Dear Friends,

“Dropping Anchor In God’s Presence.”

If you were out on the open sea in a small boat, and suddenly experienced a storm, would you drop anchor right there?  In the middle of the storm?  Well, in the middle of the “storms” in our lives, this is what we could be doing…..dropping anchor in God’s Presence.
In Psalm 46, we read in verse 1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
And in the well-known, and much quoted section of verse 10: ^“Be still, and know that I am God:”

Yet when the chips are down our first resort is to worry like crazy and stress ourselves to the limit because for some reason it seems we think that only we can fix or resolve the situation (storm) or whatever it may be that we are facing.  For some reason we feel compelled to act; and sadly, most of our “acting” or “taking action” is to worry.

Jean Pierre de Caussade stated:  “The past must be left to God’s measureless mercy, the future to his loving providence; and the present must be given wholly to his love through our fidelity to his grace.  Let us understand that we shall not acquire true conformity to the will of God until we are perfectly resolved to serve him according to his will and pleasure, and not according to our own.”

The focus for this message is the idea of anchoring ourselves in God’s Presence – no matter what our situation. You see, we all carry anchors, and these anchors are our beliefs.  After all we all believe in something! And maybe we are actually anchoring ourselves in what it is we do not want!  And we need to take note here.  Let us just for a moment consider two scripture quotes: the first being found in Proverbs 23:7…”As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” The second we find in Matthew 8:13,  “As thou has believed, so be it done unto thee,” and this was Jesus’ remark to the Roman centurion.

Epictetus, a long ago Greek philosopher said: “Men are disturbed not by things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.” Our self-talk – our story – is made up of thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, experiences, feelings and perceptions, about 90% of which are unconscious at any given time. And to a large degree, we are anchored in this self-talk which in its own way becomes what we believe about ourselves and life as a whole. So when dropping anchor in the storms of life it is well to first check the quality of the anchor. We need to check for ourselves if the stories we are telling ourselves are self-talk or Truth. Once we have established ourselves in truth, we drop anchor in the Presence of the One Power.

We have beautiful stories and examples in scripture yet so often get swayed by the things of the world, and we drop anchor in the economic reports, weather reports,  political reports, all the health reports and unemployment and seeming lack.  Are we then in a position of worshiping God, and……? Turn to God—the One and only Omnipresent Presence. Have we, for all our sophisticated and advanced technology, made any advancement  in our relationship to God; to Life?

We do need relationships with family, with friends; we do need employment. Yet it is in God that our needs are met, because in God there is no lack or limitation. As we realize our unity with the One, we drop anchor, and in this awareness, we become still and the storm passes.

In Closing……

 Faith is inherent in the invisible Spirit, and is Spirit, it is the source of what it proves; the source of all beautiful evidences that constitute nature.  We walk, talk, think, and live by Faith.  Faith is the active principle of Being.  By faith we see, therefore it is sight; by it we hear, therefore it is hearing; by it we know Truth, therefore it is knowledge.

 All things in creation are not only evidence of its Omnipotence, but of its never failing certainty and unlimited good.  All the accomplishments of man and all things accomplished by him, are the result and evidence of faith. Then “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.”

 Faith is the ability to live and succeed in every position in life.  To accomplish the purpose which every right endeavor has in view and to better one’s conditions as the field of work requires.  It is essential that we put faith in our spiritual endeavors, in our mental endeavors, and in our physical endeavors to enjoy satisfactory evidence of the substance of our Being, and have positive proof of the reality of the things hoped for.

 Malinda E. Cramer—Divine Science and Healing

Bountiful blessings,

 Mallory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

“The Solution Lies in Practice, not Theory”

Scripture inspires in us an appreciation of the beauty and wisdom of nature. Job encourages us to “ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee, or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee” (12:7, 8). Job reminds us that the earth was made by God, “in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind” (12:10).

Now, although I have shared these quotes from Job, the message is not necessarily about Job, yet we can learn from his experiences.  Most of you know the defining quote found in Job:  WHAT I FEARED MOST HAS COME UPON ME. And yet we have the realization too of how “tuned in” to God he was, which proved ultimately to be his “saving grace.”

Recently while I was sorting papers and doing some filing at home, I came across an article by  Dr Stewart Bitkoff entitled: “How to be spiritual amidst this chaos?”  And I believe it was somewhere in 2015 that I printed the article…..yet how applicable in our world today.  Sometimes we need guidance on maintaining our spiritual focus; we need to be reminded that each of us is that embodiment called Truth.  And, of course Truth is part of all belief systems, traditions; in fact is the fulcrum common to all creation!

So in considering how to be spiritual amidst the chaos  we find the solution lies in practice and not in theory. Job is a good example as he went through all sorts of trials and tribulations, yet his saving grace was keeping his focus on God; knowing God/Truth to be the solution.

Let us not forget that God, this Inner Presence, is doing exactly what IT is supposed to be doing, even as our bodies age and die.  We are in charge when we mindfully make a decision, through awareness, to notice all the gifts of Life around us.  Yet even when we seem unaware, the process of Life continues at the deepest level of our being.

Awareness is our greatest gift.  It is only when we are aware that we can lift ourselves out of the quagmire of fear thinking and believing.  Job, who even whilst going through what seems to us today, the most dramatic experiences, remained centered in Truth; aligned or focused as he acknowledged God and that the earth was made by God…. “in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all.”

And despite what befell Job; despite him acknowledging that what he feared most had come upon him; he maintained his focus on Truth – coming back continuously to first cause, God.  God at the center of all Life.  As stated by Paul: “in Him we live move and have our being.”

Even in the so-called chaos that has been experienced over many, many years; the chaos that also seems prevalent in life today, we need to be mindful and have reverence for ALL LIFE – and the Great Mystery which lives us.

