The Institute
“happens” almost entirely through volunteer efforts.
If one looks around the building, looks at how a Psychic Fair comes about,
looks at what is necessary for a Service or any other event to be accomplished,
one has to marvel at the level of commitment, energy, cooperation and love that
is present and necessary for the Institute to sustain herself.
It seems
that everything works smoothly without my help. Is it really needed or
necessary?
It is a credit to those who
offer themselves so willingly and lovingly that things may appear to run
smoothly and effortlessly. However, the adage “Many hands make the
work lighter” has never been more truly applied.
From the point of
view of the Institute, every task you undertake in cooperation and service adds
your indelible energy not only to the task, but to the total life of the
Community — like a pebble dropped into the water. Loving energy
joined with other loving energy does not merely add the two — it
multiplies and transforms them. In point of fact, it is this light —
born of cooperation and love — which has drawn you to the Institute.
As a member, you accept the role as keeper and sustainer of that light.
From a more personal perspective, “What you sow, so
shall you reap” echoes the basic and inescapable metaphysical reality.
Like it or not, what one pours into something is a measure of what one
receives in return. The measure of the benefit and service the Institute
can be to one’s spiritual life is determined by what portion of themselves
one offers to the Institute in service.
I don’t have a lot of
talents. How can I be of service?
Although some areas of service
— such as performing special music — do require some level of prior
experience, most avenues require only a willingness to participate, a sense of
cooperation and an understanding of personal responsibility. Many
individuals who serve on the Hospitality Committee have not seen the inside of
a kitchen in years, yet each Sunday we are treated to a wonderful repast.
You will be amazed at the things you can learn. The truth is,
everyone has something to give if they are willing to give at all. .
I am a very busy person. How can
I be expected to devote time to the Institute?
It’s amazing that no
matter how busy we are, we always find time to do the things that are important
to us. We eat when we are hungry; we sleep when we are tired; we cry
when we are sad; we give when we chose to love. Most frequently that
statement is a telling excuse, not a valid reason. It really says,
“I choose to put my time to something else.” The bare truth is
that we always put our resources where are heart is.
Alright, I have very limited
time. How can I be of service?
A consistently dependable
volunteer helping an hour or two per month would be an enormous assistance
in dozens of activities. Two people each contributing an hour of service
once a month could keep the kitchen neat, orderly and stocked. One
person volunteering one hour every other month could organize the Movie Night.
Is Sunday the only day to
volunteer?
As you may know, the Church is
usually abuzz with activity from early morning to late evening seven day a
week. If it is convenient to arrive an hour before class, believe me, there is
a task for you if you are willing to really help. If you need to run away
from home for a few hours on Saturday, you will find a lot of exciting projects
at ISD. If you have the time to give, we are usually there.
You
mentioned that there were many activities with which I could volunteer to help.
What are they, what do I need to do and how often would I need to be
there?
The spectrum of contribution
opportunities is endless. On a formal level, you can volunteer to
assist on one of the standing committees such as Hospitality, Usher, Bookstore,
Children’s Hour, etc., or volunteer to participate on or chair a special
event such as a raffle, bazaar, luncheon, etc. The contact list on the
last page will give you some ideas and who to see about contributing. On
an informal level, your contribution can range from mowing the lawn, to
arranging flowers, to making sure the restrooms are supplied. In any
activity, you are free to determine how often you participate. For
example, the usual rotation on the Hospitality Committee is one Sunday every
eight to ten weeks.
What do I get out of
volunteering?
That question cannot be
answered; it must be experienced! It is the experience of building
something outside of yourself; of expanding who you are; of combining yourself
with others; of being unconditional; of love! Try it, you’ll like
it.
I keep
receiving the offertory envelopes every month. It reminds me too much of
the traditional Church in which I grew up. I thought ISD was a different
kind of Church?
If you know the Institute at
all, you know that it is by its definition, nature and philosophy a very
“different kind of Church”. That does not, however, extend to
its needs. Like any other organization, we must pay our bills and support
our efforts. Just because we practice a spiritual philosophy of life does
not exempt us from paying the electric bill. The decision to initiate an
envelope offering system stems from the need to track donations for tax
purposes and to provide those who do not regularly attend Sunday services an
opportunity participate in the financial life of the Institute. It is
“traditional” because it works for the benefit of all. While
inexorably tied to the membership list, it is “non-traditional” in
that there is no pressure — you are free to use the envelopes, discard
them or turn them into planters.
