Community Consociate Robert DeFord created a promotional video to announce the September “Spiritual State of the World” Conference and posted it on YouTube.

Watch the video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/CosolargyICC .

Pannuches Meal Rite

54^th Pannuches Meal Rite was held Saturday, March 13, 2010. Jubilee Sunrise Service was held the following morning in Sanctuary.

55^th Pannuches Meal Rite was held Saturday, May 1, 2010. Jubilee Sunrise Service was held the following morning in Sanctuary.

56^th Pannuches Meal Rite was held Saturday, June 19, 2010. Jubilee Sunrise Service was held the following morning in Sanctuary.

Cathedral Church in summer Photo Roger Weld

Photo Roger Weld

Pentecost Observed June 6

There has been much interest in recent years on the practice of solar light absorption or what is popularly known as “sun gazing.” A quick search online will produce a myriad of Web sites advancing a variety of practices, many of which are highly speculative and misinformed. We know that many ancient cultures and civilizations held the sun in high regard. But in many cases, this, too, went far beyond the commonly held concept of “sun worship.” The great spiritual Masters and Teachers knew that the physical sun was a gateway to another world – a Sun behind the sun. They also knew that sunlight was the conveyer of Intelligence and Information. This Intelligence and Information was not only the source of all life on Earth but able to open or unlock latent spiritual faculties within the human being by means of certain Divine Factors streaming in through the physical from heavenly or Divine Realms. This was the teaching of the great Masters on which the noble religions and philosophies of the world were originally founded. These figures include Moses, Aaron, Jesus, Zoroaster, Buddha, Krishna, Viracocha/Quetzalcoatl, as well as Socrates, Plato, Akhenaten, Confucius, Lao Tzu and many, many others.

These ancient high solar religions were the basis of many of the traditions we are familiar with today, albeit they have mostly degenerated into forms that would be unrecognizable to the original founders and their high teachings, concepts and practices. One common element to be found among them, however, was that the use of the sun as a tool for spiritual awakening or enlightenment was accomplished through a Sacred System of Spiritual Regeneration taught by mystic Schools or holy Orders. This was the case with Jesus and the Essenes, the Aaronic Priesthood, Quetzalcoatl’s sun temples in the Americas, as well as for Plato and his Academy. But why was this? The reason was and is that the spiritual seeker employing the use of the sun’s vast energies must adhere to certain spiritual disciplines, ethics and codes in order to benefit in the best possible way and not cause damage – physical, psychic and spiritual – to oneself. Adherence to these disciplines, ethics and codes not only prevents the individual from using the power of the sun for selfish and destructive purposes, but also causes positive affects to the person, the planet, the Universe, and the spiritual Cosmos as a whole.

Today, we are privileged to live in a special Age. It is a time when an old cycle is passing away and a new one is coming into being. This time, whether we call it a New Solar Epoch, the Age of Consciousness, God’s Second Advent, or the dawning of a Golden Age of Light, is ushering in and bringing forth cosmic and spiritual changes never before experienced by the human family which is changing life as we know it. It is “now” that has been longed for and awaited by spiritual aspirants and seekers for millennia. As a species, we must learn to adapt to the profound changes taking place and the energies that have manifested within the sun which are impacting all living forms. Some might call this new sun the Sixth Sun; others might refer to it as the prophesied Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2). It is my belief that the world will not perish, but it will surely be transformed. The question is what shape will that transformation take. Will it be for Good? The advancement of Truth Consciousness? And the emergence of a Golden Age of Light and a new race of Light Beings on Earth? I believe it will.

The transcendent System of Cosolargy, a modern word for an ancient spiritual discipline of becoming, has been practiced by solar mystics and spiritual seekers the world over for nearly 60 years. It teaches the individual how to use the light of the physical sun to enhance not only physical attributes but dormant psycho-spiritual faculties, as well. The Force Centers (chakras) are enlivened; they begin to spin and take on personality. Importantly, they are developed in harmony with each other, which is so often not the case. In time, the practicing solar adept penetrates beyond physical sunlight into Worlds of Light, a place beyond the physical but from where it emerged. By the application of Cosolargy, an ultra-organism is developed – the spiritual Light Body of which so many speak, but of which so little is known. The process takes one on a personal journey where one can retrace their origin to the Godhead and escape the cycle of life and death. It is a magnificent experience, and one which goes far beyond mere sun gazing.

