It’s officially summer! My favourite! For us here in the Okanagan, it’s typically the season when we free up our time. Classes at CSL Kelowna generally are on hiatus, people go away on vacation, we spend more time outdoors and “the living is easy”. The Sunday Six will be practicing this as we take the second Sunday off (July 4th) since we went virtual.
This year, with the pandemic situation and our Centre still being virtual, I’m not so sure I’m noticing much difference between summer and the last 15 months; but I do think the time of re-entry into more regular activities and the lives we had before, is soon upon us.
To gently start moving us forward, those of us physically here in Kelowna will have the chance to get together at 1pm on July 11th at Kinsmen Park for a very casual Park Meet and Greet (all safety protocols and each person’s personal choices respected).
This time of ‘coming back’ (if we choose to do so) will give us the opportunity to stay conscious and mindful of our beliefs, values and choices as we re-integrate, and to remember that each person is accorded that opportunity for themselves. I invite us to use this time well, to be alert, awake and aware of bringing our best selves forward into our re-emerging world. This is our time to embrace the lessons we’ve learned, keep them front and centre, and carry them forward into the future. It will also be a time to be flexible and to remain nimble going forward.
CSL Kelowna is practicing this as well. As many of you are aware, your Board of Trustees spent many months just prior to the pandemic creating a Community Strategic Plan. One of the results of that work was the decision to hire an Executive Director, a position that will enhance our community going forward, especially in the areas of community development and operations. It will also support the areas of fundraising, membership and volunteers.
I’m so pleased that our Board of Trustees has successfully offered this position to Amanda Pope. I feel we are so blessed to hire from within, as it means she can hit the ground running (July 1st) without having to be brought up to speed as she’s well acquainted with most areas of our Centre from serving as practitioner, Board member and current Board president. Her background is impressive; she’s been an entrepreneur, has a Master’s Degree in Adult Education, a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts, and up till now has worked at the University of British Columbia in the Student Abilities Department. Most of you know her as one of the Sunday Six; she’s the one with the tech skills that allowed us to go virtual within a couple of days! She’s also a great speaker, a wonderful teacher and an amazing Ministerial School student. It’s also because of her marketing skills that we have a great presence in the world.
I am grateful to have someone to work with and I know Amanda is looking forward to seeing how she can support our community in our mission of “providing tools for personal and global transformation”. I love the feeling of knowing our community is readying itself for its next expression of its “greater yet to be”.
Moving out of the pandemic seems like the perfect time to refresh and re-invigorate ourselves and our beloved Centre for Spiritual Living Kelowna. I’m excited to see how this collaboration between myself, Amanda, our Board — along with the spiritual arm of our leadership — our staff ministers, practitioners, and YOU, will work together to create something truly wonderful and life enhancing for all.
I’m so glad you’re along for the ride! Woohoo!
Blessings, Dr. Deborah
If you missed yesterday’s Sunday Celebration talk given by Amanda Pope, RScP, titled Being a FLORIST in the World, you can watch it (and other past services) on the CSLK YouTube channel.
Practitioner of the Week is Amanda Pope, RScP. If you are looking for one-to-one prayer treatment support for ANYTHING, you can contact this practitioner directly via email at amanda.pope@hey.com.
MIND-FULL MOMENT
“Our destiny is not written for us, it’s written by us.”
— Barack Obama
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