HB Branch News -- Sunday 31 December -- Week 52, 2023

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We wish all readers a fruitful year in 2024.

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Calendar of Coming Events 

(in the Rudolf Steiner Centre, 401 Whitehead Road, Hastings unless stated otherwise)

•  TONIGHT.  Sunday 31 December 7:00 pm. Celebrating 100 years since the re-founding of the General Anthroposophical Society and the Foundation Stone verse.**
• Saturday 6 January 4pm Three Kings Play at Rangimarie**
• Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 January 2024. 3-day Eurythmy Workshop at Taruna.
• Thursday 11 January 7 pm. Talk "Embryology II" by Dr Richard Drexel **
• Weekend 24-5 February. 2-day Workshop on Threefold Social Order
• Saturday 16 March 2 pm.  Annual General Meeting.
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Remembering the Christmas Foundation Conference of 1923.

On Sunday 31 December 2023, we will have a gathering open to members and friends to acknowledge a cosmic event 100 years ago.  
In the Christmas Foundation Conference, Rudolf Steiner united the various Anthroposophical groups in Europe into one General Anthroposophical Society.  This was one year after the destruction in flames of the wooden Goetheanum that many Anthroposophists had spent 9 years crafting. 
For their future, he laid in the hearts of those present the Foundation Stone Meditation verse which encapsulated the nature of the human being.  

Rather than being deterred by the attacks on his work and on himself, Rudolf Steiner showed he was ready to let flow through him a wonderful array of spiritual activity in many fields, but particularly relating to human karma and reincarnation.

7:00  You are warmly invited to join us for a shared refreshment.
         (A small plate would be most welcome)

7:30 

• There will be an introductory talk on the special significance of the Christmas Foundation Meeting by Robin Bacchus.
• The Foundation Stone Meditation will be recited by John Jackson. 
• Sue Simpson will lead us in movement to experience one of the Foundation Stone Meditation “rhythms” in Eurythmy.
• Participants have an opportunity to share what impact Anthroposophy has had in their lives or how they first became aware of Anthroposophy or any world-wide initiative looking to the future health of humanity.
• Closing with the 4^th stanza of the Foundation Stone Meditation. JJ

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Three Kings Festival

The Christian Community, Rangimarie

617 Heretaunga Street East, Hastings

Epiphany day, Saturday January 6 at 4:00 pm

All are cordially invited to participate in a brief representation of the story of the birth of Jesus according to Matthew´s Gospel.

The festival begins with the children, and the adults who wish to, making crowns to wear during the play, which is a shortened version of the Oberufer play, adapted to be appropriate for children from 3 years old and older.  

Please have each child or adult bring a present gift-wrapped with an indication of the appropriate age, and whether for a boy or girl, for the child who will later receive it.  During the play, the children, and the adults, who wish to, will make a brief journey with the three kings and leave their gifts, at the feet of Mary, Joseph and the Child. 

Later these gifts will be shared with children less fortunate.

Inquiries, please call Paul Corman at 028-85201963.

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Embryology II

       Speaker: Dr Richard Drexel

 7.00pm, Thursday 11^th January

Anthroposophical Centre

Cnr Nelson Street and Whitehead Rd 

This talk organised by Eurythmy Aotearoa Eurythmy Training is open to all who are interested in gaining deeper insight and understanding of the beginnings of human life.

This lecture builds on one given in September 2023.

We look forward to seeing you there. 

Entrance $20

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FREEDOM

To be free is to be capable of thinking one's own thoughts - not the thoughts merely of the body, or of society but thoughts generated by one's deepest, most original, most essential and spiritual self, one's individuality.

Rudolf Steiner