Quotations Used in the Sunday Message
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“Earth Day 2024: Respecting Our Planet…Doing Our Part” 04-21-24
Core Statement:
“As Respectful Stewards Of Planet Earth Let’s Take Wise, Accountable Action” sv
Scripture:
Jeremiah 2:7 (NRSVUE)
7 I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruits and its good things. But when you entered you defiled my land…
Genesis 1:26 (ESV)
26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (The Hebrew word for dominion does not mean “to dominate” or “to exploit.” Rather, it means “to take sacred responsibility for)
Galatians 6:9-10 (NKJV)
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good…
1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV)
2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
Special Reading:
Since the start of human civilization, we’ve cleared 46% of trees globally… In 2022 alone, we lost 22.8 million hectares of tree cover to deforestation, logging and fires — equivalent to a soccer field of trees every six seconds.
--- www.EarthDay.org
Earth Month is an annual observance during the month of April that focuses on raising awareness about environmental issues — and promoting actions to protect the planet. It is a time for individuals, organizations, and communities to come together and take action to secure a more sustainable future. Small actions can create a big impact — and it can start with planting a tree. Trees provide a range of benefits, including cleaning the air we breathe, filtering the water we drink, providing habitat for biodiversity, and so much more! They play a crucial role in combating climate change and creating a greener, healthier planet for future generations.
-- www.OneTreePlanted.org
“Planet vs Plastics” Earth Day is a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, encouraging us to come together and take action for a healthier planet and brighter future… For Earth Day 2024 on April 22nd, EARTHDAY.ORG is unwavering in our commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040.
-- www.EarthDay.org
Quotes:
To waste, to destroy our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them.
--Theodore Roosevelt
The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.
--Robert Swan
What do you need to solve the climate crisis? The answer is, everyone… If we don’t take care of this planet, who will?
--Katharine Hayhoe
You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
--Jane Goodall
If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.
--Betty Reese
There is no such thing as ‘away’. When we throw anything away, it must go somewhere.
--Annie Leonard
The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.
-- Gaylord Nelson
A vibrant, fair, and regenerative future is possible — not when thousands of people do climate justice activism perfectly, but when millions of people do the best they can. We are on Earth to take care of life. We are on Earth to take care of each other.
--Xiye Bastida
“Spiritual Community (Part 2)…Making A Difference” 04-14-24
Core Statement:
“We Make A Difference Through Our Heartfelt, Choiceful Desire To Connect & Serve With Others” sv
Scripture:
Philippians 1:27 (NRSV)
27b…You are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace…
Galatians 6:10 (NRSV)
10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all…
Philippians 2:4 (ESV)
4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
James 2:26 (NRSVUE)
26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
1 Corinthians 3:8-9 (ESV)
8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages… 9 For we are God's fellow workers.
Special Readings:
Think back to the most important experiences of your life, the highest highs, the greatest victories, the most daunting obstacles overcome. How many happened to you alone? I bet there are very few. When you understand that being connected to others is one of life’s greatest joys, you realize that life’s best comes when you initiate and invest in solid relationships.
--John C. Maxwell
The person who is truly effective has the humility & reverence to recognize his own perceptual limitations and to appreciate the rich resources available through interaction with the hearts & minds of other human beings.
--Stephen Covey
Quotes:
Thriving 21st century spiritual communities are composed of many individual people who come together to create a deep and meaningful experience where everyone grows spiritually together and each person is valued for the unique experiences they contribute to the whole.
--Tracy Brown
As we become increasingly aware of our global interdependence as a species, we can also deepen awareness of our
spiritual interconnectedness. We cannot live in total isolation. The cross-cultural communion of awakened souls may be a key to co-creating a sustainable future and living in harmony with the earth.
--Frances Vaughan
It is not more bigness that should be our goal. We must attempt, rather, to bring people back to...the warmth of community, to the worth of individual effort and responsibility...and of individuals working together as a community, to better their lives…
--Robert F. Kennedy
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.
--Dr. Seuss
Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light.
--Norman B. Rice
In our hectic, fast-paced, consumer-driven society, it's common to feel overwhelmed, isolated and alone. Many are re-discovering the healing and empowering role that community can bring to our lives. The sense of belonging we feel when we make the time to take an active role in our communities can give us a deeper sense of meaning and purpose.
--Robert Alan Silverstein
Simply being with other people who are also seekers and who are involved in the same quest you are is very meaningful.
--Dan Wakefield
In giving you are throwing a bridge across the chasm of your solitude.
--Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Interdependence is & ought to be as much the ideal of man as self-sufficiency. Man is a social being.
--Mahatma Gandhi
I remind myself that I’m always more satisfied by human interaction than by a digital connection.
--Maulik Pancholy
“Spiritual Community…Connecting Together (Part 1) 04-07-24
…Making A Difference” (Part 2)
Core Statement:
“Living A Spiritual Life Is More Than A Solo Endeavor" sv
Scripture:
Matthew 18:20 (ESV)
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
1 Peter 2:5a (NASB)
5you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house…
1 Corinthians 14:26 (NRSV)
26 What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,47 praising God…
1 John 1:7a (NKJV)
7a But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another...
Proverbs 21:21 (NRSVUE) 21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor.
Special Reading:
One of the greatest barriers to connection is the cultural importance we place on "going it alone." Somehow we've come to equate success with not needing anyone. Many of us are willing to extend a helping hand, but we're very reluctant to reach out for help when we need it ourselves. It's as if we've divided the world into "those who offer help" and "those who need help." The truth is that we are both.
--Brene Brown The Gifts of Imperfection
Quotes:
It feels good to be in a community. Community, above all, is bigger than individuals–we are something much more than individuals when we are part of a community.
--Tony Blackshaw
The spiritual path is not a solo endeavor… We are in it together and the company of spiritual friends helps us realize our interconnectedness.
--Tara Brach
We're losing social skills, the human interaction skills, how to read a person's mood, to read their body language, how to be patient until the moment is right to make or press a point. Too much exclusive use of electronic information dehumanizes what is a very, very important part of community life and living together.
--Cardinal Vincent Nichols
If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose in life? It is other life; it is love, which gives your life meaning. We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth.
--Mitsugi Saotome
There is no true joy in a life lived closed up in the little shell of the self. When you take one step to reach out to people, when you meet with others and share their thoughts and sufferings, infinite compassion and wisdom well up within your heart. Your life is transformed.
--Daisaku Ikeda
We can bring positive energy into our daily lives by smiling more, talking to strangers in line, replacing handshakes with hugs, and calling our friends just to tell them we love them.
--Brandon Jenner
When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to
develop inner happiness and peace.
--The Dalai Lama
“The Easter Message…A Story Of Transformation" 03-31-24
Core Statement:
“Centering In Spirit Guides Us Beyond Challenges To Rise Up In Christ Consciousness” sv
Scripture:
Revelation 22:13 (NRSVUE)
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Isaiah 40:28b (NIV) 28
…The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
Matthew 28:1-2,5-6 (ESV)
1Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 5But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here, for he has risen…
Luke 24:6-7 (NRSVUE)
6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be…crucified and on the third day rise again.”
Isaiah 60:1 (NKJV)
1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
1 John 1:5 (NRSVUE) 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.
Special Readings:
Rebirth is the main theme behind not only Christianity but other religions that have celebrated the resurrection mythology. The symbolic nature of Easter is the process of dying to the old self & being reborn in a spiritual sense. Beyond religious dogma lies a deeper meaning that can be utilized for anyone inclined to live a more fulfilling life. Easter can be a powerful metaphor, one that helps us to re-examine our current state of being & then decide how we need to evolve.
--Sonyo Zofia
History shows that the cross was used by many civilizations as a spiritual & mystical symbol (with “pagan” origins)…In Assyria, Babylonia, Egypt, Greece, Asia, India, centuries before Christ. The “cross symbol” is varied, and is much older than Jesus or Christianity. The "Christian" use of the cross did not begin until the time of Constantine, three centuries after the death Christ.
--www.heosophytrust.org/695-cross
The cross is a powerful symbol representing the connection between heaven and earth, a meeting point of death and rebirth and new spiritual awareness… The horizontal dimension represents the life of matter… The vertical dimension is the timeless spiritual plane. The cross is the expression of the meeting of the two...the best possible expression of human existence.
--www.dreamdictionary.org/symbolism/cross-symbolic-meaning/
Like many Christian holidays [Easter] is connected to older mythologies…. You can tell this by the fact that Easter is a movable feast: The date changes each year because it is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring equinox. Easter is also the holiday of the pagan Germanic goddess Eostre, the goddess of the dawn. She is celebrated at springtime, when the light begins to return in the Northern Hemisphere to warm up the earth, bringing with it food, flowers, and the promise of a new season. The eggs and bunnies so often seen around Easter are actually symbols of the Goddess’ fertility.
--Julie Peters (MA, E-RYT, YACEP)
Quotes:
The things we associate with the secular side of Easter — eggs, rabbits, etc. — are symbols that predate Easter itself. The traditions of the modern Christian celebration of Easter are directly tied to the traditions of the ancient pagans… as Christianity spread, Christian converts decided to coincide their holy day celebrations with pagan celebrations that already existed. They did this to escape persecution by the pagans…
--Peter Thunell
The Holy Week message is one of preparation to rise to a new level of being. We prepare by releasing our limitations, doing our inner work to transform our consciousness to create a receptivity to the new. Then, we move through the “crucifixion” – whatever the personal challenge and discomfort are – and allow the inner change to gestate, finally rising as the new consciousness. In this way, we are transformed. The risen Christ Consciousness within is awakened and expresses as a new version of self…
--Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That
Eastertide…the resurrection of the mind from the darkness of its doubts & false beliefs into the light of understanding… (paraphrased). The word crucifixion means the crossing out in consciousness of certain errors that have become fixed states of mind… the giving up of the personality in order that the Christ Mind may be expressed in all its fullness.
--Charles Fillmore Keep A True Lent
Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.
--Desmond Tutu
“Palms To Honor A Humble Journey” 3-24-24 Palm Sunday
Core Statement:
“A Heightened Spiritual Consciousness Reduces Egoic Actions & Repercussions” sv
Scripture & Quotes:
John 10:10b (NKJV) Jesus speaking:
10b … I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Matt 21:6-9
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
The symbolism of the donkey may refer to the Eastern tradition that it is an animal of peace, versus the horse, which is the animal of war. A king came riding upon a horse when he was bent on war and rode upon a donkey when he wanted to point out he was coming in peace. Jesus' entry to Jerusalem would thus symbolize his entry as the Prince of Peace, not as a war-waging king.
--www.wikipedia.palmsunday
The crowds looked for a Messiah who would rescue them politically and free them nationally, but Jesus had come to save them spiritually…Mankind’s primary need is spiritual, not political, cultural, or national salvation.
--www.gotquestions.org/Palm-Sunday.html
James 3:13 (NIV)
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
Psalm 37:11 (NASB)
11 But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
Special Reading:
In many lands in the ancient Near East, it was customary to cover in some way the path of someone thought worthy of the highest honour. Both the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John report that people gave Jesus this form of honour. However, in the synoptics they are only reported as laying their garments and cut rushes on the street, whereas John specifies fronds of palm.
--en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Sunday
Unity Reading:
Spiritual consciousness puts all men and all things on a common level. In the sight of God there is no great, no small… Jesus taught & exemplified the willingness of divine love to serve in humble ways…this Christ cleansing through love is not only a teaching; it is also a life to be lived.
-- Charles Fillmore Mysteries Of John
Humility/Humble Definition: Showing that you do not think of yourself as better than other people; not arrogant or falsely prideful
Quotes:
Most of the information about the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ comes from Bible books known as the gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These accounts are not exhaustive. They are not chronological. They do not have identical accounts of many events and they record them in a different order. This makes piecing together an exact timeline impossible.
-- www.christianity.org.uk/article/timeline-of-jesus-life
Humility leads to strength and not to weakness. It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes and to make amends for them.
--John J. McCloy
A humble person is more concerned about what is right than about being right, about acting on good ideas than having good ideas, about embracing new truth than defending outdated position, about building the team than exalting self, about recognizing contribution, than being recognized for making it.
--Stephen M.R. Covey
Pride is the problem, humility is the answer.
--Joyce Meyer
While your arrogance may give you a sense of power, it may serve you better to put it aside. Those are the times you will be the light of the world.
--J 'son M. Lee
If one assumes a humble attitude, one’s own good qualities will increase. Whereas if one is proud, one will become jealous of others, one will look down on others, and due to that there will be unhappiness in society.
--Dalai Lama XIV
Humility is never about being small, unseen and unnoticed. Humility is really about expressing all the wonder you are in a way that all people see is the awesomeness and greatness of GOD.
--TemitOpe Ibrahim
“Irish Music…Soul Language Of Ireland” 03-17-24
Core Statement:
”Music Is A Universal Language Of Laughter, Love & Tears That Heals, Inspires & Uplifts” sv
Scripture:
Ephesians 5:18b-19 (NASB)
18 …be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts…
2 Chronicles 5:13 (NIV)
13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals & other instruments, the singers raised their voices…and sang…
Special Reading:
Music is an essential aspect of all human civilizations and has the power to emotionally, morally, and culturally affect society. When people from one culture exchange music with each other, they gain valuable insight into another way of life. Learning how music and social bonding are linked is especially crucial in times of conflict when other lines of communication prove to be challenging… It can help in the healing process, dismantling walls and boundaries, reconciliation, and education. Around the world, music is being used as a vehicle for social change and bringing communities together… Music has the power to connect with and influence people in a way that feels fundamentally different from other forms of communication.
--www.savethemusic.org/blog/how-does-music-affect-society/
Quotes:
Music is a universal language. It has the unique ability to communicate with you and connect you to the Universe in ways you can’t find elsewhere… If you’re open to its healing powers, music often resonates on a level much deeper than cognitive comprehension; it reaches your soul… Whether you listen to classical, grunge, pop, singer/songwriter, alternative, rock, bluegrass, country, or folk, the music you’re listening to affects your mind, body, and spirit in substantial ways… Music has a transcendent property that can connect you to something greater than yourself and has been proven to positively affect spirituality and quality of life.
--www.chopra.com/articles/5-healing-benefits-of-listening-to-music
Songs and melodies have the power to inspire people, guide their actions, and aid in the formation of identities. Music can unite people, capture your imagination, and boost creativity. A person who has been affected by music is not alone.
--Lia Peralta
Folk music is often a form of oral history, retelling the stories of families, communities, and generations. For diasporic
communities, these songs serve as a reminder of their ancestors’ hardship and a way of expressing their heritage. In
Ireland I think they are a reminder of those who left and a way of explaining an important part of Irish history. While
these songs are about the Irish experience, the sense of loss, hope, and resilience they express are universal…
--Alexandra S. McKeever
Every Irish person’s heart sings when they hear the soaring melodies of traditional Irish music. The singsong vocal runs, pipes, and fiddle represent a rich history dedicated to the resilience, and beauty of our ancestors… Irish music and dance are part of our cultural inheritance, handed down through an oral tradition over centuries… Over 2,000 years ago, during the Iron Age Era, Celtic people settled in Ireland and started creating their own music in about 500 BC. Because they were immigrants from Austria, Switzerland, France, and Spain, they added an Eastern flair to their new musical tradition… It was there that traditional Irish music was born, and was handed down through the generations… Musicians would learn by ear, and they never formally wrote down the music or lyrics… Irish folk music evolved over the centuries and became an important thread running through Irish history… Irish music is distinct from any other culture or genre, for a variety of reasons. It features specific instruments such as the fiddle, harp, flute, whistle, pipes, accordion, banjo, mandolin, bodhrán, and more.
--www.IrishAmericanMom.com
Emigration resulted in large populations of Irish decent in areas of North America such as Boston, New York, Chicago.
The majority of those who emigrated from Ireland to America in the 18th Century settled in the Appalachian mountains. They brought with them a rich tradition of song and dance tunes which merged with the music of other settlers including European, British and African to become Appalachian "old time" music. American country music originated in Appalachian music and there were other links to bluegrass and rock n roll.
-- www.Leavingcertmusic.weebly.com/american-folk.html
Music has the power to culturally, morally, and emotionally influence our society. Thus, the more intentional we
become with the sounds, messages, and moods we create and release through our music, the more powerful we will
become in making deep positive impacts.
--Belinda Huang
“How Is Lent Relevant Today?” 03-10-24
Core Statement:
“Fasting From Negative Thoughts & Beliefs Shifts Us To Higher Christ Consciousness” SV
Scripture:
Joel 2:12a (NASB)
12a “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting…”
Mark 1:12 (NKJV)
12 Immediately the Spirit sent Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
Isaiah 58:6 (NKJV)
6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness (false, erroneous beliefs), to undo the heavy burdens…
Job 17:9 (TLB)
9The righteous shall move onward & forward; those with pure hearts shall become stronger & stronger.
Unity & Informational Reading:
It is commonly believed that the Lenten period has to do with the events of the 40 days preceding the Resurrection. This is an erroneous idea. Lent is a church institution, and there is no authorization for it anywhere in the New Testament. The idea, however, has a sound spiritual basis; Moses, Elijah and Jesus himself set a precedent for it. Each observed a 40-day period of prayer and fasting as a preparation for Spiritual work… The ancient Hebrew writers made a practice of using numbers to symbolize ideas… the number 40 is frequently used in the scriptures to indicate a completed preparation for something to follow. When we consider lent as a “completed” season of retreat from the things of the world for the cleansing of the mind and the recollection of the things of spirit, it becomes a true season of preparation…
--Georgiana Tree West (Forward in Keep A True Lent)
The earliest mention of Lent in the history of the Church comes from the council of Nicaea in 325 AD… The council issued twenty canons of a practical nature, dealing with various aspects of church life, and the fifth of these canons speaks of Lent. The word used for Lent in this fifth canon is tessarakonta (in the original Greek), which means ‘forty’. For the first time in recorded history, we have mention of this period of preparation for Easter as lasting forty days… The length of time was adopted in imitation of the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert at the beginning of his public ministry.
-- www.ThinkingFaith.org/articles
Reading:
Ancient texts reveal that Jesus spent 17 years in the Orient. They say that from age 13 to age 29, Jesus traveled to India, Nepal, Ladakh and Tibet as both student and teacher. The five major milestones in the New Testament narrative of the life of Jesus are his Baptism, Transfiguration, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension. In the gospels, the ministry of Jesus starts with his Baptism by John the Baptist, when he is about thirty years old.
-- Elizabeth Clare Prophet
Quotes:
You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but
your own soul.
--Swami Vivekananda
The English word ‘Lent’ has another, very beautiful derivation. It comes from the Anglo-Saxon word meaning to ‘lengthen’. Lent comes at a time when the hours or daytime are ‘lengthening’, as spring approaches, and so it is a time when we too can ‘lengthen’ spiritually…
--Father Norman Tanner S.J.
From a Metaphysical, Spiritual perspective, Lent stands for a voluntary retreat from the world to prepare for our resurrection from false beliefs, error thinking, and the denial of our innate divinity… It’s the meaning, not the ritual that is important… when the ritual becomes more important than the meaning behind it, we have lost our focus. From a spiritual perspective, there is only one kind of fasting: abstaining from error thoughts which dampen our awareness of our oneness with Spirit.
--Revs., Drs. Bil & Cher Holton
Release what no longer serves you to create a space for that which does…
--Randy Gage
“Instead Of Freaking Out…Try Prayer!” 03-03-24
Core Statement:
“Prayer Is Actively Aligning Ourselves In The Universal Flow Of Divine Energy & Oneness” sv
Scripture:
Luke 11:9 (ESV)
9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
John10:30 (AMP)
30 I and the Father are One [in essence and nature].
Ephesians 4:4,6 (NASB)
4 There is one body and one Spirit…6 one God…who is over all and through all and in all.
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV)
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Hebrews 4:16a (ESV)
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace… (Center in/become one with Divine Pure Being & Allness)
1 Corinthians 2:12-13 (NIV)
12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God… 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
Special Reading:
Traditionally, and almost universally, prayer is understood as a solemn request or a statement of thanks addressed to a deity or higher power. It presumes human powerlessness and divine intervention toward a desired outcome… Affirmative prayer is a completely different form of prayer. The teaching of oneness - meaning there is only one divine power and therefore God and humanity are one in absolute Truth - changes prayer. Rather than presuming the power we seek is outside and separate from us, affirmative prayer empowers us to respond to life's circumstances by drawing upon the Truth of oneness. We can recognize, claim, and embody the fullness of our divinity in the midst of our human experience… What we achieve through means of affirmative prayer is not a specific outcome, but a spiritual authority to claim and realize our own spiritual power. Affirmative prayer doesn't change the Divine. Affirmative prayer changes us.
--Linda Martella-Whitsitt/DeeAnn Morency Discover Your Divinity
Quotes:
The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.
--Soren Kierkegaard
Sometimes we pray to a God outside of ourselves. It is the God in the midst of us that frees and heals… Prayers aren’t sent out at all! Sometimes that is our trouble. Where would we send our prayers? We should direct them to our minds & hearts… so that God’s omnipresent good may fill our minds and hearts, and manifest in our lives.
--Myrtle Fillmore Healing Letters
In Revealing Word, Charles Fillmore defined prayer as: An affirmation of Truth that eternally exists; the act of affirmation…the declaring of Truth; the mental movement that asserts confidently and persistently the Truth of Being in the face of all appearances to the contrary.
--Charles Fillmore Revealing Word
Affirmative prayer offers an empowering framework for transformation. It is not attempting to get anything from God or even speaking to God. Affirmative prayer is rooted in the radical idea that each of us is a spiritual or divine human. It invites us to speak from our divine nature and to tell the Truth to our human circumstances.
--Linda Martella-Whitsitt & DeeAnn Morency
Our work is to shift from human, or relative, thinking to spiritual, or absolute thinking. We pray because we feel powerless in some circumstances and we seek a remedy, solution, or improvement. Affirmative prayer is a quest for and fulfillment of spiritual power. To be effective in affirmative prayer is to elevate human thinking to the level of oneness, where we have access to absolute Truth.
--Linda Martella-Whitsitt & DeeAnn Morency
The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.
--Black Elk
"Love Is The Key Part3:
Connecting With Others, Growing In Spiritual Community" 02-25-24
Core Statement:
“Connecting Together In Spiritual Community Enriches, Uplifts & Inspires Us” sv
Scripture:
Romans 8:39 (NIV)
39 Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God…
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NRSV)
13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
Romans 1:11-12 (NRSV)
11 For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours & mine.
1 John 1:7 (NKJV)
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Romans 12:6 (NKJV)
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Special Reading:
Whether a biological family or an extended family of people attracted to each other based on heart resonance and mutual support, the word "family" (Community) implies warmth, a place where the core feelings of the heart are nurtured. While we have differences, we remain "family" (Community) by virtue of our heart connection. Family provides necessary security and support, and acts as a buffer against external problems. A family (Community) made up of secure people generates a magnetic power that can get things done. They are the hope for real security in a stressful world.
--Doc Childre and Howard Martin, The HeartMath Solution
Quotes:
Love is the greatest force of healing that exists in the universe. Love heals everything it touches.
--Ian Somerhalder
Love is within us. It cannot be destroyed. Denying love is our only problem, and embracing it is the only answer. Through the power of love, we can let go of past history and begin again. Love heals, forgives, and makes whole.
--Ernest Holmes
Simply being with other people who are also seekers and who are involved in the same quest you are is very meaningful.
--Dan Wakefield
When we seek for connection, we restore the world to wholeness. Our seemingly separate lives become meaningful as
we discover how truly necessary we are to each other.
--Margaret J. Wheatley
This is the power of gathering: it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful: in a word, more alive.
--Alice Waters
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.
--Pablo Picasso
We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth.
--Mitsugi Saotome
The soul is awakened through service.
--Erica Jong
Community is first of all a quality of the heart. It grows from the spiritual knowledge that we are alive not [only] for ourselves but for one another.
--Henri Nouwen
“Love Is The Key Part 2:
Black History Month…A Time To Remember & Honor" 02-18-24
Core Statement:
“Using Universal Love Principles We Live Into Healing, Inclusivity & Oneness ” sv
Scripture:
1 John 2:9-10 (NIV)
9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.
Galatians 3:28 (ESV)
3There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one…
Hebrews 10:24 (ESV)
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…
Galatians 6:10 (NRSV)
10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all…
2 John 1:6b (NIV)
6b …As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
Romans 13:8b (NIV)
8b…for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
Special Reading:
The Black History month honors African American people’s rich range of experiences, struggles and achievements throughout history and into the modern day… It’s a tribute to African American men and women who have made significant contributions to America and the rest of the world in the fields of science, politics, law, sports, the arts, entertainment, and many other fields.
While Black History Month is synonymous with prominent figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., there are countless other African Americans who've made a profound impact in history: self-made millionaire Madam C.J. Walker, astronaut Mae C. Jemison, open-heart surgeon Daniel Hale Williams, inventor Garret Morgan, media mogul Oprah Winfrey and "Father of Black History" Carter G. Woodson, who lobbied extensively to establish Black History Month as a nationwide celebration, among many others.
--https://www.biography.com/tag/black-history
Quotes:
Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination & forgiveness. Your willingness ro wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing.
--August Wilson
I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
--Martin Luther King Jr.
There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.
--Amanda Gorman
Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.
--Wilma Rudolph
We must never forget that Black History is American History. The achievements of African Americans have contributed to our nation's greatness.
--Yvette Clarke
Won't it be wonderful when Black history and Native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.
--Maya Angelou
Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
--Martin Luther King Jr.
We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.
--Carter G. Woodson
My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.
--Desmond Tutu
“Love Is The Key…Forgiving Self & Others” Part 1 02-11-24
Core Statement:
“Releasing Anger, Hurt & Shame Opens Us To Love’s Healing Power” sv
Scripture:
1 John 4:16b (ESV)
16 …God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Mark 12:31 (NRSV)
31 The second [commandment] is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Proverbs 28:13 (NASB)
13 One who conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper, But one who confesses and abandons them will find compassion.
Proverbs 10:12 (NRSV)
12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you… 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love…
1 Peter 4:8 (NCV)
8 Most importantly, love each other deeply, because love will cause people to forgive each other….
Special Readings:
A lack of forgiveness comes in many forms. Unexpected breakups, family trauma, or betrayal of any kind can easily cause resentment to take root in our hearts. It can be an unimaginably hard task to choose to let go of past hurts and begin to heal, but the decision to forgive will ultimately lead to a happier and more fulfilling life. It's important to understand that deciding to forgive doesn't mean you're dismissing or justifying the pain someone has caused you; it will however create space in your mind and heart for true joy.
-- www.southernliving.com/culture/forgiveness-quotes
Learning to forgive has benefits that are far greater than we may think. Grudges are like toxins within our emotions. When you learn to eliminate these toxins, your body begins to heal… Forgiving and healing are gifts we give to ourselves in the forms of internal peace and stability… Forgiveness triggers healing automatically.
--www.chopratreatmentcenter.com/
Quotes:
Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.
--Lucille Ball
If you can learn to love yourself and all the flaws, you can love other people so much better.
--Kristin Chenoweth
Forgiveness is for you—not the other person. It’s something you do inside yourself that you feel in your body and heart that releases you from your past and frees you to live life fully.
--Barbara J. Hunt
I think the first step is to understand that forgiveness does not exonerate the perpetrator. Forgiveness liberates the
victim. It’s a gift you give yourself.
--T.D. Jakes
Forgiveness is a reflection of loving yourself enough to move on.
--Dr. Steve Maraboli
Love is our essential nutrient. Without it, life has little meaning. It’s the best thing we have to give and the most valuable thing we receive… You will learn a lot about yourself if you stretch in the direction of goodness, of bigness, of kindness, of forgiveness, of emotional bravery. Be a warrior for love.
--Cheryl Strayed
By doing the work to love ourselves more, I believe we will love each other better.
--Laverne Cox
Let the good in me connect with the good in others, until all the world is transformed through the compelling power of love.
--Nachman of Breslov
"The Power Of Creative Visioning” 02-04-24
Core Statement:
“Aligned In Oneness With All Creative BEING, We Manifest Our Vision” sv
Scripture:
John 10:30 (NRSV)
30”The Father and I are one.”
Ephesians 4:4-6 (NASB)
4 There is one body and one Spirit… 5 one Lord, one faith… 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
Acts 17:28 (NKJV)
28 For in Him we live and move and have our being…
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God & his righteousness, & all these things will be added to you.
Charles Fillmore on Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV)
The highest exercise of the mind is prayer, and prayer is accumulative… This is the teaching of Jesus, and we find that it is good metaphysical law, 7"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
Hebrews 11:1 (NASB)
11 Now faith is the assurance of things expected, the evidence of things not seen.
Deuteronomy 28:12 (NIV)
12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands…
Unity Reading:
We find there is in man a knowing capacity transcending intellectual knowledge … When we discover in ourselves a flow of thought that seems to have been evolved independently of the reasoning process (intellectual brain), we are often puzzled about its origin. In its beginnings this seemingly strange source of knowledge is often turned aside as a daydream… One should give attention to this usually faint whispering of Spirit in man. It is not of the intellect and does not originate in the skull (brain). It is the development in man of a greater capacity to know himself and understand creation.
--Charles Fillmore The 12 Powers Of Man
Prayer is dynamic and accentuates the spiritual ethers that interpenetrate all substance. Prayer is related directly to the
creative laws of God, and when man adjusts his mind and body in harmony with those laws, his prayers will always be
effective and far-reaching…
--Charles Fillmore Jesus Christ Heals
Quotes:
There is only One Presence and One Power active as the Universe & in My Life, God All Good Omnipotence.
-- Unity/Truth Principle
All things are linked with one another, and this oneness is sacred; there is nothing that is not interconnected with everything else. For things are interdependent, and they combine to form this universal order. There is only one
universe made up of all things, and one creator who pervades them; there is one substance and one law…
--Marcus Aurelius
Through prayer and meditation, we align our heart-mind with God.
--Unity/Truth Principle
Affirmative prayer is a completely different form of prayer. The teaching of Oneness - meaning there is only one divine power and therefore God and Humanity are ONE in absolute truth - changes prayer(Envisioning). Rather than presuming the power we seek is outside and separate from us, affirmative prayer empowers us to respond to life circumstances by drawing upon the truth of oneness.
--Linda Martella-Whitsitt
We are co-creators with God, creating and manifesting through thoughts held in Mind.
-- Unity/Truth Principle
Faith talks in the language of God. Doubt talks in the language of man.
--E.W. Kenyon
Nothing happens unless first we dream.
--Carl Sandburg
It's not your work to make anything happen. It's your work to dream it and let it happen… Within the seed of your desire is everything necessary for it to blossom to fulfillment. And Law of Attraction is the engine that does the work. Your work is just to give it a fertile growing place in order to expand.
--Abraham (Hicks)
Create the highest grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe.
--Oprah Winfrey
"Greater Soul-Self…Letter To God 2024" 1-28-24
Core Statement:
“Let Your Soul-Self Fly Free, Unencumbered By Should’s, Have-To’s, & Doubts” sv
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NRSVUE)
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Psalm 139:14 (NASB)
14 I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all contentment in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
2 Timothy 4:7 (NASB)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith…
John 15:5 (NRSVUE)
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit…
Philippians 4:8 (NASB)
8 …whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence & if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.
Unity Quote:
Metaphysicians have discovered that words which express thanks, gratitude and praise release energy of mind and Soul… Let your words of praise and thanksgiving be to Spirit… The resources of Spirit are beyond our highest flight of imagination.
--Charles Fillmore Jesus Christ Heals
Quotes:
There is a place in you where there is perfect peace. There is a place in you where nothing is impossible.
There is a place in you where the strength of God abides.
--'A Course In Miracles' Foundation For Inner Peace
Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward with the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence.
--Og Mandino
Dream and give yourself permission to envision a You that you choose to be.
--Joy Page
Our imagination is God’s ingenious gift that hands us the privilege of romping and playing in realities that we can’t see only because we’ve yet to create them.
--Craig D. Lounsbrough
Envision possibility. Don't worry who else believes in it; the universe is only looking for instructions from you.
--Marianne Williamson
“Visioning Forward: A New Name…The White Stone Experience” 01-21-24
Core Statement:
The White Stone Experience…
“Visioning Your New Design & The Forward Expression Of Your Greater Soul Being” sv
Scripture:
Romans 7:6 (ESV)
But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit...
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Romans 12:2a (NRSV)
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds…
Revelations 2:17
17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says... To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
Proverbs 1:5 (NIV)
5 Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance…
Psalm 143:8b (NASB)
8…Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.
Unity Quote:
We find there is in man a knowing capacity transcending intellectual knowledge …p.88 ….One should give attention to this…whispering of Spirit in man. It is not of the intellect and does not originate in the skull. It is the development, in man, of a greater capacity to know himself…
--Charles Fillmore 12 Powers Of Man
Quotes:
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.
--Lao Tzu
We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come.
--Joseph Campbell
The visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper, and re-imagines the world.
--Malcolm Gladwell
A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more.
--Rosabeth Moss Kanter
In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into
crystal clearness.
--Mahatma Gandhi
If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise.
--Robert Fritz
Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.
--Napoleon Hill
“The Unity Movement…Current Day Spirituality (Encore)” 01.17.24
Weekly Statement:
“Current Day Spirituality Focuses On Inner Self-Awareness & Positive Life Changes.” sv
Scripture:
John 13:34 (NKJV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV) 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit…
1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV) 14 Let all that you do be done in love.
Acts 17:27-28 (ESV) 27 …They should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’…
Proverbs 3:3 (NASB) 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Matthew 23:26 (NIV) 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
Colossians 3:14 (ESV) 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Special Reading:
In general, modern-day adherents of New Thought believe that "God" or "Infinite Intelligence" is "supreme, universal, and everlasting", that divinity dwells within each person, that all people are spiritual beings, that "the highest spiritual principle is loving one another unconditionally, teaching and healing one another, and that our mental states are carried forward into manifestation and become our experience in daily living. New Thought also believes that each person is divinely endowed with the right to happiness and the power of choice, enjoying equal access to the creative potential of spiritual and metaphysical laws. www.newthoughtwisdom.com/about-new-thought.html
Quotes:
My impression of the Fillmore family, Charles, Myrtle, Lowell, Rickert and Royal…They were not exceptional people following an ordinary pattern, but ordinary people dedicated to a pattern exceptionally extraordinary. Marcus Bach The Unity Way
The teaching of Jesus as presented in the New Testament, was the central building block of the Fillmores work. It constitutes a great deal of how “Unity” differs from other “New Thought” and Eastern Spiritual teachings. www.Unity.org
“Truth is not the formulated doctrine of any church, nor the creed of any sect…Truth is written in the inner sanctuary of every soul, and all know it without external formulas. It is the intuitive perception of what is right...’” Charles [Fillmore] referred to this inner knowing as “The Spirit of truth”. Eric Butterworth
Your mind cannot possibly understand God. Your heart already knows. Emmanuel
Religion commonly refers to an institution that has a set of organized practices and a structured belief system shared by and among those who are members of the institution. Their beliefs, are based on either a formally documented creed or established cultural practices.
Spirituality is about one's soul and inner self. Being spiritual involves holding one's personal set of beliefs and practices and searching for the purpose of life. Each person's own definition of spirituality can vary throughout their lifetime… The goal of spirituality is to realize one's inherent power to combat life's challenges, and connect with something greater than oneself. www.HappierHuman.com/difference-religion-spirituality/
Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from. Elizabeth Kübler-Ross
The great awareness comes slowly, piece by piece. The path of spiritual growth is a path of lifelong learning. M. Scott Peck