Wednesday Evening Service

We complete our Wednesday Night series of celebrations of light with Solstice.  Celebrating the return of daylight is a tradition that goes back millennia. Although the center office is closed on December 26, we will gather to mark the solstice, just a bit belatedly. We will learn about and experience some of this ancient celebration. Cricket Karen brings her music to the service led by Nancy Talley and Practitioner Megan Rooney. We look forward to welcoming you at 7 pm, in Waggoner Hall, North Wing, on Wednesday, December 26.

In December, there are celebrations of light in many traditions. On the first Wednesday of December, we gather to learn about Hanukkah and experience a bit of this holy season. We will meet in Waggoner Hall, North Wing, where we'll learn about the Hanukkah story as well as its practices.  Please plan to join in this community experience that reminds us of the rich variety and wisdom at the heart of our human family. The service begins at 7 pm. All are welcome.

Do you have questions about prayer? Would you like to share an experience of using prayer in your life? On Wednesday evening, November 28, Rev. Joyce Duffala and  Rev. Janet Tobin will share their reflections on this key spiritual practice in Science of Mind. Following their introductory comments, you are invited to join in the conversation. The program begins at 7 pm in the Sanctuary. The meditation room upstairs is open at 6 pm if you would like to sit in the stillness before the service. 

Priscilla Du Preez, unsplash.com The Thanksgiving Eve service is a sweet gathering of our community. Invite your friends and family to join you to experience exquisite music, an inspiring message, and time in spiritual community. The program begins at 7 pm. During the service, there is an opportunity to write out an intention for the coming year. The envelopes are held by the Center until November of next year when they are mailed out. It's a wonderful way to be reminded of the blessings of gratitude. Please bring a postage stamp for your envelope.  

The Science of Mind teaching has several phrases that we often use in talking about our beliefs. One of those is "whole, perfect, and complete."  What does that mean? How does it land in us when we hear it? Dr. Kim and Rev. Ruth will briefly share their experience of the phrase. Then they will welcome your questions, comments, and experiences. This free program begins at 7 pm in the sanctuary. All are welcome.

Rev. Joyce Duffala, Christopher Fritzsche, and members of our Grief and Loss Support Ministry facilitate this service to honor those who have made their transition in the past 12 months. Their names will be read from the Remembrance Book at the service. You are welcome to bring flowers, photographs, or other mementos to place on the community altar. The service begins at 7 pm in the sanctuary.

As Ernest Holmes recognized one hundred years ago, our minds are creative. Our thoughts create our experience. Aware of the connection between our thoughts and our lives, we get to choose how we think about ourselves and our world. For example, how kind were you on social media this past week? On Wednesday evening, Dr. Edward continues to explore the core concepts of our teaching, the Science of Mind, based upon Holmes' first book, Creative Mind . The one-hour class is free and open to everyone. It starts promptly at 7 pm in the sanctuary.

In 1918, Ernest Holmes published his first book on the Science of Mind and Spirit. This month Dr. Edward invites us to explore Creative Mind, a book filled with short essays on "About Struggle," "The Way of Spirit" to the "Highest Attitude of Mind," and much more. An updated, gender-neutral version is available in Stepping Stones Bookstore or online at https://steppingstones-books-and-gifts.myshopify.com/ with free shipping. Come share in a conversation about the essential elements of our teaching. This free class begins at 7 pm. The meditation room is open from 6:15 pm if you would like to be refreshed in the stillness before class. All are welcome with no need to sign up in advance.

Wednesday night free classes are open to everyone. Our focus is on understanding and using Science of Mind teachings.  In October, Dr. Edward Viljoen leads us through the first book published by Dr. Ernest Holmes, the founder of Science of Mind. Creative Mind is filled with useful insights — short, sweet, and to the point. Everyone is welcome! You can purchase the updated, gender-neutral edition of Creative Mind from Stepping Stones Books and Gifts.

This Wednesday, Susan Robinson concludes our study of "The Conscious Parent." The conversation will touch on boundary setting in our families and in our relationships as well as the ways that mindfulness and spirituality support each other. The free class begins at 7 pm in the sanctuary and is open to everyone, whether or not you've attended other classes.  There is meditation upstairs in the Meditation Room before the class, from 6:15 to 6:50 pm.

