You Have a Spiritual Remote Control, Please Use It

James Trapp is an inspirational speaker and strategic advisor to individuals and organizations on enlightened leadership.

He is currently the Senior Minister of Worship at Spiritual Life Center in Sacramento, California. James is also President of Star Human Capital, a consulting firm dedicated to applying universal spiritual principles to inspire and instruct others to create their best lives and strategically improve their organizations.

To see this week's video on YouTube, click here.

He is former CEO of Unity Worldwide Ministries, the international association for Unity communities dedicated to creating positive paths for spiritual living. James is an active participant in cultivating a global community and fostering mutual understanding and respect amongst religious traditions of the world and has participated in the Parliament of the World’s Religions held in Barcelona, Spain, and Melbourne, Australia.

He also served as senior minister at Unity on the Bay in Miami, Florida—a dynamic and diverse spiritual community in South Florida.

As a speaker and new thought leader, he shares his message of respect and appreciation of and harmony with others in the global community. He has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences, meetings, and events.

In addition to being an ordained Unity minister, James has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Princeton University and a JD Degree from the University of Florida. He studied at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, where he enhanced his proficiency for practicing and teaching Mindfulness Meditation.

He is the author of Take Back Your Future: How to Get Unstuck and Create the Life You Want, Love, and Deserve.

He is inspired by his son, Jaelan Mandela Trapp, who is currently a Junior at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

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What is Prayer? with Dr. Edward Viljoen

In my opinion, it’s an important subject to add to the conversation that is taking place around the world about social and racial equity, inclusion, and justice.

To me. It’s appropriate to talk about, or restart, or depend our prayer practice right now, when many of us are sheltering in place. While we are sheltered in place, one of the things we can contribute is our prayer work. This is not the time for less spiritual practice, but for more.

I think of it like this, for those of us who can, we ought to be speaking our word of prayer, for those who are in the front lines, who are in vulnerable populations, who must work and are exposed to danger, and those who would love to work, but cannot, and those whose family and finances are impacted by the pandemic, and those who are not able to pay their rent this month, and those whose are shelterless, and for those who are working for much needed social change, and for those who are frightened,

The list is long... There is enough need, enough requests, enough opportunities for us to be in prayer 24/7/365 –

Indeed – the Bible says we ought to pray without ceasing, and that was before the internet and social media, before the massive information overload that has become part of our reality.

Someone one said “I don’t know what to pray about.”

The teacher answered, read the news – then you’ll know.
This month, we are talking about prayer.


To view this video on YouTube, click here.

Blessings,

Edward Viljoen


Photo by Ester Marie Doysabas on Unsplash


 

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A Conversation About Race Sunday, June 28, 2020 Virtual Service

This Sunday's message is a conversation about race between professional prayer practitioner, Lawrence Edwards, and Dr. Edward Viljoen.  If you'd like to see the video on YouTube, click this link.

Music Attribution Virtual Sunday Service June 28, 2020

Opening Song
Amen Alleluia by Gary Lynn Floyd
www.garylynnfloyd.com
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/vocal/bass

Song Into Prayer
I Rest by Linda Webb-Khakaba
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/vocal

Pretalk Song
Be the Light by Emily Lois
www.emilyloisband.net
Emily Lois – guitar/voca

Offering Song
I Don’t Need to Know by Daniel Nahmod
www.danielnahmod.com
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/vocal

Closing Song
I Am So Blessed by Rickie Byars
www.rickiebyars.org
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/vocal

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June 21, 2020 Virtual Service Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa

Hello. My name is Edward Viljoen. I am a white American born and raised in South Africa, a country where racism was institutionalized in an unjust system of apartheid. I have seen what systemic racism does to a people and a nation. It rips us apart! That is why I join my voice to the chorus being heard around the world. BLACK LIVES MATTER! And not only do they matter, they are sacred.

Centers for Spiritual Living has a vision of a world that works for everyone. The purpose of a vision is to inspire us to move beyond the way things are. Right now, we have the opportunity to embrace an important and compelling conversation about moving beyond the way things are, the end of racism in our world. So, I stand with all spiritual, religious and secular groups that are working toward racial equality.

And I affirm again, BLACK LIVES MATTER. They are sacred and holy.

Today's virtual services includes a video tribute to father's in our community.  Happy Fathers Day.

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What does it mean to have the color skin that you have?

Our recommended book for June is Radical Acceptance, and our focus for June is “I clearly see the path to waking up!”

When we selected this theme a year ago, we did not know how appropriate it would be to what is happening in our nation. A tremendous waking up is happening. 

All over the world people of different cultures, races, genders, and nationalities, are waking up to a sensitive and intense conversation about race. In today's message I explore the questions, what does it mean to be white, and what does it mean to be heterosexual.


My blessings to you,

Edward Viljoen

 

Opening Song
A New Beginning by Linda Webb-Khakaba
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/bass/vocals
Antonio Aversano – percussion


Song Into Prayer
Safe Passage by Claire Victor
Claire Victor, Linda Conner – vocals
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/bass/vocal


Pretalk Song
Lean Into Me by Stefan Mitchell and Jonathan Kingham
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/bass/vocals
Antonio Aversano – shaker/cajon


Offering Song
Who by Jan Garratt & JD Martin
Jan Garratt & JD Martin – performers


Lean Into Me by Stefan Mitchell and JoNathan Kingham
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/bass/vocals
Antonio Aversano – shaker/cajon


Closing Song
Let There Be Peace On Earth by Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/bass/vocal





Photo by Pierre Bamin on Unsplash

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Memorial Day Weekend and Your Inner Knower

This is Memorial Day Weekend – It is a time of remembrance of those who are not here with us. Typically we call to mind those who have gone on in war. And, more broadly, this can also be time is one of honoring all of those who have died leaving a legacy of meaning and richness for those who remain.

To view this week's video on YouTube, click here.

When I think back to people in my life who have made sacrifices on my behalf , when I think of people who have given something extra that I might be OK, some of them in heroic ways, others in quiet service,

I realize that it was never what the person owned that touched me, it was never what they had stashed away in possessions or possition, rather, it was the treasure they had in heaven. By that I mean their consciousness. It was their willingness to live their lives for some greater good for all.

I encourage you to pause several times during this Memorial Day weekend, to remember those people who have passed on, who have made a significant contribution to your life and freedom, becasue of their consciousness of service. I invite you to decorate your mind with their memory, so that some of the values from which they lived their lives may continue to live in our world.

Service Music May 24, 2020

Opening Song

Christopher Fritzsche

Amen Alleluia by Gary Lynn Floyd

www.garylynnfloyd.com

Song into the Prayer

Christopher Fritzsche

America the Beautiful Lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates Music by Samuel A. Ward

Pretalk Song

Jan Garrett and JD Martin

Red Rock Jan Garrett & JD Martin

https://garrett-martin.com/index.html

Offering Song

Christopher Fritzsche

I Always Know What I Need to Know by Karen Taylor-Good

https://www.facebook.com/KarenTaylorGood.StoweGood

Closing Song

Christopher Fritzsche

Blessed Always by Rickie Byars

https://www.rickiebyars.org/

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Spiritual Oneness and the Shooting of Ahmaud Arbery

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May 10, 2020 Mother's Day Virtual Service

 

In many countries around the world, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Some countries celebrate Mother’s Day in March, others in April. I grew up in a country where Mother’s Day was not widely known as a celebration. When I learned about the beautiful practice of honoring motherhood in all its forms on a particular day, I had already immigrated to another country. So I called my mother to wish her Happy Mother’s Day. I’ll never forget her response. She said, oh Edward, every day is Mother’s Day.

To view this week's video on YouTube, click here.

As we continue our focus this month on Listening to our hearts to discover our Soul purpose, I invite you to consider this: that every day is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate, not only motherhood in all its forms, but also that aspect of the Divine within us that embraces, loves, includes, nurtures, and knows us. Think of that divine something within as your heart.

When we practice listening to our hearts, we become better at relating to others authentically and compassionately. When we do, the realization that we are always connected grows in us, and we are guided to the most compassionate choices and ways of being with one another.

Let’s begin our service today by saying Thank you to all of those who gave birth to and nurtured another life. It is the most important job and responsibility for one to take on. I am grateful for the continuity and the rhythm of Life Itself. I am thankful for the Divine Wisdom ever-present and available. I am grateful for that Inner Voice that never leads us astray. We still our minds and open our hearts and listen.

At the end of today’s service we have a beautiful tribute to mother’s and grandmothers in our community. The tribute was prepared by Bette Smith, one of the behind the scenes team members who work tirelessly every week to bring our virtual service to life.

So please stay tuned for that.

And our community announcements are given by a mother daughters team

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