Category Archives: Latest News

Mar. 5, 2024: From the Pen of Dr. Maxine

The Creative Process works unceasingly to manifest all the wonderful life forms we experience, and we love continuing to learn how to use this Intelligence to co-create a beautiful world for ourselves and others. It is neither wishful thinking, nor magic that brings the Infinite into the finite, but clear, disciplined intention, and deep trust of the Divine. The farmer cultivates the soil, selects the best seed, sows at the appropriate time, uses the most nourishing elements, and trusts the seeds to grow according to their nature. So do we prepare the soil of our consciousness, choose the highest thoughts and intentions, speak our Truth at the right and perfect time, nurture the growing vision with love and faith, and let Infinite Intelligence grow them into full blossoming.

As we deepen our connection to Source and enjoy our movement through this sweet Easter Season, we may find it natural to bring more mastery into our spiritual work, carefully choosing uplifting ideas, pleasant thoughts, and elevated emotions. There is nothing harsh about the word, “discipline,” as it shares the root with “disciple,” indicating a wise and loving choice to follow a Higher Way, to align with the Christ within us, and support Its Presence and Power in our lives.

We loved our in-person Sunday Celebration at the Inspiration Café last Sunday, and this coming Sunday’s Celebration will be livestreamed only from the same location. Rev. Mike will be speaking on, “Divine Discipline,” continuing our March theme of, “From Seeds to Sprouts” at 10:30 A.M. EDT. Note: Be sure to set your clocks ahead one hour before retiring Saturday night! Join us online by going to our website www.cslphilly.org and pressing the orange Watch Live” button to participate with us in an hour or so of music and inspiration.

We DO have our next in-person Celebration planned on March 17th at 11:00 A.M., as we share a joyous morning with our “sister center,” Center of Peace, 5712 Green St., Philadelphia, PA 19144. Rev. Twana Malone and I will share the pulpit, the guest musician will be EDDIE WATKINS. JR., and he will also provide an afternoon love offering concert. We are all very excited about this beautiful opportunity, so plan ahead to be present. More information click here.

We offer spiritual tools for both personal and global transformation and are pleased to recommend our Licensed Practitioners to support you on this journey, whenever you can use some spiritual enlightenment and assistance. They are all listed on the Practitioner Page on our website and any of them will be happy to schedule an appointment to work with you.

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine

Feb. 27, 2024: From the Pen of Dr. Maxine

The CSL Convention I attended last week truly had that WOW factor! Our Beloved Organization continues to move in a beautifully inclusive direction, putting “legs” under our intention to co-create “A World That Works for ALL.” The “Love Fest” we all experienced in Charleston was a microcosm of what the macrocosm of our world was intended to be, and I am grateful to be a part of Centers for Spiritual Living. Our Community here in Paoli (and beyond) is committed to living these principles of Unity in Diversity, and inviting Love to lead the way.

We carry our February focus of, “If Only You Could Love Enough,” into the month of March, which theme will be, “From Seeds to Sprouts.” It is in our ability to increase our Love Quotient that we find the Grace to co-create more conscious, caring, compassionate intentions into our individual and collective lives. The Law of Growth, always at work, receives these creative intentions and acts upon them, bringing greater and greater joy into the world.

This Sunday’s Celebration will be another IN-PERSON opportunity to enjoy each other’s company at the Inspiration Café in Paoli, PA at 10:30 A.M. EST. Register online to assure yourself a seat.  Those not in the area may join us online by going to our website www.cslphilly.org and pressing the orange “Watch Live” button to participate with us in an hour or so of music and inspiration. My topic will be, “The Working of the Word.”

On March 17th, a very special shared Sunday morning will take place at Center of Peace, 5712-14 Greene St., Philadelphia, PA 19144, at 11:00 A.M. EST. Rev. Twana Malone and I will share the pulpit, the guest musician will be EDDIE WATKINS. JR., and he will also provide an afternoon concert on a love offering basis. Our “Sister Centers” are both very excited about this beautiful opportunity, so plan ahead to be present. More information click here.

Be sure to scroll through our website to find current offerings of classes and in-person activities, as well as past Celebrations and Love Notes, and our all-important Practitioner Page. Here you will find caring, compassionate professionals who are happy to lift you from problem to possibility, using our spiritual tools and providing affirmative prayer to reveal a greater truth in your life.

