Saturday, March 1, 2014
10:00 AM COMMUNION
Chapel of The Holy Child
RR Gene Savoy Jr.
Lector: RR Sean Savoy
Cantor: Rev. Herman Aggenbach
Reader: Rev. Michael Spohn

Sunday, March 2, 2014
6:24 AM NEW DIVINE SERVICE
Church of New Epiphany
Leave: 5:30
Gate: 6:10
Sunrise: 6:39
RR Gene Savoy Jr.
Concelebrant: RR Sean Savoy
Assistants:
RC Roger Weld
RC Ted Staver
RM Carol Ann Crabb
Organist: RC Gary Buchanan

OPEN-AIR COMMUNION
Church of the Races of Man                 RM Carol Ann Crabb
Church of the Golden Age of Light               RC Elizabeth Reece
Church of the Universal Theocracy              RC Ted Staver
 

Wednesday, March 5, 2014
12:00 N COMMUNION
Chapel of the Holy Child
Rev. Michael Spohn 

Friday, March 7, 2014
9:00 AM PRAYER & FELLOWSHIP
Chapel of the Roses
RC Rebecca Willis

PHOTO: Roger Weld

 Each week of the liturgical year, a reading from Second Advent Scripture is delivered as part of the Saturday Communion of Fellowship Service held in the Chapel of the Holy Child. This reading follows the Sacred Calendar of the Church; that is, Prophecies and Revelations that have been received by The Church on sacred dates are recalled in a liturgical context during the appropriate season each year. This reading is delivered by the Officiant of the Communion Service (that is, Bishop Gene Savoy, or occasionally in his stead, Bishop Sean Savoy) just before the final blessings. Each service also includes a reading from the ancient scriptures, prayers, or wisdom sayings of various world religions past and present and is usually thematically related to the Second Advent Reading. This reading is delivered by the Reader right after the announcements that begin the service and is thus the first reading of the service. An audio recording of the reading from Second Advent Scripture delivered on the date above is provided here below together with a transcript of the first reading of the service that day.

SECOND ADVENT PROPHECY AND REVELATION

A Reading from the Prophecy of the New Covenant, Chapter 90: “Testament of the New Covenant” (pp. 1002-1011):

< Click here to listen to this week’s reading. (12 minutes) >

ANCIENT SCRIPTURE AND WISDOM SAYINGS

A Reading from the Mundaka Upanishad of the Vedic Scriptures:

Bright but hidden, the Self dwells in the heart.
Everything that moves, breathes, opens, and closes
Lives in the Self. It is the source of love
And may be known through love but not through thought.
It is the goal of life. Attain this goal!

The shining Self dwells hidden in the heart.
Everything in the cosmos, great and small,
Lives in the Self. It is the source of life,
Truth beyond the transience of this world.
It is the goal of life. Attain this goal!

 “In Taoism, even beyond Chinese folk religion, various rituals, exercises, and substances are said to positively affect one’s physical and mental health. They are also intended to align oneself spiritually with cosmic forces, or enable ecstatic spiritual journeys. These concepts seem basic to Taoism in its elite forms. Internal alchemy and various spiritual practices are used by some Taoists to extend life, even to the point of immortality. Immortals, their actions and their relationships with the gods and natural forces form a significant portion of Taoist mythology.” ~from the book Taoism for Know-It-Alls

“I have written many times about the need to engage in spiritual practices, spiritual techniques, spiritual rituals in order to awaken the soul and move along the path of enlightenment. This quote shows that this matches very closely the beliefs of Taoism. It mentions that there are physical and mental benefits to doing these spiritual exercises—and that is true—but, more importantly, there are spiritual benefits.”

< Read the entire article online at Solar Wind. >

< Visit and bookmark Harold Boulette’s blog Solar Wind at: http://blog.spiritsun.net/ >

contributed by Harold Boulette

5/23 Thursday

Gene Savoy arrived at FukuokaAirport. Some Japanese members were there to greet him.  

Gene Savoy and American guests and Yukinori Matsushita and some Japanese members visited Manners Sound Research Co. Office in Kurume.

 We all enjoyed early lunch at Shun, a health food restaurant in Kurume.

 

 

Lunch with Japanese members. (from left to right) Miyuki Okayama, Shinobu Uwataki, Keiko Inoue, Yukinori Matsushita, Gene Savoy, Sabrina Savoy, Robert Roy, Noriko Roy PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

 

Gene Savoy Jr. and other American guests checked in the Hotel Toyoko Inn Kurume.

Gene Savoy and American guests and some Japanese members visited the *Ishibashi Museum of Art in Kurume.