This Wednesday's free class focuses on Chapters 9 and 10 of Dr. Tsabary's book, The Conscious Parent. Susan Robinson will look at how we move from the moments of "Whoops! Where did that come from?" into the clarity and wholeness that comes from an awareness of our triggers. All are welcome to this class which has much to say about all our relationships, with ourselves, our family, our colleagues, and our friends. The focus is parenting, and the conversation ripples out into much more. The class begins at 7 pm on Wednesday evening. There's no need to sign up in advance.

At this Wednesday's free class, Director of Youth and Family Ministry, Susan Robinson, RScP, facilitates an exploration into five areas of the Ego. The conversation is based on Chapter 4 of The Conscious Parent. In it, the author looks at how to recognize when we’ve become detached from our authentic self and ways to re-engage heart-centered connections.   All are welcome to this free course which has insights of value to all of us, whether or not we are parents. The class begins at 7 pm. There's no need to sign up ahead of time.

This Wednesday we begin a new class "Conscious Parenting Is for Everyone." Director of Youth and Family Ministry Susan Robinson facilitates the exploration of how transforming what we believe about ourselves ripples out to all our relationships with people we care about. This free class begins at 7 pm. All are welcome with no need to sign up ahead of time. By popular request, tea is back. And the meditation room upstairs welcomes people to sit in stillness from 6:15 to 6:50 pm.

Karen Drucker returns this Wednesday to create a deep sense of spiritual community in a Sacred Singing Night. There will be lots of Karen's beautiful music, along with inspirational readings, prayer, stillness, and chanting. The energy in the room shifts as we join in creating sacred space. All are welcome to this free program which begins at 7 pm in the sanctuary and goes until about 8:30 pm. Love offerings are gratefully received.

Over the summer, we have explored Jo Marchant's commentary on the role of the mind in our physical well being. This Wednesday, Dr. Kim Kaiser brings all the threads together as we conclude this book and get ready for the class on "Conscious Parenting" with Susan Robinson, RScP, starting in September. Everyone is welcome to attend this free Wednesday night class, no matter how many Wednesday evenings you have come over the summer. Class begins at 7 pm. The meditation room is open at 6:15 pm if you would like to sit in the stillness before class begins.

Biofeedback is a concept that has been around for quite awhile. In the last 30 years, one specific area of interest has been heart rate variability (HRV). Using biofeedback systems to increase heart rate variability to the level of resonance may reduce inflammation and improve health. This week, Rev. Tara explores this strategy, as reported by author Jo Marchant, in her book, Cure . All are welcome to come to this free class which begins at 7 pm in the sanctuary. There's no need to sign up ahead.

A park in Paris at lunchtime The subtitle for this week's chapter in Cure: A Journey to the Science of Mind over Body is "The Secret Power of Friends." That is one of author Jo Marchant's research findings. However, as Rev. Tara will explore, there is more to  living long and well, and as our teaching reminds us, What we think and believe matters.  Wednesday Night free classes are open to all, with no need to sign up. And you are welcome to sit in our meditation room upstairs before class, beginning at 6:15 pm.

In 1979, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn developed an 8-week course on "mindfulness-based stress reduction," his way of repackaging meditation to allow for its use in caring for patients. Since then, more than 20,000 people have taken the class and talked about its value. This week, Dr. Edward explores journalist Jo Marchant's findings when she took a look at what science knows about meditation.  Based on Chapter 9, "Enjoy the Moment," in Cure: A Journey to the Science of Mind over Body, this week's free Wednesday night class begins at 7 pm. All are welcome, there is no need to register.

Photo collage courtesy of team member Nancy Reynolds They were and are an awesome team. They trained for countless (or perhaps Strava knows...) uphill and downhill bike miles and completed the 545-mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The team is deeply appreciative of our center's generosity which contributed to the more than $16 million raised by this year's ride. Those dollars support AIDS research and assist those living with HIV-AIDS. Wednesday evening, Dr. Edward and his teammates will share their stories in photos and videos. It will be a joyous celebration of the power of love and grit. All are welcome to the program which begins in the sanctuary at 7 pm, in place of our regular Wednesday Night Wisdom class.

Feeling alone and unsupported can make any task more difficult. In Chapter 7, "Talk to Me," author Jo Marchant shares examples of how a caring presence supports people through experiences as different as childbirth and the end of life. This Wednesday evening, Practitioner Siota Belle leads a free one-hour class on why caring matters. The class is open to everyone and begins at 7 pm in the sanctuary.

 P eople who are distracted or engaged in a pleasant activity may forget about problems and challenges; sometimes their awareness of pain or discomfort also decreases or goes away. Pain management specialists are exploring this phenomenon as a way to manage severe pain -- virtual reality may provide a remarkable complement or alternative to traditional pain medications. At this Wednesday's free class, Practitioner Siota Belle looks at Chapter 6, "Rethinking Pain," in Jo Marchant's book Cure. What we give our attention to makes a difference. Wednesday Night Wisdom is a free, one-hour class open to everyone. The class begins at 7 pm in the sanctuary.

Many medical professionals remain skeptical of the value of hypnotism in treating different conditions. In Chapter 5 of Cure: A Journey to the Science of Mind over Body , scientist-journalist Jo Marchant presents some evidence for the benefits of hypnosis. Come to Wednesday's free class as Rev. Ruth Barnhart explores this topic and its relationship to Science of Mind teachings. Class begins at 7 pm. All are welcome.

Author Jo Marchant suggests that there is more to fatigue than lack of sleep or sore muscles. In this Wednesday's Free class on Chapter 4, "Fighting Fatigue: The Ultimate Prison Break", Practitioner Megan Rooney will explore how the brain may affect how tired we feel. Everyone is welcome to this free class which begins at 7 pm. The meditation room upstairs is open at 6:15 pm if you would like to sit for awhile before class. 

The subtitle of Chapter 3 in Cure: A Journey into the Science of Mind over Body , is "How to train your immune system." Although metaphysicians have long recognized thoughts' influence on our body, scientists only documented the link between the brain and the immune system in the late 20th century.    At this Wednesday's free class, Dr. Edward examines what scientists have learned about the connections between the brain and the immune system and how this knowledge relates to the teachings of Science of Mind. The class begins promptly at 7 pm. All are welcome, no need to register ahead of time.

This week we begin a new Wednesday Night Wisdom class. Rev. Joyce Duffala opens the discussion of Cure , a science journalist's exploration of the mind's power over the body. Chapter 1 documents several examples of how what we believe affects our bodies in dramatic ways, from placebos in place of medicine to pretend surgery. What the author documents will be familiar to students of Science of Mind. The class begins promptly at 7 pm in the Sanctuary. All are welcome, there is no need to preregister. Should you wish to sit in stillness, the Meditation Room upstairs is available from 6:15 pm.

Give yourself a “time out” to be musically nurtured and inspired. Pause to just “be” and not “do” for a little while.  We will sing, chant, meditate, listen to short readings, and pray together as we allow our hearts to open and connect with others in our community.  No musical experience necessary. Shower singers welcomed. Just come with a willingness to receive. This is a free concert. Love offerings will be gratefully received. The concert begins at 7 pm in the sanctuary. All are welcome.

This is our fourth and final class talking about The Book of Joy , a conversation with the Dalai Lama and his friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  We conclude with four more spiritual practices that solidify our experience of joy in the world.  This week's fab four are forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, and generosity. As Rev. Tara notes, these are tried and true practices well-known to people on a spiritual path. Some how these two mischievous holy men bring a freshness and new insights that may deepen your practice. This free class begins at 7 pm. There's no need to register ahead of time.

Joy is a way of being in the world. This week, as we continue with The Book of Joy , we will focus on four practices that help us to see with the eyes of joy. They are perspective, humility, humor and acceptance. Rev. Tara will highlight how these spiritual practices contribute to joy, and, time permitting, we'll practice them a bit as well. This free class begins at 7 pm. There is no need to sign up or even have read the book, though it is a great read.  Just come to learn and to be in community.

Joy is a way of being, an invitation to maintain a "joyful mind". This week our topic is some of the obstacles to our ongoing experience of joy: fear, frustration, grief, despair. How do we move through these human experiences without losing the underpinning of faith in the unfolding? Plan to join in the conversation at 7 pm on May 9. Our meditation room opens at 6:15 pm if you would like to sit in stillness before the class. All are welcome to this free class. There is no need to register.

