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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
There is an inner divine urge, a purposefulness of Spirit, that resides within each of us at all times: our soul -- and It has the ability to know what it wants.
Imagine that with me, that there is such a divine urge within you, and it knows what it wants. Not only that, but the more you and I become aware of it and listen to it, the more our lives become a reflection of the holy splendor that lives in us.
Our founder, Dr. Ernest Holmes, said that understanding our unity with the Divine is the beginning of wisdom. “You may be sure of this,” our founder also said, that “there is an integrity to your soul such as you will find nowhere else in the Universe.”
And so, I invite you, this month, on a spiritual journey to rediscover what your heart, your soul, wants to express through you for the greater good of all. And I invite you to begin or continue, a regular practice of listening to its gentle and powerful message.
There is a good reason why the words heart and soul are sometimes used interchangeably. It is a clue as to the nature of what is at the center of our beings: Love, a love that embraces, includes, and affirms. Ah, when we listen to that voice, surely we will take our place in the world as an ambassador for compassion, sharing, forgiveness, and service.
The path of the nonconformist! Not conforming, is not the same as rebelling. It is the result of being deeply in tune with the creative spirit that exists within you as a unique expression of life.
Music by Christopher Fritzsche, Amy Bishop, Cricket, and Tom Yanes.
Prayer practitioner, Jeff Basham.
Right after a service broadcast, you are invited to receive a free five-minute confidential one-on-one prayer from one of our licensed practitioners. You can connect to our virtual Grinton Chapel at 9:30 am, 11 am, and 12:30 pm. Here is the link: https://tinyurl.com/grintonprayer
"This wonderful book guides any individual to understand Science of Mind with ease and grace. It is a simple and beautiful presentation of the Spiritual Principles Science of Mind teaches. I highly recommend this book to students, licensed Practitioners and ministers. Blessings to Rev Edward." ~ Johan Gonzalez RScP. Science of Mind and Spirit for Beginners: Four Chapters in Simplified Prose, paraphrased by Edward VIljoen
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Practice The Presence Journal
Journaling offers a powerful way to record your spiritual growth. Writing in a journal calls on you to be more conscious of the insights that occur daily in your life. It gives you an opportunity to examine your beliefs and be mindful of your choices.
Seeing Good At Work
I have been through the book three times over three years, and am starting it again. This is not because the material in the book is not working, but because it is working so well! The weekly lessons keep me on track and focused on what is actually true and important, and help me experience more good in every area of my life. LS
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