Photos by Skip Jackson, Stella Reinis & Rick Walsh
Southeast Regional Family & Friends Days was filled with joy and blessings — including a standing-room only John Morton Book Signing in Miami, a Practical Spirituality Book Club Launch in Jacksonville, and a laugh-filled family barbecue in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and much more.
On September 9 & 10, Angel and Doug Gibson helped launch Jacksonville’s first MSIA Book Club with Loving Each Day for Peacemakers. A casual potluck dinner followed where our MSIA family got a chance to enjoy homemade treats while talking about ways to expand the teachings. North Florida Reps Judy Jackson and Miriam Goldstein helped arrange the fun and loving times. Angel and Doug then drove to Miami and were met by our beloved and devoted John Morton, Jesus Becerra-Flores and Robert Peake who flew out from Los Angeles on September 11th to be with their Florida MSIA family. Now isn’t that romantic!
On September 12th, John Morton shared generously at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore in South Miami, taking questions from the audience and discussing his book, “The Blessings Already Are,” and John-Roger’s book, “Loving Each Day for Peacemakers.” As expected, questions centered on world peace, how to accept our differences, and what is MSIA all about anyway. John shined with the audience, and Jesus Becerra-Flores, our hermanito magnifico, translated side-by-side, making it easy and fun for everyone in our bilingual community to participate and share in the loving and learning. Dana Artin, our Miami Book Rep, arranged for an abundance of treats that lured passersby to munch and listen while John signed book after book after book. The bookstore management was so thrilled with our event that we’ll be starting our own Practical Spirituality bookclub in Miami soon.
On Friday, September 13, 2002, Lennie Helfand hosted our Welcome Family Barbecue in Cocoa Beach. Karaoke, word games, charades and a delicious barbecue dinner made the evening the perfect fun way to start Family Days. At the same time, a group of generous peacemakers gathered for a lovely, intimate
Q & A Fundraiser for the Institute for Individual and World Peace hosted by our IIWP Rep Miriam Oroshnik. John Morton dined with us chatting casually about current events, sharing our family updates, and enjoying the loving energy of those committed to promoting peace. John then answered our questions into the wee hours of the morning making sure each one of us got our chance to work with the Traveler personally. It was a divine, precious time for us all!
On both beautiful mornings, two angels in white and their supporters arrived for Baptisms. As we held hands, circled the baptism pool and the Light was called in, the presence of Spirit was deeply felt. Teri Wunderman and Miriam Goldstein performed the baptisms on two ministers the first morning. On the second day we watched as two groups of moms and dads were baptized, and then the newly baptized moms baptized their children. The baptisms were moving, lovely and special. Those of us who participated were so blessed to begin each day filled with the beauty, Spirit and the Christ which came present from these Baptisms. They were truly Light-filled and joyous ceremonies.
On Saturday morning, over 60 ministers from all over Florida, Georgia and beyond attended the ministers meeting, including staff from California and our beloved Traveler, John Morton. Translation was provided for the Spanish-speaking ministers by Jesus Becerra-Flores. It was a beautiful and sacred time in which we attuned ourselves to the Spirit that was present through chanting, spiritual exercises, meditation and sharing. We were blessed not only to have John Morton’s presence as our guest, but to be present as he performed an ordination on our newest minister, Melba Maritza Quintero, during the meeting. And if that wasn’t blessing enough, John shared from his heart with us, finishing with a ministerial blessing for the group. We all shared the essence of our ministries and were moved and blessed by the presence of Spirit. It was a joy to come together with all our MSIA ministerial family from Florida, and further, to have the extra special blessing of the Traveler’s presence in person. Thank you to the Florida Ministerial Board — Donna Hollinshead, Becket Moreno, Miriam Oroshnik, Jack Palermo and Andrea Presberg — for holding the focus for our most special gathering.
The Open MSIA Seminar by John Morton was the ultimate gift of a Saturday afternoon. Over 120 folks joined us, including hotel employees smitten with the energy of our MSIA family. First we listened to Joanna Petri, the teenage daughter of Minister Gloria Petri, sing a beautiful song she wrote filled with the discovery of Spirit. Then the Traveler gently introduced those family and friends who were new to the teachings of the Movement. He shared freely about himself, the Movement, and the teachings, and then opened himself to the questions of the newcomers and then the oldtimers. Sharing the vision of peace and loving that is so much a part of his message, John was eloquent and heartfelt. Then he blessed us all, as only John Morton can. We left renewed and ready to celebrate our love and joy as MSIA family and friends.
Right after the Seminar, our Talent Show was a smashing success! Despite the microphonically-challenged Karoake system and three year olds jumping exuberantly on the wood deck stage causing the CD’s to skip, we enjoyed singers of all ages, passionate tango dancers, jazz guitar playing, and comic relief. Mark Hebert hosted the evening with his unfailing humor. John Morton, Angel Gibson and Jesus Becerra-Flores joined us for our beachside barbecue enjoying the ocean breeze, bubble blowing and giggles that filled the evening. Highlights included the jubilant, inaugural performance of the Village HuMans, with lead singer Rita Benasutti, singing M.S.I.A., a spiritual spoof of Y.M.C.A. Everyone danced and sang along during their encore performance, and John invited the group to sing this first official MSIA theme song at Conference! South Florida MSIA Rep Teri Wunderman presented Angel Gibson with a McRep — a toy Happy Meal filled with mini McXpansion materials, a Tithing envelope, and so much energy that the more you eat it, the Lighter you get! A fun Raffle and Silent Auction, orchestrated by Betty Thomas and Elke Hundertmark, raised funds to support future Family Days, and the night ended with festive Salsa dancing.
Early Sunday morning we gathered on the beach for blessings and prayers. Some of us had just come from a joyful baptism ceremony, and Spirit was strongly present with our the circle. With the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop and our toes in the sand we joined hands, and each person had the opportunity to offer a prayer, invocation, or blessing. The blessings multiplied as one person after another entered the circle to offer their own special prayer — for the world, for each other, for the place we were, for our spiritual growth, health, wealth, happiness, and freedom. And in a corner of the circle, our youngest member, Christopher Hollinshead (who is 2 years old), played in the sand enjoying the blessings that already are surrounded by his parents and the friends and family of MSIA. It was a Spirit filled gathering amidst the beauty of nature and all who participated were greatly blessed.
Our Heartfelt Service Project resulted in a basketful of mini-hotel soaps, shampoos and lotions, all donated from the abundance found in the rooms of Family Day’s participants. The goodies were then delivered to the Family Resource Center of South Florida to assist families in need.
A yummy buffet breakfast and sharing time capped off our Spirit-filled weekend. Thank yous were abundant as we all reveled in the blessings Spirit had bestowed upon us all. We are so grateful to everyone who helped make Family & Friends Days a success beyond words, including the Divine Registration Goddess Team -Betty Thomas, Debby Dorr, Brooke Prutinsky, Sherry Buelow, Maria Pomianowski, Sunny Castillo and Jean Willard. To Becket Moreno and Luz Jaramillo for their ministry of on-the-spot Spanish translation. And, above all, to Angel, Doug, Jesus, Robert and our beloved Traveler, John Morton, THANK YOU for showing up and joy-ning your family over here. You made it so special for us all!
To our beloved MSIA family and friends, we invite you to JOYn us next year!
