"Let us make this year not only a milestone in the history of SRF but a personal milestone in our own spiritual lives."

 Brother Chidananda, SRF/YSS president
in his New Year 2020 letter
Dear Friends,

As you'll read in this edition of our newsletter, the coming months offer wonderful opportunities to deepen our bond with God, Guru and the Portland Center sangha . We'd love for you to join us as we support each other spiritually in this momentous year!


Message from Master
"God should be the inspiration of all your activities. He appreciates every little thing that you do for Him, and though He doesn’t often talk, He is aware of all your thoughts, and He is so pleased by your devotion through meditation and activity alike."

Paramahansa Yogananda
Upcoming Events

Wednesday February 5 - Submission deadline for Council nominations

Sunday February 23 - General Membership Meeting

Saturday February 29 - Portland Center Day of Service

Saturday March 7 - Paramahansa Yogananda Mahasamadhi Commemorative Service

Sunday March 8 - Daylight Saving Time begins

Monday March 9 - Sri Yukteswar Mahasamadhi Commemorative Service

Saturday March 14 - Long meditation with kirtan

is available on our website
Managing Council nominations

There are five positions open for nominations on Portland Center's Managing Council: Coordinator, Treasurer, Secretary and two members-at-large. We value your participation in this process and encourage everyone attending Portland Center to submit nominations by Wednesday February 5. You may place them in the white box located in the Center foyer, or submit them

Feel free to include a few words as to why you think each person would be qualified. Your submissions will be forwarded confidentially to SRF Center Department, who will inform us of final approvals after reviewing the nominations.

General Membership Meeting

Also, we will be holding a general membership meeting on Sunday, February 23 following the service to vote on an expenditure for new blinds in the sanctuary. This long-awaited project will result in the ability to darken the room during the day for livestream events and videos of monastic talks.
Day of Service
Save the date!  Saturday February 29 will be a perfect occasion to meet with other Portland Center members and friends, as together we serve in sprucing up our beautiful Center. As always, there will be a variety of indoor and outdoor tasks to choose from – with equipment, supplies and camaraderie provided! Snacks and a vegetarian lunch will be served.

We'll begin the day at 9:30 a.m. with a group meditation, with work activity concluding around 2:00 p.m. or when our 'to-do' list is completed. Hope to see you there!
" Life should be chiefly service. Every good action that you perform
digs like a pickax into the soil of consciousness and brings forth
a little spray from the fountain of God’s joy."
Paramahansa Yogananda
Mahasamadhi Commemorative Services :
Paramahansa Yogananda
Swami Sri Yukteswar




"Whenever a true devotee thinks of me in the silent depths of his soul, he will know that I am near."

Paramahansa Yogananda
"To keep company with the guru is not only to be in his physical presence (as this is sometimes impossible), but mainly means to keep him in our hearts and to be one with him in principle and to attune ourselves with him."

Swami Sri Yukteswar
Please join us in honoring our blessed Guru and Paramguru
on their mahasamadhi anniversaries:

Paramahansa Yogananda Mahasamadhi : Saturday March 7

Sri Yukteswar Mahasamadhi : Monday March 9

Both 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; and if financially able,
a donation in a plain white envelope.
Sunday School at Portland Center
Looking for a fun and rewarding way to serve at Portland Center? You might consider applying to be a class assistant at our Sunday School.

To find out more, contact Sumuki Sweesy:
971 570 5663 or sumukimc@gmail.com
Our classes are open to all children ages 3 to 13 who are interested in learning about the SRF teachings and way of life, through enjoyable age-appropriate activities that encourage developing a personal relationship with God.

Pictured below are some of the children collaborating on a group activity:
Recent Events at Portland Center

Winter Donation Drive

A heartfelt thank-you goes out to all the Portland Center members who participated in our winter donation drive. Warm clothing (including 62 pairs of thick socks!), sleeping bags, toiletries and cash were among the many useful contributions delivered to Transition Projects, Inc. in early December. We're happy to share the letter of appreciation received by our Community Service committee, which is also posted in Portland Center's Information Room.

May all who supported this project, whether materially or through your prayers, be deeply blessed
for your compassion!
Thanksgiving and Christmas Activities
Jiva-Annie-Gray and children
Families and friends enjoyed good food and each other's company
during our festive holiday gatherings.


Beautiful decorations in the chapel helped create a deeply meditative vibration during Christmas services.


Thank you to the volunteers
who contributed their
artistry and devotion!
Master's Birthday
The annual Commemorative service was followed by joyfully singing Happy Birthday to our Guru and the sharing of traditional carrot cake served by our Hospitality Committee.
Jai Guru!
News from SRF Mother Center
In the Spirit of Pilgrimage: A Celebratory Procession
On January 5, 2020 at 8:00 a.m., an Indian-style devotional procession of SRF monastics took place on the grounds of the SRF International Headquarters in Los Angeles. A video of this beautiful event may be viewed here on the SRF YouTube channel.
Convocation 2020
Thousands of spiritual seekers from around the world gather each year in Los Angeles to participate in the SRF World Convocation, a weeklong immersion in the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. This year’s inspiring event takes place July 26 - August 1 and will again be held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Registration for hotels begins February 1 , and for Convocation events, February 10 .
To receive the latest information
about Convocation and other happenings,
sign up to receive SRF's e-Newsletter:
Monthly Activities

Sunday School classes are offered every Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. for boys and girls ages 3-13 in the Sunday School Room. All children 13 and younger are encouraged to attend Sunday School and may enroll at any time.

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. Paramahansa Yogananda 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, followed by 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.

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, to support SRF's worldwide activities. When writing checks during special services such as commemoratives, it is customary to make the check payable to SRF. 
 
Some members choose to make regular donations to our Center through setting up an automatic 'bill pay' arrangement with their bank.

In whatever way you choose to support our Center,
it is deeply appreciated!
Looking for other SRF groups in the Pacific NW or throughout the world?
Click here:
"Think God, enjoy God, live God, love God, dream God, do all things for God."

Paramahansa Yogananda
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