|
HIGHER VIEWS newsletter is a publication of:
San Diego Center for Spiritual Living
1249 F Street
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 491-3087
|
"We should all have something that we love to do, something that will completely express the self, something that will loose the energies of Life into action and transmute the power into creative work."
~ Ernest Holmes
9:30 MEDITATION
10:00 LESSON & FABULOUS MUSIC
10:00 CHILDREN'S CHURCH
11:00 SNACKS & FELLOWSHIP
Special Gift for First Time Guests |
|
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR MEMBERS!
January
Linda B - 4th
Connie - 8th
Cherise - 22nd
February
Eileen B - 4th
Kathy T - 14th
Paulina G - 17th
Carol R - 20th
|
Thank You
for your generous support of the San Diego Center for Spiritual Living |
| ____________
What if San Diego Center for Spiritual Living had a penny for everytime you searched the Internet? We can! Search the web with GoodSearch and money from Yahoo advertisers will go to San Diego Center for Spiritual Living without you spending a dime! This is completely voluntary. Try it out by selecting the GoodSearch block below . . . we'll be glad you did.
| |
Reflections from the Minister's Mind
Rev. John Poleski
Welcome Home!
As your Senior Minister, I am thrilled to witness our continued growth and to be an active participant with all or you in creating and nurturing our spiritual family. I believe this year all of us will reach new levels of potentiality as we tap into our inner resources and allow our creativity to demonstrate in our outer world.
The first month of the year, January, is named for the Roman god Janus who was the protector of gates and doorways. Janus is depicted with two faces - a female face looking back to the past and a male face looking forward to the future. It is the feminine aspect that intuitively reflects upon the past and the masculine aspect that assertively moves forward. Let us use this time to gently reflect upon the previous year of 2007 and a time for us to boldly look forward to new possibilities in 2008.
As members and friends of the San Diego Center for Spiritual Living, we begin this year together with a new over-arching theme for 2008: Reaching In, Reaching Out. We will be intuitively reaching in to tap our indwelling resource of spiritual wisdom and strength and assertively reaching out as we demonstrate our creativity and divine purpose to make a difference in "This Thing Called Life." Our monthly themes for January and February are Refreshment and Wholeness, respectively.
This year we remember and align with the metaphor of the growth of trees. As they reach inside to process the nutrients they take in from the air and soil for healthy growth and they stretch their roots deeply and branches outwardly to provide shade and oxygen to the community and to the world.
Reaching In, Reaching Out. That is what we do here at the San Diego Center for Spiritual Living.
I invite you to join us for the new year as we demonstrate together that the innermost God and the outermost God are One.
Namaste,
Rev. John Poleski
Senior Minister |
|
|
|
|
Ernest Holmes Visits San Diego
Shaye McDermott
A crisp Saturday evening, December 1, after two steady days of Southern California winter rain; the sky opened above downtown San Diego to brilliant stars. As the clouds cleared away- the clock turned back to 1959 in the San Diego Center for Spiritual Living. While the Heart of Downtown Choir sang the inspirational hymn "Amazing Grace", the modern visionary of the 20th Century, Dr. Ernest Shurtleff Holmes walked through the crowd seated in the Sanctuary, smiling and shaking hands as if with familiar friends. Clad in his customary black robe, bright blue stole with the recognizable Religious Science symbol in gold, he intently approached the podium. Graying hair, distinguishing accent, well known gestures (and a little taller) Dr. Holmes delivered his renowned keynote speech "Sermon By The Sea". Beginning with his concept of God - 'God is the tree outside. God is the squirrel running up the tree. (Noticing a nut in the squirrel's mouth) God is a nut!'
With this, the gathered congregation was mystically transported to a hot August morning at the picturesque retreat center, Asilomar in Northern California. For over an hour, Dr. Holmes captivated this audience with his characteristic humor, intelligence and wisdom. Effortlessly teaching his great awareness into the power of God within; as individual expressions of an all encompassing energy and strength. The atmosphere was relaxed, peaceful and electrified simultaneously. Including references to Jesus, Thomas Troward and Ralph Waldo Emerson, Holmes explained the spiritual and philosophical correlation of Religion and Science. Expounding on his Science of Mind philosophy, Holmes spoke compellingly about his belief in the unlimited potential of the human mind.
Afterwards, Rev. John Poleski asked several keen questions of "Ernie" while Dr. Holmes kindly jousted back by calling him "Johnny". Leaning back in his chair, Holmes responded with his contemporary and timeless insights. Even with the large room full of people, it seemed like an intimate enquiring discussion between two friends in a cozy parlour. Referring to the currently popular book and movie "The Secret", Holmes reminded Rev. John that Chapter 18 in The Science of Mind textbook (1926) is titled "The Law of Attraction". And Rhonda Byrne, author of "The Secret", has not yet contacted him regarding royalties.
But this was not really 1959: the audience was still seated inside a building in downtown San Diego in 2007 and Dr. Ernest Holmes was in reality being portrayed by Mr. Brad Wethern, actor, Religious Science Practitioner and authority on Dr. Ernest Holmes. Almost fifty years after Holmes' transition, Wethern brings Holmes 'back to life' with his amazing characterization of the author of The Science of Mind and founder of The Church of Religious Science. Not quite a replicate of Dr. Holmes physique, and a bit nobler looking in the flesh than the black & white photographs of Holmes displayed in the lobby. Nonetheless, Wethern's presentation was flawlessly accurate to the essence and significance of Dr. Ernest Holmes and the "Sermon by the Sea". Bravo!!! "Ernie" would be proud.
|
|
 Endowment Fund Established
Linda Bates
Endowment Coordinator
It's time to go, and it's time to grow. The San Diego Center for Spiritual Living will be leaving our current location in the New School of Architecture by the end of August 2008 and moving to a location that can allow for permanence and abundant growth.
In order to help us meet the goals of a growing Spiritual Center that is committed to provide an environment that supports all through spiritual education and service, we have established an endowment fund and are actively seeking conscious donors.
Our immediate goal is to raise a minimum $500,000 by July 31, 2008. We will continue our fundraising efforts thereafter with an organized ongoing program to enhance, improve, and expand our ministerial and service program capabilities into the future.
The funds that we raise will be invested consciously and wisely with interest earned directed back into the fund as well as used to expand and grow according to our strategic vision plan.
The San Diego Center for Spiritual Living intends to accomplish its mission by building an infrastructure service facility in downtown San Diego to support the practice of teaching and living by the Principles of Science of Mind. We will continue to dedicate our services and programs to encourage and empower everyone to reach their highest potential. We will continue to promote a welcoming and inclusive community environment. We will focus our programs toward families and especially children in our contribution to changing the spiritual mindset of the world toward peace and understanding of the mutual needs of all mankind. We will provide education and tools for living a spiritually conscious life, as well as practical services for our community such as care and assistance for old and young, connections to public health and welfare providers for those in need, community and neighborhood improvement teams, and liaisons (meeting facilities and facilitation) between community groups and individuals.
Your help is needed. Help us "raise our roof" by sending make your tax-deductible donation to SDCSL Endowment Fund and mail it to San Diego Center for Spiritual Living, 1249 F Street, San Diego, CA 92101. There is no gift without a receiver, and we bless and thank each and every one of you for your support in growing our Center. Our fund is growing and as our teaching says, we are "Open At The Top" to receive that limitless abundance. | |
|
| Upcoming Events at San Diego Center for Spiritual Living
JAN. 6, 2008 10:00 am ANNUAL AFFIRMATIVE PRAYER PROCESS
Each year we set our intentions for the upcoming 12 months and participate in a sacred process of turning those intentions into an Affirmative Prayer - a Spiritual Mind Treatment. We write our Affirmations and seal them in self-addressed envelopes. We pray over all of them and tuck them safely away in our sacred Tibetan Altar. Over the next 11 months, we continue to pray each week as we prepare for Sunday service. At Thanksgiving time, these envelopes are returned so we can all experience the Power of the Word to create demonstration in our lives. Though the process is on Epiphany Sunday, we accept the 2008 Affirrmative Prayers throughout the course of the month.
