Category Archives: Ideas & Concepts

STEP program for Burning Man tickets now open… also progress on our Placement application!

April 24, 20142014 Burning Man, Camp, Ideas & Concepts, Logistics, News, TicketsGabriel Serafini

Revised 2014 Christian Science at Burning Man camp placement layout

First of all, if you’re thinking of joining us at Burning Man this year, you’ll need a ticket. To get this ticket (if you don’t already have one) you’ll need to register for a Burning Man profile and then click the button that says sign up for the STEP program. This will put you in a queue to purchase tickets when other people put them up for sale. That’s it for now! We’re still looking for a few more tickets for our core team so if you happen to have an extra or two, please let us know.

In other news, we’ve made some good progress on our application for Placement (i.e. a reserved space) for our camp at Burning Man. Specifically, we’ve completed the first draft of our camp layout diagram (a required part of the submission.) What do you think?

Next Burning Man Call: Sunday 2/16 at 6PM Pacific Timezone (9PM Eastern, 8PM Central)

February 13, 20142014 Burning Man, Christian Science, Ideas & Concepts, Logistics, OrganizingGabriel Serafini

Burning Man 2013 hands sculpture

Hi folks,

Let’s all try to be on this call (we’ve had 2 calls so far for the 2014 Camp and about 1/2 of us have been on each call, some haven’t been able to make either yet.) We have some new people who are coming this year, and people who went last year who are for sure wanting to do it again.

If you’re on the fence about joining us this year, feel free to dial in and be part of the call. We’re targeting ~1 hour for the call. Remember, your participation is key to us having a successful camp this year!

Conference Call number:
(619) 326-2772
Access code: 1246521

Here is the suggested topic, assignment and agenda for this call:

Topic: Mission Statement & Official Camp Name

Pre-Call Assignments — Please do each of these!

Read the story of foot washing in the Bible and think about its significance for our group: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_washing#Biblical_reference
Read / re-read the 10 Principles of Burning Man – http://www.burningman.com/whatisburningman/about_burningman/principles.html
Email Gabriel (gserafini@gmail.com) your draft idea(s) for a Mission Statement, or add directly to this document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PWiQ-G_vqkpH3KjKeRFl6NNNvQbZDAjb4wLORWF_VQ4/edit?usp=sharing
Make sure you are registered at http://tickets.burningman.com with a user account so you’ll be prepared to purchase tickets.

Proposed Agenda:

10 minutes – Inspiration sharing time, open
5 minutes – Introductions for people who are new / haven’t been on last 2 calls
5 minutes – Optional, time for any quick questions people may have
40 minutes – Discuss / work towards a shared Mission Statement the group can agree on. This will be a guiding statement we can all turn to as we begin work in earnest over the next few months on the Camp.
5 minutes – Next steps – in our next call we’ll start organizing into specific teams / groups for logistical / task purposes. Set time for next call.

Feel free to forward / share this with anyone you think may be interested in joining us at Burning Man in 2014.

Thanks!
Gabriel

Washing Feet

February 7, 20142014 Burning Man, Christian Science, Foot Washing, Ideas & Concepts, Inspiration, News, PrayerNancy Earl Harrison

I’ve begun doing some preliminary reading about washing feet, per last night’s teleconference. I see a Wednesday night topic in the making!

Also, I really love this quote in relation to Burning Man:

“Cleanse every stain from this wanderer’s soiled garments, wipe the dust from his feet and the tears from his eyes, that you may behold the real man, the fellow-saint of a holy household,” ‘Retrospection and Introspection,’ by Mary Baker Eddy (Pg. 86).

The playa is our ‘holy household’ for the week, filled with fellow-saints! And again, when you read the passage in context, it is clear that this cleansing starts with one’s self.

Walking into a church…or a CS camp at Burning Man

January 29, 20142014 Burning Man, Articles, Christian Science, Foot Washing, Ideas & Concepts, Inspiration, PrayerNancy Earl Harrison

This poem made me think about what it might be like to walk into our Burning Man camp, then to participate and experience our camp’s expression of church and Reading Room. I especially like the idea of washing “feet and thoughts,” and knowing that we start with our own! Do you see anything else in this poem that you can relate to our camp? -Nancy

—-
Walking into a church

By BARBARA COOK

From the March 1983 issue of The Christian Science Journal

should be like walking into a manger,
not a hall of judgment—
a place so shorn of self-righteousness,
so free of all reproach,
that the hungering heart will feel no
shame, no awkward fear,
no insecurity.

Sitting in a church
should be like sitting in a field of sunlight—
comfortable and warm—
while Love’s sweet air is bearing
fragrances of Christ’s simplicity.

Experiencing church should be like walking through* a stream,
where Christly ministrations
wash your feet and thoughts
and make you clean.

Oh, yes—I know how I expect my
church to feel ….
Dear Father-Mother, teach me
now the way to make it real.

BARBARA COOK
* A correction was made in the February 1985 German Herold and the March 1986 French Heraut, in which this poem was reprinted and translated: “wading in” was changed to “walking through”.

http://journal.christianscience.com/issues/1983/3/101-3/walking-into-a-church

Surprise! Church at Burning Man

October 24, 20132013 Burning Man, Christian Science, Foot Washing, Ideas & Concepts, OutreachAnna Lisa

By Anna Lisa Kronman – Full story here

What would inspire folks to shelve their iPhones and computers for a week, wait (with extraordinary patience!) for long hours in line to camp out in a severe desert environment, pack in all food and water, and pack out all trash, enduring dirty fingernails and dusty feet? An annual event called Burning Man with these elements, and more, brought over 60,000 such folks together this year in a remote Nevada desert. The rules for the community are basic (and can be see in their entirety here: http://www.burningman.com/). In my reading of them, they are essentially a pragmatic statement of the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you.) A unique element of Burning Man is its gift-based, rather than consumer-based economy. The only things for sale are ice and coffee, and the proceeds go to a charitable organization. Everyone that comes is expected to give something. Also part of this culture: extraordinary creativity, art, loud music, a markedly friendly and open/permissive atmosphere, and whimsical clothing (or sometimes none.)

