CENTRE OF LIGHT
DIVINE SCIENCE EXTENSION CAMPUS

MINISTERS
Helen Penfold
Mallory Kretzmann

FOUNDER
Rev. Dr. June Jones

 SEPTEMBER 2010  NEWSLETTER

I was talking to my son-in-law the other day who, together with my daughter, has returned to live in South Africa after a spell overseas. He asked how things were going at the Centre and my response of course was, “fine”. I elaborated that we are here as a touchstone for people seeking truth and wanting to grow in their understanding of life. Donovan then said to me: “So, really ACT is like a spiritual filling station!” Well, I thought that was a wonderful analogy and told him I was going to use it in my next message.

If we consider filling stations where we go to fill our cars with petrol; the filling station itself is not the source of supply, but a channel through which the petrol is made available. Well, in the same way, ACT is not the spiritual source but a channel through which, individuals may, by taking advantage of what is available such as our Sunday Services, Classes, Library facilities, etc., achieve a greater understanding and awareness of spiritual truth. As a Centre for Spiritual Awareness, we have been here for our members, friends, and the greater community for some 40 years now and we look forward the Teaching being continued for another 40 years and more.

In order to access Truth for ourselves we need to realize that we do not need to change our physical location. When we drop the “”t” from the word “there”, then “there” becomes “here”. Here, this place on which I stand, is holy ground. It all comes back to conscious awareness – awareness in the present moment. We can only be or find ourselves in the presence of God, in the present. We can only know truth now; and it is an experiential knowing. Faith is born out of this knowing, and it is a knowing that is unique to each individual. We have to go about the process of gaining (or accessing) our own knowing or understanding. No-one else can do it for us; but we can be assisted in our understanding; we can be assisted in our learning and growing.

The petrol we get for our vehicles from the filling station assists us in being mobile – having transport. We choose the level of octane that suits the vehicle. If the incorrect octane is used the results would soon be apparent. What is it we are putting into our minds? What is it that we are holding to be true in consciousness? Because whatever it is, we are expecting to run on it in daily life.

Well, at the ACT spiritual filling station, we offer only the (pure) octane of Truth. Now this does not always satisfy everyone; to some it may even seem boring or lacking in excitement. But one cannot measure the effect of aligning with Truth until one is first willing to embrace the Truth of Being. Are we looking to fulfill the ego or to sustain and maintain our spiritual essence? We have access to Truth right where we are at any given time; and then our ego says, “but maybe it is better over there … or more exciting.” And this access to Truth is access to the Truth that already is – to know who we are: the I Am of each one of us; the Truth that can never change no matter where we are geographically; no matter which filling station we choose for sustenance. And it always comes back to awareness.

Here in Port Elizabeth we are really privileged to have this Centre of ours. So many people have stopped here on their respective journeys through life, using ACT as a filling station. Although essentially awareness of Truth is an experience unique to each individual, it does make a difference to be part of a community; sharing ideas, and growing in consciousness, united in Spirit.

The basis of our teaching here at ACT is the Practice of the Presence of God – being aware of It at all times – and from this state of awareness, being the change we want to see in the world.

SUNDAY SERVICES:

Meditation - 09:30 to 09:45

Service - 09:45 to 10:30

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

SPIRITUAL CINEMA :

Spiritual Cinema Movie, Friday 17 September 2010 at 19h00 at ACT:

Visions of a Universal Humanity: A Barbara Marx Hubbard movie that takes you beyond now, beyond 2010, into a future of infinite possibilities.

Cost is R25.00 per person, refreshments will also be on sale.

Please note: The movie will be preceded by an opportunity to meet and hear Keith Varnum, spiritual teacher, author and inspirational speaker, from Arizona in the U.S.A. Join us and stay for the movie. A light supper will be served in between.

For more information call Jean: 073-2720042

ACT SOCIAL COMMITTEE WALK:

The next walk will be on Saturday, 18 September 2010. We will be going to Laurie’s Bay, between Sardinia Bay and Kini Bay. We will meet in the main car park at Kini Bay at 8:30am. It is an easy walk with beautiful sea views along the way. We are sure to see some dolphins, maybe whales and other footprints in the sand. We will visit the “ghost house” at Laurie’s Bay, have a snack and rest there before turning back. There is a safe, secluded bay and you can swim and snorkel. Don’t forget your sunhat, sunblock and water. For any more information, call Marlene on: 076-3093781.

A Common Thread: (Please note this is the last talk for the year!)

A new interfaith way of understanding the Divine – this month, the forum presented by Sandra Ritchie, will take place on Thursday 23 September, at 19:30 – when Keith Varnum (USA) will speak on Shamanism – A way of seeing all things sacred; by healing yourself, you heal others and the planet. CD’s of the talk will be available with payment (R30-00) in advance, at time of ordering.

A.C.T. TOASTMASTERS CLUB:

There is a meeting on the third Thursday of the month at 19:30 at ACT, and all are welcome.

If you wish to know more about Toastmasters, and are keen to improve your public speaking skills, please call Joy on 073-8809175.

RECORDINGS OF SUNDAY SERVICES:

Recordings of the Sunday service lessons are available on CD.

Orders can be placed on a Sunday morning or phone the office.

“THE MOSES IN ME” – 4 WEEK WORKSHOP:

Facilitated by Jean Wildervanck, this workshop will explore the theme of personal transformation. We all have Moses experiences and encounters in our lives, and using a metaphysical approach to these well known Bible stories, they become vehicles for personal transformation.

Four Wednesday mornings, 10:00 to 12:00, commencing 13 October 2010.

WORKSHOP – “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?”

A workshop and dinner with a difference! Written and enacted by Pat Grayson. Come along and enjoy a meal and listen to Pat as he injects you with: Optimism, encouragement, confidence, self esteem, decisiveness and fortitude.

Date: Friday 24 September

Time: 18:30

Cost: General Public – R150-00 per person; ACT Full Members – R130-00 per person.

Please call Jane Southee on: 082-4425960 or e-mail jsouthee@fnb.co.za to make your booking.

DATE TO DIARISE:

Sunday 19 September 2010 – Speaker: Keith Varnum – 09:30

Please see enclosed/attached notice about the forthcoming

Moonlight Market!!

In closing ……..

“But this truth of our divine identity must be realized in the permanent atomic structure of our mental, emotional and etheric bodies to initiate a chain reaction throughout our individual force field. Otherwise we are only seeing through an ego-stained glass with intellectual awareness or emotional stimulation.

What is truth? You are truth, so look to your Self and perceive truth. You cannot find truth in books and lectures, because you aren’t there. You are only where you are, so stop running around look for you somewhere else.”

John Randolph Price – “The Angels Within Us.”

Bountiful blessings ……..

Bountiful Blessings
MALLORY