We Are Back! Wednesday Evening Service In-Person

If the Creek Don't Rise

In American slang, "... the creek don't rise" implies that strong intentions have been frustrated by unforeseeable but uncommon events, like weather! We've been meeting in person for ou mid-week service since the end of 2022, interrupted only once by a downpour of rain that made it difficult to get around Santa Rosa.

Nevertheless, we continue to have a strong commitment to our Wednesday Evening Service and look forward to seeing you at 7 pm. We meet in the Social Hall, where we serve cookies and tea and sometimes home-baked bread! The service is casual, with some meditative music, a message, and sometimes a spiritual practice.

A New Series

We are starting a new series this week, January 25, reviewing a paraphrased, modern English version of the first four chapters of The Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes. Dr. Edward will provide handouts and conduct a fill-in-the-blank process as we go through the paraphrase together!

January 25, The Thing Itself - Dr. Edward

February 1, What It Does - Dr. Edward

February 8, The Way It Works - Rev. Russ

February 15, How To Use It - Dr. Edward

Why a Paraphrase?

The Living Bible, unlike most translations of the Bible, is a paraphrase by Kenneth N. Taylor, written to make the text accessible to younger readers who might have difficulty with the King James Version. Remembering how much I enjoyed reading The Living Bible and how it provided for me a stepping stone to look at other classic translations, I saw how valuable a paraphrase of Ernest Holmes’s classic, The Science of Mind, would be for those beginning their study of metaphysics.

As I began the task of paraphrasing the first four chapters of The Science of Mind and Spirit, it occurred to me that the text resembled language transcribed from a spoken recording. Frequently, I came across paragraphs or sections of the book that more logically belonged in different chapters, as well as phrases that were redundant or awkward in the written form. I went about paraphrasing the text, attempting to present the first four chapters in well-organized thoughts using simplified language.

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Pre Solstice Reflection and Renewal with Dr. Edward Viljoen

The Winter Solstice Ceremony: A Time to Release, Reflect, and Renew As the year's longest night approaches, we invite you to a special Winter Pre-Solstice Ceremony this evening at the Center for Spiritual Living. This annual gathering is a sacred opportunity to pause, reflect, and release what no longer serves us as we prepare to welcome the returning light. In the warmth of community, we will honor this ancient rhythm of nature and engage in a beautiful ritual of releasing. Together, we'll take a moment to write down what we wish to let go of and offer it to the fire, making space for new visions, intentions, and hope. Our service will be a time of quiet strength and reverence, guided by reflections on the flow of life, even during the cold and uncertain seasons. We will embrace the stillness and the promise of renewal—a reminder that even in the deepest darkness, something greater is moving within us. Come as you are. Bring your hopes, burdens, and willingness to let go and t...

Wednesday Evening Service with Dr. Edward Viljoen – New Location Tonight!

Join us for our evening service This Wednesday, October 2, at Congregation Shomrei Torah (2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404) from 7:00 to 7:45 p.m . New Location Our usual location at the Center is being used for the High Holy Days celebration, so we’re gathering at this new spot for one night only. The Cathars of France Dr. Edward Viljoen, who recently returned from a European vacation, will lead the evening with a fascinating discussion about how we form our personal beliefs about life. He’ll share stories from his travels through Southern France, including his time in the land of the Cathars—a Christian sect from the 12th to 14th century whose beliefs stood in stark contrast to the dominant church of their time. Their tragic history raises powerful questions about what happens when deeply held beliefs are challenged. How do you respond when your beliefs are questioned? In this casual, engaging setting, Dr. Edward will guide us in reflecting on how we came to our ow...

Accessing Our Archive of Goodness - Wednesday Evening Service with Russ Legear

I remember when I was kid, I loved walking through my school's library. It felt like a place filled with limitless possibilities, each book holding a new idea, and sometimes, a new world. Even that musty paper smell that can only come from thousands of books fills me with joy every time I think about it. Our mind is an incredibly powerful instrument. It, too, holds the power to create new ideas, and even new worlds. My mind has been an invaluable tool on my spiritual journey, even though it wasn't always that way. This Wednesday Evening Service at 7pm, we will explore just how powerful our minds can be when approached with the right spiritual techniques--cultivating the ability to embrace emotions of joy, happiness, and love no matter where we are or what's going on in our lives. I'm using my mind right now to envision each and every person in our Social Hall enjoying community, creativity, and the beauty of Christopher Frtizsche's voice and guitar--and it feels...

Wednesday Evening Service

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