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MSIA Australia's Conference of Heartfelt Service by Ezra Mack, photos by Ezra
The Australian Conference of Heartfelt Service was held in South Australia and New South Wales from March 7-14, and was an extraordinary week of serving, laughing, grace, and sharing the love of community and friends. Beginning with a beautiful day in Adelaide, the festivities started off with a public workshop offered by The Institute for Individual and World Peace entitled “Finding Peace in Today’s World,” beautifully MC’d by Paul Bennett and facilitated by John Morton and Leigh Taylor-Young. Those present were lead through processes and sharing based on simple key principles that lead to the greater awareness and manifestation of peace. Following the workshop there was a family style BBQ and abundant buffet providing a wonderful atmosphere and opportunity to catch up with old friends, make new acquaintances, and have an intimate meal with John and Leigh. Following the BBQ was an evening of “Discourse With The Traveler” facilitated by John Morton. This event was for Discourse and SAT subscribers only and was a very intimate and heartfelt time. It is such a privilege to have the opportunity to spend a few hours with the Traveler, and to do so while also visiting one of Australia’s loveliest communities is a special blessing. After Adelaide came the first event in Sydney, which was a Blessings Fest held at the beautiful Hotel Amora nestled just between Circular Key and the Rocks. With over thirty people in attendance the evening was a great success and much thanks goes out to Susan Skelton and all of her team for handling so many of the arrangements and logistics. Similar to the requirements for events in Los Angeles for our annual Conference in late June, the Australian conference takes months of advance planning, and thanks go out to all of the Australian community for holding such a beautiful focus, and to all those at PTS and MSIA administration in LA who also offer their support. The next day began with a less formal event and tea celebrating service, providing an opportunity for volunteers and representatives of the many organizations founded by John-Roger to come together. Vincent Dupont started off the meeting with a presentation, which was followed by sharing and facilitation from Wendy Bennett. After Wendy came John for an early afternoon of Q and A which concluded with a lovely Tea, bringing us to a short break prior to the evening public workshop. Erika Yeates opened the public workshop “Making a Difference Through Service” stepping forward as MC, and John and Leigh facilitated the participants in an exploration of who and how do we serve, considering what we each give, and the many blessings we receive. There were opportunities to share back and forth with each other in processes, and with John and Leigh. As the evening progressed a peace and openness began filling the room setting the tone for the main two-day workshop, the PTS “Heartfelt Service Workshop- Celebrating Christmas Every Day,” which began the next morning. The “Heartfelt Service Workshop” was a delight, and provided a wonderful opportunity to move deeper into the consciousness of service, the consciousness of the Christ, and the essence of Christmas. Extending over two days, there was ample time for sharing and activities in small groups, large group sharing with John and Leigh, and an overall facilitation into the sacred. There was also opportunity and time for John to take large group sharing on his own. Participants had an opportunity to have a direct experience with the essence of service and the sacraments of the Spirit in a powerful and profound way. To say more would take away from anyone who has not participated in this workshop and may consider doing so in the future. On the evening of the second day, at the close of the workshop, there was a closed seminar for Discourse subscribers. For me, this seminar was one of the highlights of the entire week. It is difficult to describe exactly what was shared, and the energy of the Spirit certainly carried everyone there to new heights. The evening began with some creative offering from the community, including terrific drumming by Michele Marie and her drumming circle, a number of wonderful songs, an aboriginal dance that was gifted and shared during the Heartfelt Service Project and some beautiful guitar playing. Andrew St. John joined us all from Brisbane to MC, and John Morton rocked the house. The next morning was what might be considered the main event of the entire week in Australia, the MSIA Ministers’ and Initiates meeting. This event was also opened by creative sharings from the community, this time with Julie Chenery and her ‘local’ MSIA choir, followed by a lovely original song by Pauline Walsh. (‘Local’ meaning folks from somewhere in Australia.) In between these offerings was a presidents’ report given by Vincent as well as the Annual Service Award, this year presented to Beverley Voigt of South Australia, for her many years of dedicated heartfelt service and ministry. Good on you, Beverley! (And thanks for the lodging!) Heather Lemaire-Beards was the MC for this event, and did a superb job of holding the focus and sacredness of the day, as well as shepherding us all through the morning contributions and up to the main event, introducing John Morton, the Spiritual Director of MSIA. John shared with us all for some time, and then took some sharing from the audience, bringing us up to the final event of the conference week, a beautiful and bountiful brunch. For those of you who may have attended the Conference of Heartfelt Service offered in Los Angeles in July of 2009, the above week may sound familiar. Having had the fortunate opportunity to attend them both I invite you all to consider a visit to our “Family Down Under.” Their extraordinarily warm and enthusiastic welcome, seamlessly supportive community, and openhearted love of and dedication to Spirit is truly a treat to receive and I wish that opportunity on everyone. There is something very special in participating at our annual conference in LA, and yet to have the experience of celebrating the Spirit in a similar way with a much more intimate group is a gift beyond understanding, and on top of that, the water goes down the drain in the opposite direction! So come on down under in 2011 and enjoy one of the best kept secrets of MSIA! Baruch Bashan. |
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