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine

February 2024 BoT Spot

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

Feb. 20, 2024: From the Pen of Dr. Maxine

Today, I am attending Centers for Spiritual Living Business Meeting at its Annual Convention here in Charleston, South Carolina. We continue enjoying outstanding speakers, inspiring workshops, fabulous music, and great camaraderie with conscious, caring, compassionate, and clever colleagues. We have brought a keen consciousness of Love to this southern community, not only enjoying its beauty, but discovering more of its actual history. We are aware of the inequity and injustice many of our brothers and sisters experienced over the past 200 years; yet, we are determined to continue encouraging and inspiring greater unity, respect, and possibility with our presence here.

As Emma Curtis Hopkins stated, “Awareness is curative,” so we must acknowledge anything still out of alignment with Truth, along with respect, acknowledgement, and appreciation for all beings. This Global Spiritual Community is committed to co-creating “A World That Works for Everyone,” truly, “A World That Works for All.” Here, in this environment of oneness, harmony, open-hearted communication, and mutual respect and admiration, we are experiencing such a world, a microcosm of the macrocosm of the greater human race. We can be encouraged that so many people are aligning with Divine Love and Infinite Wisdom to bring about what we have been praying about: “Heaven on earth.”

I’ll be returning in ample time for Sunday’s Virtual Celebration, livestreaming from the Inspiration Café in Paoli, PA at 10:30 A.M. EST.   Join us online by going to our website www.cslphilly.org and pressing the orange “Watch Live” button to participate with us in an hour or so of music and inspiration. We will complete our February theme, “If Only You Could Love Enough,” and my topic will be, “Yes, We Can!”

We invite you to scroll through our site to find past Celebrations and Love Notes, as well as many interesting opportunities to join with us in social activities and in classes. The new, twelve-week Zoom class on Emma Curtis Hopkins, “Unveiling Your Hidden Power,” begins Tuesday, February 27th and meets from 6:30 to 9:00 P.M. through May 14th. You may purchase your books by calling directly to Michael Terranova (listed on the flyer you will find under “Events” on the website.) There is still time to register – Click here for all the details.

We provide spiritual tools for personal and global transformation, specifically that of spiritual mind treatment (affirmative prayer,) and we teach and practice this beautiful, healing process in our Center. There are times when we truly can use the assistance of one of our trained Practitioners, and they are found on the Practitioner Page of our website. Contact any of them to make an in-person or telephone appointment.

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine

Feb. 23, 2024: From the Pen of Dr. Maxine

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and we wish you plenty of love. The Greeks had several words for love: Eros – romantic love; Storge – familial love; Philios – friend love; and Agape – Divine Love. All forms of love flow from the Heart of the Divine, each having an important role in human life. It is when we understand that Love is an attribute of God and that we all are individualized manifestations of God’s Life that we realize our Essence to be Love Itself. How we express that Love has everything to do with how happy, successful, and in tune with life we are.

I still send Valentine Day cards to my grandchildren and to my adult children, all containing fun stickers for them to use however they wish to employ them, and they continue to insist on receiving them each year! My sweetheart and I love to exchange cards and small gifts, and I always receive flowers and a lovely dinner invitation. We love to wish our friends love and more love, and we delight in the Divine Love that nourishes, heals, inspires, and guides us to every creative, constructive, and compassionate decision. You see? We can and do have it all when we open our hearts and realize that Love is the very Life Essence of us all.

This Sunday’s Celebration will be held in person at the Inspiration Café in Paoli, PA at 10:30 A.M. EST.   Come be with us by registering on line to assure your comfy seat, or join us online by going to our website www.cslphilly.org and pressing  the orange “Watch Live” button to participate with us in an hour or so of music and inspiration. We continue with our February theme, “If Only You Could Love Enough,” and Rev. Mike Gerdes’ topic will be, “Turning It Around.”

The new, twelve-week class on Emma Curtis Hopkins, “Unveiling Your Hidden Power,” begins Tuesday, February 27th and meets from 6:30 to 9:00 P.M. through May 14th. You may purchase your books by calling directly to Michael Terranova (listed on the event page you will find under “Events” on the website.) Do register right away on the same page. Also, scroll through the site to see all the wonderful events and opportunities for gatherings that we happily continue to offer.

One very important page you will discover on our website is the Practitioner Page, which lists all six of our licensed Practitioner, each ready and willing to assist you in any human challenge and encourage your spiritual growth. Whomever you are guided to call will happily work with you with love and care.

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine