Dear friends, When you receive our new program, you might be astonished with how many different events you will find, in a time where common activities are not allowed. I have decided to continue our work as a spiritual and religious community, despite all the limitations. It goes without saying that each individual is free to decide whether or not to participate personally in any of the activities. My position in favour of this decision is based on two different points of view with regard to political events. Medical problems and issues cannot be decided by politicians and certainly cannot be solved. And there has never been a public debate between the different scientists about their different view on this virus and its consequences. This debate is still missing to this day. Independently of the official media, newspapers and television, there are other sources that provide quite different information, including other figures on the disease itself. It is not possible for a clear-thinking person to simply disqualify the critical scientists as frivolous or marginal. I hope that you will understand my decision to trust the spiritual strength of our Community, and that our inner efforts will be of help and encouragement to us all. In this program for the end of 2020 you will be able to discover some innovations. For our great future building projects, we asked a graphic designer to develop a new logo for us. All who were involved in this process are now very thankful for this beautiful Logo. From now on, you will see this Logo regularly as we present our work to the public. And you might discover a new name on the last page of the program. As you know the correspondent of the Christian Community in Ireland, Audrey Flynn, has taken another important task in her life. We wish her well in her future work; however, she continues to support our work in other ways. Now Brian Walsh, who was already connected with the congregation, has offered to help as the correspondent and has become a great help in many different fields of work. You might especially discover this on our website, which is now much more up to date. Brian will also give talks on the 12 senses, which have such an important role in our life for today and for the future. Brian's reflections will certainly give us interesting insights into how we might connect with our senses. I am also very thankful for Alan’s contribution during the Holy Nights. As we know from our own experiences that the time of the twelve Holy Nights are the most open time to connect ourselves with the spiritual world and also to receive their grace for the whole year. It seems more important than ever to give ourselves openly to this time. Of course, this is only one view of this time. The spiritual world needs also our attention. As Rudolf Steiner mentioned many times, our prayers, our intensive thinking and our offerings to this spiritual world is sustenance for its inhabitant’s. And with the help of art, music, and community endeavour these twelve special nights will come to fruition with a small concert. I am very grateful to Frolieb Tomsits and her colleague for having the courage to come to Ireland in spite of difficult external conditions. Our community life is greatly enhanced by her talent and generosity in sharing her skills. I think that the forces of trust on the one hand, and the forces of courage on the other hand are what we need now in these circumstances. Only with these forces can we stand up to the opposing forces. Rev. Ute Koenig
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Dear members and friends of our Community, My last letter to you was written in the midst of the frightening news of Corona. We know, from the beginning, there were controversial references of scientists about these kinds of sickness. It helped me to look at different reports in the Gospel, with the question: can we learn something about the healing deeds of Jesus Christ? Actually, he has given his healing forces to everybody who needs it. And we can differentiate about 4 kinds of healing deeds. -The question of healing has to come from the person its selves. (Lk. 7. V. 7 the question was, speak only a word, then my boy will be healed) -He wanted to know, does the person he stood before, really would want to be healthy again? (John 5, V.6, Have you the will to become whole?) -He also looked at the destiny of the individual people: Was it the right moment that they wanted to became healed? (Luke 9, V,3 The blindness does not stem from his sin nor from his parents; but rather, through it the working of the divine in him is to become manifest.) -And also do people appreciate their healing and thanked the spiritual world for this gift? (Luke 17, V.15 One of them turned back when he became aware that he had been healed, praised the revelation of God… and thanked him.) All diseases are based on the possibility to take an inner step of development, which made the healing only possible. The healing in the Gospel must not only be seen on the physical level. Some healings may have to do with a mental-spiritual development. And they all based on their individual decision and their clear will to be healed. Maybe we can look at this worldwide "disease crisis" with the question: "How do we have to face it?" under the aspect, has the view of my personal task become clearer? Is my attitude what I got told about the Virus make me especially fearful? Or is my task to develop trust, and courage towards my personal perception and bring my will forces with all the different information into the right place in my thinking and feeling. Our mental-spiritual development is faced with the challenge of finding new courage and unswerving will in order not to be subject to the dictates of the materialistic "health thinking". Our I, who works with Christ, it will give us the security to go our individual way in courage and in freedom, yes, to continue it. Not only our personal development will depend on it, the development of humanity is at stake, if materialistic thinking continues to prevail and we do not become active in reversing our thinking and acting. Warm greetings Rev. Ute Koenig
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Blog: Sermons, Event Reports and Updates from The Christian Community in Ireland
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