California Congress

Planning for the Subud CA Congress, August 2-4 2024

Our Congress Theme

We thank our Regional Helpers for this compelling Congress theme: “Awakening our sincerity, deepening our surrender. Beginning with our bodies, truly opening to the Power of God.” It will surely inspire both our kejiwaan and business activities together.

The Congress website and registration details are in development and will be announced very soon!

Seeking candidates to test for Regional Helper
The 4 year term of the California Regional Helpers ends at the 2024 Congress and testing for the new Dewan will be done at this Congress.

California local helpers who are interested in serving in the next term are urged to pre-test on this with other helpers prior to the Congress. The final testing will be done at the Congress by the outgoing Regional Helpers and any National Helpers that are available to test. Serving on the Regional Helper Dewan is truly a blessing from God.

Seeking Youth Volunteers for the Subud CA Congress 

The Congress team seeks young people (age 15 to 20) to staff and manage the coffee & tea service at the Subud CA 2024 Regional Congress this summer. Volunteers are needed for shifts from Friday afternoon, August 2 to the close of Congress. The team will brew coffee, ensure that snacks, paper cups, tea bags, and creamers are available, and collect payment. As part of it, you’ll help raise money for a youth fund for future Congresses. To learn more, contact Raina Snyder at rainanotaryservice@yahoo.com.

Regional Congress 2024 Venue!

by Luqman Katz, 2024 Congress Chair

With guidance from our regional helpers and the unanimous approval of your councilors, we will be celebrating Subud California’s 2024 Regional Congress at UC Santa Barbara on Aug. 2-5, 2024. This will be our third event at this beautiful ocean side location.

The Regional Council members will arrive in time to attend a Regional Council meeting on Friday August 2, and the registration desk to the Congress itself will open at 3pm that afternoon.  

Stay tuned for more details in the next regional newsletter, including opportunities to volunteer for the for Congress team! We are excited about the opportunity to all be together once more.

Entertainment Night at the Gathering

Is there ever an Entertainment Night at a Congress or Subud event that starts on time? Well, at the San Damiano Retreat Center, it was as close as you will ever get. A beautiful dance by our regional helper, Helena Mertens set the tone for the evening, with an improvised song from Sofia Madden backing her.

Gospel songs from our sister, Hosanna Bauer from Sonoma filled the Chapel with the power and lyricality her voice – we especially loved it when she included the audience, providing tambourines for the seven who raised their hands. Thank God they could keep a beat.

Halimah Collingwood, the MC and organizer of the night, and Melissa Joy, her understudy, kept the audience laughing with spontaneous silliness but also some astute and timely jokes, quips and sarcasm including when Philip Lindstrom played his Woodstock red guitar singing several songs from Mexico. Only if you were there would you remember Halimah saying, “Or even in Spanish.” You’ll have to ask a friend the meaning of that remark.

We had excellent poetry from Emmanuel Williams, Raina Snyder and Leanna Harrison, finger-picking from Reynold Weissinger, songs from Stephanie Ferreira, and also Lucas who, it was said, traveled all the way from England to sing for us. Damon Hyldreth shared his Subud joining and Sculpture calling story which is always worth remembering.

The final burst of energy was a “growing-up in Subud” tale from Hamid Martin. Moving or gliding across the stage with occasional physical theatre drama, we all laughed when he referred to the audience as, “people who look like you guys” — again, you had to be there. Ending the night was a well-known Hawaiian farewell song with the words written large enough for us all to sing along with Hosanna Bauer.

Another wonderful evening of Joy, Laughter and Love shared by our Subud members came to an end. Just remember, you MUST come to Congress next year. It can only get better.

Join Latihan during 2023 CA Regional Gathering

Dear Sisters and Brothers,
During the 2023 Subud California Regional Gathering this coming weekend, May 26-29, there will be six opportunities to participate in latihan with the Congress attendees, from wherever you may be.

The regional helpers will offer call-in access to latihan at 9:15am PT in both the morning and evening during the Gathering. Those not attending on-site are warmly invited to join, using the same phone numbers as used for the Saturday morning Regional latihan, as shown below:

Women: (605) 313 4415    Code: 529243#
Men:    (435) 436 6308    Code: 423735#

Latihan times during the Regional Gathering:

Friday, May 26:
– Evening quiet time at 9:15 pm; latihan at 9:30pm
Saturday, May 27:
– Morning quiet time at 9:15 am; latihan at 9:30am
– Evening quiet time at 9:15 pm; latihan at 9:30pm
Sunday, May 28:
– Morning quiet time at 9:15 am; latihan at 9:30am
– Evening quiet time at 9:15 pm; latihan at 9:30pm
Monday, May 29:
– Morning quiet time at 9:15 am; latihan at 9:30am

Please join – all are welcome!
Your regional helpers, Helena, Leanna, and Hani’a

Latihan during the 2023 Regional Gathering!

During the 2023 Subud California Regional Gathering this coming weekend, May 26-29, there will be six opportunities to participate in latihan with the Congress attendees, from wherever you may be.

The regional helpers will offer call-in access to latihan at 9:15am PT in both the morning and evening during the Gathering. Those not attending on-site are warmly invited to join, using the same phone numbers as used for the Saturday morning Regional latihan, as shown below:

Women: (605) 313 4415    Code: 529243#
Men:    (435) 436 6308    Code: 423735#


Latihan times during the Regional Gathering:

Friday, May 26:
– Evening quiet time at 9:15 pm; latihan at 9:30pm
Saturday, May 27:
– Morning quiet time at 9:15 am; latihan at 9:30am
– Evening quiet time at 9:15 pm; latihan at 9:30pm
Sunday, May 28:
– Morning quiet time at 9:15 am; latihan at 9:30am
– Evening quiet time at 9:15 pm; latihan at 9:30pm
Monday, May 29:
– Morning quiet time at 9:15 am; latihan at 9:30am
Please join – all are welcome!

For more about the Congress, go to: congress.subudcalifornia.org/

Announcing Our 2023 Regional Gathering!

by Meldan Heaslip, 2023 Congress Chair

Save the date! Our 2023 Subud CA Regional Gathering will be held over Memorial Day weekend, May 26–29, at the beautiful, and new to us, San Damiano Retreat.

This St. Francis of Assisi retreat center is nestled in the oak-filled hills above Danville, looking out to Mount Diablo in the San Francisco Bay Area. For those traveling by air, the center is just 40 minutes from Oakland airport.

The center is wonderfully set up for us to make the best of our time together, with a central courtyard of plants, trees, and a fountain offering many places to sit and be, onto which the meeting rooms, dining hall, and block of bedrooms open. We have the retreat center to ourselves from Friday afternoon to Monday lunch, for three days of latihan, kejiwaan sessions, hanging out and enjoying good, healthy food.

The bedrooms are small, each with its own bathroom, and rooms can be arranged for single or double occupancy. Families with little ones can be together in one room. We are very eager for our young families and children to attend; there will be childcare and special low rates for kids.

It is always wonderful when we get together, and even more special when we gather at a place where we can so easily just be ourselves. The lodging, dining room and latihan halls are all very close to each other, and there are many hiking trails for when it’s time to stretch ones legs. More information coming soon. Please do save the date!

Entrance to the San Damiano Retreat center

Offering a Hybrid Congress

Offering a congress with both onsite and virtual attendees was challenging, but very worthwhile. We are SO thankful for the technical skill, knowledge ad patience of Haryanti Jones (Subud LA Center). She made it all possible by managing the Zoom events throughout the Congress, with help from Henry Couden.

Haryanti is also an entrepreneur who provided custom made Subud symbol cookies to be auctioned off for fundraising (pictured at left).

Microphones and speakers were used to help all participants hear as well as see events. Zoom access ensured that all members of the Regional Council could participate in the meeting held on Friday, as well as observers. On Saturday, virtual Congress attendees were able to view the AGM and entertainment on their devices. On Monday, separate onsite and virtual sharing circles provided a forum for all to comment.

It was sometime challenging to keep things in synch for virtual attendees, especially when events started later than scheduled. We learned that having a virtual event “coordinator”, who could maintain contact with those not present in person throughout, would be helpful for future hybrid events. The Congress team hopes to continue refining the hybrid congress model in future.

2022 Congress Reflections – Hani’a

By Hani’a Abrams, Regional Helper

I am grateful for our 2022 congress. My gratitude goes out to the congress committee. I witnessed that many members were satisfied with how the business of the congress went, and found the kejiwaan content valuable, so give thanks to my fellow regional helpers.

Going forward, there is a real need for members to offer themselves in service to the Subud California/Nevada Region. We have a need for male and female regional helpers, and for important regional and congress committee positions. Hani’a asks that you please take into quiet account this gift of the latihan from Almighty God. Is the latihan for ‘free’? Does this gift from God not require our service to one another and to all humanity?

Obligation can be felt as a heavy thing, yet in my personal experience when inspired from the God awakened jiwa, it is a gift. The latihan is to be ‘put into action’ in every aspect of our lives, so Hani’a asks that members consider from their awakened jiwa, not if, but when and how they can and will step up in service of meeting the needs of our membership and organizational structure regionally and locally.

Big thanks to those members who have and are shouldering the blessed burden, and to those who will lend their shoulders to the future.

Love to all!

2022 Congress Reflections – Helena

By Helena Mertens, Regional Helper

Into the quiet… deepening our surrender… living our guidance.

When we regional helpers were asked to receive the theme of the California Congress we came up with “deepening our surrender together.“ Since that became the theme of the Congress, Leanna and I decided to craft some testing around that. The resulting testing questions were:

1. What is the significance and benefit to getting quiet in my daily life and before my latihan?
2.  What does surrender mean to me as it refers to the latihan?
3.  When we stay in our quiet and deepen our surrender, how does that affect our ability to follow our guidance in our lives?


We offered this testing at the end of the latihan on Saturday morning during Congress. When the third question was asked my receiving was very strong and immediate: “Yes, Helena, that’s what it’s all about!” “ Do it!” Receiving it so clearly and in my face, it felt possible!

I was very grateful and happy to be able to be with my sisters in latihan, receiving together in person. It was delightful working with Leanna and all the other team members. At one point, Rifka commented to all of us, “Harmony is efficient!” That is so true!

Going forward, we are looking for another Regional Helper woman and perhaps two more Regional Helper men. Let us know if you are interested in being part of this Dewan, part of the future of Subud California in a very active way.

And a reminder to all Subud sisters, we continue to offer a Saturday Regional Latihan on the second, third and fourth Saturdays of each month at 10:30 AM, 10:15 quiet. We also offer testing immediately after the latihan on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month if you wish to participate.

And, look for “The Helper Handbook Monthly Meeting” where we’ll go through the book so we can understand more completely Bapak’s guidelines for us. We will be offering that very soon to any members who wish to join us.

With love and gratitude to all!

2022 Congress Reflections – Leanna

Leanna Harrison, Regional Helper

After finishing my sushi, avocado feta tartines, and a guilty sliver of chocolate mousse pie, I walk back beside long-known friends for another precious Latihan. Later, as sisters begin to gather for testing, I grab the iPad full of female faces and slink off to a designated Testing Room. One person suggests going off the rail, “Let’s test something other than Awareness.” “OK.” I respond, “Let’s customize together.”

Quickly, deep questions are formed: How do I live and understand my aging process? How would God have it be? What is the purpose of my life in accordance with God‘s will? What steps can I take to achieve God‘s purpose? We discuss, sit quiet, and up arises “What keeps me from openly sharing the importance and meaning of Subud with other people?” It feels this session was just what we all needed.


Another day, as we begin testing about harmony, many sharing their individual receiving on a microphone, we bring the face of each speaker to the virtual members by passing the crowded iPad screen between us. It kinda worked! Rest assured next hybrid Congress, virtual members will join our circle on a large, full screen feeling a part and sharing their ideas more easily. Thank you’s to those so willing to be the first digital devotees.

