Tithing is actually a spiritual law: to give back to the source of your spiritual teachings. When you commit to doing it, something inside you works differently from that day forward.

• John-Roger, DSS

At the April Los Angeles global ministers meeting, Paul Kaye played a marvelous piece on tithing from NPR’s “Marketplace” radio show that was done several years ago.  Reporter Cash Peters interviewed Paul Kaye and Nick Segal about the principles and practice of tithing.   Peters had found MSIA’s tithing.org website and followed up with Paul and Nick.   The segment is humorous, yet gets to the essence of tithing that each person can experience the joyful harvest themselves.   The interview and lots of other terrific tithing resources can be found here in the GIVE section of MSIA.org.

Many years ago at a MSIA staff meeting, John-Roger suggested that we make Prana a destination for visitors to experience Spirit. He told the presidency that the headquarters of the Church should be a beautiful place that people would want to visit. Over the next ten years, this set in motion major improvements to the dining room, gardens, and the addition of a hand cut stone labyrinth.

Pre-pandemic we had 5,000 visitors a year, and it continues to build today with events held throughout the week for people new to MSIA, as well as existing students.  Two weeks ago, Prana was mentioned in a Los Angeles Times article as one the best sound baths in LA.  The experience of peace that the writer experienced is something we hear often from first-time visitors. Some even say that they feel that they are “home.”

Imagine living in that energy!  Prana is currently welcoming long and short-term term guests; spiritually-attuned, service-minded folks to come to learn and serve and live the teachings while taking classes on Soul Transcendence, Practical Spirituality and Peace Awareness. Prana is an extraordinary opportunity for inner attunement in a calm, loving atmosphere, while enjoying spiritual camaraderie, delicious food, and gorgeous gardens.  We invite everyone to visit and participate.

Thanks for the patience of the few people who had some glitches from the update of the MSIA.org student dashboard. There were a couple of hiccups, but they were ironed out and we learned some things on how we can improve testing before launching new versions.   The great news is that the MSIA.org student dashboard is faster and more responsive than ever and has an improved look and feel.   We are always on the lookout for how we can improve MSIA’s offerings.

In case you missed the global email that went out this week, after five years of expertly managing Windermere Ranch, Milo and LeiLani Page and family are moving to Fort Collins, Colorado. Their time at Windermere was impactful and transformative, laying a foundation for us to build upon for years to come. They oversaw and worked on significant improvements to the property infrastructure as well as landmark additions such as the labyrinth, kids’ playground, guest bathrooms, garden revival, and the beautiful Quelin arch.

Milo and LeiLani’s work, seen and unseen, touches every aspect of ranch life. We are enormously grateful for how they shared their vision, gifts, and abilities, with dedication and loving, to bring Windermere to where it is today. Carol Chaffin, who has been a stalwart ambassador and valuable worker at Windermere, is also leaving the ranch.

Windermere’s mission statement is “to provide a place where people can experience peace and a greater attunement with nature and God.” John-Roger gave us this mission and we are continually doing what we can to manifest it with the intention of building community and sustainability.

David and Ashley Whitaker (with their sons Noah and Elmer) and the eternal Ted Drake will continue to live at Windermere and hold the focus for building the Windermere community — providing opportunities to experience the profound and healing peace of this land.

Mark Lurie and David Whitaker have been working with legendary work consultant David Allen to review the vision of IIWP and Windermere.   David and Kathryn Allen are huge fans of Windermere and have been supporting the ranch with their consulting, donations, and loving for many years.   We look forward to sharing more about the coming vision for community involvement in the daily operations of the ranch. There are gardens to plant, trails to build, houses to live in or visit, animals to nurture, and, of course, the beautiful land to experience from Quelin to Oak Glen to Top Rock.

We would love you to be involved and invite you to join us for a mega-barn cleanout and organization work party on Saturday, May 25th and Sunday, May 26th here.   If you are not signed up for the Windermere Ranch Newsletter to receive photos, stories, and special invitations from Windermere, please click here.

The opportunity to be in peace is in every moment, in every choice. You come into peace first with yourself and then by sharing peace with others.

• John-Roger, DSS

God Bless you and thank you for participating in MSIA, and for all that you give in so many ways. As J-R would constantly remind us, “It is the loving that makes all this work.” We love and appreciate you!

The MSIA Presidency – Paul, Vincent, and Mark
MSIA Presidency Succession – David, Jeffrey, and Sherie