Greetings!
We are happy to be hosting a Monastic Tour at the Washington DC Center in April 2020. The details of this event will be available soon. You can support this tour by attending our Harvest of Love Fundraiser in November, which will benefit the DC Center Fund that will be used for next year's Center Tour. See below for details.
We invite you, your family and friends to attend our services this month, as well as some of the special events that are detailed in this newsletter. You will find many opportunities at the DC Center of SRF to deepen your relationship with God and Gurus.
Paramahansa Yogananda said “
Those who wish to perfect themselves, are urged by the Masters to keep in close association with others of similar nature in order to strengthen their right aspirations
.” Participation in the spiritual activities of the group helps to inspire each devotee to make a greater effort, and to protect him or her from distractions to spiritual progress. The united strength of the group helps each member find the strength and courage to overcome indifference, devotional dryness, restlessness, procrastination, discouragement, and doubt—obstacles that confront every sincere meditator at one time or another.
In Master’s Service,
Wayne Lavallee
Coordinator
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Team Structure
The managing council of the DC Center would like to remind everyone that our Center is team driven, which means the teams run the operations of the DC Center. Each team has a team chair and or co-chair that manage the team, and a liaison or devotee on the council that is the communication channel for the team to the Managing Council. When teams have issues, they should contact their team chair; if the team chair needs assistance, they should contact the team liaison, etc. If the Managing Council has an issue we cannot resolve, we contact SRF Center Department. There is a list of each team, team chairs, and liaisons on the bulletin board in the upstairs foyer. Also note if someone has a suggestion and/or complaint that they would like to share anonymously, we have a suggestion box in the social room that you can use. The managing Council reviews these each month.
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Harvest of Love Fundraiser
We warmly welcome you to support our yearly Fundraiser, "HARVEST OF LOVE, " to benefit the Washington DC Center Fund for next year's CENTER TOUR on Saturday, November 2nd from 5:30 to 9:00 pm. Tickets are available at both our Eventbrite page
CLICK HERE
and in the Bookroom.
This special fundraising event will take place on Saturday, November 2nd, with doors opening at 5:30 pm. A silent auction of Beautiful Indian Shawls and Kriya beads of semi-precious stones, all especially made in India for our Fundraiser, will be going on all evening. The winning bids will be announced at the end of the evening. Also other Indian items, paintings, and collections of SRF books and DVDs will be available at special discount prices. At 6:00 pm, a delicious vegetarian dinner will be served to the accompaniment of beautiful chamber music performed by classically trained musicians, including Dennis Murphy, Sally Maxton, Tom Valone and many others. The
Ever New Joy Band
will play contemporary and classical favorites. A short fundraising presentation will precede the evening's main event:
Vijaya Rajkotia and Ensemble
, playing beautiful classical Indian chants that will uplift everyone's spirits. We will end the evening with a brief meditation to honor our beloved Guru, Paramahansa Yogananda. Please join us for a unique evening of spiritual fellowship and help us raise much needed funds for next year's Center Tour! . We really need your support to carry on Master's work in the Washington DC area. Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for children.
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End of Daylight Savings
Please remember to turn your clocks back by one hour on the night of November 2nd to adjust back to Standard time.
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General Membership Meeting
We will have a very short General Membership meeting on November 3rd, immediately after the Reading service. The purpose of the meeting is to review and vote on the building improvements recommended by the Council, which were discussed at the last General Membership meeting. We ask that all try to attend, as your input is vital to our Center's functioning.
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Greenfield One-Day Women's Retreat
The SRF Greenfield retreat in Front Royal, Virginia, will conduct a one-day Women's Retreat on November 9th, from 9:30 am until 5:00 pm. There will be a sign-up sheet in the Center's foyer. You may also contact Greenfield directly (540-635-5066) if you wish to attend.
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Thanksgiving Meditation and Potluck Dinner
All devotees are warmly invited to come together to celebrate Thanksgiving on November 28th, from 4:00-6:30 pm, with dinner preceded by meditation and chanting. A sign-up sheet will be available in the Center's foyer to coordinate food contributions.
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Holiday Food Drive
As a service to God and Guru, through caring for others, the DC Center is conducting a Thanksgiving and Christmas Food Drive to benefit food banks and charities in the DC/MD/VA area. Please place all donated
non-perishable
food items in the marked boxes in the Center's lobby.
The most needed items are: Low-sodium canned soups, tuna, beans, and tomatoes; low-sugar canned fruit; peanut butter in
plastic
jars; and low-sugar cereal. No glass containers, please.
Thanksgiving collection
: November 3-24
Christmas collection
: December 8-22
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Opportunities to Serve
The cleaning team is still in need of volunteers. Cleaning duties can be done based on your schedule and availability. Please contact Shilpi Sharma at shilpimss@yahoo.com if you are interested.
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Service Readings This Month
November 3: Vol.2 #44:
Harmonizing Work and Meditation
November 10: Vol. 2 #45:
Why God Does Not Stop War
November 17: Vol. 2 #46:
Gaining the Wealth of Inner Happiness
November 24: Vol. 2 #47:
Limited and Unlimited Methods of Healing
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Long Meditations This Month
We will have 3-hour meditations every Sunday evening from 6:00-9:00 pm; the meditation on November 10th will include kirtan. There will also be a 4-hour meditation service on November 23rd, from 10 am-2 pm.
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Caring Friends Team
The
Caring Friends Team
provides support and outreach to members who are experiencing illness, hardships, and personal crisis. For more information please contact Stacey Hawkins at 301-395-9541.
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Weekly Services
Sundays
Meditation Service: 10:00-10:50 am
Reading Service: 11:00-12:00
3-Hour Meditation: 6:00-9:00 pm
Thursdays
Lessons Study Group: 6:00-7:00 pm
Inspirational Service: 7:30-9:00 pm
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Special Events This Month
Harvest of Love Fundraiser
November 2, 5:30-9:00 pm
End of Daylight Savings Time
Evening of November 2
General Membership Meeting
November 3
Greenfield One-Day Women's Retreat
November 9
Thanksgiving Meditation and Potluck Dinner
November 28, 4:00-6:30 pm
Four-Hour Meditation
November 23, 10:00 am-2:00 pm
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Washington DC Center of Self-Realization Fellowship
4911 Niagara Road College Park MD 20740
washington.dc.srf@gmail.com
DCcentersrf.org
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