Enlightened Understanding
Sunday, December 10, 2023
Rev. Diana Johnson, Lucinda Alton, RScP, & Chris Johnson, RScP.
Video Chapter Index
| 0:00 | Taizé | Clicking on a chapter link will play the segment in a new YouTube tab. Your link to this page will remain open in this tab, but the video will play in the new window. Clicking on the Play arrow in the video screen above will play both Taizé and the Conscious Conversation on this page. To make the picture bigger, you may click the full screen icon in the lower right corner:  To cast the video to your Smart TV, click the Play on TV button:  . Also, we now have Closed Captioning available! To access Closed Captions, start the video and click on the CC icon next to the gear in the lower right of the video screen:  |
| 21:44 | Guided Meditation | |
| 44:07 | Conscious Conversation |
Taizé
Call to Awareness – 3 Bells
Lucinda – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Welcome…if you’re new with us here this morning, my name is Rev. Diana Johnson, and I am the Pastor and Spiritual Director of Mystical Heart Spiritual Center. We are an Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality. I welcome you home to our Spiritual Community (should you choose it). Even more, I welcome you home to the answers that lie within your own Mystic Heart.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Taizé Chants
- Welcome Home to Your Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- Come, Holy Spirit Come, written by Daniel Kopp & Sarah Liberman
Rev. Diana – Settling into this sacred moment, we breathe, allowing the Presence of Spirit, to fill our being, grounding us in the here and now…allowing every out breath …to be an offering of Peace. In the Silence, breathing in Presence, breathing out Peace…
We share this time of reflection…making time for prayer and meditation, opening ourselves to the Voice of Spirit…giving ourselves this most precious gift of stillness…
Together, we feel and know our connection with all of Life. We envision a web of consciousness…a Holy Presence…that surrounds and contains all that is…that expresses as all of creation. Each of us is a point of Radiant Light in that web. Every human…every creature…the plants and the soil that give them Life…all shining with the Light of Spirit…the rocks and minerals…water and wind…all that lies below and the forever nature of what we know as above… All of Life is aglow with One Radiant Light. We take a moment to sense, feel, and know that we are connected to All That Is…
As human expressions of the Divine, we are caretakers, in Sacred Service to one another…to all life forms…and to the planet that sustains us all.
We trust and know that we are leaving an imprint of Peace on the world…a ripple of Compassion that Comforts all who are in need. Wholeness is being revealed here and now as we join hearts and minds.
This month we are considering what it means to Wake Up to the Light and this morning, we’ll be spending time in contemplation of Clear Sight, Kind Words.
Today is the second Sunday of the Season of Advent. In the lighting of the Peace candle, we remember that we are called to express and embody Peace. Peace is much more than the absence of war or conflict. As Nehru said, “Peace is not a relationship of nations; it is a condition of mind brought about by serenity of soul. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people.” How do we become peaceful people with serenity of soul? By committing to be peaceful in our thoughts, words, and actions.
We tend to think of Peace as a goal to be achieved after the struggle is over. But the author of the Gospel of Luke suggests a different vision of Peace. Instead of a destination, he sees a path of Peace. When we affirm our oneness with the Christ Consciousness, our inner Light guides our feet onto the path of Peace. Peace becomes the state of heart and mind in which we meet our human struggles. This is the Peace that passeth understanding.
Buddhist Teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, in his book entitled Peace is Every Step, invites us to consider that, “Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. Every breath we take, every step we take, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. The question is whether or not we are in touch with it. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment.”
The Season of Advent calls us to return to the deep inner Peace of Spirit that is forever present and available within us. We possess the ability to access this divine gift at any moment we desire. We need only guide our thoughts back…Peace, Be Still. (Pause)
Once again, we call to mind the ancient Sarum Prayer, “God be in my head, and in my Understanding.” May we discover a more Enlightened Understanding as we move through the world. We continue… “God be in my eyes, and in my looking.” As I contemplate this line, I have to wonder…in my day-to-day life, what am I looking for? What am I expecting to see? For surely, whatever I am looking for, I will find.