The three authors of The Book of Joy This Wednesday we begin a new class, based on The Book of Joy . The material was put together during a weeklong visit the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu shared in honor of the Dalai Lama's 80th birthday. Rev. Tara is excited to be teaching this class. It is filled with "well duh" wisdom like the purpose in this human life is to be happy -- and then the follow-up practices and beliefs that turn that possibility into daily life.  This free class begins promptly at 7 pm; there's no need to register ahead or have taken other classes.  The meditation room upstairs is open from 6:15 to 6:50 pm if you would like to sit in stillness for awhile before class.

Photo by Andre Hunter, unsplash.com This week concludes our 11-week exploration of Ernest Holmes's book It's Up to You.   The final chapter provides practical simple (but not always easy) suggestions to move in the direction of your dreams.  Here are a couple of examples: "Overcome negative mental attitudes." and "Learn to make your work easy."   Plan to join Practitioner Kathleen Kearney as she brings this chapter to life and invites you to consider what you choose to do.  This free class begins at 7 pm. All are welcome. There is no need to register.

Photo by Sanjet Kumar, unsplash.com The world, spiritually speaking, is in better condition than it has been because out of all the controversy, the mental turmoil will come some kind of an answer. And the new answer must provide a bridge between the intellect and the emotions. It must be intelligent, scientific and artistic.                                                                                     Ernest Holmes, It's Up to You Join Practitioner Kathleen Kearney this Wednesday as she explores what it means to think creatively. This free class begins at 7 pm; there is no need to register, just come ready to explore the teachings of the Science of Mind. All are welcome.

Photo by Mike Labrum on Unsplash "Prayer is essential...to the conscious well-being of the soul. [T]here is a subtle transfusion of some invisible force as we pray, weaving itself into the warp and woof of our own mentalities."    It's Up to You, pp. 84-85 Affirmative prayer, what in Science of Mind we call Spiritual Mind Treatment, is one of our central spiritual practices. It is not a petition for God or Spirit to do something, it is for us to align our awareness with the essential Truth of our being and open to infinite possibilities. This Wednesday, prayer is Dr. Edward's focus at the free Wednesday evening class.  Plan to join in at 7 pm in the sanctuary.  All are welcome, no registration or previous attendance is necessary.

James Baldwin, unsplash.com For those of us who joined a March for Our Lives last Saturday or watched one of the many marches around the country, it is clear that young people are taking a stand for their future and our country's future. At this Wednesday evening's special service, we will hear from some of our emerging leaders and have the opportunity to support them with our presence and our love. There will be music, readings, sharing of experiences, and community prayer. Everyone is welcome. The service begins at 7 pm and is open to everyone.

Photo by Beata Ratuszniak on Unsplash Ernest Holmes, the founder of Science of Mind, does not mince words.  He opens Chapter 8 of It's up to You with the following statement: "...historians may record this age as the period of [humanity's] greatest stupidity."  Why? Because we have yet to choose to receive all the good that is available to us as expressions of the Divine. At Wednesday's free class, Dr. Edward guides us through a chapter that invites us into a deeper belief in the Good that is in, through and as all that is.  The class begins at 7 pm and is open to everyone, no need to preregister. If you missed earlier classes, you can order audio CDs in the bookstore and download handouts from the link at the bottom of the sidebar to the right of this blog.

Photo by Ella Jardim on Unsplash "All humanity is Divinity waking up to Itself through self-discovery and self-realization." It's up to You , page 60 This week's reading challenges us to begin where we are, to believe that we are good enough right now. What do you believe about who you are and what's possible? Your belief matters.  Join Dr. Edward at Wednesday Night Wisdom, a free class open to all as he explores this topic, based upon Chapter 7 of Ernest Holmes's book, It's up to You . The class beings promptly at 7 pm in the sanctuary.  The silent meditation room upstairs is open from 6:15 to 6:50 pm before class.

