Author Archives: L ONeill

Dec. 16, 2025: From the Pen of Dr. Maxine

Dear Ones,

The One Divine Light finds Its expression in and through each of us, so it is important to remember how essential we are to the dissemination of Love and Wisdom to the world. It is as we become aware of Its steadfast glow within our own hearts that we become able and willing to share this Light with others. It is in the sharing that our consciousness deepens and expands, and we experience great joy and satisfaction in being the instruments of God’s Presence.

We have finally arrived at the time for our very special Annual Winter Solstice, coming up this Saturday at UCCVF. This sweet and powerful interfaith event begins at 6:30 P.M. with music and presenters from many faith traditions and reception following. This year’s theme, “From the Darkness of Division to the Light of Love,” and it seems to perfect time to celebrate Unity in Diversity and shed a little light on everyone. Bring your family and friends and come early to find your seats.

Continuing this month’s theme, “Bring in the Light,” this Sunday will focus on, “Sharing the Illuminated Presence.” Enjoy a short meditation with our Practitioner of the Day at 12:30, then gather in the Sanctuary for our 1:00 P.M. ET Celebration. We’ll enjoy holiday refreshments together after service, including your minister’s Heavenly Swedish Tea Ring. If you are out of the area, please join us online by logging on to our website, www.cslphilly.org and go to the orange Watch Online button to be with us virtually.

Our Licensed Professional Practitioners are always to lift us in prayer and assist in in deepening our faith.  Click here to see their dedicated page on our website and contact any of them for a personal appointment. They are also here for “3-Minute Miracles” for brief meetings on Sundays after service, and the Prayer Chest receives your requests for spiritual mind treatment by the “God Squad.”

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine

Dec. 9, 2025: From the Pen of Dr. Maxine

Dear Ones,

I love Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’ statement, “It’s only the G-D of light that can defeat the darkness in the human soul.” Understanding that the Divine Light is everlasting and that human challenges are transitory, we realize that having faith in that which is Eternal is the wisest and most beneficial mindset possible.  So called “miracles” happen every day, and they are simply the expression of the Divine showing up in our human experience, a very natural manifestation of the way Spirit works when we open our hearts and minds to It.

Whether celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, or any other holiday of Light, let’s become more deeply aware of the One Light that illumines all life, steadily nurturing, lifting, and guiding us all to a steadfast consciousness of deep faith and ever-expanding joy.

Continuing this month’s theme, “Bring in the Light,” this Sunday will focus on, “The Light That Cannot Be Extinguished,” which is observed and celebrated in many faith traditions. In fact, Hanukkah begins next Sunday and continues for eight days, each day bringing more light and recalling the “Miracle of the Oil. “  Enjoy a short meditation with our Practitioner of the Day at 12:30, then gather in the Sanctuary for our 1:00 P.M. ET Celebration. If you are out of the area, please join us online by logging on to our website, www.cslphilly.org and go to the orange Watch Online button to be with us virtually.

Whenever any challenges may arise in our personal lives, we know we may reach out to any of our Licensed Professional Practitioners to lift us in prayer and assist in in deepening our faith.  Click here to see their dedicated page on our website and contact any of them for a personal appointment. They are also here for “3-Minute Miracles” for brief meetings on Sundays after service, and the Prayer Chest receives your requests for spiritual mind treatment by the “God Squad.”

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine

Dec. 2, 2025: From the Pen of Dr. Maxine

Dear Ones,

The holiday season is in full swing, and the sights and sounds of the season can bring us great delight, if we choose to align ourselves with the ever-present Grace and Joy that surrounds and indwells us. Many of us are preparing for Christmas celebrations, not only sending greetings, planning gatherings, shopping for gifts and food, and decorating, but also opening our hearts to the rebirth of the Christ Consciousness within us all. Of course, this Divine Presence lives within us all, although called by different names: Krishna, Buddha, Atman, Emanuel, and we invite this inner illumination to light our way each day.

As this Divine Light radiates outward from our hearts, warming and blessing everyone and everything around us, we enter more deeply into a greater possibility of experiencing heaven on earth and the flow of Divine Love through all humanity. Let’s keep our Lights shining brightly, as we enjoy this sacred season, and be sure to invite your friends and neighbors to attend our Annual Winter Solstice at UCCVF on Saturday, December 20th.