JAN. 19, 2008 7:00 pm SPECIAL EVENT
ANTON MIZERAK IN CONCERT
Experience an exquisite evening of Mount Shasta/Celtistani transformative healing music featuring Anton on keyboards, tabla, and harmonica with Michael's transcendental guitar playing and Tracy Rae's deeply inspired vocals creating music that enriches and enlivens the listener. Donation Basis
JAN. 30, 2007 SEASON FOR NONVIOLENCE
A Season For Non Violence is a 64-day movement dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities. Inspired, in 1998, by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi & Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this international event honors their vision for an empowered, nonviolent world. Please pick up a copy of "64 Ways in 64 Days" to support you in BEING the change you wish to see in the world.
|
|
 Let's Do Lunch!
Whether it's Sammy's Woodfired Pizza, The Dublin Square Pub, Brian's Eatery in the St. James Hotel, or any of a myriad of other wonderful downtown venues with culinary delights, on the second Sunday of each month you will find a bunch of happy, hungry Religious Scientists saving a bundle on lunch with coupons right out of the 2008 Entertainment Book. Spend some quality time with some quality people by planning to "Do Lunch Downtown" at the San Diego Center for Spiritual Living Second Sunday Socials. Don't have your own coupon? There are enough to share and to spare - or you can purchase your own Entertainment Book at the Spiritual Living Bookstore. This book pays for itself in savings after just a few uses.
January 13th: Hennessey's Tavern, 708 Fourth Avenue, Downtown San Diego, 92101. Coupon C45.
February 10th: Decided at the January Second Sunday Social. See you there... |
|
Children Are Our Future
We are excited to welcome more children of our families to their own space with child-size furniture and guided activities. Puppets, puzzles, and coloring pages blend with books, toys, teachings, and the chatter and laughter of the little ones. Donations of pre-school chairs and classroom essentials beckon these smiling faces to age-appropriate activities in alignment with the lesson for the week - but with a simpler presentation.
You can share in the healthy growth and self-empowerment of all of our future by assisting in Children's Church one Sunday each month. Not sure how to get started? We'll set up an orientation and mentor you. The curriculum is already provided. Come play and learn with us!
|
|
| Spiritual Living Bookstore
Nancy Moyer
"Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life."
(Joseph Addison, English Statesman, 1672-1719)
Ernest Holmes, Emmet Fox, Thomas Troward, Raymond Charles Barker... These are just a few of the authors you'll find in the Spiritual Living Bookstore. Have you allowed these philosophers to share their spiritual thoughts with you? Have you opened your heart and mind to the ideas of these great thinkers? We are fortunate that so many teachers have put pen to paper so that we may benefit from their wisdom. I invite you to take time each Sunday to view the books we have available to aid in your personal growth. If there's a book you want and you don't see it, let me know. This is your bookstore, and we will be happy to get that book for you.
New additions to the Spiritual Living Bookstore include Science of Mind Jewelry, hand-rolled beeswax candles, customized bookmarks, all of which complement the Jewelry, crystals, Midge Hyde Art Cards and other specialty items we offer for your appreciative purchase.
Change your thinking. Change your life. Buy a book!
|
|
| Raffle! Raffle!
Are you ready to Sail the Sportfishing Seas of Adventure? Go on a Great Explore saving money all over San Diego? Dig for Treasure at the Spiritual Living Bookstore? Sounds like it's time for some Raffle Tickets!
It's time for our Annual January Raffle. This year we have at least Three Great Prizes and the drawing will be held during Announcements on Sunday, January 27th. Tickets are $1 each or 12 for $10.00. What can you win?
Grand Prize: Half-day Sport Fishing for TWO with San Diego's Seaforth Sportfishing (5-6 hours). Make your own reservations now through September 2008.
Other Great Prizes:
~ ECO STUDIO SALON Complete Make-Over using only organic products ~ Entertainment 2008 Book. Dine, Shop, Travel, Attend Events & Movies all while saving up to 50% on your adventures.
~ Gift Certificate to the Spiritual Living Bookstore.
FINE PRINT: Tickets on sale now through 10 AM on day of drawing. Tickets may be purchased with credit card by phone through 5 PM Jan. 25th. Write name and phone number on back of your ticket so we can contact you. Winner need not be present at drawing. |
|
 A Season for Non Violence
A Season for Nonviolence, January 30 - April 4, is a national 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities. Inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this international event honors their vision for an empowered, nonviolent world. The San Diego Center for Spiritual Living supports the Season for Nonviolence by actively disseminating related information and presenting activities and programs promoting the principles of nonviolence.
