Embracing Change
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Rev. Diana Johnson, IM, RScM, with Lucinda Alton, RScP, Chris Johnson, RScP, and musician Marsh Brodeur
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:  |
| 20:24 | Musical Meditation #1 | |
| 30:11 | Musical Meditation #2 | |
| 47:17 | Conscious Conversation |
Taizé
Call to Awareness – 3 Bells
Lucinda – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Good morning, and welcome. If you’re new with us here this morning… my name is Rev. Diana Johnson. We begin our Taizé Journey by joining our voices in musical prayer.
Rev. Diana, Chris, & Marsh – Taizé Chants
- Welcome Home to Your Mystic Heart written by Chris & Diana Johnson
- I Am Letting Go, written by Sky Nelson
Rev. Diana – Letting go…relaxing into this Sacred Moment, the only moment we ever have…fully alive and awake to the Presence of the Divinity that we are. We move more deeply into our meditative journey this morning, bringing awareness to the breath… breathing in slowly, and letting it go…the breath grounds us…brings us to a Peaceful state…Take one more slow, deep breath in, settling into the Presence…relaxing into a profound sense of gratefulness…that you have this beautiful day to live…Life is a gift, simply given…and you are the blessed recipient. Overcome by reverence, deep love, respect, and gratitude for the Source of Life Itself, we give thanks.
We take a moment now to sense and realize our Oneness with the Global Community…envisioning a web of Consciousness surrounding and infusing our planet…seeing and feeling ourselves to be a radiant point of Light in that web…knowing that every human is an expression of that same Light…every creature, every plant, rock and grain of sand, shining with the Light of Spirit…the soil, water, clouds and wind…and the countless heavenly bodies…all made of Godstuff…enlivened by the Divine Spark…and knowing that my Light is enmeshed with the All That Is, I feel and know our Oneness.
Because we are One in Spirit, we commit to caring for one another…for all life forms…for the planet that sustains us all.
We say that the only sure thing in life is change. We might ask ourselves…is that true? When we look at the material world, at the physical realm, at our bodies, our statement seems accurate. And we spend so much time engaging with the relative aspects of our lives that we sometimes forget that there is more to the story. There is a paradox afoot…yet another Truth at work…the more things change, the more they stay the same. In other words, if we look below the surface of the ongoing changes in the physical world, beyond that which can be seen and measured, the Great Mystery is always present…always at work.
We drop a solid object, and it falls to the ground. Not sometimes, but always. Gravity is a constant. And the Power and Intelligence that wills gravity into being never wavers.
(Pause)
For every action in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction. Not sometimes, but always. And the Cause behind this Truth is infallible.
(Pause)
When I, as conscious human, become interested in a particular situation, circumstance, or idea, I tend to bring it into my experience. Where my attention goes, energy flows. The Creative Force that brings our experience into being is ceaseless.
(Pause)
When I, as self-reflective being, place my faith in something…when I live by and from that faith…embody that faith…the object of my faith is bound to become my experience. The Divine Life back of all things is unchanging.
(Pause)
There is a Light, a Spark of Native Intelligence, a Christ Consciousness, that lives in, through and AS me. It shares with me Its Power and Presence, Its Peace and Harmony, Its Joy, Beauty, Love, and Light. It offers me access to Its Wisdom and Guidance, Its Abundance, Wholeness, and Absolute Freedom. All that is asked is that I remember…
…that I consciously place my faith in Its Infinite Potential and invite the qualities of Spirit to express by means of me.
The teachings of the Rabbi Jesus are clear…“It shall be done unto you according to your faith.” (Matthew 9:29)
He was inviting us to follow his example…to seek Communion with that which is unchanging, eternal…the Christ within…and with deep faith, live our lives from that. This is our invitation; this is our challenge. Amidst the apparently changing conditions in our lives and in the world, we are to anchor ourselves in the Infinite, Invisible, and Eternal Mystery that is our True Nature. And even as we do, we must learn to Embrace the experience of constant Change that is our experience in the physical world.
This is the paradox…we are both human and Divine…we must walk with one foot in each world…become adept at handling the ebb and flow of life on earth, trusting in the Grace…the Divinity that we are…to carry us through.
