2011

Coming Home to Goodness, Beauty, and Truth

A Journey of Deepening Through the Twelve Virtues

This is our theme for 2011 that we introduced on Sunday, January 2.  If you missed the service, it is available as an audio recording on our website. There is also a written summary in our Dec. 30, 2010 newsletter. Throughout the year we will focus on one virtue a month, in coordination with the corresponding sign of the Zodiac. We started with Capricorn and the virtue of Courage. The rest of the Virtues, in order, are Discernment, Love, Devotion, Balance, Faithfulness, Selflessness, Compassion, Courtesy, Equanimity, Patience, and Truth.

To enhance our journey and deepen our process, I am suggesting a weekly supplement and a daily meditation. The weekly supplement is to receive an emailed Weekly Tao that I have been offering, free of charge, for over 6 years. THE TAO TE CHING was first written down 2,500 years ago in China and is comprised of 81 short wisdom sayings. Each week I select a translation of the verse for that week from over 80 different versions and send it out with a brief commentary. This week was verse 11, next week will be verse 12. The word "Tao" is usually translated as path or way, the word "Te" as virtue and/or power. Ching means "great book". So an English translation of the title might be  THE GREAT BOOK OF THEWAY OF VIRTUOUS POWER. If you would like to receive this, just email me at ron@centerforwholeness.com and I will gladly add you to the list.

To participate in the daily meditation you will need to purchase THE BOOK OF AWAKENING, Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have, by Mark Nepo. I have at least a dozen daily meditation books, this is by far my favorite. For what its worth, it has been recently designated by Oprah as one of her "favorite things".  Listprice is $18.95 but we are buying a quantity of them and offering it to our members for $11.00. Email Joan in our office or sign up for one at Spirit United on Sunday if you would like to order a copy. It is also available as an e-book for $8.99 through Amazon.

In summary, we are suggesting for this year a three-fold process: a monthly focus at our Sunday service, a weekly focus through an emailed verse of THE TAO TE CHING, and a daily focus through THE BOOK OF AWAKENING. It is my conviction that each of us is on this planet right now by choice. By choice, we each have work to do. As a community of committed individuals, working, praying, and meditating, we magnify the good we do in service to the greater community. Pleasec onsider participating in whatever way calls to you.

Many Blessings in the New Year,

Rev. Ron Moor