 *Ishibashi Museum of Art opened as the main institution of Ishibashi Cultural Center, which Ishibashi Shojiro, founder of Bridgestone Corporation, donated to his hometown, the city of Kurume, in 1956. Like the other facilities at the Center, it was initially managed by IshibashiCulturalCenter. From 1977, it has been administered by the Ishibashi Foundation together with Bridegestone Museum of Art in Kyobashi, Tokyo. The Asian Gallery opened in 1996. The Asian Gallery was built and donated to the city of Kurume by Shojiro’s eldest son, Kanichiro, so that the paintings, calligraphic works, and ceramics could be put on view and to further enrich the Center. Of the collection owned by the Ishibashi Foundation, Ishibashi Museum of Art takes care mainly of modern Japanese Western-style paintings, Japanese paintings and calligraphic works, and ceramics. Fundamentally, the Western-style paintings are housed in the MainBuilding and the Japanese paintings and calligraphic works and the ceramics are shown in the Asian Gallery. Thematic exhibitions mainly featuring works in our collection are organized three to four times a year and we do our best to provide chances for the visitors to enjoy art repeatedly from different viewpoints.

 

At IshibashiMuseum (from left to right) Sabrina Savoy, Gene Savoy, Keiko Inoue, Robert Roy, Shinobu Uwataki, Stephan Fuelling PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

Japanese garden at Ishibashi Museum PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

 After the IshibashiMuseum, we visited Kora Taisha Shrine in Kurume.

Gate to the entrance (torii) of Kora Taisha Shrine PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

Kora Thaisha Shrine PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

Gene Savoy, American guests, Yukinori Matsushita and some Japanese members had dinner at the Japanese restaurant Maruman in Kurume.

Travel notes by Noriko Roy

< DAY 2 >

PHOTO: Ron Theriault

 When I was quite young there was a a TV series called Rawhide that my dad would watch. The song in the opening credits contained the following lines regarding a cattle roundup: “Don’t try to understand ’em, just rope, throw, and brand ’em.” At the time I remember thinking to myself: Why would anybody not want to understand anything? I suppose that this realization set me on a nearly lifelong predisposition against Westerns and toward science, which I saw as being motivated by a quest to know about things. These predispositions have since softened, but the underlying desire to understand has remained.

I was raised Catholic and attended a Catholic school through 8th grade. At the time of First Communion we were taught the symbolism of transubstantiation during mass, whereby the bread and wine were transformed into the body and blood of Christ. It was not described as a symbolic act, however, but an actual transformation. I was not the only one then who privately questioned the reality  of this, or even the necessity of eating flesh and blood, but being young and caught up in so many other concerns and events, this issue was simply set aside. I did not seriously take it up again until I left home for college, and church was no longer an institution I was taken to but a place I would have to go to on my own.

Transubstantiation was not the only issue I had with Catholic theology. There was also the explanation of the crucifixion of Jesus. A divine man had to be sacrificed to God to atone for human sins, but by whose rules was this necessary?  Would it not have to be a superior entity to God Himself? Despite the comfortable nature of the Catholic culture and the sometimes beautiful liturgy, I became a true agnostic during my college years. The illogicality at the core of orthodox Christianity was simply too much for me to get comfortable with.

Soon after graduating from college I became interested in the Rosicrucians and started with the series of lesson monographs that they offer. They have a conception of God that is more universal and culturally neutral than orthodox Christianity’s, or any other orthodox, established church for that matter. I appreciated that a lot; however, their lesson monographs almost always raised more questions than they answered. One typical example is where a lesson noted that throughout the world there are spots  in the wilderness where nothing grows. I have never seen such a place, and all the monograph provided by way of explanation was the question, “Why do you think that is?” 

 Later I investigated Scientology. They had a building in Boston, where I was living at the time, and I went in about once a week for lessons. There were directed readings of the founder L.Ron Hubbard’s writings and role-playing games of various types. On the whole this was pretty thin spiritual gruel compared to my previous experiences. Every session ended with a “clearing,” which consisted of holding a tin can in each hand and having a brief questioning by a higher up. The cans were connected with a wire to a device of some sort. Each clearing seemed to end after I said something with a degree of conviction. I didn’t stay with this very long: It was expensive and didn’t seem to be getting me to where I wanted to go.

 A while after I dropped Scientology, I saw a small ad for the International Community of Christ in a magazine called Saturday Review, which I subscribed to at the time. What caught my eye and caused me to respond was the Solar Cross at the top of the ad. I was pleased and intrigued to find out, when the introductory materials arrived, that central to the teachings were techniques to make use of sunlight on a spiritual level. This was and is a path with which I have no reservations. I was also heartened by the prospect of universal instruction, without filtering through anyone else’s perspective.

