Center for Spiritual Living Boise
July 05, 2020
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Beloved Ones:
I admit it. I am tired. I am feeling overwhelmed and numb. Everything feels so complicated right now. Perhaps, like so many, you are finding it easier to just ‘check out’ from the media stories about our corrupt and chaotic politics, racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism, classism, (and all the other “isms”). It is difficult to bear the pain of one more tragic breaking news report of the murder of an innocent Black man or woman.
I understand.
Mainstream and social media are too often filled with images and videos of the sounds and sights of hate and people lashing out at each other. This week in Boise, we saw neighbors turning against neighbors at the "Black Lives Matter" Rally as we heard shouts of “Heil Hitler” ringing through the streets of our beautiful city. All the while, Covid19 cases in our state and nation continue to rise at alarming rates.
Like many of you, I am feeling frustrated, angry, deeply saddened and confused. Turning for comfort and direction, I was blessed to find the inspirational, healing words of Mark Nepo:
“
That we go numb along the way is to be expected. Even the bravest among us, who give their lives to care for others, go numb with fatigue, when the heart can take in no more, when we need time to digest all we meet. Overloaded and overwhelmed, we start to pull back from the world, so we can internalize what the world keeps giving us. Perhaps the noblest private act is the unheralded effort to return: to open our hearts once they’ve closed, to open our souls once they’ve shied away, to soften our minds once they’ve been hardened by the storms of our day.” ~ Mark Nepo
I am deeply grateful that I have this life affirming, transformative teaching to guide me in my unsteady moments. And I am very clear that I am being called to bring forth a higher version of myself and to “walk the talk” of this teaching of Religious Science during these difficult times. And I believe, that you too are being called to rise. It is for moments like these that we were born!
When the world has pushed us into overwhelm, it is important that we take time to rest, heal and remember how spiritually strong we really are. We have just forgotten. As we gently engage in our spiritual practices of prayer, affirmation, meditation and purposeful action, we not only balance ourselves but we also bring a spiritual Peace and Balance to the world around us.
Our founder, Dr. Ernest Holmes wrote:
“No greater good can come to you than to know that the Power already within you is the power to live, the power to create. Not only to create for yourself, but to create for others — the power to do good, the power to heal, the power to prosper.”
Religious Science teaches that there is no outside condition/effect that is greater than the Power within us. Nothing is Greater than the God within you and me and within all people! I believe that we are being called to rise up in these chaotic times. No matter how tired and overwhelmed we may be, we are being called to this moment to reveal the Truth and Power of Oneness, Compassion, Love and Justice and Equality for all people.
We are the ones we have been waiting for – we are the ancestors of future generations. It is our turn to step into the world around us and declare...
"That the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
I send you blessings of Peace, Love, safety and rest on this 4th of July 2020.
Rev. Jackie Holland
Spiritual Leader
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The Law of Liberty
The law
that sets us free, the true Law of Liberty, consists in being true to the wholeness of our real nature...which is the God-nature within. Since God is All-in-All, over All and through All, and since the Law is limitless, it follows that each one of us reproduces the Creative Liberty at the level of our present capacity to understand Reality. Emerson tells us that imitation is suicide, but that if each person will listen greatly to himself, he shall uncover within himself the truth of his/her true being. The way to freedom is through an understanding that the Universal (God/Spirit) manifests Itself directly through us in a unique way. Complying with the nature of the Divine Being, we automatically use the Law of Liberty constructively; there can be no limit to Its use since we are dealing with the Infinite... If we wish greater freedom, then we must begin to think about greater freedom. We must begin to cast out all doubt or fear.
-Dr. Ernest S. Holmes, Founder of Religious Science
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Musical Artist this Sunday!
Becky Blake
Becky Blake is a former professional actress (you can still see her on a few VERY OLD "Law and Order" episodes) who took a long hiatus from the acting world in order to focus her heart and attention on her husband and children. She never stopped singing, however, and is so blessed in Boise to sing with her physician/musician husband as a duo (Lloyd and Becky Blake), with an acoustic group called The Storytellers, and is a featured singer with The Billy Blues Band. Becky is delighted to sing for the Center for Spiritual Living this week.
