/6/2019 The Light - 2011 Summer Edition - CentersofLight.org

    5/16CentersOfLigh

    Hereyou are reading another article onspirituality. It is likely that this is neither the

    rst nor will it be the last. This time though, I

    want to invite you to go beyond just reading

    and step into an experience that is deeper

    than words. So take a ew moments to relax.

    Let your breathing slow down and deepen.

    Let the tension in your body dissolve and

    the worries o the day drit away. Relax. Now

    picture yoursel in a beautiul orest on a

    summer day. Notice the sweet smell o the

    air. Feel the warmth o the sun on your ace

    as sunlight streams through the treetops.

    Notice the green color o the leaves and

    that a gentle breeze is blowing. Listen to the

    sound o the rustling leaves. The breeze is

    subtle, almost imperceptible. Yet the leaves

    respond to its caress. There is a proound

    peace and stillness in the futtering. It is

    harmonious and beautiul. Be in the eeling

    o this harmony or a ew moments. Then you

    can read on.

    We have all seen and heard the movement

    o the wind in the trees. Even as observers

    we have been deeply moved by it. But what

    i it were possible to be more than vicarious

    admirers o this natural phenomenon? What

    i we could actually be like these leaves and

    be caressed by a breeze that is peace itsel?

    What i we could allow our souls to be moved

    by the touch o Gods love as it fows over us

    and through us? From the beginning o time,

    the longing o our hearts has driven us to

    seek such an experience. Over the centuries,

    this practice o seeking connection with

    God has acquired a name. We have called it

    meditation.

    Many Americans are beginning to practice

    meditation. Most modern meditation

    techniques emphasize relaxation and

    concentration, which are certainly helpul.

    But meditation can be much more than that.

    Meditation is meant to be about love.

    In order or meditation to take us into

    the realm o love, we must learn to drop

    deeply within ourselves deeper than ourbodies, thoughts and emotions. Below

    these supercialities, we will nd a place

    o stillness and simplicity that is much like

    the orest in our visualization. There, in the

    depths o our being, we can stretch orth the

    leaves o our senses and eel the movement

    o Gods presence. Gods love washes over

    us and we are moved by it. Gently rustling

    and swaying in peace, God pours through

    our hearts and minds, and we emerge romthis experience changed by it. Having been

    deeply loved, we nd ourselves alling in

    love with God. Sentiments o devotion grow

    in our hearts. We rejoice in Gods touch. Our

    rustling becomes a joyul reciprocation o the

    love we are receiving, and we futter with love

    or God. Eventually, love begins to dissolve

    our separateness, and we begin to move as

    one with God. Now we are truly meditating.

    In our initial attempts at meditation, when

    body, thought and emotion are undisciplined,

    it can eel unimaginable that such a place

    o stillness and love exists within. But with

    practice it becomes increasingly accessible.

    As you continue to practice meditation,

    remember that your destination is love.

    Strive to move beyond just relaxing. I you

    are simple and open, like the orest in the

    breeze, you may nd that having experiences

    o Gods love is easier than you think.

    REVEREND DAVI

    CORVINI began his traini

    with the Order of Christ Sophia

    December of 1999 and was ordain

    a Priest in April of 2003. Rev. Dav

    received a Bachelor of Science

    Psychology from the College

    William and Mary in 1997 and

    Medical Doctorate from SUNDownstate College of Medici

    in 2001. He now works for

    Anthony Hospital in Warwick, N

    as an emergency physician and

    internist. Rev. David served at t

    New Haven Center of Light fo

    years, ministering to the commun

    and the mens Novice progra

    there. In January of 2008, he a

    his wife Rev Monica moved

    Brooklyns Park Slope to begin t

    New York Center of Light whi

    they co-direct. In March of 2011, t

    New York Center of Light relocat

    to Warwick, NY. In addition

    serving at the Center of Light

    New York, Rev David works w

    children and teens across t

    country as a Youth Minister and al

    with students in various countr

    through the Centers of Light Onli

    International progra

    Meditationio rlm o Lo

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    The Power of Truthby Mo Cl W

    Respector truth seems to be at an all-timelow. What is truth? Pontius Pilate cynically

    asked Jesus 2,000 years ago. This rhetorical

    question came in response to Jesus stating

    that he had come into the world to bear

    witness to the truth and that everyone who

    is o the truth will hear his voice. Truth has

    in act been disrespected throughout history,

    with disrespect peaking to outrageous

    proportions at various intervals.

    I do see such a peak o disrespect or truth

    happening at this time throughout our

    country and throughout much o the world.

    Our government blatantly lies to us, without

    suering any consequences, even i theirlies lead us into wars that kill a hundred

    thousand people. Our elected ocials

    reely say whatever will get them elected,

    and there seems to be no accountability or

    misleading the people and or actions taken

    purely or personal gain, rather than or the

    wellbeing o their constituency. Our nancial

    establishments lie to gain obscene amounts

    o money or the ew while sending hundreds

    o thousands o people into nancial distress,losing their homes and jobs and dying rom

    lack o health care. The only consequence

    o their lying is that they received higher

    bonuses the next year than ever beore. And

    lying in relationships is now more common

    than not, and very ew people seem to eel

    obligated to ollow through with what they

    give commitments to.

    The reasoning or all o this seems to be:

    Truth is subjective and changes rom mome

    to moment. So why be stuck to something th

    you committed to a while back? Everything

    changes, so you should not have to be held t

    what you said previously. You should be ree

    to go with the fow.

    Is truth simply a subjective and momentary

    take on a matter or situation, or is there mo

    to what truth is or can be? When you listen

    people, do you ever hear something in their

    words that sounds like more than a tempora

    point o view? Perhaps no one among your

    acquaintances actually has a sense or truth

    or a dedication to nding it, speaking it and

    living it. Now consider Jesus words: I was

    born and came into the world to bear witnes

    to the truth. Does that sound like he was

    speaking o something subjective, somethin

    constantly changing, open to anyones

    interpretation? Surely not. Then what is the

    truth that is objective, that always holds tru

    and applies to everyone? These questions

    have been the driving orce o seekers o tru

    throughout the ages.

    On a small scale, everyone can experience

    the power o simply telling the truth in all

    aspects o their lives. When you always stat

    what is true or you to the best o your abilit

    to discern it, and you are dedicated to being

    true to your word and ollowing through wit

    what you committed to, you will begin to

    experience clarity and reedom in your hear

    MOTHER CLARE WATTS

    is a mystic, ordained Priest, Master

    Teacher, and Co-Director of the

    Order of Christ Sophia. She has

    her Masters Degree in Counseling

    Psychology and practiced as a

    Jungian-trained psychotherapist.

    Continually drawing from her

    education and her experience,

    including 17 years working as

    a professional midwife, Mother

    Clare has garnered a reputation for

    her clarity of vision. She lectures

    nationally on Mystical Christianity.

    She has four grown children and

    lives in Dolores, Colorado where she

    oversees the the efforts

    to expand and grow the

    Sophia Peace Center.

  • 8/6/2019 The Light - 2011 Summer Edition - CentersofLight.org

    7/16AskMotherClare .com

    and mind. You dont have to be araid o orgetting who you told what,

    because you tell everyone the same truth. Your conscience is ree o

    guilt about lies and deceits because you no longer make those errors.

    And you develop a certain knowing about living in truth, a knowing

    that you discover is the best and reest way to live, and you nd that

    you never would want to live otherwise. When you surround yoursel

    with other people who are also dedicated to learning and speaking the

    truth, you steer clear o many o the causes o heartbreak and miserycoming rom relationship with others.

    On a much larger scale is the pursuit o absolute truth. These truths

    are unassailable and beyond debate. People still can and do debate

    them, but when they do they are missing the point. Your conscious

    mind will never understand these great truths. They are beyond

    reason, beyond circumstance and time. Only by meditation and

    contemplation can you access them. For example, one o those truths

    is that God is love. I you engage that statement intellectually, you

    could think o numerous instances in which it seems like God would

    have done dierently i God was, in act, love. But such arguments are

    inane and useless. Instead, i you go into meditation and contemplate

    the great truth that God is love, you will have the opportunity to

    come to know that this is true, beyond any knowledge your head

    could have acquired. You will eel the truth o it, and it will expand

    your consciousness and potentially change your lie. That, then, is an

    example o the power o truth.

    How would you know what a great truth is? You can learn to meditat

    and contemplate, and then you can take such teachings into your

    inner being and nd out what power they hold. With Jesus, Mary,

    Buddha, Rumi, Lao Tzu, the teachings o Solomon and the writings o

    the great mystics o all traditions, you can start by assuming what t

    say most likely holds great truth. Then take one teaching at a time,

    go into your inner chamber, and hold that truth in the light o Chris

    Ask God within to show you the meaning, to open up your heart andmind to a higher wisdom and understanding. Stay patient and still

    and allow the teachings to unold within you. When a truth is reveal

    to you, treasure it. Write it down and hold it in your heart or days.

    Contemplate it during your days and let it continue to unold in you

    during the nights.

    When you decide to live a lie o speaking truth and going within to

    seek out truth, you will experience its transormative power. Try it.

    The blessings o truth are available to you i you want to nd out or

    yoursel how truth can transorm your lie and can be the power tha

    sets you ree.

