October 25, 2006

Sittings at Arnold Park: November Sesshin

Sittings will be held as usual during the November 7-day sesshin, with taped teisho on Sunday, November 5. As usual after sesshin, there will be no sitting on Sunday, November 12.

Calendar Notes

The December 4-day sesshin deadline is Monday, November 13. There will be a Workshop on Saturday, November 18. There will be a Famine Relief Ceremony during the evening sitting on Thursday, November 16. Monetary offerings will go to Oxfam’s Fast for a World Harvest campaign. Information about Temple Night, Jukai and the Ceremony of Gratitude will be sent out in the quarterly mailing. The Ceremony of Gratitude will be held in the morning on Thanksgiving Day.

Term Intensive Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony for the Term Intensive will take place after an hour of sitting on Thursday evening, November 2. Family members of participants are welcome to attend the ceremony, which will begin at approximately 8 pm.

Funeral for Molly Miller

Kit and David Miller’s daughter Molly died suddenly on Sunday. The funeral service will be in the Buddha Hall this Thursday, October 26, at 2:00 pm, (robes not required). Extra parking is available in the Third Presbyterian Church and the Incarnate Word Lutheran Church parking lots from 1:30-3:30 pm. Tea will be available in the Center’s dining room afterwards. Molly had a deep concern for homeless people, so in lieu of flowers, please send donations to the women’s shelter at Dimitri House: 325-1796; or to the Zen Center. The Miller’s are very grateful for all the gifts of meals and food from the Sangha. For now additional food is not needed, though it may well be needed in the coming weeks.

Memorial services are also being held each day at 3:30 pm through Sunday, October 29, and then weekly on Sundays (times tba) through the 49th day after Molly’s death. Up until the funeral on Thursday these chanting services are being held at the Millers’ house, 80 Hampshire Drive, Brighton, but after Thursday will be at the Center.

Ordination Ceremony

Staff member María Elena Díaz will be ordained as a Zen Buddhist priest on Sunday morning, November 26. Ceremony details to follow. (Please note that this represents a change in the published Zen Center calendar.)

Halloween Party and Hungry Ghost Ceremony
On Sunday evening, October 29, from 5-7 pm at Arnold Park, the families and coordinators of the Youth Sunday Program will be hosting a brief Feeding the Hungry Ghosts Ceremony followed by a Halloween party. All Sangha members - whether adult or child - are invited to bring food or drink to offer as part of the ceremony. Offerings will be donated to St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality, which operates an emergency shelter for the homeless. After the ceremony there will be a candy-free trick-or-treat opportunity, followed by ghost stories and pizza in the dining room. Costumes are enthusiastically encouraged. There is a requested donation of two dollars for pizza. R.S.V.P. to Katie McDonald at dare2bu@rochester.rr.com.

Email Address Changes

Email is the most expedient way to send out announcements, so please do notify the Center if you change your email address.

Borrowed Robes

Remember to return borrowed robes to the rack in the basement after each sitting. Please do not re-label them with your own initials or keep them in the changing rooms. The guest robes are for everyone and are limited in number (and size). Robes are available for purchase through Endless Knot. To order one, contact Urszula Sapeta at 473-8217. Order forms are also available on the Center’s website at www.rzc.org, or from the receptionist.

Youth Sunday Program Revitalized

Sangha families began meeting last month searching for ways to connect more intimately with the Center. As a result of their get-together, the current program of monthly Sunday morning meetings at the Center is expanding to include community activities that provide opportunities for parents, caregivers and children to interact socially.

RAIHN Benefit: “Shop Until You Drop”

Shop until you drop on Monday, November 27, from 6-9 pm at Pittsford Plaza. One World Goods will give 20% of the evening’s proceeds to the Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN). Other stores participating in the evening’s event are Snow Country, Blueground Jewelry, Hands-on and Beyond, Color Me Mine, and The Lounge. Dine first at Applebee’s between 4 and 9 pm.

Last year’s event raised almost $4000 for RAIHN, Rochester’s answer to compassionate shelter for homeless families. A coupon is needed for Applebee’s, Snow Country and The Lounge: Coupon available on the RAIHN website at www.raihn.org and in the RAIHN brochure available at the Center.

Kannon Committee

The Kannon Committee provides voluntary help with meals, errands, or transportation for Sangha members who are ill or temporarily disabled. If you or someone you know can use some help, please let the Committee know by contacting Martha Howden by e-mail at mhowden@rochester.rr.com. If you are available to offer help in the future by making a meal or helping with errands or other things, please let Martha know this as well.