"Christ seeks the temples of true souls. He loves the quiet shrine of devotion in your heart where you abide with him, there in the sanctuary aglow with the vigil light of your love. Those who meditate devoutly will receive Christ on the altar of calmness in their own consciousness."

Paramahansa Yogananda in The Second Coming of Christ:

The Resurrection of the Christ Within You,

"Come to the Land Where Christ Reigns"

Warm greetings from Portland Center

As we enter this spiritually uplifting season, we are glad to share with you our schedule for the coming months. Please join us in meditation and in festivity!

Ongoing Monthly Events

Tuesday Evenings

6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Our chapel is open for silent individual meditation. Come and go as you wish during these hours. Please note that Portland Center will be closed on Tuesday Christmas Eve as well as Tuesday New Year's Eve.

Sunday Mornings 

9:40 Group practice of the SRF Energization Exercises.

10:00 - 10:45 Inspirational Meditation Service.

11:00 - 12 noon Reading Service. The first and third Sundays of each month feature a recorded video service given by an SRF monk or nun. Check our website for a listing of the titles.

11:00 - 12 noon Sunday School, held on the first Sunday of each month for children ages 3 to 12.

Kirtan Portland Center's kirtan group leads the morning meditation on the last Sunday of each month, beginning with practice of the Energization Exercises at 8:00. You may also enter during periods of chanting at 9:00 or 10:00.

Special Events in the Coming Months:

Saturday, November 9 Meditation with Kirtan, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. If you have never before participated in a long meditation, this will be a wonderful way to prepare for the All-Day Christmas Meditation on December 14. Periods of silent meditation will range from thirty to sixty minutes, interspersed with kirtan chanting and inspiring readings from our Guru. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m., and no one will be admitted after 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, November 24  Thanksgiving Potluck at noon, following the 11:00 Reading Service. For this as well as our Christmas potluck, please bring a vegetarian dish for eight to ten people that does not need to be heated. Preheated foods may be brought in a slow cooker. All are welcome!

Saturday, December 14 All-day Christmas Meditation, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. with a 20 minute break at 2:00 p.m. Details can be found below.

Sunday, December 15  Christmas Potluck at noon, following the 11:00 Reading Service.

Tuesday, December 31 New Year's Eve. Although Portland Center will not be open for group meditation, Self-Realization Fellowship will again offer a special online meditation through the SRF Online Meditation Center.

Sunday, January 5 Birthday Commemorative Service for Paramahansa Yogananda, 11:00 a.m. Please see special information below.

Saturday, January 11 All-Day Meditation dedicated to Paramahansa Yogananda, in honor of his birthday. Details will be announced later in a separate mailing.

ॐ

All-Day Christmas Meditation

Years ago, Paramahansa Yogananda began the tradition of honoring Jesus Christ during this holy season through setting aside an entire day for meditation on him. Many devotees find this occasion to be one of the spiritual highlights of the year.

Portland Center will hold an All-Day Christmas Meditation on Saturday December 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a twenty minute break at 2:00. As an expression of reverence and devotion, please bring an offering of a fruit and a monetary donation in an envelope. As with all long meditations, if you are only able to attend for part of the day we ask that you come for the morning session.

We encourage everyone who plans to participate to review these helpful guidelines given by Self-Realization Fellowship. If you are ill or think you may be contagious, out of consideration for others please meditate at home with the livestream provided by the SRF Online Meditation Center. We also ask that you wear clothing and jewelry that do not make noise when you move, to avoid disturbing the profound meditative silence we are striving for during this special time.

Birthday of Paramahansa Yogananda, Sunday January 5

Portland Center will celebrate Paramahansa Yogananda's birth anniversary on Sunday January 5 with a commemorative service at 11:00 a.m., replacing the Reading Service on that day. Sunday School children will also have a special service during this time. It is traditional to bring a flower and a monetary donation to these commemorative services, symbolizing our devotion, gratitude and loyalty to the great Master whose life is being honored.

Special Schedule for Sunday January 5, 2025

9:40 - 9:55 Energization Exericises

10:00 - 10:45 Meditation Service

11:00 - Noon Paramahansa Yogananda Birthday Commemorative Service. After the service, we will gather in the Sunday School room to sing "Happy Birthday" to our Guru and enjoy birthday cake together.

Important Update About Parking at Portland Center

The Portland Public School district is now chaining and locking the parking lot we rent from them on Sunday mornings. Our Usher is responsible for unlocking and locking up the parking lot. If it is locked when you arrive for Sunday or special services or meditations, please park on the street. The parking lot will be locked at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays, so please be sure to move your vehicle to street parking if you will stay later than that.

