Summit Lighthouse® Study Group of
Manchester, NH
A focus of Light and fellowship for
spiritual growth
and expanding consciousness
1999 Annual Report
Respectfully submitted by the Board of Trustees
Dear Friends of Light,
Over the past year, the Manchester Study Group
has steadily improved in meeting the needs of the community members. Slide show
presentations on various topics of interest have been held on a regular basis
during the Sunday service and the Saturday evening service. These topics have
included The Violet Flame, Chakras, Angels, The Ascension, Cosmic Clock, Path
of the Buddha, Way of the Christ, and many others subjects of universal
importance. These presentations have encouraged and emphasized informal
personal interaction and discussion, and as a result, they have been a
tremendous spiritual learning experience for both the audience and the
presenters. These presentations will continue with new subjects of interest
such as Twin Flames, Hierarchy, Kaballah, Hindu Mysticism and others. Come see
for yourself in person and bring a friend!
Although the attendance at the presentations have
been good, attendance at regular services could be better. It is imperative
that one realizes the importance of one's self worth and participation in the
group. Decrees and prayers are multiplied by cosmic dispensations where
disciples of Christ are gathered. Personal problems can be resolved far more
effectively in a group format rather than in a personal effort, since the Body
of Christ will reinforce all in a gathering. Personally, I have had many weeks
of being overwhelmed by personal problems that I have been unable to resolve by
myself, but upon attending a service with the study group, I have felt myself
being completely freed of my burdens and able to reach for the stars! Such is
the power of a study group. Such is the power of community.
Community is the key to our Victory! Our decrees
are multiplied thousand fold when we come together! All our problems can be
resolved when we come together. It is required by God that we work together to
earn our Ascension! I believe that tackling our problems individually can be a
long tough journey. Let us recognize the strength in our unity. We are called
to come together to strengthen and support one another on the Path. Community
is coming-into-unity! The following is a short teaching from the Ascended
Masters on community. We should all take it to heart!
"In the community there is enshrined the worth of the individual as the
individual is able to integrate consciousness with others who serve in the
wave, the ongoing wave, of Life. Community is part of the training given in the
retreats of the great Masters; for there comes a time on the Path when each
initiate is required to prove that he can be effective not only alone with his
God, but all-one with fellow servants on the Path.
Thus in community, in coming into unity, sons and daughters of God learn of
shortcomings, of failures; and they unite their strengths to overcome their
common weakness. Thus united in the Flame, they are able to tackle the problems
that beset each member of the group and each cell. You see, then, that a
retreat experience and an experience in community is often that link to
Hierarchy which must be had ere the individual initiate can rise to a greater
level of awareness.
We come then to the subject of community as the repository of individual worth
and individual genius. The flame that is enshrined in the community is the
Flame of the Holy Spirit."
Great Divine
Director - April 13, 1974
Please come and make our community a strong one!
Your presence, your input, your ideas, and your light are vital to the
development of a study group that will meet your expectations and visions for
the future.
In service to your soul,
I AM,
Srinath Balachandran
The Summit Lighthouse Study Group of Manchester
NH was founded in 1994 by members of the Keepers of the Flame Fraternity who
came together after meeting at a lecture on Angels given by a Church Universal
and Triumphant minister visiting the area.
The Keepers first met each Sunday in the home of
one member and later were able to lease a space to conduct services. Members
donated items for a beautiful altar and sanctuary area as well as needed
equipment.
The Study Group has met at its current location
in downtown Manchester since 1996. Through the dedication of members, the group
received a charter in August 1997. We come together weekly to conduct spiritual
services, share fellowship on the Path, and to study and discuss the Teaching
that have been granted us by our Elder Brothers and Sisters who have gone
before us (the Masters of Wisdom east and west). We conduct three services a
week: Sunday Ritual, Wednesday Healing Service, and Saturday Saint Germain
Service.
Members have put forth an effort for outreach and
to raise awareness of the Teachings in the surrounding community. In the spring
of 1998 and 1999 the Study Group has participated in the Body, Mind and
Spirit Expo at the Center of New Hampshire, Manchester. Also, two
presentations a month on various topics have been held with invitations going
out to the local mailing list that was developed. Additionally, the group now
has a presence on the World Wide Web: http://oocities.com/summitnh.
Sunday Ritual
On Sundays we have typically conducted an Ashram
Ritual or The Sacred Ritual. We included songs and decrees, a reading and/or
dictation, and the sacrament of Holy Communion. This has been becoming our
"Family" service and we will continue to look at ways to build on
this.
Average attendance: 4 people.
Wednesday Service for Healing and Wholeness
Prayer requests were brought to the altar.
Attendees made calls for wholeness for themselves, each other, the community,
and the world. We explored and shared a rich variety of spiritual services and
techniques on Wednesdays and a discussion time was often held at the conclusion
of the service.
Average attendance: 3 people.
Here is a sample of the services conducted:
Jesus' Watch with Me Vigil of the Hours
Mother Mary's Scriptural Rosaries
The Fourteenth Rosary: The Mystery of
Surrender
Kuan Yin's Crystal Rosary
Arch Angel Michael's Rosary for Armageddon
Chakra Meditations
Mantras and Meditations on the Way of the
Buddha
Meditation on Vajrasattva and the Five Dhyani
Buddhas
Afra Service for Brotherhood and Unity
Djwal Kul's Breathing Exercise and Related
Meditations
Kabbalah Tree of Life Meditation
Decree Sessions for Healing and Wholeness
Ashram Rituals
Songs and Decrees to Mighty Victory
Saturday Saint Germain Service
Attendees came together to do the decree work for
personal and world transmutation. Songs, bhajans and meditation were
incorporated. Some time was dedicated to a teaching segment for spiritual
growth and a good portion of the service was used for more intense decree work.
Average attendance: 3 people.
Christmas Eve Service
Individuals and families were able to come
together to listen to the story of and celebrate the birth of our Lord and
Savior, to thank Jesus before the manger, and make calls for the birth of
Christ within.
Attendance: 12 people.
Service for Brotherhood and Unity (a
reflection on Kwanzaa)
Attendees made calls for and reflected on the
principles of the season. Songs, decrees, and traditional African and Islamic
prayers that were reflective of the Teachings were united in a ritual for
oneness and the breaking down of divisions.
Attendance: 4 people.
Body, Mind and Spirit Expo
The Study Group had a booth at the Body, Mind and
Spirit Expo for the second year. We offered materials for sale and raffled off
the book "The Path of the Ascension" by Annice Booth and a Heart,
Head, and Hand decree booklet. The main goal, however, was to distribute
informational fliers and make some one-on-one connections. Although the number
of people at the Expo was somewhat less than the previous year, the connections
and conversations were of greater quality. We had many requests from people to
be added to the mailing list and to receive an informational package. Several
people attended services and presentations and were enthusiastic about the
Teachings. It is evident, however, that a better method of integrating them
into the group is needed. We are looking to address this and enhance our own
study of the Teachings and spirit of community by applying the Small Groups
model in the new year.
Mailings and Presentations
We have used our mailing list to send out
announcements of presentations and events each month as well as an event and
holy day calendar to the Keepers of the area. The presentations have been
geared to be open to people with varying understanding of the Teachings. These
efforts will continue while other means are sought to increase participation.
Group Web Site
The group now has a web site intended to allow
people to "check us out" from a distance and to post a schedule and
information on events. The site includes sections on "Who are we"
with a membership covenant and links to teachings, Upcoming Events, Service
Schedule with the current calendar, Annual Report, "Days to Remember"
with holidays and holy days and dispensations, "Contact Us", and
Related Links. It has provided for some interesting e-mail discussions with
inquirers. The site will continue to grow with the activities of the group.
We have tried as a group to support one another
on the Path - to encourage, exhort, and be a practical assistance when
possible. We have had open discussion/support times after many services,
particularly the Wednesday Healing service. We have attempted to keep
connected, including with those who have not been able to regularly attend.
Members have the heart for community and are planning to act on this further by
adding a small-group study that will provide for growth - in numbers,
understanding, and depth.
