Summertime

Have you ever had the experience of wondering how quickly time passes when you are having fun? That seems especially true during summertime. For many of us the pace of life speeds up during the summer. For others it slows down. Our Youth Ministry has experienced a bit of both over the last few months. As we move into August, I find myself reflecting on some of the wonderful things that have come to pass these summer months. As a youth teacher I am looking forward to having our students back from all their exciting vacations and world travels so we can share stories of our adventures. In the meantime, here are a few highlights of what we've been up to.

The lovely and talented Jewel Shield joined us for a Sunday morning of music and a special Sound Bowl Meditation. During both the 10 and 11:30 youth classes, we were treated to the healing vibrations of sound in a variety of forms. From the soothing strings of the harp, to the long resonance of Crystal and Tibetan bowls, we blissfully practiced being still and listening. It was a perfect way to start off a busy summer full of travel, activities and fun.


Then our community gathered together for our Annual Center Picnic. As we arrived to the Center that morning we were greeted with a flurry of floating bubbles. It was a wee taste of the fun that was to be had as we gathered together at the park. While not all of our bubbles were as cooperative as we wanted them to be, we filled our time together with lots of laughter and great food!



This summer was also a time of celebration as 4 members of our teen group graduated from High School! Congratulations to Alexander Dunlop, Danna Iverson, Charles Woodside and Lily Downs. We wish you all the best as you take the next steps in your life journey.

Next up ~ CSL Summer Teen Camp! Our two International Youth Leaders, Danna Iverson and Dylan Jansen (pictured below) did a fantastic job, along with their teammates, leading us through a week of workshops, personal growth, spiritual awakenings and connection. Our Santa Rosa tribe was 10 strong this year out of approximately 325 of us on the mountain at Buckhorn Camp, Idyllwild Ca. We made new friends, deeper connections and celebrated the growth that comes from living with intention, purpose and spiritual awareness. Life is good and our "summertime" has been very blessed indeed!