On Sunday, June 22nd, the Network of Spiritual Progressives together with Warehouse21 celebrated Generosity Sunday again this year at De Vargas Park in Santa Fe. This year’s theme was “A Festival of Giving.” By sharing food, art, music, stories and fun, the spirit of generosity awakened in ourselves and in the wide community.

Encouraged by last year’s success, once again we invited the community to continue our exploration of the ways in which generosity transforms culture. Approximately 600 people participated over a span of four hours.

Businesses extended their spirit of generosity by donating food or goods to give away at the Park and at their place of business. Particularly generous organizations that serve the needs of our local community and beyond shared the beauty of their work. Some of these groups included: The Homeless Alliance, The Food Depot, Somos Un Pueblo Unido, Hope-Howse, Creativity for Peace and Access (helping Iraqi refugee war trauma victims). The youth celebrated as well. Warehouse21 had a table dedicated to cooperation and creativity.

The Festival of Giving offered opportunities to share sustainable and regenerative living practices that recognize and celebrate our reliance upon the bounty of the Earth.

• Presentation: The Ecology of Generosity

A festival promoting a new approach to global security through compassion and understanding.

Sunday, April 15th, 2007, 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
de Vargas Park (Skateboard Park, opposite Guadalupe Church), Santa Fe.

Co-Sponsored by the Network of Spiritual Progressives and Warehouse21, Santa Fe’s Teen Arts Center. Partially funded by the Santa Fe City Teen Nights Program. A drug and alcohol-free event.

We invite you to participate in Generosity Sunday, a national day of action sponsored by the Network of Spiritual Progressives (NSP) to promote a new way of achieving security for the United States and the entire world.

PDF (5.2Mb)

Today, despite the good intentions of most Americans, our international policies are widely perceived to be based on military and economic domination of the world. Our desire for security seems to override our ability to empathize with other cultures. As a result, we face increasing enmity, global instability and insecurity.

The NSP believes the key to global security is working with the rest of the world to reduce poverty and repair our environment, thereby addressing the root cause of terrorism while diminishing the anti-Americanism on which it feeds. Our approach expands upon the successful Marshall Plan, the American inspiration which generously rebuilt the nations devastated in World War II. We have proposed a Global Marshall Plan as a means to raise the quality of life for all.

Generosity Sunday marks the launch of our campaign to change the security paradigm from domination to generosity, understanding and compassion. We've chosen the weekend before the income tax deadline because we want to shift the way our tax dollars are used: to support caring for other people rather than intimidating them.

Moreover, we believe that generosity, understanding and compassion should be the basis for all human interactions, be they social, political or commercial; be they personal, local, national or international. We call this concept the New Bottom Line.

Generosity Sunday will promote these ideals. On April 15, from 1 to 7 pm at DeVargas Park (a.k.a. Skateboard Park, along the Santa Fe River between Guadalupe and Sandoval Sts.), the NSP of Northern New Mexico will host an afternoon of free food and entertainment, including music, theater, talks and gift-giving. Celebrate Generosity Sunday, feel good and make the world better!

For more information, call:
Bruce Berlin at 438-3356 <brucember@yahoo.com> or
Dominique Mazeaud at 983-2443 <heartistdm@aol.com>.

Workshop with Nichola Torbett
Saturday, March 31st, 2007
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
First Unitarian Church
3701 Carlisle (corner of Candelaria)
Albuquerque, NM 87111

Presented by the Northern New Mexico and Albuquerque Chapters of the Network of Spiritual Progressives

In this day-long workshop we will learn what spiritual activism is; we will access our deepest values and feel again our passion for making a difference in the world; we will join one another in a movement that is “not only morally right, but fun, exciting and deeply engaging to both the heart and the head;” and we will learn how to design spiritually progressive positions on the issues.

Nichola has organized national NSP conferences, provided in-person support for chapters around the United States, and most recently organized the NSP Leadership Training in October, 2006, in Berkeley, California.

You will bring more to the workshop and take more away from it if you have read “The Left Hand of God.” The registration fee of $35 includes a vegetarian lunch. Please register by March 23. Additional donations are welcome to assist those who require scholarships. Housing with NSP members may be available for out of town participants. For housing, scholarship or airport pickup information apply to:

• Dominique Mazeaud <HEARTISTDM@aol.com>, 1-505-983-2443 in Santa Fe, or
• Jane Ronca-Washburn <swashbur@nmia.com>, 1-505-323-6162 in Albuquerque

Albuquerque-NSP is a 501©3 organization

We do not require workshop attendees to be members of NSP, but we can’t imagine why you wouldn’t want to be one! Spreading the word of generosity in this wild and wonderful world requires home office funds and renewals. Apply to NSP@tikkun.org, go to www.spiritualprogressives.org, or telephone 510-644-1200.