Shared Vision - A Better World Is Possible
Association for Global New Thought
"You must be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
There are people everywhere who want to help create a better world - people deeply concerned about widespread suffering, environmental destruction, escalating materialism and the loss of our sense of community. There is a deep and growing hunger for a wiser and more loving society. Ghandhi and King modeled the vision to create such a society.
They claimed the power for social change lies within individual consciousness. That if we really want to create a wise and loving world, we must first become wise and loving ourselves. With a vision of a society governed by love and the common good -- we have a powerful antidote to the violence, distrust and division of today's politics of fear.
In practicing the relational principles of Nonviolence we seek to recover and renew ourselves, our families and our politics - so violence and secrecy no longer shape our behavior. We realize that our lives, and those of our children, depend on our evolution. Learning to be non-violent is a new way of living - requiring a healing process that begins with the individual and ripples out into the larger world. As we heal our own relations we are demonstrating that people, organizations and governments can move the world proactively toward peace and wisdom. Join us in exploring and building this new future.
|
|
| Membership Has Its Privileges
Nancy Moyer
Membership Coordinator
If you are looking for a spiritual community that will uplift you and support you, I invite you to join the members of the San Diego Center for Spiritual Living as we enjoy personal growth and share our spiritual journeys. We are here to serve you. It is with joy that I welcome our newest member who took that first step -- Elzbieta Rataj. We are so happy to have Elzbieta as a member of our spiritual family.
As a member of San Diego Center for Spiritual Living you receive a 10% discount on books and certificated classes. With voting rights at our business meetings, you have a say in how your spiritual center is operated. A free Practitioner session is given to you on your Birthday as you begin a new year in your life. And, most importantly, you will be welcomed with joy and enthusiasm into a loving spiritual family.
San Diego Center for Spiritual Living members support the Center, love it, and actively participate within it. Join us as we revitalize our lives in the newly revitalized East Village. Welcome Home..
|
|
| Reaching Out To Our Community
Ken Casey
Outreach Coordinator
The San Diego Center for Spiritual Living continues to make a difference in our community with some wonderful outreach adventures over the past year. It has been our purpose to seek out organizations already in place with whom we can partner and provide additional support through heart-felt contributions of our time, talent, and treasure. We have had ongoing relationships with The I AM Foundation, San Diego Toys for Tots Annual Campaign, and Shakti Rising for the past several years. Our membership is honored to include others as we Reach In to our hearts and Reach Out to the Downtown San Diego Community.
Organizations and projects we supported during 2007 included:
Big Sisters League of San Diego
Cortez Hill Family Center (YWCA)
Difference Makers International
ERAA Back to School Youth Festival
Friend-to-Friend Club
San Diego Birthing Project
San Diego Toys for Tots Campaign
Shakti Rising
Stand Down (3-day Camp for homeless Veterans)
The I AM Foundation
The Tomorrow Project
For 2008, Join Us As We Serve and Grow!
|
|
|
 ANTON MIZERAK IN CONCERT
With Michael Mandrell & Tracy Rae
Saturday, JAN. 19, 7:00 PM
Anton Mizerak, Michael Mandrell and Tracy Rae bring an exquisite evening of Mount Shasta/Celtistani transformative healing music to downtown San Diego on Saturday, January 19, at 7:00 p.m. Anton Mizerak is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who plays tabla, harmonica, synthesizers and piano. Anton is literate in Sanskrit, with an M.A. in the History of Religions. He has an intimate understanding of Asian spiritual and musical traditions which he utilizes to create music that enriches and enlivens the listener.
Anton has been performing on piano and harmonica since 1968. In 1986, he began studying tabla (classical Indian drums) in Kathmandu, Nepal with Homnath Upadyaya. Much of Anton's music reflects his cross-cultural musical experimentation combining harmonica and synthesizers with traditional Asian melodic and percussive instruments. Anton lives and records in Mount Shasta, California, in a house and studio that he built himself. Anton's many recordings reflect his extensive travels, his love of the natural world, and his belief that our organic experience of sun, wind, water, snow and earth, transmitted through music, can be a valuable nurturing and healing experience.
Celtic guitarist Michael Mandrell is know for his transcendent guitar playing. His blend of Celtic, Jazz and New Age music demonstrates just what a 6 and 12 string guitar can do in the hands of a real master. Touring with many fine acoustic ensembles as well as solo, Michael has shared the stage with such musical luminaries as Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, Jenny Bird, Spyro Gyra, William Ackerman, and Shadowfax.
Tracy Rae Clark is a musical minister who openly uses her own life experiences and spiritual growth as material for songs. Her authentic, comedic, and deep lyrics explore the challenges of the human condition and Spiritual Principles that, when used consciously, restore the natural balance of harmony, love, and freedom. Tracy has been touring with Anton Mizerak and Michael Mandrell since August 2006, touring throughout the Northwest and Southwest.
This benefit concert is being presented on a donation basis by the San Diego Center for Spiritual Living, in the NewSchool of Architecture Building, 1249 F Street (at Park Blvd.), Downtown San Diego, CA, 92101. For further information, please call (619) 491-3087 or email Events@downtowncc.org.
|
|
|
 Happy New Year and UCSL Update
Dr. Kathy Hearn
UCSL Community Spiritual Leader
Beloved Colleagues,
Today we stand on the threshold between one cycle and another, in a sacred in-between time when we can look back in appreciation and forward in anticipation of great good. I know New Year's is human-made and designated, but I do love the feeling of completion and new beginning. It reminds me of the promise of New Thought -- that any time we choose we may have one, whether it is about God, ourselves, each other, our organization, our world, life itself or anything else. I thank you all for your participation in United Centers for Spiritual Living this past year and for the countless ways you are the living embodiment and sharing heart of the principles we love. As you look back on your 2007, may you clearly see and acknowledge the blessing you have been.
I was deeply moved this past week by the death of Benazir Bhutto. She is someone who has inspired me for a long time. It is poignant that women's rise to equality in today's world (as I think Jean Houston phrased it years ago) also means becoming subject to the violence and threats of the world. She is someone who gave her life for what she believed. Fortunately for most of us, we are not called in quite the same way. We are called to give our lives to what we believe, and to the unfolding of a spiritual movement of inspiration and loving service and a world where Unity and Peace hold sway. Again I thank you for the sacred contribution you make of your consciousness, your love, your time, your energy and your talents to this revelation.
2008 promises to be a big year for United Centers for Spiritual Living as we move our central office to Golden, Colorado. This is a large undertaking emotionally and physically and it symbolizes a huge change for us on many levels. In the moments I start to shake in my boots about it, I remember that visioning has paved the way and lots of high intention, possibility and prayer are filling that way with light. I am reminded of something the Dalai Lama said (forgive me because our situation is hardly on the same scale) - that the "blessing" of China's invasion of Tibet was that Tibetan Buddhism was forced out into the world. There is something about us expanding beyond our birthplace that is important and freeing. Moving to an elevation of 8000 feet or so is moving up in consciousness, above even the crown chakra. Our new building is a new container, a new wineskin so to speak. And from a high vantage point we get to "broadcast" Science of Mind and the gifts of spiritual living much like Tibetan Buddhist monks chant their chants of peace from high in the Himalayas, encircling the earth with Truth and transformation. Our new high perch faces us toward the east, across our country and around the world, opening the global landscape to the expansion of ministry, principles, practice and spiritual tools.
This week we begin our Burbank Staff Support Program, with a Co-Creation process to set consciousness, a workshop on Fulfillment with Michael Davis in February and a variety of other personal and skills development workshops in the coming months. It is going to be a fast 6 months between now and our intended move date of June 30. Please know that our intention is to maintain a high level of service to you while we engage with the process of location change. We welcome and count on your prayers for a conscious, inspiring, smooth and efficient process. Please remember that we have 3 Staffs to hold in consciousness - the Staff Members who are not relocating, the Staff Members who are relocating, and the new Staff Members who will join us in Colorado
All things necessary for the creation of The Gathering are well underway and I am looking forward to sharing the experience in Kansas City with you. 2008 will see us continue to step through the process of integration with RSI. We will have a dialogue about this at The Gathering. Dr. Kenn Gordon, RSI President, and Rev. Jim Lockard will be with us.