Again we send out our request for perhaps you to join our Regional Helper team. It can begin simply by testing in your own bedroom “What is my willingness to serve Subud?” As Hani’a asked us all, “…not if, but when…” For me, working with dear Helena and wise Hani’a has been a sweet gift in both my life and my worship. Who knew?

For the election of the new committee, once again we were able to witness one gift we all possess…testing. The perfect duo was chosen after receiving both strengths and weaknesses in their vibrant yet challenging position. I learned to always be honest in my receiving and sometimes, if reluctant to share, ask for the correct words to express it. We would like to welcome Hanafi and Levana Fraval as Chair and Vice Chair of our region! I look forward to our dynamic future together as Subud.

Sending love and thanks to all.

Report on the 2022 Annual General Meeting

by Rifka Several, 2022 Congress Chair

Thank you to those who attended our Subud California Regional Congress, both onsite and online! A team worked together for more than a year to bring our first “hybrid” congress to you, following successful virtual annual meetings in 2020 and 2021. I chaired the Annual General Meeting, where we needed to elect a new chair and vice chair for the Region.

Ahead of Congress, the methods for testing, either in person or via zoom, were distributed to all members. For in-person testing, we continued to follow guidelines set by the Subud USA National Helpers. For testing via Zoom, the guidelines were provided specifically for our congress by the International Helpers, signed by all eighteen.

We had one nominee for chair at the meeting, and no Zoom nominees. Hanafi Fraval tested to be chair, using all the rounds of testing in the outlined process. As there was not unanimity with our regional helpers, Hanafi did some personal testing with the men RHs, and shared quite candidly about the issues brought up in the congress testing. After sharing his vision for the future of Subud California and his previous roles, which would contribute to this vision, the vote was taken and we have a new chair!

There was one nominee for vice chair at the meeting, and no Zoom nominees. This was Levana Fraval. A member attending the zoom meeting questioned whether a husband and wife could serve on the regional executive committee, and it was determined that our bylaws do not mention that, so it is not a precluding factor. After testing and voting, Levana is our new vice chair.

The final voting was for the 2023 Congress Chair (2023 will be a “gathering” event). The one candidate, Meldan Heaslip, was elected.

We had live reports from Subud USA Vice Chair (Philip Lindstrom) and Subud USA committee councilor (Alexandra Boyer), and David Nicoletti, who gave a report for the National Helpers. You can see:

  • a video of the AGM of the elections for chair and vice chair plus those live reports on Saturday HERE
  • a video of the AGM on Sunday, which includes the Regional Helpers report HERE

There was not enough time at the meeting for all reports, so please click HERE for links to a number of short recorded reports that will be of interest. These cover what is happening with our “wings” Susila Dharma USA and SICA, as well as work at the regional level.

It was my privilege to be able to chair our AGM, and we will continue to work on improving the integration of virtual attendees at next year’s gathering.

Kejiwaan retreat brings deep focus on latihan and testing at 2022 Congress

by Rifka Several, 2022 Congress Chair

The regional congress team, along with most of the regional committee and council, were able to meet in person on June 10-12, thanks to the hosting of Subud CA at Santa Cruz. This was a “kejiwaan retreat” to become more centered on what is needed by our members at the upcoming Regional Congress in Santa Barbara.

It may be no surprise that testing suggested spending less time during the congress on reports and more time on testing, both to deepen our personal latihan experience and strengthen our feeling of community as we start to emerge from Covid isolation. We were truly able to feel the content of the congress theme: “deepening our surrender together.”

I always feel that that sharing information is vital, so any reports not presented during the Congress will be recorded for access by all members. We will use the time usually scheduled for these reports to test questions being developed by our regional helpers on topics such as our personal quiet, surrender and courage.

Due to the pandemic, our current regional committee has already served a “bonus year,” so we will witness candidate testing and participate in the election of our Subud California chair and vice chair. Please consider pre-testing about putting your name forward for these positions – either with local helpers or contact regional helpers to test with you. It is an act of courage, for sure, to put your name forward, but congress testing will confirm the reality, so why not experience it?

I and all the members of the Congress committee are deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to experience this testing and incorporate the results into a schedule tuned to our needs across the Region. We look forward to being together with you at Congress.

