CENTRE OF LIGHT
DIVINE SCIENCE EXTENSION CAMPUS

MINISTERS
Helen Penfold
Mallory Kretzmann

FOUNDER
Rev. Dr. June Jones

 JULY 2010  NEWSLETTER

I have a very simple message this month; and how often, due to our highly technical and sophisticated material world do we miss the simplicity of Truth?

I was reading about a balloon salesman, who would set up his stall on a busy street corner, and begin by simply inflating a few different colour balloons with helium gas, tying them with string and then letting them go up into the air. They would attract the attention of children who pretty soon would be clamouring to buy the lovely balloons. One day a young street urchin tugged on the man’s trousers and asked him if he were to fill a black balloon, would it also rise into the air. The salesman assured him that it was not the colour of the balloon that counted, or the shape for that matter, but what was inside that was responsible for its rising high into the air.

By the same token, it is what is inside us that counts; it is what is inside us that lifts us up in consciousness. And what is it that lifts us in consciousness towards our full potential? And here we are dealing with truth – truth that cannot be changed or adapted to suit our emotional or human needs. We all have different viewpoints and opinions about different issues; in particular often, about truth. Now, what we think and perceive makes no difference except to ourselves. What we believe, or preach, or teach does not change God, or truth.

Each week we are privileged to share with you, truth, as we know it – truth as it makes sense to us, at any given time. What we do, (how we behave, our attitudes) does make a difference in the world, but not to the kingdom that is not of this world. And when we realize there is something more to life; and as our realization deepens, then we begin to see that the passing phases of life in the world are not the be-all and end-all of everything. And this realization actually lies deep within us – it is a knowing that is inherent in each one of us from the time (or point) of our origination in consciousness. This knowing is held in the consciousness of each one, waiting to be discovered, waiting to be used. We might almost say: ‘waiting to inflate us to our full potential of being.’

It is through the practiced awareness of the fact that we are all divine expressions, come forth as the offspring of God; and the understanding of this truth, that we will begin fulfilling our potential.

We come next to the question: “Do we all have access to it?” Do we all have access to that which lifts us up in consciousness? The answer, simply, is …. Absolutely!!!

We all have access to God. And not one of us is any more or any less qualified to attain the state of being in the Presence. When we doubt who we are in truth, then this (human) sense of self-doubt takes over and leaves us with a mistaken sense of identity. And it is from this place of believing from the ego instead of from the soul, that we put up the barriers that seem to block our access to truth. The ego won’t find God – it does not want to in the first place.

The access to God, or that state of being in the Presence, is through consciousness. It goes beyond intellectual knowledge and moral human behavior. Being a so-called good or bad person in the world has nothing to do with who we are in truth. It goes without saying that when we know who we truly are, that we would automatically live our lives in accordance with that knowing.

Are we allowing this access to happen? We allow many things in our lives. We allow ourselves to be swayed by popular opinion; we allow ourselves to be half-hearted at times; we allow ourselves to doubt who we are in truth, thereby allowing ourselves to experience the consequences of not trusting or believing. When we begin to realize through reading, studying, meditating, that God is the creative principle of the universe, and the only power in and through us, then it follows that our trust will grow. When we allow ourselves to be still we become receptive. It is in the silence that God waits; in the silence that we make room for understanding and awareness. It is in the silence that we finally allow ourselves to be fully in the Presence.

Just as the gas filled the balloons, so God fills us. We are filled with the unlimited and eternal gifts of life, power, love and peace. Unlike the balloons, we have a choice and can choose to be aware of that which fills us; that which lives us; that which is us. And as we do this and the understanding grows that we are one with God in consciousness, then we not only know it for ourselves but for all; and we give this truth the permission to be in our lives.

SUNDAY SERVICES:

Meditation - 09:30 to 09:45

Service - 09:45 to 10:30

Guided Meditation - 18:30 to 19:00 (with Lee Morgutti)

DIVINE SCIENCE CLASSES:

Helen Penfold is currently presenting the Practitioner Course to two individuals who qualify for this class.

A class in Spiritual Psychology is scheduled to commence on Tuesday 03 August, 2010, at 19:15. This ten week course will be presented by Mallory Kretzmann, and the prerequisite for the class, is Divine Science Basic Principle. A list for names will be up on the Board in the hall.

SPIRITUAL CINEMA :

SPIRITUAL CINEMA, 16 July 2010 at 19h00 at ACT: – No programme available at time of going to print. Please watch the notice board and a mail-shot will be sent out as soon as we have the information, or call Jean Wildervanck on: 073-2720042.

ACT SOCIAL COMMITTEE WALK:

The next ACT walk will be on 17July, and we will be doing the Aloe Trail in Bluewater Bay. Jenny Rump from the Swartkops Trust will be leading the walk, so it will be very interesting and informative. We will meet at the top of Tippers Creek at 9:30am where there is plenty of safe off-road parking available. It is an easy walk and will take about three hours. Wear comfy shoes and a sunhat. Bring water and a snack to eat. For further information please call Marlene on: 076-3093781. There is also a list up on the board in the hall for names.

A Common Thread:

A new interfaith way of understanding the Divine – this month, the forum presented by Sandra Ritchie, will take place on Thursday 29 July, at 19:30 – when Dimitri Paizis will speak on Greek Orthodoxy in his address entitled: “Life in the Eastern Orthodox Church.”

MAINTENANCE PROJECTS:

Many things take place “behind the scenes” and we do thank John Coyne for undertaking to have the wall in front (under our sign) rebuilt. John has quietly, but consistently also been responsible for having panes of glass replaced in broken windows. Thank you, John, we are most grateful. There is also a list of projects related to building maintenance etc., on the notice board in the hall and if anyone is willing or able to assist in any way with one or more of these items, you may contact John on: 082-3509681.

LIBRARY:

A reminder that the library is open from Tuesday to Friday: 08:30 – 13:00. The shelves are constantly being restocked due largely to wonderful donations of books, and we thank all those who so generously assist us in making insightful reading matter available.

SOCIAL COMMITTEE:

The Social Committee is inviting you to share in some lively fun at their Trivia Evening on Friday, 23 July at 19:00. Cost of R35.00 per person includes a boerewors or salad roll, and there will be liquid refreshments on sale (or you may bring your own). Booking in advance is necessary and group/team bookings are available. Call Jane on: 082-4225960 to book, or for more information.

RECORDINGS OF SUNDAY SERVICES:

Recordings of the Sunday service lessons are available on CD.

Please note that CD’s of the monthly forum (“A Common Thread”) we present at ACT, are also available.

CREATIVE LIVING FESTIVAL:

The festival is taking place at Moffat on Main over the weekend of 24 / 25 July 2010. You will find all details you need on the website: www.creativelivingfestival.co.za relating to speaker profiles, programme and venue.

In closing ……..

“Truth is a door that remains open. You cannot close this door. You can choose not to enter.
You can walk in the opposite direction.
But you can never say: “I tried to enter, but the door was closed.”
 The door is never closed to you or anyone else.”
Paul Ferrini

Bountiful blessings ……..

Bountiful Blessings
MALLORY