This month’s theme is Shedding Old Skin. As we continue in our journey of transformation, it is important for us to Embrace Change. This is a much greater stretch than not resisting change.
Most of us find change difficult. We like things the way they are…or even if we don’t like them, at least they’re familiar…we know what to expect…we think we have some control, and this makes us feel comfortable. As human beings, we tend to resist change. But Buddhist Wisdom reminds us that change doesn’t bring suffering, but rather, it is the resistance to change. A great deal of the Spiritual Journey is about letting go of resistance…learning to allow and accept what is…and finally, as we grow in maturity and wisdom, to welcome the changes as they come, bringing attention to the gifts they have to offer. Embracing Change begins with allowing…
Musical Meditation – Allowing, by Alexia Chellun
https://youtu.be/T-VMwZ526cw?list=RD7rJfU1A6cxs
Rev. Diana – I am allowing what is to simply be…free of resistance, arms open wide. I Am allowing my Power and well-being…allowing my path to unfold Gracefully before me…allowing myself to be me…allowing myself to be free.
What a beautiful set of affirmations. In Affirmative Prayer we acknowledge that there is only One… One Life, One Truth, One Love, One Power, One Source… That One is Absolute… never born… never dying… unchanging… And yet that One expresses as you, as me…as an infinite variety of forms. As these forms interact in space and time, the forms do change… but their spiritual essence does not…
Each of us is an expression of Divinity…Our essence is that One Spirit… eternal and indestructible… the Still Point of our Being. In our Spiritual Practices we turn our focus inward to remember that Truth…to re-align our consciousness of Unity with God and all of Creation… And there we find that part of us that never changes…our Eternal Self.
Grounding ourselves in this awareness as a regular Practice allows us to access the Strength, Power, and Wholeness that is the Truth of who we are. As conditions change around us, we can remain peaceful, because we know that “This too shall pass…”
Anchored firmly in Spirit, we are empowered to respond to changes productively… and finally, to surrender to each new circumstance as it comes…allowing it to unfold…in full faith that each one bears a gift and expecting the blessings to be revealed. In other words, we learn to Embrace Change.
Our Beloved Community is a form expressing in the field of time; therefore it changes… But the principles upon which it is founded are Eternal Truths.
As Mystic Heart grows and evolves, our shared Spiritual Practice becomes keeping and perfecting our shared Vision…Loving, Serving and supporting one another in our growth and evolution.
As we return to musical meditation, let us center our awareness on that Still Point within us…that aspect of our being that is birthless, deathless, and changeless…God within us…even amidst the constant change that is our human life.
Musical Meditation – Always Changing, by Fearless Soul
Closing Prayer
There is only and always One Source of all of Life, eternal, unchanging in Its Essence, Substance, and Process, and yet coming to know Itself through an infinite number of physical expressions. I Am, you Are, one of those perfect and intentional expressions…made of God Stuff, because that is all that has ever been.
Right here and now, I relax into the posture of allowing…I move Gracefully with the ebb and flow of Life in the coming week. I fully accept that change is forever unfolding…will always be part of my experience in this physical realm. AND I place my faith in the changeless nature of Spirit, trusting and knowing that this is where my courage, my strength, and my Power lie. I allow it to bubble up within me, and I lean into it whenever I feel the first signs of resistance creeping in. I have all that I will ever need within me.
I am so grateful for this Powerful Truth, and for my deep faith in the Presence of Spirit. It is the One Constant in this changing world. I am grateful for the countless blessings that shower my life every day…from the very small to the seemingly miraculous. I give thanks for those blessings that feel warm and welcome, that offer Joy and Beauty into my Life. And I give thanks for those that challenge me to grow in patience, persistence, humility, and faith, for these, too, are Grace working in my Life.
I am grateful for this beautiful Spiritual Family that offers love and support as I make my way along the Path, and for this safe and loving space to gather. I know that there is always someone ready and willing to hold my hand, or to hold me in prayer.
10:04 Immersed in Gratitude, and in the atmosphere of Grace, I release my prayer now, trusting in the Loving and Lawful Presence to bring it into form and experience…has already begun. May I have eyes to see everything that comes from this moment forward as answered prayer. I call it done, simply letting it be. And so it is! Amen!
