Dear Friends,

“Let your light shine – on purpose”

The focus of the message this month, is especially chosen because I believe that in all things in life we need purpose, and to be purposeful. Firstly, whether we are aware of it or not, each of us is a light; we come forth from the One Source of all Light and Life, most of us know as God. So that originating light is present in each of us. It is the Light of the I AM which shines through us into the world; we are the instruments which the Light uses.

When one lights a candle and sets it down, the flame burns straight and unmoving, casting the light evenly around. Someone moves through the room or opens the door, causing a draft, the flame wavers and may in some instances even be close to being extinguished. We are like the candle flame burning straight and steady until someone or some event perhaps, appears on the scene and causes a draft; and this is the challenge. How do we cope with the so-called “drafts” in our lives? Is it not enough just to keep that flame burning anyway? Yet, so often, it is the very thing that we would rather avoid, that can be our most important lesson; a divine impulse urging us forward, moving us to change, even showing us another way to deal with life’s issues.

Each of us exists as having come forth from the Divine Spark, God, and forever remains part of the Source. This is true for each of us yet so often in our human states we rely on, or look to human substance and values to nurture us. We come to believe that these alone will kindle our flames and keep them going. We look for human gurus in the world and give them permission to dictate to us about how good or bad our lives are, and will be, according to them. There is a lovely story told by Joan Borysenko, about a Mrs. Finegold from Brooklyn, who booked a trip to a remote village in Nepal. The travel agent warned her about the difficulties and challenges she would be faced with to get to the destination, but Mrs. Finegold was determined.

So off she set with a backpack filled with provisions and bottles of water. She finally arrived at the cave of the great guru and was told there was a three week wait to see him. Seekers from all over the world came looking for the meaning to life and how to have a mystical experience.

Mrs. Finegold settled down to wait and at last the great moment arrived. It was her turn, and she was told she could only speak three words to the guru. Then she was ushered into the cave where she found a bearded man right at the back who seemed to be meditating. She was filled with joy and rushed forward, grabbed him by the shoulders, and uttered her three words: “Morris, come home!”

We do not have to go chasing after gurus or mystical places. The mystical place is where we are at any given moment when we take time to stop and just be aware of the Inner Presence. When we still our flame and are not bent towards good or evil, rich or poor, these things will still be in evidence in the world, but not in the stillness that for that time removes us from them.

So our purpose in shining our lights is to steady or centre ourselves: Be Still and Know. It is like the lighthouse that carries the light and shines the beam far out to sea. Neither the weather nor the tide is the business of the lighthouse; it is simply the light-bearer. And so are we: lights unto the world.

The purpose of the lighthouse is to shine its light; our purpose is to be the instrument through which God’s light is expressed to all. But it is not our business to be concerned whether it is being perceived or not, in the world. We just need to be purposeful lights.

Our purpose is to know God; to experience this Presence that is with us always. When we know and understand that nothing more can be added unto us, our lights will always shine on purpose. But the added things (gifts of spirit) are not perceived by the human eye. Our awareness of our Truth is perceived and understood in consciousness.

We have come into this world as extensions of the Source, carrying that divine spark from which we originate. Now we have the responsible task of letting our lights shine. As we fan our flames with growing understanding in consciousness of the blessing of life, we may say then: THUS ARE WE IN THE WORLD AS UPRIGHT FLAMES CASTING THE LIGHT OF TRUTH.

SUNDAY SERVICES: All are welcome to join us each week as we take time to Be Still, in Silent Meditation, and then share a Lesson in Truth Principles. NB. Childcare is available if you phone us on Friday before 10:00am to arrange.

Meditation – 09:30 to 09:45
Service – 09:45 to 10:30

 SPEAKERS – March:
06 Rosemary Batchelor
13 Rev. Mallory Kretzmann
20  Sylvia our van Zyl
27  Rev. Mallory Kretzmann – Easter Service

12:00 NOON – MEDITATION: A reminder that our Sanctuary is open Tuesday to Friday from 12 noon to 1pm for meditation. You are welcome to come in, and Be Still for any part of the hour. In this month of March, we light a candle focussing on gratitude for all of Life.

ACT MEMBERS’ MARKET: The first market held in February went well with all enjoying tea in the beautiful weather we are currently experiencing. The next market will be on Sunday 20 March.
Members who have “wares” to sell are welcome to do so on the allocated Sunday, and set up in the outside venue. On this Sunday tea will be served out on the veranda. Sellers to provide own table cloth and please book a table by Friday 18 March, 11:00 – call the office 041-5813309. Set up must be before the Service, to avoid any disturbance, and enable venue to be locked during the Service. Sellers to tithe 10% of their sales towards the renovation of the “new” venue space. We look forward to enthusiastic participation by all.

DIVINE SCIENCE MEDITATION CLASS: You are invited to join Mallory for this 10 week course of instruction, using the Lord’s Prayer as a guide to the practical application of meditation in our daily lives. We will also investigate Meditation and Concentration Techniques that quieten and focus the mind.
Commencing: Wednesday 6 April at 7pm
Investment: R550.00 for course
There is a list for names on the notice board, and you may also phone to book your space in the class.

RAFFLE TICKETS FOR THE R5000.00 DRAW: A reminder that the draw date for this fundraiser is Easter Sunday, after our special service, so please return sold ticket stubs in good time and let us pull out the stops to sell more tickets. We are raising funds for our garage conversion into a beautiful space for our own use and for bringing in revenue through venue hire.

SOCIAL EVENT WITH ENTERTAINMENT: When Lynne Mackenzie returns from Du Bai on 20 March, she will be doing the final arranging for this event which promises to be great fun. Set aside Friday Evening, 1 April in the meantime – details to follow.

LIBRARY NEWS: Jean Baz has kindly “come on board” regarding the library, joining the “crew” of volunteers, and we look forward to many books being fed onto the shelves in the coming months.

CD’S OF THE SUNDAY SERVICES: These may be ordered after the Sunday Services. The cost is now R25.00 per CD prepaid with order.

DIVINE SCIENCE U.K. – We look forward to continuous connection with our friends and associates in Truth, in the U.K. and remind anyone now residing in the England, or visiting, of the contact details:
Revs. Dave and Ishbel Bailey – e-mail: divinescienceuk@hotmail.com   Ph: 01892 752085

 

In Closing…..

 I share with you these words from “Divine Science: Its Principle and Practice”

“It is the destiny of mankind to express the Christ, for this cosmic principle within each individual soul is “the way, the truth, and the life.” The true individual life is an expression of the Infinite Life for by the law of expression like produces like, and thus is made plain the principle of omnipresence. – All is One.

 Christ is the divinity, “the light that lighteth every man,” and, being universal, and formed in all, makes everyone a son. This does not lessen the divinity of Jesus but reveals the divinity of all mankind.”

  

Bountiful blessings,

 MALLORY  

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth

My message this month, relating to “peace” may seem to be vast in that in the world today there are so many ways to define peace. How many times have we not said, or heard someone say: “I don’t say or do anything, about such and such, as it is peace at any cost,” or perhaps… “let us just not cause ripples, let us keep the peace, and maybe whatever it is, will go away?”

There are always pros and cons in life (in the world) – except in the absolute Presence of God. And whatever seems to be occurring on the surface of life (in the world that is) we always have the opportunity to delve deep below the surface to that place of Inner Peace. Somehow, whatever seems to be happening around us, to others close to us, or to us, the greatest challenge is to turn to God, to Truth. The world appears to be in turmoil, affecting the lives of countless numbers of souls in different ways; and the idea of peace in the world seems like a forgotten dream.

I share an excerpt from something I shared in a workshop some time ago and I cannot give credit to the author as it was signed: “anonymous.”
“Every human is searching for the three most important experiences of its existence:
• Love in our relationships
• Happiness in everyday experience
• Peace in our fluctuating and peace less natures

But the search is almost entirely externalized, which is why most of us miss the spiritual paradox of our times – we already have what we seek. When we experience ourselves as we really are – soul not body, spirit not matter, we wake up to our innate spiritual qualities. Love, Happiness and Peace never leave us; we leave them when we lose our awareness of our own spiritual identity.”

In Divine Science we teach that all comes forth from the Invisible into visible manifestation. And that being so, then it kind of “stops us short” when we look at the turmoil evident in the world around us; if this is all coming forth as a result of what – generally – is held in invisible consciousness, then is it not time we took heed of what it is we do hold in consciousness?

Generally, all people of the world look toward living life in peace and we come across peace gatherings where all are joined in intention and voice. And, ironically, some of the more horrific atrocities, instead of giving power to the perpetrators, are in fact what brings people globally together in a bid for peace, so peace becomes the focus and gets the attention.

Peace is now; Jesus said: My peace is not of this world; My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives it….
Always these promises were made in the present tense. And it is the peace in spiritual consciousness; the peace that I referred to earlier that we find in the absolute Presence/experience, of God.

In the world we have countless and easily recognized examples in which it is evident that true peace cannot be fought for, or owned, because those fighting, do not want peace, they desire power. And while their so-called lack of power, or need for it, seems to be their driving force, they are at the same time moving away from their peace.

If we consider the words found in Zechariah 4:6, “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord…” in other words, not by human might, and human power, we realize that in turning to God (the Spirit within) we will find peace. And peace in the world begins with one individual consciousness at a time, acknowledging and working from the Inner Stillness of Truth, knowing that there is one Father of all Creation. Each one knowing for him/herself that true peace already is; and it is just waiting on our recognition and acknowledgement; it is the peace we inherit that is with us always.

We are all being challenged to put God first – knowing God as the infinite source of all supply, the one Father of all Creation. We have a united purpose to bring forth the “peace that passeth understanding” in the world, to the world. And we do this by taking stock of where we stand spiritually and in consciousness. And when we do realize and know the truth that ‘all that the Father has is ours, and all that God is, we are’, we can bring this enlightened understanding from invisible consciousness into being in our day to day experience.

 

SUNDAY SERVICES: All are welcome to join us each week as we take time to Be Still, in Silent Meditation, and then share a Lesson in Truth Principles. NB. Childcare is available if you phone us on Friday before 10:00am to arrange.

Meditation – 09:30 to 09:45
Service – 09:45 to 10:30

SPEAKERS – February:
07 Rev. Elizabeth Dugmore
14. Rosemary Batchelor
21 Sylvia our van Zyl
28 Rev. Mallory Kretzmann

REV. HELEN PENFOLD: This past week we paid tribute to, and honoured, our beloved Helen in a memorial service at First Avenue Funeral Home on Thursday 28 January, and then in celebrating the Light and Life Helen continues to be, at our Sunday Service on 31 January. Tributes came in from all over the world. Helen touched many with her wisdom as a teacher, friend, and Divine Science Minister. Her dedication to Truth is woven into the tapestry of ACT and will always be valued; her first commitment always being, the practice of the Presence of God at all times. Rev. Dr. Marietjie Venter, our associate in Cape Town, joined us on Sunday and shared her special memories of Helen, which go back a long way. We are One in Spirit, dear friend, and you are only a thought away.

CD’s OF HELEN’S LAST TALK – 23 AUGUST 2015: There have been requests for copies of Helen’s last talk at ACT, and these are now available to order. Add your name to the list on Sunday, or e-mail/phone your order through to the office.

12:00 NOON – MEDITATION: A reminder that our Sanctuary is open Tuesday to Friday from 12 noon to 1pm for meditation. You are welcome to come in, and meditate for any part of the hour. In this month of February, we light a candle for all suffering souls, holding all in the Light of Truth.

ACT MEMBERS’ MARKET: To be held on the third Sunday of every month, beginning Sunday 21 February.
Members who have “wares” to sell are welcome to do so on the allocated Sunday, and set up in the outside venue. On this Sunday tea will be served out on the veranda. Sellers to provide own table cloth and please book a table by Friday 19 February, 11:00 – call the office 041-5813309. Set up must be before the Service, to avoid any disturbance, and enable venue to be locked during the Service. Sellers to tithe 10% of their sales towards the renovation of the “new” venue space. We look forward to much enthusiastic participation by all.

THANK YOU: Louise Luders has kindly gifted ACT with some very beautiful new table cloths, for which we are most grateful. They do add an element of elegance to our round tables.

DIVINE SCIENCE CLASSES: Details regarding forthcoming classes will be made available soon. Please watch the notice board.

RAFFLE TICKETS FOR THE R5000.00 DRAW: Our focus is once again drawn (forgive the pun) to our current fund-raiser. More tickets need to be sold and the draw date will be on Easter Sunday, after the Service. We are raising funds for our garage conversion into a beautiful space for our own use and for bringing in revenue through venue hire. Please return any sold tickets in the meantime and let us all maximize this opportunity by selling more tickets.

DIVINE SCIENCE U.K. – We look forward to continuous connection with our friends and associates in Truth, in the U.K. and remind anyone now residing in the England, or visiting, of the contact details:
Revs. Dave and Ishbel Bailey – e-mail: divinescienceuk@hotmail.com Ph: 01892 752085

In Closing…..

I share with you these words from Joel Goldsmith:

“Peace on earth will not come through the seizing of power or the possession of power. Peace on earth eventually will come through the recognition of your spiritual identity, and mine.”

Bountiful blessings,
MALLORY

Dear Friends,

Truth is a Unifier

This month I begin my message with a question: What is the next step? And I believe that it is a question that we need to ask ourselves, and the time to really consider the possible answer is now……no matter who we are, what our respective ages are, or any other personal statistics.

I came across the following in a book I was paging through recently – one of those books that seem to pop out and offer exactly what is being sought, without any effort, and this is what I read:

More than ever before in the history of the world, men are crying for peace. The world’s enlightened leaders are urging reciprocity, which is but another way of saying “unity.” Our own country – these United States – seeks to pass on the ideal of its forefathers, that “union” is strength,” and that liberty and union are one and inseparable, now and forever, whether applied to a nation or to an entire universe.

The author continues: The cardinal doctrine of the Christian church certainly should be spiritual unity, yet we know that such unity is not practiced. Truth is a unifier, yet it is no secret that denominational discord has driven thousands of people away from church affiliation.

Now my intention is not to promote or push church membership, but I really found these words quite apt, especially as they were taken from a book published in 1935! And has the situation really changed?   I highlight the words: truth is a unifier, in these words taken from Richard Lynch’s book entitled: “Usable Truth,” because we often overlook this fact. No one religion has exclusivity to Truth – it is available to all, yet unifying Truth, somehow seems to get lost many times as it is overshadowed by the focus on rules, regulations and what seems to separate, rather than unite.

Recently (15 – 19 Oct) The Parliament of the World’s Religions was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A. I remember being privileged to attend this parliament in Cape Town in 1999, together with Lynne MacKenzie and Lydia Dinkelmann. It was an amazing experience because it brought to my attention how many different paths there are to God; to Truth. And each belief system is in many, or most, instances, held to be right for the respective followers.

This year they were anticipating 10,000 people attending, from 80 nations, representing 50 faiths. So many people from so many different backgrounds, yet all seeking the same peace, the same wisdom, the same love, essentially the same God.

Since Richard Lynch wrote the book, Usable Truth, published in 1935, until now, we are still seeking the same Truth. Yet what is our motive? Are we really seeking God, or only remedies to our daily issues and problems? And over the years, to what point has our seeking brought us? And there are many questions in this vein, yet for me the most pertinent is: “what is the next step?”

One of the most straightforward ways to respond to this can be found in Goldsmith’s 1957 Infinite Way Letters, where he states: “You who now daily seek God for God alone – not for things or conditions or persons, but who want God for the love of God, for union with God – will usher in the next step of unfoldment……..”

And in his book, “Beyond Words & Thoughts,” he, Goldsmith states: “The meaning of all true religion is in the experience”.

Our religion (our personal connection with God) is in the very experience of the Presence, when we are not striving for anything to be fixed, but rather BEING what we are intended to be: conduits for the Creator’s expression and love.

Consciousness is the instrument through which to express; express the gifts of spirit that are forever ours, awaiting our awareness and recognition. We don’t for instance get wisdom, or peace, or joy, or love from “out there” – it comes from within our very own consciousness when we align with, or unify with our truth.

And this is the next step of unfoldment, or evolvement, in global consciousness: to realize that we are not only all after the same thing, or goal, or destiny, but essentially are the same and already have it. Truth is the unifier and truth resides within the consciousness of each individual.

And before we can experience unity in our own communities, in our own respective countries, or globally, we need the experience of our unity with God.

When we are giving our attention to needing something, or seeing something that we feel needs healing, then we are not giving our attention to God. So the energy then builds up on the idea of what seems to be lacking or wrong or diseased, and we leave God out of the picture without realizing it.

Only when there is a change in consciousness – when enough individuals take the next step, seeking God for God alone – will be reach that so-called critical mass in consciousness which will in turn form the tipping point taking us firmly towards the peace, joy, love and better life we desire to see in the world. It does not begin in the world – it begins with you and me, in consciousness. The only need we have is to experience God.

 

SUNDAY SERVICES: All are welcome to join us each week as we take time to Be Still, in Silent Meditation, and then share a Lesson in Truth Principles. NB. Childcare is available if you phone us on Friday before 10:00am to arrange.

Meditation – 09:30 to 09:45
Service – 09:45 to 10:30

SPEAKERS – December:
06  Rosemary Batchelor
13   Rev. Mallory Kretzmann
20   Sylvia van Zyl
25   Rev. Mallory Kretzmann – Christmas Service – note early start time of 09:00am.

SPECIAL DATES TO DIARISE: Please follow link at ‘Dates to diarise’ on the home page for all December services. Also take note of the earlier starting time for the Christmas Service: 09:00am.

THANK YOU – to those folk who so kindly and cheerfully assisted at the recent Book Sale. Your enthusiasm is most valued.   We also extend our gratitude to those who donated books. There are quite a number of books remaining and we intend having another sale early next year.

MEMBERSHIP: The response to membership renewal has been really great and support for your Centre and the Teaching noted with gratitude. As per a decision taken by the Board, the issuing of membership cards will be discontinued, but as before, reminders will be sent out regarding membership renewal.

DIVINE SCIENCE U.K. – a reminder of the contact details for those now residing in the U.K., or visiting:
Revs. Dave and Ishbel Bailey – e-mail: divinescienceuk@hotmail.com   Ph: 01892 752085

 

In Closing…..

 I share these words taken from a booklet by Dr. Al Salazar entitled: A Willing Mind.

 Christmas

A wise man once expressed these words:

 “When we think of God we think of Infinite Truth.

When we think of Christ we think of Truth individualized.”

 Truth individualized is the Christ in us, the God in us responding as Total Good. To express the Christ does not mean belonging to one of the many Christian teachings. It is more than that. To be called a Christian is not the same as expressing the Christ.

It is when we recognize and understand the teachings of the Christ Jesus of the sacredness of your life and my life; His announcement that “one is our Father which is in heaven”; it is when we live outwardly in the world as children of the Most High that we begin expressing the Divinity which indwells us.

 The Christ Jesus came proclaiming that as children of God, whatever God is, we are. He expressed His Christ and told each one of us, “What I do, ye can do also.” We come into the world to prove individually that dominion in our world of experience is dependent upon the conscious awareness of our Divinity.

 This month we celebrate the good news that we are here to establish on earth the Perfect Idea of man in the Mind of God. The “Christ in you” is not only “the hope of glory” but God responding and expressing as you.

“Be ye perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

 

Bountiful blessings,

MALLORY  

 

The office will close after the Christmas Service and re-open on Tuesday 19 January.
The first Service in 2016 will be on Sunday 17 January.

Dear Friends,

Message from Divine Science U.K.

This month we are privileged to have an inspirational message from Rev. Dave Bailey of Divine Science U.K. I believe it is important to share this valuable teaching of Divine Science so we look forward to further networking.

======================================================

Several years ago we (my wife Ishbel and I) were given a number of tape recordings of Joel Goldsmith lectures. In the first one I listened to he made the statement ‘That which I seek, I am’. Let us for a moment set aside what he really meant by this, and look at the statement as if it was a question ‘That which I seek?’ and the answer ‘I AM’

I think it is true for many of us that when, for whatever reason, we start looking for answers to our many questions, for a new way of doing things because our lives just don’t seem to be working out the way we would like them to – we don’t actually know what it is we are looking for, but something tells us it is ‘out there’ somewhere. That something is our innate knowledge of Truth, our memory of a perfection we have forgotten about long ago. It starts to surface, to awaken within us, as soon as the opportunity arises, and prompts us to do whatever it takes to bring our lives, our way of thinking, our consciousness, back into harmony with itself. This thing that is urging us to seek itself is the very essence of our being the I AM of us.

Not knowing this, we seekers set off in many different directions, on many different paths trying to find this elusive ‘something’ that we are sure exists and that will make everything better for us. Many of us become involved in therapies and “ologies” of various descriptions, attend courses, workshops, retreats, go to different churches, read books and so on and so on………..and then suddenly or gradually, as the case may be, it dawns on us. We end up in the right place at the right time, perhaps a class with the right teacher, reading a particular passage in a book – and we realise that the very thing we have spent all that time, and often vast amounts of money, looking for has been right there with us, as part of us, the whole time. And then at some stage we learn that even that realisation was wrong. What we have been seeking was not right there with us, part of us, the whole time – it has been there AS US the whole time.

Finally we discover what it is that Joel Goldsmith meant when he said ‘What I seek, I AM’. We are the very essence of God, the same substance, the same life, love, Being. What does this mean for us, then?

Some say it means we are the source of our good, the source of our supply, health, loving relationships and so on. But we are not the source of these things – we ARE these things. I AM that I AM, I have always been so, I AM now so, and I will ever be so.

Whatever it is you are seeking to improve or change in your life, whatever it is you want, you already have it, it is already done. You are health, you are peace, you are harmony, you are unlimited supply of everything you need. You do not have to look outside of yourself for anything. All you have to look for is that which is already true of yourself – to become and abide in a conscious of the spiritual truth that The Father and I are One.

When in your meditation you find that silent place within and bring your state of mind to a place where you can be lifted in consciousness, even if only for a brief moment, in that moment you are indeed one with The Father and everything that God is, in that moment all the crooked places are made straight.

While I would not for one moment suggest you seek this state of mind where you can be lifted in consciousness for any reason other than seeking a conscious union with God, you will find that the more often you can do so in your meditations, the more you abide in God, the more fulfilling your physical/human life will become and the less you will have to strive to bring about what it is you want in life. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you”
.
Dave closes his message with a poem by Jenifer Shapiro titled, “I Am That Which I Seek”.

I am that which I seek
I am the seer, the known and the unknown
I am the unconditional one beyond judgement, scorn or criticism
I am the one self, filled with the love of a thousand lives and the wisdom of the ages
I am the water than shines, cleans, flows through and surrenders
I am the earth that holds all of us upon it’s glorious strength
I am the wind that carries the voice of God, sometimes as a prophet, often as a whisper
I am the light of my soul and the connection to all souls
I am the truth, for I have already lived the lies and won my freedom from them long ago
And at times while I may forget, and scan the periphery for a sign of me
When I am quiet, when I am free, I remember – I am that which I seek.
I AM.

=======================================================

SUNDAY SERVICES: All are welcome to join us each week as we take time to Be Still, in Silent Meditation, and then share a Lesson in Truth Principles. NB. Childcare is available if you phone us on Friday before 10:00am to arrange.

Meditation – 09:30 to 09:45
Service – 09:45 to 10:30

SPEAKERS – October:
01 Rosemary Batchelor
08 Sylvia van Zyl
15 Rev. Mallory Kretzmann
22 Rosemary Batchelor
29 Rev. Mallory Kretzmann

LIBRARY: Open Tuesday to Friday from 09:00 to 13:00, and on Sundays after Service, signed-up members have the advantage of making use of the library with a vast selection of books. Recently donated books on the Enneagram have been placed together in a separate section for those interested. We have many gems in the library and do encourage members to investigate the many titles available.

BOOK SALE: On Saturday morning 21 November, we are having a book sale with the funds going towards our new venue project. We will be happy to receive your unwanted books and they can be dropped off at the office from Tuesday to Friday between 09:00 and 13:00. Some gems have already been donated, and we look forward to your participation.

BRING ‘N BRAAI, AND MUSIC: We are delighted to inform you of this forthcoming social event taking place on Friday evening 27 November at 6:30pm, where Roger Gilson has kindly agreed to provide the entertainment. All welcome and further details will be available soon, via e-mail and on the notice board.

DECEMBER DATE TO DIARISE: On Friday evening 18th December, we will be sharing supper and then singing carols in the Sanctuary, accompanied by Glenys Bannister’s beautiful harp music.

DIVINE SCIENCE U.K.:
Should anyone be visiting the U.K., or perhaps recently re-located, you may wish to connect with Revs. Dave and Ish Bailey and their contact number is: – you may remember them from previous times before they relocated in 1998. It was great to re-connect and we look forward to ongoing networking with them.
Find them on: www.divinescienceuk.org/

In Closing…..

I share with you a portion of the book, Divine Science: Its Principle and Practice, which we are working with in the Basic Principle Class right now:-

“Although Truth is omnipresent and changeless, though “we live, move, and have our being” in God, the All-Good, yea, though we dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven but have not consciousness of it, we may go on our way lacking many good things, and losing the blessedness that is ours. Consciousness of Truth then is our great need, not that more good may come to us, not that we may have more strength or wisdom or life or health sent to us, but that our comprehension may be opened to see that All is within our very nature and that all God is, is forever ours.”

Bountiful blessings,

MALLORY

Dear Friends,

A Universal Message

This month we focus on a universal message that “sounds” through all Creation – all Creation carries and brings it forth. It is a message that when truly understood, becomes our mainstay (foundation) in Life; it is a message of Eternal Light, not dependent upon the number of power stations we have in the world, yet dependent on the one we have within ourselves. All Creation carries the message, embodies the message – brings it forth – whether it is realized by us or not. There have been many purveyors and teachers of the message throughout the ages; most of these we know, particularly from the scriptures and of course many more since.

I recently came across the story of R. Buckminster Fuller stating to his students that Sigmund Freud was the most important figure of the twentieth century. The reason for this, he explained to the students, was that Sigmund Freud had introduced a single great idea upon which all significant developments of the twentieth century had rested: the invisible is more important than the visible. Now this statement is exactly the basis of our Divine Science Teaching, founded over 100 years ago. We acknowledge God being all, both invisible and visible. This Omnipresent God, in, as, and through all Creation; all coming forth from the One Invisible Source.

Whatever tradition or religion we follow there is always the need for faith in the invisible. And the message is always constant, and it does not matter who the teacher or messenger is. Each comes forth from the same originating Source in the universe, and it is through the knowing of this in consciousness that we will experience it in our daily lives. It does mean though that knowing is not enough, we need to follow through and live it. This time of year we have a really good and first hand example, here in our southern hemisphere with the arrival of Spring and the stirring of the life-force within as leaves begin to unfurl on seemingly dead branches.

I came across a book in the public library the other day called, “Run With The Horses” by Eugene H. Peterson. It is basically about the prophet, Jeremiah, and I am going to share some of it with you today as it fits so well with the lesson.

As some of you may know, Jeremiah began as a reluctant prophet, at first refusing God’s request. In the book we read: “A relationship with God is not something added on after we complete our basic growth, it is the essential core of that growth. Take that core out, and there is no humanity at all but only a husk, the appearance but not the substance of the human. Nor can we be human if we are not existing in the present, for the present is where God meets us. No job is more important, for what is more important than a persuasive presentation of the invisible but living reality, God?” Well, important or not, the upshot of it was that Jeremiah refused on the grounds of being too young and unqualified to speak. And Peterson, the author, comments on how often we plead inadequacy in order to avoid living at the best that God calls us to.

So we read that eventually Jeremiah is inspired and equipped to fulfill his role as prophet through two visions.
The first vision was of a rod of almond. Again I quote from the book: “The almond tree is one of the earliest trees to bloom in Palestine. Before it puts forth leaves, it puts forth blossoms, white and snowy. While the land is still chill from winter, the warm blossoms, untended and unforced, surprise us with a promise of spring.”
The second vision was of a boiling pot. Jeremiah saw a boiling pot tipped so that the scalding water was being spilled to the south. It was indicative as to what was taking place during that time – Jeremiah lived during crucial and catastrophic times in Judah and I am not going to go into too much detail here. The author states in the book that we need to know God and the world yet to ignore first impressions which leave us underestimating God, and overestimating what we perceive as evil.

Further on in the book we come across Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles in Babylon where he literally tells the people to quit sitting around feeling sorry for themselves.
I quote: “The exile was the ‘crucible of Israel’s faith.’ They were pushed to the edge of existence where they thought they were hanging on by the skin of their teeth, and they found that in fact they had been pushed to the center, where God was. They experienced not bare survival but abundant life. Now they saw their previous life as subsistence living, a marginal existence absorbed in consumption and fashion, empty ritual and insensitive exploitation. Exile pushed them from the margins of life to the vortex where all the issues of life and death, love and meaning, purpose and value formed the dynamic everyday participation – demanding realities of God’s future with them. It keeps on happening. Exile is the worst that reveals the best. When the superfluous is stripped away we find the essential – and the essential is God.”

Jeremiah carried the message to the people of that time, yet it is the same message today. The message has always been the same. What differs are the circumstances and the era but we are all drawn at some time or another to connect with our Source. That is the only true solution and way to live life. Our problem is, forgetting who we are, and that after all we are one big family; individual expressions come forth from the same Source, needing to honor and respect this truth in and of each other.

The two visions given to Jeremiah:
The almond branch – was a reminder of the continuous Presence of God.
The pot of boiling water – indicated that although there is turmoil in life – God is always the answer – in our turning to God and being present to God we find a way of living life abundantly.

Jeremiah’s message lives on; as does the message of Jesus, and so many others down through the ages.
God first – the invisible Presence manifesting through all Creation; and as we hold to that Truth, it will be made evident in our experience. As we practice being in the Presence, knowing in consciousness who we are in Truth and living that, we, in our own respective ways will become carriers of the Message.

SUNDAY SERVICES: All are welcome to join us each week as we take time to Be Still, in Silent Meditation, and then share a Lesson in Truth Principles. NB. Childcare is available if you phone us on Friday before 10:00am to arrange.

Meditation – 09:30 to 09:45
Service – 09:45 to 10:30

SPEAKERS – September:
06 Rosemary Batchelor
13 Sylvia van Zyl
20 Rosemary Batchelor
27 Rev. Mallory Kretzmann

LIBRARY: Open Tuesday to Friday from 09:00 to 13:00, and on Sundays after Service, signed-up members have the advantage of making use of the library with a vast selection of books. Some folk however have had books out for a while and we would appreciate the prompt return so that others may also enjoy them.

DIVINE SCIENCE BASIC PRINCIPLE – MORNING CLASS: This course of 10 morning sessions begins on Wednesday 07 October. Join Mallory from 10:00am to 12:00 noon each week as we investigate universal spiritual principles that are the essential foundation for a deeper understanding of Life. Those who have already participated in the classes are most welcome to join us as it is always good to return to “Basics” and steep ourselves in Truth. Please see the notice board for all details or call us on 041-5813309 to be included.

In Closing…..

“The aim or purpose of following the spiritual path is not to be able to name God, but to experience God, and then let God be to us whatever it unfolds itself as, because to each of us God will disclose and reveal itself to us in an individual way. The highest prayer, the highest meditation, comes when we have entirely eliminated all preconceived opinions, thoughts, forms, or names for God and have allowed ourselves to become receptive, saying, “Father, reveal thyself.”

Joel Goldsmith – God, The Substance Of All Form

Bountiful blessings,

MALLORY