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Confused, cold and chaotic? Focus! 

 

As I write this message, the whipping wind is rattling my windows, the temperatures in Washington, D.C. have plummeted, and the East Coast was just sucker-punched with a "last hurrah" winter storm. I am finding it hard to believe that just a few weeks ago I was walking outside in shorts when we had the warmest day ever recorded in March at around 80 degrees. The first day of Spring is just days away. The world seems so topsy turvy, and sometimes it can be SO easy to get swept away in the frenzy of external circumstances - to spiral out of control.

But then I hear Spirit cut through the chaos in my head.

"ROBBIE! FOCUS!"

And I laugh. Spirit is right. When we focus on living our best life, and making good use of the opportunities we have been given and the strength we have as a Spiritual community, we can respond to any challenge that is before us, whether mundane or significant. 

So with three fun and enriching events coming up this weekend, we have every opportunity to step out of the chaos (and the cold!) and into the magic and warmth of our Spiritual Community. We have "Exploring Your Spirit's Connection to Others" workshop lead by Rev. Fran Wright on Saturday from 1 - 5 p.m., we have the combined Sunday Service and Spring Equinox Ritual on Sunday at 11 a.m., and we have the "Not Your Average Joe Show" concert fundraiser presented by Joe Rossi and friends on Sunday at 1 p.m. 

And of course, we have our upcoming retreat called "Unleash Your Super Powers," where we will take a fascinating journey together to discover the "super hero" that is within all of us. 

So...to reiterate what Spirit told me when I was briefly cold and confused...

FOCUS! 

And that we can do together. 

Rev. Rob Banaszak
Pastor, Institute for Spiritual Development, Washington, D.C. 
Exploring Your Spirit's Connection to Others
With Rev. Fran Wright
Saturday March 18, 2017
1 - 5 p.m.
Cost $40 members/$45 non-members

As metaphysicians, we know we are all spiritual beings having a human experience. Yet sometimes encounters with our fellow "spiritual beings" can feel way more "human" than "spiritual." Rev. Fran Wright will help us improve our ability to align with the "spirit-self" in each other, while we learn to cultivate deeper, richer and more meaningful experiences with our fellow "spirits" on this plane.

Sunday Celebration Service/Spring Equinox Ritual
Sunday, March 19, 2017
11 a.m., after Sunday Service

Join us for this unique and energizing experience, as we merge our beautiful Spring Equinox Service with our Sunday Celebration Service!

At the time of the Equinox, the period of daylight and nighttime are equal. This is a pivotal opportunity to reflect on how we can achieve balance in our life as we herald the coming of the Light and the joyous arrival of Spring.

The "Not Your Average Joe" Show
With Joe Rossi & Special Guests Jason West and Joe Ventricelli
Sunday, March 19, 2017
1 p.m., after Sunday Service
Cost $20 

Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the "Not Your Average Joe" Show, a FUNdraising concert presented by everyone's favorite vocalist-in-residence Joe Rossi, taking place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 19 following the Sunday Service. Joe will entertain us with a nightclub-style show, which includes special guests Jason Kent West (ISD-DC's resident pianist and our Steinway piano "sponsor"), and Joe Ventricelli (Joe Rossi's fellow "Camelot" cast member). You won't want to miss this delightful show, all for just $20 bucks! 

"Unleash Your Super Powers!"
The 2017 Annual Retreat
 May 26 - 29, 2017
Clarion Inn and Conference Center
Shepherdstown, West Virginia

The greatest superheroes of comic book legend have an archetypal experience in common: they have an all-to-human personal journey as they move from discovering their power, to accepting, then embracing, their power. During this "super" retreat, which will again be co-presented by our friends at Takoma Metaphysical Chapel, we will take a fun, yet powerful journey to discover our power -- what it is, what makes it stronger, what renders it unusable, and how we can use it to make our world better. 

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Institute for Spiritual Development
202-363-7106