From the pulpit and pew

| The New Mexican

7/19/2008 - 7/19/08

Events in area faith communities this weekend and in the coming weeks:


Yahshua Malkenu Beit Midrash holds shabbat service at 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The service is followed by Torah study and a shared meal. At 6:30 p.m. on Mondays, the women's weekly Hebraic Bible study is held. The congregation meets at 13 Los Caballeras. Call Richard or Donna Seitzinger at 474-3737.


At the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service at Unity Santa Fe, the Rev. Brendalyn Batchelor will discuss, "He Was Unique." She will explore the fundamental change a person faces when an individual dares to be unique and follow his or her own path. The message is one in a series based on Don Daniel Ortiz's The 99 Success Secrets of Jesus. Batchelor says she intends, through the series, to support participants in re-wiring their "Jesus buttons" from a negative to a positive charge. "You will get to know Jesus anew from a practical, modern-day perspective," she said.

Unity Santa Fe's metaphysical message of positive, practical Christianity is open to people of all faiths, creeds, races and sexual orientations. The church is at 1212 Unity Way. For more information, send an e-mail to unitysf@newmexico.com or call 989-3643.


The Santa Fe Study Center of the Theosophical Society in America, Wheaton, Ill., meets the first and third Sunday of the month. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

Members gather with a vision of wholeness rooted in service, study and meditation. Those who attend the meetings are asked to share in an open-minded inquiry into the integration of spirituality, religion, philosophy and science.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.theosophical.org, send an e-mail to marie@la-tierra.com or call 505-927-3642 or 505-852-4520.


"Breathing Alive" is the theme for this summer's gathering by members of the Chalice Guild. It also is the title of the new edition of Reshad Feild's Breathing Alive: A Guide to Conscious Living. As its publication coincides with the gathering, to be held July 31 to Aug. 3, those who attend will use it as a focus of the study together, honoring the knowledge within it and celebrating its launch.

The daily schedule will be balanced with yoga and movement sessions in the mornings — for those who want to participate — plus breathing classes, silent meditations, study groups, using collective attention to extract the meaning within a chosen text, evening conversations, zikr (remembrance) and prayer.

Special guests include chef Norbert van Hest, originally from the Netherlands, who has studied the Science of the Breath with Reshad Feild for
20 years. Norbert will cook for the gathering and teach participants about conscious cooking.

Barbara Feild, Reshad Feild's official translator in Europe, also will join the gathering and share her insights.

For more information about the summer gathering and a copy of the brochure, send an e-mail to sprussel@sjcsf.edu or call Penny Russell at 466-3137.


"Presenting the Path to Enlightenment in Tibetan Buddhism," a course in the Discovering Buddhism program, will be held from 9 to
11:30 a.m. starting Sunday at the Thubten Norbu Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center. This introductory course will be taught by resident Don Handrick at the center, 149 E. Alameda St.

The course continues on Sundays through Sept. 7 — with the exception of Aug. 3 and
Sept. 1. Also, from 8 to 8:45 a.m. on Sundays, guided meditation will be led by Michelle Tapia.

The series is open to all — both experienced and inexperienced practitioners. A donation of $15 per session is suggested.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.tnlsf.org, send an e-mail to tnlsf@yahoo.com or call 660-7056.


The Mik'dash Center for Hebrew Heritage Wisdom and Embodied Jewish Practice provides a connection to the ancient Hebraic essences and universal wisdoms and kabalistic teachings in current Jewish practice. The teachings support participants as they carry on the essences of pre-Judaism, Earth-based Hebraic culture into a contemporary Jewish practice.

Classes, workshops, and events include ritual, devotional practice, music, movement and meditation. The center hosts holy day gatherings and other transformative rituals for the community. In addition, the director and founder, Keren Khaya Abrams offers individual spiritual guidance sessions and intensive retreats. Abrams is an ordained omanaya — Jewish ritual artist and spiritual guide — from the Hamakom Institute in Israel.

For more information about the Mik'dash Center, send an e-mail to info@ritualartist.net or visit the Web site at www.ritualartist.net or call
505-349-4009.


The 34th annual Southwest Catholic Charismatic Conference will be held July 25 through July 27 at the Glorieta Conference Center in Glorieta. English-session speakers include Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan, the Rev. Daniel Balizan, the Rev. Celsus Marcellus Auguiste and Jim Murphy. Spanish-session speakers include the
Rev. Gina Correa and the Rev. Gonzalo Moreno. For more information, visit the Web site at www.asfccc.org or call 247-0397.


The Habirus School of Kabala offers a curriculum to facilitate personal insight and spiritual awareness. The school provides tools to help individuals find and deepen their center. Here are some of the programs offered at the school:

• From 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays: "Anything You Want to Know About Kabala" is an open discussion about Kabala with Shem Ben Noah. Also a Sunday workshop series will be led by Keren Khaya Abrams.
• From 7 to 9 p.m. on Mondays: "The Wisdom of Music" offers ecstatic music from the East with Shem Ben Noah. u From 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays: "Ecstatic Hebrew Poetry" focuses on the sacred phrases (mantras) within the ancient Hebrew texts known as the "Psalms" with Keren Khaya Abrams. Those who participate will engage the poems through creative processes: song, movement, writing and drawing.
• From 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays: "Be As You Are" is an invitation in this group experience to feel what's alive and authentic inside each person as an individual within a group. It is facilitated by Kito Peters.
• From 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays: "Kabala Study Group" offers an in-depth exploration of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov's text Anatomy of the Soul. The group is facilitated by Shem Ben Noah.
• From 10 to 11:15 a.m. on Fridays: "Morning Movement Ritual," with Keren Khaya Abrams, provides an understanding of Jewish prayer and the siddur (Hebrew prayer book).
• From 8 to 11 p.m. on Saturdays, the Kabala Social Salon encourages those who attend to bring instruments, questions and friends.
  

For more information on the school, send an e-mail to info@habirusschool.org or call 982-1891.


Joyful Ministries meets at 6 p.m. on Sundays and at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays at 1161 Siler Road. The public is welcome.

• From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and July 26, the church will host "Spiritual Warfare from a Kingdom Perspective" by Otis Lockett. A registration fee of $70 is required for this class.

This class is certified for credit by the Wagner Leadership Institute but is open to non-WLI students. For more information, visit the Web site at www.joyfulministries.org, send an e-mail to joyfulministries@cnsp.com or call the Rev. Judith Nowers at 473-1849.


The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Place, offers the following services on a weekly basis:

• Saturdays, Mass is celebrated at 7 a.m. The Anticipatory Mass for Sunday begins at 5:15 p.m.
• Sunday Mass is celebrated at 8 a.m., in Spanish; at 10 a.m. and noon in English. The Life Teen Mass is celebrated at 5:15 p.m.
• Monday through Friday, the Liturgy of the Hours is prayed following the 7 a.m. celebration of Mass and the 5:15 p.m. celebration of Mass.
• At 7 p.m. on Mondays, the parish rosary is prayed in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
• From 7:45 to 8:45 a.m., on Tuesdays, a Scripture study is held in Clare Hall. The study follows the celebration of the 7 a.m. Mass and morning prayer.
• At 6:15 p.m. on Tuesdays, adult Christian meditation takes place in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, presented by Barbara Barlow.
• At 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, the Bereavement Support Group for Spouses and Significant Others is facilitated by Sister Arlene Einwalter in Clare Hall. Call Einwalter at 989-9974.
• At 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, the Blue Army Fatima rosary is prayed in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel following the celebration of the 5:15 p.m. Mass.
• At 6:30 p.m., a Bible study with the Rev. Jonas Romea is held in Clare Hall.
• From 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, the Christian Meditation Ministry gathers.
  

For more information, visit the Web site at www.cbsfa.org or call 982-5619.


Westminster Presbyterian is Santa Fe's multicultural church que es reformada y siempre reformándose. Services of worship on Sundays are at 11 a.m. in Spanish and English, at 1:30 p.m. in Korean, and 4 p.m. in Spanish.

On Sunday at the Holy Communion service, the Rev. Dean Lewis will discuss "Cuban Presbyterians: Grounded in Faith, Sustained by Hope." The church is on the corner of West Manhattan Avenue and St. Francis Drive.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.wpcsf.org or call 983-8939.


Vocal artists from the Santa Fe Opera will present a concert at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at Cristo Rey Catholic Church, 1120 Canyon Road.

Both sacred and secular music will be featured. There is no charge for admission and tickets are not required. Seating is on a first-come,
first-seated basis.

The public is invited to this free event.


The Upaya Zen Center offers practices and teachings related to Zen Buddhism and how the modern person can live in the world responsibly with kindness, compassion and wisdom.

"Essence of Engaged Buddhism" is the title of the summer practice period. It will run from Aug. 6 through Sept. 7 and present all aspects
of Buddhist study. The cost is $1,200 for members and $1,475 for nonmembers. The cost includes dormitory lodging. The center is at 1404 Cerro Gordo Road. For more information, visit the Web site at www.upaya.org, send an e-mail to Upaya@upaya.org or call 986-8518.


Open Hands is collecting clothing and toys to benefit the children of Afghanistan. All sizes are needed. Items should be in good condition.

Colleen Keegan Falcone, coordinator of the effort, said it was one way for Open Hands to reach out to children. The idea came from a former board member and retired serviceman whose military connections brought the needs of the children in Afghanistan to his attention.

Donations can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday during July at Open Hands, 2976 Rodeo Park Drive East. For more information on the program, call 428-2365.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.openhands.org or call 428-2320.


St. Anne Catholic Church will hold its annual fiesta July 26-27 at the church.

The fiesta begins at 7 p.m. on July 26 with bingo in the parish hall.

