Summer 2016 - Spiritualist Church of Canada

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Spiritualist Church of Canada
Spirit Lives
Welcome to our Summer 2016
Newsletter
Inside this issue
President’s Address ............... 2-3
Editor’s Note……………….…….4-5
Inspiration ………………..…………6
Regrets of the Dying
By Bronnie Ware ................... 7-10
What Do You Think?
by Brenda Philp……………….11-12
Upcoming Fundraising
Events……………………………13-16
Upcoming Education ………17-18
Important Dates
Aug 20 S203 Spiritual Healing
Course (Page 18)
Oct 1
Annual AGM (Barrie)
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
JUNE 2016
As the Board (and no doubt all of you) prepares for the summer most of us have
our hearts and minds occupied by sunny hot weather, BBQs and various social gatherings. The Board of the Spiritualist Church of Canada (SCC) normally takes a break for
one month from our usual monthly meetings. This year our break will be to forego a
meeting in July. So, technically as I write this the Board is officially on a break. I know
most of the Board members will smile reading this because, as always, they are busy
planning and working on things behind the scenes – there is really no break from the
ongoing work they do. I continue to be inspired by the level of commitment and effort
this Board continues to put forth on our collective behalf.
There are two items in particular, I wanted to highlight in this issue of our newsletter. The first is that some of you may have noticed a number of changes with respect
to our website. Paul Ottmann and Nadine Miller have been working diligently on continuous improvements so that the site provides better access and information to those
visiting it. We will continue over the coming months to make changes that will make
the site easier to use and navigate. We have been truly blessed to benefit from Paul’s
expertise and work on this. Nadine of course has stepped in to back him up and fill in
the gaps whenever required. At times I know that Paul has been frustrated by my lack
of computer knowledge or ``tech savvy``. Thank you for your patience and willingness
to continue to educate me Paul!
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The second item is the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the SCC.
The AGM is a fantastic opportunity to come together as community, meet new people, reconnect with old friends and share our experience and hopes for the organization moving forward. Just to provide a few preliminary details, this year`s AGM will be
held on Saturday, October 1, 2016 in Barrie, Ontario. We have some exciting things
planned for the day, including workshops by Claire Ziritt from Belfast, Ireland and Rev.
Barbara Sanson from Lily Dale, NY along with Sharon Kestler from Erie, PA. Each member will be receiving a package at some point in August outlining additional details.
We have 7 Board member vacancies up for election this fall.
Please give some
thought to nominations before the meeting. Aside from that it is just plain fun! So we
hope to see you there – please check your calendars and plan to attend.
May Spirit bless you with many happy memories and joy over the coming summer months. Enjoy some time with family and friends, keeping yourselves and your families safe.
I will look forward to reconnecting with you in the fall and more specifically
seeing you in person at the AGM!
Rev. Patti Tomczyk
President
Spiritualist Church of Canada
“You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you’re too
busy; then you should sit for an hour? “ - Old Zen saying
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Welcome to Summer!
As I sit on my back deck, with a refreshing beverage in hand, I can’t help but feel
grateful for my home, family, friends and of course the sunshine!
Earlier today while waiting in line to pay for my groceries, a magazine caught my
eye – Time – The Science of Happiness. I immediately picked it up and threw it on the pile
with my groceries.
In the back of the magazine was a map indicating the happiest countries in the
world – Denmark being number one. I am happy to report that Canada was among the
happiest!
There were many articles and studies within the magazine relating to mind, life and
spirit but the one that caught my eye, was “The Power of Gratitude”. It was noted that
gratitude increases by 5% for every 10 years of life. It was also mentioned that people who
are regularly grateful, are healthier and happier.
The studies conducted showed that as people got older, they became happier and
that seniors were the happiest among all adults. As I reflect on my life, I have to agree. I
am much happier than I was when I was at 20, 30 and even 40. Although I have some
challenges, I am grateful for the learning opportunities and they seem to be getting less as
I get older.
Within the magazine was a quote:
“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile. Sometimes your smile
is the source of your joy.”- Thich Nhat Hahn
For those who know me, sometimes when I have a twinkle in my eye and I smile –
they question what I am up to. Sometimes I am, but sometimes I am just filled with so
much joy within that I cannot help but smile.
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So as I sit on this deck with my beverage, that I am so grateful for, I ask that you
take some time to reflect and ask how happy are you? Begin simply by welcoming the day
with excitement and end the day with gratitude. See each day as a blessing— and invite
joy and happiness into your lives!
