Warm autumnal greetings
from Portland Center!
We're happy to let you know that two monks from Self-Realization Fellowship Mother Center will be with us for several days in September. You are invited to join us for their visit, as well as for three commemorative services and a six-hour Saturday meditation also taking place in September. Come be with us as we journey together, ever onward and upward in Spirit!
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From Master
May I be a sudden sun-smile to all dreary natures; a fertility rain to arid minds; and a gift of kindness to the ill-treated: an ever present Sentry of Light, chasing away the thief, Gloom.
Paramahansa Yogananda
Whispers from Eternity
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Upcoming Events at a Glance
Sunday, September 2
-
Sunday School resumes
Sunday, September 2
- Janmashtami Commemorative service (Birthday of Bhagavan Krishna)
Thursday, September 13 through Sunday, September 16
- Self-Realization Fellowship monks visit Portland Center. A complete schedule of events is given below.
Saturday, September 22
- Quarterly six-hour meditations with kirtan resume. These meditations are held Saturdays from
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. with a short break at approximately 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 26
- Lahiri Mahasaya Mahasamadhi Commemorative service
Sunday, September 30
- Lahiri Mahasaya Birthday Commemorative service
Our complete monthly schedule may be found in our Quarterly
Calendar of Services, available in the Portland Center foyer or on our website.
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Special Services in September
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Sunday, September 2
Janmashtami,
birth of Bhagavan Krishna
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Wednesday, September 26
Mahasamadhi of Lahiri Mahasaya
Sunday, September 30
Birthday of Lahiri Mahasaya
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Each of these commemorative services will be held from
8:00 p.m.
to 9:00 p.m.
, preceded by an
optional meditation beginning at 7:15 p.m.
Please bring the traditional offering of a flower or flowers,
symbolizing devotion to the guru being honored.
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Monks from Self-Realization Fellowship Mother Center to visit Portland Center
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Portland Center welcomes Brother Devananda and Brahmachari Troy, who will be with us from Thursday September 13 through Sunday September 16. Here is the complete schedule of events:
Thursday, September 13
7:30 Inspirational Service
Friday, September 14
-
Outing with the Monastics
Saturday, September 15
9:00 - 12:00 Meditation with Kirtan
12:00 - 1:30 Lunch Break (Vegetarian food will be provided)
1:30 - 3:30 Introspection workshop
Sunday, September 16
10:00 - 10:45 Meditation
11:00 - 12:00 Sunday Service
12:00 Group photo on front steps
12:15 - 2:15 Potluck luncheon - please bring a vegetarian dish to share
Counseling with one of the monks is available by appointment.
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New carpet and chairs installed!
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After months of research, planning and volunteer activity, our Center is benefiting from renewed carpeting, new meditation seating, and fresh paint in the entry rooms. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all who supported this project with their time and financial contributions!
We're glad to share this photo documentation of the process:
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Preparing to
remove the pews
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Removing temporary chairs
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Chair delivery truck arrives
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Voilà! The fruits of our labor, offered to God and Guru
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News from the Managing Council
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Dear friends of Portland Center,
The Managing Council is thrilled with the new chairs and carpet! We have received so much positive feedback. Thank you for your continued support through donations to recoup some of the costs associated with this project. More improvements are on the list, so stay tuned!
Volunteer Opportunities
Portland Center is looking for at least one more
Sunday School teacher and assistant
. If you are a Kriyaban and have experience or an interest in working with children please contact the Sunday School Chairperson, Sumuki Sweesy at
stsweesy@comcast.net
. This is a fun and lively way to serve Master's children.
We are also in need of both men and women
ushers
, an engaging service position that is a great way to become more involved at our Center.
Another volunteer position is available for someone who would like to
maintain our indoor plants
. They should be checked on a weekly basis at any time during the week. If you have been thinking that you would like to serve the Guru in some way, this might be the job for you.
If you are interested in serving in any of these or other positions at the Portland Center, please contact Sarah Floyd, our Volunteer Coordinator at
sarahfloyd21@gmail.com
*****
The
Sunday School
would like to welcome f
riends and parents of Sunday School
to a
vegetarian potluck on September 8th
to be held at the home of Sarah and Max Floyd.
This is an open house for families who are already part of Sunday School, as well for those who may be interested in our program.
Come and meet other families and mingle with the teachers and assistants of our Sunday School. Please RSVP by phone or email to Sarah
sarahfloyd21@gmail.com
if you plan to attend, and bring a dish to share.
Jai Guru!
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Portland Center Managing Council
Sarah, Sharon, Rebecca, Shikha and Nate
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"Service is one of the best investments for expansion of consciousness."
Paramahansa Yogananda
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SRF You Tube Channel
Did you know that Self-Realization Fellowship has its own You Tube channel? There you will find an abundance of videos of varying length, including Brother Chidananda's recent Convocation Satsanga and dedication of new printing equipment for the upcoming Lessons release, as well as guided meditations, excerpts from talks by our Guru and SRF monastics, and past memorial services for some of Paramahansa Yogananda's direct disciples.
Click below to browse and stream this inspiring collection:
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Following a summer break, Portland Center's Sunday School will resume on September 2.
Classes are offered every Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. for boys and girls ages 3-13. All children of this age group are invited to attend Sunday School and may enroll at any time.
For more information about Portland Center's activities for youth,
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Other Activities
Sunday Socials
are held on the third Sunday of each month in the Sunday School Room following the Inspirational Service. Light refreshments are provided, along with an opportunity to meet and mingle with Portland Center members and friends.
Kirtan Meditations
with devotional chanting accompanied by traditional Indian instruments, are generally held on the last Sunday of the month, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Our Guru strongly encouraged chanting as a way to deepen one's meditations and devotion. Kirtan services start with group practice of the Energization Exercises at 8:00 a.m., followed by periods of devotional chanting and meditation. During the 10:00 a.m. service, there will be chanting instead of an opening prayer and a reading. If you are unable to stay for the full kirtan period, you may enter or leave the chapel during the chanting at 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
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How to Make a Financial Contribution
Portland Center of SRF is supported solely by financial contributions from members and friends, and by volunteers who donate their time. Proceeds from our Book Room sales also benefit the Center.
If you write a check to the group, please know that checks payable to "Portland Center" will be deposited locally and used to support our Center's activities, pay utility bills etc. Checks payable to "Self Realization Fellowship" are sent to SRF headquarters in Los Angeles, where they are used to support SRF's worldwide activities. It is customary when writing checks during special services such as commemoratives to make the check payable to SRF.
Some members choose to make regular donations to our Center. One convenient option is to set up automatic bill pay through your bank.
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Thank you for your support!
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Looking for other SRF groups in the Pacific NW or throughout the world? Click here:
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We should train ourselves to think in grand terms: Eternity! Infinity!
Paramahansa Yogananda
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Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in the Portland Center of Self-Realization Fellowship. Don't forget to add newsletter@srfportlandcenter.org to your address book so our communications will be sure to land in your inbox!
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