Portland Center
of Self-Realization Fellowship
ANNOUNCEMENTS
April
First, we extend our warmest welcome to Brother Nikhilananda who returns to Portland Center after 13 years, and to Brahmachari Daniel who was here in 2022. We are so grateful to you both and to Self-Realization Fellowship and our Guru for making it possible for you to join us.
Sunday, April 19th, the Energization Exercises and Meditation begin at 9:40 am. Everyone is encouraged to bring a family member and/or friend to the 11:00 am Inspirational Service, led by Brother Nikhilananda. Brahmachari Daniel will join the children during this special mid-month Sunday School, introducing them to percussive instruments for a Kirtan experience.
The children will join us for a group photograph after the service, followed by a Fellowship Tea and refreshments, and the Glimpses of a Life Divine video at 1:30 pm.
April 26th the Kirtan group will lead the devotional chanting. Energization Exercises begin at 8:00 am or you may enter at 8:15 am, 9:00 am and 10:00 am for the chanting interspersed with periods of meditation, followed by the 11:00 am Inspirational Service.
Also on April 26th, there will be a General Membership meeting immediately following the service, providing an update on the search for a New Temple in the Portland area, the results of meetings with monastics and others, with an opportunity for everyone to provide input at this early stage of the process.
May 3rd will be the last day of Sunday School before the summer break. Sunday School will resume on September 6th.
Following the Service on May 3rd, Committee Chairs will meet.
On May 10th there will be a Commemorative Service for Sri Yukteswar at 11:00 am.
PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mark your calendar for Portland Center’s annual picnic on Saturday, July 18th.
Our chapel is available every Tuesday evening from 6:30-9:30 pm for silent open meditation, meaning you may come and go as your time allows. The silence and vibration of the chapel is conducive to deeper meditation and prayer.
You are invited to enjoy the Spring flowers blooming in our back meditation garden. Please enter and exit through the Sunday School/Social Room door.
Hunger doesn’t stop after the holidays. We are continuing to collect non-perishable food items for our neighboring school, which you may leave in the white box in the Information Room. The table in the Family Room has items available for members in need.
Those who wish to stay in the chapel a little longer to enjoy the meditative atmosphere 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 Information Room to preserve the silence of the chapel. Thank you for your consideration.
As a courtesy to those members who are allergic to fragrances, please refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes, or scented hair products when attending services at Portland Center.
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.
Volunteering at Portland Center is a wonderful addition to one's sadhana, or spiritual practice. The Flower Committee is seeking creative and dependable volunteers to help with the flower arrangements that are an integral part of Portland Center Inspirational and Commemorative services. Would you like to learn a new skill or expand your current flower skills? You may speak with someone serving today or fill out a Volunteer Application in the Foyer.
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.
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.
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.
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.