Celebration Center for Spiritual Living

God in Action

Treatment by Rev Faith Woods, RScP

I invite you to smile, breathe and bring your awareness to the Love of God and the Power of Spirit. Focus your total awareness on this present moment, letting go of any action items other than being fully present here and now.

There is only one power. It is present here now and is always totally present. I can pretend there is something missing or wrong, yet God can never be gone or wrong, for God is the creator of all, the connector of all and the consciousness of all.

I am, always have been and always will be God in action. All parts of me are connected to this Presence. Truth for me is Truth for you. You are, always have been and always will be God in action. Truth for you and I is Truth for all. We are, always have been and always will be God in action.

I expand my awareness of God’s Love and celebrate the truth of my being. I see us overcoming any block and releasing any resistance as we expand our individual and collective understanding of Love in action. Today as I bear witness to each person in my life, I take stock of any judgment, any blame or any pettiness I have in my little mind. Then I shift to a bigger picture of seeing God at work in my Life and all lives. I emblazon in my mind that Love is active in everyone, everything, and is everywhere at all times. I accept my work today as opening all my senses to Love, pausing to sense and feel God’s Presence right where I am and allow It to shine through me.

I celebrate all the good that comes forth today and give gratitude for all blessings. I give thanks for what God is calling forth from us and know that this blesses the world.

I now speak a word of Love, Peace and Well-being as we release this prayer to the great law of the universe. And so it is.

May the grace of God go before us.

Blessings and Amen

Treatment for December 19, 2016

Season of Love, Joy, and Peace

Treatment by Tim Phares, RScP

Just two weeks from today, it will be Christmas Eve. Just three weeks from tonight, it will be New Year’s Eve. And in just ten days, it will be Suzanne’s birthday. (We’re planning on going up to Merriweather Post Pavilion and seeing the Symphony of Lights.)

It has started to act like December out there. The last few days have been cold.

Major League Baseball was in town for their Winter Meetings (just concluded Thursday), we saw an opera today, classes resume next month, and we are beginning to catch up with the busyness of the season. At the same time, we remember to stop, step back, breathe, and be open (to quote Devotion.)

And so we simply let go of the old, embrace the new, and remember to take time in the busy season to get in touch with Spirit.

And so we pray:

I know that there is only One Life, God, in all, as all through all, around all. It is Perfect, Whole, Complete. it is Love, Joy, Peace, Harmony, Abundance, Prosperity, Health, and all that is.

I am That. Each of us is That. We are God in form and expression here and now. All that God is, each of us must be and is.

We approach the season in Love, Joy, and Peace, with anticipation and excitement. The decorations, the music, the activities, those related to Christmas and those seemingly unrelated, all come together to fill us with that peace, joy, love. The music of the season reminds us of the harmony that God is being as us. The decorations remind us of the celebration and joy. The tree reminds us of eternal life. The lights remind us of that light that is us. The cold weather reminds us to take care of ourselves and each other. We are reminded to help whoever may need help. We let that joy fill us as we move forward into the new, the ever expanding, the exciting, joyful, abundant adventure within. And we say yes to all of it.

Remembering always the Source, I am grateful for all of this. I am thankful for the many blessings we are reminded of in this season.

And so I simply know that all that needs to be done and should be done and wants to be done is done and done well. I simply let go, trusting God and knowing that Divine Order demonstrates and manifests it all. And so I simply let the Universe do what it does.

And SO it IS!

Treatment for December 10, 2016

Happy Holidays

Treatment by Ed Preston, RScP

Wow, short and late go together beautifully in my life when it comes to writing scheduled treatments during this busy season. So —-

I recognize and celebrate the divine experience of these upcoming holidays. We all use our divine nature as we write holiday letters and cards and messages to sent to loved ones and friends.

We truly become One and unify with one another through our holiday communications and sharing.

I realize that we all flow through these holidays with Joy and Merriment.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to simply celebrate this season and all it brings into our lives.

I release our words of “Happy Holidays” into the lives of all who read this and into the law of Celebration of Life, now.

And so it is, Amen.

Treatment for December 9, 2016

Prepare for Renewal

Treatment by Rich Kurasiewicz, RScP

A busy month as the days are getting shorter, the elections are over and Thanksgiving weekend is ending—shopping season has begun and Christmas will soon be here. It’s a special time of year as the year winds down; we express gratitude for the Good in our lives and prepare for renewal with a new year and a spiritual rebirth; and there is no better way to do this than through daily spiritual practices, especially in this special time of year. And so we pray….

There is only One Power, One Life, One Mind, One Presence and It is God! God is the Living Spirit Almighty—in all, through all, and as all. God is the entire Universe, the Creator and the Creation, all Life and everything there is. And I am that I am! I am one with the one Power and Presence, I am perfect, whole and complete and one of the Father! I live, move and have my being in Pure spirit—God!

And just as I am perfect, whole and complete, each and everyone is perfect, whole, complete, eternal and immortal. I declare that each and everyone is open to receive the Good that is abundantly present everywhere and within each and everyone. I know that as we express gratitude for the peace, love, joy and abundance that is present, as we accept the gift of Good, we are reborn of the Spirit in the recognition of the divinity within us and within each and everyone for we are individualized parts of the one Whole. I know that each and everyone is divinely guided, directed, led and protected to their highest Good and greatest yet to be as the activity of God as love. We accept our Good with open arms and are blessed as the Truth sets us free!

I am so very grateful for the Good and Abundance that is everywhere present and for the Light and Truth that shines brightly from within. I am so grateful for the Truth that sets us free as each and everyone is the activity of God as love in the world and the rebirth that occurs in each and everyone especially at this time of the year! And I release my word unto the Law where it is already known in the mind of God. I know that my word will not return unto me void. I do give thanks that this is so and so it is!

Treatment for November 27, 2016

L’Amour de Loin: Love, Desire, and Chasing the Ideal

Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp,

Or what’s a heaven for? – Robert Browning

The best stories are not really about their characters, but about us.

Suzanne and I saw the opera L’Amour de Loin live from the Metropolitan Opera. It’s a relatively new opera for just three characters : Jaufré Rudel, Prince of Blaye; a Pilgrim; and the Countess of Tripoli, Clémence. They were brilliantly sung by Eric Owens, Tamara Mumford, and Susanna Phillips, respectively, along with the always-wonderful Metropolitan Opera Chorus.

The opera, composed in 2000 by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho with a libretto by Lebanese librettist Amin Maalouf, is based on a centuries-old legend. It is set in Aquitaine in the 12^th century.

Jaufré has been dreaming of a “faraway love” whom he has never met. He writes poems and songs to her. His friend The Pilgrim, a world traveler, hears his songs and poems.. The chorus tells him that no such woman exists, but The Pilgrim says that she just might. However, she remains a dream, an ideal. Although Jaufré can think of nothing else, he also believes he will never meet her.

The Pilgrim goes to Tripoli and tells Clémence that a prince-troubador sings of her, his “love from afar.” At first, Clémence is offended, but then she begins to dream of her “faraway lover.” The Pilgrim, returning to Aquitaine, tells Jaufré that his “love from afar” knows about him. Jaufré decides that he must meet her.

Jaufré and The Pilgrim set off on a journey across the sea to Tripoli to meet Clémence. Jaufré is both excited and terrified of this meeting. Although he is eager to meet Clémence, he is worried that he might be disappointed and the meeting could ruin his image of her. This conflict and anguish makes Jaufré quite ill, and by the time he arrives in Tripoli, he is dying.

When the ship arrives, The Pilgrim tells Clémence that Jaufré has arrived, but he is near death, and that he wishes to see her. Jaufré is carried in unconscious, but revives in Clémence’s presence. They declare their love for each other, then Jaufré dies in Clémence’s arms. This sends Clémence into a rage at Heaven, but she finally decides to go into a convent and prays to God, to her “faraway lover.”

This opera is about love. It is about romantic love and Divine Love. It is about passion that drives us to reach for the object of our desire, the thing we are passionate about, regardless of the consequences – even if we have to give our lives in the pursuit. It is about following our star, no matter how far it takes us. What is your star? What is your “love from afar” that won’t let you not pursue it? What is the thing you cannot not do? And are you willing to let it drive you, no matter the cost?

The story of Jaufré and Clémence reminds us to listen and follow this, that no matter the cost, the pursuit is always worth it. And sometimes, when you catch it, it really does live up to your vision of it. There is no better time than now.

My Word of Love

Treatment by Rev. Faith Woods

As I center for prayer, I take a breath and begin an inward journey to the core of my being. There I find the holy place of love, and the Presence of Good is right where I am.

There is one Life and It is good. There is one Divine Presence of Love and it is good. There is an abundance of Good – there is only Good – there is only Love.

As I connect to the most high and holy Love, I know that I am whole, right here and now. I feel the love of the Infinite and I know that love is here for me. As I know that about myself, I recognize it for each person. Knowing my words and the human language is incapable of expressing the fullness of Spirit, I simply relax and begin to feel it resonating within my body and escaping the bounds of my body flesh. As I imagine this, I let go of time and space and welcome each of you into my space. The flow of love connects each of us to one another. Within this now moment and very crowded space, I speak my word – resonantly and fully.

I whisper the word Love. I speak the word Love. I shout the word LOVE! In my mind’s eye I release Love into the Universe for it to grow and blossom in my mind as each person. I allow my little mind to grow it bigger than ever before – to expand its meaning for me and for you. I begin with a barely visible pin dot of light, direct all my Love and all I know about Love to expand that light – and then I invite all the Love I do not yet know, have not yet experienced and watch it grow even more. For we are always promised more! And what could be sweeter than more love?

In my mind’s eye, each person is filled to overflowing and consciously letting it spread through their sphere of influence – giving it freely to the world at large. Each Center for Spiritual Living is filled and Love is pouring out of doors and windows and going forth with all people as they take it with them.

I claim the healing power of this light and love. I claim the blessings that flow forth from it. I claim that we are united by Love and use this weapon of mass enlightenment in our work as healers. I choose not to hide it- I choose to let it out. I choose to let it have its sway with me today and tomorrow and in every moment.

I am grateful for Love at this moment. I am grateful to know it is what we are. I am grateful for those who catch the excitement of love, the beauty of love, the joy of love. I am grateful for those who accept the gifts that Love brings.

I am so grateful there is an abundance of love and that we need never be stingy with it. I am grateful to know it is so great and so powerful it cannot be contained – that we can never put this Love genie back in a bottle.

This is my prayer. I send it forth. It is in the law that lovingly takes these words and makes them blossom and bloom in the world.

And so it is that I release my word from the holy and sacred space of love.

Amen

Treatment for November 18, 2016

We Are One

Treatment by Tim Phares, RScP

We have just had a national election that was bitter and divisive, and millions are happy with the result, while millions of others are upset. It occurred on the latest date Election Day can be, so we were treated to almost a week of “extra” divisiveness.

Tomorrow, we observe Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor those of us (including me) who have served in our armed forces. To all, we say thank you.

One thing on which I think we can all agree is thanking our veterans for protecting our liberty — even when it’s used in such divisive ways as we have seen in this now-concluded campaign.

Remember, whatever appearances may be, we are one. We’re all people and we’re all Americans, and we need each other. We’re in this together, like it or not.

Ernest Holmes said that we are a teaching and healing order. Now is a time to put that into play. Both teaching and healing are called for, as Americans mourn and celebrate.

And so we do what we do best, which is pray. An activity very much needed at this time.

There is only One. One Life, One Mind, One Power, One Presence, One Intelligence, One Consciousness. It is All in All, in, as, through all. All there is is this One.

Thus, each of us is that One. We are its expression. It has chosen to express as each of us consciously, deliberately, intentionally, in this place and time. Each of us expresses that One here and now.

Each of us radiates the love, peace, harmony that is God’s perfect expression for us. Each leader and each citizen is guided. Each of us is secure in the freedom to express ourselves fully. We thank and honor those who have helped secure that freedom, and we know that our leaders work to maximize and protect that freedom and the opportunity to live the fullest, greatest lives we can live.

I am grateful for peace, harmony, love, freedom. I am grateful for Divine Guidance. I am grateful for Wisdom. I am grateful for those who put their lives on the line to secure the blessings of liberty. For all of this, I am grateful.

And I simply know and accept the highest and best for each person, for my country, for those who serve, and for all. I know that all is well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well, and in that knowing, I simply let go and let God. I know that this word is fulfilled right now.

And SO it IS!

Treatment for November 10, 2016

She Loves Me: Find the Good That is in Front of You

She loves me,

True, she doesn’t show it

How could she,

When she doesn’t know it?

– Jerry Bock, She Loves Me

Earlier this year, the Roundabout Theater Company mounted a wonderful revival of the 1963 musical She Loves Me, with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. It is one of many adaptations of the play Parfumerie by Hungarian playwright Miklós László. The play also gave rise to the 1940 movie The Shop Around the Corner (starring Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan0), the 1949 movie musical In the Good Old Summertime (starring Judy Garland and Van Johnson), and the 1997 movie You’ve Got Mail (starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.) If you have seen any of those, you know the story.

Recently, Suzanne and I were fortunate enough to see a “captured live” performance of the Roundabout production, starring Laura Benanti, Zachary Levi, Jane Krakowski, Gavin Creel, Byron Jennings, and Tom McGowan.

The show mostly takes place at Maraczek’s Parfumerie in Budapest in 1934. It centers around the clerks at Maraczek’s. A woman named Amalia Balasch comes in looking for a job, but the shop’s assistant manager, Georg Nowack tells her there are no openings, but Amalia proceeds to sell a music box that Mr. Maraczek bet could not be sold. She is hired.

As the months go by, Georg and Amalia work together, but develop a chilly animosity. Sipos, an older clerk, tells the young delivery boy that they bicker because they secretly like each other. Both are writing to unknown lovers through a Lonely Hearts Club.

Meanwhile, Ilona Ritter, a thirty-something clerk, has been having an affair with another clerk, the ladies’ man Stephen Kodaly. But Kodaly’s relationship with Ilona turns sour. Kodaly, it seems, has found a new lover.

On the very day that Georg tells Sipos that he will be meeting his “dear friend” that evening, Amalia tells Ilona that she will be meeting hers that night. Mr. Maraczek gets on Georg for some minor things, and he winds up quitting the job. (He winds up getting it back in light of some new information that is presented to Mr. Maraczek.)

You can probably guess what happens when Georg goes to meet his “Dear Friend”. Let’s just say that both of them are quite shocked when they eventually discover each other’s identity, and it changes each character’s day-to-day interactions.

So other than a delightful musical, what does She Loves Me give us? There is one simple point: Sometimes the good that we’re seeking is right in front of us and we can’t even see it. It may be disguised, or we may not be looking at it correctly. But in any case, we need to open our eyes, take a good look, and discard our preconceived notions about people and circumstances. You never know the good that may await.

She Loves Me is a wonderful little gem of a show, and if a production comes your way, it’s definitely worth seeing. You would likely enjoy it very much.

Blessing Elections

Treatment by Ed Preston, RScP

Prelude

I am writing this a day before Election Day, because I will be going to the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival on Nov 8-11. So, as I write this treatment for Nov 9, I have not yet voted and I have no idea how the election will come out.

Treatment

As I begin to write, I recognize the Presence in the beautiful, blue-sky overhead. I feel it in my comfortable home and peaceful yard and creek full of fallen leaves. I know that Presence will be My Presence as I vote tomorrow and watch others going in to vote. It is their Presence also.

I bless them all and know that we will all join together to celebrate and become One as we hear the election results Tuesday night. The winners and losers will accept their new role in this life and know that there is One Life; that Life is God’s life; That Life is Perfect; That Life is my Life now. That Life is all life.

I realize that Spirit guides the fingers of every voter and finds many different ways to express Itself, even in electoral politics. I know that Spirit will lead us all into a new life together, with wonderful new ways of working together and living together.

I am grateful for our power to be the Presences here and vote as the Presence and watch the results of this election as the all-seeing Presence. I open my heart and mind to this Presence and to all that it has to offer as we finish this election and move on.

I now gratefully move on and see everyone moving with me to a new life and love of life. We are One in the Presence.

And so it is, Amen!

Treatment for November 9, 2016

Harmony in the Fall Season

Treatment by h Rich Kurasiewicz, RScP

Interesting times: Halloween is approaching, leaves are turning, election politics are at play, we hear of diversity, racism and white privilege, markets are fluctuating, Thanksgiving beckons… It’s at times like this that our daily spiritual practices ground us, raise our consciousness and promote peace and harmony in our communities and the world. For it is all God and One Mind and One Spirit, and it is the Truth that sets us free to live lives filled with Good, Harmony and Peace. And so we pray….

God is all there is—the One Mind and the One Life, perfect, whole, complete, eternal and immortal. God is Omnipresent, Omniscient, and Omnipotent. God is All-Good and available when we turn to it with acceptance of our good. For, I am that I am! I am one of the Father and the One Power and One Presence and the One Mind. I am created in the spiritual image and likeness of God—I am divine.

And just as I am perfect, whole and complete, each and everyone is perfect, whole, complete, eternal and immortal. I declare that each and everyone takes the time to go into the silence, to the Secret Place of the Most High within—the Kingdom of God! It is in this communion with our Higher Selves that each and everyone is comforted, realizes the Truth that sets them free, and is at peace and in harmony with the world. And I know that this peace and harmony spreads throughout the community and nation and world. I know that the Power and Presence of Good and Love are more strongly manifested as a result of such communion—and it is Good! I declare that each and everyone becomes more fully aware that there is One Life, that Life is God and that Life is perfect, whole and complete. We are the light of the world as the Truth sets us free!

I am so very grateful for the Light and Truth that shine brightly in each and everyone for that is the Truth of who we are—divine individualizations of the One Life. I am grateful for all the Good, Peace, Harmony and Love that are manifested and the blessings that occur for all. I am so grateful for the Goodness that is available and waits our acceptance. And I release my word unto the Law where it is already known in the mind of God. I know that my word will not return unto me void. I do give thanks that this is so and so it is!

Treatment for October 27, 2016

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