SPECIAL NOTICE

The March 30 OFM has been moved to Friday, April 6th. Please do not go to the Church on March 30, but join us on April 6 at 7:30 p.m. Thanks

—Catherine

GREETINGS

Ostara already. Where has the time gone? Oh yes -- day by day.

Someone in another state recently asked me to describe a day here. I liked the description, so I'm going to repeat it here.

The leaves are just starting to bud on the lilacs. There isn't even a hint of leaf on the other trees. The yarrows are starting to leaf out, as are the mints. The irises have been sprouting for a month -- even through the snow, which has finally all melted. So have the leaves for the tigerlilies.

The grass has been greeing up for the last couple of weeks. I'm thinking of trying to find some low-growing purple thyme seed and overseeding the grass with the thyme.

The flower boxes at work have pansies growing up right now.

The temperaturers for the last several days have gotten up into the 60s and 70s. One of the guys at work said today, as he came in from lunch, that he needed a hall pass. What he really menat was that he wanted to pull a Ferris Bueller and take the rest of the day off.

That's Spring today here.

Of course, tomorrow, it may snow. It's Colorado, after all.

—Catherine

MARCH/APRIL OPEN FULL MOON

Hearthstone meets the Friday before or the Friday of the Full Moon at the First Unitarian Church at 14th and Lafayette in Denver. The church doors open at 7, and we like to start at 7:30. (We are NOT big proponents of Pagan Standard Time, but if there is weather related driving trouble or a problem on the freeway, we've been known to wait a bit longer.) This month's ritual is FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2007.

Remember, please, that Hearthstone doesn’t expect everyone to enter in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust, as there are people you don't know there, but to enter with a willing heart and an open mind, and leave your differences at the door. 

Some traditions are more controversial than others, or may contain a component that disturbs someone attending an Open Full Moon.  It is one of the risks of exploring different traditions.  Should anyone be uncomfortable, unsettled, or upset about any ritual presented by Hearthstone, please contact Alia to discuss -- and hopefully resolve and heal -- the issue.

—Alia

This month's OFM will be presented by Amy and will be a simple celebration of the arrival of Spring, renewal of life, and how wonderful it is to be Pagan.

Parking has become more difficult at the church. Please read the parking suggestions provided by theFirst Unitarian Church. Thank you. —Alia

THANKS AND A TIP OF THE HAT

Thanks and a Tip of the Hat to Dithyrambos, a Greek Eclectic group who presented the story of Persephone in honor of Dionysus in His aspect of the God of Theater (without forgetting or diminishing His rule over wine). The ritual described the story of Persephone through the use of masks. They reminded us that not all masks are for hiding; some of them represent the many roles we undertake throughout our life.

Thank you, Dithyrambos, for providing us with a lovely and elegant ritual as well as your thoughts on the masks we wear every day.

—Alia

ON DONATIONS

We appreciate that many of you donate to the church.  With your contributions, we have reached the point where the church is preparing to set policies for assisting those in need.  The more you can spare, the more we can help those who need it.

We aren’t going to start collecting at the door, and no one will be turned away for not having a donation.  However, we would like to suggest a donation of 4 to 7 dollars per person.  (The extra is to cover the pagans that are unable to donate.)  If you can’t afford it, you are still welcome – if you can afford more, we’d be delighted to accept it.

NOTE:  Hearthstone is a church and your donations to Hearthstone are tax deductible. If you would like to write a check so you can keep track of your donations, we can certainly handle that as well.

COLORADO PAGAN CHILDREN’S CIRCLE

Children's Circle meets to celebrate the Pagan Sabbats with our children, involving them in our spiritual and magickal lives.

4/29/07 Beltane - Meet at Noon
6/24/07 Litha - Meet at Noon
7/29/07 Lammas - Meet at Noon
9/16/07 Mabon - Meet at Noon
10/28/07 Samhain - Meet at Noon
12/16/07 Yule - Meet at Noon

We meet at Spirit Wise at 6590 S. Broadway in Centennial. A map is available at: http://www.spiritwisegifts.com/Location_and_Hours.html
Contact Kath if you need more details.

