Date: 1/25/1998 Re: BaseCommunity.Org From: John Lehmus 524 Alewive Road Kennebunk, Me 04043 USA JLehmus@gwi.net 207 985-7887 Introduction/Opening Screen: ---------------------------- Base Community - The Goal of World Community Introduction: ---------------- An individual's spiritual path/journey can be a difficult one. Our world is not a world of faith. Our corporations and our governments do not make their decisions based on what is best for the community. As we are approaching the 21st century, taking time out from the hectic pace and reflecting with others in our spiritual concerns and aspirations will no longer be considered a luxury. If our spiritual lives are to survive and prosper, this sharing and being a part of community will be essential. ---------------- Espaņol ---------- (the following will be printed in Spanish) If you can help me by donating the time to write these screens in Spanish, please E-Mail me using our guest book. Thank you. Definition ------------ Base Community can be described as small groups of 4-7 people meeting on a weekly basis for one to one and a half hours to meditate, read and discuss stories of faith together, binding inspiration and committing to specific actions during the week that would contribute to their communities, their lives and also directly to one another. It is better that these people not be family related or 'prior' friends. This is because you will already be sharing with your friends and family. Members begin to see how their lives are really intertwined and that when they share their hearts and lives with one another, make committed promises and discover a way to live passionately in the new actions - they begin to create a new place in which to be, both personally and physically (that's the Community part). Soon you will start to realize that other people are in a Base Community and that, in itself, will make you smile inside. I think of it, as a piece of thread is created for each person in a Base Community. Then, a mesh is created as lives become intertwined. When these small patches are created around the world, they eventually form a quilt that can connect together all the peoples of the world. The "Spiritual" Fabric of Life, if you will. By the way, I will maintain a world map and draw a mesh on all the areas when I read, in our guest book, about an active Base Community location or a new Base Community startup. Startup Kits --------------- (all the information screens contained here, including the following startup information, will be available in a text file format for downloading to Mac or PC systems) Group people in small groups of 6-7. This can be done by drawing names out of a hat and forming a group by home or work proximity. This will make it easier for people to meet. As the meeting is only 1 hour, people should not have to spend a lot of time traveling. You can start with one group or many groups. People should commit to weekly meetings for at least 6 months. People can then re-form groups as they wish, keeping in mind a maximum of 6-7 in a group. Usually connected to a church or other sanctuary, a section in the bulletin can pertain to Base Community. This can include a suggested scripture reading with starter questions to help facilitate your readings and discussion. It is recommended that you review the verses and questions before your meeting to help you formulate an understanding and generate ideas on how it can relate to your life and times. A sample of how some groups meet: 1. Attunement - take 45-60 seconds of quiet time and take slow deep breaths to center ones-self. If comfortable with each other then hold hands too. 2. Brief check-in to see how everyone's week has been. Some "Highs" and "Lows" or times when you felt closer to the Holy Spirit or farther from the Holy Spirit. 3. Reading of the suggested scripture from the Sunday bulletin (or a members choice). 4. Discussion of the listed questions from the Sunday bulletin (or a members choice) and also ponder how this relates to your lives today and tomorrow. 5. Review of last weeks commitments for the week. 6. Making of new commitments for the week - these commitments can be personal, professional Church related and community related, but they should be able to attained by the next meeting or two. You can also have a group commitment that can have many weeks as a completion goal. 7. Closing attunement and holding each other in prayer, light and love through the week. Monthly Monthly Selections & Web Site Suggestions Updated 10 -October -1998 Note: If you need an e-mail of a previous selection, please use our guest book. We are very interested in your own selected readings and questions to be posted here. Also, use the Guest Book to write us with your ideas and experiences. October 1998 Reading #1 It's in every one of us to be wise. Find your heart, open up both your eyes. We can all know everything without ever knowing why -- It's in every one of us, by and by. It's in every one of us to be free, Find yourself open your eyes and see. We can all have everything without ever knowing how -- It's in every one of us, here and now. (St. Francis in the Foothills) Reading #2 Come, Spirit come, our hearts control, Our Spirits long to be made whole, Let inward love guide every deed. By this we worship and are freed. (St. Francis in the Foothills) Reading #3 How could anyone ever tell you, You are anything less than beautiful? How could anyone ever tell you, You are less than whole? How could anyone fail to notice, that your loving is a miracle? How deeply you're connected to my soul. (Libby Roderick) Reading #4 And I will raise you up on eagle's wings, Bear you on the breath of dawn, Make you to shine like the sun, And hold you in the palm of my hand. (St. Francis in the Foothills)