Message from Light of God Ministry
Happy September 1st!
It often feels to me like September is more of a new year than January does. Especially growing up attending school and now that I have kids of my own.
I took the dog for a short walk this morning and the warmth of the summer sun felt so good combined with a cool breeze. In the moment, it felt like God created everything “just right”, and I marvelled at God’s creative abilities.
In my own life, I have been working to become a channel for God to create through me. What I long for is to become a vessel for God to do His work in the world, and for me to be in total alignment with His will.
I want my life to be this way to the point where I am weeping as I write this. I am also so grateful for this church as an avenue for me to express my innermost heartfelt prayer, and as a way for me to help fulfill my highest calling.
I am grateful because I know everyone reading this, loves God in their own way, and so I feel like I can share this with you without the fear of being judged.
With Love,
Tyler
All Are Welcome With Love • In-person Worship Sundays at 11am
We are excited to announce that Harmony Vespers will resume on September 10th.
Janice Gunn and Walter Martella were originally scheduled to perform in the Spring of 2020. And now without further delay…
You’re Invited to Sing with Love.
Choir Rehearsal begins on Thursday September 8th, at 7:30pm at the Church.
All are welcome to attend.
R E A D I N G
from History of Mysticism by S. Abhayananda
Once we begin to look at the teachings of Jesus in the light of his mystical experience of Unity, and the extraordinary powers accompanying that experience, we begin to have a much clearer perspective on all the aspects of the life and teaching of the man. His teachings, like those of the sages of all religious traditions who’ve taught throughout the ages, is that the soul of man is none other than the one Divinity, none other than God; and that this Divine Identity can be experienced and known through the revelation that occurs inwardly, by the grace of God, to those who prepare and purify their minds and hearts to receive it. Jesus had realized that God was masquerading as him, and that it is God who masquerades as every form, revealing Himself to those whom He chooses.
In The Gospel of Thomas, Jesus said,
If those who lead you say to you, ‘See, the kingdom [of God] is in the sky’, then the birds of the sky will have preceded you. If they say to you, ‘It is in the sea’, then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom [of God] is inside of you, and it is outside of you [as well]. When you come to know your Self, then you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living Father. But if you will not know your Self, you live in poverty, and you are that poverty. 7
Another of Jesus’ metaphors utilized the terms, “Light” and “darkness” to represent the Divinity and the inherent delusion of man, respectively:
Jesus said, “The world’s images are manifest to man, but the Light in them remains concealed; within the image is the Light of the Father. He becomes manifest as the images, but as the Light, He is concealed.”8
He said to them, “There is a Light within a man of Light, and it lights up the whole world. If it does not shine, he is in darkness.”9
Delightful Childhood Memories
Trudy Simpson, Doreen Smith and Elsie Parsons gathered recently for tea and to hear Bev Falconer read a chapter from her upcoming book tentatively titled, Growing Up in the Townsite with Good Company.
Bev encourages all of us to reminisce about our childhood – perhaps this is her secret to staying so young!
P O E M
Be Still, My Soul
Poet: Katharina von Schlegel
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When. we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, life's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
PRUC Online Worship Service
Please Join us this Sunday, September 4th
God’s Brilliance Shines from Within
P R A Y E R
Morning Prayer by Charles E. Orr
Father, give me grace today,
That all I do or think or say,
May be most pleasing in thy sight,
And bring me peace when falls the night.
Lead by thy hand the whole day through,
That I thy perfect will may do;
I would not take one step apart
From the sweet pleasure of thy heart.
Thy purpose is of greater worth
Than all the treasures of the earth;
Upon thy will I daily think -
To do it is my meat and drink.
To thee I live, whate'er betide
To thee, my heart's door opens wide.
Come in; the whole to thee is given;
There do thy pleasure as in heaven.
In this heart- temple have thy way;
Be pleased to walk about today;
And if thou findest one thing there
Thy holy image dost not bear,
Oh! tear it down - let naught remain;
To leave it there is worse than pain.
Apply the blood, the cleansing stream,
That thy pure image may be seen.
Just like the branches in the vine,
Oh! let my soul in thine entwine,
That I may holy be today
In all I do or think or say.
As in the earth deep roots the tree,
So may my heart, dear Lord, in thee,
That I this day may walk upright,
Have peace with thee when falls the night.