PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
The 2013 Annual Convocation of the International Community of Cosolargy and the Annual Conference on the Spiritual State of the World started, as usual, with the registration and greeting of new students and Consociates scheduled to take residence training. All met on Monday October 1 at 8:30 a.m. at the Chancellery. Monday and Tuesday were dedicated to training in Color and Sacred Imagery.
Preparing for Sunrise Service PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Sunrise Service greeting line PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
In a departure from recent past Convocations, the plenary sessions began Wednesday morning October 3 with a Sunrise Divine Service held at the Red Rock Consecrated Sanctuary’s Church of New Epiphany. The service was followed with a fellowship breakfast at the Sanctuary Chapterhouse.
Bishop Gene Savoy Jr. delivers report to General Assembly. PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
On Wednesday afternoon, all Consociates met at the Chancellery for official registration and orientation and a General Assembly. The latter featured a report by Head Bishop Gene Savoy Jr. on The Community’s efforts over the past year, including winning an important concession from the State of Nevada regarding water rights at Red Rock Consecrated Sanctuary and a $68,000 grant to develop solar power production at Steamboat Hotsprings Healing Center and Priory.
Carol Vickers of Empower Consulting Group PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
The Bishop then turned over the presentation to Carol Vickers and Liz Christoffersen of Empower Consulting Group. Ms. Vickers and Christoffersen have been consulting with The Community on outreach and development strategies for the past year and a half.
Liz Christoffersen of Empoer Consulting Group PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
They explained their work with The Community over that time, which has culminated so far in the production of an online introductory course on Cosolargy. The course will provide some history of American solar cultures as well as a few introductory techniques for working with the divine energies now coming through the sun. The course’s launch date is expected to be this fall.
Sean Savoy provides details on how “Cosolargy online” fits into future plans for development.
PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Whiteboard outlines facets of the big picture for development of Cosolargy International.
PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
On Thursday morning, Convocation attendees met at the Chancellery and then caravaned up to Lake Tahoe to the Episcopal Church ‘s Camp Galilee. In a conference hall overlooking the blue waters of the lake, Dr. Gary Buchanan delivered a talk on solar culture among the North American native tribes, including those in the area around Lake Tahoe, which has always been a sacred site among the natives.
Gary Buchanan presentson solar cultures of the Sierras and North America. PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Dr. Buchanan’s illuminating lecture was followed by an entertaining presentation by local tour guide, historian, and lecturer Joseph Galata. Mr. Galata regaled his listeners with stories of local historical events and humorous anecdotes.
Tour guide Joseph Galata delivers entertaining presentation on local history. PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Attendees were then served a wonderful lunch by camp volunteers in the camp refectory. All food was locally grown and organic and the service was warm and welcoming.
After lunch another brief presentation by Mr. Galata was given in the camp chapel, with its large picture window looking out onto the lake. After that, the attendees again caravaned down the mountain, through the Nevada capital of Carson City and up another mountain to the historic mining town of Virginia City. Once the most prominent town in Nevada during the mining of the famed Comstock Lode silver mine, it is now a popular tourist attraction, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors. After a brief account by Mr. Galata of some local lore in front of the oldest church in Nevada, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, attendees were free to roam around the gift shops and famed saloons of Virginia City before being shuttled down the mountain to nearby Steamboat Hot Springs Spa and Healing Center, which is owned and operated by the ICC.
Robert Anderson and Francine Petrovich on their way to downtown Virginia
In the Center’s conference/classroom after a wine and cheese reception, attendees were given a historical account of Steamboat Hot Springs and its healing waters, spas, hotels, and athletic training facilities that have come and gone over the decades since the Civil War by ICC canon and Steamboat Priory resident Rebecca Willis. The very enjoyable day came to a close with tours of the spa and healing center and relaxing soaks in the famous waters for those who wished them, before being returned to their hotel.
Joseph Roy and Kendra Grady “communing” during Saturday Communion Service PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Friday began with a Community Communion Service at the Chapel of the Holy Child in downtown Reno. This service is usually conducted on Saturday mornings but was rescheduled this week due to the Conference on the Spiritual State of the World on Saturday (see below).
After the service and a break for refreshments in the chapel vestibule, the Consociates reconvened in chapel for three ordinations of Consociates by Bishop Gene Savoy. Receiving first-level ordination into The Community were Japanese Consociates Shoko Taketomi and Nami Aiki, followed by the third-level ordination of the Reverend Deacon Robert Anderson to the Order of Presbyter.
The ordained (from left to right): Shoko Taketomi, Robert Anderson, and Nami Aiki PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Following the ordinations Bishop Savoy delivered the Clergy Counsels lecture to the assembly in the Chapel of the Holy Child.
Bishop Gene Savoy Jr delivering Counsels lecture PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
His talk included some considered changes in the externals of The Church to bring it more in line with its unique role as a universal religion; e.g., a change in clerical garb. The Assembly of Cosolargy then voted to accept and proceed with the direction in which The Community is heading as reported by the Bishop.
Following the Counsels lecture was another residence training session on liturgical practice for those who had not yet had this training.
Friday evening saw the inauguration of the Annual State of the World Conference with a welcome reception and buffet at the Rectory-Abbey on Carmel (the Bishop’s residence). Conference speakers and attendees were invited. The buffet was prepared and presented by the Rev. Francine Petrovich and her kitchen crew and was, as always, a culinary delight.
Welcome reception buffet held at Rectory-Abbey PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Saturday morning all met at a conference hall at the University of Nevada–Reno’s Joe Crowley Student Union for presentations by the featured speakers at the Annual Conference on the Spiritual State of the World, titled “Awaken Your Light.” Speakers, including Dr. James Oschmann, Dr. Karl Maret, Dr. Stephan Fuelling, Dr. Gary Buchanan, Yukinori Matsushita, Robert Roy, Sean Savoy, and Jim Eaglesmith, presented from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. with a lunch break, ending the day’s activities with a roundtable discussion with questions and answers from the audience for the speakers.
Moderator Francine Petrovich opens the 2013 conference on the spiritual state of the world. PHOTO: Stephan Fuellling
The conference continued the next morning with a concelebrated Sunday Sunrise Divine Service at the Cathedral Church of the Americas at Red Rock Consecrated Sanctuary.
Members of the Reno Buddhist Center prepare to perform morning song of Amitabha Buddha. PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Afterward, a sumptuous breakfast buffet was enjoyed by all at the outdoor Refectory near the Cathedral Church, prepared by the Revs. Peter and Mary Foust and helpers.
Breakfast served at Sanctuary refectory. PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
The final conference event was a presentation by Head Bishop Gene Savoy Jr. at the Monastery Gardens Ambo on Cosolargy, including an experience of the Universal Harmony technique with the sun. Informal tours and excursions in the South Sanctuary followed the official closing of the conference.
Reverend Canon Roger Weld performing open-air Communion Service during Convocation week PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
In the afternoon all conference attendees and presenters were invited to attend the annual Open House at Steamboat Hot Springs Spa and Healing Center, which included a health expo, exhibit and food booths, and, of course, demonstrations of the many healing modalities offered at Steamboat.
Many favorable comments on this year’s Convocation have been received, and it is The Community’s fervent hope that all Consociates will make it a priority to attend future such assemblies, as the blessings are bountiful. See you next fall in Reno!
By Robert Anderson
PHOTO: Stephan Fuellingt
