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Sacred Herb Church Minutes Begin Here Reported By A
Couple Of Anonymous Witnesses And An Unnamed Editor
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The "Reverend Friendly" had appeared on
television advocating someone's business establishment during
Christmas.
So I hiked toward the hills with a new adult "Sister" recruit and were picked up, spur of the moment, by the "Reverend Mike" himself, in his van as we entered the mouth of the canyon. He speaks of Psychosis; which still seem to stem from "Shell-Shock" in "Vietnam;" which he is prescribed "Marinol" by his Doctor the synthetic medicinal form of Marijuana; to alleviate his trauma. And so we climbed, and we climbed up to this ridge overlooking the city which seems to have been camped on for a hundred years or more.
The Church meeting consisted of eight people or so sitting in a small but poor rendition of the Circle. They were merely survivors hanging on to that life buoy because they believe in "all we live, day by day, we are meant to be!" It seemed pathetic though !
The "Reverend Mike" promised us a building for the Winter and told us to meet next week at a "Meeting Hall" ...somewhere around Boulder, (sorry, that information is classified). Others volunteered their space too! A warehouse, and a set of trailers. We would rotate meetings to different sites, to remain inconspicuous to the public and to the Police and City Government.
Rather than the usual Anonymous Charity collection (which is a collection taken up of the congregants for money, tokens, cigarettes, gifts, food and then redistributed to the needy ones at the church that day); a new collection began, to start paying for rent for a Winter Palace, This old Lodge place; our new "Meeting Hall". The Show must go on! Still the "Reverend will probably invest the most out any of us; most of us are very poor in the pocket; but rich in the spirit!
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The "Kiosks" on the Pearl St. Mall were littered with "4:20" Flyers and twenty people showed up for our spiritual circle on January 5th, 1997 at the "Hall". Mainly men, thirty years old and up, just a couple of women. A large number of homeless. Yet one man stood up and said: "I may be houseless; but I'm not homeless; the whole Earth is my home!" The group seemed to be content that there were no youngsters this time and joked how we could be more like a traditional church: "Send the children downstairs to sunday school; while the adults perform the Holy Sacrament in the Chapel." Some Ideas were tossed around about welcoming back "Rainbow Folk" (Hippies) in the Spring time; and organizing a benefit fundraiser.
"Reverend Evan" declared that back in the Summer, he personally spoke to police who assured him that if we had a building to conduct Church in; they would not bother us.
A collection was taken up to put towards the rent. A couple people got a couple dollars out for food at least.
The "Reverend Mike" privately resigned and left the leadership to a thirty-five year old Longhair: "Reverend Evan."
The service was held in the "Meeting Hall." The congregation seemed out of its element inside a building. At least we maintain tradition and sit in the Round. Still the people seemed clueless as how to interact in a closed environment. The genuiness of the freedom of the outdoors and nature was absent. The "unspoken" individual relationships each of us have with the "God Consciouness" and our many diverse and various beliefs and myths which support it, seemed intimidated in this new forum. The meetings became more like "meetings" than "Sanctuary".
A long leafy bundle of Sage was passed around the Circle billowing with smoke, as people began waving it around their own bodies and adopted blessing themselves, in a blanket of smoldering Sage; as they incorporate it with individual prayer and meditations. And so be it! A new tradition is born into the "H-Church".
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"We have the most The "Down to Earth" relationship with our Creator and our Universe out of all the
Churches and spiritual meetings within the City of Boulder; outside
in the sanctuary of Earth itself;" one of the Brothers remarked in
his blessings to the "H-Church"
"70's Rock-God Clone;" straight from the Seventies himself; the one & only "Johnny Dragon" returned since
Summer meetings in the Park to be our Inspirational Voice with
acapella "Robert Plant Blues" styled songs of Universal Love.
"Reverend Evan" asked for the "long-time
regulars" to stay after to establish an "Inner Circle" to organize a
strong foundation and network. He talked about organizing the
"benefit festival" with bands and booths and endorsing
organizations.
Names of groups and individuals were
mentioned in suggestion that we should seek support and endorsement
from; such Groups and Individuals as:
"Rev. Ev" asked for volunteers and
collaboration, but no-one was quick to jump up and dive in head
first.
There were varying views within this new
"Inner Circle" As one Advocate named "A-Josh" expressed himself:
"Reverend Evan" expressed the need for
"Hierarchy" to keep things in control and according to plan. He
showed the need for mobilization for a core group in control so
progress could be made.
The "Inners" argued for and against matters
concerning: The original free-nature of Church Services vs. The
organizational quality of officers and members.
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The argument escalated to the point where one side compared "The New H-Church" with the one entity we have tried to avoid emulating: The Catholic Church.
The "Advocate Josh" spoke up and said: "We don't have to do the same thing that "Paul" did 2000 years ago!"
What was that? "Rev. Ev." and the "Closer
Bros." heatedly probed.
"To take one Great Brother's word of Peace
and Love and exploit upon it to create an Empire that defied national boundaries. We are speaking of the Bureaucracy that established the Catholic Church!" `A-Josh' showered them with arduous words.
Yet the others held strong to the idea of building their own "Babylon" it seemed. The true Hippie Spirit was
lacking here.
Amazingly no collection this week. "Rev. Ev." will obviously end up compensating 25% of this month's rent plus his usual share.
Ordained by the "Reverend Mike Domangue" in the beginning; The "Reverend Michael Marijuana" joined forces and immediately became "Hierarchy" of the Church along with "Rev. Ev."
This was the largest and most diverse Circle meeting, of the Winter both racially, spiritually; oh! ... and by sex and age. The Circle was so large it filled the perimeter of the Chapel space in a wavy pattern. An Anonymous Charity collection was taken up and then redistributed to the needy ones in the group this week. The burning Sage was once again a big hit. Yet all were not satisfied.
A Native American woman named "Lauren" and a Chief revisited the "H-Church" this day. The woman "Lauren" was disturbed about the lack of spirituality and progress this family has made since the Summer. She declares us an "Unorganized Political Action Committee" and not a church.
"More like a flock of gaggling Geese who complain, yet do nothing to accomplish their dreams!" She says that we are on the verge of something that is so in touch with God; that if we would just become aware of the community we could share; we wouldn't even have a need to fight the Authorities.
"If we could just recognize our "Genuineness" we would be so in tune with the Highest of the High: Our Reason for Being. Our Origin and Our End. The Great Spirit of all things great and small!" This Woman was very inspiring. Immediately one could notice a difference in the "Mass Mood" (figuratively speaking of course!) The People started waking up to themselves.
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"Johnny Dragon" gave us his "Led Zeppelin"
gospel singing. "John de A.R.K." introduced himself as our new
ministry Organist (That is if you could still call it "Rock`n'Roll"). He played some very traditional hymns in a very radical Accordion and vocal style.
An Asian Senior Citizen,also came to witness
the "H-Church" firsthand and he praised us by saying; we "have a
very good thing here with potential to make it grow with hard and
focused work!" And since the moment the Woman spoke he had seen
already an effort by us to reach our spiritual nature.
The Native American Woman "Lauren" repeated herself several times insisting that we have a start; but we "must try harder to be more "Genuine"." She left without feeling
accomplished; yet it seems it did make a difference. The service
ended with a strong Circle on their feet holding hands and Chanting
an impressively strong series of the Mantra: "Om".
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Later that day; an improvised "Hemp Legalization Rally" occurred up near the "Chamber of Commerce" building on Pearl st. & 28th st. This "Rev. Michael Marijuana" seemed to be a key speaker in this "4:20 Rally". The rally seemed to go on unrecognized by most of Boulder. The number in attendance is undetermind.
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It was announced by the "Inners" that the "Reverend Friendly" was in jail (at this time we were unsure of the charges).
Saturday, January 25: A man called "Don" who is unofficially nominated for the office of Secretary to the Church; is arrested while walking the Pearl St. Mall on a three-month old Warrant that the Police ignored until now. It was discussed throughout the group: "Is it coincidence or did they take him to threaten him with his warrant to obtain information about us?" "Did the "Feds" just take him out of the running to cause us problems?" "Maybe it was just that his "number" was up!"
Beside the usual Anonymous Charity collection; a bail collection was also taken up. Usually the amount collected is only enough to buy a Brother a pack of cigarettes, or a bar of soap for their cellular stay.
"Rev. Ev." read to the "Circle of Souls", with some spiritual poetry; Longfellow? ...and Walt Whitman!
The veteran "Reverend Jeff" A.K.A. "Huggybear" attended today. He currently runs this "Commune" near Coloado Springs and barely has a chance to come up to Boulder. "John de A.R.K." gave us hymns on the Squeezebox Personal Sage blessings continue with great popularity.
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...and "Johnny Dragon" gave us his farewell
concert. He was leaving for South America for many months the very
next day. "Dragon's" mission is to perform concerts in Spanish as a
benefit to raise money for poor families there.
Our "Guest Speakers" today were these two
"Born-Again Christian" converts from the `Seventies' who converted
again into themselves; whom keep their Christian beliefs, but
believe in living their own lives and has adopted "Industrial Hemp"
for their resources for textiles, paper, and flour. They lectured
and recited the whole story of John Revelations 2 of the New
Testament and Apochrypha. The congregation thinned out during this
hour. Many "Herb Church" participants, resist anything to do with
Christianity. Some are Pagan and some probably just rebellious of
their upbringing. But mostly they see the Murder and Treason
Committed by the Catholic Church; throughout the "Crusades and their
Missionary work up to the present day; and want no part of that!
A Middle-Class Native American Grandfather came to visit us today with his two grandsons who are about 19; and witness our way. He was very pleased with us and spoke up and said: "Even though I don't use or care for Marijuana; certainly having seen what "drugs" could do to a person; I don't feel you are abusing anything or even doing anything wrong!" This man assured; he has never seen a more naturally spiritual and honest and close group of people gathered; ever. He felt his "Heart Open" to us; because he could feel the "Love and Respect" we have for each other.
The Grandfather approved of his Grandson's
choice for a Church Group.
There was a small; standing, hand holding;
"Circle" in the end with only a couple of people chanting a short
"Om." then we disbanded.
Unlike the other meetings at the "Hall" where there was a good mix of both men and women. This gathering was mostly men. We always must stress; we sit in a Circle. "Reverend Evan" reads "Equal Rights" propaganda, and "Religious Freedom" literature by people of supressed religions throughout the country and around the world.
The meetings are becoming more Uniformed, Rigid, and Formatted. It is unlike the "Freelove"/"Hippie" quality it had, during the summer. Although it seems it is moving into a more politically active and potentially effective group; it is far from being organized. Like most organizations; most people are followers; and the unofficial but active core group consists of a half dozen people; "The Inner Circle."
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"Reverend Evan", "Born-Again Mick", and
"The Colorado Hemp Initiative" met later that day to discuss their
successes in about eight cities across Colorado and with the
"H-Church's" assistance, hopes to influence their agenda on
Boulder.
Once again we are joined by the musical
accompaniment of "John de A.R.K."
Personal Sage blessings increase with Godspeed; and an Anonymous Charity collection was taken up and then
redistributed to the needy ones in the group this week.
Some proceeds go towards rent, but the "Reverends" always dished out
the extra bucks to cover all the charges.