We tend to see with the eyes of our analytical and judging mind. When I see with the eyes of the heart, I engage in a real form of looking. I see you as your Best Self…I see me as my Best Self. God be in my eyes, and in my looking…fill my mind and my eyes with expectations of goodness, kindness, generosity, and Light. Then will I see the Goodness in myself, other people, and the world.
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking. “This capacity of ours for speech, for uttering an aural code that transplants thoughts from one private mind to another, is a marvel.” (God Be in My Mind, Ken Wilson) Speaking is more than a skill. It’s a gift of our humanity, and a reflection of the One whose image we are. It is a powerful creative force. We can use speech to build up or tear down, to demonstrate loyalty or betrayal. God be in my mouth, and in my speaking.
Sometimes it is our lack of speaking that shows betrayal…our lack of courage to speak Truth to Power that leads to destruction. It was Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” God be in my mouth, and in my speaking.
Chris – Guided Meditation
One of the very deepest of human longings is the desire for Peace… Peace of mind… Peace in our relationships… emotional harmony… tranquility… serenity… We would like to see Peace among nations as well… World Peace can only come when we all cease from inner conflict… Peace is an inside job…
How do we cultivate inner peace?… harmonious relations?… God be in my eyes… We look through the appearance and behavior… Namasté… Sawubona… we expect to see the Divine Essence in others… Even if they abuse us, we remember who they really are… and wonder, “What has hurt you so much that you react with such hate and anger?…”
God be in my mouth… Let us endeavor always to speak with compassion… to the soul of others… to the avatar of Spirit that is their True Nature… Rather than using our words to defend our pride, let us speak to our common heritage… our Divine Kinship… our essential unity… Let us respond with compassion for all…
Speaking Peace into our relationships requires Seeing through the eyes of the Heart… We cannot respond appropriately if we do not See accurately… we don’t know who or what we are dealing with… God be in my eyes and in my mouth… let me perceive the Truth of this person… and let me respond in the most beneficial way possible…
God be in my head, in my eyes, and in my mouth… Give me true understanding, perception, and compassionate response… During our three minutes of Shared, Silent Meditation, I invite us to recall a situation where someone lashed out at us in anger… where we reacted in ways that escalated the conflict… How might it have unfolded differently if we had seen and understood more clearly?… if we had responded more…
Silence – 3:00
In gratitude for this time of Sacred Communion with our Creator and with our Beloved Community we give thanks… for the desire planted within us to be an agent of change… for the longing to be the opening through which more Peace and Compassion find their way into this world…Thank you, God, for everyone and for everything…
When we find ourselves reacting instead of responding, we can interrupt it… First we Stop… then Look with the eyes of the heart… from that place of clear understanding and perception, we respond Peacefully with Compassion and Love…
As Rev. Diana continues her Taizé message this morning, we open ourselves to her inspiration to be the ones who bring Peace into our world, by using our Divine Gifts of Clear Sight and Kind Words…
Rev. Diana – Today we have three candles lit on the Menorah, honoring the third day of Hanukkah. We also have an image and a candle commemorating another celebration of Light, the Feast of Santa Lucia. This feast is observed on December 13th and celebrates an early 4th century virgin martyr who, according to legend, brought food and aid to Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs, wearing a wreath on her head to light her way, leaving both hands free to carry as much food as possible. Because her name means ‘light’ and her feast day at one time coincided with the winter solstice, it is now celebrated as a festival of light.
The word ‘wreath’ comes from the old English ‘writha,’ whose literal meaning is that which is round. The evergreen wreath has long been connected to this Season of Light. In the Pagan traditions, the wreath was connected with the holiday of Yule, which marked the Winter Solstice in ancient Germanic and Scandinavian cultures. The 12-day festival was also called Mid-Winter, a and marked the seasonal cycle and the returning of the sun.
In the Christian tradition, the wreath is used to hold the Advent candles, which are lit to honor the coming of the Christ Light. Bringing forward whichever meanings speak to us, we can look to the circular shape of the wreathe as symbolizing that which has no beginning and no ending…and to the evergreen from which it is fashioned as representing Eternal Life.
Closing Prayer – We close our Taizé this morning allowing ourselves to settle into That Which is Eternal…
The One Source, the One Life, forever giving of Itself as all of Creation…
Trusting in our own perfection as an expression of the One…
Feeling and knowing our Connection with one another, and with All That Is…
Trusting in the Eternal Nature of Life, the Eternal Nature of Spirit…
Giving thanks for this beautiful season, and its reminders…to slow down, pay attention, breathe, enjoy…
Giving thanks for the Guidance of Spirit as I ask…God be in my head, and in my Understanding…God be in my eyes, and in my Looking…God be in my mouth, and in my Speaking.
Giving thanks for the Grace that showers each of us with blessings…
I Joyfully and gratefully receive, releasing my prayer, calling it Good and calling it done…And So It Is! Amen!
Musical Meditation – Yuletide Comes, by Flora Ware
I invite you to Come back into the awareness of your body…notice the atmosphere in the room, and when you feel ready, gently opening your eyes and allowing your gaze to take in whatever is before you. Feel free to look around and say good morning to everyone who is here celebrating with you this morning. This is your Spiritual Family…one of your support systems. These are some of the people who care about you and are there for.
Rev. Diana – Love Offering
As we close our Taizé Meditation, we offer the opportunity for you to share your financial good in support of the work we do should you choose to do so. If you’re joining us online, you can find a Donate Button and our mailing address at mysticheart.org. And we thank
Offertory Video – Mary, Did You Know, by One Voice Children’s Choir
Rev. Diana – Blessing for the Offering
Please consider grabbing a cup of something warm and come back to join in the honoring and celebration of our Prayer Practitioners. We’ll close the Taizé portion of our morning with A Soul’s Blessing.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Closing Song
- A Soul’s Blessing, written by Chris Johnson
Conscious Conversation
Lucinda – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Good morning and welcome, or welcome back…welcome to those joining online. If you’re new with us here this morning… my name is Rev. Diana Johnson, and I am the Pastor and Spiritual Director of Mystic Heart Spiritual Center. We are an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality. Welcome home to our Gathering Place, to our Spiritual Family, and to the answers that lie within your own Mystic Heart. I invite you to get on your feet and join the music.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Opening Music
- Welcome to the Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- One Big Family, written by Robin Hackett & Gary Lynn Floyd
Rev. Diana – Calling Awareness to the Presence of Spirit in the body…join me in the co-creation of a Love-Soaked World…setting aside any traces of doubt and giving yourself and the world this gift of Powerful Vision.
We’re creating a world where all humans embody Compassion, Generosity, Peace, and Justice…where all people everywhere honor and care for one another, for the earth that sustains us, and for every life form that shares Mother Earth with us.
We are creating a world where all needs are met gracefully…easily…where all beings are well-fed, and have the safety and comfort of home…where mental/physical health, education, and healthy relationships are promoted and supported by social systems grounded in Wellness and Wholeness…
…a world where every being Serves the greater community doing whatever feeds their souls and are well supported for their time and talent…and by their Service, each one finds meaning…belonging…
In this world of our creation, all beings are valued and respected for their uniqueness…Authenticity and Integrity are the norm…Peace and Kindness are cultivated within every human heart and show up as a world free of hatred or violence.
With gratitude for our growing Awareness, and by the Power of our collective intention, we are writing a new story…a story in which there is no greed, and abundance means having all that is required for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual thriving.
We cannot, will not, lower our Vision, no matter the appearances in the world, because we know that such a world is not only possible, but it is inevitable. We align our actions to support our Vision…we celebrate each change as it comes…and a new world is born.
The hearts, minds, arms, and doors of this Community stand open in Radical Welcome. In keeping with our Vision, we are open and loving…all people who seek belonging find it here.
By the power of our deep faith, this prayer is acted upon, answered even before it is spoken. In full expectation of its Graceful unfolding in form and experience…we release it to the One that gets it done…And so it is…Amen! Sathu…Ashay…Aho!