  • 8/6/2019 The Light - 2011 Summer Edition - CentersofLight.org

    8/16CentersOfLight.org

    CLassesintrOduCtiOn tO meditatiOn &

    Christian mystiCism

    Udd lw o u y, wc

    wy C o L o x o xplo

    oudo o C Mycm. Op o ll,

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    Mycm.

    tree Of Life

    t t o L lo w o pupo

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    uc W l?, W lo?, o W

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    serviCessunday serviCe

    Open to All Followed by Brunch

    no you sudy sc! expc p mo ou

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    evening Prayers

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    d o. Commuy mmb om C o L com

    o o k god, Ju d My o bl o dy

    d o o o ud d k. Jo u pd

    l o wold w om o joyul doo.

    CentersOfLight.org

  • 8/6/2019 The Light - 2011 Summer Edition - CentersofLight.org

    9/16CentersOfLigh

    seMinarsCOnsCiOus mOvie nights

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    CentersOfLigh

  • 8/6/2019 The Light - 2011 Summer Edition - CentersofLight.org

    10/16

    0

    CentersOfLight.org0

    CentersOfLight.org

    to our years ago this

    month, and I met Mother Clare Watts

    or the rst time. I was in Seattle visiting

    my mom and she invited me to meet her

    teacher and her spiritual community at

    the Center o Light. I had no inclination

    toward Christianity, and it was solely a

    visit to satisy my curiosity o What is

    mom doing now? Or so I thought.

    Though I was conscious that my lie was

    miserable and in pieces on the foor o

    my unky and pretty depressing home in

    Berkeley, Caliornia, I didnt know how

    radically dierent lie could be. I had

    experienced my moms transormation

    o being more peaceul and loving, and

    I liked what I heard about having a

    teacher who taught you personally how

    to grow, change and love. But at most, I

    thought these Christians might only be

    able to link me with some other people

    doing similar spiritual work. To be

    honest, I hoped it would be more exotic

    like Hinduism, Buddhism or anything

    with colorul abric and lots o singing.

    I had read Paramahansa Yoganandas

    Autobiography o a Yogi and was moved

    by the spiritual experiences he had in his

    relationship with his teacher. I gured

    this wasnt possible because I lived in

    the USA, and he was Yogananda ater

    all. At the time, I had my yoga practice

    and reread many Buddhist teachings,

    I was planning to travel my whole lie,

    I smoked a lot o pot and elt happiest

    when I had a good meal and watched

    the sunset. This was as much peace as I

    could create at that time. I had no idea

    another way was possible and especially

    not or me.

    Within the rst hour o meeting the

    community and starting the seminar in

    Seattle, I could eel lie moving inside o

    me and a door opening that I couldnt

    identiy. I was inspired. I saw and elt

    something beore me that I wanted

    desperately and I was nervous about

    showing and admitting this. I was drawn

    to Jesus and Mother Mary as real living

    teachers and wondered i they would

    take me, too. I saw truly empowered

    women beore me who werent ghting

    eminists or topless goddesses, like

    examples in my hippy childhood who I

    took to be strong.

    I asked my most pressing questions that

    nobody had ever been able to answer

    beore about our souls, our purpose

    and what happens when we die. Mother

    Clare answered my questions rom her

    own knowing, and I elt that. I wanted to

    know the truth like she did, in such a way

    that I could nally be at peace inside o

    mysel and eventually oer that solace to

    others. I was convinced on many levels

    at this point but wouldnt admit that out

    o ear that my boyriend, my dad and

    many riends would make un o me and

    blow me o.

    What prevailed was my desire to be

    honest, pure and loving, and to grow in

    Life

    asa

    Novice:

    In

    TheirOwn

    Words

    a dynamic and measurable way. Once I knew

    this was possible, I couldnt stop thinking

    about it. I wanted more o the experiences I

    elt while I was at the Center and knew there

    was more or me. I joined the community

    in Oakland the next month and have been

    a spiritual student ever since. I have made

    many sacrices o what I wanted or myseland my amily, and my teachers have lovingl

    taught me at each step. I have endured the

    ridicule by some old riends and amily as I

    eared and came away rom it more secure

    in my commitment and clear in what kind

    o relationships I want. My boyriend and I

    separated a while later, and though it was

    dicult or me to let that go, I came to know

    how important it is or me to choose this lie

    or mysel and not what somebody else want

    or me.

    When the question o joining the novice

    program came up, I was nervous about this

    big lie change but knew this is what I had

    wanted since I was young. I always considere

    being a nun or a monk, I was ascinated by

    monasteries but knew the traditional route

    wasnt or me. I knew I wanted to stay in the

    world as a participant but also elt a pull to

    submerge in devotion, and the novice progra

    oered just this: a committed spiritual lie wtraining alongside o daily duties, jobs, scho

    and relationships. I knew it was an ultimate

    challenge and would push me to grow much

    aster.

    I elt very much at home at the Center and

    blessed to be invited to live there and to

    deepen in my relationship to God there. The

    are no words to describe how much I have

    received and how much I value my lie now.

    Not only have I ound meaning, but I have

    ound an entire amily who cares to love eac

    other out o purity and continue to grow in

    this perection together. I am thankul to

    God, to Jesus and Mother Mary, to our Mast

    Teachers, and to my teacher Rev Rachel who

    I get to live with and learn rom every single

    day. It is so generous that we get to live with

    our teachers, so generous it is hard to believ

    ~ Gloria, Oakland

    Flash back

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    Our spiritual community is a

    lace where real, meaningful

    onversation can happen,

    hanks to the high level of

    ntegrity and honesty in

    very relationship. Spiritual

    ommunity gives us the

    pportunity to learn, grow

    nd support each other in our

    ndividual journeys to God, no

    matter how young or old you

    re, whether you are single or

    married, with children or not.

    Activities such as camping

    rips, movie nights, picnics

    nd cookouts make spiritual

    ommunity at the Centers of

    ight an even more dynamic

    nd vibrant part of life.

    SpiritualCommunity

    CentersOfLigh

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    The Order o Mercy, oten reerred to as the

    OM, started its mission o service visiting

    the elderly and cleaning up neighborhoods

    our years ago. Women and men o all ages

    take vows o service to become Sisters and

    Brothers and are inormally called OMers.

    Many members start their training with

    the Centers o Light and ater a couple o

    years want to give back and serve their

    communities. Giving to our communities is

    a way to bring peace into the world. It also

    creates a bond between those serving in this

    way. It is truly amazing that with just a little

    bit o love and caring, so much can grow.

    Each little seed o love that is given through

    a simple smile, holding o a hand or saying

    a prayer together or cleaning up a street in a

    neighborhood has the potential o growing

    exponentially.

    The OM provides people with the

    opportunity to give to elderly who do not

    have anyone at the end o their lives. OMers

    visit local nursing homes and nd those

    who are alone and without amily. O these,

    many have survived their amilies or there

    has been a confict that has ostracized

    them rom their children or other relatives.

    These visits are intended to provide comort

    and love, and range rom holding hands,

    singing hymns, praying, reading rom the

    Bible or The Poem of the Man God to simply

    listening to their story, guiding them and

    reminding them that they are loved and

    can orgive and be orgiven. The simplicity

    o giving in this way changes the lives o

    both the elderly and the OMers. Members

    o the OM share many stories about the

    hope and love in these relationships, and

    how it changes their own relationships with

    the people they live with and how it brings

    more peace to themselves.

    Cleaning the streets is another way the

    OM gives back. OMers organize both

    their spiritual communities and the

    general public to join orces to clean up

    the streets in their cities and towns. Being

    a part o these cleanups allows everyone

    to experience the git o giving to these

    parts o the cities that are ignored. When

    the OMers are out cleaning the streets, it

    creates a contagious enthusiasm: people

    want to start helping, stores contribute

    drinks, cars honk as they go by in

    support. We have also seen how once a

    neighborhood or street has been cleaned,

    people tend to maintain the area and keep

    it clean.

    The OMers not only give their time in the

    world serving the elderly and neighborhoo

    but also serve the world in a much deeper

    way through their prayer work. OMers pray

    the rosary each week on a specic topic an

    are called to pray or other topics that need

    consciousness and change. Prayer is the

    power behind the OM. The strength o the

    OM grows as members come together in

    one mind and heart in prayer.

    What is most joyul about the Order o

    Mercy is that in the simple and loving way

    each member gives to prayer, the elderly

    or the neighborhood, they grow in their

    relationship with God and are bringing

    more peace and love to this earth.

    Bringing Peace Through the Order of Mercy

    2

    CentersOfLight.org

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    summm ll bou clbo o l bu o om . all l w umm dp oo, d buy w po o dp lo b buld ud uc o mymo. t wy o y cocd o u buy o umm o m coco fc ll ou buy. h ow:

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    Ten Ways to Grow SpirituallythisSummer

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    See our Schedule of Events on pages 8 and 9 for allClasses, Seminars, Services, and Community gatherings.

    Sign up for a free 6-week introductory series:Introduction to Meditation and Christian Mysticism.

    Gather with us on Sunday for a half hour ofmeditation followed by singing, a sermon, and HolyCommunion.

    Join us for our monthly seminars to meet our Teachersand Priests.

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    PREPARING FOR UNION WITH GOD

    Healing the Split in the Psyche

    July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25, 2011

    Please contact Rev. Gabrielle Fisher for registration information

    312-623-4418 [email protected]

    Why are there so many advertisements

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