THE LAMP OF THE MESSAGE 

Vol. 2, Issue 3, 1995 

A Journal for the International Community of Cherags


A Brief Report on all the Opportunities to Serve that are Arising (sept.'95)

1. The international conference on Pastoral Care and Counselling was in Toronto and I went to check it out. These are people trained both in theology and counselling or psychology. They become Chaplains in hospitals, prisons, work with refugees, etc. Their clientele is often from many ethnic and religious background and our acceptance and training of all traditions would be very good for it. I had an opportunity to give Khatum as the opening prayer of the closing worship service of the conference.  

2. The conference of the International Primal Association had me reading a couple of Rumi poems at the "Cabaret" and doing a Universal Worship Service, followed by Dances of Universal Peace with Yasmin Germain Haut, in New Jersey. We find that there is such a thirst for spiritual expression by so many people, but they don't know what it is, or how to come to it, outside of the traditional churches from which they have been turned off.  

3. I have joind the Ontario Chapter of the World Inter-Faith Education Association, agroup that has held a Festival of the Family in 1994, and is aiming at a festival on people's stories (such as their "faith journeys") in 1997. There is a great diversity of "faith communities"represented, not all from the traditional churches.  

4. I have gone for the last few years to the December 31 World Healing meditation, gathering around the world at 12 Noon Greenwhich Mean Time (7AM Easter Standard Time) for world peace. I am now on the organizing committee. These are wonderful networking opportunities.  

5. Starting October 8, we will have monthly public Universal Worship Services. It is being held in a New Age book store, so we can spend our dollars on advertising, sending out fliers, etc. Rochester and Buffalo have been doing this for the last year or more.  

6. There were a few references to children's Universal Worship Services this summer. I would appreciate hearing about the format, etc.  

Having got so much from our Sufi path, it is such a pleasure to be able to spread some of it further.  

With love and blessings to all,  

Gabriel.