A group of people who love Christian Science felt there was a good reason to be a presence in this city. We came to wash feet.

Click here to read the entire story

Listen to Fujiko’s Daily Lift about her experience as part of our camp at Burning Man this year

September 19, 20132013 Burning Man, Audio, Christian Science, Christian Science Lectures, Christianity, Foot Washing, Ideas & Concepts, Inspiration, TalksGabriel Serafini

Fujiko’s Daily Lift discusses our experiences washing feet in the dusty desert in Black Rock City at Burning Man 2013. Some wonderful ideas in her talk, and some excellent comments from people who have listened to this lift.

http://christianscience.com/prayer-and-health/more-inspiration/your-daily-lift/9-12-washed-clean

Critique of Burning Man as locale for CS lecture & activity (by Tiare)

September 5, 20132012 Burning Man, 2013 Burning Man, Christian Science, Christian Science Lectures, Ideas & Concepts, InspirationGabriel Serafini

Burning Man 2013

2012

WHAT? A CS Lecture at BURNING MAN? Ridiculous. What crazies are organizing this absurd idea? Yes, BMan is a superlative, fascinating, creative Art Festival. For 4 years I’ve attended to support our son’s large theme camp, flying in his banquet food and décor. I’ve experienced some outstanding healings there, but as a devoted, active lifelong CS, I’d never condone a CS Lecture or even brief stage presentation at BMan.

WHY? True, the basic philosophy requires brotherly kindness, strict conservation, self-reliant living, banning profiteering, respecting multi-culturalism, intellectual talks, focus on dancing and symbolism of destruction of the past year’s negative events to be free for fresh, positive experience.

However, the emphasis on total freedom of lifestyle, usage of alcohol and drug abuse, and immodesty by a significant number in a city of 60,000:- it all seemed to me licentious, inappropriate, and offensive for offering pure CS.

But then, WHY NOT Go For It? Was I being impressed with evil? I knew Mrs. Eddy wrote “Why should we stand aghast at nothingness?” (S&H563:5)

WHEN? As I learned of the extremely loving, well-organized, and spiritual purpose of the lecture organizing team, the motives began to shine as so pure, so filled with spiritual light and Christly compassion to “give a cup of cold water” in the hot desert of humanity escaping from unresolved problems, I began to reach out for how I could help, though not attending.

MBE does counsel us “Never breathe an immoral atmosphere unless in an attempt to purify it” (S&H 452:14-15).What about praying (Hymn 144) “In atmosphere of Love Divine, we live and move and breathe”? What right did I have to take offense? Again, our Leader advises in “Taking Offense” (MiscWr 223-224) that we CAN go forth into the wide world of diverse cultures, opinions, ceaseless interactions with dynamic spiritual patience, magnanimity, genial temper, and charity broad enough to cover the whole world’s evil (my paraphrasing).

WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS THIS, ANYWAY? Are there CS radicals or CS conservatives? MBE answers (“We soil our garments with conservatism, and afterwards we must wash them clean.” MWritg 452:20) We never need be timid, since everyone loves joyful surprises you find in practicing CS…Hymn 191 addresses this situation:

“My God, my Father, make me strong when tasks of life seem hard and long… Things deemed impossible I dare ~ Thine is the call, and Thine the care”

RESULT? Had a totally different perspective, so I found a way to support all CS activity with enthusiastic prayer-watching over the lecture & other times. As we know, the fruitage was excellent with healing and great joy!

2013

Deepest gratitude for excellent team-planning, organization, choice of lecturer, — specially the shared inspiration before — a superb unfoldment of relevant, fresh, humorous ideas.

~from Tiare (BMan name)
(Tahitian Gardenia)

Fujiko’s talk “Love without Limits, Life Without Fear” confirmed at Red Lightning camp (8:45 and Esplanade) on Wednesday at 4pm

August 20, 20132013 Burning Man, Christian Science, Christian Science Lectures, Christianity, Ideas & Concepts, Outreach, Prayer, TalksGabriel Serafini

Fujiko Signs, CSB will be giving a talk / workshop on the topic of “Love without Limits, Life Without Fear” on Wednesday 8/28/13 at 4-5:45 pm in the Triad (part of Red Lightning camp located at 8:45 and Esplanade.)

Here’s the description of her talk:

Are you willing to become like a little child? How does childlike trust connect you with your inner source, your creator, God, Love? What is your concept of prayer? Should we expect healing when we pray or think about our relationship with God, who is Life? What is truth that is universal and unifying? When we accept God as Love and Life, we may experience more love and vitality. Come and explore these ideas with a lecturer who herself questions these ideas. She was inspired by many healing accounts in the Bible and especially the words and works of Christ Jesus who understood the relationship between consciousness and healing.

Come join us on Wednesday at Red Lightning!

Spinnakers for Burning Man!

August 6, 20132013 Burning Man, Camp, Ideas & Concepts, Logistics, ShelterGabriel Serafini

We were given 2 blown-up sailing spinnakers (from Bodacious+ and Sea Star) to use in our camp at Burning Man. Today we washed them and opened them up. We’re hoping to use them for shade, but since they’re already damaged, we’ll have to see how that works. 🙂