For more information on the Regional Committee positions, go HERE

A message from the 2022 Congress Chair

by Rifka Several

Our regional helpers received the theme of the 2022 Regional Congress to be “Deepening our Surrender Together.” Bapak once said, “Make an effort and try to strengthen your faith now at the time when the world is experiencing a crisis. Strengthen your faith by way of worship.  For God, who truly loves each of his creatures, will always guide and lead each one of you.” We seem to be going from one crisis to the next in the world. I would like to propose that the Regional Congress be a time to put that aside, and focus on our worship and surrender.

Whether you can come to Santa Barbara in person, or if you join us by phone and zoom, you are welcomed into a sacred space. A space where we will be electing our new Subud California leadership as well as dedicating a day to latihan and testing. For many more details, visit the 2022 Congress website HERE
 
And if you would like to help with on-site transportation, assist the helpers with the latihan conference calls, get “seed money” to set up a refreshments enterprise, or any other aspects, please contact me via email HERE.  Love and blessing to everyone!

A Strong Receiving for 2022 Congress

Our Regional Helpers, when testing about the 2022 Congress a few weeks ago, had a strong receiving of the theme “Deepening our Surrender Together.” This offers wonderful guidance for planning the event, which is scheduled for the weekend of August 5-8, 2022. Information about venue, registration, schedule and more will be available when the Congress website is completed in the coming weeks.

Highlights of 2021 Annual General Meeting

A big thank you to all who were able to join our third Subud California virtual event, the 2021 Regional Congress. With attendees from all areas of our state, plus members from other regions, we were truly “together inwardly, from wherever we are.”

Please note: if an item below is bolded, it means there are linked attachments.

On Friday evening, Bapak’s talk and testing (81 YVR 3) was shared (Note: Bapak talks are available for download by Subud members from the Subud Library. Go to https://subudlibrary.net/)

Following latihan and group testing Saturday morning, the annual general meeting opened with words from Bapak: “Make an effort and try to strengthen your faith now at the time when the world is experiencing a crisis. Strengthen your faith by way of worship. That is the one and only good way for all of you, which can deflect away from you dangers and catastrophes which would overtake you. Do not put aside the power of God, which is within each one of you. For God, who truly loves each of his creatures, will always guide and lead each one of you.”

The regional helpers provided prayers and a report, followed by Luqman Katz’s regional chair report. The meeting quorum was established.

Next, each center reported on how they handled the pandemic, and their reopening plans. Rohana LoSchiavo shared from members not connected to centers.

After lunch, our regional leadership and standing committees gave reports:

2022 Regional Congress Chair Elections: following nominations, Rifka Several was elected. She noted that there is a standing group of support personnel, and invites other congress team members, especially one or more who would like to work with her to learn congress management. A video recording of the latter part of this section of the meeting, including the vote, is available HERE.

International and national reports followed:

  • Zone 7, Uraidah Hassani, (US Zone representative)
  • Mhd. Subuh Foundation, Mauricio Castillo (chair)
  • Subud USA national helpers, Sofia Nicoletti and Michal Brownell
  • Subud USA national committee, Philip Lindstrom (vice chair)

Subud affiliates, termed “wings,” have been established to take the blessings and understanding we receive in latihan out into the world:

Photos of regional members who have passed since our last meeting were accompanied by cello music from Hamilton Cheifetz.

The meeting closed with a video about the 2024 Subud World Congress to be held in Kalimantan. A Zoom recording of the afternoon meeting running from the Zone 7 report through the SES report is available HERE.

Saturday evening’s entertainment, “Once Upon a Time…hosted by Harlan Gleeson and produced by Halimah Collingwood, provided a range of storytellers and music.

On Sunday, three testing groups followed latihan on these questions:

  • How do we prepare in our centers and region for the future growth of Subud?
  • Awareness testing
  • How do we face old age as a Subud member?

The 2021 Subud CA regional congress closed with a sharing circle: “How have you experienced the pandemic during closure and re-opening?” and continued with a free-form “Chill and Chat” session.

Thank you to the planning team who made our event such a success: Haryanti and Luke Jones, Elizabeth Trudell and Dennis Oliver, Henry Couden, Luqman Katz, Christian Stepien, Halimah, Collingwood, our regional helpers, especially the congress liaisons: Helena Mertens and Harlan Gleeson, and all the folks who made presentations and supported us during the planning process.

See you next year in Santa Barbara for the 2022 Regional Congress! There will be virtual options for participation in many parts of the program and we welcome your program ideas.

The 2021 Congress Experience

Many of the attendees of the 2021 Regional Congress responded to a survey to collect feedback. Here are some of the responses to the question: “What was most meaningful to you about the Congress?

  • The Testing Session on Sunday was very deep and meaningful.
  • Stories told for Entertainment were full of joy
  • I enjoyed the continuity of the many center reports (pix of each center) and the Helpers report.
  • It’s hard to single something out, since it was all very excellent. I suppose I would have to choose the Awareness testing. The entertainment was great, and the reports informative.
  • How smoothly the meeting went and getting to see and hear so many members
  • All information from the Region, national, international and wings
  • Nice latihan and testing, and connecting with the status of the groups
  • The Memorial was beautifully presented. The whole Saturday was seamless and I thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment format of music plus stories- this felt deeper.
  • Testing on both days, pertinent questions.
  • The shared women’s testing and all latihans. The great entertainment night! The sharing circle and Bapak talk on Friday evening. Learning about each Subud center in CA.
  • Latihan, testing, reports at the General Meeting, entertainment also!!
  • To be able to know the updates of brothers and sisters from all the centers across California.
  • The latihan, and connecting with brothers and sisters through hearing their center reports
  • The breadth of the event and the smoothness of the Zoom production
  • Latihan. The entertainment was very pleasantly surprising. I enjoyed hearing about the various California groups.
  • The kedjiwan parts and just being with my brothers and sisters.
  • It was welcoming and fulfilling
  • The Latihans/testing and the sharing circle.
  • Listening to people I haven’t met before. Seeing people I had not seen for decades. I am planning on contacting some of them to reconnect.
  • Sharing Circle on Sunday afternoon, Mohamed Subud Foundation, Member reports, Entertainment
  • Listening to the reports, sharing circle, getting to know members better.
  • Bapak talk, testing, chats
  • Communicating with friends.
  • The stories on Saturday night.
  • Bapak’s Talks
  • The testing breakout on aging in Subud and the afternoon chat
  • To see and listen to my brothers and sisters so as to know them better

Report on state of the latihan

Following opening prayers, our regional helpers offered this report on general state of latihan in the Region. 

Rasjidah Franklin noted that Saturday call-in latihans continue with a fairly constant attendance of 12-16 women and 2-4 men. The women express desire to have these continue indefinitely and report it being especially deep and strong.  Some members attend other call-in latihans from local groups, and of course many members now do latihans at their local centers.  Approximately 50 members attended the latihan in Marin on the day celebrating Isaac’s passing.

Helena Mertens added that when they first began their term as regional helpers, nobody showed up for the call in regional latihan, so it was discontinued. But, when the pandemic appeared, we regularly had between 30 and 40 people attending. There was a wonderful feeling of strength, support and community and how important it was for all of us to stay constant in our latihan even though we could not attend In person with our groups. When we have done testing with our regional members on our call in latihan, it is very reassuring and lovely to hear what our sisters receive and how meaningful it is. This receiving to me  is a confirmation that our latihan is developing and growing.

Hani’a Abrams reviewed visits with groups during the Covid shut down. Virtual meetings were held with the Santa Cruz and with Sacramento groups, and when things opened up for in person meetings, a men’s kejiwaan day was held in Marin, which men from Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Berkeley, and Marin attended along with regional helper Hani’a and international helper, Benedict Herrman.

Rasjidah noted other regional helper activities throughout the year including regular monthly latihans with the Regional Committee, quarterly latihans with the Regional Council, weekly meetings of women RH’s and monthly meetings of RH Dewan.  The RH’s also participate in national latihans and have frequent communication with the national helpers.

Renata closed the report with thoughts in light of the changes related to the pandemic that are happening in groups all over the region. The regional helpers would like to encourage everyone to have patience as we re-enter our centers and to work with a feeling of cooperation and respect for one another. We pray that we can feel our strength and our long standing commitment to our practice and to our brothers and sisters. May this feeling extend out into the whole Subud community.

Opening Prayers at 2021 Regional Congress

Our regional helpers opened Annual General Meeting on Saturday, August 7 with heartfelt prayers.

Helena Mertens:

Almighty God, in this time of change and evolution, help us to stay close to you, opening to your grace and guidance as we practice our faith and trust in you. Help us to recognize this moment as a time of opportunity to become even closer to your grace and guidance, and discover within us the potential that God has placed there: kindness and compassion, cooperation and creativity, the capacity to be courageous, calm and open when we face our challenges, and always grateful for the latihan that you have given us to help guide us in this life and the next.

Harlan Gleeson

Dear God- We humbly pray for the continued health of Subud in our region and world wide.  We pray for your love and compassion to work through us in service to our community.  We pray for our inner expansion to continue both individually and collectively.  We ask that the power and miracle of the latihan work in each and every one of us to enable us to truly live in harmony with your will.  Finally, we ask for your love and guidance in our effort to set our own will aside and surrender as best we can to your will full of love and grace. For these and all of thy blessings we pray. 

Hani’a Abrams:

I pray that members who have seemingly irreconcilable issues with one another are soon reconciled by hearts awakened and enjoined to the unity that is our true humanity. And, in love’s courage, find themselves rushing to ask and give forgiveness, and by such noble action are a guiding light for others when they experience the inevitable challenge of the seemingly inexorable forces that tempt us to find naught but fault in the one with whom we disagree.

Rasjidah Franklin:

May we be brought together as one, asking for God’s forgiveness for our shortcomings and praying for God’s blessings for ourselves, for this earth and for all God’s creatures thereon. Amen.

Find the regional helper’s report on the state of the latihan in the Region HERE.

Experience our Inner at Regional Congress

Get ready to connect with your inner and with each other through the shared experience of Bapak talks, latihan, and testing throughout the Congress.

To help get us ready, the LA Center invites everyone to join them via Zoom for a Bapak talk on Saturday, July 31st:

July 31tsh 7:30  pm: Bapak’s Talk – Unexpected Grace – 83 LON 4 (with English subtitles) London, England 08/11/83
Please contact the LA Center for the Zoom meeting details.

Just one week later, Congress officially gets under way, kicked off by another Bapak talk on Friday, August 6:
7:00 pm Bapak’s Songs and Prayers
7:30 pm Bapak Talk: 81 YVR 3 (talk followed by Bapak’s testing on video)

The regional helpers will host latihan followed by testing on both days of the Congress, at these times:
Saturday, August 7, 9:00-10:30 am
Sunday, August 8, 10:00am-12:00pm

The longer Sunday kejiwaan session offers participants the choice of three different testing topics during breakout sessions following latihan. NOTE: Participation in latihan and testing during the Congress will be via conference call, not Zoom.

At the opening of the 2020 Regional Gathering, our regional helpers said: “May we bring the fruits of our latihan into our daily lives so we can discover our own unique potential guided by the power of God.” May we continue that spiritual journey together at the 2021 Regional Congress!

More details about the 2021 Regional Congress

Mark your calendar for the kejiwaan events listed above, plus the Annual General Meeting and “Once Upon a Time” entertainment on Saturday, and the Sharing Circle followed by Chill & Chat on Sunday. Find the Regional Congress schedule on our website HERE.

Register to attend, either a household or an individual, on the website HERE.  Please review the “Tips for Registering” before starting the form as it is a different registration system from prior years. The registration fee helps fund 2022 Congress scholarships plus costs to offer that event both in-person and virtually. The option to reduce or waive the fee due to financial constraints is readily available, as described HERE.

The Congress Zoom link will be sent to all registrants a few days prior to the Congress and again on each day of the Congress.

Our virtual congress will be a very special opportunity to be together, inwardly, from wherever we are.