Volunteering at Portland Center

Whether you're new to the Portland Center or have been attending for some time, being part of our volunteer family is a wonderful opportunity for spiritual growth and cultivating divine friendship with fellow devotees. 

As one of our volunteers recently told us, "Volunteering at the Center has been doubly fulfilling for me. I feel blessed to support Master's vision in whatever small way I can, and having made new spiritual friends is a welcome bonus!"

We offer a variety of ways to serve that fit your schedule and interests, and some projects can be completed from your home as well as at the Center itself. Many tasks require a commitment of less than an hour, while others may take longer. We welcome any amount of time you can devote.

If you enjoy preparing and serving food, the Hospitality Committee is currently in need of volunteers to assist with our monthly Friendship Tea and seasonal pot lucks, as well as serving birthday cake on Master's birthday.

Interested in volunteering? Please see Kaya Stasch, Volunteer Coordinator,

on Sundays at Portland Center. You may also submit a volunteer application at the Center, or online at our Center's website.

"Life should be chiefly service....

When in service you forget the little self, you will feel the big Self of Spirit."

Paramahansa Yogananda

Silent Retreat in Eagle Creek

Members and friends of Portland Center enjoyed a day of inspiration and peaceful silence during our one-day retreat on September 21, held at the Alton Collins retreat center. Group meditation, chanting, and solitary woodland walks were deeply renewing for all who attended.

We hope to offer a similar retreat next year, and will keep everyone informed!

In Memoriam — Nancy Van Tyne

One of our members shared this reminiscence about her: “Nancy had a big heart, open to one and all, accepting them with no judgment, always eager to serve in any way. She had deep faith in the gurus regarding a healing she experienced before coming to Portland Center. A true smile millionaire regardless of her own personal challenges.” 

Even during the last few years of Nancy's life, she shared what she had with others. Always smiling, generous, compassionate and caring – that was Nancy! 

May we send Nancy our prayers of love and goodwill with the blessings of the Masters as she continues her journey toward the ultimate destination, oneness with God.

Jai Guru



ॐ

Self-Realization Fellowship's Monthly Newsletter 

A perfect way to maintain a steady stream of divine inspiration is to receive Self-Realization Fellowship's monthly e-newsletter, sent from their International Headquarters in Los Angeles. This newsletter includes themed quotes from Paramahansa Yogananda, as well as articles and video clips with practical guidance for everyday living. Click here to subscribe and also to enjoy the extensive archive of past editions.

News from Managing Council

The Portland Center has a position available on our Managing Council for the coming 2025 year. Nominations are open for one Member-at-Large. Paulette Fritsch will continue as the other Member at Large. 

Those serving on the Council are required to be SRF Kriyabans, as well as Portland Center voting members who maintain regular attendance at the Portland Center. 

The nomination period is November 1-30. Names will be submitted to Brother Devananda in December and the results provided in late January. You may submit your nominations in a drop box at the Portland Center, or by an email message to this address: pcsrfnominations@gmail.com

To learn more about the Managing Council and to view the Member-at-Large position description, click here. 

If you are not a Voting Member but would like to be, please see the registration form on our website.

We appreciate your support!

In divine friendship,

Linda Clark-Traeger, Mike O'Brien, Paulette Fritsch, and Shikha Misra

How to Make a Financial Contribution



Portland Center of SRF is solely supported by financial contributions from members and friends, and by volunteers who offer their time and skills. We deeply appreciate your ongoing donations to help us meet recurring expenses to sustain our Center. Our Center is officially a non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible.  

If you write a check to the group, please know that checks payable to "Portland Center" will be deposited locally and used to support our Center's activities, pay utility bills etc. Checks payable to "Self-Realization Fellowship" are sent to SRF headquarters in Los Angeles, to support SRF's worldwide activities.

For those members who choose to make regular donations to our Center, you might want to consider setting up an automatic bill pay through your bank.

You can also donate to the Portland Center using Zelle through our special email address: portlandcenterdonations@gmail.com

For those who prefer, checks may be mailed to

356 NE 80th Avenue, Portland 97213.

Thank you for your support!

An Inspiration for the Coming Year

“Speed ahead on the smooth highway of right behavior,

right thinking, and meditation that leads to God. Keep on,

until you come to the land of the rising sun of joy —

of peace, of happiness, of inner strength

that can never be taken away.”

Paramahansa Yogananda

Interested in finding other SRF groups

in the Pacific NW or throughout the world?



Click here: