Service Angel Recognition

A new Centre for Inspired Living program to honor and acknowledge all of those amazing individuals who practice “SEVA” (Service to others and the community of CIL).  At the beginning of each month we will present someone who really makes a difference in our CIL community and give them a personalized token of our appreciation.  You can find who these amazing volunteers are on this “ANGEL” of the month page!

February 2012

LORRAINE VANSOMER

Today’s Service Angel Recognition is our very special Lorraine VanSomer.  Lorraine is most commonly known as one of the smiley faces and warm hearts that greets everyone on Sunday mornings and is also a quarter section of the group known as Pat and Roland/Jim and Lorraine!!!

Although she is an amazing example of “SEVA” or, selfless service, Lorraine is very humble and we are honoured to know so much more about the many facets of her heart and how she connects with people.

Most of us already know that Lorraine lives with her husband Jim in a very beautiful part of Victoria, but many do not know that they have three grown children and have been kept quite busy by their 4 grandchildren who are almost all grown up themselves!!!

Lorraine has been attending the Centre for Inspired Living for about 3 years and she says that not only is it a very important part of her life, it is a HUGE part of her life!  CIL is a place where she feels true connection and allows her to feel “centered”.  On top of being an usher and Greeter, Lorraine also does the Seniors Outreach hand massage-which she loves.  She can also be seen having fun and participating at most of the CIL social events!! Lorraine has been attending New thought churches for over 26 years and is happy with her new Spiritual Home.

Lorraine has spent her life mixing raising children with career, and in the past, worked for the Provincial government.  She also made a big career change at one point and went back to school to eventually work in many various avenues of Social Services. Lorraine has too many hobbies to mention but some of her favourites are: scrapbooking, travelling, gardening, reading, and fun physical activity like aerobics.

Her Loves are “The Centre for Inspired Living”, Singing in two Choirs-”Victoria Soul Gospel Choir” and the “Our Place Open Door Choir”, She also has been a regular volunteer at the Mustard Seed Food Bank for 7 years!!  She says that at the Mustard Seed she “shares both tears and laughter with all who come there” and that her Service is “a lot more than nourishing people with food” and that the truth is that she “receives so much more than what she gives out”

Many people would be quite surprised to learn that Lorraine was one of the earlier inhabitants of Hornby Island.  She lived there until she moved to Victoria at 14 years of age.  Her Father was the owner/operator of the privately owned ferry that went back and forth between Denman Island and Hornby.  Her claim to fame is that she asked her Father to name the Ferry after her,  and after a period of time, he agreed and the Ferry became her namesake!  How many people do you know have a Ferry named after them!!!!

We are so pleased to honour Lorraine this month and celebrate her as an important, special part of the community here.  Because she gives so much, her gift certificate will be for some nurturing at the “SECOND LOOK STUDIOS” in Royal Oak.  Way to Go Lorraine!!! We are all so happy to acknowledge you today as our SERVICE ANGEL

January 2012

LUCIE HULFORD

To start the New Year we have chosen Lucie Hulford as our Service Angel.  Lucie is one of our sweetest Service angels at the Centre for Inspired Living!  She shows up in her regular working week as “your friendly neighborhood Postal carrier” even delivering mail to some of the members of CIL!!!

She lives in Victoria with her husband and two cats and enjoys Victoria to the fullest.  She has many-(she says too many) extra curricular activities, and we are so honored to have her on Sundays here at the Centre.  Lucie serves at CIL in many ways- she volunteers with the Children’s Centre once every two months, but mainly helps out by assisting the Audio/Video team with team leader Dre.  She also does Seniors outreach with “A Touch of Inspiration” and has staffed at “Free the Heart.”  Lucie is the kind of person who is just generally helpful and “pitches in” wherever she can with her kind-hearted energy and gentle smile.

Lucie is also quite humble and doesn’t talk much about the many ways that she expresses herself in the community. Some of her hobbies are: making jewellery, knitting, cat cuddling, cycling, being a lacrosse fan, and in the past-dragon boat racing.  One thing you might not have known about Lucie is that the most influential time of her life was when she was 17 yrs old being chosen to participate in the program -KATIMAVIK- which means “meeting place”. It is a group for 17-21 yr olds where 12 people in a group go to three places in Canada including a french speaking town where they work/travel and live.

Lucie finds it funny that she enjoys being a part of the CIL children’s Centre, because during KITAMAVIK the daycare placement was so challenging for her!!!!  For her gift certificate, Lucie stated that she “Loves eating, but doesn’t really like cooking” so we have brought her a gift certificate for RED ROBIN where she can go and enjoy some delicious food made by someone else!!  Let’s give a huge hand to celebrate Lucie!!

November 2011

CRYSTAL DEVA STAR

This month of November, we celebrate Crystal Star as our Service Angel.  Not only is she one of the Centre For Inspired Living’s founding members, she is also our Minister David’s wife.

She has been there each step of the way as the Centre has grown shifted and changed, she has functioned in many roles since the Centre’s inception.  Most importantly she is David’s main support person, Mother of two beautiful children, Tahnee and Liberty, and a very active member in many areas of CIL.

Some of the qualities that Crystal is known for is her ability to listen, nurture and care  which serves her well as the New leader of the Children’s Centre.  She has been a registered yoga teacher for the past 9 years teaching and practicing continuously-currently she teaches 4 classes per week.  She also works part-time as a Registered Nurse at a busy clinic at RJH and has many interests and hobbies too numerous to mention.

She loves to sing, but is also willing to pitch in wherever she is needed for the good of the CIL and it’s members.  There is much to do behind the scenes of the Sunday Service and Crystal’s life is an endless flow of giving and opening the doors of her heart and home to everything.  This includes keeping a stable loving foundation of Love and respect in her home for her family, being flexible when congregants need assistance with prayer, counseling, food, lodging, shelter, weddings, funerals and every other need/request that shows up on the door of Ministering to a community (even when it is the middle of the night!).

Crystal considers this lifestyle an honor to be a part of, she is compassionate and is known for her ability to be helpful with a big smile on her face. She is also a little bit humble and often avoids being acknowledged for everything that she does, this is the reason she was chosen this month!  Let’s give a big heartfelt acknowledgement to Crystal Star!!

October 2011

KALEONANI

It is with great pleasure that we celebrate another Service Angel who helps make the Centre For Inspired Living such a thriving community.  This month we celebrate Kaleonani!

When we first met Kaleonani, she introduced herself as “The Hugging Queen” and she let everyone know that her mission in life was to hug as many people in different settings in all parts of the world! Coming from a family of huggers, she now has an additional spiritual family that can truly appreciate her talents.

It is important to acknowledge that Kaleonaniwas at the very first CIL service, those of you who know her, know her for her beautiful voice and great Love of music. As a matter of fact, it is the music Ministry and Nelson’s creative expression and the choir’s dedication that she appreciates so much. Despite a lifetime of music, solos and growing up being on stage, it was this last year at CIL that she had her voice recorded solo for the first time!

Kaleonani’s accomplishments and hobbies are many.
She recently went back to work and enjoyed the summer working with a young man who is living with “fetal alcohol syndrome” They spent much time doing outdoor activities and having fun- Kaleonanieven found herself riding go-carts for the first time!

Now she is working with “Home Instead” and finds her clients fascinating, full of wisdom and an honor to be with, she enjoys the real life stories of the seniors she spends time with.

She has been a professional house sitter for many many years and has been entrusted with many beautiful homes, kitties, puppies, kids, fish and gardens over the years! (She is house sitting right now actually!)

Her hobbies are : Sewing, Crafting, sculpture, she has begun making beautiful delicate “fairy houses” and she is also a Gourmet cook.

Something you might not know about her is that at around 12 years of age she was a dedicated athlete and was involved heavily with baseball, fast pitch/slow pitch and volleyball up into her 20′s, participating in some great tournaments.  Kaleonanihas family in Victoria, we have had the honor of having her Mom at CIL and meeting her brother from vancouver. She also has family ties to Hawaii hence the name Kaleonani !!!

We celebrate Kaleonani as an integral part of the CIL community, she is dedicated to the choir, greets in the mornings, is always available for awesome hugs, and she shows up in many ways at the various CIL events. Her pot luck dishes are generous and tasteful, very much like her creative expression. It is a welcome sight to see her shining face light up the room on Sundays.

Kaleo Nani says that she likes CIL because this community IS her spiritual family and that she truly does feel loved and accepted unconditionally.

September 2011

RUTH MCLAUGHLIN

After taking a month off we are proud and happy to celebrate yet another Service Angel who makes our CIL community such a joyous place to be!

For the month of September we are recognizing someone very special.  Someone who always makes a difference with her presence, someone who always shows up and serves in such a rich and myriad of ways.  Today we recognize Ruth Mclaughlan.

• She is the organizer of the Cobbs bread program
• She organizes the CIL dinner nights
• She is part of the CIL “touch of inspiration” that massages senior’s hands in a care home
• She serves in the Children’s Centre giving the kids another loving face and heart

Let’s give a big hand for Service Angel Ruth Mclaughlin!!

July 2011

KATE STEPHENSON

It is such an honor to announce our Service Angel for this month.  This is someone who truly exemplifies the meaning and action of Seva-(selfless service)  She always helps setting up the centre for “Sunday Service” and is there cleaning up afterwards, she sings in the choir, “reads” for the Sunday service, is a compassionate listener and prayer, she can be seen at every Centre for Inspired living function with a smiling face and sparkling blue eyes.

June 2011

SHANNON HOLLINGWORTH

Today is a special day for our service Angel because it is her Birthday as well! lets give a hand and recognize our Service Angel Shannon Hollingworth!!!

May 2011

EMILY LAVACK

Today we are announcing and recognizing one of our most cherished Service Angels. This is someone whose dedication and example of commitment to the Centre for Inspired Living is astounding.

This very special member is our very own Emily Lavack. Emily demonstrates the meaning of Seva (selfless service). She helps set up, she helps in the children’s program, she helps anybody who needs it, and does each job well, she sings in the choir, and she helps with take down and clean up at the very end. The most amazing fact about Emily’s selfless service is that she is one of the only ones in the entire congregation who has attended every Sunday since the beginning of CIL.

Her Mom, Annie finds it amazing to hear Emily turn down birthday parties and sleepovers so that she can tend to her community and spiritual well-being at the Centre, we could all aspire to that level of commitment!!!!

Emily is enjoying the latter part of grade three, she is an avid reader and as well as being here at Sunday children’s centre, she has recently become a Ba hai with her parents permission. Emily can often be seen every second Sunday with her BFF Tahnee, who is the Minister’s daughter.

Emily loves to spend time with her family. Walks with Annie, Grandma Heather and doggie Ellie are a special treat as well as having fun and excitement with Daddy Dré!

Emily is a very creative artist who enjoys many hobbies. She can often be seen with a big smile on her face enjoying and participating in whatever is happening around her.

Lets give a big hand and standing ovation to Miss Emily Lavack!!!!!

April 2011

VICKI SAVILLE

Vicki is the beautiful and smiling face of the Centre for inspired living.  She has been at almost every service since the beginning and is often at the inner entrance welcoming everyone with her warm heart and genuine interest,  Vicki is the unofficial “grapevine” of CIL and is full of information about many things!!!

Thank you Vicki you are a true Angel!!!

March 2011

HEATHER MCCLEAN

Heather is the AWESOME (“token” and REAL) Grandma of the Centre for Inspired Living.  She is one of the founding members and is the person you will often find at the back of the room with a welcoming “HOWDY” and an outstanding hug if you want it!

As a matter of fact, Heather often has a line-up for her hugs, and takes pride in her hugging ability.  Heather is a SERVICE ANGEL in so many ways.  She is the TEAM LEADER for the ushers and greeters and has attended every Sunday service since the Centre’s inception.

Heather is Annie’s Mom, Emily’s “bona fide” Grandma, and Dre’s mother-in-Law.

In her home life, Heather is an accomplished healer helping many out as an Ear Coning and energy Healing practitioner.  She even trains others in her trade.

Heather is the best shopper and gift giver we know, she is thoughtful, has a zany, fun sense of enjoyment in life, and is so pleasant to just be around!!!

Heather’s favorite activities in life revolve around time with Emily, and their ICE CREAM showers……Also spending time with daughter Anne during the long talks, long walks and doggie play with Ellie the new golden retriever.   Heather enjoys all aspects of life, delighting in the simple things and sometimes traveling to exotic and faraway places to see what life is like there.

Let’s all recognize and acknowledge Heather for being such a bright Service Angel here at CIL!!

PEARL DER