Breaking DAWN
Newsletter
Adult classes every Sunday at 10 am
Church at 11 am every Sunday
Potluck Dinner first Sunday each Month
October 2005
Annual Membership Meeting
October 2 is the day set for the Annual Membership Meeting. There will be many festivities, including the ordination of Billy Branson and installation of officers. The weekend will end with the meeting at 2 p. m. Sunday afternoon after potluck dinner. Come Friday evening so you don’t miss any of Saturday’s events. Cabins are available for members call Norma to reserve your room 785-823-6881, or email her at norma@tri.net. The church will be providing some food so you do not have to bring much. Bring your own linens. Your presence is an important part of being a member of Sunset Spiritualist Church. See weekend schedule contained on the last page of this newsletter.
Events planned for October 1st & 2nd
Plan to arrive on Sept. 30th Friday evening so you do not miss the activities planned for the weekend. Cabins are available if it’s empty it’s yours (free will offering,) bring food for potluck and linens. There will be fun and fellowship.
Saturday Oct 1st – 10:00 a.m. Class –“ Why Do We Drum?” Rev. Evadne Tuxhorn & Patti Nicholson
Noon Lunch (potluck)
2:00 p.m. Billy Branson Ordination
3:30 Class – DNA: Pirate of the Sacred Spiral – Marsha Doyenne from “Essentials” in Concordia will give a class that will add to the information she shared in her great classes at camp this year. If you missed her at camp be sure to be there for this opportunity. Visit her shop at 118 W. 6th St. in Concordia, it is a wonderful experience.
5:30 Supper (potluck)
7:00 Drumming
8:30 Trumpet Séance followed by traditional Circle
Sunday Oct 2nd – 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast provided by church
10:00 Class
11:00 Church – Karen Lyons
12:00 Dinner (potluck)
2:00 Installation of New Officers followed by Membership Meeting
Hypnosis Workshop – October
The 3 Day Intensive Hypnosis Workshop by Billy Branson will be held October 21st – 23rd at Sunset Spiritualist Church. Billy Joy Branson is a private counselor and hypnotherapist in Emporia, Kansas. Billy is the founder and director of The Universal Institute of Hypnosis. She is also the author of “Mining the Silver Lining”, which tells of her struggle to gain bodily control and learn to walk again after spinal cord damage and crushed lungs. Through self-hypnosis, Billy woke up her totally paralyzed body, went to college and received a B.S. in psychology and an M.S. in counseling with additional post-graduate training in hypnosis. She now trains people to hypnotize themselves and others. Come learn hypnosis! See what it can do for you! Learn to hypnotize friends, clients, patients. Obtain 16 hours of workshop training! You will be presented a certificate for attending. Billy requires a minimum of ten participants due to the nature and structure of the presentation. If, by October 15 we have not received sufficient reservations, Billy respectfully reserves the right to cancel the workshop and fully refund all fees. The price of the workshop is $200.00 which includes lodging and meals. Please fill out the registration below and return along with payment by October 15th to Norma Johnson. Call Mary Brown for more information about the workshop 785-523-4133.
Billy requests that no children or pets be included in your attendance at the workshop. Please arrive in a timely manner. The money from this workshop will go to making the church basement handicap accessible.
Workshop hours are;
Friday eve 7p.m. – 10 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sun. 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
please arrive in a timely manner.
Registration Form Link
(printable form)
Proceeds from the workshop will go towards making the basement handicap accessible.
A New Word to Use
“Megwich” is a Cree Indian word that has no negative connotation; it can only be used for the highest good of all. It means that the Spirit within me greets the Spirit within you and within all. You cannot say “megwich” without a smile on your face.
Healing Work or Private Counseling available after any Sunday Church Service by an attending Minister.
LOVING CONCERN
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
The 2nd Row, Kathleen, Vicki, Pat Chalmers, Carl, Gwendolyn, Karen, Judy Evinger (diagnosed with breast cancer)
Please send prayer for Linda & Mike Bourke of Salina, Linda has had many medical challenges and is facing more.
If you would like prayer requests in the monthly newsletter please contact Patti 402-228-3558.
If you have email and are not getting the computer newsletter online email Patti at peaceseeker@diodecom.net
From President Karen Lyons
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we hope many of our members will be able to be with us Oct. 1st and 2nd for Billy Branson’s Ordination, Church, potluck, and our Annual Meeting. We’re looking forward to a very special weekend and hope you will be there to enjoy it with us.
The September Board meeting was brief, in honor of Maxine Windhorst’s 90th birthday celebration at the Wells Community Center. The new Board will be installed Oct. 2 and begin a busy new year in the life of Sunset Church.
Never underestimate the power of prayer! On Sept. 2 I took a fall and broke my wrist (the bad news is I broke my left wrist; the good news is I didn’t cut off anything essential with the chainsaw in my right hand). I wore a splint waiting for any swelling to subside, and went to the Doctor on Sept. 14 to get a permanent cast which I was to wear another 4-6 weeks. They took another X-ray, and, after consulting other Physicians, my perplexed Doctor came back in and announced I had a normal X-ray. He had no explanation for what had happened, but I had been to two healing services at Church in those 12 days, so although the Doctor was perplexed, I was not.
“Dear brothers and sisters, when-ever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” James 1:2&3
If you have not paid your dues for 2005/2006 this will be your last newsletter. If you wish to continue receiving this newsletter mail $10. for single, $15. for 2 at same address to:
Norma Johnson,
P O Box 2186
Salina, KS 67402
FROM BONNIE SMITH
“Spiritualism is a religion for those who find themselves outside all religions; while on the contrary it greatly strength-ens the faith of those who already possess religious beliefs.” (From “Spiritual Communications” by Raymond Buckland) This book has answered some questions I’ve had about Spiritualism being regard-ed as Christian based. Traditional Christian religions push Jesus as the only way to get to Heaven and one will be punished by a lake of fire (Hell) if one doesn’t embrace all the Christian rituals and beliefs without question. Spiritualism doesn’t do that or at least I’ve never heard or found that in the services in Wells or books I’ve read or online research. For me the difference is that traditional Christianity rules through fear of the unknown and demands agreeing and following certain tenets unconditionally and does not assure its members that death is not an end. Spiritualism rules through hope that loved ones live on unconditionally after death and we as God’s Children are allowed to use the gifts we have brought into this life with us, as well as being allowed to question and seek our own individual paths. One can be a Christian and a Spiritualist in his/her religious seeking, while traditional Christianity would not accept a choice like that. Many Christians are secret Spiritualists while a Spiritualist who also practices Christian-Judeo religious beliefs does not have to hide them for organizational acceptance.
The Wooden Bowl … email from Marge
I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law and four-year old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table.
But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. “We must do something about father,” said the son. “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.”
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometime he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
On a positive note:
I’ve learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I’ve learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.
I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.”
I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.
I’ve learned that honesty and integrity are the most important character traits a person can have.
I’ve learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.
I’ve learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.
People love that human touch — holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.
I’ve learned that you should pass this on to everyone you care about ……I just did.
Church Services
October 2 Karen Lyons
October 9 Rev. Gary Nicholson
October16 Leroy Windhorst
& Linda Anderson
October 23 Laura Coffey
October 30 Rev. Evadne Tuxhorn
November 6 Rev. Billy Branson
November 13 TBA
Please call Norma for further information, to make any changes, or to add your name to schedule
From Donna Haynes
I have my brothers (Alan Bell) permission to share this with anyone who would be interested. He wrote this, usually about three a.m., in the last several months of his wife Imogenes fourteen year battle with Hodgkins disease. She made her transition Sunday, August 21. A couple days before this he felt like he had to finish it. He wasn’t sure how the family would accept it but decided to print several copies anyway. I can tell you it was accepted well by all. Donna
A GUARDIAN ANGEL–February 2004
It must be really hard for anyone to accept the fact that they have to leave this world and go onward into the beyond. Especially if you are in the prime time of your life and have six children to worry about, all of them under twelve years old. We think that when a person passes on that we are the ones affected by their leaving us in this world. One seldom gives a thought to how the departed felt about leaving their spouse or children. This has given me considerable thought because of the following happenings. I label these happenings and not dreams because I don’t remember dreams more than a few minutes after I wake up. By contrast these “happenings” are something I can’t get off my mind. They have been going on for some months now.
Lately the usual hodge podge of dreams that float in and out of my cerebral cavity while sleeping have been interrupted. I find myself being jarred awake as if someone had slipped into the bedroom and startled me into an instant awareness of someone being there, followed by a period of time laying awake wondering what happened. This has been happening fairly regularly lately. Then there was the episode when during a collage of nonsensical dreams that were rolling through my head I saw this woman who was standing in front of me asking questions. She was a familiar looking woman but I was having trouble recognizing her. We were talking in some kind of non verbal type of communication. Thoughts just seemed to be projected rapidly between us and understood and returned as fast as they were received.
Her purpose there that night was to find out how Imogene was getting along. Imogene hadn’t been feeling well, fourteen years of fighting Hodgkin’s Disease was taking a toll. Being a bit confused I asked who she was, trying to see why she was so interested.
“I’m Laela Bennett and Imogene is my daughter. I have been worrying about her every since I had to leave her and her Sisters and her Brother when she was only three years old. I hope that she doesn’t hold any resentment toward me for leaving because I had no choice. I would not have left me children to fend for themselves but the fevers had taken such a toll on my body that I wasn’t able to use it any longer and had to leave. I have been worrying about them every since.”
I assured her that though Imogene had missed having a mother more than anything in the world she understood that her parting had to be and that she loved her very much. I then explained to her Imogene’s health problems and why she had been feeling so bad lately. Then she said she had to go back, he time was up but that she would be looking in on us from time to time just to see how things were going.
This was the first time I had met my mother in law. She had died from typhoid fever when Imogene was three years old. That was fifteen years before I met Imogene but now I know why she looked familiar. Knowing all of her children and having been married to Imogene for fifty three years I can see a bit of her in all of them. I think that a lady that can wonder about her family’s welfare that long after she went into the great beyond has got to be a great lady. I will be looking forward to seeing her again if she comes by or if I have to wait until I go here way. After all she is my Mother-in-law.
In the meantime I will look forward to her visit’s, event the ones where she only stops to look in on us. When I am jolted awake by the feeling that someone is in the room. I will know that Imogene’s guardian angel is just checking in on her. A mother that can return to watch over her children after all this time has got to be one great Guardian angel. Laela Bennett, a lady, a mother, an Angel. My mother in law and my friend.
Imogene’s mom helps out. I had to spend a day at Traffic School and was concerned that Imogene would be alone all day. I must have conveyed this information to Ms B. while I was telling her that Imogene had just had a needle biopsy and some lymph nodes removed for further biopsy’s and was not feeling very good. Ms B. let me know that she would look in on Imogene while I was gone and I should be assured that she would be all right. I worried anyway while I was in the class and hurried home to see Imogene. We were standing in the kitchen and Imogene was telling me that as it had been such a pretty day she had spent most of the day out on the patio. The nicest thing was that a little song bird had come on the porch and spent most of the day singing to her. She said it was the nicest thing. Joking I said that I had arranged for him to come and keep her company. No sooner had I said that, I got a feeling that Ms. B. was standing there with us and she poked me in the ribs and her voice slid through my head saying, “See, I told you I would take care of her”. And so she did.
January 2005
I hadn’t heard from Ms B. for a long while other than a feeling that she or someone else had been in the room at different times. At night generally in the wee hous of the morning I would wake up with the feeling that someone had just left and had been standing over Imogene checking her condition. This got to be very often as we came into the holiday season in late 2004. Imogene had been having a lot of tests and scans and was not feeling well at all. Ms B. was very worried about her, as we moved into 2005 her presence was getting to be almost nightly. Ms. B. seemed almost frantic.
January 21, 2005 while at Dr. Cavalcants office he sent us to the emergency room as Imogene was passing blood. After waiting over night in the waiting area they admitted her to the hospital for tests. I have always felt that Ms B. was waiting there with us. They performed an endoscopy and a colonoscopy operation where they patched up some bleeding areas in the colon.
On January 26, 2005 before Imogene was released from the hospital, we were in her room when the doctor came in and released Imogene. After the Doctor explained what had been done and said that Imogene could go home I heard like a sigh of relief beside me and a hand touching my shoulder. I turned and saw no one, but the white board on the wall where the Nurses and Aides had chalked their names and pager numbers had another line chalked on it that said “Primary care giver- Alan Bell 854-2073”. That line I had not seen before that moment. It was lit up and stood out brightly in that dim lit room. That touch on the shoulder was like a message that she was leaving Imogene in my hands. I was very proud.
August 2005-Imogene was very sick and in and out of Banner Desert Hospital. As I was sitting in the living room late one evening worrying about Imogene and all that was happening, Ms B. again slipped a message into my subconcious. It was one simple statement, “Imogene will be all right, she has both of us looking after her, she will either go home with you or she will come with me. Either way she will be in good hands and will be loved by both of us. She will be loved. She will be loved.”
It doesn’t matter if you believe this or not. It happened. I believe it. Imogene believes it. You can be skeptical if you want but don’t mess it up for Imogene, her Mom and I.
Kids, it took me two years of waking up every night in the wee hours, generally between 3 and 3:30 a.m. watching for Ms B., they must be on a different time schedule where she hangs out. I have no doubt that this grandmother that died before you were born and that I have never met physically exists. She will take care of your mother.
Finished August 19, 2005 by your Dad, Alan Bell
God and the Spider
During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades. Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed. As he waited, he prayed, “Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love You and trust You. Amen.” After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, “Well, I guess the Lord isn’t going to help me out of this one.” Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while , the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave. “Hah, he thought. “What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor.” As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while. “Lord, forgive me,” prayed the young man. “I had forgotten that in you a spider’s web is stronger than a brick wall.” We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget the victories that God would work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising way
From Donna Haynes
Can you read this? Olny srmat poelpe can.
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
From “God Is In The Small Stuff” by Bruce & Stan
If you want to be a great leader in God’s Kingdom – the only one that counts for eternity – then you need to let God into the small stuff of your life as you faithfully serve others.
IN THE SMALL STUFF…
v Empowering is more effective than delegating.
v Have the courage to hold people accountable.
v Being a good example is better than giving good advice.
v An exceptional leader is one who gets average people to do superior work.
v Managing people begins with caring for them.
v Power begins to corrupt the moment you begin to seek it.
v One of the sobering characteristics of leadership is that leaders are judged to a greater degree that followers.
v There are born leaders and there are leaders who are made. And then there are those who become leaders out of necessity.
“Those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant”
Luke 22:26
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