Northern Lights: Canada's Spiritual News - One Part Contributing to the Whole!

Greetings! HT Canada joins HT Worldwide, with its thousands of teammates surrounding this wonderful planet Earth, in embracing the message of Neale Donald Walsch.  This message, ultimately God's message, is one of truth, joy and love, all in no particular order and all interchangeable.  Put those together and we have the only message that needs to be heard throughout the world; and that is: We Are All One.  This is the most important message in the world today.  Why?  Because that is what it's going to take to change the direction society seems to be going in right now.  "We Are All One", and "Truth, Joy, Love".  That is what people need to h ear, to experience, to share, to be!  Do you feel the need to spread this message around the world?  Neale Donald Walsch did.  And that's why he's written one book after another, each focusing on one central, and extremely important, message: It's time for a change! Do we sound passionate?  You bet we are!  Because passion gets things done.  Passion has always been the driving force behind any worthwhile project or movement.  And this is a "civil rights movement for the soul".  This is a movement, if shared and practiced, that definitely will change the world.  Imagine it!  Every person in the world seeing his brother as part of himself.  Every person in the world being part of his brother.  Every person in the world understanding that we are all one!  No more need to be right.  No more need to be the best.  No more need to be first.  No more need...period! That is what Humanity's Team is all about - understanding and knowing that We Are All One.  So why would we do anything to someone else that we wouldn't do to ourselves?  We wouldn't need to.  For, in reality, there is no need.  There is only Truth, Joy and Love.  And, of course, peace.  So if you want to live in a peaceful world - totally peaceful, with no wars or fighting or abuse or poverty of any kind - then all you want to do is encourage everyone you know (and even those you don't know) to join Humanity's Team.  Join a team who's sole purpose - and Soul Purpose - is to live Love and enjoy Life.

A Message from our Country Coordinator

Getting Involved

Have you been blessed by God with a particular skill or talent?  Are you appreciative of that?  Well, now's the time to show that appreciation and gratitude.  And here's how:

Humanity's Team is a grassroots "civil rights movement for the soul". We know we have to start with one person and continually grow to gradually include all people, in sharing the wonderful message that "We are all one".  That one person was, and is, Neale Donald Walsch, as many of you know.  All Neale's Conversations with God writings have conveyed that message.  Now it's our job to spread the message.

And that's where the gift of your skills comes in.  We'd like to give you the opportunity to say "Thank you" to God for what he's given you.  We'd like to help you to give back to the Source.  So why not look over the list of departments listed below and choose one where you can help, and join Humanity's Team of volunteers who show their gratitude by donating their time and efforts to one of the world's greatest causes.  Here's the list:

-         HTML Designers
-         Graphics Designers
-         CMS Specialists
-         Systems Architects
-         IT Support Staff
-         HTML/PHP/Java Programmers
-         Database programmers
-         Project Coordinators

So dive in, folks, and get your feet wet.  This could be just why God gave you that special talent - to help spread His message.  So line up for the diving board, and call or email Humanity's Team Canada.  And welcome to the Team!

The only way to grow is to communicate - to get in touch, and say in touch - with all our teammates across the country.  To help you do this, here's a list of all the Provincial Coordinators we have so far. 

The Group Loop

Humanity's Team thrives and grows on its many groups.  These are groups of support, groups of love, groups that share, groups that care, groups that take the message of Humanity's Team as their mission and their purpose, groups that understand that "We Are All One"!  That's why we'd like to periodically focus on some of the groups in action today - to help those who'd like to join a group, and to help those who'd like to form a new group.  It's no surprise that the positive energy created by a group has tremendous power in achieving good for those in the group, and for those to whom that energy is extended throughout the world.

For a listing of all the groups and events being carried out in your area, go to the Humanity's Team Canada website and check the Main Menu.  If you have new groups you'd like to start, contact us at news@humanitysteamcanada.com and we'll be happy to list it for you.  And here's an example for you:

Angele and Minas would like to start a CwG/Humanity's Team group in their home on Wednesdays at 7:00pm.  Their address is 41 Beachell St, Scarborough (Markham & Eglinton area).  Anyone interested in participating in this inspirational gathering is asked to call Angele at 416-346-9889, or Minas at 416-269-2516.  Or you can send an email to minas@rogers.com.  Angele and Minas are just one example of those who recognize the importance of sharing our message, and attend groups to discuss the concepts of CwG and therefore further their journey to enlightenment.  Join a group  today!

