217 EAST 28th STREET • NEW YORK NY 10016 • 212 •689 •3622 
Newsletter  March 2008 – June 2008 
Thank You  The New York City Center would like to thank you for your generosity in the form of prayers and pledges for our building. We thank you for your continued support on the repayment of our building loan from Mother Center.
Special Services  The following special services will be held by the New York City Center:

Friday,   March 7  6:30–8:30pm  Mahasamadhi of Paramahansa
Yogananda
Sunday, March 9 1:30–2:30pm Mahasamadhi of Sri Yukteswar
Saturday,   May 10  6:30–8:30pm Birthday of Sri Yukteswar
              
                
            

Mahasamadhi means "great ecstasy", the union of the soul with the Infinite during a God-realized yogi's final exit from the physical body. Please bring a flower to each special service as a symbol of devotion to God and Guru, and a donation may be offered as a symbol of loyalty to Self-Realization Fellowship. Special services are open to SRF students and members and anyone drawn to the Self-Realization Fellowship line of Gurus.
Good Friday Service  We will have a Good Friday Service on Friday, March 21 from 6:30 -8:30pm. The chapel will  be open for private meditation beginning at 5:00pm. 
Cancelled Services On Friday, March 7 the three-hour meditation will be cancelled due to the Paramahansa Yogananda Mahasamadhi service. On Friday, March 21, the Good Friday Service will take the place of the regular three-hour meditation. 
Monastic Led Retreat  Friday, May 16 through Sunday, May 18 is the date for our monastic led Regional Weekend Retreat to be held at the Xavier Center in Morristown, New Jersey. For further details please refer to the accompanying registration and information sheet. 
Annual Picnic 
Saturday, June 14 will be the date and Colonial Park, Lot C, Knob Hill picnic area, Mettlers Road, Somerset, New Jersey will be the site of our Joint Annual Picnic (Somerset/Princeton/ Philadelphia/Bethlehem Groups) to be held from11:00AM-4:00PM. Rain date – Saturday, June 21 Lot G opposite Arboretum on Mettlers Road. Please join us with family and friends for spiritual company, kirtan, games and great vegetarian food. Bring a vegetarian dish to share. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the Lobby for those who need a ride or can offer rides.

By car: Directions will be available at the Center, emailed and posted on the website.
By train: From Penn Station (33rd Street/7th Avenue) – Trains to New Brunswick, NJ depart at 10:14am arriving 11:09am; departing 11:14am arriving at 12:09pm. Transportation will be provided from the New Brunswick train station to the picnic. For additional information or to verify the departure times close to the date check www.njtransit.com or call NJ Transit at 1-800-772-2222. A transportation coordinator will be announced. 
Food Drive  We will again be collecting food for distribution to needy members of our community this Easter. A list of appropriate food items will be posted at the information table in the lobby. Nonperishable food items and canned goods are especially needed. All contributions may be brought to the Center and left in a designated area until Sunday, March 30. Thinking of the needs of others in our greater human family is a good way to celebrate the Easter season. 
India Night  Save the date. Our annual India Night festivities will take place on Saturday, June 7. Further details will be available. 
Sunday School / Teen Group  June 15th will be the final day of Sunday School classes and Teen Group sessions before our summer break. Classes will resume in September with the date to be announced.
Volunteers Practice Karma Yoga by joining us on one of our service committees, Beautification, Booksales, Flowers, Social/Fundraising, Maintenance, Ushers and Greeters. Your service is needed and greatly appreciated in helping to maintain our Guru’s home here in New York City. Our beloved Guru has said, “The deeper you meditate and the more willingly you serve, the happier you will be.” Sign up on the sheet in the lobby or call the Center at (212) 689-3622.
Social/ Fellowship  There will be a light refreshment Social after the service on Sunday, March 16th and Sunday, April 13th, at 12noon. All who are new to the Center are welcome to come join us to meet other devotees and share fellowship. 
Potluck Social  Please bring a main dish, salad, dessert, and juice to our Potluck Meal on Sunday, May 4 at 12noon, following the service. Please contact Jane at janelong14@msn.com to coordinate dishes or to volunteer. 
Prayer Circle  If you have lost a family member or loved one or if there is someone you know who is in need of prayers, we encourage you to contact the Center at (212) 689-3622. 
Check Policy  Please note that all checks to the Center should be made out to Self-Realization Fellowship; this includes donations and those for the Building Fund. Remember to make a notation on the check if it is for the Building Fund. All checks are tax-deductible. 
Booksales  Books, photos, CDs, DVDs and other devotional items are on sale in our bookroom after the service on Sundays from 12:00noon-12:30pm and on Thursdays from 8:00-8:30pm. 
 
Child Supervision  A reminder that it is the parents’ responsibility to accompany and supervise their children at the Center at all times. This is to ensure their safety especially regarding the elevator and stairwells. We thank you for your support and consideration. 
SRF Websites  If you have access to a computer and on-line services, visit Mother Center’s SRF website at http://www.yogananda-srf.org/ You can also visit the New York City Center website at http://www.newyorkcitycenter.org 
E-Newsletter  We are now sending our newsletter by email, as well as posting it on our website and making printed copies available at the Center. Please provide us with your current email address at our website www.newyorkcitycenter.org or via a mailing list card at the Center. (Please note that we are retaining physical mailing addresses for those who do not have email service, as well as for occasional postal mailings.)
D   A   T   E   S       T   O       R   E   M   E   M  B   E   R  
MARCH 
2 Sunday  Easter Food Drive begins 
7 Friday  Mahasamadhi of Paramahansa Yogananda 6:30-8:30pm (Regular Friday Meditation cancelled) 
9 Sunday  Mahasamadhi of Sri Yukteswar 1:30-2:30pm 
16 Sunday  Fellowship Social at 12:00noon 
21 Friday  Good Friday service 6:30-8:30pm (chapel open at 5pm) (Regular Friday Meditation cancelled) 
30 Sunday  Easter Food Drive ends 
APRIL 
13 Sunday  Fellowship gathering after service 12:00noon 
MAY 
4 Sunday  Potluck Meal 12:00noon 
10 Saturday  Birthday of Sri Yukteswar 6:30-8:30pm 
16-18 Fri.-Sun.  Monastic led Weekend Retreat at Xavier Center, Morristown, NJ 
JUNE 
7 Saturday  India Night Celebration 
14 Saturday 

Annual Joint picnic at Colonial Park, Knob Hill area (Lot C)
11am-4pm Somerset, NJ (Raindate: Saturday, June 21 Lot G) 

15 Sunday  Final day of Sunday School and Teen Group sessions before summer break