03.03.24 "Happy 37th Birthday CMC!"

37 years ago, on Mar. 1, 1987, a small group of people gathered on a Sun. morning in a little office space in the Haight / Ashbury district of San Francisco for an ACIM based Sun. Gathering. We had been meeting in that office space on Sun. mornings, and at other times, for almost 2 years but this was the first time we would meet as the CMC. (Which at that time stood for California Miracles Center. Our name was legally changed to Community Miracles Center on January 14, 1998.)

I had been involved with ACIM, reading, studying, attending meetings since 1981. I don't remember who was there at that first CMC meeting other than my partner and co-founder in the CMC Rev. Larry Bedini. No birthday acknowledgment would be complete without remembering Rev. Larry who made his transition from body life in 2010. "Hi Rev. Larry. It's 'our' birthday. 'Yes' we're still here." Every once in awhile I will have a dream at night and Rev. Larry will be in it. In the dream I ask him where he's been, and how come he doesn't come to CMC events anymore. In the dream I always feel a little sad about his absence from those CMC events. "... communication remains unbroken, even if the body is destroyed, provided that you see not the body as the necessary means of communication." (OrEd.Tx.15.107)

The 37 year history of the CMC, for me, is the story of my own healing – and I had a lot of healing to do.

In spite of many people's perceptions, the CMC never taught a particular interpretation of ACIM. We have embraced and taught from all the different versions, and still do. We are not trying to establish an agreed upon theology. "Theological considerations as such are necessarily controversial .... A universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary." (FIP.Cl.In.2) We are trying to support people in having that universal experience: the experience of HEALING, the experience of HAPPINESS ... the experience of MIRACLES.

I feel good about what we have accomplished and the work we have always done, and continue to do. I can sincerely say and mean, "Happy 37th Birthday CMC." Please join me on Sunday to bless the CMC with this Happy Birthday message.

30 min.
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