March 2008 Irish Banquet Report …
   Howard Hall filled with green this March weekend for New Life’s St. Patty’s Day celebration. Seekers of Truth came from coast to coast to celebrate the New Life banquet together, including a couple from Vermont. He had heard Vernon Howard speak many years ago in Boulder City, while visiting Las Vegas, NV, evidence of the lasting impression Mr. Howard made on the thousands who heard him.
   Saturday and Sunday each began with a welcome breakfast featuring favorite oven-baked cheese omelets with Hatch green chilies, and a variety of fruits, thanks especially to the efforts of Jodi and Katherine.  We owe a special thanks to the ladies who worked so hard to provide not only the breakfasts but also the banquet meal. The traditional St. Patrick’s menu consisted of corned beef and cabbage, Irish potatoes, a special chicken dish, green salad, and an abundant display of desserts, as well as an extra lunch following the Sunday talks. This preparation provides ladies with a built-in opportunity to apply the principles taught in these classes.
   Bill Brown’s talk on Wednesday evening exposed evil in the world, which is plunging more rapidly downhill; that was counterbalanced by our determination throughout the banquet to instead “go higher.” On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, the talks were presented by other longtime Vernon Howard students. The talks were all inspiring and provided guiding-lights for deeper understanding.
   Highlights from the talks included Saturday’s keynote speaker, director Richard Wooldridge, who cautioned, “We vibrate to the world’s bad news. We don’t have to go into fear over it but just see it as a fact …. We set limitations on ourselves but if we put Truth first, everything in our lives is taken care of.” He added that we are rewarded through being aware of our actions. “You have to exhaust yourself in many ways (make super-efforts), then something outside this world can come to you — then God can help you.”
   Sunday’s keynote speaker Dr. Bruce Tracy repeated the necessity and benefits of effort: “We can do far more than we are doing. Tremendous effort is required. You’re not getting worse since you started working on yourself; it’s just that you’ve just become more aware of what’s going on inside.” Bruce encouraged us that we were “not put here to be at the mercy of this world.” Self-responsibility requires that we “go into immediate action. Who is responsible for the chaos in your life? Never spare yourself.” In a mini-talk Lynne Wooldridge echoed this arousal to action: “We show our gratitude for these teachings by actually changing our nature.”
   David Netherton reminded the class of Vernon’s instruction to get outside of our comfort zone. He told a great story about an invitation that he received to a professional basketball game on the weekend of the banquet. He chose to attend the banquet weekend rather than the game, understanding that the game might provide temporary excitement but that attendance at the banquet could provide an impetus for uplifting and permanent life-change. He explained that we should try to do things we don’t want to do, like talking to someone we don’t usually talk with. Then it is necessary to turn your attention back on yourself in order to see your reactions.
   Banquets really do offer many opportunities for getting out of one’s comfort-zone in order to grow. The more we understand this, the more we see the beauty of participating in all the activities provided there, even those which make us uncomfortable. Those who do this are rewarded with a new kind of energy.
   The banquet took on a festive tone as participants, adorned with Irish green top hats and green or orange accessories, sang Irish songs during the formal entertainment, while the “Pretties” danced to a lively Irish tune. Other acts included a spirited western solo dance by Steve, and an act by Roy and Katherine based on a skit written years ago by Vernon Howard. Judith delighted us with a rendition of an old Irish poem which ended: “… May you be half an hour in heaven a’ fore the devil knows you’re dead.”
   Kyle perhaps best summed it all up when she said, “Coming to a banquet is like when your car battery runs down and has to be recharged; while attending the banquet your own batteries get recharged and renewed.”

Beautiful new brochure …
   Hot off the press is a brand new beautiful brochure with everything that is presently available, including all the new MP3s. If you would like extra copies for yourself, friends or for your store just contact us and we’ll get them out to you right away.

Christmas 2007 Banquet Report …
   “It was the best banquet ever!” commented Terry Roche, as he was leaving to return to California. Of course, as Director Richard Wooldridge has often pointed out, Vernon Howard is still here in Spirit.
   When we willingly put ourselves in the very special circumstances of a banquet, we can actually sense we are being worked on by something higher and it can do for us what we can’t do for ourselves. If we let it, it can help to gradually transform our nature.
   The food, both spiritual and physical, was likely unsurpassed this Christmas day anywhere in the world and the more one got involved in the work and activities, the more one was able to feel the warmth and pleasantness of higher energies. It is such a unique experience it really does make the heart sing. As Roy Pascal said at the evening meal, “There is no way you can explain this to someone. They have to experience it for themselves.”

Thanksgiving 2007 Banquet Report by Judith Anderson …
  The 2007 New Life Thanksgiving Banquet, held in Westminster, California, was yet another celebration of our good fortune in having found the teachings of Truth so generously given to us by Vernon Howard.
  Lest we forget our gratitude and go back to a comfortable sleep, the festivities began with rousing talks on Wednesday evening. Introducing the uncompromising topic “Spirituality is All or Nothing,” Bill Brown began with the rhetorical question “Why are you here?” which stimulated self-investigation and student comments. Bruce Tracy cautioned that every day of our lives the intensity of our choice is being measured, which calls for a mental resolve to come back to ourselves 24 hours a day. Yet as Jon Johannsen reminded us, “You’re not stuck. You don’t have to be like you are!” While something inside us lies and says don’t give up your old life, Bill assured us that we’re trying to make someone real that is not real — “me.” We heard again Vernon Howard’s words of supreme inspiration, “If you still try to take care of yourself, then God can’t do it!”
  On Thursday morning speakers explored how to “Live Your Own Free Life.” Dr. Terry Roche said quite simply to let God make your decisions. Paul Wolfe echoed the biblical injunction that if you put Truth and God first, no matter what the “negative” occurrences, you’ll come out right. New Life director Richard Wooldridge emphasized too that we must place rightness above all else. Then we can learn to ignore the wrongness of others and walk away. Richard filled our spirits with right courage when saying that we have the whole universe on our side, admonishing “NO, you are NOT helpless!” Speakers sent us home with renewed determination to deeply investigate our inner lives and to listen to Truth when it speaks to us.
  A bountiful, delicious dinner with turkey and trimmings was served by the ladies, amplified by the table of limitless desserts. After cooking, carving and consuming our free range birds, we laughed our cares away at the jokes and songs of entertainment. Our hearts sang too, hearing the sweet harmony of our old favorites, such as Bruce and Lynne’s “Let the Rest of the World Go By” and “Till We Meet Again.” The New Life Pretties swelled our hearts anew with their lively dance to the “Orange Blossom Special” (appropriately performed in Orange County). As usual, nutty puns were sprinkled throughout, such as “I’ll take the lesser of two easels.” (You had to be there….)
  And as we made efforts to ignore the old self’s fears and walk away from our resistance to dancing or social congeniality, we sensed the inner liberation of “freedom from me.” What a blessing we were given.

What is a New Life banquet?
  New Life has been having banquets for over 25 years. Our current schedule has banquets in March, May, July, September, Thanksgiving and Christmas. These special weekends were established by Vernon Howard for the purpose of teaching unique spiritual lessons.
  So many elements of both the spiritual and physical are brought together in one congenial setting at one time: inspiring classes, lavish banquet with tables laden with delicious food, a wholesome atmosphere with delightful music and bright, refreshing entertainment.
  At a New Life banquet you can relax and enjoy yourself and at the same time do the inner work of being aware of all that is going on around you.
  The weekends are a right combination and balance of spiritual work, both serious and lighthearted And it is pleasant being with like-minded people who want to grow spiritually and are beginning to know what life is really all about.
  People come to New Life classes and banquets from all over the world and all agree that they leave renewed and refreshed.
  Plan a visit whenever you can. We’ll be glad to make you welcome and you’ll be happy you attended!