SRI SATHYA SAI GLOBAL COUNCIL – ZONE1 (USA- REGION 2)

A Warm and Loving Sai Ram Dear Members,

Hope all of you had a divine and wonderful Happy week with Swami’s Grace! 

GLOBAL AKHANDA BHAJANS 2024

Loudoun Sai Center will have Global Akhanda Bhajans at 42078 Barrymoore Place, Chantilly VA 20152 from 5 PM EST to 11 PM tomorrow Saturday 11/09/2024. We request everyone to participate in this once-a-year Akhanda Nama Sankeerthanam for World Peace and for personal spiritual growth.  More details in the Devotion Section.

How does singing bhajans help a person?

Singing bhajans elevates the experience of prayer by combining heartfelt devotion with the transformative power of music. Engaging the mind, body, and emotions, it creates a holistic spiritual exercise that transcends mere words. Bhajans stir profound feelings of joy, love, and unity. This practice deepens one's connection to the divine and purifies the mind by focusing thoughts on higher ideals.

When performed in a group, the benefits are amplified: the collective energy enhances the spiritual atmosphere, fostering a sense of community and belonging. Shared singing breaks down barriers between people, promotes solidarity, and inspires greater enthusiasm and dedication. In essence, praying and singing bhajans—especially in group settings—offers a pathway to inner transformation and spiritual fulfillment, leading to moments of profound insight and lasting peace.

We announced the upcoming Officer Bearers Selection Process for next term 2025-2026 on Oct 20 Avatar Declaration Day Celebration and also touched upon it during Sunday Oct 27 Center Announcements, see below for more details.

This Sunday November 10th – NO Center (Devotional and SSSE classes) at Hovatter.

See below for important details.

Please find this week's Centre Newsletter, updates from all wings (Devotion, SSSE, Seva & YA) along with Center Calendar for November 2024 and Zonal/National and Regional updates.

Subscription

Don’t forget to subscribe to SSSCL YouTube Channel:  

https://www.youtube.com/@loudounsaicenter and for more details visit website – www.loudounsai.org

Sai Ram

Sri Sathya Sai Center of Loudoun

Important Announcements

1. SSSGC – Sri Sathya Sai Center of Loudoun – Center Officers Selections for Year 2025-2026. 

   Sai Ram All, Please find below link to suggest your choice of SSSCL Center Officers for next term 2025-2026 (Two Years). The below Center Officers Nomination form has the details of the Center Selection Committee and the attached PDF has the guidelines of SSSGC – Center Officer Selection. 

   Center Officers Suggestion Link: https://forms.gle/Pntoi5nMZdqSUA7GA 

   Please make note of below 2 important dates

   Last Day to submit a suggestion is November 17th 2024.
   Selection Meeting will be on Sunday December 1st 2024 at Center.

2. PARTHI PILGRIMAGE CENTENNIAL YEAR 2025 (July 10-13, 2025) Registration is now open. We are truly blessed by His Grace to embark on both an inner and outer journey to our spiritual source, Prasanthi Nilayam. Parthi Pilgrimage, set during the centennial year, has been confirmed by the ashram authorities for the auspicious dates of July 10-13, 2025. see flyer below.

   REGISTRATION LINK: https://forms.gle/F1e2BnJEXfYNev356 

3. Sri Sathya Sai Center of Loudoun (SSSCL) Feedback We are requesting all members to provide your feedback about how the center is functioning or anything to improve center operations using the attached link.  SSSCL Feedback Form: https://forms.gle/VN64wmpAZFnj322H6                                                               

Sai Ram

“One should have Prapadi (deservedness) to experience divine proximity. One cannot get it by mere asking for it. It cannot be denied either. One gets it out of the merits accrued over past lives.” 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba. 

Sri Sathya Sai Center of Loudoun

Devotional Updates

Any questions please reach out to Devotional Coordinator, Sister Saideepa Amin @ devotion@loudounsai.org.

Sai Ram

Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavanthu!!!

SSSCL – Sri Sathya Sai Educare (SSSE)

Important Announcements:

1. SSSCL – GAB Celebrations on Saturday Nov 9th from 5 PM EST to 11 PM EST. More details in the Devotional Section above.

2. SSSCL – SSSE Classes: NO Regular SSSE Classes on Sunday Nov 10th @ Hovatter Elementary.

Any questions on SSSE related activities please reach out to SSSE coordinator, Sister Sai Vajra Neeraja @ sse@loudounsai.org

Sai Ram

SSSCL – SEVA UPDATES

Month of November 2024 Seva Activities

1. Narayana Seva: Dinner at Reston Shelter (November 16th) 

   Desc: Prepare and serve dinner at Reston Shelter located at: 11975 Bowman Towne Dr, Reston, VA 20190 on Saturday, November 16th, 2024.

   Signup Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DAFA929A0F8CF8-52925235-november#/

2. Narayana Seva: Breakfast at Leesburg Shelter (November 30th)

   Desc: Prepare and serve breakfast at Leesburg Shelter located at:19520 Meadowview Ct, Leesburg, VA 20175 on Saturday, November 30th, 2024.

   Signup link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DAFA929A0F8CF8-52925236-november#/

3. Winter Pack Seva

   Desc: Sri Sathya Sai Center of Loudoun – Winter Pack Seva as part of our beloved Swami’s 99th Birthday Celebrations by preparing 99 winter packs.

   Signup Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DAFA929A0F8CF8-52925248-winter#/

4. Old/Used Eyeglasses Donation Drive

   As part of this service activity we are collecting old/used eyeglasses(Including reading and child). These eyeglasses will be dropped off at the Eyeglass Recycling center of Northern Virginia.  Donated previously owned eyeglasses will be distributed to those in need around the world. Please bring it to the Center on Sunday.

For any Seva related questions, please reach out to Seva Coordinator, Brother Vijay @ seva@loudounsai.org.       

Sai Ram

SSSCL – Young Adults Updates

YA Re-registration Form: Please look for information from YA reps to re-confirm as active YA of the center by registering using the link below.
YA Re-Registration Form

1. CENTENARY MUSICAL SYMPHONY: YA’s

   Sairam, Dearest Young Adults,

   We are thrilled to announce the Global Musical Symphony in honor of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Centenary Celebrations, themed Karishye Vachanam Tava. This special tribute, featuring singers and instrumentalists from around the world, will be a centrepiece of His Centenary Celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam.

   We invite all talented performers from SSSGC centers to participate! The registration deadline for SSSGC Zone 1 members has now been extended until November 23, 2024.

   Participants can register their interest as a musician or vocalist (eligible ages: 18–45 in November 2025). Once registered, the Audition Team will reach out with further instructions.

   Feel free to share this opportunity with all interested YAs and members. This is a unique chance to contribute to His divine celebration!

   Registration Link: https://bit.ly/3YQSFHZ

2. Region 2 Fall YA Retreat from November 29th – December 1st, 2024: Sairam Dear Young Adults,
   I hope this message finds you well! With Swami's blessings, we are excited to announce that we will be conducting a region-wide Fall YA Retreat from November 29th – December 1st, 2024 (Thanksgiving Weekend) at the Vraj Temple in Schuylkill Haven, PA. The Retreat will be centered around the theme, “The Attitude of Gratitude.”
   We look forward to coming together as the Region 2 YA community and urge you all to register using this link by Saturday, September 28th, 2024.

   Please see the attached flyer for more details and as always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us!
   Let us all celebrate this Thanksgiving together by showing our gratitude to our Beloved Swami.    

   Loving Sairam,
   Region 2 YA Team

If you have any questions and (or) looking for more YA updates, please reach out to our Female YA Rep Varsha Rao @ yafrep@loudounsai.org and Male YA Rep Arjun Sundaram @ yamrep@loudounsai.org

Sai Ram

SSSGC's  Regional, National and Zonal Updates

Updates from DMV & Region 2 Centers:

Sri Sathya Sai Center of South Bethesda – GAB Celebrations: November 9th 6 PM- November 10th 6 PM Venue: The Hindu Temple in Adelphi, Maryland. See below Flyer. Interested devotees can offer bhajans at open slots after our Center’s GAB bhajans.  

Sri Sathya Sai Center of Baltimore – GAB Celebrations: Saturday, November 9th starting at 6:00 PM until Sunday, November 10th ending at 6:00 AM (12 Hours). This will take place at the residence of Smruti Sagarika (3628 Westmount parkway, Ellicott city, MD, 21042). Here is the schedule:

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM – Pre-arranged Adult and SSSE Student Bhajans
7:30 PM – 5:00 AM – Open Bhajans
5:00 AM – 6:00 AM – 21 Omkaars, Sri Sathya Sai Suprabhatam followed by Pre-arranged Bhajans

SSSGC (USA) – Region 2 Updates:

SSSGC – USA, Region 2 AKB list: List of Akhanda Bhajan Celebrations across the SSSGC Centers in our Region 2. See below attached.

SSSGC-USA National Announcements:

None

SSSGC – Zone1 Updates:

1. Global Akhanda Bhajans Live from Prasanthi

   Please tune to Prasanthi Mandir Live – SSSMC https://www.youtube.com/@PrasanthiMandirLiveRadioSai

2. Prasanthi Connection Zone 1 Weekly Updates:

   Please see the weekly update for the week of November 04th 2024 – November 10th 2024 from Prasanthi Connection Zone 1 Committee. Following up with the zone chairs email, for your convenience Prasanthi Connection Zone 1 team is including the information and links below:

   – Email – Week updates of November 04th 2024 – November 10th 2024

   Email link: https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/941190/emails/136710601604859293

   – “Your Prasanthi Connection” – Centennial Birthday Video Offering – *Sis. Madhuri Kannan – USA Video Url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Ct64o9fuM&ab_channel=Zone1PrasanthiConnection

   – Need Help with your visit to Prasanthi Nilayam, Puttaparthi, India?

   Call us at: +1 (909) 736-0119 or Email us at: zone1@prasanthiconnection.org

3. Sai Inspires:

   Please find the latest updates from SSSGC Zone-1 (USA, Canada and West Indies). We highly encourage all of you to share this newsletter with all your center members, Young Adults and SSSE community.

   https://conta.cc/3A59CEN

You can share your feedback by using “Contact Us” on our zonal website at 

https://www.sssgc-zone1.org/

Sai Ram

🔴 Birth of Akhanda Bhajans – A Timeless Gift to Humanity ✨A🎙️Podcast with Mrs Geetha Mohanram ✨

Quick Links: 

• SSSGC Zone1 Website: https://www.sssgc-zone1.org/

• Sri Sathya Sai Prema Tharu – 10 Million Trees Global Plantations Drive: www.sssprematharu.org

• Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini Inclusive Education Project (IEP) Volunteering:  https://forms.gle/LkQVbgthQziY3kzr9 Or email at: volunteer.iep@sssvv.org

• “Prasanthi Connect” Mobile App: Google Play Store | Apple App Store | Use QR code

• Call Sai is a program designed to provide assistance to Sai devotees. Call (1-272 CALL SAI; 1-272-225-5724) or visit https://www.callsai.org/

• SaiLights Magazine: https://www.sssgc-zone1.org/sai-lights-magazine

• Operational Guidelines

• Guidelines, Rules and Regulations

Jai Sai Ram!

Saideepa Amin (devotion@loudounsai.org) 
Sai Vajra Neeraja (sse@loudounsai.org)  
Vijay Konkimalla (seva@loudounsai.org)  
Arjun Sundaram (yamrep@loudounsai.org)  
Varsha Rao (yafrep@loudounsai.org)  
Prasanthi Babu (vp@loudounsai.org)
Raghavendran Srinivasan (president@loudounsai.org)

!! Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavanthu !!

LOVE ALL SERVE ALL      HELP EVER HURT NEVER