Coming back into this space, we open our eyes, our hearts, and our minds. Take a look at 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, who are there for you if you need anything.
Rev. Diana – Love Offering
As we close our Taizé Meditation, we offer the opportunity for you to share of 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 you in advance for your gifts.
Offertory Music Video – The Power is Here Now, by Alexia Chellun
https://youtu.be/T-VMwZ526cw?list=RD7rJfU1A6cxs
Rev. Diana – Blessing for the Offering & Invitations
Rev. Diana, Chris, & Marsh – Taizé Closing Song
- A Soul’s Blessing, written by Chris Johnson
Conscious Conversation
Lucinda – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Welcome or welcome back…and thank you for being here. I know you’ll be glad you came. 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, tracing the common threads of Truth that run through all the world’s great traditions. It is my prayer that something you hear this morning will lead you back to the Wisdom and Guidance of your own Mystic Heart.
Let’s get our Conversation started by joining our voices in song and giving our bodies a chance to wake up!
Rev. Diana, Chris, & Marsh – Opening Music
- Welcome to the Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- One Big Family, written by Robin Hackett & Gary Lynn Floyd
- Relax, Let Go, written by Karen Drucker
Rev. Diana
Let’s take a moment to consciously engage the body in the Sacred Practice of Visioning for a Love-Soaked World…where all humans are embodying and living from their Highest Selves, their deepest Wisdom, their most generous and Loving nature…honoring and caring for one another, and for our beautiful planet, is second nature…all needs are met…all beings have plenty of nourishing food, the safety of a warm and comfortable home……mental/physical health, education, and healthy relationships are ensured by social systems grounded in Integrity and Wholeness…
In our newly created world, all beings work and play at whatever feeds their soul and are well compensated for their Service…all beings are valued and respected for their inherent Goodness and Light…authenticity and vulnerability are not only welcome but celebrated…and the Peace we cultivate within shows up as a world free of hatred or violence.
Each one of us is living into a world where greed is no more, where there is abundance in having enough…where generosity is the norm…where every being receives all that is needed for a full, rich, and contented life.
By the Power of our collective intention and powerful imagining, we have written a new story…a world that works for all beings. We trust and know that all is always being turned to Good, and so it is. We walk in gratitude, respect, reverence, and humility as we recognize the Sacred in everyone and everything…there is a general sense of thriving.
It is through our hands, feet, hearts, and voices that positive change is forever happening. We aligned all of our actions with our Vision, living these changes in our own lives, with our families, friends, communities, and other nations…
We recognize that transformation is an on-going process, and in times of great change, people benefit from working, playing, and simply being together. And so this Community stands as an open and welcoming place for all who seek support, belonging, and a sense of Family.
By the Power that is inherently ours, this prayer is acted upon, answered even as it is spoken. I trust and know that this is so…I rest in Divine Presence that works in Its own time, and by Its own Process…and with the deepest humility and gratitude, I release my Word the One Who Gets It Done…And so it is!…Amen!
Let’s take a moment to bask in that creative and powerful energy…look around to say good morning to your Spiritual Family…joining in our own small act of Loving Defiance.
If you were with us at Taizé this morning, you know that our topic of reflection has been Embracing Change. It ties in with January’s theme, Shedding Old Skin…in other words, we’re talking about the many facets of this journey of transformation that we call Life.
I’m going to begin by giving a bullet point summary of this morning’s Taizé for those who were not here. Then I’ll use that as a jumping off point for our Conversation.
Basically, we said that the nature of the physical world is change. Everything is always changing all the time. And yet, beneath the apparent change, there is One Constant…the Eternal Mystery…the Source of all that is…the Ground of Being. It doesn’t matter what you call it, It is the Divinity that you are. It is the Power and Presence, the Strength and Beauty, the Joy and Perfection that are factory equipment.
And so as humans, we deal with this paradox. We are both human and Divine, Sacred Beings of Radiant Light having a very persistent and sometimes persnickety human experience. Our challenge and our growth is to remain grounded in our Divinity, allowing it to inform our thoughts, words, and actions as we move through the world.
