https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats daily 0.75 2024-10-08 https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/summer-solstice-festival-2022 monthly 0.5 2022-04-08 https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/light-the-darkness-with-loving-memories-candlelight-vigil monthly 0.5 2021-08-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1628206209137-6NDNXLYV5RPUE0YSRBZP/IMG_0680.jpg Events, Certifications, Retreats - Light the Darkness with Loving Memories Candlelight Vigil - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/invitation-to-a-time-with-mama-arlene-of-rwanda monthly 0.5 2021-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1627914867316-283GK1AE0K0CNGKQXBUV/IMG_0574.jpeg Events, Certifications, Retreats - Invitation to a Time with Mama Arlene of Rwanda - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/invitation-to-a-time-with-mama-arlene-of-rwanda-1 monthly 0.5 2021-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1627914945259-MFDNUD6UTMMHMBLQK724/Brown_1.jpeg Events, Certifications, Retreats - Invitation to a Time with Mama Arlene of Rwanda - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/harrisburg-district-retreat monthly 0.5 2023-02-07 https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/paths-to-prayer-retreat-1 monthly 0.5 2021-07-29 https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/paths-to-prayer-retreat monthly 0.5 2021-04-21 https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/summer-solstice-2021-celebration-and-remembrance monthly 0.5 2021-05-05 https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/zaj1bh5i9q7aplz5phjbflia3sbkcr monthly 0.5 2020-08-29 https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/event-three-8fz52 monthly 0.5 2020-06-14 https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/olmstead-manor-womens-retreat monthly 0.5 2021-01-07 https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/event-five-rmfkg monthly 0.5 2020-09-20 https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/event-two-wnsz5 monthly 0.5 2023-02-07 https://www.spiritworks.org/events-certifications-retreats/event-one-mx9zw monthly 0.5 2021-08-10 https://www.spiritworks.org/what-we-do-how-we-can-help daily 0.75 2024-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1588531770492-6XEG61UH9JK67R2S55F5/DSC_0870%2Bcopy.jpg What We Do - How We Can Help https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1588532402398-LLJN7Z9ILY6PHY9VZGDF/ContentImage-5849-94184-funeral.jpg What We Do - How We Can Help https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589640035157-MG43A3H7QB7PWYOHI0M5/ContentImage-5849-88935-IMG_1605.jpg What We Do - How We Can Help https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1588551098608-CDRJRDCVOMU283PAR0JS/FileItem-208243-coverpaths.jpg What We Do - How We Can Help https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589640619259-IDC2HLKRUIPX63XQXZ31/ContentImage-5849-85569-Labyrinth.jpg What We Do - How We Can Help https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589640722664-T8GCHIRXCELLWHC33J46/IMG_1478.jpg What We Do - How We Can Help Patricia D. Brown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1588525479328-EAORFIFEYJ5HVG9CJM5S/image1.jpeg What We Do - How We Can Help Spiritworks’ along with a lot of help from many friends and supporters, held this event, to fund raise and advocate for the Urukundo Learning Center for the children and Mama Arlene in Rwanda, Africa —raising thousands. https://www.spiritworks.org/home daily 1.0 2024-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/c6fcd4d8-ff4d-48b0-b3f5-87d1895972e3/Rev_Patricia_Brown.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1587924026486-3EDZL20A88UB72RQP6WK/52E9B96B-B8B8-445E-B172-42250FA2941A_1_201_a.jpeg Home - Take Action Sponsor a labyrinth walk, attend a retreat or winter solstice, invite or become a wedding or funeral officiate. Experience new ways to be in the presence of the sacred. You can become a certified facilitator, participant and learner within our community. https://www.spiritworks.org/contact-and-invite daily 0.75 2023-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1590021720302-SKOFIUM8ZM969I1RY35N/IMG_8275.jpeg Contact and Invite https://www.spiritworks.org/who-we-are daily 0.75 2024-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1593956369123-LAJWX2ONJGUZ0KRXAXFK/BROWN_1+2.jpeg Who We Are https://www.spiritworks.org/officiant-for-weddings-renewals daily 0.75 2023-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/d581b328-d289-429e-9d5e-1fc09ec221cf/DSC_0806+copy.jpg Officiant for Weddings & Renewals - Wedding Service Sample Prelude Seating of the Honored Family Members and Mothers Wedding Processional Officiant Greeting Family and friends, we are gathered together to witness and to bless the joining together of FULL PROPER NAME and FULL PROPER NAME in marriage. The covenant of marriage is one of sacrificial love and grace. NAME and NAME come to give themselves to each other in this holy covenant. Declaration of Intention I ask you now in the presence of your friends and families to declare your intention to enter into the union with one another. Presentation NAME, will you have NAME to be your partner in life, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live? I will. NAME, will you have NAME to be your partner in life, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live? I will. Who lovingly stands with this couple bride to support them? Family: We do. Exchange of Vows I, _________, take you, ________, to be my _______, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow. I, _________, take you, _________, to be my ________ to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow. Blessing and Exchanging of Rings These rings are the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. We now bless the giving of these rings, that they who wear them may live in your peace, and love all the days of their life. __________, I give you this ring as a sign of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. __________, I give you this ring as a sign of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. Sand Ceremony Today as _____ and ___ have sealed their commitment to each other with the exchange of rings they also make a commitment to their children. For this marriage not only unites a couple, it also unites two families so that a new family is created, simply increasing the number of loving caring relationships these children have in their lives. (Say all children's names.) will you come join us? (The family semi-circles the table so their backs are not to the guests.) These different bright colors of sand remind us that each of you is a unique person in your own right who adds vibrant color to the tapestry of this new family. I now invite you to add your sand. (The following is said as the sand is poured.) As the sands flow together into a lovely swirling pattern we see the individual colors, representing each person here, even as they create something new and beautiful. (After the sand is poured.) Our prayer is that from this day forth, you will be more than (number) individuals. You will be a united family, as colorful as the sands that fill this vessel, and bound together by your unconditional love and devotion. (You may wish to leave a small amount of sand in each vessel to symbolize that although you are now joined as one, you are still free to express your own individuality for in a most perfect marriage and family it’s not necessary to abandon one’s self, but open your life to the other to blend and support each other.) (Children are seated our they may remain and recess down the aisle following the couple in order to also be congratulated in the receiving line.) Declaration and Blessing of Marriage Now that _________ and _________ have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands, and the giving of rings, I announce to you that they are married. May you surely keep your marriage covenant strong and so grow in love together, that your home will be a haven of blessing and peace. Presentation of Couple and Recessional https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1590610524981-BGHMVI4PLCODCIZS0NE4/DSC_0402.jpeg Officiant for Weddings & Renewals - Wedding Renewal Service PROCESSIONAL My Baby, sung by Edie Brickell and Steve Martin GREETING Friends and family, we are gathered together to witness and bless the renewal of marriage of Barbara Ellen Brown and John Edward Downs Senior. This sacred promise of marriage is one of sacrificial love and ongoing fidelity. John and Barb now come once again to pledge themselves to one another in this holy covenant. Barbara and John, you first joined hands and hearts on a Saturday, four o’clock, Newberry United Methodist Church on Diamond Street. She wore a knee length blue dress carrying silk flowers and John wore dark pants and a simple shirt. They were Rev. Fetterman’s final wedding before retirement. Scott and Florence stood with them with John Jr., Becky and Chris in the wings. And with younger sister, Jacque with James crashing the nuptials. They had little idea of where life would take them, but they naively promised to love, honor, and cherish and, with kids in tow, took up housekeeping in a half-double on Depot Street. Through it all, the good times and the bad, you are both still standing, having fulfilled the vows to love, honor and cherish you made on your wedding day; May 17, 1986. DECLARATION OF INTENTION I ask you now, in the presence of these present, to declare your intention; to renew your union one to the other as you did thirty years ago. When you are ready I invite you to face one another’s and join hands. Barbara, do you reaffirm your love and promise to continue to have John to be your husband, to live together in the bond of marriage? Will you continue to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, continue to be faithful to him to the end of your days? Barbara: I do. John, do you reaffirm your love and promise to continue to have Barbara to be your wife, to live together in the bond of marriage? Will you continue to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, continue to be faithful to her to the end of your days? John: I do. RESPONSE OF IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND OTHERS The marriage of Barbara and John united not just the two of them, but brought together two already existing families to create a new one. I now invite their children, those who are able to be here: Rebecca, Chris, and John to stand: (PAUSE) Later, came Laura. From these children’s unions came grandchildren, if you would stand as you hear your name: Chanel, Haleigh, Nate, Jasmyn, Sophie, JJ, Dylan, and Hannah, Cora, Brooklyn, and Hunter. Your parents and grandparents ask for your blessing. So I ask you, do you rejoice in their union and wish all blessings upon them now and in the years to come? If so answer, “We do.” Response: We do. SPECIAL MUSIC AND PRESENTATIONS (Address Gathering) And, I ask the remainder of you who have come to this celebration today, Will all of you do everything in your power to uphold and care for these two persons in their marriage? If so you may answer, “We will.” Response: We will. HOMILY OR SPECIAL READING : from The Velveteen Rabbit EXCHANGE OF VOWS (Repeated BY EACH.) I take you, Barbara (John), to be my wife (husband). and I promise before all who are here to be your loving and faithful husband (wife), to share all that is to come; to give and to receive, to speak and to listen, to inspire and to respond, and in all our life together to be loyal to you with my whole being, as long as we both shall live. BLESSING AND EXCHANGE OF NEW RINGS Barbara and John, on your wedding day you exchanged rings to symbolize the never-ending circle of eternal love. Now as you exchange new rings you reaffirm, with inner peace and certainty, that you made the right decision. (Collects rings.) PRAYER Divine One, bless these rings and the two who wear them. We pray that Barbara and John remain safe in its circle of protection and love. Barbara: John, I give you this ring as a sign of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. John: Barbara, I give you this ring as a sign of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. May your rings remind you of your renewed vows to one another, and your commitment to continue to live in unity and happiness. ADDRESS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS Barbara and John asked me to share how blessed they feel to have had over thirty years together. Their fondest wish is that you, their very special friends and family, be invited to celebrate your love. They now invite committed couples to turn and face each other, take one another’s hands, look into your loved-one’s eyes, and receive a special blessing. (PAUSE) Here is their prayer for you. “May you be blessed with the guidance, strength, and direction so that your relationship grows and blossoms in the years ahead. May your home be blessed with happiness, may your worries be few, may your joys be many, and may you make your hopes and dreams come true.” PRONOUNCEMENT John and Barbara, today you have renewed the promises you made to each other before this gathering by joining hands, taking vows, and exchanging rings. It is with pleasure that I announce to you that they are still husband and wife. You may seal your renewed promise with a kiss. (Receive flowers. Turn and face gathering.) PRESENTATION I present to you Mr. and Mrs. John and Barbara Downs. (Applause.) RECESSIONAL I Have You, Sung by Edie Brickell and Steve Martin https://www.spiritworks.org/books-by-dr-brown daily 0.75 2021-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589724641357-HHRAITKVKC7TLVU8YHRP/6103oe1s6JL._AC_UY436_QL65_.jpg Books by Dr. Brown Order on Amazon in Paperback or Kindle OR …to better support the work of Spiritworks, order here: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/Paths-to-Prayer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589724396091-A1KRR7PIDBA5PGZ45FMI/FileItem-208241-coverlead.png Books by Dr. Brown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589724430929-7CRMGU8DIRGD7DG41F01/71fE2dLV2IL._AC_UY436_QL65_.JPG Books by Dr. Brown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589755837766-MPK143MJLJQ59X9IFW2K/FileItem-208236-cover365.png Books by Dr. Brown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589756636830-47446Y0R6RMIIJXQRQ3H/30+Days+of+Hidden+Hope.jpg Books by Dr. Brown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589755934950-4AHDV2V7KMU83CVXFDGX/FileItem-208239-hearttoheart.jpg Books by Dr. Brown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589756183680-CJMZYT7611OSC6453F85/From+the+Heart+Journal.jpg Books by Dr. Brown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589756521558-7TWP68DA29L185UE3SQJ/Pilgrimmage.jpg Books by Dr. Brown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589756491674-6CHT5IPWA3CIECKJE1P2/How+to+Start+and+Sustain+Faith-Based.jpg Books by Dr. Brown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589756557542-3U08UVO7H10ZJ2HYFZ94/365+Meditations+for+Mothers.jpg Books by Dr. Brown https://www.spiritworks.org/officiant-for-funeralsburial-remembrance-services-pittsburgh daily 0.75 2023-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea5b98e97297049a864f8af/1589836559716-F0KG1ABNQ1UVRTFY8S0U/IMG_0100.jpeg Officiant for Funerals, Memorials, Burials in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and surrounding areas This is at the conclusion of a service I facilitated at Penn Forest Natural Burial Park, Verona, PA https://www.spiritworks.org/new-book-when-death-comes daily 0.75 2024-10-08