Let’s take a moment to bask in that creative and powerful energy…look around to say good morning to your Spiritual Family…some of the people who care about you…people you can reach out to.
If you were with us at Taizé this morning, you know that our topic of Conversation this month is Waking Up to the Light. And the topic for today’s Gathering is Clear Sight, Kind Words.
This topic comes as a continuation of my sitting with the Sarum Prayer each morning…God be in my head, and in my understanding. God be in my eyes, and in my looking. God be in my mouth, and in my speaking. God be in my heart, and in my thinking. God be at my end, and at my departing.
It’s a powerful prayer, and each week I have been focusing on a different line or set of lines as a kind of Centering Prayer.
So I’d like to spend just a few minutes before we begin our ceremony to talk about Clear Sight, and to explore how the refraining from speaking can sometimes be more destructive than speaking.
What does having Clear Sight mean to you?
(To have clear sight, we need clean lenses…what are we expecting to see?
Do our expectations cloud or color our vision?
In general, do you have faith in the world as a life-giving, loving, and supportive place?
Will that color what you experience?
Okay, let’s move onto Kind Words. We all know that words are powerful…that they can build up or tear down…demonstrate loyalty or betrayal. And we know the importance of choosing our words carefully. We’re not going to revisit that subject today. What I’m really interested in sharing is this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Sit that for just a moment. “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
What does that mean to you? (Sometimes it is important to speak up, even when…especially when…it’s difficult. Sometimes we are doing harm by not speaking up.)
Are there times when it is our responsibility to speak Truth to Power?
What are some situations in which we have that responsibility?
What are some of the results of not doing so?
The prophets of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, and the mystics of all traditions throughout time have spoken Truth to power.
Why do we hesitate? (It’s risky. It’s scary. We might be crucified, verbally or socially, if not literally. People might not like us. We might not be popular.)
If we’re hesitant, what are some of the ways that we can begin to speak Truth gradually, gently? (Maybe Faith is a way of moving ourselves through the questions and uncertainty and into a place where we can plant our feet and stand in Faith.)
What a great conversation!
Transition to Ceremony – I think it’s probably time to shift gears. We have some serious celebrating to do this morning. I’d like to tell you a little bit about what it means to be a Prayer Practitioner at Mystic Heart.
Each of our Professional Prayer Practitioners has had a minimum of four years of training…each of these beautiful people has had much more than that. The four years required are two years of Foundational Spiritual Study, one of which is in the New Thought/Ancient Wisdom traditions. The first year of Practitioner Training includes work in building Emotional Intelligence, Shadow Work, and increasing Spiritual Intelligence. The final year helps the student learn to support others using Generous Listening, Inquiry, teaching of Spiritual Principle, and Affirmative Prayer. Records are kept, and ultimately transcripts are sent to Emerson Theological Institute for approval and credentialing.
That’s when the real work begins. Each of these people has committed to being in Sacred Service to the Mystic Heart Community, and to being a Peaceful and Beneficial Presence on the planet. They have agreed to serve as Practitioner in Service at least one Sunday per month…to be in attendance at least one additional time each month…to continue in their studies by taking at least one 10-week class per year…to pledge financial support at whatever level is appropriate…to attend our monthly Prayer and Training Gatherings at least 80% of the time…and to begin each day in prayer for those who reach out to us. They are one of my greatest support systems, not making less of our Core Council and Social Media Angels.
As you know, we are welcoming Christine Netto this morning as our newest Practitioner, and she has certainly earned it. Chris, would you please come up and let these folks acknowledge your accomplishment? (Chris N. comes up)
Christine, becoming a Practitioner is a High Calling. The purpose of becoming a Practitioner is not to set oneself apart from others, but instead, to know and live from our Oneness. A Mystic Heart Practitioner has openly committed to a life of Principle, Prayer, and Practice. Are you ready for such a commitment?