What is an appropriate
contribution for the Church? I am afraid that I can’t give very
much right now.
As with the gift of time, your
financial contribution should genuinely reflect your financial financial
status. If you give what you will not miss, are you really giving?
If your gift is appropriate to your level, you will feel that you are loving
rather than giving. Rule of thumb — what is the Institute worth to
you? More than the price of a cup of coffee; a movie; a dinner out; a
trip to the hairdresser? The Institute will be pleased to provide you
with a convenient chart that may help decide your level of contribution.
I am
very in tune with the Institute’s ideals and feel very lucky to have found
her. I want to make sure that she is financially sound and around for
those who will find her in the future. What can I do?
First, what a terrific sentiment!
Through designated contributions, endowments, trusts and bequests you
can provide for the future needs of the Institute. Any of these means
ensure a continuing or long term commitment to provide for the needs of the
Church. If you are interested in more information, please contact the
Church office.
The
Institute looks prosperous enough. What are its financial obligations and
expectations?
Thanks for the compliment, but
as usual, looks are deceiving. The cost of opening the doors of the
Institute averages $300 per day — every day, seven days a week, three
hundred sixty-five days a year. A substantial part of our income goes to
paying our mortgages (yes, we have two!), plus operating expenses, such as
utilities, supplies, mailing costs, etc. We are exceptionally proud of
the refurbishing of the Church, not only in its final appearance, but in the
fact that, from the stained glass window to re-doing the bathrooms, it has been
done on a shoestring. Even with this, there are many needs which have
been postponed. A Director’s stipend, health insurance, cushions for
the pews, Bookstore Manager’s stipend, educational fund, Ministerial
grants, musician allowance, etc. are necessary expenditures which only your
generosity and financial aid will provide.
The
letter mentions a yearly accounting of donations. How do I get that
accounting?
We cannot stress enough that
simply using offertory envelopes enables us to record your contributions.
Your contribution statement will be automatically mailed in January, in
time for your taxes.
I forgot my membership card
last week and the Bookstore attendant wouldn’t give me my member discount.
Why wouldn’t she give me the discount? Where did that money
go?
As part of updating The
Bookstore’s computer system, the individual membership card is now
required to calculate the discount. The Bookstore attendant cannot
override the program, which can be accessed only through your membership
number. The card does not weigh very much; for convenience sake, keep it
with you so it’s there when you need it. By the way, the discount
that you did not receive remains in the Bookstore and helps to expand its
inventory and service.
I joined
the Church only to get the discounts. Why am I bombarded with envelopes,
solicitations and the like?
Most importantly, the salient
point is that you have joined a “church”. With that comes an
expectation of commitment and responsibility. It is not Costco or Brands
Mart. The discounts are given as a courtesy to our members, not as an
enticement to membership. Membership in the Institute based solely on
one’s pecuniary advantage is less than honest, and still brings
expectations and demands which you are free to ignore.
There
seems to be a great amount of talk about money and mundane things. I came
here to talk about spiritual, metaphysical things. Can’t the Church
just visualize and send out the right energies and let it all
happen?
Being spiritual does not mean
ignoring or abandoning the mundane world. Rather, it calls us to
embrace the mundane with a higher purpose and attitude, thus elevating the
energies and bringing a heaven to earth. The spiritually aware
individual understands the immediate need and acts upon it at the appropriate
level. On one level the Institute community — for the Institute is
not one individual or clique — visualizes its abundance at the monthly
Prosperity Meditation as singular and communal prosperity is focussed.
The Institute densifies this collective thought by acting on it through
fundraisers, Service Envelopes, and the like. It puts the highest
metaphysical and spiritual principles into practice by activating the laws of
causality and realizing — As below, so above; as above, so
below.
Are
there any other ways I can participate in the life of the
Church?
The Institute attempts to
provide the widest spectrum of activities possible to foster spiritual,
social, creative, developmental and intellectual growth and interaction.
Beside the regular Sunday Services, join in our Prosperity Meditations, special
Solstice and Equinox Services, or Special Celebrations; classes are a
must; join the choir; plan to go on the retreat; or just join
a group for Sunday lunch. The Institute is a living community waiting for
you.
