Volunteer Community at the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa

I'm sitting outside right now doing my Beyond Limits homework. So I am in The Zone. I want to answer the question about WHY I do this. "Why" questions work for me. They make me think deeper. My life word is "significance." I can't live without it. Since I retired from being an ED nurse after 43 years (actually, it is precisely two years ago today!), I have searched for my significance. I did some volunteering with Acts of Kindness on the Joe Rodota trail and saw firsthand what it is like for homeless people to survive in their plastic tarp hovels. As a triage nurse in the hospital, I never had gotten to witness their situations. I only heard about their problems. Part of me didn't believe it could be that bad. Walking on the trail after a rainstorm where everyone's belongings got soaked, I saw what it was like to be out there in the cold and rain and wind. It was horrible. Just horrible. That's why I do what I do. A friend and I use...

I have been a part of the team cooking/ preparing food since April 2020. Before training and joining this team, I was doing what I could to get snacks, sandwiches, fruit, and love to the hundreds of the unsheltered community through grassroots connections. Our PB&J sandwiches were legendary, and we can do better! And DO. We do better! With hot meals, nutritional sides and salads, And deserts. All determined by donations from farmers, backyard gardeners, gleaners foods, farm to table growers with a shrunken restaurant clientele, Redwood Empire food bank, and private donations. Each cooking day and menu is determined by what is available and donated—or even purchased at Safeway! I love doing this service with my spiritual community. It is the Center of my social life during this time of COVID. Outside of Zoom! It is a sacred service anchored in prayer and love. We will likely never meet the people we cook for, yet their lives and well being are very present in my awareness. We a...

Rhonda Lee has been sweeping the floor of the sanctuary weekly since February 2013. She is one of those important people who keep this Center beautiful while performing her task quietly in the background. She claims that this time is sacred to her and feels like a spiritual practice!  She listens to podcasts or music while she works and looks forward to giving her service each week. Thank you, Rhonda!

Lori Ross with Bookstore Manager, Martha Salazar Lori  Ross  has been volunteering in the bookstore since 2013.  Lori is an asset to the bookstore and any team she is on for a variety of reasons. She has an exceptional skill set. She treats any volunteer position like she is the CEO of the company. She is efficient and calm under pressure. She has extraordinary leadership qualities and quietly motivates those around her.  She is a team player and strong on her own.  L ori is the first to arrive, the last to leave, the organizer, the friend, the confidante, steadfast, loyal, and fiercely dedicated. I am honored to know her and blessed to have her energy and presence in the store.   Martha Salazar, Bookstore Manager  

Bette Smith, RScP, first attended the Center in 1995 because two friends recommended it to her in the same week.  Like so many of us, she knew immediately she had found her spiritual home.  Bette became a Practitioner in 2002 and began assisting in classes. Bette has given her whole self, heart and soul, to many selfless service  projects including: work in the nursery, with Spirit in Nature, producing several Sufi dancing events with Tui, helping with food prep and serving meals for events, serving two years on the Practitioner Core, being part of a team bringing Rickie Byars and Agape Choir and house band to us for concerts, working in the bookstore, leading meditation, praying on platform and in Grinton Chapel, hosting Sunday services, helping update the Center’s Website, and recently helping with Sunday morning host scripts and PowerPoint slides.  Bette, we so appreciate you for the gifts of love given through your talents and time.

In 2012 Cindy signed up as a volunteer for a one-year commitment in our Youth and Family Ministry, and she has been serving with our youngest members in the nursery ever since. Cindy brings her cheerful, loving presence to every child and volunteer with whom she works. As a member of the One Heart Choir, Cindy is the music librarian, creating the choir's music books for Sunday services. She also organizes and files the music for each season. Cindy embodies the Center's teaching by being a loving, light-hearted presence wherever she serves. Cindy, we are grateful for your ongoing support and the light you bring to everyone. Thank you!

Michael Seymour is one of those behind the scenes volunteers that make our Center shine. He visits our offices during business hours and makes sure the garbage and recycling bins are properly emptied so that staff can concentrate on their work. On Wednesday afternoons, he removes the chairs and mops the floors in rooms 1 & 2 so that Natalie’s yoga class has a clean space to practice. And he is happy to tend to “other tasks” as assigned, completing them with skill and a warm heart. Thank you, Michael, for the generous gifts you give to all at the Center.

Dan Jensen first came to the Church of Religious Science when he attended a memorial service in San Diego. Rev Kathy Hearn was the minister there, and he was captivated by the experience. Dan joined CSLSR in 1995 and attends services regularly. He reports the Center feeds his soul and the teachings of Religious Science have transformed his life.  Over the years, Dan has volunteered in the bookstore and run the bake sale at the Holiday Craft Faire. However, his ongoing SEVA is in the Center’s finance department, where he posts the weekly tithing and occasionally helps Anne Galbraith with a project. Dan says, “It is my great pleasure to be of service.”  Thank you, Dan, for the gifts you give so lovingly.