Canada's Wonderful Core Team

Volunteers fill in life's gaps - those voids that encompass the real down-to-earth heart work.  Volunteers are special people who understand the power of freely giving of themselves.  Humanity's Team is run mostly by volunteers, from the organization to the administration to the teaching.  And since this is volunteer work, it adds an extraordinarily exceptional aspect to the organization - one of Divinity, one of Heavenly Love. 

Taking this into consideration, we'd like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our volunteers, especially those teammates who make up our Core Team.  A list of them follows.  And as you read the list, in your heart, thank each one for their part in contributing to spreading the message of Humanity's Team, that "We Are All One." 

Brandon Klayman – Country Coordinator - cc@humanitysteamcanada.com

John Ross – NEW Ontario Coordinator - johnross@humanitysteamcanada.com
Hollison Valverde – Manitoba Coordinator - hollison@humanitysteamcanada.com
John Thompson – Saskatchewan Coordinator - john@humanitysteamcanada.com
Tanya Dixon – Alberta Coordinator - tanya@humanitysteamcanada.com
John Sandercock – BC Coordinator - johnsan@humanitysteamcanada.com

Mark Brewer – Ontario Peel Region Coordinator - mark@humanitysteamcanada.com
Judy Harper – Ontario: Barrie Coordinator - emerging@bar.imag.net
Mireille Cantin – Web Coordinator/Translation Coordinator - mireille@humanitysteamcanada.com
Yves Fortier – Quebec Education Coordination - ymuse@mediom.com
Yasmin Virani – Mississauga Coordinator - htmississauga@yahoo.ca
Wilma Lagerwerf – TBA - wilma@humanitysteamcanada.com

Diana Habkirk – Communications Coordinator - diana@human itysteamcanada.com
Gareth Marples – Newsletter Coordinator - gareth@humanitysteamcanada.com

Thank you, Canada's Core Team, for all you've done, and for all the progress your efforts will lead to in the future.  Because of you, the world will be a better place!  And, hey, if anyone else would like to be a part of all this rewarding work, let us know.  Contact Humanity's Team Canada's Country Coordinator and he'll let you know where your special talents are most needed.  And thanks for your love!

A Warm Welcome

We'd like to extend our arms and our hearts in a warm welcome to John Ross.  Here's what John has to say about his contribution and his vision with Humanity's Team Canada.

Hi Teammates
As the Ontario Coordinator and a new teammate on Canada's Core Team, I would like to introduce myself and provide everyone with some background information that seems germane.

My name is John Ross. I am fifty seven years old and live in Brampton, Ontario, with my wife Beverley. I began to dedicate time and effort to spiritual development in the early 1990's and became open to oneness and an unconditionally loving God through the workbook for students portion of A Course in Miracles, which I completed in mid 1999. This led to CwG and other books covering similar themes, all of which have given me an abiding commitment to these concepts, nicely captured in HT's Core Beliefs. I recently completed some work to identify my soul mission and it seems it is to create inspired team efforts targeting oneness and the preservation of planet earth.

By coincidence (or not), late 1999 was also the end of my business career and I now earn a livelihood through my long time hobby of playing bridge (a card game). Both Bev and I direct bridge games and I also play professionally, thus we pay the bills. My business career spanned nearly thirty years as a VP Operations, General Manager within the manufacturing sector. An early experience with a project team so impressed me that I spent my entire career using team based methods in whatever role I was assigned. Sometimes, we had great success, other times we fell flat, and through these experiences, I learned a great deal. How this learning translates to a volunteer organization, I cannot say, but some of the principles seem transportable. For example, I had a rule of thumb that no one should do anything they did not want to do, and so we would sometimes cast about without people willing to do seemingly vital organizational functions. Usually, someone with a keen interest would step forward and the magic would begin.

Let me close this introduction with my stated intentions as the Ontario Coordinator which is to:
Support existing HT Groups.
Nurture new HT Groups.
Appreciate contributions teammates make to HT Groups.
Share HT Groups wisdom and successes.
Connect HT Groups remembering we are all one.

Unfortunately, I cannot immediately begin to participate in the Wednesday evening conference call as I presently direct a bridge game that evening.
However, I look forward to getting to know all of you better, and I am very excited about this opportunity to be of service to humanity and to planet earth
through Humanity's Team.

Love and Blessings
John Ross
 

So again, a loving and appreciative welcome to John for his dedication and commitment to spreading Humanity's Team's message throughout Ontario.

