It's Love Month! And it is time to remember that Love isn't just an action, or a romantic feeling of intoxication and euphoria...it is the ESSENCE of who we are. 

Since I am you, and you are me, then when I love ME, I love YOU. When I love me fully, I love EVERYONE. And when we realize that EVERYONE IS LOVING, then there is ONLY LOVE! And isn't that what the world needs now? Love Sweet Love? No, not just for some, but for EVERYONE! 

This past Sunday, we held our annual Service of LOVE and boy, was it lovely! Angela DiCicco Morton, designer/decorator extraordinaire, worked her magic on our beautiful table (pictured above at the top of ISDetails), and people were able to bring in photos and mementos of loved ones, both here and passed. Love was definitely in the air. Check out the homily from the Service of LOVE to discover some fascinating insights from the short story "The Egg," and to find out "What's LOVE got to do with it..." 

Yes indeed, our Spiritual Home is a such a wonderful place to remember, revive, renew and re-invigorate Love! And we offer so many ways to express and share the Love that we wish to see in the world.

We are continuing our first "Spiritual Screen& Share" series on Thursday this week, with another episode of Oprah Winfrey's glorious "Belief" docu-series. This unbelievably gorgeous series takes an intimate look at the unique spiritual journeys of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities and geographies around the world. We'll screen the episode first, and then we'll share our responses to it! 

And Rev. Kathy Kerston is in town from ISD-Sparta! She'll be our guest homilist at our Sunday Service, and is offering private readings (please email her directly at kathykerston@gmail.com to inquire of her scheduling availability). AND she's holding a unique and energized "Treasure Mapping" workshop on Saturday February 18 that will feature the "vision-boarding" process based on your customized astrological chart, and charged with fung shui and Emotional Freedom Technique "tapping." The deadline has passed for registration because Kathy is preparing each participant's astrology and human design chart, but please email Kathy directly with questions about the workshop, or if you have registered but haven't sent her your birth information. 

Be sure to check out our fun, new Message Lottery on Wednesday, February 22. This "Wednesday Wonders" event takes place on the last Wednesday of every month. 

March is right around the corner and we are having some last minute calendar shifts, so check the ISD website often to see what we are adding! 

One of our upcoming events is the wonderful Family Constellation Workshop led by the ever-popular Spiritual Teacher Randy Goldberg, who wow'd ISD-DC with this workshop several years ago, and who is fully prepared to wow us again with this intensive experience that helps us connect with our ancestry to unlock secrets to our life and free us to become the greater versions of our Self. 

And...ta da! Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the "Not Your Average Joe" Show, a FUNdraising concert presented 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! 

And guess what is right around the corner? The 2017 Retreat! This year's theme is "Unleash YOUR Super Powers..." Now just imagine having amazing powers that we are born with or can hone and develop. Doesn't that bring a huge smile your face?  Check out the new brochure and register today!

There is even more on the schedule, and more being added, so be sure to check out the ISD website for the most recent updates and additions to the calendar of events. 

If you know someone in need of special prayer, you can fill out our online prayer request. Our weekly Prayer Circle convenes every Sunday evening remotely to pray silently for those on the weekly list of requests. 

Needing some inspiration or a recorded guided meditation to help you attune to Spirit? Check out ISD's Soundcloud page for a comprehensive list of past Sunday Service homilies, Sunday service meditations and evening meditations.

Love is for more than a month, so instead of "Happy Love Month," I wish you all HAPPY LOVE!

Rev. Rob Banaszak

Pastor, Institute for Spiritual Development, Washington, D.C.