Dennis Gregory McDermott, the 18-year-old son of the Reverend Jim McDermott, died from fatal injuries sustained from an ATV accident on Sunday, July 4, 2010. A celebration of Dennis’ life was held in his hometown of Austin, Minnesota, at St. Edward’s Corcoran Center at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 11, 2010. Prayers were offered daily for the journey of Dennis’ spirit and for his family throughout the week of July 4 in the Chapel of the Holy Child of the International Community of Christ in Reno culminating with the lighting of the Memorial Candle during Communion of Fellowship Service on Saturday, July 10. Our thoughts are with Jim, Dennis’ mother, Caron, and his brother, Jimmy, at this time.

Link to the article on Dennis in the Austin Daily Herald July 8, 2010:

http://www.austindailyherald.com/news/2010/jul/08/hes-quite-dennis/

Link to the article on Dennis in the Austin Post Bulletin July 9, 2010:

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?a=460385&z=28

Link to the obituary for Dennis in Austin Daily Herald, July 12, 2010:

http://www.austindailyherald.com/obits/2010/jul/08/dennis-mcdermott/

Below is the obituary written by Dennis’ mother and brother, as it appeared July 12 in the Austin Daily Herald:

Dennis Gregory McDermott, 18, of Austin, died from fatal injuries sustained from an ATV accident on Sunday, July 4, 2010.

Dennis was born May 17, 1992, in Rochester, Minn., to James and Caron (Jagodzinski) McDermott.

Dennis’ exuberance for life was infectious. He never saw a camera or a microphone he didn’t like. The ultimate ham, his winning personality and bright smile brought a lift to everyone he dealt with. A teaser extraordinare, he could move a roomful of people to a state of enjoyment and laughter, especially those in the stands at his wrestling meets and bowling matches. Dennis followed his older brother, Jimmy, into the Austin Youth Wrestling program in early grade school. During those years he led the high school team onto the mat for their home wrestling meets, usually in his three-piece suit. For the last three years he was a member of the Austin High School Wrestling Team, actually winning one match on his own. He made Tough Club two years in a row and received four Wrestler of the Week awards. His unweighted GPA was 3.6, resulted in him receiving a Wrestling Academic Excellence Award. Since seventh-grade, Dennis bowled for the Adaptive Bowling Team. Altogether Dennis lettered seven times: two for wrestling and five for bowling. He received two Citizenship Awards due to his depthy understanding of people and his great ability to give. He also won a seat on the Student Council during the Southgate years. His favorite activity was going with his wing man/mentor, Sean Miland of REM. He had a special love for Sean and Sean’s family where he was known as “Uncle Dennis.” He enjoyed watching the “Dukes of Hazzard,” “Lethal Weapon,” and WWE, during which he acted out all the parts, memorizing the dialogue. His choice for music was Akon, and the “Now” compilations. He was a loyal KROC listener in the car, never allowing it to be turned to something else. Other favorite tunes were “Born to Be Wild” and the second “Steppenwolf” album. He always did what he enjoyed and was thrilled about. There was never any down time with Dennis. He inspired us to let go of the small irritations of life with constant reminders to “Relaax.”

Dennis is survived by his parents, James McDermott and Caron Jagodzinski; his two big brothers, Jimmy of LaCrosse, Wis., and Zach (Jenny) of Foster City, Calif.; his grandparents, James and Joyce Jagodzinski; aunts, uncles, many cousins and many friends whose lives he touched with his sparkle.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Joyce McDermott, and his step-grandmother, Mary (Majerus) McDermott.

A celebration of Dennis’ life will be held at St. Edward’s Corcoran Center at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 11, 2010. Please bring your favorite Dennis story to share.

Reverend Rhys Andrews at Church of the Americas

The Reverend Deaconess Rhys Andrews and her husband, Bobby, have left Reno to return to Canada via Idaho. The news came suddenly to us, but Rhys’s health, which requires her to take advantage of her Canadian health benefits, as well as her need to be closer to her three sons, who reside in British Columbia, dictated that she leave Reno at this time. Rhys will be in communication with us from Canada on a regular basis. She is looking forward to continuing her studies and to a well-deserved rest, as well as to assisting the Head Bishop in establishing a Canadian office for The Community. She and Bobby will be staying with friends in Idaho until arrangements can be made for their residence in Canada.

