“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” – Albert Camus
We’re over the moon to officially launch our iConnect newsletter right here on our newly-created website! We hope you’ve been on an exploration spree, enjoying and appreciating the aspects we’ve enhanced to broaden our community resources and engagement portals. Though it wasn’t circulated, my October’s letter, available on our iConnect page, carried a wish I feel compelled to reiterate now. I hope each one of you is stepping into this fresh season with the conviction of being exactly where you ought to be, regardless of what that notion may entail personally. The autumnal season sometimes brings along feelings that may be unwelcome, but I earnestly hope this platform provides a comforting sense of community. Remember, regardless of your location on the globe, you are not alone.
We extend our heartfelt welcome to our renovated website! What you’re witnessing right now is essentially just the tip of the iceberg. This challenging project marks an enormous stride for us, and it’s only the starting point. Expect a flurry of updates, tweaks, overhauls and more, surfacing over the forthcoming months. We hope the tenacity, we have invested in creating this digital space, resonates with you.
In an effort to unify our presence, we merged our OneSpirit Interfaith website with the OneSpirit Interfaith Ministers web portal. This integration echoes the reality that the essence of one does not exist without the other. To increase the visibility of our minister community and student members, we’ve introduced new pages. Additionally, we’ve designed new sections for our beloved community members who may not necessarily feel a pull towards ministry. In the ensuing week, keep an eye out for our social media posts introducing some of our new website pages. Have any questions or thoughts? Please feel free to reach out to us!
Do you have an offering for our community? Have you recently published a book you’d like to share? Discover a podcast that inspired you? Want to just say hello? Drop an email below!
This memorial message was added to October’s newsletter, but as this letter was not widely sent out, I wanted to leave it here to ensure we pay our respects to our community members who have passed… Before diving into the news, we’d like to take a moment to honour some members of the OneSpirit family who have recently passed away. If you’re aware of a departed family member and their loved ones are comfortable with sharing the information, please inform us. Moreover, if you’d like to share a few words in remembrance of a late minister, feel free to send me a message. We’ll be more than honoured to include your tribute in our next edition or feature it on our social media platforms for the minister community. We’d like to share some heartfelt news about members of our OneSpirit family. Rob has given us the news of the peaceful passing of his dear friend and fellow minister, Andrew Hunter, from the Class of 2000, at his home in June. Despite having been unwell for some time, his departure was sudden yet peaceful. Similarly, Rev Gillian informs us of the passing of the cherished Rev Esther Aronsfeld, Class of 2006, who left us in August. We also have news from John about the passing of Rev Marcia Goffin, from the class of 2010. Each of these ministers entered our OneSpirit community at different moments and influenced the lives of many in disparate years, nonetheless, each of them profoundly impacted our community. We would also like to honour the memory of Joanna Wray, a treasured student of the OneSpirit Oak Path. Joanna exuded warmth and kindness, resonating with the powers of nature and the Divine. Joanna’s life was a testament to the power of a spiritual journey undertaken with sincerity and courage. We are ever grateful to have known them and for the enriching share of the OneSpirit spirit, they brought into our lives. Their memories will live on in our hearts. Again, if you’d like to say words in their honour, just send us a message and we will add them to our next newsletter. Thank you for being with us.
OneSpirit’s Professional & Personal Development Offerings
Spiritual Practice Circle
Join us in a holistic approach to spirituality in a shared, supportive community space. This Spiritual Practice Circle is devised specifically to help OneSpirit Ministers maintain their vow for continual spiritual practice and to assist other members of the OneSpirit Community desiring to deepen their spiritual journey.
This Circle serves as a structured space to connect with like-minded individuals, aiding in the development and maintenance of your own regular spiritual practice. It provides a flexible plan allowing for drop-in participation whenever you find it most beneficial to your journey. Join us in this enriching spiritual endeavour. To learn more or register, click here!
Sessions will be held on the last Tuesday of each month for six consecutive months, via Zoom, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm:
30th January 2024, 27th February 2024, 26th March 2024, 30th April 2024, 28th May 2024, 25th June 2024
Participation Rates
The cost per session:
- ROSIM members or OneSpirit students: £20 per session
- Non-ROSIM members: £25 per session
The cost for all 6 sessions: By booking all 6 sessions in advance, you can save £20!
- ROSIM members or OneSpirit students: £100
- Non-ROSIM members: £130
Faith in Black Lives Matter
Immerse yourself in enlightening workshops that delve into the heart of the Black Lives Matter movement, led by the committed OneSpirit ministers, Revs Malaika and Sue Cockerill. The workshops promise to address the Black Lives Matter ethos from both an individual and collective standpoint, empowering you and your community with an enriched understanding.
In alliance with Faith Network 4 Manchester, our goal is to foster unity, address key concerns, and inspire interfaith dialogue. Come, and be a part of this transformative journey to cultivate a harmonious community.
Workshops take place on the below dates from 7:30pm:
-
- Tuesday, 7th November 2023
- Tuesday, 14th November 2023
- Tuesday, 21st November 2023
- Tuesday, 28th November 2023, extended till 9:30pm.
Participation Rates
- For a minimal fee of £25, you not only participate in the workshop but also contribute to a good cause. All proceeds are donated to Windrush Defenders.
This unifying initiative is open to everyone, regardless of faith or understanding. Get involved and grow… More info here!
OneSpirit’s Community Offerings
*everything below is a ‘clickable’ link, meaning, if you click anywhere within the text or image, it will take you to a page where you can learn more!
Samhain Soul Salon 
The Scottish Students and Ministers are inviting you to an upcoming event titled, SAMHAIN SOUL SALON, scheduled for Wednesday, November 1st from 7:30 – 9:30pm. The event will be hosted online, accessible via the following Zoom link:
Click to Join Zoom Meeting, with meeting ID 891 4387 5851, passcode 255127.
The event aims to deepen connections and create a contemplative space for participants to be seen and heard. For this final gathering of 2023, the theme is ‘Receiving Love’ Samhain, being a perfect time of the year to turn inward, slow down and open ourselves to love, aligns perfectly with this theme. Participants are asked to bring an open heart, a curious mind and their innate wisdom to explore this topic. They’re also welcomed to bring a poem, a prayer, a piece of art, or anything that speaks to the theme of love. There will be time for somatic embodiment exercises
designed to provide relief in your nervous system and foster deep relaxation.
Interfaith Week 2023
Each year, Inter Faith Week begins on Remembrance Sunday, and runs until the following Sunday. It is hoped that the additional Sunday provides the opportunity for other weekend events to take place as well as those linked to Remembrance Sunday. Remembrance Sunday was chosen as a start day to encourage people to remember together the contributions of all faiths and none, and to consider how best to create a just, peaceful, and harmonious world.
- Highlights the good work done by local faith, inter faith and faith-based groups and organisations
- Draws new people into inter faith learning and cooperation
- Enables greater interaction between people of different backgrounds
- Helps develop integrated and neighbourly communities
- Celebrates diversity and commonality
- Opens new possibilities for partnership
Inter Faith Week 2023 will take place from Sunday, November 12 – 19.
OneSpirit Ministers in Connection Offerings 
A bit of a condensed overview of some of the upcoming opportunities:
#MonthOfMinistry is making a comeback! This time around, it’s powered by not just OSMIC, but also by us! (OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation). Revs Jo Royle and Sass Adams are set to inaugurate this event on the 16th of November. Leading up to the grand kickoff on 1st February, they’ve arranged for journaling sessions and a social media workshop. Click here for comprehensive details and don’t forget to keep tabs on your inbox!
Tai Chi Classes with Rev Suzanne Abernathy: Participants can expect stress and anxiety reduction through deep, controlled breathing and slow, flowing movements. Regular practice improves balance and flexibility, enhances mind-body connection and provides an effective tool for chronic pain management. Furthermore, Tai Chi strengthens muscles and joints, improves posture, and benefits cardiovascular health. Joining our online classes can deepen a sense of community, reduce feelings of isolation, and enhance accessibility and convenience. Participate from your homes and prioritize your health and happiness. More here!
Religion and Neurodiversity: In Conversation with Rev Sarah McCulloch: Join Rev Sarah McCulloch for an insightful conversation focusing on neurodivergence and its impact on personal beliefs. The session will be held on Wednesday, 8th of November, from 7-8pm GMT. Held on Zoom. This talk will be recorded.
Foundations For Spiritual Practice with Rev Christopher Marcus: Rev Christopher Marcus is hosting “Foundations For Spiritual Practice,” an introductory session to the Spiritual Practice Circle course. The session will be held on Monday, 20th of November, from 7-8pm GMT. Held on Zoom. This talk will be recorded. *Please note, this talk led by Christopher Marcus is meant as a lead into the Spiritual Practice circle run by OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation.
Sharing Circle with Rev Helen Grubert: Rev Helen Grubert invites you to an online Sharing Circle on Tuesday, 28th of November, from 7-8pm GMT. An hour of connection with a healing ceremony at the end. Held on Zoom. This talk will not be recorded.
Please note, all these offerings are free of charge, though freewill donations to OSMIC are gratefully received.