Registration Form

Maureen Fiedler
Interfaith Voices
KSFR, 90.7 fm

Friday, February 9, 7:30 p.m.
Discussion and Refreshments

First Presbyterian Church
208 Grant Avenue
Santa Fe, NM

Free-will offering to support Interfaith Voices

Maureen Fiedler, SL is the host of Interfaith Voices, heard on 45 public and community radio stations in the U.S. and Canada including KSFR in Santa Fe. Its programs offer insightful interviews on the religious issues that touch our lives, shape our culture and influence our public policy. Maureen is a Sister of Loretto, and holds a Ph.D. in Government from Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

This event is sponsored by the Adult Education Committee of the First Presbyterian Church and the Network of Spiritual Progressives of Northern New Mexico.

Conversations in Depth
with Craig Barnes

College of Santa Fe Building T-44
Directions: Call 983-5304

Sessions:
January 13, 20
February 10, 17, 24
March 10, 17
9:00 am - 11:00 am

Drop-ins welcome.

Dr. Michael Parenti

Saturday, January 13th, 2007, 7:00 pm
El Museo Cultural,
1615 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe,
Suggested donation: $10.

“Here at home and around the world people are fighting back against the forces of wealth, privilege and militarism – some because they have no choice, others because they would choose no other course but the one that leads to peace and justice” – Dr. Michael Parenti.

Dr. Parenti's visit to Santa Fe is sponsored by the Joan Duffy chapter of Veterans for Peace, Santa Fe; Pax Christi New Mexico; and the Network of Spiritual Progressives, Northern New Mexico. Click here to see the flyer.

Building Community from the Inside Out

A four-hour experiential play, design, discuss and discover presentation: Monday, October 23, 2006
8:30 am - Coffee, Light Refreshements
Workshop Hours - 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
El Museo Cultural
1615 Paseo de Peralta
Santa Fe, New Mexico

A socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable community exists beyond suburbia and sprawl. Join others who are intent upon living there and begin planning for a better tomorrow.

In this 4-hour workshop we will present:

1. Economic options for neighborhoods that give as much as they get. How can a neighborhood gain time and money by sharing services and amenities and make a profit at the same time?

2. The secret to successful relationships with self and other. A powerful life-mastery model for creating better relationships so you can live in community not only externally but internally as well.

3. Flexible floor plan designs for mutually beneficial, mixed-income housing clusters of common affinity such as a co-housing cluster, a child-friendly cluster (including single parents), young people living above garages, live/work, seniors and more.

4. A rendering of what a walkable, sustainable, lively, prosperous community can become in the next 3 years. The time is now.

At this experiential play, design, discuss and discover presentation/workshop you will:

• Design a neighborhood blueprint built around right livelihood for all.
• Gain a toolkit for living in harmony with all of your neighbors.
• Learn about how neighborhoods can profit share.
• Explore exciting new mixed-use, mixed income living models.
• Network with other exploring/living sustainable lifestyles.

For the person who is:

• Interested in practical applications of sustainable living.
• Looking for new models for affordable housing and affordable lifestyle.
• Mobilizing to downscale, simplify and live "beyond suburbia."
• Searching for the practical inner skills necessary to live in community.
• Visioning community and neighborhood as a new cooperative model of living well and doing well as a moral directive to reduce carbon emissions and consumption.

This workshop is FREE and open to the public. Space is limited. To pre-register and for more information please call 505.310.1797 or 505-984-1739.

Your facilitators are Brian Skeele, owner of Village Development of America (ViDA) and Rebecca Skeele author, master workshop facilitator, counselor, and president of Make It Heaven LLC.

Brian Skeele, ViDA! 505-310-1739
BrianViDA@nm.net

Rebecca Skeele, Make It Heaven 505-984-1739
Rebecca@MakeItHeaven.com

For more information, click here. To view the flyer, click here.

Saturday, October 14, 8:00 am
First Presbyterian Church
208 Grant Ave
Santa Fe
(next to the now-demolished Sweeney Center)

You may be interested in attending the First Presbyterian Church Men's Breakfast this Saturday at 8:00 am, where I will lead the invited discussion, "Creation Care: Bridging Across Red & Blue Religion."

Feel free to call with questions or comments.

Regards,
Mark E. Dunham
(505) 672-1050

P.S.: Please find attached a PBS write-up on Bill Moyer's new special to air Wednesday, October 11th at 9 pm on KNME. The subject is the growing power and rift over the green Evangelical movement known as Creation Care. Could not be more timely, which I am sure Bill knows.

Moyers on America – "Is God Green?"

A new holy war is growing within the conservative evangelical community, with implications for both the global environment and American politics. For years liberal Christians and others have made protection of the environment a moral commitment. Now a number of conservative evangelicals are joining the fight, arguing that man's stewardship of the planet is a biblical imperative and calling for action to stop global warming.

But they are being met head-on by opposition from their traditional evangelical brethren who adamantly support the Bush administration in downplaying the threat of global warming and other environmental perils. The political stakes are high: Three out of every four white evangelical voters chose George W. Bush in 2004. "Is God Green?" explores how a serious split among conservative evangelicals over the environment and global warming could reshape American politics.

[Click here to see the article on pbs.org]

Speaking Authentically from Head and Heart

Rebecca Skeele, Author, Professional Facilitator, Spiritual Counselor Saturday, October 14th, 1:00pm – 5:00pm (registration at 12:30 pm)
Church of Religious Science, 505 Camino de los Marquez.

Sponsored by:
Veterans for Peace
Network for Spiritual Progressives
Phenomenal People for Peace

Honestly sharing our points of view in a way that promotes dialogue and respects all points of view takes exploring the subtle ways our fear and judgment block our deepest desire to speak up. This workshop will create an opportunity to explore those limiting perceptions and provide new reference points for speaking from head and heart.
Click for flyer (PDF, 532kB).

For advance registration, call Rebecca Skeele 505-984-1739 or Sarah Stout 505-424-1906. $10 suggested donation.

Participants Say:
The workshop offered me the opportunity to become more clear and assertive about who I am and what I believe at the core. It is an ongoing centering process still at work, inviting me to be creative and forward-moving in my genuine advocacy. – B.C.
Clear and light, yet concentrated and deep. A lesson that benefits from being learned and experienced more than once. – D.M.

The Entire Peace-Loving Community is invited to mark the United Nations proclaimed International Day of Peace.
September 21st, 2006, 4:45 - 6:30 pm.

Please participate in this effort facilitated by Women in Black, Santa Fe. Meet at 4:45 pm at The Tree of Peace, State Capitol South Garden (Paseo de Peralta between Webber & Don Gaspar). Wear all black or white. Bring peace banners and signs.

In 1981, the United Nations proclaimed an International Day of Peace to coincide with opening day of the United Nations regular sessions and “to be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples”. In 2000, the UN reaffirmed the earlier resolution “to consider the unique opportunity it offers for a cessation of violence and conflict throughout the world, and the related importance of achieving the broadest possible awareness and observance of the International Day of Peace among the global community.”

Aware of the seriousness of the times and the increased need for people all around the world to join in massive demonstrations of prayers for peace, Women in Black is inviting all groups and individuals working for and/or wishing for peace to join them on September 21st. Women in Black, a group who combine art, spirit and activism, express their grief for the great losses resulting from war and violence across the world through deeply felt silent processions through downtown Santa Fe, around the Plaza, ending at the Labyrinth at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. All genders are welcome.

People are invited to translate their yearning for peace into creative acts. Please bring beautiful banners and signs. Dress in all black or white. Women in Black has invited heartist Dominique Mazeaud to lead the procession with her traveling shrine, THE SORRY BOOK, which was launched at the Eighth Annual Peace Day, August 5th.

We will gather at the Tree of Peace, (a Red Oak Seedling planted also on Peace Day), at 4:45 located in the South Garden of the Capitol, (on the Paseo de Peralta side) and walk in procession through downtown to reach the Labyrinth around 5:30 at the Cathedral Basicilica of St. Francis of Assisi where we will be guided by Marge McCarthy of The Labyrinth Group. Meet us there if you cannot make it earlier.

To further mark International Day of Peace, Women in Black is joining with a number of local peace groups in support of the national Declaration of Peace, a commitment to take non-violent steps for a comprehensive, concrete and rapid end to the US war in Iraq. [click www.DeclarationOfPeace.org for more info]

For more information, contact Marcia Starck <EarthMed@aol.com> or Dominique Mazeaud <HeartistDM@aol.com> (983-2443).