Through our times of contemplation; our times of meditation, we are aligned with the Mystery of Life and we experience IT!  And without trying, we recognize it in all aspects of creation. And from (or through) our awareness comes our experience…..and we realize the solution lies in Practice, not in theory.  Our living of life is not a theory, but a practical experience.  And the experience is first in mind and then in manifestation.

By living life in a balanced way with God/Truth as the fulcrum of our focus we allow ourselves to be guided to the solution.  And we know the solution or solutions in life are not always according to how we would have them be; yet all through life – all through creation – is the underlying intelligence, calling us to BE STILL…..AND KNOW.

In Closing……
 There is no such thing as God and.  It is for that reason that the only demonstration there is for us to make is the demonstration of God’s presence.  In demonstrating God’s presence, we demonstrate life eternal, and infinity of supply, brotherhood, peace, joy, protection, and safety.  In His presence there is fullness of life—nothing is absent.  When we have God’s presence, we have God appearing as good, as clothing, as housing. But there is one requirement: to have His presence—not meaningless affirmations or the mouthings of the deep truths of Scripture, but His presence.

 Where God is, fulfillment is, and through the realization of Omnipresence, all things already exist.  God is forever functioning to maintain and sustain the infinite and eternal nature of this universe appearing as.  God appears as the daily manna: I am the bread of life—not I will have or should have or will demonstrate it, but I am it; and this I appears on our table as daily bread.  It appears outwardly as transportation or clothing.  In the beginning before time began, God gave Himself to us, and in the giving, infinity was bestowed  upon us.  Joel Goldsmith—The Thunder of Silence

Bountiful blessings,

 Mallory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

“A Greater Understanding Of Life”

Understanding is necessary and critical in life.

• We cannot have wisdom without understanding.
• We cannot have love without understanding.
• We cannot have knowledge without understanding.
• We cannot have faith without understanding.

The main intention in this message is to focus on the greatest aspect of life which really requires our understanding—and that is understanding who we are in Truth.  The issues and challenges in life are not about us or whatever it is we happen to be facing at any time; it is about trusting.  However we can only trust once we understand our true origin. Understanding is a skill which we develop through awareness.  The reason this needs to be developed is that we may forget that our seeming “fixed identity” is only temporary; yet our true identities are those  which are eternally real.

The practice of awareness is vital to a deeper understanding…the understanding within that says: “I know…!” This is uttered clearly in the Aquarian Gospel, chap 32:13 where we are told:  “Man may  believe what others say; but this he never knows. If a man would know he must himself be what he knows.”

According to Deepak Chopra in his book, The Book of Secrets, he states that understanding changes the whole picture of reality, and that whenever we perform an action we are actually expressing a level of understanding.  He also states that everything that you have decided about yourself is in play at this very moment. What have we decided about ourselves?  And is it linked to a “fixed identity”  that is not “fixed” at all?  Any opinions,
criticisms, judgments, are showing us that we do not understand.

The basis of our teaching is the Omnipresence of God; we are continuations out of (and one with) this One Source of all Life. We speak about this, read about it, yet until we really “get it,” we need the constant reminder.  The universe is a spiritual creation and we are not here to perfect the human but to understand, know, and prove, our spiritual heritage.

One of the goals in teaching classes is not only to bring about a deeper understanding of the true nature of our being, but to offer practical tools to assist us to live this way as well.  It was mentioned that we cannot have wisdom, love, knowledge, or faith without understanding. When we understand who we are in Truth, then during our practice of awareness, we allow inner Wisdom to come forth; we become transparencies for God’s Love; our knowledge is a true knowing; and our faith is real because we surrender in trust.

When we are challenged, as all are from time to time, by whatever appears before us, and maybe fear pops up…all we need do is ask ourselves: “what is it I do not understand?” We are all spiritual beings, heirs to the heavenly kingdom; it is our lack of understanding that postpones this in our experience.  Know the truth and the truth shall set you free.

We live in a world focused on acquisition; on getting and wanting and having.  Yet  we read in Proverbs: “..and with all thy getting, get understanding.”  This is our work; our practice and ultimately also our freedom!

In closing….

“Old age does not mean the burden of years; it means the fruition of a life. Years are our friends, not our enemies, if we live in harmony with these, and think of them as opportunities for development. 

 Each day of the year is in itself an opportunity to realize more of truth; but unwisely we resist the passing of the years instead of cooperating  in spirit with the seeming flight of time.   It is human ignorance in relation to process that makes us old, not the experiences of time in its passing. It is our attitude toward time that keeps us free from the limitations that the race would burden us with.”   Nona Lovell Brooks Mysteries (1924)

Bountiful blessings,

Mallory

Sunflowers – photo Samantha Barris

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We Do Not Need To Change The World.”

The land which thou seest, to thee will I give it.” Genesis 13:15.  The land which thou seest… the world which thou seest…..  Does the land/world we see, need to be changed?  We do not need to change the world!  The world does not need changing!  The world is right as it is….. according to consciousness…according to the consciousness of humanity!

Truth is simple.  We seek perfection and set ourselves up for disappointment because we are seeking perfection “out there.”   Perfection according to the human defining of it.  And that perfection, if it is to be found, is passing and changes with our changing human perceptions.  At the human level, the perfection we are seeking is always ahead of us; something we are striving toward.  Something, even, that we may be “fighting” others for, in order to attain it.  Yet, “it” always seems just out of our reach and not aligned with: be ye therefore perfect, as is your Father in heaven.

In the chapter of Genesis, we find Abram and Lot at the parting of the ways.  We too are at a crossroads in life—a place where we need to make a conscious choice of which way to go; which path to take.

This is nothing new as we see in Isa 2:5: “O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.”  Much the same is found in Mic 4:5:  “For all people will walk everyone in the name of his God, and we will  walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.” These two prophets of that time were exhorting the people to turn their attention or focus, to God.  To look only to, and have faith in, God. And these are just two examples—there are more.