We talked about how even though change is constant and inevitable, human beings tend to resist change. And in our resistance, we suffer. We used more musical meditation than usual to move us into a space of allowing, and we landed with a prayer to solidify our intentions for the coming week.
Okay, that’s where we jump into Conversation. If you weren’t here and would like more, you can check it out online this evening..
During the closing prayer this morning, we gave thanks for many things, one of them being a safe and loving space in which to grow and feel supported. I’d like to spend a little more time with this idea.
How do you define safe space?
In his book Creating the Beloved Community, Rev. Jim Lockard define safe space in a Spiritual Community this way:
Read pages 93-94
Let’s talk about that. This is a challenging path to walk…a delicate balance for us as Spiritual Community members.
When might we need to be enveloped in Spiritual Community?
(In difficult times…when there has been a crisis or trauma of some kind, either present or past)
What are some of the ways that we can appropriately envelop those in need?
(be present – show up; being authentic; keeping conversations confidential – in other words, no gossiping; prayer, spiritual counseling, bringing food, providing transportation, offering a listening ear, etc.)
Is there a time when enveloping someone is no longer useful, maybe even detrimental?
(If someone is showing no sign of healing, making no effort to move forward, becoming overly dependent, showing a pattern of living as a victim…then continuing to envelop enables the person to avoid growth.)
What is ours to do when this happens?
(speak honestly and directly to the person; if appropriate, refer the person to an appropriate professional. Encourage the person to seek additional help elsewhere; prayer; sometimes stepping away is necessary)
When is it appropriate to contribute to the development of Community members?
(When a person shows signs of being basically psychologically and emotionally stable. Psychological and emotional stability is the necessary foundation for spiritual transformation.)
We offer a lot of opportunities for psychological, emotional, and spiritual growth and development at all levels through classes, support circles, reading groups, and other activities. But no one can do this work for us. We get back what we put in.
What might development look like?
(speaking kindly and with respect; being able to assume highest intent; speaking directly to someone when issues arise; approaching people with compassion and understanding; taking the focus off of self – What if this isn’t about me?; self-awareness, recognizing and managing our own triggers/patterns; we get there through Spiritual Study, Sacred Service, Spiritual Practices)
Enveloping and developing…both of these help to create safe space. “Safe space in spiritual community is not about eliminating discomfort – it is providing a supportive place where we can experience the inevitable discomfort of deep personal introspection and spiritual growth with support and understanding…Safe space means that we co-create a chrysalis of support for those who are wounded as well as for those who choose to do the deep and often painful work of personal transformation…
…Safe space includes the need to come to terms with the harsh and often difficult realities of being human…In safe space, we are not protected from disturbance, rather we are disturbed in a protected space.”
You may have heard me say this before, but in my training as a Minister, I was told that my job was to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable! Am I doing my job? It’s a razor’s edge…to be kind, loving, compassionate AND honest, in service to another’s growth and development. And there is a component that sometimes gets left out…every spiritual leader and community member is human. Sometimes even the strongest among us has challenges arise and needs to put themselves and their circumstances first. Spiritual maturity allows us to assume highest intent…to see that another is struggling, and to not take it personally…maybe even to put another’s struggle before our own. This takes Practice, and it takes growth. And as a leader, part of my own growth is in sometimes putting myself and my immediate circumstances first, so that I can regain my balance and get back to supporting the Community.
Something we have not yet looked at in quite a while is who we are and what we believe. If you’ve ever read the front cover of our Sunday Bulletin, this will sound familiar. As we look at these slides together, think about how this aspect of our Community might help create Safe Space.
Mystic Heart is a welcoming and accepting Spiritual Community that supports, promotes, and celebrates your growth in body, mind, and spirit. It is a place where people of all ages, races, creeds, ethnicities, sexualities, and abilities come together, not as groups separated by their differences, but as human beings celebrated for their individuality.
Does this help you to feel safe here in this space?
We are an Independent Interfaith Community, where people of all ages, races, creeds, ethnicities, sexualities, and abilities come together, not as groups separated by their differences, but as human beings celebrated for their individuality.