Our new monthly theme is, “Bring in the Light,” and this Sunday’s message is about, “You Shine!” Enjoy a short meditation with our Practitioner of the Day at 12:30, then gather in the Sanctuary for our 1:00 P.M. Celebration. If you are out of the area, please join us online by logging on to our website, www.cslphilly.org and go to the orange Watch Online button to be with us virtually.

Our Licensed Professional Practitioners are available to pray with you or to teach you how to use spiritual mind treatment. Click here to see their dedicated page on our website and contact any of them for a personal appointment. They are also here for “3-Minute Miracles” for brief meetings on Sundays after service, and the Prayer Chest receives your requests for spiritual mind treatment by the “God Squad.”

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine

Nov. 25, 2025: From the Pen of Dr. Maxine

What a wonderful Communal Pre-Thanksgiving Feast we enjoyed last Sunday after Celebration! Great gratitude to Chef Jerry Goard and to all who prepared delicious dishes, helped set up, clean up, and participated in a heart-and-appetite-satisfying meal! We love celebrating Life together and delighted in creating another “Bountiful Bouquet,” proving that, when we give freely of our individual gifts, we are able to co-create greater meaning and beauty as a community.

Let’s determine to sustain the peace and joy of each day and its activities, bringing our highest and best to our personal lives and to one another in continuing to build a strong community. It is in remembering the Source we all share that we experience the joy and tranquility of every moment of each day to come. We can move with Grace and Gratitude into the weeks of celebration to come. Rev. Mike and I count you high among our blessings, are so thankful for you all, and wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

As we complete this month and enter into the fullness of the holiday season, we do well to maintain our serenity in moving through the coming weeks. This Sunday, November 30th at the 1:00 P.M. ET Celebration, I’ll be suggesting the wisdom of, “Bringing in the Holidays . . . Gently.” If you are out of the area, please join us online by logging on to our website, www.cslphilly.org and go to the orange Watch Online button to be with us virtually.

Our Licensed Professional Practitioners are available to pray with you or to teach you how to use spiritual mind treatment. Click here to see their dedicated page on our website. You may contact any of them for a personal appointment. They are here for “3-Minute Miracles” for brief meetings on Sundays after service, and the Prayer Chest receives your requests for spiritual mind treatment by the “God Squad.”

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine

Nov. 18, 2025: From the Pen of Dr. Maxine

Thank you, Merci, Gracias, Gratzi, Arigato . .  These are just a few of the words that express gratitude, and they all bring delight to our hearts.  The very atmosphere around us can change abruptly when we arrive in a mindset of thanksgiving, as Gratitude is causative! It is far more than a nicety or social grace but a powerful energy that opens us to an increased flow of abundance and joy. It also tends to open hearts and bring smiles to the faces of those we encounter.

Thanksgiving time tends to remind us of the Good that exists in the world and encourages us to count our blessings, as well as to reach out to those who may not have so many blessings to count.  The joy of generosity is a natural result of the illuminated consciousness of thankfulness. We may invite someone to our table, help to serve at a shelter, send donations to helpful organizations, or include others in uplifting prayer.

However you celebrate this special time, do encourage everyone around you to speak aloud their gratitude, and watch the energy of joy fill the room.  Let’s also continuing employing this beautiful practice far beyond the day itself, as it elevates consciousness, lifts hearts, and invites great abundance of every nature into our lives. May your blessings increase, as you are all blessings to our spiritual community.

This Sunday, November 23rd at the 1:00 P.M. ET Celebration, we will be celebrating our individual and shared blessings, as we focus on “Thankful Hearts” and enjoy our Bountiful Bouquet ceremony. If you are out of the area, please join us online by logging on to our website, www.cslphilly.org and go to the orange Watch Online button to be with us virtually. Local folks are encouraged to remain for our Community Thanksgiving Feast in Fellowship Hall. We are blessed to have the gustatorial talents of Chef Jerry Goard, preparing the turkeys, stuffing, and gravy for us.  Bring your favorite side dishes to share with your friends and do register online for the event – just click here.  

As Spiritual Mind Treatment is the foremost practice of our teaching, we learn the beauty and power of this affirmative form of prayer. Our Licensed Practitioners are available to pray with you or to teach you this method. Click here to see their dedicated page on our website and can be contacted for a personal appointment. They are here for “3-Minute Miracles” for brief meetings on Sundays after service, and the Prayer Chest receives your requests for spiritual mind treatment by the “God Squad.”

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine