WHEN: Sunday, January 4th at 10am
WHERE: ZOOM or at The NEW Lotus Center
297 River St. Service Road, Suite 3, Oneonta, NY 13820
 

Homily by Rev. Diana Friedell

"Release to Receive"

Emcee:  Rev. Story Lucile Ducey

 Join us in person or on zoom: 

* There is limited parking in the front of the building, by I-88 and the elevator. Lots more parking is in the back of the building, where there is a flight of stairs to climb and a hallway leading to our Lotus Center on the second floor.

ISD Oneonta Annual Convention!
WHEN: Sun. January 18, 2026
WHERE: ISD Oneonta & on ZOOM
WHO:  All Members & interested Friends:
Review 2025 accomplishments, approve 2026 operating budget, Goals for 2026

The Christmas Stranger by Richard Paul Evans is a spiritually uplifting novel that explores grief, despair and the quiet ways divine help can appear when life feels unbearable. The story centers on Paul, a man who is deeply grieving the death of his wife and young son who were killed in a car accident three years ago at Christmas. His pain is so overwhelming that the joy of the season only sharpens his sense of emptiness. Paul had reached a point where he is exhausted by sorrow and quietly is considering giving up on life altogether.

As Christmas approaches, Paul encounters a mysterious stranger named Gabriel who seems to appear at just the right moments. This stranger does not arrive with grand speeches or obvious miracles but with simple acts of kindness, unexpected insight, reassurance and a calm compassionate presence. Through their interactions Paul is slowly drawn back into life—back into connection, memory and meaning. Paul asks Gabriel if he is an angel but Gabriel doesn’t give a clear answer. His appearance leads Paul to believe he is an angelic being or some kind of messenger from heaven. Paul gradually realizes that love does not end with death and that even the darkest despair can be softened by unseen support. The story gently explores themes of forgiveness, surrender, and trust in a loving universe that responds when a soul is in crisis. 

Paul’s healing happens gradually, through reflection, human connection, and subtle spiritual nudges that restore his will to live. Readers who believe in angels, divine timing or the idea that the universe gives us what we need will find this story deeply resonant. It is a comforting reminder that even when hope feels lost, help may already be walking toward us—sometimes disguised as a stranger. Although the timing and setting of the book is the Christmas season, the healing from grief through help from divine beings is universal and without time or season. Paul’s story may seem deeply sad but instead you may find it to be uplifting and filled with hope, giving reassurance that life, even after profound loss, still holds love, purpose and grace.

Submitted by Carol Callahan

If you would like to read this book, it is available for ISD members to borrow at the ISD Library in the Lotus Center. Books are loaned for a period of one month and can be renewed one time if there is no hold.

Our ISD Gallery is displaying the art work of Yemana Sanders

Looking for some Creative Inspiration to begin the New Year 2026?

Then Please Join us on
Saturday January 3rd from 1 to 4

For an Artist Reception & Round Table Talk on Creativity
With Yemana Sanders

Free, Donations Appreciated
Her work celebrates the exploration of Creativity in paint, poetry, ---and the every day play of being human. Come join our Round Table Conversation on Celebrating Creativity. Yemana will share her insights and give us creative challenges for the upcoming New Year. She calls herself “The Rainbow Walker” , one who connects to Self thru Color, bringing forth the intuitive message of the moment thru painting. Come join our Round Table to be inspired by sharing our creative stories and future dreams. Learn how creative challenges can become paths to being fully present in the moment. As a practicing painter and practicing Buddhist she  weaves the discipline of awareness and color, trying to capture the moment honestly, spontaneously, freely. Practicing creating beauty, of any kind, is a powerful spiritual discipline, a celebration of life, a celebration of wonder.  
Join our discussion exploring creativity as a spiritual discipline, a path to Freedom to be free ---or approach to living. A path of beauty, a path of joy. 

…with music, food , good fellowship and , of course, art to explore! 

Tune in to WIOX Radio for Yemana Sanders, our featured artist in the Art Gallery at ISD and our own Story Lucile Ducey, who will be interviewed by Nell Reboh, the Energy Healer, Doula, and founder of E-l'xr (Eternal Love eXemplified Resonance)   on Thursday, January 1st, New Year's Day at 1pm. Her Radio show is called "Catskill Mountain Dreamer".  For more info and to tune in Live for this exciting event go to https://www.wioxradio.org/programs.  

