We are now happily in the midst of the Holiday Season, with Hanukkah having just begun on Sunday night for an eight-day Celebration of Light and Christmas only   twenty-five days away.  No matter our faith traditions, we can all follow Thich Nhat Hanh’s “gift” suggestion: “Be kind whenever possible, and it is always possible.” It is such a joy to bring an attitude of friendliness and helpfulness wherever we go, and it has been delightful to see others entering into this sweet mindset. Whether offering a smile, opening a door, picking up a dropped item, placing money in a bell-ringer’s pot, or speaking kindly with a stranger, we truly are engaging in the practice of circulating Love and Compassion and making a difference in the world around us.

Let’s choose to move gracefully and generously through the next few weeks, celebrating the joy of open-hearted sharing with others in this time of focus on Peace on Earth and Good Will to all.  Let’s let the lovely lights we see everywhere remind us of the One Light that indwells and illumines us all.  Do attend our in-person Winter Solstice Celebration on Saturday, December 18^th , if possible, it’s theme being: “Nurturing Night; Loving the Light,” and let it lift you with inspiring interfaith messages and open your heart to beautiful music.  Special presenters will be musician par excellence, Karen Drucker, and Centers for Spiritual Living Spiritual Leader, Dr. Edward Viljoen. What a wonderful way to bring greater Light into our lives. If you are unable to attend in person, stay tuned for how to receive it virtually later.

As we have completed the month of November, we now move into a new theme for December: “Sacred Days; Holy Nights.” We begin our Sunday morning Celebrations in person at 10:30 A.M., following CDC recommendations for everyone’s safety and wellbeing, including wearing masks indoors and staying socially distanced. You also have the option of tuning in virtually by going to our website, www.cslphilly.org  and clicking on the orange “watch live” button to be with us.  Upcoming events and past Celebrations, as well as archived Love Notes from Rev. Mike and me are also found on the website. If you come in person, you may enjoy a brief meditation time with our Practitioner of the Day at 10:00 A.M. in the “Upper Room.” Our topic this Sunday is, “Small Acts of Large Faith.”

Whenever you may feel the need to work with a Practitioner, you will find all seven, plus our Intern, on the Practitioner Page of our website. Whomever you select will gladly work with you, either in person or on the telephone, to walk with you prayerfully through any challenge or to support you spiritually in becoming more open to health, prosperity, relationships, or creative expression.

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine

Our month of focus on, “The Grateful Heart” continues to bring us opportunities for deeper understanding and greater learning about infinite possibilities.  It is not just on Thanksgiving Day that we count our blessings, as the causative energy of gratitude is a vital contributor to our success and wellbeing. In practicing these principles of Science of Mind, we grow in consciousness and delight in our Divine Bounty, whether it is increased abundance, more radiant health, greater creativity, or happier relationships.

As many people prepare to gather with family and friends to enjoy a celebratory meal, it is wise to prioritize our purpose and intentions.  In order for the Thanksgiving table to provide real connection to those present, a clear and loving focus on mutual appreciation is the very best “first course” to be enjoyed. The people truly are more important than any specially prepared dish, and a simple blessing, plus an opportunity to share “good news” with each other, will make the occasion sweet and memorable. In fact, we can begin this wonderful practice immediately and continue it after the holiday!

If you choose to attend our Sunday morning Celebrations in person, you may also wish to join our Practitioner of the Day at 10:00 A.M., for a brief Meditation in the Upper Room, then return downstairs to the Sanctuary for our 10:30 Celebration.  We continue following CDC recommendations for everyone’s safety and wellbeing, including wearing masks indoors. Otherwise, you may tune in virtually by going to our website, cslphilly.org, and click on the orange “watch live” button to tune in and be with us.  You may also scroll through the website to see upcoming events and past Celebrations, as well as archived Love Notes from Rev. Mike and me. Our topic this Sunday is, “Over the River and Through the Woods.”

Our Practitioners and Practitioner Intern are standing by to support you in affirmative prayer and individual sessions for any challenge you may be experiencing or a consciousness shift you wish to make. You will find them on the Practitioner Page of our website with their contact information.

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine

When we send out the beautiful energy of gratitude to the world, we launch a circulatory movement which opens hearts and minds even more completely to receive great and growing good in every conceivable form.  This divine activity makes all the difference between limitation and freedom, sadness and joy, as it brings order to chaos.  It is when we establish ourselves in true thankfulness that we become receptive to the Underlying Harmony of the Universe and invite Its flow into our lives.