Upcoming Events

When letting you know about important upcoming events, it's our usual practice to just list them.  But this month, we're going to make an exception.  We're going to put a slightly different twist on upcoming events: a brilliant idea that could be an upcoming event if somebody chooses to step up to the plate and organize it.  Now we understand how much work this entails, so we're not expecting it to be done overnight.  However, if somebody feels that this is the opportunity they've been waiting for, and if they believe they have the time and resources to carry it out, then, by all means, go for it!  Thanks for the input from our dear friend, Mireille.  Here it is:

A Note from Arthur Waskow

At just the moment of history when religious conflict, violence, terrorism, and war have re-emerged, bearing lethal dangers for our different communities and our
shared planet, God has given our spiritual and religious traditions a gift of time.

During October 2005, a confluence of sacred moments in many different traditions invites us to pray with or alongside each other and to work together for peace,
justice, human rights, and the healing of our wounded earth.

To begin with, two strands of time that are celebrated in two communities, now often at odds with one another, are this fall woven together in a way not seen
for decades: The sacred Muslim lunar month of Ramadan and the sacred Jewish lunar month of Tishrei, which includes the High Holy Days and Sukkot, both
begin October 3-4.

And there is more: October 4 is the Saint's Day of St. Francis of Assisi (who almost alone of all Christian leaders of his generation opposed the Crusades
and studied with Islamic teachers, as well as connecting deeply with all the creatures of the earth), October 2 is Gandhi's birthday, and is also Worldwide
(Protestant) Communion Sunday. In mid-October, there are important Buddhist and Hindu festivals.

There is much that we could do to heal the world during this sacred season made up of sacred times:

* Perhaps in groups of congregations -- a church, a synagogue, a mosque, a temple -- each congregation could host one meal for members of the others,
after nightfall on any of the evenings of Ramadan.

* Jews could invite Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and Hindus into the Sukkah, a leafy hut that is open to the wind and rain. Traditionally, "sacred guests"
are invited in and the ancient Rabbis taught that during Sukkot, blessings are invoked upon "the seventy nations" of the world. Traditional prayers implore
God to "spread the sukkah of shalom" over us. These a re perfect rubrics for peacemaking among the children of Abraham and all humanity with each other and
with all the earth.

* Muslims could invite other communities to join in celebrating some aspects of Eid el-Fitr (the feast at the end of Ramadan), and Jews and Christians could
(as in Morocco) bring food to the celebration of the end of Ramadan's fasting. It marks and underlines the month-long commitment to fast so as to offer food
and life-abundance to God as a sacrifice, and to focus on devotion to God instead of to material success.

* Churches could invite Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus to join in learning about and celebrating the teachings of Francis of Assisi. He was one of the few
Christians of his day who opposed the Crusades, who learned in a serious way from Muslim teachers, and who was deeply dedicated to kinship with the earth
and all living creatures.

* Synagogues could invite Muslim scholars and spiritual leaders to teach on Rosh Hashanah when Jews are reading Torah passages from the sag a of Abraham, Hagar, Ishmael, Sarah, and Isaac, how it is that Muslims understand that family story. Then there could be open discussion of the differences, the similarities, the wisdom held in each of the versions of the story.

*Synagogues could set aside a time during Yom Kippur or the Shabbat just before, or another special time during the month, to read and discuss the Torah's story (Gen. 25: 7-11) of the joining of Isaac and Ishmael to bury their father Abraham, and then to achieve reconciliation at the Well of the Living One Who
Sees Me. They could invite Muslims to join in some part of the day or in the break-fast (by Muslims called Iftar) at the end of the day.

* Our communities could together take some action during the month to protect human rights, heal the earth, and seek peace in the whole region where Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah sojourned.

And from sunrise to sunset on the day that for Muslims is one of the fast days of Ramadan and for Jew s is the fast day of Yom Kippur -- October 13 --
Christians and in deed all Americans could also observe a Fast for Reflection, Repentance, and Renewal.

All of us could learn from the passage of Isaiah that in Jewish tradition is read on Yom Kippur morning. God, speaking through Isaiah, says, "Do you think
the fast that I demand this day is to bow down your head like a bullrush? No! The fast I demand is that you feed the poor, house the homeless, clothe the
naked, and break off the handcuffs on your prisoners."

So in our own generation, we could encourage those who join in this Fast to take visible steps in the world to "Seek peace, Feed the poor, Heal the earth."
A call to all Americans to join in an October 13 fast and to create shared multi-religious local and regional events during the month was initiated by The
Shalom Center, with The Tent of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah. It has been endorsed by the National Council of Churches, the Islamic Society of North America, Pax Christi, ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal and its rabbinic affiliate Ohalah, the Jewish Committee for Isaiah's Vision (an ad hoc committee made up of more than one hundred rabbis and other Jewish leaders), and a number of local and regional groups.