Closing the Door on 2025- Visioning our Happiest 2026
Join us in creating closure for 2025, burning regrets from the past, and bringing new light to your intentions for the New Year thru Diana's unique guided meditations, ceremony and ritual. This year we will include a Highest Intender's Group- to clarify & declare our personal intentions for 2026 facilitated by Kimberly Winsor.

Join Diana and Kimberly on a magical journey of self-discovery!

When you register you will receive a Work Sheet to write down what you are releasing, and to formulate your intentions for the new year.

"The Everyday Psychic" with Diana Friedell

6 session series starting January 15, 2026 at 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

There is sweeping change in Universal Energies right now, giving us more access to our intuitive gifts like never before. Tune in with Diana, ISD Faculty & Psychic Medium, in this six session teaching & practice group, and get the keys to using & trusting these gifts for every day decisions on your life path. Whether you are tuning in to help yourself make life path decisions, or to help others, you will find more accuracy and evidence with regular disciplined practice with a like minded group.

“The Everyday Psychic” – A six session series Exploring some powerful Tools for getting accurate messages for yourself & others-

- Join the fun--- We'll see where Spirit takes us!

This First Workshop in the Series is Free and you can register below. It is the First Step, which we are repeating from last year before moving on to steps 8-14. With the rest of the series, you can decide to take one or all!  You can take these workshops even if you did not attend last year's steps 1-7. The only pre-requisite is Step 1- the free workshop on Jan 24. See all about this series below.

Your voice is one of your most powerful spiritual tools. It carries the energy for communication, creativity, and purpose—but years of conditioning can make authentic expression feel challenging. This workshop, with Anna with Intention, invites you to step into the new year with a more aligned, confident, and spiritually attuned voice.

In this immersive experience, you’ll explore your Human Design chart through the lens of the Throat Center—the energetic gateway for expression, manifestation, and creative flow. You’ll uncover how your voice is naturally designed to operate and learn practical, embodied ways to express yourself with ease and integrity.

Did you mean to renew your membership? Only nine of our 40 members have renewed so far. . . In light of shifting our fiscal year forward by 4 months, going forward members are now being asked to renew in November of each year, so as to let the Finance Committee create the new budget accordingly.  As we jump in now to this process, with all the the new expenses that come with continuing our non-profit mission and vision in this beautiful physical location, would you consider sharing any abundance in your life by supporting our work with a financial donation or by volunteering your services? It takes a village! 

If you are already a Member at ISD, it is now time to

 renew your membership & pledge at this link. . .

If you are considering membership at ISD Oneonta for 2026 & want more information please go to this link. . .

If you have a metaphysical, healing or spiritual practice and you are looking for a permanent office of your own, we have a beautiful sublet available.  If your business is in harmony with the principles of ISD Oneonta, please contact a member of the property committee, and let's talk!

EVENT & CLIENT SPACE at ISD. . .

Did you know?  You can host your meeting, class, private party, or see clients in our beautiful Great Room with kitchen, or in the OWL Room or PHOENIX Room, set up as  practitioner rooms for a modest fee to ISD.  Inquiries about renting space at the Lotus Center for your event or to see clients, please reach out to Kimberly Winsor.
For more information & to fill out a space use request go here- https://isdoneonta.org/about-us/rental-at-isd/  

What is the Institute for Spiritual Development?

It's both a metaphysical church and an educational center originally founded 49 yrs ago in Sparta, NJ. With the belief that all paths lead us Home, ISD is dedicated to helping each spirit walk their path with courage and joy.

The Oneonta NY chapter of ISD was Lovingly created by Rev. Diana Friedell & her sister Rev. Sue Landon. We are now led by a powerful leadership team, and executive board.
 
Welcome Home!!!

Thank you for being a part of the ISD community!

Get in touch

Rev. Diana Friedell, Pastor, 607-433-2089

297 River St. Service Road, Suite 3

ISD Lotus Center Landline: (607) 353-7001‬ (messages only)

isdoneonta@gmail.com

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