Click here to view the photo slideshow from the Conference Blessingsfest 2008
MSIA’s Conference of The Rest of Your Life came to a wonderful crescendo on Monday, July 7th, with a celebration of blessings, fellowship and loving at a BlessingsFest, held at Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens (PAL&G), also known as Prana. Facilitated primarily by our very own beloved Traveler John Morton, and supported and upheld in Spirit and in the physical by John-Roger and Michael Hayes, the BlessingsFest was just that — a feast of goodness and Godness in every way imaginable.
The food was prepared primarily by PAL&G’s new head chef Victoria Ross and her primary assistants Melba and Gustavo. Bravo to Victoria and her team as the food and presentation were superb. We would all be very fortunate if Victoria is willing to serve in this capacity next year.
Volunteers Joan-Mary Grus and new Prana West resident Jim Ness were also integral to the preparation and presentation, as were many others. In fact, the overall assisting team included 35 loving Souls, many of whom worked for days in advance of the event. This year the organizers decided to try something different and invited Mike and Ursula Visser and their nine-year-old son Chad to join the team. Everyone was thrilled by Chad’s energetic playfulness and sweet demeanor, and he was a model of loving service. Next year the team plans to invite more younger members to join the team. When asked, Janet Caminite commented that the intention had been coming forward for a number of years to share the joys and experience of service with our younger community, in part for the joy that they bring, and also to seed for our future in sharing this wonderful gift of service early on. This is truly an example of ministerial service in action.
The organizational planning extended as far back as March, thanks to the loving care of Janet and Lawrence Caminite. The BlessingsFest is sponsored by Peace Theological Seminary and College of Philosophy as a fundraiser for MSIA, and Jean Zero of PTS was integral to the planning, as were Mandy Weiss and Helen Bradley.
Eighty-nine participants came forward to join in the celebration, all of whom had an opportunity to submit a request for a blessing from John Morton and John-Roger on any topic of their choosing. In that wonderful way that they do, the Travelers insured that all participants’ requests were addressed, and did so in such a way that the effect was cumulative. For those lucky and generous Souls who participated and were open to receiving the blessings, each one had the opportunity to receive every blessing given.
Twelve participants had won the raffle for a seat at the feast. Janet Caminite explained that conducting the raffle has become one of her favorite parts of Conference, as it is so wonderful to extend a welcome to someone who might not otherwise be able to afford the $1,000.00 donation that secures a seat at the event, and because it is so much fun when people win. When asked about the other aspects of the event that she enjoys, Janet explained, “I think the BlessingsFest is one of the best opportunities I have personally for providing service to the Travelers and to our body of ministers and initiates. The goal is to provide the best experience you can have in the most loving environment available.”
As someone who has been fortunate enough to attend a number of these BlessingsFests, all I can say is each year the Caminites, all the others who step forward in service to the event, and John and J-R in particular, continue to exceed that goal and more. For my ability to participate, I am so very grateful. For those of you viewing the photos, and reading this article, I invite you to take a moment to come into the stillness of who God is inside of yourself, the stillness of who you truly are, and open to receiving the blessing that is present for you in this moment, for truly, Prana West Open House
