PROGRAMS • FILMS • SPECIAL EVENTS

Sunday, July 4, 18, & August 1, 18
EXPLORING DREAMS AT THE RIVERSIDE CHURCH*
A dream workshop offers a way to look into the creative resources in our dreams. Dreaming is a kind of thinking while we’re asleep, and can be nurtured toward a deeper understanding of ourselves.

FACILITATOR: Allen Flagg
TIME: 2:00 pm
LOCATION: The Wellness Center at
The Riverside Church
91 Claremont Ave. (Bet 120th & 122nd Sts)
SUGGESTED DONATION: $2 each session for use of the Wellness Center’s facilities.
TO REGISTER: Call Allen Flagg,
(212) 532-8042.

Sunday, July 25 & Aug 29
NEW PHYSICS*
Explore how the discoveries in physics affect our spiritual, emotional, and physical lives. The New Physics group follows the breakthroughs in our understanding of the universe and our place in it.

FACILITATOR: Allen Flagg
TIME: 2:00 pm
LOCATION: The Wellness Center at The Riverside Church
91 Claremont Avenue (between 120th and 122nd Streets. Ask at the registration desk for the room number).
DONATION: Suggested: ($2 to cover the cost of the room.)

To Be Announced by E-mail
ULTIMATE ISSUES
Ultimate Issues treats topics of cosmic importance that cross the boundary between spirituality and scientific speculation, and encompass both. Examples include reincarnation, the existence of evil, consciousness, metaphors for God, the nature of time, ESP, precognition, and the Bible Codes. The Quantum Theory and Quantum Holography may point to a new understanding of reality and individual identity.

No prior scientific or religious background is required.

FACILITATOR: Arthur Wiegenfeld
TIME: 7:00 - 9:00 pm
LOCATION: West Side Manhattan (Directions provided upon registration.).
TO REGISTER: RSVP is required as space is very limited. Additional sessions may occasionally be scheduled. An email response is preferred. Please specify “Ultimate Issues” on the subject line. Or call 212-724-4335, and leave your phone number. If you register and then are unable to attend, please be sure to advise Arthur at: artw@rcn.com

SPIRITUAL ENQUIRY
The Spiritual Enquiry Group is on hiatus until the Fall. Check in September for more thought-provoking films and spirited discussions.

Summer Events

Some FIONS Groups are on hiatus this Summer, but there are still lots of interesting events happening in New York.

Visit FIONS Board Member Alan Steinfeld’s Web site New Realities at
http://www.newrealities.com/ to see July’s Calendar of Events.

ALSO OF INTEREST!

EARTH SONG EVENT
DATE: Thursday, July 15, 2010
TIME: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
LOCATION: Norman Thomas High School
111 East 33rd Street (at Park Avenue)

While catastrophic Gulf news headlines draw the attention of the world and focus on monumental damage caused by adults, a savvy group of environmentally passionate youths--ages 10 through 23--will present valuable advice through song on how to save the world during the Earth Tones Song Event scheduled for July 15, 2010 at Norman Thomas High School (111 E. 33 Street at Park Avenue) from 6:30–8:30 pm.

The event, sponsored by TreeFriends, an initiative of the Coalition for OneVoice (COV), will present the winner and finalists of the organization’s citywide song contest which charged youth to write a song to raise awareness and bring people together motivated to create a world that works for us all. The contest, initiated in January well before the Gulf disaster but posing even deeper meaning now, included a host of celebrity judges who volunteered their time for this worthy cause. Judges included Paul Winter, multi-Grammy winner and founder of the highly acclaimed Living Music and Paul Winter Consort; Joseph Murano of American Idol fame; composer/lyricist, Tony-award nominee Barry Keating (Starmites); Hair original cast member, Mudra; Bashiri Johnson, percussionist from Whitney Houston’s band and NY songwriter and arranger, Mark Mancini.

Song contest winner and finalists include:

• Winner: Kathleen Knighton, 23 years old (Yale University Graduate)

• Finalists: Crystal Offley, 17 years old (Brooklyn School for Music and Theater)

• Samantha Jordan, 10 years old (The Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn)

• Honorable Mention: Jovito Manrique, 17 years old (Aviation High School in Queens)

WHAT YOUTH HAVE TO SAY
These environmentally conscious youth express extreme passion about the creation of a better world in their songs which they will sing on July 15th. Winner Kathleen Knighton notes that she is passionate about the environment and when writing her song it raised her consciousness further about the environment. “I need to practice what I preach! The time is now,” notes Kathleen about what she learned from writing the winning song.

Finalist Crystal Offley’s song also offers advice with lyrics stating: Don't you dare close your eyes 'cause the world is spinnin' fast and we're all getting left behind. Temperature just keeps on risin'. The animals are left to die. Gotta' look past that horizon. Try to save a life because… Everybody wants to be a hero. Everybody wants to save the world. I think its time you learned how to save the Earth. Try to keep our planet green. Save the big and tall trees. Lend a hand and clean your streets. It all starts with you and me (with you and me)

The lyrics of elementary school finalists Samantha Jordan speak directly to society’s need to change. Lyrics from her song One Voice echoes cries for change: Not much nature; so many things I miss. There’s so much waste and things to think about. Our planet is hurting, without a doubt . . . I was one voice with a dream to save the Earth. Let’s become a world of voices. One Voice. One Voice.

The winner of the contest receives a grand prize of recording their song in a professional recording studio, performance at a major NYC public event and public radio broadcast of the song. Finalists receive opportunity to present their songs live during a public event. They are also presented with private coaching from professional songwriter and arranger Mark Mancini.

The Coalition For OneVoice (COV), the parent organization of TreeFriends, encompasses over 100 holistic and environmentally conscious organizations of New York. COV includes hundreds of people dedicated to social, environmental and spiritual transformation for the betterment of all beings and nature.

Specifically, the song contest asked youth to create a song that best reflects one or more of the following themes:

• Cultivating sincere, respectful and revered relationships with our fellow humans, animals, nature and all of life on Earth
• Acknowledging and celebrating our interconnectedness to these myriad life forms
• Appreciating the particular gift of trees which nurture life
• Exploring how to live in a way that reflects these values

As TreeFriends founder, Jane Gignoux says, “We believe that music is a great way to invite youth to engage in exploring and expressing their ideas for transforming our relationship to the natural world. Youth have answered the charge with several inspiring songs to be presented on July 15 at Norman Thomas High School.”

Earth Tones is supported by New York's MillionTreesNYC, a citywide public-private program focused on the planting and care for one million new trees across the City's five boroughs over the next decade. Support is also provided by the Institute of Noetic Sciences which will explore the behavioral impact the contest has on participants.

“I feel that music is therapy and once people hear of how the earth needs to be treated that they will begin making a change in their attitudes towards earth and all living things in it,” noted one youth song entrant.

Gignoux adds, “The program will show how our youth are thinking through song. We can move beyond chaotic acts and engage with one another and take positive, life-sustaining action.”

For more information about the TreeFriends Earth Tones Song Contest, visit: www.coalitionforonevoice.com

Ticket Information: Tickets are $10.00 for general admission; $7.00 for youth 21 and under. RSVP is required.

Public RSVP: E-mail: treefriends111@yahoo.com or call 516 377–6146. Reservation can be guaranteed by forwarding check or money order before the show.

Make check payable to: FIONS OneVoice

Mail To: Coalition for OneVoice
c/o TreeFriends
PO Box 20747
Park West Finance Station
New York, NY 10025

For a print version of this calendar, click here.