Happy Autumn, everyone! It has been a whirlwind week, and the next two promise to be just as eventful. This coming weekend, we are honored to welcome Fr. John Dear. On Saturday, he will present a workshop titled “Living Peace and Practicing Nonviolence” at Saint Joseph’s College. On Sunday, he will join us to speak about “The Gospel of Peace,” the title of his new book. Fr. John is a passionate advocate for nonviolence and a joy to meet and listen to. Having him back with us is truly a treat.
The following weekend, we will host the Love’s Infinite Journey Women’s Retreat. We are blessed to have 50 women registered and to welcome back Deb Engel, author and teacher of A Course in Miracles, as one of our facilitators. Joining her this year is Dr. Doreen Wiggins. These two wonderful facilitators will guide us on a journey of self-discovery and infinite love.
On Sunday, after the service, our beloved AV tech Scott, who is also a chef by trade, delighted us with a delicious squash soup and a side salad made from vegetables grown in our community garden. The feedback from everyone was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the delightful flavors.
On Sunday, the message was inspired by the movie What Dreams May Come and the book What Dreams Have Come: Loving Through the Veil by Stephen Simon, who also produced the film starring Robin Williams. After the sudden passing of his wife Lauren, she began communicating with him, urging him to write this book.
The book explores several themes, including Love Beyond Death, Healing and Hope, Beyond Dogma, Living Fully, The Power of Choice, and The Ultimate Choice. This message resonated deeply with me, allowing me to share some important messages I have received from Rev. LeRoy since his passing in January 2022. My hope is that if you have a loved one who has crossed through the veil, you feel the enduring love they have for you and ask for a sign of their presence. If you missed the service, you can watch it here.
I also ended with a quote from the book Witness From Beyond, available in a PDF.
Know that you are so very loved and appreciated.
You are a blessing in my life,
Rev. Patricia Bessey
