Noble Enthusiasm

Lee Campbell

~Autumnal vapours hover
over the magic world of sense…
Within the shining pageant of the light
mingles a softening veil of mist…
i see afar on fields of space
the wintry sleep of fall…
The Summer that is gone
has given Herself to my call…
~hag

Happy Birthday to the Christian Community, founded on this day in 1922!

Here is an account by Rudolf Steiner: “At the end of September and beginning of October 1921, there assembled at the Goetheanum a number of German theological students who bore in their hearts the impulse for a religious renewal in the Christian sense. The work that was begun then found its fulfilment in September 1922.

The hours spent with these students, in the small hall of the south wing – the very spot where later the fire was first discovered (The Goetheanum was destroyed by arson on the New Year’s Night 1922 – 1923.) – were for me an experience that I cannot but reckon as one of the solemn festivals of my life. There, in company with a group of men and women fired with a noble enthusiasm it was possible to enter on the path that carries the knowledge of the spirit into religious experience.” ~Rudolf Steiner on the founding of The Christian Community. From “Growing Point – The Story of the Foundation of The Christian Community” by Alfred Heidenreich~

The celebration of the first Act of Consecration of Man (the Christian Community Mass) constituted the birth of The Christian Community on 16 September 1922 in Dornach, Switzerland, guided into being through the immeasurable & selfless help of Dr. Rudolf Steiner, whose science of the spirit – Anthroposophy, has become a central source of renewal in the most varied fields of life. Waldorf Education, Eurythmy, Bio-dynamic Agriculture, The Camphill Movement for the care of people with special needs, Anthroposophical Medicine, etc. all bear witness to this.

Dr. Steiner’s assistance came in response to earnest questions from a group of German Lutheran theologians, including the eminent Berlin minister Dr. Friedrich Rittelmeyer, seeking appropriate Christian forms & content for the religious life of our time.

The Christian Community is not the ‘anthroposophists’ church’, although it is the only Christian church whose priests recognize the wisdom of Anthroposophy as a decisive aid for the broadening & renewal of the religious life in our time.

The Christian Community is an international movement with approximately 350 congregations in 27 countries. Each congregation is financially independent & is carried by voluntary contributions & donations from members and friends. Supporting the work of the congregations on an international level is The Foundation of the Christian Community made up of priests & lay-people. The priesthood has at its center a group called the Circle of Seven who stand responsible for all the priestly work world-wide. At the center of this Circle of Seven stands the Erzoberlenker, currently Rev. Vicke von Behr.

After taking root mainly in Europe until WWII, The Christian Community then spread to the other continents. The first North American congregation was founded in New York City in 1948. Since that time, it has expanded to 14 communities throughout North America served by one or more full time priests. ~thechristiancommunity.org

Here in Chicago we are blessed to have the Lenker for North America, Craig Wiggins.

And 2 newly ordained Priests Rev. Jeana Lee & Rev. Victoria Capon

Here is a recent note to our congregation from Rev. Jeana Lee:
Dear Members and Friends,

It has been said that an enemy is one whose story you do not yet know. Everyone has a story to tell. Whether or not it appears to feature ourselves it is nevertheless about us. Perhaps it is like an epic, tracing the course of our life. Perhaps it is captured in a single moment or image that shows the essence of who we are or who we are becoming. These are true stories.

Telling our stories helps us to become ourselves, to understand ourselves. A story can sustain us like a hopeful lighthouse beam during stormy times. Finding ourselves within a story can bring about healing. Where do we fit, what role do we play within the archetypal stories of humanity? At what part of the story’s arc are we now?

In every story there is transformation – some kind of death and some kind of resurrection. This is the archetypal story of humanity.

The quality of the listening brings out the story in different ways each time. As we share our stories with each other, we can find connection, see ourselves in their story and them in ours. Listening to true stories transforms us from enemies into neighbors. What’s your story?

With warm regards,
Rev. Jeana Lee

16 September – “Speaking with the Stars”: Keep your stargazing eyes busy tonight and check out the waxing gibbous #Moon hanging out with Jupiter and Saturn! Look for these two planets about a half-hour after sunset, low in the southeast. ~The Adler Planetarium in Chicago

1947 – Typhoon Kathleen hits Saitama, Tokyo, at least 1,930 kill

1961 – The United States National Hurricane Research Project drops eight cylinders of silver iodide into the eyewall of Hurricane Esther. Wind speed reduces by 10%, giving rise to Project Stormfury

1961 – Typhoon Nancy, with possibly the strongest winds ever measured in a tropical cyclone, makes landfall in Osaka, Japan, killing 173 people

1977 – Deathday of Maria Callas, Greek operatic soprano

1978 – The 7.4 Mw earthquake affects the city of Tabas, Iran with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). At least 15,000 people were killed

2004 – Hurricane Ivan makes landfall in Gulf Shores, Alabama as a Category 3 hurricane, killing 124

Greetings kindred souls – This year for the APO fund raiser I plan to hold a Dance-A-Thon & Biodynamic Prep-stir on Friday 24 September 2021 at the Rudolf Steiner Branch of the Anthroposophical Society in America – Chicago

Featuring Waldorf Alum DJ ‘Grapefruit Effect’ + Circle’s Edge

It’s a potluck community gathering, so please bring food & drink to share – Along with your donation to this amazing program.

We also plan to read some poetry from some of the inmates who are working with Anthroposophy!

If you live out of town you can dance in your neck of the woods in solidarity with us. Please show your generous support…

Xox ~hag, hazel@reverseritual.com

Donate here https://secure.anthroposophy.org/…/anth…/campaign.jsp

Hazel’s Dance-a-thon page for APO

Here is an easy link to get involved in the APO Walk-a-thon this year!

Craig Wiggins

Festival Gathering: Tuesday 28 September on the eve of Michaelmas with Rev’s Jeana Lee & Victoria Capon

Potluck at 5:30
Talk at 7pm

At the Rudolf Steiner Branch, 4249 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Meeting The Dragon With Our Four Fold Being – A talk and collaborative sculptural creation

Bring Food & drink for the potluck & a found objects to help build the dragon!
Then our inspiration can come to life through our collaboration.

Jeana Lee was recently ordained as a priest of the Christian Community Movement for Religious Renewal and sent to the congregation in Chicago.  Previously she taught chemistry and math at Green Meadow Waldorf high school.  She enjoys swimming in the lake and is interested in questions of sin and redemption.

Victoria Capon hails from the east coast and is new to Chicago. Before attending seminary she taught at the Waldorf School of Cape Cod. Now she is happily settling into serving the chicago CC congregation and exploring the Windy City

Greetings friends – Come Join us in Chicago
*Special in-person activities for ‘Building the Temple of the Heart’ 
ASA Annual Conference and Members Meeting 7-10 October 2021: 

THURSDAY, October 7 – CENTRAL TIME 
(*For those in the pageant: Tech rehearsal – 3 pm)
*5 pm Dinner in the RS Branch ‘Schreinerei’
(Meal plan menu coming soon – Sign up now so we know how much food we need!)

6:30- 8:00 PM    Annual General Meeting (AGM) – Members Meeting 
                          (Note: This portion is free and open to all members) 

FRIDAY, October 8 – CENTRAL TIME 
*9:30 AM            In the Upper Room our Class Reader Clark Remington    
                           will give Lesson XI for the School of Spiritual Science
  (Note: There will be no online gathering for the Class Lesson
11:30 AM           What is the School of Spiritual Science?  
                           A conversation led by Helen-Ann Ireland, open to all 
                           (30 min) 
*12 Noon            LUNCH in the RS Branch ‘Schreinerei’
1:00 PM             Conference Opening                                    
2:00 PM             The Stairway of Surprise: Rudolf Steiner’s 6 Basic  
                           Exercises with Michael Lipson     
3:00 PM             30-minute Snack Break in the RS Branch ‘Schreinerei’
3:30 PM             Thinking / Clear Thinking with the New Orleans Hub
                           Doing / Right Action with the Austin Hub                  
                           Musical Interludes by Morgan Vallat
4:30 PM             Biography with Janey Newton
5:00 PM             60-minute Break *DINNER in the RS Branch ‘Schreinerei’
6:00 PM             Singing, Speech & Eurythmy
                           with Dennis Dietzel, Katherine Thivierge & Mary Ruud 
6:15 – 7:15 PM  Building the Temple through Spiritual Research:
Sections of the School of Spiritual Science as Columns of the Temple 

SATURDAY, October 9  – CENTRAL TIME 
(*For those in the pageant: Tech rehearsal – 9 am)

11:00 AM         Singing, Speech & Eurythmy 
                         with Dennis Dietzel, Katherine Thivierge & Mary Ruud 
11:15 AM         The Life of the Heart in Space, Time and Eternity with  
                         Michaela Glöckler
12:30 PM         Biography with Janey Newton 
1:00 PM           60-minute Break *LUNCH in the RS Branch ‘Schreinerei’
2:00  PM          Singing, Speech & Eurythmy 
                        with Dennis Dietzel, Katherine Thivierge & Mary Ruud 
2:15 PM           Feeling / Equanimity with the Twin Cities Hub  
                         Loving / Positivity with the Northern Michigan Hub 
                         Opening / Open-mindedness with the Ann Arbor Hub  
                         Musical Interludes by Morgan Vallat
3:30 PM           60-minute Snack Break in the RS Branch ‘Schreinerei’
4:30 PM           Exploring the Heart Connections between Chartres  
                        Cathedral and Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival with  
                        Brian Gray
5:45 PM           Biography with Janey Newton 
6:15 PM           60-minute Break *DINNER in the RS Branch ‘Schreinerei’
7:15-8:30 PM   Thanking / Inner Harmony / Wholeness with the Chicago /
                         Youth Section Hub 

SUNDAY, October 10  – CENTRAL TIME 
(*For those in the Pageant- Please wear all Black, or all white – Run Through – 9 am)
11:00 AM         Singing, Speech & Eurythmy 
                        with Dennis Dietzel, Katherine Thivierge & Mary Ruud 
11:15 AM         Experiential Pageant: ‘Building the Temple of the Heart- 
                        The Royal Art: A Social Pilgrimage of the Soul’
                        by Hazel Archer featuring the 6 HUBS, Friends and Hosts, 
                        Dennis Dietzel, Mary Ruud, Katherine Thivierge & YOU
12:15 PM       (Timing Subject to change) LUNCH in the RS Branch ‘Schreinerei’
1:00-2:00 PM   Conversation and Conference Closing

6 thoughts on “Noble Enthusiasm

  1. The program for the ASA Annual Conference looks wonderful. Will any of it be available on Zoom? Many of us will not be able to attend in person.

      1. Thank you. I’ve registered but I would like a separate email with the schedule and other information that I can forward to the friends of the Greater Detroit Branch. Is that possible?

        Many thanks,
        Nancy

  2. Thank you for bringing the founding of the Christian Community. I appreciate the special quotes from Steiner and the pictures of the small hall in the first Goetheanum.

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