Human beings have misused their power of attention by focusing on fear instead of faith, anger instead of love, and conflict instead of peace.  Wars continue to rage in a world that was intended for unity and compassion, and while we honor those brave men and women this Veterans Day who have given so much of themselves, we also must hold to a vision of a peaceful world that works for all.

As we emanate gratitude and love, relying on a Power greater than we are, yet right where we are, we re-align with our Original Goodness, shining a light on our lives and on humanity, resulting in healthy responses from the Universe.  We all have the opportunity to lift our consciousness and to establish a positive vibration of love and peace and thankfulness.  Let’s make that difference today by keeping our hearts open to the grace of gratitude and our minds clearly focused on the transformation of our race, as we recall our spiritual origins.

Each Sunday morning at 10:00 A.M., one of our Practitioners leads a brief Meditation in the Upper Room, completing in ample time for our 10:30 Celebration.  We continue following CDC recommendations for everyone’s safety and wellbeing, including wearing masks indoors. Those watching virtually may connect on our website, cslphilly.org, and click on the orange “watch live” button to tune in and be with us.  You may also scroll through the website to see upcoming events and past Celebrations, as well as archived Love Notes from Rev. Mike and me. Our topic this Sunday is, “The Law of Radiation.”

Whenever you find yourself in need of affirmative prayer, you may contact one of our Practitioners or Practitioner Intern to make an appointment, either in person or on the telephone.  You may reach them on the Practitioner Page of our website, where all their contact information is listed.

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine

We have begun the month of gratitude, and we understand the importance of giving thanks “in all things.” That could even include appreciating the time change coming up this weekend!  Not everyone enjoys resetting clocks and adapting to earlier sunrises and darker evening commutes, but why not choose to welcome the newness? Thankfulness truly is a choice and one that adds happiness to every day.

“The attitude of gratitude” brings immediate results, opening our hearts and minds to possibilities we may otherwise have overlooked.  As we make the conscious choice to lift our attention from any concern to the spirit of gladness, the internal “reset” changes the external experience.  Let’s decide to feel a growing sense of thankfulness in each moment and see what a difference we make in our own lives and in the world.

Join one of our Practitioners each Sunday morning for a brief Meditation at 10:00 A.M. in the Upper Room, then return for our 10:30 Celebration.  We continue following CDC recommendations for everyone’s safety and wellbeing, including wearing masks indoors. Those watching virtually may connect on our website, cslphilly.org, and click on the orange “watch live” button to tune in and be with us.  You may also scroll through the website to see upcoming events and past Celebrations, as well as archived Love Notes from Rev. Mike and me.

Our Practitioners and Practitioner Intern love hearing from you about any issues you would like to work through with spiritual mind treatment.  They can be reached on the Practitioner Page of our website, where all their contact information is listed, and you may choose whichever one you wish.

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine

As we enter into the Holiday Season, we begin next Sunday with the fun and spooky celebration of Halloween, a Christian observance the eve of All Saints Day.  These celebrations likely had pagan roots and the dates were adopted for easy transference to the new religious observances.  However it came about, there is ample opportunity to scare ourselves and each other, as well as to enjoy kids’ clever costumes and delighting in giving them candy.

There certainly is plenty of frightening stuff in the world, so we needn’t make up anything further!  Still, one wonders why folks enjoy horror movies and seem to seek out ways to let out a healthy shriek at times.  Beyond this playful aspect of scaring ourselves in imagination, we sometimes become host or hostess to fear, the more serious emotion which can incapacitate us, until we awaken to the Power of Good within that opens us to greater possibilities.

Rev. Mike will speak this Sunday on, “Boo-Who?” so join him either in person or through our website, cslphilly.org. to gain insight on how to move out of fear and into deeper faith, not only at Halloween time, but all the time.  We are continually elevating our vision to a world of Peace and Prosperity, as we remain determined to keep our consciousness high, recalling Nehemiah’s words, “I am doing great work, and I cannot come down!”

If you wish to enjoy a brief Meditation Time in the Upper Room with the Practitioner of the Day, just go upstairs at 10:00 A.M., then come back down in time to settle in for our 10:30 Celebration.  We continue following CDC recommendations for everyone’s safety and wellbeing, including wearing masks indoors. Those watching virtually may connect on our website, cslphilly.org, and click on the “watch live” button to tune in and be with us.  You may also scroll through the website to see upcoming events and past Celebrations, as well as archived Love Notes from Rev. Mike and me.

Call on any of our Practitioners or Intern to work through challenging situations that may be resolved with spiritual mind treatment.  They can be reached on the Practitioner Page of our website, where all their contact information is listed.

With great love and respect,

Dr. Maxine