Photo by Eddy Klaus, unsplash.com At Wednesday's free class, Dr. Edward's topic is personality, based on Chapter 6 of Ernest Holmes's book, It's up to You .  Personality reflects our preferences in life.  How do we align our personality in ways that support our purpose? What creates an attractive personality? Come learn more Wednesday evening at 7 pm.  No need to register, all are welcome.

Photo by  Spencer Pugh, unsplash.com I n this chapter, Dr. Ernest Holmes reminds us that although we are not God, God is what we are and and God is much more.  This Divine heritage is the basis of our life and creative thought. Join Dr. Edward on Wednesday night as he distills the nuggets of wisdom in Chapter 5 of " It's up to You."   You don't need to register for this free class and you are welcome, even if you've missed some or all of the previous classes. Handouts for the past classes are available HERE for download. You can order audio CDs of past classes in the bookstore at the center.    

"Who am I?" is the topic of Chapter 4 of It's up to You .  It's a question that merits revisiting as a regular spiritual practice. Here is how Ernest Holmes describes the value of this practice on page 37: "Always when there dawns upon any individual member of the human race the realization of [their] own Divinity, the eternality of [their] own nature, the unity of [their] own life with the Eternal, and the immediate availability of the Law through the power of [their] word--there Christ is born again."  Come learn more as Dr. Edward leads Wednesday night's free class that begins at 7 pm. The meditation room is open from 6 to 6:50 pm if you would like to sit in stillness before class.  All are welcome.

www.unsplash.com In the first two weeks of this free class, Dr. Edward Viljoen presented the spiritual foundation and worldview put forth by Ernest Holmes in It's up to You.   It is now Rev. Joyce's great thrill to explore with you Holmes's concrete suggestions for aligning with spiritual Reality so that -- as the title of Chapter 3 says --  You Create Your Destiny.   This free class begins at 7 pm in the Sanctuary.  No need to register, no prerequisites.  Everyone is welcome.

                                        Jenna Lee, unsplash.com Our free Wednesday night classes continue with Chapter 2 of Ernest Holmes's book, It's up to You . What is the key to a successful life? That we are in a mental condition to receive the gift. That means more than having the knowledge, it means using that knowledge in our daily living. Want to know more? Come to Dr. Edward's free class on Wednesday, February 14. No need to register, just arrive by 7 pm. If you would like to meditate before the class, the meditation room upstairs is open from 6:15 to 6:50 pm.

In this free eleven-week course, Dr. Edward will identify key Science of Mind teaching points in Ernest Holmes’s book “It’s Up To You.” This week starts with the chapter one, Escape to Life, which explores how fear of life keeps us from thriving, the importance of having a clear and superstition-free idea of Divinity, and the powerful practice of looking beyond appearances to the spiritual truth.  This one-hour class is open to everyone, and will take place in our Sanctuary at 7 pm. If you would like, come early and sit in the Meditation Room upstairs, 6:15 to 6:50 pm.

Artwork courtesy of Association for Global New Thought In 1998, Mahatma Gandhi's son Arun introduced a resolution in the United Nations to mark the anniversary of his father's death on January 30, 1948, and the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., on April 4, 1968. The Season for Nonviolence is now in its 20th year, with events around the world. Here in Sonoma County, our season begins with a program at the Center for Spiritual Living on Wednesday, January 31, at 7 pm. Kazu Haga, Founder of the East Point Peace Academy, is the keynote speaker.  He is joined by Lyndsey Burcina, a student who facilitates listening circles at Elsie Allen High School; and Dion Martin, who will share his story of adopting nonviolence while in prison. There will be an opportunity to ask questions of the speakers and also to reflect on how nonviolence might be a part of your daily practice. Co-sponsored by the Interfaith Council of Sonoma County.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash Wednesday, Dr. Kim completes his four-week series on "The Heart of the Science of Mind." He discusses "How to Use It", based on the fourth chapter of the Science of Mind textbook. Central to Dr. Holmes' teaching is the importance of not just knowing the material but applying it to one's life. As he says, let's not "indulge in too much theory and too little practice". Our free Wednesday Night Wisdom class begins promptly at 7 pm in the sanctuary. All are welcome, even if you have never attended another class. For those who wish to center in stillness before class, the meditation room upstairs is open from 6:15 pm to just before class.