Celebrate the coming of Christ on Earth by beholding the divine Christ Consciousness, which was manifest in Jesus, born anew in the cradle of [your] own spiritual awakening in deep meditation...Behold the omnipresent, ever-living Christ born anew in your devoted attention. Make the unknown Christ known to you by communing with him as the ever-new, ever-increasing joy of your daily deep meditation. Love Christ as this joy of meditation, and in this way celebrate every day the spiritual Christmas: his second coming, within yourself...

Through the portal of meditation, let your imprisoned joy escape to, and rest in, the heart of Christ, which is in everything. Let your joy dance in the farthest planets, over the vastness of the blue, and in the wavelets of souls you have met and loved, and who are nearest to you. Then you will behold Christ cradled in every manifestation of creation. You will discover the omnipresent joy of Christ in all saints, in all men, in all creatures, in the star-studded cosmos, and in the cradle of your thoughts and the temple of your soul.

Paramahansa Yogananda

An Inspiration for Christmas, SRF Magazine Winter 2007

Dear Jackie,

We hope to see you on December 3 for the long meditation to celebrate the Spiritual Christmas and on December 11 for the Christmas Potluck Social. There is also a long meditation online on SRF OMC website on December 17 to celebrate Christmas. Please note we will hold a regular Sunday service on December 25, Christmas Day. 

Finally, our Christmas Food Drive continues successfully. We thank you for your generosity as we have been able to donate the food to several local food banks, including Shepherd's Table and A Wider Circle.

Jai Guru.

Gauri Prakash-Canjels

Coordinator

Washington D.C. Center All-Day Christmas Meditation

Our center will hold an all-day Christmas meditation with kirtan on December 3, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Paramahansa Yoganandaji began the tradition of celebrating a “spiritual Christmas” with an all-day meditation. The meditation service will include inspirational readings, meditation, listening to recordings by our Guru and his advanced disciples, and singing Christmas songs and hymns. There is a half-hour break about mid-way through. If you can only attend one part of the meditation, then please join the first part. Please also bring a devotional offering of fruit and a donation in an envelope. Complete instructions can be found at the link below.

Christmas Potluck Social

We look forward to hosting a Christmas Potluck Social on December 11, following the reading service. Please bring a vegetarian dish (preferably at room temperature), juice, or dessert to share. All are welcome to attend and enjoy caroling and fellowship. 

Greenfield Retreat Center All-Day Christmas Meditation

The SRF Greenfield Retreat in Front Royal, Virginia, will hold its all-day Christmas meditation on December 17. For more information, please go to their website.

Sunday School

There will be Sunday School classes on December 4 and 18. Classes are open to all children ages four and older.

Christmas 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 containers in the Center's lobby.

The most needed items are: Low-sodium canned soups, beans, and tomatoes; low-sugar canned fruit; peanut butter in plastic jars; and low-sugar cereal. No glass containers, please.

New Year's Eve Meditation

The Center's New Year's Eve meditation will take place from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on December 31. Paramahansa Yoganandaji recommended meditation as a particularly effective method for bringing in the new year, setting new goals, and aligning oneself with Spirit. This service of meditation and devotional chanting follows that recommendation.

Service Readings This Month

December 4: Vol. 2 #49: Receiving God's Answers to Your Prayers

December 11: Vol. 2 #50: Miracles of Raja Yoga

December 18: Vol. 2 #51: Receive the Christ Consciousness

December 25: Vol. 2 #52: The Purpose of Life is to Find God

Special Events This Month

All-Day Christmas Meditation with Kirtan

December 3, 10:00 - 5:30

Christmas Potluck Social

December 11

Greenfield Retreat All-Day Christmas Meditation

December 17

New Year's Eve Meditation

December 31, 11:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.