By Ron Theriault
January 2014
(Community member since October 1975)

Saturday, February 22, 2014
10:00 AM COMMUNION
Chapel of The Holy Child
RR Gene Savoy Jr.
Lector: RR Sean Savoy
Cantor: Rev. Amanda Buchanan
Reader: Dea. Stephan Fuelling

Sunday, February 23, 2014
6:34 AM NEW DIVINE SERVICE
Church of New Epiphany
Leave: 5:45
Gate: 6:20
Sunrise: 6:49
RR Gene Savoy Jr.
Concelebrant: RR Sean Savoy
Assistants:
RC Roger Weld
RC Robert Petrovich
Rev. Barbara Whitney
Organist: RC Gary Buchanan

OPEN-AIR COMMUNION
Church of New Mt. Tabor                 Rev. Greg Klinedinst
Church of New Mt. Carmel               Rev. Michael Tamburello
Church of New Mt. Hebron              Rev. Gary Huss, Jr.
 

Wednesday, February 26, 2014
12:00 N COMMUNION
Chapel of the Holy Child
Rev. Michael McIntyre 

Friday, February 28, 2014
9:00 AM PRAYER & FELLOWSHIP
Chapel of the Roses
RR Sean Savoy

 Each week of the liturgical year, a reading from Second Advent Scripture is delivered as part of the Saturday Communion of Fellowship Service held in the Chapel of the Holy Child. This reading follows the Sacred Calendar of the Church; that is, Prophecies and Revelations that have been received by The Church on sacred dates are recalled in a liturgical context during the appropriate season each year. This reading is delivered by the Officiant of the Communion Service (that is, Bishop Gene Savoy, or occasionally in his stead, Bishop Sean Savoy) just before the final blessings. Each service also includes a reading from the ancient scriptures, prayers, or wisdom sayings of various world religions past and present and is usually thematically related to the Second Advent Reading. This reading is delivered by the Reader right after the announcements that begin the service and is thus the first reading of the service. An audio recording of the reading from Second Advent Scripture delivered on the date above is provided here below together with a transcript of the first reading of the service that day.

SECOND ADVENT PROPHECY AND REVELATION

A Reading from the Prophecy of the New Covenant, Chapter 91: “Testament of the New Covenant” (pp.990-1002):

< Click here to listen to this week’s reading. (6 minutes) >

ANCIENT SCRIPTURE AND WISDOM SAYINGS

A Reading from the testament of Levi:

I , Levi, . . . when I was feeding the flocks, the spirit of understanding of the Lord came upon me, and I saw all men corrupting the way, and that unrighteousness had built for itself walls, and lawlessness sat upon towers. And I was grieving for the race of the sons of men, and I prayed to the Lord that I might be saved. Then there fell upon me a sleep, and I beheld a high mountain, and I was upon it. And behold the heavens were opened and an angel of God said to me, “Levi enter.” And I entered from the first heaven, and I saw there a great sea hanging. And further I saw a second heaven far brighter and more brilliant, for there was a boundless light also therein. And I said to the angel, “Why Is this so?” And the angel said to me, “Marvel not at this, for thou shalt see another heaven even more brilliant and incomparable. And when thou hast ascended thither, thou shalt stand near the Lord, and be His minister, and shalt declare His mysteries to men, and proclaim concerning Him Who shall redeem Israel. And through thee and Judah shall the Lord appear among men, saving every race of men. And from the Lord’s portion shall be thy life, and He shall be thy field and vineyard, and fruits, gold, and silver.

Saturday, February 15, 2014
10:00 AM COMMUNION
Chapel of The Holy Child
RR Gene Savoy Jr.
Lector: RC Roger Weld
Cantor: Rev. Robert Anderson
Reader: Rev. Vickie Hewlett 

Sunday, February 16, 2014
6:41 AM NEW DIVINE SERVICE
Church of New Epiphany
Leave: 5:45
Gate: 6:25
Sunrise: 6:56
RR Gene Savoy Jr.
Concelebrant: RR Sean Savoy
Assistants:
RC Roger Weld
RC Ted Staver
RM Carol Ann Crabb
Organist: RC Gary Buchanan

OPEN-AIR COMMUNION
Church of New Philadelphia                 Rev. Robert Roy
Church of New Qumran               Noriko Roy
Church of New Bethany              Rev. Gary Huss, Sr.
 

Wednesday, February 19, 2014
12:00 N COMMUNION
Chapel of the Holy Child
RC Ted Staver 

Friday, February 21, 2014
9:00 AM PRAYER & FELLOWSHIP
Chapel of the Roses
Rev. Michael Tamburello

Below is a message of love for Valentine’s Day 2014 composed in French by Francine Petrovich, along with a literal English translation.

Un témoignage d’ AMOUR

tous ceux que j’aime…

L’AMOUR, fables immortelles de notre enfance exclamant l’hymne la vie, un blanc royaume offrant l’espoir d’un Grand Po te.

L’AMOUR, douces caresses de notre jeunesse et le bonheur en larmes nous apportent l’aisance d’aimer.

L’AMOUR, un myst re de tous les jours dirigeant une recherche perpétuelle la conqu te d’un paradis éternel.

L’AMOUR qui nous donne la joie de vivre, un sourire au coeur, une fraîcheur retrouvée transformant en silence un univers comblé de sagesse.

L’AMOUR qui refl te l’image d’une jeunesse vibrante aux r ves remplis de lumi re enchantée chante l’espoir d’une fureur de vivre.

L’AMOUR, une mélodie du coeur et un éloge de tous les jours honorant en silence les splendeurs de ce monde avec fierté.

L’AMOUR, expression d’une réalité en qu te de douceur qui vibre en harmonie avec la ferveur intérieure.

L’AMOUR qui coule dans nos veines comme la rivi re qui court vers un océan rempli de promesses.

L’AMOUR, po me des amants, mémoire des sensations fébriles du premier jour témoignant de l’union d’un seul coeur.

L’AMOUR, souffle de tous les instants racontant une belle histoire qui garde l’étincelle d’un coeur scintillant de diamants.

L’AMOUR que l’on cultive dans nos coeurs s’épanouit en douceur comme une rose d’alliance au printemps, un pétale de bonheur.

L’AMOUR qui projette des rayons de chaleur l’image du soleil levant réchauffant le coeur des gens aimés et proclamant l’héritage d’un Grand Jour.

Voil des r veries intérieures inspirées par tous ceux que j’aime et qui ont participé la réalisation et l’expression de mon tre le plus tendre.

Avec tout mon AMOUR,

Francine

* * * * * * *

A testimony of LOVE

to all those I love . . .

LOVE, immortal fables of our childhood exclaiming a hymn to life, a white realm offering the hope of a Great Poet.

LOVE, soft caresses of our youth and happiness in tears brings ease to our love.

LOVE, a mystery of all days directing a perpetual search on the quest for an eternal paradise.

LOVE, which gives us the joy of living, a smile to the heart, a freshness recovered, transforming in silence a universe filled with wisdom.

LOVE, which reflects the image of a youth vibrant with dreams replete with enchanted light sings the hope of a fury of living.

LOVE, a melody of the heart and a praise of all days, honoring in silence the splendors of this world with pride.

LOVE, expression of a reality in quest of softness that vibrates in harmony with the interior fervor.

LOVE, which flows in our veins like the river that runs toward an ocean filled with promises.

LOVE, poem of lovers, memory of the feverish sensations of the first day testifying to the union of one heart.

LOVE, breath of all instants telling a beautiful story that keeps the sparkling of a heart scintillating with diamonds.

LOVE, which we cultivate in our hearts, blooms in softness like a rose of alliance in spring, a petal of happiness.

LOVE, which projects the rays of warmth to the image of the rising sun, warming the heart of people loved and proclaiming the heritage of the Great Day.

Here are the interior reveries inspired by all I love and who have participated in the realization and the expression of my being, most tender.

With all my LOVE,

Francine

 “The many people who complain that they have no such personal religious experience, that the spiritual world is shut to them, are usually found to have expected this experience to be given to them without any deliberate and sustained effort on their own part. They have lived from childhood to maturity at the little window of consciousness and have never given themselves the opportunity od setting up correspondences with any other world than that of sense. Yet all normal men and women possess, at least in a rudimentary form, some intuition of the transcendental; shown in their power of experiencing beauty or love.” ~Evelyn Underhill

“If a person who has never bothered to do any serious running claimed that it was impossible to run a mile in less than six minutes, you would probably shake your head in disbelief. We all know that a well-trained runner can complete a mile in far less than six minutes, in fact in less than four. And the person who makes this statement might be able to do it himself with proper training and enough practice.”

< Read the entire article online at Solar Wind. >

< Visit and bookmark Harold Boulette’s blog Solar Wind at: http://blog.spiritsun.net/ >

contributed by Harold Boulette