I am off at the end of the week to a Cultural Diversity training ("There's A Healing Going On") facilitated by Rev. Deborah Johnson in Santa Cruz . I am welcoming this as an opportunity for personal and organizational awakening, and a movement toward embodiment of our shared values of diversity and inclusivity. More to follow about this.
Blessings to you in this sacred moment and always. Here's to a fabulous 2008 for all beings everywhere!
In Love and Peace,
Dr. Kathy Hearn
Community Spiritual Leader
United Centers for Spiritual Living
United Centers for Spiritual Living . . .
touching and transforming 100 million lives" |
|
Practitioner Pillars
Constance Cook-Core, RScP
Holmes Institute Ministerial Student
As we move into the southern California rainy season, I am reminded of another move I made back in 1980. I was newly married, newly pregnant, and moving into a new home that wasn't quite finished and had no landscaping. There were new names for grocery stores and department stores. The natural environment was lush and verdant with new plants I didn't recognize. There were new neighbors, new jobs, new schools, and new ways of speaking Southern. All of this newness for me was bounded by one of the oldest towns in our country. Our brand new house sat in pasture that was part of Ferry Farm, where George Washington was born.
To grace my Colonial Home, I wanted bougainvillea to climb the brick façade, Calla Lily along the curved walk, and Acanthus and Fuchsia under the windows. Unable to find them at the local nursery, I finally asked the lady at the counter how long it would take to get them. As she looked in her catalog I described how bougainvillea grew up the sides of multi-story buildings. She was the first of many people in Virginia to say sweetly to me, "Honey, y'all aren't from here, are ya?" In that part of the country my perennials were annuals that couldn't be planted in March with snow on the ground and wouldn't last through a single winter.
The land, the weather, the people, plants, and animals were different than that of warm, sunny, dry, coastal southern California. It wasn't bad, it wasn't better, it was just different. I learned what would grow in my yard and started designing a new landscape of tulips, daffodils, azalea, magnolia, dogwood, and forsythia. Different, and still beautiful. I changed my thinking, and it changed my life.
There are many new and different experiences for all of us in 2008. Our San Diego Center for Spiritual Living is moving to a new (to us) downtown location with Sanctuary, Offices, and Classrooms all under one roof. The United Centers for Spiritual Living Home Office is moving to Golden, Colorado (where bougainvillea is an annual), and the UCSL Education Core is releasing new Science of Mind curriculum in stages this year and next. There are updated courses with new packaging, brand new courses, new exercises, new fees, and there will be a new Education Code to support the blending and updating of certification requirements. Eventually, there will even be new coursework for Professional Practitioner Studies. All of this newness rests upon a foundation of Ancient Wisdom synthesized into a Philosophy, a Faith, and a Way of Life that Ernest Holmes defined as Religious Science. It isn't bad, it may be better, and it is definitely different.
Let us build new and exciting experiences on a solid foundation of proven universal spiritual principles. Let us embrace the teachings of Science of Mind and practice them on a daily basis. Let us change our thinking and allow it to change our lives.
|
|
| Board of Directors: |
|
Teams: |
Noble Benning, President
June Francis, Secretary
Constance Cook-Core, Treasurer
Ken Casey, Director
Sylvia Isely-Aguilera, Director
Advisors to The Board:
Rev. John Poleski, Sr. Minister
Rev. Gordon Bishop, Founder Emeritus |
(858) 254-0189
(619) 491-3087
(619) 226-0560
(619) 236-8671
(619) 244-2337
(619) 980-5190
(619) 301-6100 |
Bookkeeper
Bookstore
Education/Classes
Hospitality
Membership
Music
Outreach
Sound |
Kathy Casey
Nancy Moyer, Linda Bates
Constance Cook-Core, RScP
Ken and Kathy Casey
Nancy Moyer
Sylvia Isely-Aguilera
Ken Casey
Brad Moyer
Steve Bates
|
Whoever you are, wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome here.
Join us as we Serve and Grow |
|