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Joining the ZOOM call is EASY! Just click here:
NOTE: NEW ZOOM LINK as of 6/21/20
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'Share' helps support CSL Boise
Living in this digital age offers us quite the learning curve. In this pandemic, you may wonder how you may still support your spiritual home that you love. Here is a list of some suggestions to digitally share our spiritual home with those who may never be exposed to CSL Boise otherwise.
- Share our videos of Sunday Service or the daily meditations to your personal Facebook page
- Start a watch party of Sunday Service or the daily meditations to your personal Facebook page
- Share the CSL Boise Facebook posts to your personal Facebook page
- 'Check in' on the CSL Boise Facebook page when you are at church
- Write a review of what you LOVE about your spiritual home and how this philosophy has changed your life on the CSL Boise Facebook page
- "Like" and "Follow" the CSL Boise Facebook page so you are notified when we 'go live' and about other posts
We miss you all! Using these 'sharing' tips can help us stay connected and GROW our community!
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We Want to Feature YOU!
This pandemic has been rough on everyone, some more than others. Keeping apart from one another has been very difficult and so many people are feeling isolated. We want our CSL community to remain connected.
So we want to feature
YOU,
CSL congregants, in this 'Congregant Corner'. What have you been doing to keep busy in this pandemic/shelter in place? What came up for you? What did you discover about yourself or your surroundings? (sadly, we have no pictures or admissions this week!)
We want want to feature
YOU
here! Please e-mail us your pictures, articles, poems, songs, baking creations, stories, family time, travel, etc. to
[email protected].
Note: Please keep content to 250 words or less, no politics and submissions may be edited for content.
THANKS!
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Welcome To CSL's New Facilities Director
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Beth Ambrose
is the new Facilities Director at CSL. She is looking for volunteers, either people with experience (skilled) or people who would just like to help (people with good hearts). Some of these tasks will be large and some much smaller. The church really needs our help and we are grateful for any service
you can give to your spiritual home. So if you have an hour or have more time these are the areas:
Painting - inside and out
General repairs
Sprinkler repair
Grass removal- using a sod cutter
Putting rocks where all grass is
Parking lot repair - bigger job
Weeding
Minor construction jobs
Window washing and other cleaning when the pandemic is over
Thank you for your consciousness and support of the CSL Boise!
If you are interested, or require more information, please email Beth at:
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Practitioner's Corner
FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
Loretta Knowles, RScP
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ustice - a concept on ethics and law that means that people behave in a way that is fair, equal and balanced for everyone. Wikipedia
Freedom - the power to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.
I am sitting on my patio feeling infinite gratitude for the freedom I am experiencing in this moment. I am also feeling the fire of passion ignited in me to take full responsibility for the freedom and liberty I am privileged to experience as a white woman living in Boise, Idaho.
I allow my heart to break open and feel anger, and profound sadness, knowing that I easily live in a state of freedom, a privilege denied to many in our country and in the world. All human systems and structures on this planet are infused with the toxic patriarchal energies of separation and domination. The systemic racism (and all the other isms) embedded in America’s systems and structures (so shamefully exposed to more of us through social media than ever before) is the source of unfathomable pain for all of those subjected to the domination, violence and exploitation in this hierarchal tragedy.
Patriarchy is not just a system of men dominating women, it is a system of believing that some individuals actually have more value than others. It is time for a new demonstration for humanity, for this planet and all life. It is time to demonstrate our Oneness and the infinite importance of each one of us... and to practice this principle of Oneness in all of our affairs. We are all the Beloveds of the Beloved.
A Course in Miracles defines a healed Mind as a Mind that does not have attack thoughts toward itself or anyone or anything else. It also teaches that a healed Mind does not judge. Science of Mind teaches us that there is only One Mind.
I make a commitment to heal the Mind that is in me, to extend Love to All.
I commit to releasing resentments, judgements and condemnation toward anyone or anything on a daily basis and practice forgiveness. Sometimes this is a moment to moment commitment and I joyfully surrender to it.
