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Staff Christ Mass Holiday Party at Prana

Article imageMSIA hosted a Holiday party at Prana on December 19th for all of the staff members from the various organizations founded by John-Roger. It was quite a sight to behold the Prana lobby filled to capacity with staff members and their loved ones.

Our inimitable host, Paul Kaye, started us off by calling in the Light, and we went on to experience what may have been the fastest hour of spiritual exercises ever (it was truly an hour, and many folks experienced the time passing like the blink of an eye).

Next we went out onto the patio and John Morton called in the Light to begin our brunch.

We went on to partake in an incredible repast: poached salmon with fresh dill, roasted lamb, fresh veggies, and omelets made to order, with our own “Omelet Boys”—including our beloved Traveler, John Morton. John gamely donned a chef’s hat and took a turn with the skillet, making his first omelet for his beautiful wife Laura.

Of course, there were incredible desserts to be had, as well. Part of the joy of these events comes with the beauty of all of the organization, planning, and decorating. Simply looking at the way the dessert table was arranged and laden was plenty sweet.

When we reconvened in the lobby, Paul Kaye spoke warmly about how good it was to see the staff for all of the organizations, and gave a roll call in gratitude to all of the organizations founded with the loving and Light J-R and John share with us: the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA), Peace Theological Seminary (PTS), the Institute for Individual & World Peace (IIWP), the Heartfelt Foundation, the University of Santa Monica and Insight Seminars, Esprit Travel, EduCare, NOW Productions, the Morton-Donnelly Trust, and the Good Works Foundation.

And then it was our turn to give our thanks, through song and entertainment:

With the Living in Grace retreat over-subscribed this past year and calls flooding in to register for next year’s retreat (Living in Grace is an annual training held in retreat in Asilomar, California), the PTS Staff took to the stage to sing a humorous rendition of “Blue Christmas” to console folks who found themselves on the waiting list when they did not register early…

Next, Kevin McMillan and Deborah Martinez sang for us, with Val Kampmeier accompanying them on piano. Deborah and Kevin sang a sweet song for the Beloved inside of each one of us: “Come what may, I will love you beyond my dying day…”

Carolyn Freyer-Jones, Director of Marketing for USM, noted that last year had been the first time USM staff had attended the annual Christ Mass gathering, and John Morton had welcomed them as “distant cousins.” Carolyn asked John Morton to upgrade USM to kissing cousins, and with that the staff launched into a rollicking rendition of the Brady Bunch theme song with lyrics to suit the occasion.

The USM Bunch treated us to two more theme songs, closing out with the theme to the Mary Tyler Moore Show: “Tuning to the Ani Hu, we’re gonna make it after all.” Remember how Mary would joyfully toss her hat high up in the air at the end of the song? Yep, you guessed it: the USM Bunch were all wearing Santa caps, and they sailed up into the air as the song came to a close.

Erik Albrecht and Paul Davidson, our gentle men of guitar, played together as Erik sang a lovely song, “In This Place,” noting how we’re blessed, that we may come together into the loving heart.

And on that loving note, J-R and John graciously agreed to share with us and take questions. J-R and John shared with us about a wide variety of topics, including happiness, patience, world affairs and karma fulfilling itself, forgiveness, peace, sharing, humor, health, transforming negativity within ourselves, keeping our consciousness clear (like keeping the windshield clear on our cars so that we can see clearly), and that we are in Christ Mass all the time.

Perhaps the best way to give our thanks and bring this article to a close is with words that USM Staffer Dale Kitchell shared with us when he thanked J-R for his ministry, noting “You started this, and we all had the opportunity to buy in — locally and around the world.”

Many blessings to you from the staff of all of the organizations — thank you for giving us the opportunity to love & serve with you, and all the grace and blessings of Christ Mass for the season and New Year!

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Please join us for a special Q&A webcast event on Tuesday, January 28. Join John-Roger and Paul Kaye as they speak and take questions about their new book, Momentum: Letting Love Lead—Simple Practices for Spiritual Living. The webcast will take place live at the 2101 Wilshire Blvd and will be simulcast on the Internet at www.msia.org/live. The evening begins at 7:30 p.m. Pacific time — for more information, please call 323-737-4055. God bless you!

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