March 15th - 'Peace in Us' and 'Compassionate Communication' Workshop

 “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mindfulness, Graciousness, Kindness, Dialogue, Unity, Openness, and Accountability … are the concepts for Week 6 of the Season of Nonviolence. All wonderful qualities for a life well lived, we can all agree on that. 

64 days of trying on ideas and concepts that can enhance my life… here we are over half way through the “Season” …… I have experienced joy, happiness, connection, and some not so happy feelings of upset, sadness and self-pity. A well rounded human after all! 

Mostly, I have been super aware of the ways violence shows up in my world. I used the word explode in a poem the other day and wondered about the violence of that word in a love poem. Did it fit? Do I mean that? What is explode, what does it mean to me… where has explode shown up before? 

My contemplations have led me to remember times in my past, what I watch on TV, and what I can no longer watch on TV. I recently attended a movie and found the violence towards a woman in the show intolerable so I walked out, but I eagerly await each week the next episode of my favourite murder mystery show. What a paradox. Why was that one scene so overpowering and yet I seem to be absolutely immune to a dead body with blood spewed all over it in another show. 

I invite you to explore where violence shows up in your life, contemplate what your ideas and thoughts are, and perhaps there are some insights in increasing peace and releasing violence that result… Let’s shine our light on Peace! - Rev. Lesley

Join us on Sunday morning (March 15th) for an inspiring message about "Peace in Us" by Dr. Deborah Gordon and Reverend Lesley McNamara. Then carry the spirit of peace into the afternoon with a workshop on compassionate communication from 1:00 - 4:00 at the Pandosy Peace Centre (seems like an appropriate location, doesn't it?).

Living My Life Purpose - The second unit of this powerful course starts this Wednesday

After attending the Living My Life Purpose retreat my life has been changed. I don't mean so much in the physical sense, but a deep, inside way. My spiritual practices have been strengthened and deepened in a way I always wanted but didn't know how to accomplish. I now have tools to continue my journey and know I can use them at anytime to release the doubts and fears as they come up in my life. The inner peace and confidence that I left the retreat with is my grace and brings me great joy.

It gives me pleasure to be able to share these tools with my Centre. I love being a contagious example of how to be open and allow the deepening of faith in my spiritual family.

I am offering this class on Wednesdays from 6:30 - 9:00 at the Pandosy Peace Centre. This is a course that is set up in two week units, so you can make a 2 week commitment at a time. All of the information can be picked up at the time you join. The investment is $50.00 for each 2 week unit. 

Blessings - Rev. Val Benedict