The real celebration of Christmas is the realization within ourselves of Christ Consciousness. It is of utmost importance to every man, whatever his religion, that he experiences within himself this "birth" of the Universal Christ.

The universe is the body of Christ: everywhere present within it, without limitation, is the Christ Consciousness. When you can close your eyes and by meditation expand your awareness until you feel the whole universe as your own body, Christ will have been born within you. You will know that your mind is a little wave of that ocean of Cosmic Consciousness in which Christ dwells.

Paramahansa Yogananda
Spiritual Diary: Special Thought for December
Greetings!

As the year draws to a close, we have so much to be thankful for in terms of the spiritual treasures given to us by our beloved Gurudeva. May you all enter the new year with a renewed sense of commitment to God, Gurus and the SRF work. This month, we have a full calendar of wonderful events planned to end the year. On Saturday, December 1, we will have our All Day Christmas Meditation from 10am-5:30pm. Please be sure to be on time, as once the meditation begins, no one will be admitted into the chapel (even during chanting periods). Special instructions for this meditation can be found in the newsletter. On December 9, we will have our Annual Christmas Potluck Social. The Sunday School children will perform a wonderful play about the birth of Christ. Please bring a vegetarian dish, juice, or dessert to share. In the spirit of giving we are still collecting items for our Holiday Food Drive. More details about the items you can donate can be found in this newsletter. Just in time for the holidays, our book room is stocked with the new 2019 Wall Calendar and Engagement Calendar, as well as other new items for purchase. The book room is open after every 11am Sunday Service, so be sure to stop by and purchase these items before they are all sold out. We hope to see you all at our events this month and pray you have a blessed Christmas holiday and New Year.

In Christ,

Indira Harris
Coordinator 
All-Day Christmas Meditation

Our All-Day Christmas meditation will take place Saturday, December 1st from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm at the Center. We are very blessed that the entire meditation will be led by Sister Brahmani, resident monastic at the SRF Greenfield retreat in Front Royal, Virginia. If you plan to attend, please read the SRF All-Day Christmas Meditation Instructions beforehand; they can be found at the link below. According to these instructions, no one will be permitted to enter the chapel after the meditation begins at 10:00 am. Also, if you plan to attend only a portion of the meditation, it must be the morning portion, which ends with an intermission at 2:00 pm. The meditation concludes at 5:30 pm. Please bring as a devotional offering a fruit and a donation in an envelope. Extra fruits and envelopes will be available at the Center on a donation basis. All are welcome.

General Membership Meeting

There will be a General Membership meeting on December 2nd, immediately following the morning Reading service. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss building concept plans, and all members are urged to attend. SRF monastics will facilitate the meeting via virtual conference.
Christmas Potluck Social

Our annual Christmas Social will be held on Sunday, December 9th, after the morning services. The Sunday School students have a very special performance in store for us. All are warmly invited to come celebrate this most special season with Master's spiritual family. Please bring a vegetarian entree ( pre-warmed to at least room temperature to facilitate more efficient food service ), fruit juice, or dessert, if you plan to attend. 
Greenfield All-Day Christmas Meditation

The SRF Greenfield Retreat in Front Royal, VA will hold their All-Day Christmas Meditation on Saturday, December 15th, from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. If you would like to attend, there will be a sign-up sheet in the Center's lobby, or you can contact Greenfield directly (540-635-5066).
Holiday Food Drive

As a service to God and Guru, through caring for others, the DC Center is conducting a 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.

Christmas collection : December 9-20
New Year's Eve Social and Meditation

Our New Year's Eve meditation will take place on December 31st, from 11:00 pm to 12:30 am at the Center. Master recommended starting the new year in meditation, and all are warmly invited to both the meditation and a potluck social that will take place earlier in the evening at the home of Herb and Sally Simon (403 Hamilton Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. 20901). The social will begin at 7:30 pm, and will include a period of chanting and Christmas songs. An email blast will be sent as the event nears, with directions and pertinent information, including how to RSVP. Flyers will also be on the table in the lobby of the Center. Please bring a vegetarian entree or dessert if you are attending the social. We hope to see you there!
Service Readings This Month

December 9: Vol. 1 #49:  Finding the Joy in Life
December 16: Vol. 1 #50:  The Nature of a Master
December 23: Vol. 1 #51:  Celebrating Christmas in the Silence of the Soul
December 30: Vol. 1 #52: Controlling Your New Year's Destiny
Long Meditations This Month

We will have 3-hour meditations every Sunday evening from 6:00-9:00 pm. There will also be a 4-hour meditation service on December 22nd from 10am-2pm.
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.
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
Special Events This Month

DC Center All-Day Christmas Meditation
December 1, 10:00am - 5:30pm

General Membership Meeting
December 2, 12:15pm - 2:00pm

Christmas Potluck Social
December 9, 12:15pm

Greenfield All-Day Christmas Meditation
December 15, 10:00am - 5:30pm

4-Hour Meditation Service
December 22, 10:00am - 2:00pm

New Year's Eve Social
December 31, 7:30pm

New Year's Eve Meditation
December 31, 11:00pm - 12:30am
Washington DC Center of Self-Realization Fellowship
4911 Niagara Road College Park MD 20740
washington.dc.srf@gmail.com
DCcentersrf.org