To practice resentment, judgement and condemnation keeps the separation and domination going. I know this is a rigorous practice and I am up to the challenge. I joyfully claim the Power of God within, feel the Peace that this awareness invokes, and do what is mine to do to heal the energies of separation in myself to be the most effective catalyst for change.
None of us are Free until all of us are Free! Together I see a world of emotionally and spiritually mature beings co-creating a just and glorious World That Works for All!
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The prayer team is awaiting your prayer request! We invite you to reach out to us
!
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The seed of freedom must be planted in the innermost being of man, but, like the Prodigal Son, man must make the great discovery for himself.
~Ernest Holmes
In this moment, as I feel the peace of Spirit around and through me, I know that everything is part of this divine Presence. It is all knowledge, all peace, all joy and so very much more!
In every moment I know I am connected to God. My very breath is God as is every beat of my heart. God is my very essence and in joy I know and I accept this truth for everyone reading this word now.
As we open ourselves up to the presence of Spirit, we allow Love to fill our hearts and minds. We claim the freedom that is ours through releasing any false and limiting beliefs. We trust the power within knowing that we need not be bound by fear but instead we are freed by our faith of the Living Presence within. The all-powerful Presence that can accomplish all things blesses and fills our lives with joy. We accept and express our freedom knowing it is the divine plan for all.
With gratitude for Life, and knowing these words are the truth and action of Spirit, we release this Word into the Law. We relax and know with complete faith that all is well. We let go and let God do God’s work.
And So It Is!
Deborah Whitman, RScP
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The CSL Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that we have begun the process of re-opening our Center for assembly gathering. Please join us at 10:30 am at 10464 W. Garverdale Court, Boise, ID.
Because it's a phased approach, our building and service won't look like it was the last time you were here. We will be following the guidelines set forth by the CDC, State of Idaho, City of Boise and our insurance carrier.
We have been carefully monitoring the COVID-19 numbers in Boise and throughout our state and we feel confident that this is the time to come back together in our building for Sunday Services. We are exploring re-opening timelines for the other activities that take place in our building and will be releasing information on that very soon.
Our number one priority remains the safety and health of our entire congregation. We ask that if you aren't feeling well, please stay home and watch the service on Facebook Live. If you aren't comfortable being around other people yet, we completely understand and support you in your decision to stay home and watch the service on Facebook Live or the video later in the day.
What you need to know for Sunday Service during the Pandemic era:
1. Entrance will be through the front doors only
2. You must be free from fever, cough and/or sore throat and have not been in
contact with anyone exposed to or active with COVID-19 in the last three weeks.
3. A Face Mask must be worn at all times when you are not in your seat.
(
You may
remove your mask while seated, but it must be worn at all times when out of your seat)
4. Sanitize your hands when entering the building
5. Practice Social Distancing with 6 feet between individuals
6. No hugging or handshaking; no singing, unison speaking or dancing
7. Access to Sanctuary and Bathrooms only
8. No hospitality will be served after service
9. No Youth Church services at this time
(children are invited to sit with their parents in Church)
10. No meditation before service
11. No in-person prayer after service in the Prayer Room
(you can still CALL a Practitioner
for prayer at ANY time you need it or fill out a Prayer Request Form at church or at CSLBoise.org!)
12. Sanctuary seating available for 88 people with appropriate distancing between chairs
13. The camera is set up in the center of the room. Please be careful of the wires
14. Please take all personal items and exit the building after service. Sorry, no lingering
or gathering - (
Join us at 11:45 am on the ZOOM call for hospitality-no masks needed!)
We know how difficult and oddly strange it is following these new mandated rules and processes. They are designed to keep us ALL safe and healthy and eventually, they may slowly be lifted. Please join us this Sunday if you feel called to come to church in the building. (Because we know church is everywhere!) We look forward to seeing your beautiful faces and sharing in your wonderful energy in our Sanctuary once again!
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Special thanks to Rex Miller and all of the musicians who continue to support the CSL during this time!
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SUPPORT OUR MUSICIANS
To find out more, and to help support our musicians during these difficult times, please click on the links to our beloved
Musician's Websites.
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Center for Spiritual Living Boise
Reverend Jackie Holland, Senior Minister
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See what's happening on our social sites
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