PHOTO: Roger Weld

Ms. Noriko Soejima and the Reverend Robert Roy were joined in matrimony at noon on May 19, 2012 at the Chapel of the Holy Child in Reno, Nevada. The officiating minister was the Right reverend Gene Savoy Jr. Best man was the Right Reverend Sean Savoy. Matron of Honor was Lee Ann Baum. Music was provided by the Reverend Canon Gary Buchanan. The entire resident congregation was invited to attend.

Best Man Sean Savoy handing ring to the groom, Robert Roy. To his right is his bride, Noriko Soejima. Behind and to the right of the bride is the Matron of Honor, Lee Ann Baum. PHOTO Roger Weld

Noriko Roy with her wedding bouquet. PHOTO: Roger Weld

Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the Rectory-Abbey on Carmel. The beautiful banquet was created by the Reverend Francine Petrovich. Music was provided from the collection of RR Gene and Radheka Savoy.

PHOTO: Sean Savoy

Noriko Roy is an artist and works in the field of aromatherapy massage. She has been a member of the Community in Japan and studied through the Cosolargy Institute of Japan since February 2010.

Rev. Robert Roy has been an active member of the Second Advent Church since 1978 and has been involved in the field of alternative healing since 1980.

Rev. Roy described their first meeting and the development of their relationship: “Noriko and I met on a bus tour of southern Japan in May 2011. Noriko introduced herself to me in French, which got my immediate attention. We sat together on the tour for almost two weeks and enjoyed each other’s company tremendously. Our relationship developed further with Noriko’s visit to Reno on two occasions and my return visit to Japan. We believe our marriage was divinely inspired.”

PHOTO: Sean Savoy

Sean and Gene at KOH Radio in 2011. PHOTO: Debbie McCarthy

Gene Savoy Jr., Head Bishop of the International Community of Christ and President of the Nevada Clergy Association, announced to the Northern Nevada interfaith community on April 3, 2012, that he and his brother, Sean Savoy, Chancellor of the Jamilian University, will be hosting a new radio program.

Gene and Sean Savoy have been hosting a local weekly radio program for the last several months called House of Savoy (99.1 FM Sunday 7:00 p.m.). Many of the interfaith community in Reno have been guests on this show, which discusses events and topics that are of interest to them and to the people of Northern Nevada. Gene said of the show, “We like to call it ‘conscious conversation.’”

Because the show has been quite successful, they have been invited to host another weekly radio program focusing on religion, faith, spirituality, and the interfaith work that they are part of. They are calling the show Higher Calling. The first show aired in Reno on Easter Sunday April 8, 2012 on 99.1 FM at 6:00 a.m. The topic is Passover, Easter, and their interconnection.

Gene extends a personal invitation to each of the members of the regional interfaith community to be a guest on this new show.

Steamboat Hotsprings Spa. PHOTO: Rebecca Willis

Come out to Steamboat Hot Springs May 12, 2012, to experience our healing therapies, chair massage, special classes, and more. We will be giving tours, serving refreshments, and giving away great prizes. From 11am until 4pm you can experience what makes Steamboat a special destination for healing and relaxation. And don’t miss a special musical drum circle performed by Jim Eaglesmith and a special demonstration of Tibetan crystal singing bowls by Lee Ann Baum.

For details and information call 775.853.6600 or visit our website at www.steamboatsprings.org

Woem's choir performs at Pannuches Meal. PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

Pannuches Meal Rite
The 69th Pannuches Meal Rite held Saturday, March 17, 2012. Jubilee Sunrise Service was held the following morning in Sanctuary.

Bishop Gene Savoy Jr and Reverend Mother Carol Ann Crabb during performance of Pannuches Meal PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

Advent Day Vigil
To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of God’s Second Advent, Sunrise Divine Services were held at the open-air Church of New Epiphany from Advent Day, Thursday, February 2 through Monday, February 6, 2012.

Top of the 90-foot triune cross at Cathedral Church of the Americas at sunrise PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

Second Advent Easter
On Wednesday, April 18, 2012 a concelebrated Sunrise Divine Service was performed at the Cathedral Church of the Americas. Special readings by the officiants included Psalm 19, excerpts from the “Sermon on the Mount,” and the Essene Morning Hymn. A light breakfast was served at the Sanctuary Refectory following the service.

April 18th is celebrated as True Easter in the Second Advent Church in a two-fold manner: first, we commemorate the spiritual resurrection of Jesus on this date in keeping with the solar calendar, which is fixed; second, we remember the Revelations received in Sanctuary on this date in 1982, an event which served to confirm the importance of this date in the Sacred calendar of the Church. Revelations received on this date are recorded in The Book of God’s Revelation.

"In the Beginning There was Light" poster (original German title, "Am Anfang war das Licht")

Tages-Anzeiger reported on April 25, 2012, that a woman in the Austrian town of Wolfhalden had starved to death after embarking on a “spiritual diet” that required her to stop eating or drinking and to live off sunlight alone.

The Zurich newspaper reported that the unnamed Swiss woman, who was in her fifties, decided to follow the radical fast in 2010 after viewing the Austrian film documentary In the Beginning There Was Light (2010) by director P. A. Straubinger on the subject of people who attempt to nourish themselves exclusively on light.
 

Read the article online at nydailynews.com.

Other links related to the documentary In the Beginning There Was Light:

Presenters at the 2012 Nevada Prayer Breakfast. PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

RENO, Nev., April 24—Leaders of various religions and denominations participated and read prayers for the good of the state at the annual Nevada Prayer Breakfast held in Reno today, where the welcome address was read by Nevada governor Brian Sandoval.

Rt. Rev. Sean Savoy, MC of the 2012 Nevada Prayer Breakfast. PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

Sandoval said that prayer was important and added that Nevada had pulled through various tragedies with the help of faith and prayer.

Governor Brian Sandoval speaking at the 2012 Nevada Prayer Breakfast. PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

Mary Cooper accepting posthumousVisions Award on behalf of her late husband, Onie Cooper. PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

Organized by the Nevada Clergy Association with the theme “A Future Together,” the event also gave Vision Awards to Reno area religious leader and civil rights activist the Reverend Onie Cooper posthumously and retired priest of Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church Father George Bratiotis.

Father George Bratiotis, recipient of a 2012 Vision Award. PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, speaking on the occasion, stressed the need of taking religion seriously as it was the most powerful and pervasive social force. A more inclusive and broader understanding of religion was needed, he said, and added that dialogue would bring us mutual enrichment because we are all headed in the same direction.

Rajan Zed speaking at the 2012 Nevada Prayer Breakfast. PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

Other speakers at this interfaith event held at the Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa included Gene Savoy Jr., President of Nevada Clergy Association; Charles T. Durante, Pastor of Saint Teresa of Avila Catholic Community in Carson City; Stefani Schatz, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church; Sean Savoy, Chancellor of International Community of Christ; Myra Soifer, Rabbi Emerita of Temple Sinai; Rafik Beekun, Board Member of Northern Nevada Muslim Community; Maria Sheehan, President of Truckee Meadows Community College; Nicholas F. Frey, area public affairs director of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Jikai’ Phil Bryan, Priest of Reno Buddhist Center; Neal T. Anderson, Minister at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada; William C. Webb, Pastor Emeritus of Second Baptist Church; Meredith Cahn, Rabbi of North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation; Sister Patty Riley of St. Mary’s Hospice; and Evon Yakar, Rabbi of Temple Bat Yam of South Lake Tahoe.

Rt Rev Gene Savoy Jr addressing the gathering at the 2012 Nevada Prayer Breakfast PHOTO Stephan Fuelling

Shepherd’s Bells, directed by Toni de Salvo; and Orfeo Men’s Choir, directed by Jennifer Tibben; presented musical numbers.

Shepherd's Bells performing at 2012 Nevada Prayer Breakfast PHOTO Stephan Fuelling

Nevada Prayer Breakfast is a gathering of citizens—as well as civic, business, and community leaders—who wish to pray on behalf of the State and bring the spiritual resources of the community together to bear on issues that face Nevadans.

PHOTO Stephan Fuelling

From the online article written by Stephen Child posted at upiu.com.

5th Annual Hindu baccalaureate service of the University of Nevada–Reno 2012 PHOTO: Debbie McCarthy

The 5th Annual Hindu baccalaureate service and dinner at the University of Nevada–Reno was held on Sunday April 15, 2012. At this event various leaders of the interfaith community gathered to bless the graduating class. The event is organized by the Universal Society of Hinduism. The dinner had an Indian theme. ICC Head Bishop the Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr. attended and gave a blessing.

Religious leaders & others who participated in the 5th Annual Hindu baccalaurate service of UNR. PHOTO: Debbie McCarthy

Some of the graduates blessed at the Hindu baccalaureate service, with tilak on their foreheads. PHOTO: Debbie McCarthy

Some of the young children of the Community assembled for a photo during the Easter egg hunt PHOTO: Tom Fee

On traditional Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012, the entire resident congregation in Reno was invited to brunch at the Rectory-Abbey on Carmel as part of the season’s festivities. More than forty adults and children spent the later morning and early afternoon together over a light repast on that sunny spring day. Young children took part in the traditional Easter egg hunt outside on the premises of the Rectory-Abbey and the East Wing.

Sophia Savoy poses in a borrowed hat during the Easter egg hunt. PHOTO: Tom Fee

PHOTO: Roger Weld

In commemoration of Easter as celebrated in the West, Bishop Gene Savoy Jr. delivered an Easter message following Chapel Service on Saturday, April 7, 2012. For publication in the Communique with good quality sound, his message is presented in six parts below. Click on them in succession to listen to the full homily message:

     2012 Easter Sermon Part 1

     2012 Easter Sermon Part 2

     2012 Easter Sermon Part 3

     2012 Easter Sermon Part 4

     2012 Easter Sermon Part 5

     2012 Easter Sermon Part 6

In commemoration of the annual celebration of the Lord’s Supper, Bishop Gene Savoy Jr. delivered a homily message on the evening of Thursday, April 5, 2012, in the Chapel of the Holy Child.

< To listen to this holiday message, click here. > (NOTE: This 20-minute message is a 7 MB download.)