We can look back and wonder why, maybe, those before us made the choices they did, and how, if they’d turned to God as their source for peace, love and wisdom, the world as we know it today may have been a better place?  Yet are our choices any different from those who have gone before?

Are we following the path of Abraham, placing all our faith and trust in God; or are we following the path of Lot—putting our faith in the things of the flesh, of the world?  Just like Abraham, we are the fathers (mothers) of a multitude of thoughts which in turn spawn a multitude of effects.  Ralph Waldo Trine says: When a thought is given birth, it does not end there; but takes form, and as a form it goes out, and has its effect upon other minds and lives.

 “The land which thou seest, to thee will I give it.”  Are we seeing the kingdom of God, or are we completely caught up in this so-called human kingdom, and seeing only that? What we give our attention to, will determine our experience.  Everything is consciousness and to change our experience of life, we first need to change our consciousness. We do not need to change the world—it is according to consciousness.  Unless there is a change in consciousness first, any other change will only be temporary.

Back to our teaching: the OMNIPRESENCE of God.  God everywhere present, in, as, and through all creation; expressing individually through you and me. And to know God we need to experience (and prove) this Inner Presence as did those who are mentioned above.
Be still, and know!

In Closing…… Then there is Sir James Jeans, who says that the universe is “just God.” He says that there isn’t anything in the universe but God; that all the power there is, is God; that all the intelligence, all the substance there is, is God; that there is nothing else.

 So you see, he quite agrees with the Apostle Paul, who said, “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” We live in the One Power; we move in the One Substance; we have our being in the One Intelligence. We are in the midst of a vast dynamic Power, which is greater than anything we can possibly imagine.

 That Power is in us. We are charged with It. It is not far off. There is no separation of It from us. It is in the midst of us and we are in the midst of It. It lives, and moves and has Its being in man. It works through man to will and to do. Nothing is impossible to this God Power.  H.B. Jeffery—The Spirit of Prayer

Bountiful blessings,
Mallory

Dear Friends,

“A Consciousness of God is Our Only Need”

“There is an ancient echo that calls monks to the deserts and to the high and sacred places, and the same voice is now calling people of the cities, towns and villages to awaken to the power and presence of God.”  Jim Rosemergy

It is through consciousness that we receive or hear the voice that is calling us. With the many distractions life in the world offers, we so often are deaf to the voice.

Many of us participate on face book and other aspects of social media. It has become a way of life has it not?….especially since for nearly two years we have been experiencing life in a more isolated way. On face book the other day there was a posting illustrating a five-sided diagram and it was titled: pentagon; this was accompanied by a six-sided one titled: hexagon, closely followed by an eight-sided diagram: an octagon.  After these came a map of our country, South Africa, and the title was “powergone”! (referring to the electricity load-shedding) and my first thought was: “fantastic!” At last we are not looking to that for our power.  When it seems that we are powerless, that is when we are open and receptive to the true, and indeed, only power.

Over time, we may find ourselves inspired by teachers, by books we read, workshops we attend. It is not necessarily the book or individual that makes an impact but rather when we, in consciousness, are ready. The challenge then arises: “choose you this day whom you shall serve…”  and it requires that we honestly check if we are choosing the problem or disease, over God.  In other words what is it that gets our attention?  We may have times when it seems that nothing will ever work out.

We get over one challenge only to be faced with another. And what happens? All our focus is on the problem, and God—the One Omnipresent Power, in, as, and through all creation, is pushed to the background and the problem takes centre stage, together with our doubts, fears and many times even self-pity.  Are we believing more in the woes of the world than in God? What is it we declare as true for ourselves each day? These are all prayers we send out into the universe and according to law, the universe responds.

We are told in my “go to” passage in Luke 12:22-32, that “it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom…do not fear.”  And of course this is the kingdom realized in consciousness. Mostly we pray for our problems to be resolved by God, yet we are missing out on going to God for God—we forget to seek the Spirit—our entry to the kingdom.

To quote Jim Rosemergy: “Life is a consciousness of God and we are destined to be alive every moment of every day.  To be alive is not only to see ourselves as physical beings breathing the earth’s air; but to realize it is the breath of Spirit that sustains us.”

Like the monks referred to, we are being called to maintain a consciousness of God while fully participating in everyday life.  All living; all work, when done in the awareness of Spirit, is sacred. And we are never apart from this power that is with us always.  Let us join the monks and hear the call to awaken  to the power and Presence of God. We are being called as responsible citizens to heed the call and in the Stillness realize the opportunity each is being offered in Truth in this moment.

In Closing……
 Although Truth is omnipresent and changeless; although man lives, moves, and has his being in God, the All Good; although he dwells in the kingdom of heaven, if  he is not conscious of it, he may go on his way lacking many things and losing the blessedness that IS his. “Heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ,” men may, through ignorance of the truth be slaves of misery, doubt, and poverty.

 It is KNOWING the truth that makes man free.  Man gives a sense of reality and power to evil when he fails to recognize that his source, his life, his very existence through time and eternity is God the Good. Truth must be recognized in order to be realized and to become a power in the lives of men.
Divine Science: Its Principle and Practice

Wishing you all and your loved ones a blessed Holy Season, and peace throughout 2022.  May your experience be of a joyous and blessed Christmas, as through uplifted consciousness, the Light within grows ever brighter.

Bountiful blessings,

Mallory

Dear Friends,

Freedom in Consciousness

Wherever we are, no matter what seems to be going on all around us; through awareness, we can be free in consciousness. Having been away, in the northern hemisphere, on the cusp as it were of summer and autumn; the issues or problems might have been different to some that we experience here in our country, but essentially, it seems wherever one goes there are challenges. And the challenges most are facing require change, which in itself is perhaps the most daunting of all to some. And many times, though we want change, we also fear it, with our “what ifs”. Change (even when anticipated and welcomed) requires something new of us.

Let me illustrate with this delightful little story I received in an e-mail:
In a small town a couple of cowboys were reminiscing about the past, and one was talking about his uncle. He said. “When my uncle first saw a revolving door he was astounded. He saw this grandmotherly, grey-haired lady going in and immediately following that he saw a young, cute, blonde young woman coming out. Then he saw a shabbily-dressed panhandler going in and a nattily-attired banker coming out. My uncle jumped back in his truck and started the engine and he said, ‘I’m going home to get the missus and run her through there a couple of times.’”

Now we may laugh at this – in fact, I really found it so funny, but, can you imagine what the uncle would have had to do if indeed his wife had come round that door completely transformed? Would she have been happy with a shabby old man?

We have to be ready for change, to embrace it and the only real way to do this is to be ready in consciousness. We allow the world around us to dictate and often govern our decisions or aspirations. And maybe we are driven by a need to achieve things and status in order to be happy.

I share with you briefly, from the book, “Your Freedom to Be”, by Dr. Jack Holland, who held a long list of degrees academically and in business and was also a Divine Science minister. (I am giving you the short version here). He visited our Centre a couple of times in the past, and I do recall meeting him once. He states:

“Nothing of a permanent, effective and viable nature can be built on that which is in-constant – that which is ever changing. As Paul stated, “it is the spiritual in man which is immortal.” Everything that has come into manifestation is changing while the invisible is everlasting. There is but one constant in this entire universe and that is the source of all energy – the I AM Presence, the God Within, the One Power and the One Presence. When we develop our image from that which is ever changing and has little value, then where is the “truth” and where is the substance in our “imaging”?

We know intuitively and intellectually that all that has come into appearance to our senses is ever changing. This is so whether we are speaking of the human body or other forms of animal, mineral, or vegetable matter. There is only one “immortal” aspect of all in the universe. That one “constant” is the essence of what we are and is the truth of ourselves – the spirit (energy) – which is ever present.”

What is being referred to when we talk about the One Source of all being, God, – or whatever name we are comfortable with – is an INVISIBLE SOMETHING, and we are challenged to believe in IT even though with our five senses we cannot discern it in any tangible way. Let us consider the passage in Matthew 6: 19&20:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where it grows rusty and moth-eaten, and thieves break in to steal it. Store up treasures in heaven, where there is no moth or rust to spoil it, no thieves to break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.”

So then where is this alternate “storage space” to be found, but, within our own consciousness. And the treasure of course includes, a true knowing and experience (an intimate experience) with the Inner Presence. Whatever we know (truly know), and realize, in consciousness, stays with us – this is the treasure. We sometimes have all-too-brief moments (split seconds) of total unity with all that is, and then…. we seem to lose it. Well, it stays with us in consciousness, and as we practice our moments of stillness the experience becomes more familiar and more regular. We know that all comes forth from the Invisible Source into manifestation. And the only “place” that this knowing is sensed, is in consciousness. It all comes back to consciousness, and this is where true change takes place; this is where peace, love, and understanding are held – the absolute peace, love, and understanding, that ultimately cannot be shaken by the outside world.

We can fall into the trap though, of wanting something “out there” to change first. Like the man who was going to send his wife through the revolving door to change her. It is realization of Truth in consciousness that assists us in our day to day challenges; and being mindful of the Inner Presence, and the true treasure in Life.

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:
04 Sylvia van Zyl
11 Rosemary Batchelor
18 Rev. Elizabeth Dugmore
25 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.

DIVINE SCIENCE BASIC PRINCIPLE – EVENING CLASS: This course of 10 sessions begins on Tuesday 06 October. Join Mallory from 7:00pm to 9:00pm 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.

WORKDAY – SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER:
Spring Clean – Garden and Home – from 9:00am to 12:00 noon. Activities will mainly be weeding, outdoor cleaning and some minor painting and preparing the Garage for a social event. The first hour will be worked in silence, followed by tea/refreshments. Work will then continue till 12:00 noon. Call Sylvia on 083-7082857 for more information.

DIVINE SCIENCE U.K.:
During my recent visit to London, I met with Revs. Dave and Ish Bailey – 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: http://www.divinescienceuk.org

In Closing…..

Let us go back for a moment to Jack Holland’s book: “Your Freedom to Be”, where he states:

“Jesus, the master teacher and not a ruler, experienced great animosity, great negativity, and the ultimate in man’s inhumanity to man. But did he ever accept these things as the Truth of his being? Absolutely not. In every adversity, in every experience he found new channels for growth in his awareness of the One Presence, the One Power, the I AM Presence in the universe.
He accepted the experiences as guides and chances to move forward in understanding and development. He recognized his temptations for what they were: experiences to demonstrate, through recognizing the God within, that he could overcome all.”

Bountiful blessings,

MALLORY

Dear Friends,

Fill the void with God.

Do you have (or believe you have) a void in your life right now?
It could be that you feel there is seeming lack of finance, joy, companionship, or purpose, or even guidance or understanding. Whatever it is for you, just take note of it and then let it go.

We are told – and most agree – that we are the divine offspring of the one Source of all creation; that we come forth from our point of origin with all that is God-like. We are the vehicles through which God expresses; in fact we see God expressing through nature all around us, in every season.

Rabbi Joseph H. Gelberman, in his book – The Quest for Love, stated: “Do you remember what God said during the creation? Let us make man in our image, in the image of God He created them; male and female he created them…… and God saw everything that he had made and it was very good! I remember once many years ago Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa came to New York City. On the cold winter day hundreds and thousands of fools like myself were standing outside the museum waiting to come in for a few seconds to view it. And there I was, created by the greatest master of all time, God, and no one even looked at me!”

