This year consider this, take this day and give back a little. If every person on the planet (there were 6,973,738,433 in 2011) were to devote one single hour to doing something to clean up our world; imagine what could be done.

There are many ways that you could help. National, State and local parks have volunteer programs that you could participate in, even if it were for just that one day; imagine the impact you could have not to mention the great feeling of accomplishment that comes from taking part in it. I have been an active park volunteer (I guess you could almost call it a full time job) for about four years and have done things from simply cleaning up day use areas to active participation in habitat restoration. If that doesn’t appeal to you, why not take some time with your family and just take a walk and pick up trash thrown on the ground by those who did not think to find a garbage can. Doing this will do two things, first; it will help heal our world, second; it will send a message to those who see you in action. Never underestimate the power of doing this, my wife and I have tried it and saw others actually begin doing the same thing.

The simple act of planting a tree has great impact and is actually an amazing investment. A professor at the University of Calcutta (T, M. Das) did a study and came up with the value of a tree if left to do its natural job for fifty years: it would provide $31,250 worth of oxygen, $62,000 worth of pollution control and soil erosion control, $31,250 worth of improved fertility of the surrounding ground, recycle $37,500 worth of ground water and provide homes to animals worth $31,250. This adds up to $193,250.00 and doesn’t take into consideration the beauty it brings or any fruit it might bear. Pretty good for just planting a single tree isn’t it?

We all owe our earth so very much and with the hustle and bustle of daily life, we tend to forget that our entire existence relies on her existence, take the time, find something of value that will allow you to give back, take a deep breath and remember, that breath could not have been taken were it not for the gifts given us by the Earth Mother.

May the Divine smile on you always and give each of you an abundance of blessings;

Rev. Joshua

Hello Friends!

We’re raising funds for our Church and need your help to attain our goal.

You can purchase or renew subscriptions to your favorite magazines (like People, All You, TIME and Sports Illustrated) at up to 85% off, or enjoy exclusive offers on cookie dough and Restaurant.com eCertificates.

Each time you make a purchase, we’ll receive up to 40%. You can also support us by sharing this page and spreading the word to friends and family.

We are an nature-based religion and very diverse, we are trying to spread diversity among all religions and our missionaries need help in travels across the country and much needed items for the Church, we are a new Church trying to make a name and spread peace.

Thank You!

Support Us!

Group goal: $7,500.00

Amount raised: 
$124.00

Total Items Sold: 3 
Total Donations: $124.00

Help us attain our goal!

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Gaianist Free Church website is up and running. You can get there at Gaianist.org .

Also, if any of you have photos from the Temples past events… could you email them to me? I want them to go into the websites activities photo album.

Thanks!!!

When: Nov. 2nd. 2012
Where: West Bend, Wisconsin

PUC and Northern Lakes Temple Presents UWWC 1st Annual Witch’s Ball

Event Details: Pagan Unity Circle of UWWC in affiliation with Northern Lakes Temple is hosting it’s own Witch’s Ball. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Costumes are encouraged but not a requirement, as there will be a costume contest.
As the dance is considered a Masquerade Ball, masks are required. Be elegant, be unique! Come with a mask that will steal the show!

Music, Food, Drinks and Games will be provided.

Opening ritual will begin festivities, tarot readings and other such things will also be provided for the guests’ amusement.

ADMISSION IS FREE!

**Be forewarned, as this is an adult function any children under the age of 18 attending are your own responsibility.

*There has not yet been a decision as to whether or not alcohol will be served at this event, when it has been decided this will be updated.
*Attending vendors are being looked into, should any present themselves to attend the function they will be listed here.

Event Location: 400 University Dr. in West Bend
Event TIME Details: 7pm-11pm

Directions: If heading from Milwaukee:

Head South on N. Milwaukee St. toward E. Wisconsin Ave. for .1 miles.
Take the 2nd left onto E. Michigan St. for .1 miles.
Turn Right onto N. Jackson St. and head down for about 404 feet.
Take a slight right onto I-34 W and merge onto I-794 W.
Continue onto I-94 for about 5.3 miles.
Take exit 305B to merge onto US-45 N towards Fon Du Lac. Follow that for about 20 miles.
Take a slight right to stay on 45 N (follow signs for West Bend) and go for about 11 miles.
Take the W Washington St. Exit.
Keep left at the fork and follow signs for 33 W/ 144 S.
Turn left onto W Washington St. Be careful because in .2 miles look for University Dr and turn left. You should start to see signs for UWWC.

Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/UWWCPaganUnityCircle

To Contact Pagan Unity Circle (UWWC) directly: Click HERE

Phone: (262) 623-8861

Mailing Address: 4502 Church Dr. West Bend, WI 53095

NLT will be going through some growing pains and be reorganizing the operation into a free church status. This will allow us to go forward with less government interaction, assure us non-profit status and provide the ability to do more religious, charitable and educational work.

Several announcements will be forth coming in the next few weeks, most you will like and some will not be happy. I apologize in advance as change is never an easy thing but let me tell you what will not change….

1. Adults Night Out will continue
2. Our classes will continue and expand with new clergy and new people stepping up to the plate to assist in our growth.
3. Community interfaith will expand and a new Minister of Inter Faith Relations will be established.
4. Festivals will be started and expanded for Central Wisconsin members. Traveling to Milwaukee has become cost prohibitive so we will address this issue by having some new festivals in the Madison, Watertown, Portage areas.
5. Our present clergy will remain and be expanded to offer new services.

Rev. Áine and myself remain as the Heads of NLT with expanded interaction from Rev Joshua, Gianist Free Church and our association with ASA. Feel free to contact anyone of us.

Blessings!

Rev. Peter Hertzberg, HP

2011 has brought some wonderful changes to us and 2012 looks even brighter.

Our Seekers group will be expanding to Milwaukee and Portage in 2012 along with expanded classes in Milwaukee and Madison.

But more importantly, we will be part of history as a founding member of Sacred Earth Covenant Tradition.  This is a wonderful opportunity to expand our offerings to not just the membership but the community at large.  Here is the ideological satement and mission statement.  I hope you will agree it states what is positive stance going forward.

SACRED EARTH COVENANT

The goal of Sacred Earth Covenant is not to separate, change or disrupt any Spiritual Path. It is not designed to further any grandiose design of any one person or group.

The concept of Sacred Earth Covenant is to broaden the understanding of the many outside of the essentially narrow Path of Wicca. It is a means of creating an Interfaith Bridge, which in the past, has been left a true chasm. The lack of knowledge outside the Pagan community is somewhat overwhelming. Most fear who and what we are due to a great deal of misinformation.

For hundreds of years, those outside of the so-called “mainstream” religious community have been judged without a true understanding of the values we hold dear. There are so many similarities in all of the belief systems, yet they go unknown simply because much of the information available in misguided or directed by those who have only myth to draw from.

Using an open standard and teaching about the various beliefs would lend itself well to building an environment of understanding and acceptance. One that is long overdue.

Working with other Traditions and Spiritual Paths is the design of Sacred Earth. Informing people to the idea that we truly are all one and that our very existence relies on the fact that as the human race, we can only face the future through understanding and co-operation. Not through distrust and religious bigotry.

One need only read and understand the following to realize what SEC is all about.

Mission Statement

Sacred Earth Covenant strives to create an infrastructure for people of any and all Spiritual Paths to come together in an environment of learning and growth.

To build a platform that those people can share their wealth of knowledge with each other so that we may develop a greater and more complete understanding of the Universe and Deity.

Additionally, we should be approved to be part of that larger community with the coming of Imbolc and our admittance to Covenant of the Goddess.  CoG is one of the most recognized and accepted Wiccan groups in the world.  It is a long process and one can only become a member by invitation.  The Board and I have worked hard to make this happen for us and we welcome new horizons of fellowship, knowledge, and understanding.

In the coming weeks we will list all of the events and activities for the coming year.  I am confident you will all be very pleased.

Blessings!

Rev. Peter Hertzberg, HP

Due to philosophical and directional differences, Northern Lakes Temple Inc. is no longer affiliated with the Correllian Nativist Tradition. Northern Lakes Temple will continue its Spiritual walk of enlightenment, love and fellowship and is currently developing an association with Sacred Earth Covenant.

Sacred Earth Covenant is a broad based Spiritual organization focused on the many levels and variety of Belief Systems. Its direct area is that of Interfaith Bridging and Education and should be well suited to the needs of our Temple community.

If you are a currently recognized member of CNT, a member of their Clergy, or a student of Witch School International, Sacred Earth Covenant will dually recognize your station and\or studies.

As always, Northern Lakes Temple Inc. looks to the future in a positive light and foresees growth in the time ahead.

Many Blessings,

Rev. Peter Hertzberg, HP

Chief Priest

Northern Lakes Temple, Inc.

September 3rd & 4th we will be selling Brats, chips and sodas outside the Pick n Save grocery store in Watertown on Hwy 26 from 8 am until 5 pm.  This is one of the major fund raisers for the Temple and supports our general operating fund and the Seeker’s Youth Circle.

Volunteers as well as folks to come and purchase food are always welcome!

Contact Rev. Peter via email or on his cell phone for more details.

Blessing!

Change is the one constant in the universe.  We grow, we evolve and hopefully this is always positive.  Over the past few months, the Board of Directors and I have been laying the ground work to strengthen our foundation and provide avenues for growth in the areas of spirituality, education, and community.

Over the coming months you will see an expansion of our interfaith work not only with other religions but also within our own Wiccan circles.  While changes can be unsettling to some, these changes will benefit the greater good of our Temple and establish future paths of growth.  As you know and understand the Temple today, NLT will not change.  We have a strong leadership core with myself, Rev Brenda and Rev Aine.  Our roles going forward will be more defined as we expand our services in all three circles of Madison, Watertown and Milwaukee.  Our Seekers Youth Circle will have an expanded presence with the addition of a circle in Milwaukee starting in October under the guidance of Rev Brenda Pergande.

Additionally, we will begin to work with two additional Traditions that align well with our core beliefs, teaching and spirituality.  One of the most well known groups, Covenant of the Goddess and a relatively new one Sacred Earth Covenant.

I will be attending the National Convention for Covenant of the Goddess and meeting with the folks from thier national organization.  This group is well organized, has a strong leadership council and provides NLT with resources we currently do have available to us.  Additionally, while one of the largest Wiccan Traditions, they do not have anyone in Wisconsin affiliated with them as a group.

Sacred Earth Covenant is a new Tradition based on Native American spirituality, Celtic beliefs and a desire to serve the Goddess and the greater good of our Mother Earth.  We have been asked to be one of the founding members and are helping to explore the potential of this new and exciting group.

While change can sometimes be unsettling, it can also be a mode for positive growth, expansion and exciting.  I hope we all will embrace these new horizons with the wonderment of a child and hold on tight for what looks like a wonderful ride.  Remember, our path is not one of a destination but one of experiencing the journey.  Let our journey be filled with positive light, energy and love.

Peace, Blessings and Love to all of you!

Rev. Peter Hertzberg, HP

Lammas/PPD Milwaukee July 24th Hart Park, Wauwatosa, WI

NLT will be there with a table as well as myself helping with the Children’s Wand Making activity.

Just a brief recap of what Lammas represents…..

Lammas marks the middle of summer and beginning of the harvest season. Lammas is considered a time of thanksgiving and is the first of the three Pagan harvest festivals. The Sun’s strength begins to wane and the plants of spring begin to wither and drop their fruits or seeds for our use as well as to ensure future crops. At this time, we become conscious of the sacrifice the Sun God is preparing to make. We experience a sense of abundance at the same time we begin to feel an urgency to prepare for the death of winter. First grains and fruits of the Earth are cut and stored for the dark winter months.

Lammas also represents the culmination of the marriage between the Goddess and the God that took place on Beltane. The God now becomes the product of that blessed union – the bountiful fruits and grains – and must be sacrificed. He is the personification of the crops that must be harvested for the survival of the people.

Underneath the symbolism of sacrifice is the theme of rebirth. The Corn God must die, and He has to do so in order to return. Without the sacrifice, the cycle stops. Although His strength is waning, His essence is still palpable as His energies begin to merge with the harvested crops. It is at this time that the Sun King has reached the autumn of His years, and His rival (or dark self) has just reached puberty. The Sun God has reigned supreme over the ripening grain during the hot summer months. His dedication, perseverance, and action in tending the seeds sown in spring brings a ripe and fruitful bounty.

Although Lammas is the first of the harvest festivals, fertility imagery may still be found, as there are still crops in the field continuing to grow and livestock and game that have yet to be killed. As the God is honored for His harvest, so the Goddess is honored for bringing forth the first fruits, much as a new mother is honored.

Lammas is also known as Lughnasadh, Lammastide, and First Harvest Festival.

July 30th Ren Faire Temple Outing, Bristol Ren Faire, Bristol, WI

The Temple will be gathering for a day of fun and fellowship at the Bristol Ren Faire. http://www.renfair.com/bristol/
We will meet as a group at the main entrance 30 minutes prior to the opening. Just look for me in my kilt!

Irishfest in Milwaukee August 19-21 Summerfest Festival Grounds by the Lakefront

Our own Rev. Brenda Pergande’s children Ehlix and Kian with be performing with the Kinsella Irish Dance Academy www.kinsellaacademy.com/ on both Friday and Sunday. Let’s all go out and support these kids!

Upcoming events include Mabon in Milwuakee in September, Pagan Pride Day Madison October 1st and then our event of the season, 1st Annual Witches’ Ball and Psychic Faire in Johnson Creek October 28th.

Come and enjoy these events with us