I welcome pieces of work for the next newsletter and would ask that you please
submit them to me by August 30th.
Kindly send them to me at: Sandra@spiritualistchurchofcanada.com.
Yours in Spiritualism,
Editor
Rev. Sandra Waytowich
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REGRETS OF THE DYING
November 19, 2009 • Bronnie Ware
Original Link: ">http://bronnieware.com/regrets-of-the-dying/
For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those
who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were
shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their
lives.
People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I
learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth.
Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of
emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial
and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace
before they departed though, every one of them.
When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they
would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again.
Here are the most common five:
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1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the
life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that
their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to
see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not
honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that
it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
It is very important to try and honour at least some of your
dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your
health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.
2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed
their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women
also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All
of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their
lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along
the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you
do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier
and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your
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3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with
others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by
speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole
new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy
relationship from your life. Either way, you win.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends
until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track
them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives
that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There
were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and
effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they
are dying.
It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip.
But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds
the true importance for them. They want to get things in order
more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are
too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It all comes down to
love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the
final weeks, love and relationships.
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5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the
end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed
into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change
had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were
content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and
have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a
long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and
smile again, long before you are dying.
Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely,
choose honestly. Choose happiness.
Bio: Bronnie Ware is a writer and songwriter from Australia who spent several years caring for dying people in their
homes. Her full-length memoir, titled The Top Five Regrets
of the Dying - A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing,
shares more inspiration and wisdom from dying people
and how Bronnie's own life was transformed through this
learning. It is available worldwide, with translations in 27
languages. www.bronnieware.com
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WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Submitted by Brenda Philp
April 15, 2016 marked the 104th anniversary of one of the deadliest maritime disasters. At
2:18 AM the RMS Titanic sank taking the lives of at least 1,517 people.
Some of the most prominent people of the day were aboard the Titanic. While in America
the newspapers heralded names such as Mr and Mrs. John Jacob Astor IV, Benjamin Guggenheim and Mr. and Mrs. Isidor Straus, in Britain the name that topped the headlines
was that of journalist and social reformer William Thomas Stead.
Stead, who advocated for social and political change, was a Spiritualist. He had a deep be-
lief in psychic phenomena and the supernatural. In 1891, Stead wrote Real Ghost Stories
followed by More Ghost Stories in 1892. Through automatic writing, Stead received communication from a woman known as Julia Ames. First published as “Letters from Julia,”
these writings appeared in Borderland, a psychic magazine that Stead founded in 1893.
They were later collected into the book After Death (1897).
In a striking instance of foreshadowing, Stead wrote a fictional story in 1886, titled The
Sinking of a Modern Liner. The story is eerily similar to the actual Titanic’s demise. In
Stead’s book, an ocean liner run by a Captain Smith, leaves Liverpool and while on a journey to New York City, becomes involved in a collision. In the ensuing panic, many passengers drown because there are too few lifeboats. It was about 26 years later that Stead died
aboard the Titanic. The ship’s captain was Edward Smith.
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Stead was on his way to participate in an event for peace at Carnegie Hall in New York
City. He had also planned to bring Etta Wriedt, a Detroit-based medium, back to England
with him on his return. Unfortunately, he never made it to New York. On the night of
April 14, 1912, the Titanic—once thought to be unsinkable—struck an iceberg.
By the early hours of the next day, the great luxury liner had sunk into the North Atlantic.
Stead's final moments were reportedly spent reading in his cabin. His body was never recovered. Some, however, claimed to have received messages from him after his death.
Stead's book was not the only foretelling of the Titanic tragedy. There was also Futility, or
the Wreck of the Titan, written in 1898 by American author Morgan Robertson.
Here, a ship called the Titan is also deemed "unsinkable" but hits an ice shelf and does just
that, sinking 460 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, much like the Titanic. Strangely,
the Titan is described as having almost the same dimensions and passenger capacity as
the Titanic and also carries only one half the required lifeboats. Stranger still, this ship
slams into ice at almost the same speed the Titanic was travelling, suffered damage to the
starboard side and went down in April.
After the sinking of the Titanic, some people credited Robertson with clairvoyance. He denied this. What do you think?
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UPCOMING
EVENTS
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CANADIAN WEEKEND IN LILYDALE
Music and Messages on Saturday, July 30
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WATCH FOR UPCOMING
EVENTS FOR SCC AND MEMBER CHURCHES
ON OUR WEBPAGE
AT:
www.spiritualistchurchofcanada.com
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UPCOMING
EDUCATION COURSES
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