On July 27, right after the 11 a.m. celebration of Mass, the main fiesta festivities will begin. Food, games, live music and a raffle will be held. The public is invited to attend.

The church is at 511 Alicia St. Call 983-4430.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Villanueva will hold its 2009 Fiesta de Santiago at the parish on July 26.

At 10 a.m., Mass will be celebrated followed at 11 a.m. with a horse ride from El Pueblo. The food and games booths open at 11 a.m. Entertainment and bingo also begin at 11 a.m. The dance, with music by Sangre de Indio, begins at 8 p.m.

The event is open to the public. The parish in Villanueva is off I-25, South, exit 323 or
I-40 North, exit 230. For information, call the church office at 575-421-2548.


At 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, the Santa Fe Vipassana Community hosts meditation and talks by Buddhist teachers at the Mountain Cloud Zen Center, 7241 Old Santa Fe Trail. Silent meditation is followed by a talk which lasts until 8:15 p.m.

A class for those new to the Vipassana practice is offered free of charge at 6:15 p.m. beginning the first Tuesday of most months and continuing for four consecutive Tuesdays. For more information on the courses offered, send an e-mail to info@
santafevipassana.org or call 989-7610.


At 4 p.m. on Aug. 1, the Rev. John Dear will celebrate a Mass for Peace at Santa María de la Paz Catholic Community, 11 College Ave. Attending that Mass will be Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking.

At 7 p.m. on Aug. 1, Prejean will be at El Museo Cultural, 1615 Paseo de Peralta. She will discuss the abolition of New Mexico's death penalty as well as the abolition of Los Alamos' nuclear weapons. The event is sponsored by New Mexico Pax Christi and New Mexico Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

At 2 p.m. on Aug. 2, Pax Christi's annual "Sackcloth and Ashes" silent vigil at Ashley Pond in Los Alamos will begin. Prejean also will attend the vigil. It is part of a commemoration of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

For more information, call Ellie Voutselas at 474-8557 or Bud Ryan at 505-264-2838.


At the 9:30 a.m. Sunday service at Zia United Methodist Church, pastor Bethany Carpenter will preach. The service offers Children's Church and nursery care for infants and toddlers. There is Communion during the service and fellowship time at 11 a.m. Also at 11 a.m., Sunday School classes for all ages will take place. ASL and Spanish translators are available upon request. Zia UMC is wheelchair accessible. Also at the church:

• The Veggie Tales Vacation Bible School, "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything," will be held from 9 a.m. until noon from July 28 to Aug. 1 for children ages 6 to 11 years old. The program is free.
• Zia Montessori Preschool is enrolling students for the summer/fall term for ages 3 to 6 years old. Full-time, part-time and extended hours are available. Call 471-0997 to secure a spot for your child.

The church is at 3368 Governor Miles Road. Call 471-0997.


At the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service at The Celebration, Charles Tichenor and friends will discuss "The Duck Who Was Afraid of the Rain." The church meets at the National Education Association, 2007 Botulph Road. The service is filled with music, a reading, meditation and a talk by a member of the congregation or a guest speaker. The Celebration is a joyful gathering that honors all paths and celebrates life. Child care is provided. For more information, call 699-0023.


Temple Beth Shalom, the only liberal, nationally affiliated Reform Jewish community in Northern New Mexico, is at 205 E. Barcelona Road. The synagogue offers the following services:

• At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, the Shabbat service will be led by Rabbi Ben Morrow.
• From 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. on July 26, bagels and coffee will be followed by Torah Study in the Social Hall. At 10:30 a.m., the Shabbat Morning service will be held.

TBS will sponsor a series of talks by Morrow titled, "Can a Man Understand the Role of Women in the Hebrew Bible." A Sabbath service will begin at 7:30 p.m., and the lectures will follow at 8:15 p.m. The series will be held on Fridays. It is free and open to the public. Here are the topics:

• July 25: Harlots or heroines? Tamar, Rahab, Solomon and the two women.
• Aug. 1: Is God Necessary? Ruth and Esther
• Aug. 8: The good are bad or the bad are good? Deborah, Delilah and Judith.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.sftbs.org or call 982-1376.


At 2 p.m. on Aug. 3, Our Lady of the Woods will celebrate the sabbat of Lammas at North Mesa Park in Los Alamos. Those who attend are asked to bring a contribution for the potluck to be held after the ceremony. Our Lady of the Woods is a church and coven of the Wiccan faith serving Los Alamos, Santa Fe and the Northern Española Valley. It is led by Mist, the high priestess. For more information, visit the Web site at www.ladywoods.org or call 672-1278.


From 4 to 7 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, light energy sessions are offered at the Santa Fe branch of the Sukyo Mahikari Center for Spiritual Development. Sukyo Mahikari is a practice of spiritual development that is designed to improve thoughts and actions, relationships and health through the practice of giving and receiving light energy. The center is at 791 Paseo de Florencio. For more information, call 983-2359.