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Showing posts from March, 2024

Dr. Edward Viljoen at Wednesday Evening - Recovering from Betrayal: Lessons from Holy Wednesday

Betrayal can leave us reeling, lost in a sea of shattered trust and emotional turmoil. Yet, within the stories we've inherited, there are paths forward, lessons on resilience, and recovery that resonate through time. Holy Wednesday, often overshadowed by the more prominent days of Holy Week, offers profound insights into the nature of betrayal and the steps toward healing. Dr. Edward will talk about the story of betrayal, understanding its impact on our peace, and the steps we may take to heal from it. The Story of Betrayal Holy Wednesday marks a pivotal moment in the Easter narrative—the day Judas Iscariot chose to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. This act wasn't a mere transaction; it was a breach of deep, personal trust. Judas, one of the twelve disciples, had walked alongside Jesus, sharing in the journey, the teachings, and the miracles. His betrayal set in motion the events leading to the crucifixion, a cornerstone of the Easter story. Understanding the Impact B

The Harmony of Spring Equinox

Spring Equinox is a special time of the year for me. The days and nights are equal, and this reminds me of the harmony and balance inherent in nature.  Sometimes I find my life out of balance; the world can be quite frightening, and occasionally, if I am not careful, I can let the stressors of my life add up. Spring Equinox is a lovely reminder, then, that the balance I am often seeking in my life is a vital part of the universe in which we live. It's not something I have to create, but rather something that already exists that I can choose to cultivate.  This Wednesday during our Spring Equinox Potluck, we will celebrate that balance with food, song, community, and shared spiritual practice. You will have an opportunity after our potluck dinner to create an affirmation of balance and harmony for yourself, our community, and the world.  Our potluck begins at the Center at 6pm, and the special Wednesday Evening Service begins at 7pm.  See you soon! -Russ

Don't Throw the Baby Out With the Bathwater

I love new things. New technology, new guitars (I may have a problem, I won't deny it!), new goodies to print on my 3d printer. There is something about "new" that feels like an expression of life to me. New can be quite exciting and fun! In our society I believe that we are conditioned to assume that just because something is shiny and new, it must be better. The whole smartphone industry is a great example of this--we are told that we need that new iPhone every year, even though that new iPhone isn't really doing anything new or much better than last year's iPhone. It still takes pictures, it still makes phone calls, it still browses the Internet and has tons of apps that all do various different cool things. Functionally speaking, when I look at the core things a smartphone needs to do, the iPhone of today isn't really that different than the very first iPhone. They both do the same things; maybe the new iPhone does those things better, but that original iP