Welcome to March 2024 BoT Spot!

Happy Spring!  When the Board of Trustees met last month, Dr. Maxine expressed her enthusiasm and deeply felt appreciation for this holiday season. She spoke about her desire to do something special again this year for Good Friday. Personally, I am so grateful for my exposure to the spiritual interpretation our Science of Mind philosophy has provided me regarding this holiday. I experience deep joy and excitement in recognizing my personal journey to greater consciousness, cultivating the Christ within, and celebrating its awakening expressed through me as God’s opportunity to know itself and touch this world. It’s deep, inspirational, meaningful, and I love it!!! So does Dr. Maxine, and she has a gift for guiding us through the Seven “Last” Words of Jesus” in such a deeply moving way.

I am happily planning to attend my sister-in-law’s birthday party this Friday, and still, I have a sense of sadness that I won’t be able to attend this year’s GPCSL Good Friday Event. I just wanted to take this opportunity to encourage all who can to attend. It is an experience that demonstrates the power of community coming together in contemplation, compassion, and prayer. When you register, you will receive an invite to join via Zoom for this powerful one-hour event. I do hope you attend, and I’d love to hear about your experience!

Our Easter Sunday Celebration will be amazing as well! We will be live streaming, but for those who are local we invite you to join us live at the Inspiration Café in Paoli (registration required to reserve your seat). Come see behind the scenes, sing, dance, laugh, and YES, enjoy Dr. Maxine’s famously delicious Easter Orange Rolls…YUM!!!

Edie Janik

President

GPCSL Board of Trustees

Welcome to February 2024 BoT Spot!

February seems an appropriate month to write about hearts…specifically, what fuels one’s heart. Spending time laser focused on what’s right before me in the form of tasks needing attention, deadlines, and what’s “wrong”, can tend to occupy my mind so fully that my heart’s desire gets put on that other burner…you know, that little one in the back? So much energy is needed to work on the matters at hand, I gotta use the BIG burners in the front and fast if I am going to get everything done! At least that is what I am thinking until I remember how backwards this approach really is.

Have you ever done something that aligns so fully with your heart’s desire that you lost track of time? Everything flowed easily and the outcome was all you wished for and more? You were probably even energized afterwards and ready to take on anything!

Our Board of Trustees meetings always start off with each of us ‘checking in’ (after opening treatment, of course). During check-ins, I tend to share what I am cooking on those aforementioned, big burners. It’s where my focus is at the moment, so that’s what comes out (I am speaking for myself here, but I am pretty sure I am not the only one who approaches check-ins this way). Then, we move into a connecting exercise. Connecting with each other gets all of us in a space where we are living, loving, learning, and laughing, together. This effectively takes our eyes off whatever we may be cooking, and since we are smart and know we shouldn’t leave a stove unattended…we turn down the heat.

By the time we get down to business matters, my pots have all moved around. Fueled by our shared appreciation for each other and love for the Center, I’ve pulled the heart’s desire pot to the front, turned up the heat, and declared, “Yes Please!” Time starts whizzing by. The group overcomes challenges with grace and creativity. Existing practices are refined, and new ideas emerge. The meeting ends. It’s just about time to turn in for the night, but it takes me a while because I am just not tired!

This happens to me every Board meeting. I am sharing it with you because it has taught me a valuable lesson, and one I have been more intentional about remembering lately: Keep your heart ‘s desire pot on the BIG burner, up front! Use your fuel for warming your heart with the things you love to do, be, create, care for, etc. When you do, all of its deliciousness will find its way into the other pots you are working on. The outcome will be amazing, and everyone will want your recipe!!!

With Much Love,

Edie Janik

President, GPCSL Board of Trustees

Welcome to January 2024 BoT Spot!

So how is it going? I am curious if you are feeling centered and operating in a way that aligns with your personal vision for yourself and the world three weeks into the 2024 new year?

I don’t mind sharing that it has been a bit of a bumpy ride for me so far. Don’t get me wrong: I feel incredibly blessed and generally happy most of the time. But, if I were to answer the question above honestly, I would say, “No”.  I couldn’t quite put my finger on what the core issue was though. It all came to light during the GPCSL Board of Trustees Visioning meeting last Sunday afternoon.

Every time I participate in a visioning session, it never fails to reveal immutable truths and meaningful insights beyond my expectations. The experience also pulls away the veil of separation and gets me moving to the next “Kingdom” (high five to those of you who got the reference!).

But wait! Wasn’t the visioning session about clarifying the Board’s vision for the Center??? Yes, it was, and simultaneously it underscored the thread of consciousness between our individually held personal visions and those we each held for the Center. Reminds me of the saying, “As within, so without”.

I think I can confidently speak for the group of us when I say we left the session invigorated and recommitted to living our personal visions, knowing doing so will strengthen our ability to manifest exalted health and growth of the Center. We are Living, Loving, Learning Spirituality that works…in this case through the practice of visioning.

As part of our community, you will be invited to participate in a visioning session very soon. We look forward to that collective exercise and the benefit it will bring to those who choose to participate and ultimately, the GPCSL Center. In the meantime, know your Board of Trustees is doing its work to successfully oversee the financial and operational health of the Center, and support the vision of an extraordinary ministry and community.

Grateful to be of Service,

Edie Janik

President, GPCSL Board of Trustees