...or so "they" say. I guess that means Spirit doesn't wear a watch or know that when it nudges, pushes you, it doesn't care that it is pre-dawn and you might be tired.
At 4:08 a.m., I finally gave in and got up.
There is so much going on this week and so much that took place last night, I was having nightmares and needed to shake and wake myself up. When I did, it was clear that I was to stay awake and tend to some things such as prayer and a new blog entry.
Ok.
Last night, we had over 40 people attend an All-Church Visioning meeting at the SDA church site. Visioneers, Evelyn Eads and Ruth Soklow led us through a very creative process while Billie Frances, Ethelyn Holmes and Danielle Love held HighWatch. The intention for the Visioning was to reveal our purpose as a new church community and to reveal the components, words, images and phrases towards creating our new community name. There was such an amazing amount of creative energy it's no wonder I am having trouble sleeping.
I was so pleased by the turn out of people. Lita and Charles Young even brough Rev. Nancy Anderson with them and she lent her consciousness to the process. I began to feel quite emotional and was surprised at the depth of feelings this stirred up for me.
Many people who wanted to be there to contribute were unable to attend. So Spirit moved through me this morning the idea of having the next phase be this Sunday so that others could collaborate. We will have a way for everyone to give further input this Sunday at service. If you weren't with us Wednesday night, your 'voice' can still be heard. Then I will take the results from the Wednesday night process and the feedback from Sunday up to the sacred grounds of Asilomar with me so that the name can emerge.
Loyal bloggers, there may even be updates posted here (I will take my laptop this trip) whereby I will ask for further input, so please stay tuned. It is so delicious to know that the process can continue over the miles and the cyberwaves.
For those of you who wish to add to this, I am not specifically asking for full-blown new names for our church community. More than likely, a name would be coming to you from your brain and not the Mind. Your linear brain will have certain ideas; but your Mind is the link to and as the One Mind and will have a sense of the bigger picture we are seeking. So if you have feelings, qualities, adjectives, images, etc. that you sense or feel about our community please feel free to post them here and I will throw them into my proverbial hopper as this process continues.
thanking you inadvance for your support and colloboration.
It's 5:30 a.m.--Mystic Time --time to pray.
And so it is!
Wait a minim.....
Tonight, we rented the new film, "The Fabelmans" and loved it. Incredible performances, screenwriting and story-telling. I espec...
11 comments:
I attended the Visioning last night and I, too, was stirred by restlessness and energy. I awoke at 2:30 am and 'held watch' until I was relieved by you, since it was right around 4:00 am that I finally fell back asleep.
Thank you, Rev. Duchess I'll definitely stay tuned.
Checking at least once a day is part of my spiritual practice.
I also attended the visioning and did not get to sleep until 2:15am...Wow..what's the buzz..what's the happening?? Now I know..yawn, Sunshine
Wow--it is something to say if there were a few of us that were so stirred we woke up pre-dawn.. hmmm
Now here is where it gets really weird--I woke up again today, Friday, Aug 4th at 4:07 a.m.! And just as I was having the thought in my head that yesterday I woke up at 4:08, the digital clocked flipped and I was having digital deja vu.
I recall years ago a holistic MD who practiced Eastern medicine as well, tell me that there is a correlation to the block of time you awaken and certain organ functions. Wonder what organ wants to wake up at 4 am? Or what I need to know and address???
I love that this blog is a daily thing for some folk--encourages me to write more often. I just don't want to take up all the space, all the time.
I am hoping that people also read the comments as well as what I write. Because that helps to give the full picture and take the pulse of our community.
Please read everyone's comments and then feel free to comment on that too.
I will probably blog again tomorrow after we share "the Secret" tonight.
Love
RDD
Hi, Rev. Duchess. We’ve met, although there’s no reason to think you remember who I am. That doesn’t matter. I just wanted to my support for you and your work as a member of the local Religious Science community, even though I seldom attend Pacific Church. You are in my thoughts and prayers now, in what must be a very trying time. I’m treating in my own spiritual work for more material support and harmonious resolutions in all business relationships for you and Pacific Church, and know a great success is unfolding for you now. You are a woman of God and I thank you for your ministry.
Love
Duke
That's the Lung who is up at 4am (actually 3-5am), wanting to equally take in and let go.
I need help letting go of something that keeps nagging at me: a deep, righteous and possibly puritanical belief that it is wrong to change our name and identity as a way to try to get free from a mess we made.
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Perhaps the topic was already addressed at the visioning that I was unable to attend.
Hi Jo,
Thanks for that Eastern medicine answer. It makes perfect sense for me as I move through this transitional process of letting go and taking in....
May I offer my answer to your very important concern about our name change, as I would bet you share that concern with several others.
We are not changing the name solely to get free of "the mess we made". That would not serve and would ultimately boomerang to bite us in the proverbial you know what if that was the motivation.
The name change is a way of releasing the connection to the identity, yes. Name in Biblical connotations means "nature"--as Adam named things to reflect their nature --and our nature as a church community has definitely changed. Not only changed in the five years I have been here, but even in the past year. One of the aspects of the name change is to reflect who we are now and who/how we are choosing to become.
We are not using a name change as a form of denial or hiding. It is true, that legally we may have to dissolve Pacific Church, which of course, would require a name change. However, what I feel is that if Pacific CRS could stay as it is through the current legal issue, I would still endorse, support and encourage the name change.
Your question and concern serves as an opportunity for each of us to examine from within our own personal reasons for wanting (or not wanting) to change the name. I hope that each of us as congregant, member, practitioner,minister and the like, will indeed take all of this into his or her prayer work. My heart's desire is to move us through this with integrity, grace, ease and of course, joy to the best of my ability. And then the rest, is up to God through us.
Hope this helps answer your concern. I am thrilled to have this level of discussion on our blog.
Thanks
RDD
Hi Duke,
Thanks for your reply and support. When you can, come and see us in our new church home in Tierrasanta.
RDD
Hope people are reading my comments in the comments, too.
It seems only a short time ago that people seemed very invested in keeping the Pacific Church name. One day it is full investment, the next day things are tossed aside. It can be confusing.
Webster says:
integrity means:
Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.
The state of being unimpaired; soundness.
The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.
financial integrity means:
Integrity in your money matters. Being honest about where you are financially, being honest about the state of your financial affairs, and even willing to face the truth.
Exercising financial integrity means that you live in faith and not in fear.
Financial integrity requires commitment, discipline and honesty.
In regards to our name, part of the nudge to change it is beyond it reflecting our new chapter, our new space, our new expression of consciousness, a new name is required if we create a new church community.
And to address one of the latest comments, to be in integrity with principle and finances, we may need to dissolve that which we know as Pacific Church in order to move forward and onward as a church community.
Choosing a new name is not a random cosmetic idea. Especially not to someone who is as invested in the power of words (and a name) as I am. I am trusting the new name will reflect the new intention and thrust of this congregation.
I cannot tell if someone posts an anonymous quote for the idea of anonymity or because it is easier and one does not know how to sign in as a blogger and have their name(s) shown. When it is anonymous, I cannot address the person privately if I sense a deeper or further response is required.
So my comments to the comments shall have to suffice for now.
Thanks for keeping the dialogue open.
RDD
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