Did you catch these posts on our social media this month?
Rev. TonyA Mc Callion
Year of ordination/graduation: 2020
Tell us a little bit about yourself: I was born and raised in Dublin. I left when I was 20 years old. I lived in New York for 7 years returned briefly to Ireland for 3 years and now I am in living in London for the past 18 years.
What inspired you to pursue training with OneSpirit? What inspires anyone to pursue training at OneSpirit is, I have no doubt, a combination of factors. I was encouraged and inspired (and still am) by my niece Rev Karen Dempsey who completed the training a few years prior. Also, during my time spent living in the US, I have been fortunate to travel the world and spent time for example living in Saudi Arabia transporting Muslims to and from Mecca during Hadj as well as transporting UN peacekeepers and military personnel to different parts of the world awell as refugees. This very
much opened my eyes to religious and political conflicts throughout the world and the humanitarian aspect.
What services do you provide? I am a work in progress!
A reminder about our community feature— Minister Spotlights!
It’s hard for me to find specific ministers to spotlight each month, due to the size of our minister community. To make things smoother, I’ve created a form you can fill out for your profile. This form includes five essentials and eight optional questions to inspire you while creating your spotlight. Depending on participation, I’ll publish one or two spotlights each month.
This is a fantastic chance to broadcast your talent, services, and distinctiveness to our wider community. The spotlight form will be available in every iConnect. There is also now a special page for Minister Spotlights… meaning, if you partake now, you’ll be one of the first to be showcased!
Ready to participate? Just fill out the form below and I’ll handle the rest.
Our newly designed website features spaces for fostering connections and uniting our community members. The Community Collection page is specially reserved for users to submit their blog posts. Every submission, be it a book, resource guide, diary entry, song, podcast, or nuggets of wisdom through Instagram, contributes to the collective wisdom available to all. This collective endeavour is especially significant for the ministers and students in our community. Their shared resources or inspiring elements can serve as guiding stars for those in the early days of their spiritual journey, or those who are just needing some inspiration wherever they are. Each piece of wisdom shared stands as a testament that no one is alone in their spiritual voyage. We invite you to submit contributions through the form below! We’ll collate these into a comprehensive post enriched with easily shareable links, data, and images. Additionally, a dedicated space will be created in the member forums for further discussion and resource sharing. Thank you for helping us spread inspiration!
Awareness, Religious, and Spiritual Days
*These days come from the Interfaith Network, if a day is missing it is not deliberate! More can be found here.
In the United Kingdom, November is also recognised as Movember, focusing on men’s health issues; Diabetes Awareness Month, aimed at generating understanding and advocacy about diabetes; Epilepsy Awareness Month, seeking to enhance public knowledge about epilepsy; and as Vegan Month.
Nov 1 – All Saints Day: This day honours saints or martyrs who have been canonized in the Catholic Church. Many countries, including Poland, Spain and Mexico, observe it as a public holiday. In Mexico, it’s also known as Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead).
Nov 2 – International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
Nov 5 – World Tsunami Awareness Day
Nov 6 – International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
Nov 9 – International Week of Science and Peace, 9-15
Nov 10 – World Science Day for Peace and Development
Nov 12 through 19 – Interfaith Week: This week aims to strengthen good inter faith relations at all levels, increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK, in particular celebrating and building on the contribution which their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society, and increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs.
Nov 12 – Diwali: One of the most important Hindu festivals of the year, Diwali focuses on celebrating various gods and goddesses. The day before Diwali, homes are cleaned and decorated with flowers, and white is painted on the front door to bring good luck. The Festival of Lights features lamps lit everywhere for the entire five days to ensure that Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess that brings good fortune, finds her way home.
Nov 13 – World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 13-19 November
Nov 14 – World Diabetes Day
Nov 16 – International Day for Tolerance
Nov 17 – World Philosophy Day
Nov 18 – World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence
Nov 19 – World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims & World Toilet Day
Nov 20 – Africa Industrialization Day & World Children’s Day
Nov 21 – World Television Day
Nov 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Nov 26 – World Sustainable Transport Day
Nov 27 – Guru Nanak Ji’s Birthday: This day celebrates the birthday of Guru Nanak Ji, the founder of Sikhism. In India, it’s also known as Guru Nanak Gurpurb, Guru Nanak Dev HI Jayanti, and Guru Nanak Parkash Utsav.
Nov 27 – Jain New Year: This is celebrated after Diwali, on the first day after the month of Kartika every year. The ritual of Snatra Puja, where supreme beings are praised, is performed at the temple.
Nov 29 – International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
Nov 30 – Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare
