Volunteer Community at the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa

Posts

Meet Artist Lorna Ho: Finding Inspiration and Embracing Imperfection

In this heartfelt video, artist Lorna Ho shares how the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa, has been a source of inspiration and spiritual growth for her as she navigates life's challenges, including her struggle with hearing loss. Through meditation, prayer, and daily affirmations, Lorna finds strength and gratitude, using her creative process as a means of expression and healing. Lorna also talks about the Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi, the beauty of embracing imperfections in art and life. She reflects on how her best work comes when she lets go of perfectionism and allows ideas to flow naturally, just as life unfolds. Watch the video to hear Lorna’s inspiring story and discover how the Center has played a vital role in her artistic journey and spiritual practice. You won’t want to miss her unique perspective on creativity, resilience, and finding beauty in the perfectly imperfect. Thank you, Lorna, for helping launch our 2024 Giving Intention season with your personal stor...

Nick Carico and The Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa

In this video, our drummer, Nic Carico, shares his personal journey of how playing music at the Center became much more than just a gig. He recounts how he started playing in April 2021 after being invited by Chris, a connection made through Sonoma State University. Initially drawn to the music, he soon realized that the Center provided a deeper sense of community and personal growth. After briefly leaving to join a wedding band, he felt the absence of the Center's influence and returned in 2022. Beyond the music, the experience has led him to develop affirmations that have positively impacted his self-talk and relationships. He expresses deep gratitude for the past two years of being part of the band and his meaningful connections with the speakers and the audience. How has the Center touched your life? Please share your story in the comments. If you would like to help sustain our Center through a commitment of financial support in 2025, please complete this form ( 2025 Giving I...

Chandra Farnsworth "I am so grateful.."

Chandra Farnsworth's current volunteer role is serving on the Giving Intention Team (GIT). Two of the major annual duties of this team are: Planning and implementing the annual Fall Giving Intention Process, in which we ask congregants to estimate their upcoming annual giving plan to the Center. Reviewing and vetting nominations for our Nonprofit Partners for the upcoming year and making the recommendation to the Board of Trustees. Chandra especially enjoys being the liaison with the Nonprofits. Assisting them in preparing the beautiful videos we feature each month and welcoming and hosting the nonprofit guests who visit to meet and greet our congregants in the social hall. "I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve CSLSR through my volunteer work. It gives me a wonderful sense of purpose now that I am retired and fills my heart with the blessing of being part of the community.." Please join me in thanking Chandra for her selfless service to CSLSR. Photo: Chandra at...

Jail Ministry Gratitude

We would like to publicly recognize and celebrate the incredible dedication of Susan Bennett, Rosalie Sulgit-Shay, and Tamarya Hulme - who have tirelessly served in our community’s jail ministry. For the past six years, these women have committed themselves to visiting incarcerated individuals every week, bringing with them compassion, hope, and spiritual guidance. Their unwavering presence has provided comfort and a sense of dignity to those who are often overlooked, offering a light in some of the darkest moments of these individuals' lives. Their work is a powerful reminder of the impact that loving-kindness, faith, and consistent support can have in transforming lives. Let us all take a moment to honor and thank them for their extraordinary service and the difference they have made in our community. Thank you.

Blast from the Past: Rediscovering Connections within Our Larger Community

Hello everyone! In today's "Blast from the Past" feature, we're exploring more than just a photo from our archives; we're diving into the heart of our larger community. This image captures a group of individuals who represent a specific community within our community. But who are they, and what special group do they belong to? As we look back, I invite you to scrutinize the photo and see if you recognize any of these faces. Each person here has played a role in shaping a particular segment of our community, contributing to its unique character and activities. The event captured in the photo also holds significance. Do you recall what this gathering was about? Were you there, and what memories do you have of it? This event and the community it represents have likely been on hiatus, especially with the challenges posed by the pandemic. However, the good news is that this is about to change, and we are gearing up to meet in person once again. For those of you who are...

Blast from the Past: Deciphering a Blurry Memory from 2006

Hello, everyone! In today's edition of "Blast from the Past," we're presented with a unique challenge. We have a photo from 2006, but there's a catch - it's blurry. Despite the lack of clarity, this image holds a piece of our shared history, and I believe together, we can uncover the story behind it. The photo might be a bit fuzzy, but it captures a moment in time, a snapshot of our community's journey. Perhaps with some collective effort and a bit of detective work, we can identify the people in the picture. Think back to 2006 – what events, gatherings, or milestones were happening in our community? Who were the key figures around that time? Your recollections might provide valuable context that could help in identifying the people in the photo. This exercise isn't just about identifying faces from a blurry image; it's about reconnecting with our past, no matter how unclear it may seem. It's about piecing together the fragments of our history...