Teaching Segments
We have enriched services with the inclusion of
teaching segments that help spur growth and bring focus to our decrees and
worship. These have included scriptural readings as well as presenting audio
and video teachings from seminars and Church events.
Presentations
A team from the board has worked to put on two
presentations a month. One new one on a Saturday and a repeat of an early
presentation on a Sunday. The quality of the presentations has improved as the
team has worked together and with the purchase of an overhead projector for
visual aides. The Teachings provide an abundance of topics to address - the
year's topics follow:
Jan. 23 and May 30 - The Violet Flame and
Forgiveness
Feb. 20 and June 27 - Chakras: A Discussion of
the Energy Body
Mar. 20 and Jul. 25 - Angels: Our Guide,
Protectors and Friends of Light
Apr. 24 - The Ascended Maters' Way: an
Introduction to the Teaching of the Brotherhood of Light
May 22 and Aug. 29 - The Creative Power of
Sound
June 19 and Sep. 26 - The Path of the
Ascension
July 17 and Oct. 24 - The Path of the Buddha
Aug. 21 and Nov. 28 - The Five Dhyani Buddhas
Sep. 18 - Spiritual Warfare and the Spirit of
Harmlessness
Oct. 16 - Creative Abundance
Nov. 13 - The Cosmic Clock: a Discussion
Concerning the Terrain of the Path We Travel
Dec. 11 - The Way of the Christ
Rituals, meditations, and spiritual techniques
related to the topics have been used in services to tie into the presentations.
Further topics will be based on input from members and inquirers.
The group is blessed with a sanctuary in the
center of downtown Manchester, the largest city in the state. A sanctuary
outside of a member's home provides for consistent and abundant use of the
facility without conflict.
The group draws on the strength of a dedicated
core group of members with an in-depth understanding of the Teachings. Members
have also shown they can pull together to accomplish goals laid-out as a group.
The challenge for the board is to consistently
apply its strengths over the long term while finding balance with work and
other aspects of family life. The group must mold itself to meet the needs of
its members in alignment with the will of the God.
We face the challenge of putting together the
structure and coming together consistently to build on the spirit of community,
increasing the connective-ness of members and drawing new souls of Light.
We have seen a victory in the quality of our
services as we have applied a rich variety of techniques, focused services with
teachings and reflected on the holidays, holy days, and dispensations
throughout the year.
Drawing on resources from the Church, such as the
Pearls of Wisdom CDROM and the mini-books, has allowed us to develop a series
of presentations. Quality has improved as the team has worked together, focused
on individual strengths in knowledge and researched available resources.
A great victory was seen when members came
together to prepare for and participate in the Body, Mind and Spirit Expo. This
was accomplished by setting a clear goal and distributing the effort based on
members' strengths and availability.
We have learned the clear need for consistency in
what we do as the opportunity to minister to someone, the chance to welcome
someone new, or the need to aid a fellow soul can arise at any point and is
always crucial (at least to that one).
There is a need to work to get the word out about
activities, to rally the support of the membership, and to always back it up
with prayers and decrees.
The one-to-one connection has been demonstrated
to give the greatest return in terms of participation and depth of effect to
each involved. In the coming year we will work to enhance the community spirit
and connective-ness with the Small Group model.
Current Board Members
Srinath Balachandran President (1 year 7 months)
Presentation
team, Service Conductor
Prior
Service: Vice President (1 year 5 months)
David Sevigny Vice
President (1 year)
and
Treasurer (2 years)
Presentation
team, Service Conductor
Theresa Doe Secretary
(3 months)
Service
Conductor
Lorraine Chungu Trustee
(1 year)
Service
Conductor
Laura Balachandran Trustee (1 year)
A Special Thank You
A special thank you to Nina Kelly, a founding
member who served for just short of six years as group secretary and service
conductor, who has recently passed the torch. She stayed on far beyond her
planned resignation until a replacement was found and ready. We are extremely
grateful for her dedication and efforts for the group and the Masters. Thank
you and God Bless!
