The Community’s annual Convocation officially opened on Wednesday September 9. It was prefaced on Monday and Tuesday September 7–8 with Residence Training III seminars on Color and Sacred Imagery for those Consociates needing to complete these requirements. These early attendees also enjoyed an evening at the Steamboat Hot Springs Spa on Monday evening. Another such spa evening was offered on Wednesday as well.

The first Convocation event was a Project “X” seminar on the ancient solar cultures of Greece and included lectures given by the Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr. during the Project “X” tour of Greece in May–June 2009 as well as talks by guest lecturers the Reverend Dr. Bill Bartlett and Dr. Tom Lee, the new Community Archiater (physician). Dr. Bartlett spoke on solar teachings in the Buddhist tradition, and Dr. Lee on health and healing modalities planned for Steamboat Healing Center. The lectures were offered in the Chapel of the Holy Child and the Monastery Gardens in Sanctuary.

The usual annual Convocation events took place over the remainder of the week, including the Andean Explorers Foundation meeting and awards banquet and presentation held at the Tuscany Room of the Peppermill Resort and Casino in Reno on Thursday evening. The Right Reverend Sean Savoy presented slides and commentary on his recent trip to Peru to continue the society’s work there.

The week’s events included the thirtieth annual Clergy Counsels, lectures held at the Monastery Gardens in Sanctuary on Asclepian healing traditions and techniques. Again, these lectures were adapted from those given by Bishop Savoy in Greece earlier in the year. This year’s program included a celebration of The Community’s Golden Jubilee, commemorating fifty years (1959–2009) of the Second Advent Church. A high point of the celebration was the interfaith prayer service for world peace held at sunset on Friday evening September 11 at the open-air Church of New Pentecost and Church of the Americas at Red Rock Consecrated Sanctuary. Clergy from numerous sects and denominations around Reno participated and offered prayers for peace from their traditions. It was a special experience and a fitting tribute to the second anniversary of the passing into Light of The Church’s First Apostle, the Most Right Reverend Gene Savoy Sr.

As a side note, unbeknownst to The Community members at the time, the evening also introduced it to one Devashish (aka David Mitchell), who was a last-minute replacement for Rajan Zed, the intended representative of the Vedic tradition. Devashish was quite taken with the experience at the Sanctuary and later introduced Community leaders to his teacher, Swami Sri Atmananda of India, and the Satya-chetana Movement that the swami heads and with whom The Community has since formed a collaboration to reintroduce the Teachings of Light to the Vedic and Brahmanic traditions (see related articles).

On Saturday evening, topping off a day of final Clergy Counsels, Communion Service, and the Emancipation of Acolyte Marie Walters, was the Counsels banquet and program at Bishopstead. As a Golden Jubilee celebration, the dinner was deemed a Vigil Meal and began with a simple course of Essene bread and wine similar to a Community Pannuches meal. The evening’s introduction also included the first-level ordination of Dr. Tom Lee and a rededication of the Chapel of the Innocents at Bishopstead. A buffet supper in several courses created by Community chef Francine Petrovich followed this ritual course. Between courses, the attendees were treated to musical performances by the Community schola, directed by the Right Reverend Gary Buchanan, as well as relevant readings from Second Advent scripture.

The final day of Convocation, Sunday September 13, began with a concelebrated Jubilee Sunrise Divine Service at the Cathedral Church of the Americas at Red Rock Consecrated Sanctuary, followed by the second-degree ordination of the Reverend Dr. Bill Bartlett. Afterward, a fellowship breakfast at the open-air refectory was enjoyed by all. The final event at Red Rock was the rededication of the open-air Church of New Philadelphia in the northlands of the Sanctuary. The church’s table had been restored after being damaged by vandals and the elements. Head bishop Gene Savoy Jr. presided.

The Convocation ended with an optional trip to Lake Tahoe on Sunday afternoon.

Reflections of the Greek Tour

by the Reverend William Bartlett

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a difficult battle.

— Plato

The unexamined life is not worth living.

— Socrates

I was asked to write a few thoughts about our trip to Greece. Many years ago, I read a book entitled The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman. Dan spoke of a spiritual teacher named Socrates who humbly worked the night shift in a gas station near the hills of Berkeley, California. Dan wanted to become a disciple of Socrates who would not begin teaching him until he had demonstrated that he had something important to say. Dan spent the first night sitting on a rock behind the gas station thinking of things to say. It was only at the bright sunrise that he came to Socrates with the thought, “There are no ordinary moments.” Then the learning began.

That echoes my thoughts about our journey in Greece. It was extraordinary. The moments did not seem at all ordinary as we walked the ground of the real old sun priest Socrates and many others. His disciple Plato later opened an academy that we had the good fortune to visit. We were actually in the land where these philosopher/mystics asked the important questions. What is life for? Why am I here? Is there more to me than this body? Is happiness a foolish dream; can it actually be found without closing my eyes to what I see? In fact, can it be found by having my eyes open to the great Light that guides us?

We arrived in Athens, Greece, the evening of May 21. It was late and we were tired. Yet, when we went to the restaurant on the 10^th floor we saw a magnificent and illuminated view of the Parthenon and the Acropolis on a rocky hill in the middle of Athens.

The next morning we boarded the Aegean Pearl for three days of touring the Greek Isles and Turkey. The first stop was an afternoon/evening spent on the beautiful island of Mykonos. We then sailed to Patmos, the mysterious rocky island where St. John is said to have dictated the Book of Revelation. From there we cruised to the Turkish port of Kusadasi, then were bused to the ancient city of Ephesus. It was marvelous to experience the marble streets, the famous library, and many other buildings as they were in the high years of the Roman Empire. Then we continued on to Crete and the famed 1500-room Palace of Knossos where Minos ruled the Mediterranean with several thousand ships. Afterwards we visited the fabulous Archeological Museum of Minoan Art. My favorite art display was a very ancient clear crystal sun that gave clear hints to the spiritual beliefs of the early Minoans. The last stop on the cruise that day was a perfect evening and sunset on the magnificent isle of Santorini before the overnight cruise back to Athens for a free day of wandering.

Wandering in the “Plaka,” dozens of blocks of tourist markets and restaurants below the Acropolis, I again thought of Socrates. He is quoted as saying when he wandered the agora and market some 2300 years ago, “The market reminds me of how many things I do not need.” Yet it is required to buy gifts and such, and it was a wonderful place to buy things not needed.

After another day in Athens visiting the Acropolis and touring Athens the nonordinary land tour began. The group, 20 of us, had an extraordinary guide named Peggy. She shared her insight and experience as a tour guide and as a staff member at the prestigious University of Athens Archeology Department. She shared how the archeologists who write lofty and arcane articles for professional journals saw themselves as superior to those who shared their knowledge with the many tourists who come to see the historical and sacred sights.

Peggy actually “put in” to be our guide when she saw the sites we wanted to visit. She held great esteem for the sights and the places of the philosophers/mystics we had asked to see and was quite interested in our teachings. She told us that many Greeks didn’t have much interest in the historical sites, referring to the tours as “going to see the stones.” It reminded me that many Nevadans only go to casinos when relatives are in town though casinos are not a very good analogy to these holy places.

And I think she saw that most of us really felt a reverence for the land and the life of old. So many have lost that, including the modern Greeks who see the sites as just stones. When we lose the mystical, Einstein suggested, we are like a snuffed out candle. When we become mired in Third-Dimensional existence, we experience existential despair. Perhaps that is why so many Greek men twirl a little circle of beads called “worry beads.” I was especially interested to hear Peggy say that these beads had come from the Buddhist influence of the “mala” or “juzu” prayer beads (similar to rosary beads) showing just how international and cosmopolitan the ancient times were.

The land tour took us to various wonderful places. My favorites: Epidauras, where we visited the Asclepian Temple of Healing; Olympia, the site of the original games; Delphi, known as the navel of the world, where the great oracles spoke and where we held a sunrise service; and the Temple of Apollo.

Both on the cruise and during our time in Athens Bishop Savoy gave timely lectures about the ancient Greeks and the religion of Light that heightened our appreciation for many of these sites.

Back to Socrates. As you will remember he was convicted of corrupting the minds of the youth and showing impiety to the many gods. He seemed to only have reverence for the one God, the God of Light. Shortly before his death, Socrates speaks his last words to his disciple Crito: “Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius. Please, don’t forget to pay the debt.” I do not think that Socrates was interested in the sacrifice of a chicken. Rather, he was pointing out that Asclepius was the Greek god of curing illness, and it is likely Socrates’ last words meant that death is the cure—and freedom—of the enlightened soul from the body.

It was an extraodinary journey to Greece.

In April, the International Community of Christ issued new editions of The Essaei Document and Project X.

The Counsels lectures delivered by the Most Right Reverend Gene Savoy Sr. on October 12-13 during the Annual Convocation in 2000 fulfilled the promise Bishop Savoy made in 1982 to deliver “part two” of the fifth symposium in the Project “X” Solar Cultures Series, Solar Teachings of Egypt and Arabia: The Golden Phoenix, or Sun Bird of Resurrection. This four-hour group of lectures built upon one of the great myths of ancient religious lore, the Phoenix, and explored the concept of Divine Food.

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The Reverend Sean Savoy of the International Community of Christ served both on the Planning Committee and as Master of Ceremonies for the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast held in Nevada on October 17, 2000, at the Atlantis Hotel Casino Resort in Reno. The event was sponsored by The National Conference for Community and Justice, and Scott Scherer, the chief of staff for then governor Kenny Guinn, delivered the welcome. Keynote speaker was the Reverend Ronald Rentner of Lord of Mercy Lutheran Church, who has remained an active leader in the interfaith community and a friend of The Church for many years after the event. The International Community of Christ sponsored a table at the event, together with several other churches and business organizations.