Rhys enrolled in The Academy in June 2005 while she resided in Montana. In June 2006, when she and her husband were in a state of transition, her preceptor recommended that Rhys would be a great asset to The Community in Reno. Since that time, Bishop Gene Savoy Jr. began working toward making it possible for Rhys to move to Reno. A few months later, in August 2006, Rhys and her husband took up temporary residence in the East Wing of the Rectory-Abbey on Carmel.

During the years that she resided in Reno, Rhys’s duties expanded and diversified to include important tasks in several Church departments. Rhys acted as Director of Vestry, overseeing care and transportation of vestments, as well as repairs and tailoring, and she was assigned to the Chapel of the Holy Child as sacristan and sexton. At the Chancellery, she worked as a personal assistant to the Head Bishop, contacting members and making special phone calls in addition to organizing and maintaining Chancellery files and student dossiers. She also assisted with posting the accounts for The Church and served on the Finance Council. Her special duties included arranging flowers for Chapel services and special events and working as one of the care-taking staff at the Rectory, where she and Bobby resided, first at the Rectory East Wing parsonage and later in an apartment at the Rectory-Abbey. Rhys was also a volunteer chaplain at nearby St. Mary’s Hospital. She loved her ministry there and looked forward to her weekly chaplaincy duties.

During the four years that Bobby resided in Reno, he worked through the Building Department in the area of maintenance and was attached in this capacity to the Rectory, where he resided. He oversaw upkeep of the Rectory and Chancellery as well as the weekly deep cleaning of the spa facilities at the Steamboat Healing Center. Over the years, Bobby assisted with many renovation projects at all three locations, as well as some of the projects at the Red Rock Consecrated Sanctuary.

The 4^th of July barbecue held at the Rectory-Abbey this year also served as a surprise bon voyage party for Rhys and Bobby, who left on the first leg of their journey two days later on the morning of July 6.

We wish Rhys and Bobby a safe journey with our thanks for all of their hard work and dedication over the past four years, and we look forward to a continuing relationship with them as we move toward opening a Canadian office for The Church. They will be missed by Community residents in Reno.

Andean Explorers Foundation president Sean Savoy appeared on KOLO-TV, a local Reno television station, on February 12, 2010, to introduce the local public to the activities of the organization.

Link to the story “Andean Explorers Foundation Invites Public on Travel Adventures” online at kolotv.com: http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/84243882.html

After several years’ hiatus, softball season for Church members and their families and friends opened the first Saturday of May and continued every Saturday through June until the Fourth of July. Games and practice were organized by Consociates Ryan Anderson and Matthew Madonna and took place at the Reno West Babe Ruth Fields, where the Church Parochial School had played many seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. There were scrimmage games with practice teams through June. On July 3, teams were chosen for the championship game to be played that day. The same two teams played for the coveted Cuspidor Cup on July 4, a game that the July 3rd champions lost. A Fourth of July barbeque followed that evening at the Rectory-Abbey on Carmel. As teams and players really began to play at a higher level at the end of the designated season, it was decided that pick-up games will continue through the summer months on Saturday afternoons.

On May 10, 2010, in Dharamsala, India, the Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr., Head Bishop of the International Community of Christ and President of the Cosolargy Institute, along with his traveling companions, the Reverend Robert Roy and the Reverend Dr. Bill Bartlett, met with His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, the Black Hat Lama of Tibet. Bishop Savoy announced the good news of the Appearance of the Sun of Righteousness and the coming New Age of Light to the Tibetan Buddhist leader and presented him with some of The Church’s sacred texts.

See the article on Cosolargy.net: http://cosolargy.net/2010/06/28/meeting-with-hh-gyalwa-karmapa-in-india/.

To view the note of thanks sent to His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa by Bishop Savoy, see: Thank you to HH Gyalwa Karmapa

The attached audio file is the recording of a brief Community Message on the importance of unity, stewardship, and togetherness delivered by the Right Reverend Sean Savoy during the Communion of Fellowship Service on May 15, 2010. The topic is timely. The request is simple: “Help whenever you can, wherever you can.” And the message is simple: “Live, laugh, love.”

Listen to the audio file of the complete homily: Saturday051510-compressed

The Right Reverend Sean Savoy was approached in early May by Rebecca Gasca of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to help arrange a meeting of local clergy with her exchange partner from Turkey, Hilal Kaplan, an advocate of women’s rights and religious freedom. Ms. Kaplan, who was visiting Reno in early May through arrangement with the U.S. Department of State, was interested in getting the perspective of religious leaders who operate under a secular government and are still able to create social change. Ms. Kaplan, a journalist, intends to write about her experiences.