Every Practitioner that we have welcomed to our staff has been anointed with oil. The practice of anointing is an ancient one, and serves three purposes. First, it serves as a blessing for health and comfort; May you live a long and healthy life with just enough comfort to keep you content, but on your growing edge. Next, as a token of honor; we do honor you, your growth, and accomplishments. And finally, it is a symbol of consecration; this is a Sacred Calling, a Sacred vow you are making. May we anoint you now as a Mystic Heart Practitioner?
By this anointing, I acknowledge the Love, the Peace, and the Power that you are. I call forth and know in you the living Spirit of Christ. Do you accept this anointing as your commitment to serve as Prayer Practitioner for the Mystic Heart Spiritual Center? (I do)
We offer you this stole as a symbol of your deep commitment, and of our on-going relationship.
May I have our other Practitioners come up please?
The credential and public acknowledgement earned by each one here reflects his or her public commitment, or covenant with God, made as a proclamation. Each one intends to serve as the hands, feet, heart, and voice of God on earth. Each of us has made the commitment to know the Truth of who you are, even when you forget, no matter who you are. It is the commitment to listen deeply when you speak to us, and treat you with love, compassion, and respect.
This commitment requires that I hear and see you, even as you reflect back what you see in me, especially when what you’re saying is uncomfortable.
Each has made an unspoken agreement with the God within to lead and to teach by example.
And finally, each has made the commitment to living such a life of Integrity and Wholeness that he or she feels comfortable inviting the world to watch.
Since our original anointings, we have shifted our focus from New Thought to an Interfaith focus. As a result, we would like to present each Practitioner with a new stole, one that reflects our Interfaith Commitment, our commitment to being a radically welcoming community, and that honors each Practitioner’s personal path.
Do each of you wish to continue serving Mystic Heart Spiritual Center as Professional Prayer Practitioners, abiding by our shared Agreements?
Do you commit to your continued spiritual growth, using the Seven Pillars of a Spiritual Life, even when it’s not convenient or comfortable?
I would like to offer these stoles as symbols of your deep and on-going commitment.
I am so grateful for each of you, and for the many ways you support me and this community. Please join me in welcoming Christine Netto, and in the rededication of Lucinda Alton, Sherri Dotter, and Christopher James Johnson as your Mystic Heart Prayer Practitioners.
Closing Prayer – Join me in knowing that God is the only Thing going on here. Each of us Spirit expressing. That never changes, no matter what. So I give thanks for all the Goodness…I give thanks for this spiritual community…I give thanks for the Infinite Flow of Blessings that surrounds each of us in every moment. I gratefully receive all that is offered, in this and every moment. In the spirit of Celebration, I release this prayer to the One that gets it done. And so it is. Amen!
Love Offering – Each Sunday, we invite you to join in the celebration of the work we are doing in the world by sharing of your financial Good, should you choose to.
If you are at home, you can go to mysticheart.org to use our Donate Button or to find our mailing address.
We also have a Gracious Giving Program for those who would like to make a heartfelt monthly commitment of support so that we can more effectively budget and plan for our growth.
I want to help us get into the Holiday Spirit. Please enjoy…
Offertory Video – Thankful Heart, by Michael Cain and the Muppets
Lucinda – Blessing for the Offering
Lucinda – Invitations
Check your bulletin for what’s going on this week.
Remember…
- Saturday, December 16th, 1-4 pm – April Jiménez WinterSky will be leading a Medicine Wheel Workshop.
- Wednesday, December 20th , 6:30 – 8:00 pm, join us to Share the Light. This will be Mystic Heart’s Candle Lighting Service for 2023.
Prayer Requests: I am available for prayer after the service
Information Cards if new people
Rev. Diana & Chris – Closing Song
- Love Be With You, written by Lainey Bernstein, RScP, & Gary Lynn Floyd
©2023 Mystic Heart Spiritual Center, All Rights Reserved
Permission is granted to duplicate for non-commercial educational use only.
All rights to music performed remain with the copyright owners.
Diana Johnson’s music is ©2023 by Barefoot Angel Publishing, ASCAP.
Chris Johnson’s music is ©2023 by SeaJay Music & Publishing, ASCAP.