Julies Photo

Meet

Julie Gorham

Leadership Team

xWhy did you get involved with CtH?

I met Thomas and Gabrielle while visiting another UCC Church in Portland, looking for a new church home. They loved a story I shared at the church, and they reached out to me. Thomas in particular made some observations that led to a discussion about healing. I participated in a healing exercise, and noticed immediate improvement. My first experience was in 2000, and I have been a member since that time.

2. What does CtH mean to you?

A welcome and nurturing voice on my journey of growing myself – which for me seems to be two steps forward, one step back. I have always experienced unconditional love, and I have shared deep wisdom and knowledge, with a diverse clan. I am always learning in wide variety of topics – spirituality, meditation, healthy eating and living, steps to physical regeneration, leadership, and giving back.  I’m connected to a diverse and creative group of individuals who are dedicated to personal and planetary healing – this unified consciousness gives me great strength. I’m always encouraged, through gentleness toward greater forgiveness and compassion. I have ample opportunities to practice embodied grace… even when my stubbornness gets in the way – I  stumble into perfect love, over and over again. What a gift!

3. As a covenanted member, would you mind telling us how this process has helped you grow spiritually? And, why do you feel it’s important to grow spiritually?

When creating a covenant, it is exclusively about your individual experience. There’s no comparing you to other. Your individuality is respected, therefore there are no wrong answers to how you communicate your goals toward spiritual growth. Some years show greater enthusiasm and focus than others, and all of it is OK. There are no wrong answers, only my dedication to spiritual goals – however that may look! If If you don’t know how to grow, well, you have a wide group of people here who are glad to share their inspiration with you, on how they intend to grow. It’s very personal. If you don’t know where your blind spots are, I start with a very specific ask (of myself): ‘May I see what I must see, may I hear what I must hear, may I feel what I must feel.’ When I receive insights I take it a step further and say ‘May I be what I must be, may I do what I must do, may I love what I must love.’ If you can seek to better understand yourself, and where you can grow, you will surely find answers. Where are you feeling stagnant? Are there patterns you repeat that you wish to change? Are there ways you want to deepen your connection to God and other? Whatever it is, if you set a goal, you are more likely to achieve a desired outcome. 

4. Is there anything specific you wish to offer new community members who want to grow with us?

If you are looking for a new spiritual community, I would suggest finding an upcoming event that interest you seeing how that feels. This is not a traditional church where we show up to hear teachings every week. We have plenty of opportunities to deepen our walk with God, ourselves and other, but they are based on immersion and participation, not passive listening. We take responsibility for our own spiritual growth we seek to become our own leaders. This is the MOST holistic approach to growth and the organization is continually changing because our founders love to experiment with new thought  froms and thought leadership – we see what inspiration develops. At the live Hillsdale Porch Concert, Ari not only crushed the keyboard, but she took courage to present her poem ‘Venus by Tuesday’, about climate  despair and destruction. That was the seed moved CtH into creating the concept for the Climate Café – a newer initiative to grow awareness for the need for local food growing and sharing – together in community so everyone eats healthy and fresh food, and no one is left hungry. 

While we joke and call ourselves ‘ a merry band of misfits’, because our personalities are all very different, we are deeply loving, spiritually grounded individuals. Not sure which program or event is right for you, just reach out to me through the web form and we can talk about it! 

5. How the Compass of Grace Teachings have helped you move into a state of grace with yourself, your relationships and/or the world around you?

The Compass of Grace teachings teach us how to move into and practice operating in states of grace at will. By learning and practicing in a group setting, we train ourselves to remove our resistance to ‘what is’ no matter the circumstance. It’s a challenge, but when I practice it, it’s better for me and those with whom I exercise grace. I fail often, and I get plenty of opportunities to practice. 

6. How your life has improved or changed as a result of engaging with the CtH leaders and members, or engaging in spiritual and healthy living practices?

As a type A personality, I can be a whirlwind of energy, moving fast, and sometimes I miss important nuances within experiences. I continue to learn ways into stillness of being and internal listening, which has shifted an external focus and made room for reflection. It’s made a world of difference for me. The Body Electronics processes have resulted in miracles for body and heart. I’m also becoming a better leader, when most of my life I learned to be a follower. I am practicing being the change I want to become first, then inviting others to participate in the same. We call this waking up, cleaning up, growing up, and showing up. 

7. Please tell us a little about yourself, personal interests, and how you serve the CtH Community? 

I manage the communications for CtH, including websites and emails. I plan to take a more active leadership role as I make more room in my life for tending to the hearts of others. I enjoy the outdoors, love to hike and be in nature as often as possible. I enjoy playing guitar and creating music. In the spring of 2021 I created an A.R.T.S class, to share talents. We have a very diverse community of artists. What came out of it was a beautiful collaboration and song called Breathe On Me. Two of the artists/musicians joined me to perform music at Hillsdale UCC for a porch concert in September 2021.  We gave ourselves the name  ‘No Matter What’ – for justice, peace and equity. You never know what will emerge in CtH! 

8. What is your leadership role in Christ the Healer?

I am on the Leadership Team, and manage all of the marketing, web, email marketing and communication for CtHUCC. I support others in their growth within our community.  We hope to see you soon!

 

Meet a few of our members!

From the A.R.T.S Class, we created this beautiful song called Breathe on Me. The inspiration came from a hymn by Edwin Hatch. The song that emerged came from this collaboration: 

 

Breathe on me great Mystery
Open my heart to you
That I may love with greater love and
live as Love would do

Breathe in me sweet Mystery
fill me more and more
Let me love the way you love
Until my heart is pure

Chorus:
Breathe on me
Breathe on me
Breathe on me
Mystery

Breathe through me wild Mystery
Lighten me with your flame
Until I see a whole new world where
Nothing is the same

Speak to me great mystery
Tell me something new
That I may live another day to
See a different view

[Chorus]

See through me great Mystery
Fill me with your care
That we may build a whole new world
That is without despair

Walk with me great cosmic friend
Tred all roads with me
Let us breathe in this new life
Where we are truly free

[Chorus to end]