"Whether your worldly possessions be many or few, you are still rich in gifts from God. Love Him not for the outward things He may give you, but for His gift to you of Himself as your Father."
Paramahansa Yogananda
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Warm greetings from Portland Center as we enter
this spiritually abundant season of sharing and joy,
made all the sweeter through our practice of meditation!
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We are delighted to announce that we will again be offering in-person Sunday Inspirational Reading services from 11:00 a.m. to noon, beginning Sunday, November 14 (doors open at 10:45). Tuesday evening open meditations from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. will resume November 16, with doors opening at 6:15. We invite you to be with us in the stillness of group meditation, and in fellowship with our spiritual family.
Please note the following details
concerning arrangements for meeting safely:
- Masks are required.
- To allow for social distancing, seating will be in designated seats only – including for families and couples.
- All chants and prayers are to be practiced mentally, not aloud.
- Doors open at 10:45 a.m. on Sundays, 6:15 p.m. on Tuesdays.
- The chapel may be cooler than usual as windows will be partially open and overhead fans running, so please dress accordingly.
- The Book Room will continue to be closed.
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Along with returning to a limited schedule of services at Portland Center, the coming months offer great potential for deepening our inner connection with God, Christ, and our Guru Paramahansa Yogananda through observance of traditional holidays such as Thanksgiving (U.S.), Christmas, and ushering in the New Year. SRF/YSS devotees have the added blessing of honoring our Guru on his January 5 birthday, followed on January 8 by a day of meditation in his honor.
Subscribers to this newsletter will receive updates about Portland Center's schedule for seasonal commemorative events, and our website will also post current information. In addition, Self-Realization Fellowship will offer online observances for Christmas and Master's birthday.
Until more details become available (as we continue to closely monitor pandemic developments), for now you may want to
note these important dates:
Sunday, November 14: 11:00 a.m. - 12 noon, Portland Center Inspirational Reading Services resume
Tuesday, November 16: Tuesday evening silent meditations resume at Portland Center. Stay for as long as you like between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 18: Annual all-day Christmas meditation (Portland Center will not hold an in-person meditation this year)
Friday, December 31: New Year's Eve – Although we will not host a group meditation service at the Center, Paramahansa Yogananda encouraged devotees to meditate during the time of transition into the new year, contemplating lessons learned in the past and affirming new directions for the year to come.
Wednesday, January 5: Birthday of Paramahansa Yogananda
Saturday, January 8: Commemorative meditation in honor of Paramahansa Yogananda
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"Take your consciousness from the confines of mere material festivities and with closed eyes enter the secret door of meditative silence to behold the vast altar of peace spread eternally above, beneath, to the left and to the right, in front and behind, within and without."
Paramahansa Yogananda,
in The Second Coming of Christ
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This past summer was a busy time for volunteers who watered and cared for our grounds during the heat, and for those who donated their maintenance skills to keep Portland Center looking beautiful. Our Landscape Design committee also met for visioning sessions, in anticipation of beautifying the grounds for a full reopening. Look for updates about planned projects in future editions of this newsletter! |
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In the meantime, flowers and shrubs continue to grace our property, and the building is ready to face the winter weather. |
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Heartfelt thanks go out to all who contribute their time and talents for the upkeep of Portland Center! |
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News from Self-Realization Fellowship Mother Center |
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Changes to SRF/YSS Websites
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Convocation Events Still Available! |
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The SRF annual worldwide Convocation was again conducted completely online in August, free of charge. Members and friends from over 130 countries participated in group meditations, kirtans and virtual pilgrimages, and listened to inspiring classes and talks by SRF monks and nuns. |
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All these events remain available indefinitely,
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SRF Launches Voluntary League of Disciples |
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The Voluntary League of Disciples (VLD), as described by SRF/YSS President Brother Chidananda, is the fulfillment of Paramahansa Yogananda's vision for a "third order" of householder devotees. This is an opportunity for Kriyabans who "live the life and serve the work" to make a more formal commitment to the SRF path and their personal sadhana; and to pledge their service to the Guru and the organization he founded.
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News from Managing Council |
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Greetings, Portland Center members and friends!
After these many months of closure, we are grateful to again offer in-person services at our beautiful Center. We hope to further expand our schedule in the coming months, so please stay in touch by checking our website for changes as they come up.
Our final Zoom service will take place on Sunday November 7 at 11:00 a.m. Information is given below for those who would like to join.
Portland Center has been receiving requests for alternative methods to donate, as an increasing number of members are no longer using checks. For those who use online banking, the option to send funds through Zelle is now available. Zelle is a money transfer service that is secure, free of charge, and widely accepted.
To use Zelle, log in into your bank’s website and check for the Zelle icon. Click to set it up by following the instructions. You will then need to add the recipient (Portland Center of SRF) as a contact, using our designated email address: [email protected]. Checks are still accepted, for those who prefer to donate in this way.
Your prayers, enthusiasm, and financial contributions have kept Portland Center viable during these many months of closure, and we deeply value your support, both material and spiritual. We extend our special thanks to the many volunteers who continue to serve Guruji and the Portland Center.
We look forward to personally greeting new and returning friends during one of our upcoming services. May God, Christ and our Guru deeply bless one and all during this season of gratitude, hope and joy!
In Divine Friendship,
Kripa Raguram, Mike O'Brien, Paulette Fritsch,
Rebecca Field and Shikha Misra
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How to Join the November Zoom Meeting |
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Portland Center is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting,
Sunday November 7, 2021 11:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (US and Canada)
On Desktop or Mobile, Join Zoom Meeting with the Following Link:
Meeting ID: 820 9458 5085
Passcode: 003932
To join by phone with audio only, call one of the following numbers and enter the above Meeting ID and Passcode when prompted:
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
We hope to see you there!
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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.
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.
As announced above in our Managing Council news, you can now donate to the Portland Center using Zelle through our special email address: [email protected]
For those who prefer, checks may continue to be mailed to
356 NE 80th Avenue, Portland 97213.
Thank you for your support!
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"Let us forget the sorrows of the past and make up our minds not to dwell on them in the New Year. With determination and unflinching will, let us renew our lives, our good habits, and our successes. If the last year has been hopelessly bad, the New Year must be hopefully good."
Paramahansa Yogananda
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Interested in finding other SRF groups
in the Pacific NW or throughout the world?
Click here:
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Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in the Portland Center of Self-Realization Fellowship. Don't forget to add [email protected] to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! |
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