RECLAIMING CLASS

Reclaiming Magical Education

THE PENTACLE OF PEARL

RECLAIMING SPIRIT PRESENTS

May 18, 19 & 20, 2007

We will work with the deep, healing energies of the Pentacle of Pearl, moving through the five points: Love, Law, Wisdom, Power and Knowledge.

“Pearl is work I can only do in connection with others...The Pearl Pentacle is how we interact, exist in relationships and the larger systems of community..." T. Thorn Coyle

Reclaiming is a community of individuals working to unify spirit and politics. Our vision is rooted in the religion and magic of the Goddess, the Immanent Life Force. We see our work as teaching and making magic; the art of empowering ourselves and each other.

Please make checks payable to:

Reclaiming Spirit
P.O. Box 270172
Littleton, CO 80127-0172

We welcome all genders, all races, all ages and sexual orientations and all those differences of life situation, background, and ability that increase our diversity. We strive to make our public rituals and events accessible and safe. We try to balance the need to be justly compensated for our labor with our commitment to make our work available to people of all economic levels.

Evolutionary Witchcraft: An Anderson Feri Tradition Course
With T. Thorn Coyle, founder of Morning Star Feri

Deepen your spiritual and magical practice

For people ready to take the next step spiritually and magically, this course will build a strong foundation for a deep, expansive, ecstatic spiritual practice. Get ready to change your life.

This work is dangerous, life changing and potent requiring committed daily practice to build a foundation for powerful personal energy.This two year course will put into practice the information in the text of Evolutionary Witchcraft. We will meet in person for three days, three times a week. We will work with the tools of the Feri Tradition including the Triple Soul Alignment, Iron Pentacle, Pearl Pentacle, the Black Heart of Innocence and the Feri Guardians.

Please contact:
Fiona (Fiona@shadowslight.com) and/or Skathach (morgans_insight@mho.com) to be added to the information list.
Our egroup is available at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EvolutionaryDenver

EARTH TEMPLE DATES

These are the 2007 dates for Earth Temple rituals. Earth Temple meets on Fridays at 7:30 pm we start announcements, and ritual begins at 7:45 pm; at Small Gatherings, 66th and Wadsworth.

There is one exception to the above. Earth Temple is going to try something new this year, and we hope you'll like it. Our Litha/New Moon ritual this year will be held at an OUTDOORS location somewhere in the Metro area, which we'll announce closer to the date. It will be on SATURDAY, June 16, and at this time we envision ritual beginning at noon (with hopefully a picnic afterward). Stay tuned for details!

If you have suggestions or questions about Earth Temple activities, please write to us at earthtemple-owner@yahoogroups.com.

Earth Temple 2007 dates:

Apr 13 New Moon
Apr 27 Beltane
May 18 New Moon
SATURDAY Jun 16 New Moon/Litha outdoors ritual
Jul 13  New Moon
Jul 27  Lammas
Aug 10  New Moon
Sep 7  New Moon
Sep 21 Mabon
Oct 12 Nnew Moon
Nov 2  Samhain
Dec 7  New Moon
Dec 21 Yule

GUEST COLUMNS?

If you have something to say, and are willing to let Alia or Catherine edit it slightly, (generally for grammar – Alia has the soul of an English teacher and I want to be one) please feel free to submit your writing.   Content will not be edited.   We can usually make room for more voices.

STANDARD DISCLAIMER and COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Please note that information and opinions contained in the articles in this newsletter are the responsibility of the authors only.  No endorsement by Hearthstone Community Church, Inc. is implied. 

All writings are copyright to their respective authors.  Please obtain permission before reprinting anything here with the exception of the Open Full Moon Dates.  Those may be copied and transmitted as needed.

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