I just love the way he states this – it may seem flippant to some, but really, so true. How come we find it so difficult to understand that in essence we are complete beings come forth from the one Mother/Father of all? There are those who may believe that because their biological parent/parents “suffered” from such and such a disease, or died at a certain age, it will be the same for them. And we hear it said: “It’s in the Genes!” Yes, it is, and in our Spiritual genes as well! Do we ever consider that??

The only void in our lives is our separation from Truth; yet paradoxically, we are never apart from truth – the separation is in our own minds. So… perhaps the next question to ask ourselves would be: What is it we turn to, or perhaps use, to fill that void in our lives? And is it really working? In a state of feeling unfulfilled, do we maybe feel that the new car, new home, job or partner might fill that gap? For a time perhaps, until the yearning kicks in again. When we seek something or someone to complete us we are shouting out to the universe: “I believe I am incomplete!” And if that is our belief then it follows that it will be our experience too (the law works).

In Scripture Jesus stated “No man cometh to the Father but by me.” (Jn14:6). We cannot take this statement literally, firstly because it would exclude those on a different path. And secondly it would also exclude those who came before Jesus. As you know much of scripture is written allegorically and cannot be taken literally. Yet we are prepared to accept mixed messages so often. We happily speak the words of the Lord’s Prayer which begins: “Our Father” – not the Father of some only. So why then in some instances do we take the words: “no one comes to the Father, but by me,” literally?

What is being referred to is the Christ Consciousness – the consciousness which has experience of the Presence of God – that Inner Presence which is with us always. This was also referred to by Paul when he said: “Get this mind which was also in Christ Jesus.” It is through that state of consciousness that we will have direct access to our Source.

Some will call it Buddha consciousness, or Krishna consciousness, and so on, depending on the given path an individual is following. And I believe the purpose of the following of any of these paths is to know God. Whatever path we follow though, our challenge is to live and practice what we believe. In Divine Science we are challenged to: practice the Presence – to be aware of the Omnipresence of God – and be mindful of this in all circumstances.

Our actions and attitudes need to authentically follow our beliefs. And ultimately the way we live our respective lives speaks louder than any words we may utter. And really the operative word here is live. We are meant to live life, not to just exist. The life abundant that we were promised is already ours, awaiting our conscious recognition and acceptance of it. It is ours in consciousness.

It is not what religion we follow that matters, it is our consciousness. Why does there appear to be so much dissatisfaction in life today? We were given a teaching to follow that works, and will continue to work, but perhaps we’ve been distracted by trying to fill the void within, with that which is without. It always comes back to consciousness, because it has always been about consciousness.

We are all on a journey of evolvement moving into territory where only mystics have gone before, simply because it is the destiny of each one to return to Truth. Caroline Myss speaks of this in a recent newsletter, where she says that through the advancement of technology, the “energy” atmosphere has become a residence for us and we now have an “energy” address as well as a street address. The way we now relate to the world around us – and within us – has been completely transformed; that’s the obvious part. The not-so-obvious part of this mind-blowing transformation is the spiritual price people pay for living lives that move too fast, are far more isolated than they can handle, and lack a community of people that help a person sustain his or her ethics, morals, and integrity.

In the little story from Rabbi Joseph Gelberman – we are reminded to realize that we all come forth from the Master Source of all creation. In order to fill the seeming void in life, we need first to be aware that we are experiencing a void. And then we have a choice…….. Turn to God – focus on the truth of our being and know that it is the understanding of this truth that will endure. In Spirit there is no lack; our spiritual inheritance is unlimited. Fill the void with 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 – AUGUST:
02 Rosemary Batchelor
09 Rev. Mallory Kretzmann
16 Sylvia van Zyl
23 Rev. Helen Penfold
30 Rev. Mallory Kretzmann

CD. ORDERS OF THE SUNDAY LESSONS: CD’S are available to order of the Sunday Lessons and to avoid a backlog of unclaimed orders, R20-00 is payable at time of ordering.

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.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ENNEAGRAM: This is a series of 10 morning sessions beginning on Wednesday 19 August, presented by Sylvia van Zyl. Please see the notice board for all details and for more info or to book, you can call Sylvia on: 083-7082857.

In Closing…..

I share with you these words from Rabbi Joseph H. Gelberman:

I HAVE PURPOSE BECAUSE I AM! Who am I?
I am the reality of things that seem
I am the waking who am called the dream
I am the utmost height there is to climb
I am stability – all else will pass
I am eternity encircling time
Kill me – none may conquer me.
Nothing can!
I am God’s Soul, fused in the Heart of Man.
Amen

Bountiful blessings,

MALLORY

Dear Friends,

“There is no power but of God” – Malinda Cramer

The message this month deals with Conception-Human/Divine…when we go back to understanding that our true beginning (conception) is in spirit; we have come forth from the One Mind as a divine idea. Because we seem to identify ourselves more easily as to who we are in the world (in our human form), I am going to “bypass the beginning” as it were and come back to that a little further on.

The conception of Jesus – the man – had a purpose. The conception, humanly, of each individual (each of us here) was on purpose…..no matter what the seeming circumstances. You may not agree with this, and I would not expect you to, if it does not right now ring true for you. However to continue: The conception of the Christ Consciousness had (still has) a purpose. We have come forth, each of us, as a divine idea – conceived in Spirit. Our purpose is to realize, acknowledge, and through the awareness of the Christ Consciousness within, live our lives accordingly. Our identities, first and foremost, are as spiritual beings, eternally one with the Creative Source that is the origin of all creation. Now this is not always the easiest idea to embrace because we try to embrace it with our limited human minds.

An e-mail recently received, related to success and indicated that: What you think about you become.
Well there is nothing wrong with that at the world or mental level, but we need to realize that there is more to Life than just “using our human thought to make things happen for us.” Things are shifting rapidly at so many levels today that in order to “cope” we need to move too. And ironically our need to move forward in our way of thinking and being, is back to what we are told (have been told for eons) in scripture and sacred writings. What we have done though – and this is a generalization – is to make separate gods of Jesus, Buddha, and the like, instead of following, and perhaps taking responsibility, for what they taught.

I quote now briefly from Malinder Cramer’s book – Divine Science and Healing:
“Truly a God that we can only progress toward – a Life-giver whom we may possibly approach at some future time, in some faraway place, has been replaced in Divine Science by the true God – the Good of our being, who is our Life, Love, Truth, Health, Breath and all things. A knowledge of this Truth, practically applied, must bring “Eternal Life and Immortality to light” to the individual, then to humanity, for humanity is the sum of individuality.

The true destiny of Divine Science demonstration is individual immortality. The truth of the Creator and Creation, is Science, and it is religion; hence, it is scientific religion in which the omnipresence of the Creator is a working basis; it is the basis of the Unity of all that is, including right thinking, true judgment, and their true application in word and deed in all social and business relations. The good everywhere is ever active in making itself known in visible creation. This excludes the possibility of there being another life, substance or power. There is no power but of God.”

So in moving forward – and it is a moving forward in this universal, evolving consciousness, that we are all part of – we actually would be wise in going back to some of the early writers. Remember, Malinda Cramer, together with Nona Brooks, founded Divine Science. Again we need to remember that it is not Truth that is changing, but the realization of it is changing all. Truth is constant, we discover more of it through our intentional seeking or desire to know and Be more.

You see it does not matter if we are intellects or not; if we are male or female; if we are old or young; if we are short or tall; we all have the ability to be the vehicles or avenues for the Light of Truth. The purpose of creation is that the Creator may be expressed. But we judge what we see with the human eye, and it is only the inner eye that will see the light in another, having first recognized it in ourselves. You see we are either focusing on Truth or we are not.

Most of the time we are carrying with us a separate sense of self; and in this manner we conceive, and incubate ideas in our own minds, creating beliefs that often take us further away from our Truth. The truth that we are in fact individualized units of God’s pure essence. We share the same birthright, the same inheritance, and have been told….. “in truth, call no man on earth your father – for One is your father”. One Father/Mother, God, imparting It’s all through us, into expression. And really our only need is to know this – it is our passport to a whole new way of being, and understanding and begins with one individual, then to humanity; for as Malinda Cramer puts it: humanity is the sum of individuality.

The only thing lacking is our acceptance that we – individually – have been conceived by, an Absolute Love that is eternal. When we accept and realize and embrace our Truth, we will come only to rely on our Source, taking no human thought, and all our needs (not wants) will be met. And we do this by turning inward in Stillness. Malinda Cramer spoke of the God of some far off place being replaced in Divine Science by the God of our being, who is our Life, Love, Truth, Health, Breath and all things – the Omnipresent Creator.

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 – JULY
05 Rev. Mallory Kretzmann
12 Rosemary Batchelor
19 Sylvia van Zyl
26 Rev. Mallory Kretzmann

CD. ORDERS OF THE SUNDAY LESSONS: CD’S are available to order of the Sunday Lessons and to avoid a backlog of unclaimed orders, R20-00 is payable at time of ordering.

MEDITATION: A reminder that the Sanctuary is open for meditation during our office hours which are Tuesday to Friday, 09:00 until 13:00.

LIBRARY: Remember that as a signed-up member you have the advantage of making use of the library. There are some real gems amongst our vast selection, so do make use of this facility which is open Tuesday to Friday from 09:00 to 13:00, and on Sundays after Service.

ACT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: This was held on Sunday 07 June after the Service and we thank those Members who attended, for their continued enthusiastic support. Minutes of the meeting will be made available to Members in due course.

DR. SALAZAR’S VISIT: We are truly grateful to Dr. Salazar and his lovely wife, Marcella, for taking time during their holiday to visit Port Elizabeth and our Centre. The Thanksgiving Service was most uplifting and Dr. Salazar’s message well received.

In Closing…..

I share with you the words of: Ramana Maharshi…….

All spiritual teachings are only
meant to make us retrace
our steps to our
Original Source.

We need not acquire anything new, only give
up false ideas and useless accretions.

Instead of doing this, we try to grasp something
strange and mysterious because we believe happiness
lies elsewhere.

This is a mistake.

Bountiful blessings,

MALLORY

Dear Friends,

“Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus.” —Phillipians

This month we are privileged to have a message from Dr. Al Salazar, as we anticipate his visit (though brief) to our Centre, this month.

MESSAGE FROM DR. AL SALAZAR

“The whole of Divine Science is the practice of the Omnipresence of God.
—Divine Science: Its Principle and Practice

The Bible is filled with stories of individuals who climbed mountains, from Moses to Jesus. This means that they, as did many others before and after, had a change of consciousness—an ascension from a sense awareness of life to a consciousness imbued with Truth.

The challenge of the spiritual leadership in Divine Science is not only to help better the human condition but that they too attain a measure of that mind which was also in the Christ Jesus. It is in this consciousness that the ministry assists others to move from that man “whose breath is in his nostrils” to that man “whose being is in Christ.” “If I be lifted up . . .”

I believe that this is what Divine Science is all about—a change in consciousness. And incidental to this change the human condition improves.

—Al Salazar

DR. SALAZAR’S VISIT – JUNE 2015:
Dr. Al G. Salazar was born in Texas and received a Bachelor and Masters degree in Texas and a PhD from Catholic University in Washington, DC.

He discovered Divine Science in Washington in 1970. He took the classes and in 1981 made a career change after 20 years in education to enter the Divine Science ministry. He was ordained in 1979.

Subsequently, he served as Board member of the Divine Science Educational Center in Denver, Colorado, chaired a committee to develop the Constitution and By-Laws of the Divine Science Ministers Association and became its first president. He was also the President of the Divine Science School with responsibilities for the training of Divine Science teachers, practitioners and ministers.

He is married and lives in Texas with his wife, Marcella.

Dr. Salazar first visited our Centre in October 1997, and approved our designation as an extension campus to the Divine Science School in Washington. He has since visited us numerous times over the years, with his wife Marcella, when, after presenting classes and Sunday lessons at the Centre, they have toured our country, which they have grown to love.

We were privileged to have Dr. Salazar give the first Sunday Lesson and consecrate our Sanctuary the day after our move at end of August 2012, to our current “home.”

Dr. Salazar and Marcella will be visiting us briefly in June and we look forward to him presenting our Thanksgiving Service on Sunday 21 June.

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 – JUNE:
07 Rosemary Batchelor
14 Rev. Mallory Kretzmann
21 Dr. Al Salazar
28 Sylvia van Zyl

CD ORDERS OF THE SUNDAY LESSONS: CD’S are available to order of the Sunday Lessons and to avoid a backlog of unclaimed orders, R20-00 is payable at time of ordering.

MEDITATION: A reminder that the Sanctuary is open for meditation during our office hours which are Tuesday to Friday, 09:00 until 13:00.

CLASSES: There are two “informal” classes being offered and scheduled to begin during the second week in June.

Lessons in Truth: This 6 week course is based on the book by H. Emilie Cady, with the added advantage of recorded material by Rev. Jim Rosemergy. In the challenges of daily life we can always turn to Spiritual Principles, and this is evident when we study the works of the early writers. Join Mallory for the first session on Wednesday 10 June at 7:00pm. Your weekly donation includes tea/coffee. All welcome.

Meditation at ACT on Thursday mornings: Join Helen over a period of six weeks for the first of a series of guided meditations in which we are led into Inner Stillness by Rabbi Olivier Ben Haim in the tradition of the Kabbalah. The duration of the meditation is 45 minutes, to be followed by discussion and your donation includes tea/coffee. Join Helen for the first session at 10:00am on Thursday 11 June. All welcome.

Lists for names are on the notice board, or you can call us on 041-5813309 to book.

ACT MEMBERSHIP: We thank those who have responded so positively to renewing and continuing their membership. Please do let us know should your contact details change as this assists us in keeping our records updated.

LIBRARY: Remember that as a signed-up member you have the advantage of making use of the library. There are some real gems amongst our vast selection, so do make use of this facility which is open Tuesday to Friday from 09:00 to 13:00, and on Sundays after Service.

WORKPARTY AND BRAAI: This was well supported by enthusiastic gardeners, and the braai was enjoyed by those who stayed. These work parties and get-togethers are great way to get to know others in a less formal way, while supporting the Centre.

ACT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: The meeting is scheduled for Sunday 07 June, after the Service. A formal notice, from the Board is enclosed / attached, and we look forward to the attendance and support of members.

In Closing…..

“Truly, a God that we can only progress toward – a Life-giver whom we may possibly approach at some future time, in some far away place, has been replaced in Divine Science by the true God – the Good of our being, who is our Life, Love, Truth, Health, Breath and all things. A knowledge of this Truth, practically applied, must bring “Eternal Life and Immortality to light” to the individual, then to humanity, for humanity is the sum of individuality. The true destiny of Divine Science demonstration is individual immortality. The truth of the Creator and Creation, is Science, and it is religion; hence it is a scientific religion in which the omnipresence of the Creator is a working basis; it is the basis of the Unity of all there is, including right thinking, true judgment, and their application in word and deed in all social and business relations. The good everywhere is ever active in making itself known in visible creation. This excludes the possibility of there being another life, substance or power.
“There is no Power but of God.””
Malinda E. Cramer – Divine Science and Healing

Bountiful blessings,

MALLORY

Dear Friends,

“What do we really believe?”

This is the question I asked the participants in the New Testament Class we are currently running, to ponder on, the previous week; and I must say we had some very interesting and worthwhile discussion. So… what do we believe? In order to perhaps illustrate my point in the lesson today, I am going to begin with a story that many of you are familiar with, and then use an analogy to take us further in understanding.

A man was stuck on his rooftop in a flood, and prayed to God for help. A man in a rowing boat came along and shouted to the man on the roof, “Jump in, I can save you.” The man on the roof shouted back, “No, it’s alright, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me.” So the boat went on. The same happened when he had the opportunity to be taken to safety by a motorboat and then a helicopter. The man drowned, went to Heaven, and said to God: “I had faith in you but you didn’t save me, you let me drown. I don’t understand why!” To this God replied, “I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?”

Perhaps we can relate to this story and look back and realize there may have been times when we too have turned “God” away because we have not been awake, alert, or aware (or even ready to accept) the assistance in the way it is presented. How often have we said, or heard others say, “I need help,” but there has always been an excuse or…. “not in that way,” we say. Do we get too caught up and involved in our own specifics? And these ideas/specifics to which we hold are the concepts which we have collected, or allowed to impact us over and over through the years; and most of the time we do have difficulty in dropping our attachment to them. When we hold onto these gathered and stored ideas and concepts, they in a way, act as a blindfold to Truth. We cannot “see” past them. So we need to take time to sort through what it is we really do believe; and our concepts of Life.

Do we have faith in these beliefs that we believe we have, and what does it mean in our daily lives? As Paul and James state, in their respective ways, in New Testament scripture: “Faith without works, is dead.” Before investigating this, let us look at the analogy I referred to earlier, relating to the story of the man in the flood. As I was preparing this lesson I began to realize just how much we are like that guy and obviously this is a generalization.