For 18 years, Nancy was a joyful teaching assistant in the 5 to 7-year-old Youth Church classes. She recently changed her SEVA to counting money on second Mondays with Anne, but you may also recognize Nancy’s smiling face from her long-standing fifth Sunday SEVA as an usher and greeter. She also ensures that our roses remain prolific as our volunteer pruner. Thank you, Nancy, for the many ways you have and continue to support our Center!

Carol Seymour, RScP, has been in loving service to our Youth and Family Ministries for 24 years, beginning when we were renting space at the Luther Burbank Center.  In fact, Carol organized a fundraising auction to help us purchase our new spiritual home here. In addition to the Practitioner prayers, she has been providing for 18 years, Carol has also opened her home to visiting speakers and musicians.  All in all, Carol is a stellar ambassador for our Center, and we are deeply grateful to her.

Our featured volunteer of the week is Practitioner Debby Young, in gratitude for her steadfast dedication to the youth and Teens of our Center over the last 9 years. Debby has been a source of weekly inspiration, loving-kindness and compassion. We love you and wish you every happiness as you spread your love and service in new ways in our community. From: Teen Group and Youth and Family Ministry. Debbie is featured here in the middle of two of her good friends, do you know who they are? :)

Treasured volunteer Marjorie Favuzzi has served as a teen advisor since 2015. Her professional skills as a life coach and training with Emotional Freedom Techniques have helped our teens deal with anxiety and the social pressures they experience at school and among their peers. Marjorie is also a member of the One Heart Choir where she tends to the rehearsal notes and serves on the concert and retreat teams. We are wondrously grateful for the treasured gifts you share!

Bob Hart first attended the Center in the Spring of 1999. He was in search of a spiritual home and halfway through the service knew he had found it!  Bob has been on the Giving Intentions Team and a member of the Board of Trustees, serving as Vice President. When transitioning off the Board, he remained ex-officio to help complete the solar project in the parking lot. He has assisted with facilities repair and painting and is the fire tender at the annual picnic. Bob currently serves as co-chair on the Nurturing Our Community Team and as chair of “In the Mezzanine: Experiencing the Divine Through the Lens of Visual Arts," a program that beautifies the Center by exhibiting Member’s artwork in a three-month rotation. Thank you, Bob, for all your generous giving!

Professional, detail oriented, and devoted to the Center, Jim is a member of our Stewardship Team and has also been managing the website of Stepping Stones Books and Gifts for more than 15 years. You will see him volunteering in the store on Sundays and at their used book sales and ticketed events. And that’s not all! Mowed grass around our property? Thank you, Jim, for this and more!

Tom Nilsson, RcSP, and his wife, Pam, first came to the Center in 2009. During that visit, Tom’s whole perspective on life changed, and he recognized clearly that this is where he belonged. Tom is a Practitioner and volunteers his time praying with members and visitors in Grinton Chapel and works as a teaching assistant in the Center’s classes. He is also a licensed California contractor and has done a variety of significant building projects and repairs for the Center. He also shares his time and his truck each year moving food, tables, and chairs for our annual family picnic. Thank you, Tom, for the gifts of your time, talents, and truck!

Peter Stickney,  RSc P ,  came to the Center in 1989, and like so many of us, knew he was home. In September of that year, he became one of three youth church teachers.  In March  of  1990, Peter took over as editor of the monthly newsletter known as  Centerings and changed  the name to  Centering  to bring attention to the oneness we all share. As a member of the  Board of Trustees, Peter continued his dedicated work in youth church and became an advisor for the youth camps.  Currently,  Peter edits and posts Dr. Edward’s talks for the audio blog and for the radio station, KSRO. He has been part of the committee that organized Man Spirit retreats, weekly men’s groups, hosted weekly meditations, as well as weekly meetings discussing  A Course in Miracles. Peter  has been a Licensed Practitioner since 1993. Peter, thank you for your devotion and service.  

Ever wonder who creates the spectacular ever-changing stage and lighting design for the Sanctuary? It’s William Able, who you may recognize from his Gentle Chair Yoga class! William’s been the Center’s dedicated volunteer set designer since 1998. Prior to this, he created the Christmas and Easter stage designs at the LBC. We are ever so grateful for the talent and gifts you share, William!

Anne Gero can be found on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday mornings volunteering as the Front Desk Receptionist. She files, makes reminder calls, and assists with the Welcome folders. She’s also been an usher and done hospitality. One day Anne suggested that it would be helpful to the coffee crew, if the coffee were pre-measured, and she quickly found herself in charge of ordering and pre-measuring the coffee!  Thank you, Anne, for all that you do, especially from us coffee drinkers!