ANNOUNCEMENTS

April

The 2025 SRF World Convocation will be held from June 22-28. SRF is looking for volunteers to remotely support three online fellowship gatherings June 22nd, June 25th, and June 28th. Full training will be provided. Those interested may apply at the SRF member portal or contact SRF at onlinefellowship@voluntaryleague.org.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Easter weekend meditations with visiting monastics Brother Devananda and Brahmachari Ian. If you would like to share your gratitude for their inspiring presence, there are two cards on the table in the Information Room for signature.

Thank you to the Ushers and Greeters, Guest Services, Hospitality, Cleaning, Flower, Communications, and Landscape and Maintenance Committees who helped create a welcoming environment for everyone.

There is a new donation box in the foyer. Contributions to offset the transportation costs for our SRF monastics are appreciated.

Sunday May 4th will be the last Sunday School before the summer break.

We are excited to announce that the SRF Youth Services Department is offering excellent training for our Sunday School volunteers. If you are interested in helping with Portland Center’s Sunday School, which will again be offered on the first Sunday of the month following the summer break, you are invited to participate in the four Foundational Teacher Training Sessions, scheduled on Saturdays from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM Pacific Time on May 17, May 24, May 31, and June 7. The training will be conducted in English through a Zoom link. More information is available on the bulletin board in the Information Room. An e-blast will be sent soon with the RSVP form and the training topics.

In other news, the Portland Center is in the process of finalizing a contract permitting us to again use the Vestal School parking lot at the corner of Flanders and 81st. Three people at the school district were instrumental in facilitating the process. There are cards to thank them for their support located on a table in the foyer to the left of the front doors. Please be sure that you’ve signed all three cards. We are grateful to them and for everyone who has been praying for the lot to be reopened.

On Sunday May 11th we will celebrate Sri Yukteswar’s birthday with a commemorative service at 11:00 a.m. Please bring an offering of a flower or flowers as a symbol of devotion to God and the Guru, and a donation in a plain envelope. Rose petals will be provided, if you choose not to bring flowers.

The Book Room and garden are open after the service today (April 27). If you have any questions, please speak with anyone serving today.

As always, our announcements are posted on the bulletin board in the Information room and our website.

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS:

We encourage everyone to read Portland Center’s current e-newsletter, which contains important and inspiring information. You may sign up on our website or fill out a form at the Newcomers Desk, if you aren’t already receiving it.

If you would like to help out with the Center, there is a wonderful variety of ways to be involved. The volunteer coordinator can help you identify an area that fits your interests, skills, and time availability. Please fill out a volunteer form at the table in the foyer or talk to anyone serving.

To see the new features on the SRF/YSS app make sure to update your app. For more information about the improved SRF/YSS app visit: Yogananda.org/App.

Thank you for supporting Portland Center with your skills and financial donations. If you would like to contribute online, you can send funds through Zelle to portlandcenterdonations@gmail.com or you may write a check. Checks payable to "Portland Center" will be deposited locally and support our Center's activities and expenses. Checks payable to "Self-Realization Fellowship" are sent to SRF headquarters in Los Angeles, to support SRF's worldwide activities. Checks may be mailed to our address at 356 NE 80th Avenue, Portland 97213.

Portland Center's website now includes a new section about the history of the Portland Center of SRF, originally compiled by the late Kent Hathaway. Follow the Home page tab to the “Our Center” page.

A reminder that our chapel is open every Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 9:30 for silent individual meditation. As this is not a conducted meditation, one my come and go at any time.

Our Kirtan Group leads the Sunday morning services on the last Sunday of each month, beginning at 8:00 with the SRF Energization Exercises. You may also enter or leave during periods of chanting at 9:00 and 10:00.

Also, those who wish to stay in the chapel a little longer to enjoy the meditative atmosphere generated during the morning are welcome to do so. We ask those who want to converse with one another after the service to kindly meet in the foyer or the Information Room, to preserve the silence of the chapel. Thank you for your consideration.

If you know of people in need of healing prayers, you may submit their name in the prayer box in the Information Room. These names are submitted confidentially to the Mother Center, where they are prayed for by the monastics every day for three months. You may also request prayers on SRF’s website at www.yogananda.org.

Fragrances can be a problem for people who are allergic to them. Please be mindful of others, and we request that you refrain from wearing fragrances when attending services and events at the Portland Center. Thank you for your understanding.