Rabbi Waskow is director of The Shalom Center. To explore your own involvement with the October effort, please write Office@shalomctr.org
For further information see: -- www.shalomctr.org www.tentofabraham.org

This information from Tikkun
magazine@tikkun.org
510-644-1200
email: magazine@tikkun.org
 

Partners in Progression

It's so exciting when we see progression in our "civil rights movement for the soul".  And we're definitely moving ahead.  Here's a wonderful example of just how we're advancing and how we're gaining recognition and respect from every walk of life.

The work that's been done by Yasmin Virani, our Mississauga Coordinator, is beyond all expectations.  We really appreciate the love that Yasmin puts into Humanity's Team.  Thank you so much, Yasmin!  And here's just another example of the valuable input Yasmin continues to share with us:

Through Yasmin's efforts, HT West Toronto is now an official affiliate of the Spiritual Cinema Circle and the following email contains the links that you may add to your own websites and emails to direct subscribers to the SCC (Spiritual Cinema Circle) website. Every person who subscribes through these links will financially benefit Humanity's Team.

If you don't understand how Affiliate Marketing works, then we'll give you a brief description.  Every time someone comes to the Spiritual Cinema Circle web site via a link that contains Humanity's Team's Affiliate Code, and purchases any product or registers for any event, a commission will be paid to Humanity's Team.  That's money that'll help us grow and share our message.  Affiliate Marketing is becoming a worldwide resource for many webmasters in creating wealth.  So let's thank God for yet another resource that'll help us achieve our mission and subsequent goals!  And, of course, a special thanks to Yasmin for her efforts.  Hey gang, isn't Yasmin a great example?  Do you think some of us could follow her lead?  Let's do it!
 

Words of Wisdom

This is a new section of our Newsletter, giving you, the reader, the opportunity to contribute some words of wisdom to share with all our other readers. Any kind of input or feedback is welcomed here.  And this month, we thank Tanya for this wonderfully inspiring prayer she submitted:

The Lord's Prayer for a New Age

O Spirit of Love, Creator of the Universe...Let Your light and love pervade all that is.
Help us to feel nourished, inspired and empowered by Your love.
Let each of us learn how to still our minds so that we can perceive the promptings of Spirit within our hearts.
Give us the courage to act upon inner guidance.
Help us to detach from the fluctuations of the mind.
Let our every action, intention and operation be fully aligned with Spirit to Your praise and glory.
NOW and in all ways.
AMEN.

by Teeya Scholten
*The dedication and prayer are adapted from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Ephesians 3:20 and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

