Newsletter - London Centre of Self

London Centre of Self-Realization Fellowship
Quarterly Newsletter January – March 2015
Dear Friends,
The London Centre extends its warmest greetings. With this quarterly newsletter we bring you details of our
programme of special services, retreats, and other spiritual gatherings for the coming three months. We look
forward to meeting many of you as you join us in the Centre’s activities at 82A Chiltern Street, London W1U 5AQ.
Full details of all items mentioned below are available on the London Centre website www.srf-london.org.uk.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
All branch members are requested to attend the Annual Elections and General Meeting on Sunday 8th
February 2015 after the service.
You are warmly invited to join us for a Centre Department Monastic Visit during the period of 19 th to 22nd
February 2015. A detailed schedule will be circulated in due course.
Hatha Yoga classes will commence on Tuesday 20 th January 5.45pm-6.30pm and will take place in the social
hall on alternate Tuesdays thereafter. All are welcome, please wear warm comfortable clothing, and bring
water and a mat. A suggested donation of £5 per class is requested which will go towards upkeep of the
centre.
SPECIAL SERVICES AND ADJUSTED SERVICE TIMES
For each of the special services, please plan to arrive early in order not to disturb those quietly meditating. For
the commemorations you are also invited to bring devotional offerings of a flower and a donation in an
envelope.
December
Wednesday 31st
10.30 pm – 12.15 am New Year’s Eve meditation
January
Monday 5th
7.00 pm – 8.45 pm
Yogananda’s Birthday Commemoration
Saturday 10th
10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Yogananda Commemorative Meditation
March
Saturday 7th
7.00 pm – 8.45 pm
Yogananda’s Mahasamadhi Service
th
Monday 9
7.00 pm – 8.45 pm
Sri Yukteswar’s Mahasamadhi Service
LESSONS, GITA READINGS, AND HATHA CLASSES
There will be Gita readings and Lessons readings held every month on the following dates. For SRF Lessons
classes the only requirement is that you are a lessons student and everyone is welcome to attend Gita
readings. Hath Yoga Classes will be held fortnightly on the following dates (wear warm comfortable clothing
and bring water and a mat).
SRF Lessons
January 4th
February 1st
March 1st
Time (Sunday)
12.15 – 1.15 pm
Cancelled – One
Day Retreat
12.15 – 1.15 pm
Gita Readings
January 18th
February 15th
Time (Sunday)
12.15 – 1.15 pm
12.15 – 1.15 pm
March 15th
12.15 – 1.15 pm
Hatha Yoga Classes
January 20th
February 3rd
February 17th
March 3rd
March 17th
March 31st
Time (Tuesday)
5.45 – 6.30 pm
5.45 – 6.30 pm
5.45 – 6.30 pm
FAMILY SERVICES, SUNDAY SCHOOL AND TEENS GROUP MEETINGS
For details of Family services, Sunday School, and Teens activities, or to volunteer to help; please contact us on
020 8952 6373 or sundayschool@srf-london.org.uk for Sunday school, or 0755 282 7980 or teens@srflondon.org.uk for teens. For the Young Adults group, please contact us on 0755 282 7980 or youngadults@srflondon.org.uk.
VOLUNTEERS
The London Centre is always grateful for volunteers to assist in running the Centre. If you would like to offer your
services please kindly complete the online form which you will find within the news and events section of our
website. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the volunteer coordinator at
volunteers@srf-london.org.uk.
SRF MEDITATION CIRCLES IN THE UK AND IRELAND
There are a number of Meditation groups across the UK and Ireland. For a full listing contact info@srflondon.org.uk; Ian Kendall (Tel; 020 8979 3498), or Theresiu Janicki-Hardy (email: theresiu@homecall.co.uk , Tel:
02392 631019)
SOCIAL GATHERINGS
You are warmly invited to join with us for social gatherings on the following days:
Thursdays at 8.40pm
Sundays at 12.30pm
January 29th 2015
January 25th 2015
February 26th 2015
February 22nd 2015
March 26th 2015
March 29th 2015
On Thursdays light refreshments are provided. On Sundays you are invited to bring food to share.
RETREATS
ONE-DAY RETREATS (10.00am – 5.30pm):
Date(s)
Venue
Sunday 1st February
Chiltern Street
Contact Name
Bharathy Prabaharan
Tel/Email
07846 598 261
bharathy.prabaharan@ntlworld.com
Please note that one-day retreats replace regular Sunday services. Please bring an individual vegetarian
packed lunch and vegetarian food to share for the closing tea.
WEEKEND RETREATS
Date(s)
Venue
Booking Tel/Email
Prices (p/p)
Booking
Contact
opens
Friday – Monday Ladywell Retreat Centre, Ian
ianstrat2@yahoo.com
£132 Fri – Sun
5th Jan
th
th
April 10 – 13
Goldaming, Surrey.
Stratford 01903 767296
£197 Fri – Mon 2015
Other retreats held in Cheshire are also available – for details please contact Alan Watt on
Tel: 01509 415243, or email: a_watt@live.co.uk. Retreats near London can be booked online via the
London Centre Website: www.srf-london.org.uk/index.php/services/retreats/.
LONDON CENTRE MAILING LIST
This Newsletter is available at the Centre, by email and by post to those who cannot use other means.
Sending newsletters by email is the quickest and most economical method. To have your email or
postal addresses added to our mailing list, please inform: Bill and Brenda Deller, Tel: 01189 476946, or
email: bandb.deller@ntlworld.com. Information on this newsletter and other information is also available
on the centre website: www.srf-london.org.uk
In this quarter’s newsletter, we’ve included an excerpt from Sri Daya Mata’s “Enter the Quiet Heart”; Page 97:
“Adversity comes not to destroy or punish us, but to help to rouse the invincibility within our souls....the painful
ordeals we go through are but the shadows of God’s hand, outstretched in blessing. The Lord is very anxious to
get us out of this maya, this troublesome world of duality. Whatever difficulties He permits us to pass through
are necessary to hasten our return to Him.”
And finally, some words of inspiration from our Guru:
“Sorrow, illness and failure are natural results of transgressions against God’s laws. Wisdom consists in
avoiding such violations and finding peace and happiness within yourself through thoughts and actions
that are in harmony with your real Self. Govern your mind wisely by dwelling upon positive aspects of
life.
Do not be satisfied with drops of wisdom from scanty earthly sources; rather, seek wisdom without
measure from God’s all possessing, all bountiful hands.” - Paramahansa Yogananda