What is happening around us in the world, and I am not going to get caught up, or side-tracked in details, is an opportunity to actually stop and ask ourselves: “What do I believe, and how can I make a difference?” Let me just clarify for a moment, that we are not isolated individuals; (even though at times this may be what we feel) we all are part of, and in fact participate in, mass consciousness.

Whatever we believe, whatever concepts we hold, whatever reactions, responses, or attitudes we face life with, go into the mix of mass consciousness. It is all energy. So…. “they” get up in arms about something that another group do not agree with; and then “they” also retaliate at the same, perhaps heated level, and chaos reigns in the world. Note at this point though: chaos never reigns in Spirit!

Having said all that let me get back to the analogy. And, you all know this story too; in fact it features more in our lives than many others, and has done for many years. It is the story of Jesus! So you may be wondering: “How can this have anything to do with that guy sitting on the roof in the flood?”

Jesus was our way-shower and teacher; but we have made Him (the man, Jesus) the canoe, the motor boat, and the helicopter. We have missed the point when we look to the man, who repeatedly informed us through his teachings, that all are one in God our Father, and it was through his teachings and the Christ Consciousness that we will be saved from drowning in ignorance. Christ Consciousness is accessible to all and is the doorway to the Kingdom within.

When we turn away from this (not necessarily even intentionally); but are distracted by what is going on, around us, then we mistakenly look to the Man, Jesus, and forget about the Spiritual Principles he gave us that are applicable in any situation, by anyone, anywhere. We are all one in Spirit, and yet so often we hold to the mistaken identity of this Man, Jesus, who is put forward as the exception to mankind, through our non-understanding of the term: only begotten Son. The Christ Consciousness is the only begotten Son in each of us. And I quote now briefly from the Divine Science Text Book of Basic Principle: Jesus’ disciples accepted the fact that Jesus knew that what was true for him was also true for all mankind, for it was John who said, “As he is, so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:17

Through the guidance of the Christ Spirit within we are awakened to the spirit of all Good. This Christ Consciousness is the fullness of the riches of divine Mind active in our souls. The attainment of Christ Consciousness is our goal. [end quote] So after all this…. what do we believe, and are we putting it all into practice? In Scripture we are told that faith without works is dead.

Emma Curtis Hopkins clarified this by stating it thus: “works are the activity of faith, not effort.” In the book, Unveiling your hidden power – a compilation transcribed from her published works, by Ruth L. Miller, she states: “The Spiritual or Real world is not changed by our words or thoughts; it is the same changeless good yesterday, today, and forever. All our faith and all our reasoning simply open our eyes to the Real world. So we have nothing to do, for in the Spiritual world, which is the Real world, all is perfect. The highest working power is the power to see that we have nothing to do.” (End quote)

For some that may seem very odd and somewhat radical, so let us check this out. We may at times feel that we need to be seen to do “good works.” And certainly there is a place for us to assist and aid and be compassionate in life. Understand that God has already done the work, and our real work is to see and realize that we need to honour and acknowledge in gratitude, the truth of our being. Jesus’ incarnation was not so he could stand on a pedestal and expect to be idolized and worshipped. No, it is Truth that we revere as we understand the Teacher; and the teachings.

So… to work then…BEING WHO AND WHAT WE ARE IN TRUTH. When we are consciously aware of this and make time for quiet contemplation and meditation, we are answering the question: what does the world need right now in these times of upheaval and seeming chaos?… ultimately participating in the solution. First in mind, then in manifestation – all love and harmony, recognition and respect for ourselves and others, begins within individual consciousness. On the human/world stage, we lose the plot, when we lose 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 – MAY:
03 Rosemary Batchelor
10 Rev. Mallory Kretzmann
17 Rosemary Batchelor
24 Sylvia van Zyl
31 Rev. Mallory Kretzmann

CD. ORDERS OF THE SUNDAY LESSONS: CD’S are available to order of the Sunday Lessons and to avoid a backlog of unclaimed orders, R20-00 is payable at time of ordering.

MEDITATION: A reminder that the Sanctuary is open for meditation during our office hours which are Tuesday to Friday, 09:00 until 13:00.

CLASSES: Our Divine Science – Bible New Testament Class concluded this past week. Do watch the notice board for a forthcoming study group on “Lessons in Truth”, based on the book by H. Emily Cadie.

“NEW ROOM” PROJECT: Since we moved into our “new home” at the end of August 2013, we have:

• painted the foyer and Sanctuary,
• we have put in carpeting throughout,
• cupboards were removed giving more space in the sunroom/classroom,
• lighting was upgraded in the kitchen, sunroom/classroom and Sanctuary,
• an electronic lock was put on the security gate,
• shelves were put up and our new library space created.
• Improvements in the garden

This just lists some of what has been achieved. Now we are moving on, very enthusiastically to our project of converting our double garage into a new space for workshops, yoga classes, functions etc. There will be the odd fundraiser for this, and any ideas you may have, please do share them. Watch the notice board for further and ongoing information.

ACT MEMBERSHIP: We thank those who have responded so positively to renewing and continuing their membership. Please do let us know should your contact details change as this assists us in keeping our records updated.

WORKPARTY AND BRAAI: Planned for Saturday 16 May, notices have been sent out and details are on the notice board.

ACT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: The meeting is scheduled for Sunday 07 June, after the Service. A formal notice, from the Board will be sent to members.

DR. SALAZAR’S VISIT:
We are really looking forward to having Dr. Al Salazar and his wife, Marcella, with us next month. Dr. Salazar will be presenting the Lesson at our Thanksgiving Service on Sunday 21 June. The next newsletter will have necessary details.

In Closing…..

“The present moment is always full of infinite treasure. It contains more than you have the capacity to hold. The Will of God presents itself at every instant, like an immense ocean. Your heart will receive of the Ocean the measure to which it can expand itself, by faith, confidence, and love.”

Jean Causade

Bountiful blessings,

MALLORY