The Editorial Section

Letter from the Editor Where Do You Fit In? Now there's an interesting question; probably one that's come up many times throughout your life.  Where do you fit in?  Where do you fit in to the Big Picture?  Where do you fit in to the Universe?  Where do you need to be to Be Who You Are?  All these questions are constantly arising in our daily lives.  But what are the answers? Life seems to pose so many questions.  And the answers sometimes seem to be so far away.  But guess what?  They're not far away at all.  In fact, they're so close you can touch them.  They're so close that you can feel them.  And that's because all the answers to all the questions - no matter what they are or where they come from - are right there within you.  That's right.  Within you!  One of my favorite quotes from Neale Donald Walsch is: "If you don't go within, you go without."  Throughout our whole lives, we seem to look for answers from somewhere outside of us.  We look to books.  We look to analysts.  We look to experts from an extensive range of fields, like psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, lawyers, priests, ministers...the list goes on.  But all that these people of "respected" positions can give you is what they believe is "right", according to their individual education, beliefs and perspectives.  All that even Neale Donald Walsch can give us is some kind of direction and guidance.  But it's entirely up to us to go where the answers are.  And that's inside of us - in our hearts, in our spirits, in our souls.  That is where you'll find any and every answer you've ever sought. So you're looking for answers.  You're seeking to find where you fit in.  You want to know what your particular place is in the Grand Scheme of Things.  Well, look no further.  Look no further than your Self.  Look no further than what's in your heart, what's in your soul.  This is where your answers lie.  And how do you find them?  By being quiet!  That's right.  Just by being quiet.  Just by listening.  God is waiting for you to listen.  God is waiting with every answer you could possibly want.  And all you have to do is to listen. Now that sounds way too simple, doesn't it?  But think about it.  Life is simple - as simple as we make it.  Life is as simple as listening for God's guidance.  And don't worry - it's there.  It's right there, all the time - every minute, every hour, every day.  All we have to do is listen. So do you wonder where you fit in?  Do you wonder why you're here on Earth?  Do you wonder about your purpose in life?  Well wonder no longer.  Just sit in silence and ask God for the answer.  The result?  You'll find out, once and for all, where you fit in.  You'll find out what God's plan is for you.  And perhaps you'll find out that you were meant to share the Love you have in your heart with everyone else in the world.  Does that sound ominous?  Well. don't let that scare you.  Love was meant to be shared.  And if you feel that you have so much love in your heart that it's overflowing and seeking a place to "spill out", then Humanity's Team is the place for you. You see, Humanity's Team is a place of sharing, a place of being the one you were meant to be.  So perhaps Humanity's Team is the vehicle you need to drive to get to where you really want to go.  Why not try it out?  Why not direct your energy into helping the world become a better place?  Why not focus your thoughts on "being the change you want to see in the world".  Maybe this isn't where you feel comfortable.  Maybe this isn't where your capacity to give and share can be optimized.  But what if it is?  Neale constantly asks us that question: "What if?"  What if this is the place where you can contribute the most to Life?  What if Humanity's Team is the vehicle that can drive you to where you want to go - to help others...to help the world?  So we ask you - and we ask you to ask yourselves - where do you fit in?  Is Humanity's Team the place where you can be Who You Really Are?  Well, if it is, then dive in.  We don't ask you to give your whole life to making this world a better place to live.  We don't ask you to commit your whole being to the betterment of society.  We only ask that you take some time, quietly, and ask God if there's any way you can help.  And if the answer's "Yes", then find out what it is and get involved.  We understand that Humanity's Team may not be the right place for you to fit in.  We understand that you may be able to serve humanity some other way.  But whatever you decide, whatever you choose to do, we'd like to see you helping humanity in some way!  After all, isn't that what Life's all about - helping your brothers and sisters?  Isn't that the fastest track to finding peace?  Isn't that the best way you can express God?  So we ask you to take a moment - a quiet moment - and find out Your Purpose.  And we encourage you to pursue that Purpose.  And that's the only way to experience Who You Really Are.  And while you're having that experience - enjoy the Love!    Letters To the Editor Hi there!  Gareth here, Humanity's Team Canada's Newsletter Coordinator.  Despite last month's call for participation in our Letters to the Editor section, there's still a void that needs to be filled.  Did you know that Nature abhors a vacuum?  Well, it does.  And that means that there's some space here that needs to be filled.  And guess who's going to fill it - you!  How do I know that?  It's simple - I understand that you have thoughts and feelings that you'd like to express...but you're dealing with a bit of fear here.  Well, we all know where fear stands in the big picture, don't we?  So let's put it aside and just dive in - with both feet, if you wish!  Remember, "Letters To the Editor" is all about - you, sharing your thoughts, feelings, suggestions, ideas, and whatever else you'd like to contribute.  We know that, as teammates of Humanity's Team, you're already committed to spreadi ng God's message that We Are All One.  So why not contribute here?  It's a wonderful way to show that we care, and we're willing to share.  Think about it.  And if a thought comes to you that you'd like to share, send it to news@humanitysteamcanada.com.  And thanks!

Humanity's Team Canada - Help Us Grow!

Be a Teammate - Contribute! It's a fact that marketing and promotion costs time and money.  We all have time.  But many of us may feel that we don't have money.  But wait!  We know better than that, don't we?  As children of God, and recipients of His Gifts, we know that we have everything.  There is no need; there's only unlimited abundance.  So even if there seems to be a lack of something, we know that it's only an illusion - an illusion that has no power over the strength of God's good grace. So now we come to the part that's uncomfortable for some - asking for donations.  We wish we didn't have to do that.  But until we can raise our collective consciousness to a level that supplies all our desires, then we have to ask.  We won't always have to ask.  Because the day is coming when we'll all feel God's presence at such a high level that we'll always have His presents.  Until we can do that (and we will!), would you mind making a donation to help us get the word out about Humanity's Team and about God's message that We Are All One?  We'd appreciate it! You may make your donations directly through PayPal: Or send Funds to donate@humanitysteamcanada.com If you'd rather send a cheque or a money order, that would be greatly appreciated, too.  Just make it out to Brandon Klayman and mail it to: Brandon Klayman, 101 Marlee Ave. Apt. 409, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M6E 3B4 We make this request with gratitude, for we know that where there's a desire for abundance, God has already filled the coffers. Remember, unlimited abundance is forever ours - all we have to do is bring it forth!  So thanks for your help.  Your reward is in the living of that changed Life.  Enjoy!

Contact Us

Gareth Marples, Humanity's Team Canada's Newsletter Coordinator email: news@humanitysteamcanada.com web: http://www.humanitysteamcanada.com