Photo Roger Weld

On May 28, 2000, an historical celebration was held at Steamboat Hot Springs to formally recognize the hot springs as an historical site.

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In June 2000, thousands of wild flowers and one hundred tree seedlings were planted at Red Rock Consecrated Sanctuary along the creek bed fed by the Sanctuary pond.

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On July 11, 2000, Steamboat Hot Springs was featured on the local Nevada history television series John Tyson’s Journal.

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On July 20, 2000, in one of the first public visits to Red Rock Consecrated Sanctuary, thirty students of cultural geography at Truckee Meadows Community College visited the University Chapel and Red Rock Consecrated Sanctuary as part of their class. As their host on the tour, the Reverend Robert Petrovich responded to numerous questions raised by the class at the end of their Sanctuary visit regarding The Church’s concepts of the Second Advent and the Cosmic Christ, The Church’s use of the New Testament and its relation to Pauline teaching, Second Advent scripture, and the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Especially fascinating to the visitors was the concept that one needs to develop a certain level of spiritual Consciousness before one is able to understand higher spiritual concepts.

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On July 28, 2000, the Reverends Sean Savoy and Robert Petrovich delivered an hour-long presentation on the International Community of Christ, Project “X,” and the Andean Explorer Foundation’s Grand Ophir Expedition to thirty high school students and their counselors at Camp Galilee at Lake Tahoe, a summer camp sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Nevada.

In March 2000, the Reverends Gene Savoy Jr. and Robert Petrovich attended the first Catholic-sponsored event to which clergy of other denominations were invited, a lecture by archbishop emeritus John Quinn of San Francisco, who spoke on his book The Reform of the Papacy and on the work of Pope John Paul II and the imminent unification of the Christian churches suggested by talks that have been taking place between the heads of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches since 1965 regarding the settling of their millennial differences.

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In March 2000, Part Two of the Project “X” lecture series on Metaphysics, Philosophy, and Mystic Theology was initiated by the Most Right Reverend Gene Savoy Sr.

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On April 18, 2000, the Reverend Carol Ann Crabb officiated at a memorial service for her husband, the Reverend Lawson Crabb, at the open-air Church of New Qumran.

During the month of May, the Community remembered in Communion Prayer Estella Heavener, the mother of  the Reverend Carol Ann Crabb, who passed away on May 2, and Jo Ann Marie McIntyre, the mother of Deacon Michael McIntyre, who passed away on May 20.

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On June 3, 1999, the second luncheon gathering of Reno-Sparks religious leaders was held, this one at Temple Sinai at the invitation of Rabbi Myra Soifer. This gathering represented primarily clerics, with about thirty in attendance, including the Reverend Robert Petrovich from the Second Advent Church, while the first such meeting included more attendees from service organizations and missions. Following lunch, table groups formed to discuss possible goals and purposes for the continuance of such interfaith gatherings.

While there was no formal general consensus, there was general agreement that similar gatherings should continue quarterly, hosted by the various religious groups involved, on a rotating basis, and that the host should take the opportunity to introduce those gathered to his or her ministry and religious customs. There was a strong consensus that no strict agenda or organization or guidelines be developed for the gatherings but rather that the gatherings be kept informal and open-ended tp encourage individuals to get to know each other by name and face, learn to trust each other, and discuss possible coprojects with the idea that there is a great value in encouraging trust, colleagueship, and fraternal and sororial feelings toward other leaders in the religious community.

This was decided because all present recognized that there were really very few places and circumstances that allowed religious professionals to discuss spiritual matters and religious concerns in a personable environment. There was also mutual agreement that anything that developed during these gatherings should develop naturally, that nothing be forced, and that developments be progressive and not be “decided by committee.” Both of these principles have continued to be held until the present.

While several of the founders of this interfaith gathering have retired or passed on, others have risen to take their places, and the Second Advent Church continues to be active and central to the organization.

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On Friday, July 2, 1999, Bishop Gene Savoy delivered the first of the twenty-four lectures of the Project “X” series on Metaphysics, Philosophy, and Mystic Theology under the auspices of the American Philosophical Institute of Cosolargy. The series, dealing primarily with the teachings of ancient Greece and Egypt, presents advanced theories of the ancient metaphysical teachings that centered on theophany and the personal experience of God’s powers, which involved the priestly science of theurgy. Little-known concepts are also highlighted in a way that “takes down the wall” built around the ancient philosophies of Greece and Egypt by secular authorities. With this series, the science of Cosolargy, which is based on old and new concepts and revealed information, penetrates the arcanum of the mysterious science of ancient metaphysics.

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The Reverend Deaconess Victoria Skinner passed away on Wednesday July 28 at 8:00 p.m. at Manor Health Care Services in Reno.