© 2015 Maurice Migneault, Gaétan Charland, Gilles Bertrand, Louise Sauvé, Line St-Pierre
© 2015 Urantia Association of Quebec
¶ A word from the president
Maurice Migneault
AUQ President
urantiamaurice@gmail.com
The big event is fast approaching… I want to talk once again about the Urantia Association International Congress which we will be hosting this summer.
So far, I have had the chance to participate in two of these conferences: in Malaga, Spain, and in Medellín, Colombia. It is difficult to describe the richness of human experiences and friendships that we have the opportunity to live and create during these meetings. To better synthesize my thoughts, I thought I would choose quotes from “The Urantia Book” relating to the brotherhood of which we will be witnesses and actors.
“The group potential is always far in excess of the simple sum of the attributes of the component individuals.” (UB 10:5.2)
“Brotherhood is a reality of the total. . .” (UB 12:7.10)
“Love is the secret of beneficial association between personalities.” (UB 12:9.2)
“Few are the duties in the universe for the lone servant.” (UB 28:5.14)
“One of the most important lessons to be learned during your mortal career is teamwork.” (UB 28:5.14)
“Almost everything of lasting value in civilization has its roots in the family.” (UB 68:2.8)
“Spiritual growth is mutually stimulated by intimate association with other religionists.” (UB 100:0.2)
“If you have not shown foresight and integrity in the affairs of this world, how can you hope to be faithful and prudent when you are trusted with the stewardship of the true riches of the heavenly kingdom?” (UB 169:2.6)
“Man cannot cause growth, but he can supply favorable conditions.” (UB 100:3.7)
“You can best discover values in your associates by discovering their motivation.” (UB 100:4.4)
“If once you understand your neighbor, you will become tolerant, and this tolerance will grow into friendship and ripen into love.” (UB 100:4.4)
“It is not so important to love all men today as it is that each day you learn to love one more human being.” (UB 100:4.6)
“It is literally true, “Human things must be known in order to be loved, but divine things must be loved in order to be known.”” (UB 102:1.1)
“. . .In this way human association generates a feeling of fellowship with the divine,. . .” (UB 103:4.1)
“If you love people, they will draw near you” (UB 131:8.4)
“When man goes in partnership with God, great things may, and do, happen.” (UB 132:7.9)
“Friendship enhances the joys and glorifies the triumphs of life.” (UB 160:2.8)
¶ Why participate in the Lennoxville congress?
Gilles Brien questions
Gaetan Charland.
For long-time UB readers, the upcoming international congress marks a first in the history of the Urantian movement in La Belle Province. This is the first time that such an event has taken place in Quebec. Gaétan Charland answered a series of questions for Réflectivité readers.
Q1. Why is the congress a first?
R1. This type of event occurs very rarely in the same country. And more and more national and regional associations are competing for the opportunity to host such an event. The next time a gathering of this type is held in Canada or Quebec may be many years away.
Q2. Why is it important for a reader to be at the conference? What does it bring him/her?
R2. Each conference provides a broader vision of the mission of the “Urantia Book” and its teachings. The one that will take place in Quebec explores how to experience the teachings of the Book in one’s own life, in one’s family, among children and among adults. Among the speakers, there will be long-time students of the “Urantia Book” who have professional training in education in various fields such as philosophy, psychology, communications and religion.
These experts will be giving presentations and workshops on topics that complement their lectures. In addition, the conference will feature the president and several trustees of the Urantia Foundation. This is a unique opportunity to meet and interact with these visitors and leaders. Not to be missed: Foundation President Mo Seigle will be leading a workshop on new generations.
Q3. Can I bring my children or non-reading spouse?
R3. The congress offers free registration for children under 13 years old, this includes accommodation, meals and a childcare service. However, children under 3 years old require special care that we will not be able to offer.
Q4. What is the best experience to have at these congresses?
R4. Meet people from all over the world and from different cultures, and make new friends. Explore new ideas and expand spiritual and intellectual horizons.
Q5. How do you see the evolution of the Urantian movement in Quebec? What do you hope will be the results of this conference?
R5. In Quebec, as in some South American countries, our religious culture has encouraged the acceptance of the “Urantia Book” by many people. I would even say thousands. Year after year, the number of “Urantia Book” sold in Quebec has remained constant, at an average of about 300 books sold each year. The number of study groups in Quebec per capita population is the highest in all countries where study groups are recorded. I believe that the future of the “Urantia Book” and its teachings will have a promising future in Quebec as long as these same readers respond to the impulse of divine guidance and become more deeply involved in this spiritual adventure. I believe that this conference can give Quebec readers the motivation and determination necessary to conquer the new generation that seems increasingly to be seeking material adventure and the endless quest for personal pleasure.
¶ As a conclusion
Gaétan Charland invites all readers from Quebec and Canada, past and present readers, dormant readers and crusading readers, to join the international gathering in Sherbrooke (Lennoxville) from July 30 to August 2.
If you are wondering whether you should attend this conference, if you are asking yourself the question, it is because the answer is hidden in the question… It is like asking yourself the question when you are hesitating: should we turn on the light? When you ask yourself this kind of question, it is because it is dark enough to make light.
Inf: https://www.regonline.ca/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1645565
“Knowledge is possessed only by sharing; it is safeguarded by wisdom and socialized by love.” (UB 48:7.28)
¶ “Hospitality Service” for Urantia International Congress 2015
Gilles Bertrand
Quebec
Dear readers,
As you probably read in a letter from the A.U.Q. recently, Gaétan Charland took this opportunity to elaborate on a new service for members who will be visiting the congress in Lennoxville, Quebec.
The hospitality service of which I am simply the coordinator, is therefore requesting the participation of our readers from Quebec. We Quebecers will have the honor of offering lodging for a period outside of the conference hours. The generosity of the hosts who will offer free lodging and breakfast in the style of a ‘gîte du passant’ (B & B) is quite appropriate. For the rest (lunch, dinner and tourism), it will be at the expense of the visitors.
If there are enough offers to meet the demand, the program will work ideally. At the moment, there are many more requests for accommodation than there are available hosts. We are continuing to try to fill the gap right now. Increased participation in the “hospitality service” program is therefore fraternally reminded to you. The demand is high and English-speaking hosts are even more highly appreciated, because the Dutch and Malawians, for example, are much more comfortable with English vocabulary. Quebec is predominantly French-speaking and this trend continues among our hosts. However, an experience with another linguistic culture would perhaps be just as interesting to try out, what do you think? Are you ready to open your home wide?
If you feel like it, write to me.
Finally, I would like to remind you of this passage where Jesus speaks to Ganid that:
“To become acquainted with one’s brothers and sisters, to know their problems and to learn to love them, is the supreme experience of living.”” (UB 130:2.6)
I hope that this invitation, this solicitation, will make you aware of the near urgency of this particular need. I therefore await with good grace your generous offers of accommodation and hospitality.
Gilles Bertrand, coordinator of the Hospitality Service within the framework of the Urantia International Congress in July 2015.
Gilles Bertrand (418) 871-4564
fidoquebec@gmail.com
¶ International Congress 1993 — International Congress 2015
Louise Sauve
Ormstown
Memories of a past that come to join a reality to come through this other congress which is at our feet!
Already 23 years ago, a worldwide gathering of readers of the “Urantia Book” was being planned in our beautiful province. A historical fact where brotherhood, friendship, love, the meeting of the other, my brother my sister coming from this other elsewhere to share a common ideal, the same great feeling of spiritual love towards the same Divine Father Celestial as interior!
A prayer, a meditation, an adoration where there was only one soul, one heart, one spirit in this great brotherhood whose center was occupied by this Divine Presence of the master, of our dear Michael and of our dear Father.
Love one another as I have loved you. They were there, the Father and the Son in our midst and in each of us! What spiritual joy and what Divine Happiness!
My friends, will we be there again to live again at this gathering what the Father and the Son ask of us? When you are gathered in my name in our name, I will be in the midst of you all!
I write this in the name of the call of our soul which wants to gather in the folds of our uniqueness the marvelous memories of a brotherhood always more and more in the making.
Thank you for reading me.
“Worship—contemplation of the spiritual—must alternate with service, contact with material reality.” (UB 143:7.3)
¶ Prayer
This is the prayer we say at the beginning of each of our reading sessions at “La Maisonia”, Quebec.
O Master of the Universe.
May the reign of divine love,
of truth and wisdom,
be established in me as in all beings.
Help me to understand and do your will
so that all those around me,
be helped by your power in me.
(Source: I AM Group
Courtesy: Guy and Rolande Martin)
“And by your love for one another you are to convince the world that you have passed from bondage to liberty,” (UB 143:2.3)
¶ Did you know that?
Every time you buy a “Urantia Book” (and others) through the AUQ website, you arrive at Amazon, and the latter returns a small percentage (3 to 4%) of the amount of your purchase to the Urantia Association simply because you went through the AUQ website to get to Amazon.
Pass this on to all your friends who want to buy one of these books.
Here is the direct link to the AUQ website: http://urantia-quebec.ca/livre_achat_du_livre.php
¶ Wanted notice
Line St-Pierre
Event Coordinator
At the Congress to be held from July 30 to August 2 at Bishops University in Lennoxville, the Association has sponsored the presence of children accompanied by their parents in order to give them a sense of brotherhood during this great meeting. We are looking for 3 people who would like to take care of and see to the entertainment of a dozen children aged between 3 and 13 years old.
The hours required for this service are Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Sunday between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
The AUQ will provide accommodation if necessary as well as remuneration with an acceptable hourly rate.
If you know young adults in your circle who are interested in this offer, please let us know as soon as possible by writing to association.urantia.quebec@gmail.com or by calling 450-5653323.
¶ Michael’s Day 2015
Sunday, August 23, 2015, you are all invited to Michael’s party on Mount Royal near Beaver Lake, near the Restaurant and the paid parking lot ($8 in 2014).
As usual you will just have to follow the directions with the concentric circles. Bring your meal and your chair.
Looking forward to meeting you in large numbers.
Bertin Perron and Julien Audet.
¶ STUDY GROUPS
THIS ACTIVITY ALLOWS MULTIPLE READERS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING to share and study together the teachings of The Urantia Book. It promotes spiritual progress by allowing its participants to find practical applications to the teachings of The Urantia Book in their daily lives. This important practice helps to maintain a broad perspective on concepts of truth.
You wish to participate or form a study group; we will be happy to assist you. If you wish to have your study group appear in this list, contact the person in charge, via email association.urantia.quebec@gmail.com or at 450-565-3323.
Outaouais Group
Gatineau Region
Tuesdays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Maurice Migneault:
(613) 789-6833
Group : “Sans Frontière”
Hawkesbury Region
Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Yvon and Irene Belle-Isle: (613) 632-5706
Group : “Laurantia”
Petite Nation region in Outaouais
Sundays from 9:00 a.m.
Denise Charron & Jean-Claude Lafrenière Tel: (819) 983-2113
Group: “Découverte”
Laurentides Region
Mondays from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Gaétan Charland and Line St-Pierre
Tel.: (450) 565-3323
Group : “Étoile du Soir”
Laurentides Region
Wednesdays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Carmen Charland: (450) 553-3601
Group : “Vers les Sommets”
Ormstown & Valleyfield Regions
Fridays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Louise Sauvé: (450) 829-3631
Group: “Uni-Terre”
Lanaudière region
Sundays from 9:00 a.m.
Eric Martel: (450) 756-9387
Group: “Fraternité-Urantia”
Lanaudière region
Wednesdays from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Richard Landry & Gisèle Boisjoly Tel: (450) 589-6922
Group: “The United Family of Urantia”
Montreal Region
Tuesdays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Ms. Diane Labrecque: (514) 277-2308
Group : “Le Pont”
Montreal South Shore Region
Thursdays from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Guy Vachon: (450) 465-7049
Group: “At Maisonia”
Quebec Region
Every 2 weeks: Sundays from 1:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Gilles Bertrand & Louise Renaud:
(418) 871-4564
Group: “The Ascendants”
Quebec South Shore Region
Every 2 weeks: Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Guy Le Blanc: (418) 886-2366
Sherbrooke Group
Sherbrooke region
Every 2 weeks: Tuesdays or Wednesdays (to be confirmed) from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Hélène Boisvenue and Denis Gravelle Tel.: (819) 569-6416
Group: “Readers of Mauricie”
Trois-Rivières Region
Mondays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Madeleine Boisvert: (819) 376-8850
Roger Périgny: (819) 379-5768
Group: “The Agondontarians”
Quebec Region
Every 2 weeks: Sundays from 13 h 00 to 4:00 p.m.
Guy & Rolande L. Martin: (418) 651-3851
Group: “The Partners of the Supreme”
Quebec Region
Mondays from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Richard Lachance: (418) 614-2520
or (418) 933-0244 (cell.)
Group : “Les Débonnaires”
Terrebonne Region
Every 2 weeks: Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Julien Audet: (514) 315-9871
¶ Réflectivité
Responsible: Normand Laperle
Assisted by: Gilles Bertrand.
To send us your articles and/or contact us:
reflectivite.auq@gmail.com
(418) 835-1809 (Normand Laperle)
(418) 871-4564 (Gilles Bertrand)
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