The message of the "heavenly host" to the shepherds in the countryside of Bethlehem was "on earth peace, good will toward men." Peace in the world starts with peace in individual hearts. "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding" is the peace Jesus came to bring to man; it is the only sure foundation for world amity. It is found in the interiorized state of one's God-communion in meditation. Then, like an ever full reservoir, it pours out freely to one's family, friends, community, nation, and the world. If everyone lived the ideals exemplified in the life of Jesus, having made those qualities a part of their own selves through meditation, a millennium of peace and brotherhood would come on earth.
A person who is imbued with God's peace can feel naught but goodwill toward all. The crib of ordinary consciousness is very small, filled to capacity with self-love. The cradle of goodwill of Christ-love holds the Infinite Consciousness that includes all beings, all nations, all races and faiths as one.
Paramahansa Yogananda
The Second Coming of Christ, Volume I: pp. 55-56
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Greetings!
Welcome to the Washington DC Center’s November newsletter. The Council is still planning on reopening the DC Center based on the responses we receive from
our recent reopening survey. If you have not yet responded to the short questionnaire, please do so now. It will be resent again this week for those who haven’t responded. Our goal is to reopen the DC Center at first with just the Sunday Reading Service and add services as we go. But we need your feedback. We will not be able to have the all-day Christmas meditation at the Center this year, but SRF Mother Center is providing many online Holiday events and meditations. Please see below for details.
2021 – 2022 Holiday Events (To Be Streamed)
The following online holiday events led by SRF monastics will be streamed in
December and January:
- Online Christmas Open House at Mother Center on Saturday, December 11, 9:00 a.m. PST.
- All-Day Christmas Meditation on Saturday, December 18, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. PST. In addition to the meditation conducted in English, four additional all-day meditations will be offered in German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
- New Year’s Eve Meditation on Friday, December 31 (available for viewing in your time zone).
- Paramahansa Yogananda’s Birthday Commemoration on Wednesday, January 5, 9:00 a.m. PST.
- Paramahansa Yogananda Commemorative Meditation on Saturday, January 8, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PST.
As many of you know, the SRF lessons have been edited and reorganized. The new lessons have reduced the time it takes to be eligible for the Kriya Yoga initiation. If you haven’t yet applied for Kriya Yoga, please visit the following hyperlink. Also, if you know someone interested in the SRF lessons, or if you have not received the new edition, please click the following link for more information.
There is a special blessing one receives when you support Paramahansa Yogananda’s work and the Washington DC Center during this challenging time. The Council wants you to know that we are grateful for your continuing donations that have been helpful for the DC Center to cover its ongoing fixed costs. Please see below for more information about how to donate to our Center or SRF directly.
In Master’s Service,
Wayne T. Lavallee
Coordinator
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Staying Connected
We encourage all to stay remotely connected to the worldwide SRF family:
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Suggestion Box
Due to the fact we no longer are physically present at the DC Center we thought we would add a feature called the “Suggestion Box” in which we invite your suggestions or comments. Much like the suggestion box at the DC Center, if you have a constructive idea or suggestion for our Center please send it by replying to this email. We can then review them monthly at our Council meetings. Someone will reply to each suggestion after each monthly Council meeting.
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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, callingcardevents@comcast.net.
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Online Donations Available
You can make online donations to the Washington DC Center of SRF by clicking on the yellow Donate button below. You will have the option of designating whether the donation is for the General Fund or the Building Fund. Please note that donations made using this button are not tax deductible.
While services are suspended, you can also make donations to the Center by check, mailed to: Washington DC Center, 4911 Niagara Road, College Park, MD 20740. If you wish your donation to go toward the Building Fund, please note this in the memo field.
Tax deductible Building Fund donations may be made online here, or by making the check payable to Self-Realization Fellowship, noting Washington DC Building Fund in the memo field, and mailing it to the Center. Full details concerning donations are explained on the Center's website Donate page.
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Donations made using the above yellow Donate button are not tax deductible. For other donation options use the Donate Website button below, including tax deductible building fund donations. |
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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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