How does this help create a feeling of safety?
We welcome all faith paths, philosophical points of view, and ways of life that acknowledge and honor the Sacred that exists in everything; and we support and uplift the growth and evolution of the planet and its beings.
Does this contribute to the level of safety we offer?
We see Evolution and Creation as two aspects of one process that is forever moving life forward, and we understand that each of us is an integral part of that process, leaving our direct imprint on the evolution of humanity.
This may contribute to the level of safety we feel, but I have a different question.
Does this contribute to the level of accountability we feel in this space?
Does feeling or being held accountable increase the overall level of safety we feel? Why?
Is everyone ready for the levels of accountability and authenticity that we experience here?
No, everyone finds their way to where they are supposed to be. And I’m glad you have found your way here. I pray that you call this your Spiritual Home.
Is there anything else that needs to be spoken at this time?
Let’s Close in Prayer…
My prayer is that, as the sometimes tumultuous and ever-changing world moves around us, our Beloved Community is an island of sanity, a safe space to which you can turn…in which you can grow and evolve, step by step, surrounded and supported by friends and spiritual family.
We anchor this in prayer…Please hold this Truth as your own…
We join our hearts and minds in knowing that the One Life, the One Intelligence, is forever expressing as, and moving through, all of creation. I Am that…a perfect and intentional emanation of Divine Light! I swim in the Infinite Potential that I call God, and as I remember who I Am, and bring my Divinity into play, my circumstances are transformed. Wholeness is revealed in every area of my life.
I Am so grateful to know that I can count on a Loving and Lawful Presence. I Am grateful to have a safe space to express myself, and a spiritual family to support my journey.
Thank you, Holy One, for the many blessings and miracles of this and every day. I Am so grateful for the many blessings that shower upon each of our lives…so grateful for the countless hands that it took to bring our feast to the table today, and for the nourishment the food and the time with Community provides…Centered in gratitude, I release this prayer, trusting and knowing that it has already done its Work. A prayer spoken Powerfully and with deep feeling is a prayer answered. And so I simply let it be…and so it is. Amen!
Love Offering
Thank you so much for joining me here today. We’re going to bring this part of the morning to a close, but before we do, we’d like to invite you to join in the celebration of the work we are doing in the world by sharing of your financial Good. If you are at home, you can go to mysticheart.org to use our Donate Button or to find our mailing address.
We are an independent, self-supporting organization, and your financial gifts are what make it possible for us to do our work and provide this beautiful and safe space to gather. We thank you in advance for your generous hearts. We acknowledge and give thanks for the Infinite Abundance of Spirit moving through you.
As we engage in the Sacred Practice of Circulation, we’re going to share some Jason Mraz…It begins, “There are three things I do when my life falls apart.” Feel free to get up and dance if the Spirit moves, but don’t miss the message.
Offertory – 3 Things by Jason Mraz
https://youtu.be/wYwF-IXpbNk?list=RDwYwF-IXpbNk
Lucinda– Bless the Offering
Lucinda – Brief Invitations
- The Mystic Heart Book Club meets every Tuesday from 3-5 We are currently reading Braiding Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
- Shining Light on Scripture meets on Wednesdays from 11:30am–1:30pm. We are currently reading The Dhammapada by Eknath Easwaran.
- Fast Track to Wellness meets on Thursdays from 11:30am – 1:30pm. This is a body/mind/spirit support circle. We are currently listening to and discussing selections from Good Stress and Life in the Fasting Lane. These three offerings are all on a drop-in basis.
- Mexican Train Day – tomorrow, January 26th from 1 – 3:30 pm. Feel free to bring a Mexican Train Game if you have one, snacks to share if you wish, and a beverage of choice if you prefer anything other than coffee, tea, or water. Suggested donation: $5.00 to play. This is a Mystic Heart Community Fun-Raiser. Bring a friend!
Looking into February…
- Announcing a new Book Study/Support Circle on Wednesdays, beginning February 11th at 2:00-4:00 pm , and facilitated by Rev. Diana. We are all engaged in the process of grieving at some time in our lives, and we all have habits and patterns of behavior that would be best left behind. This study and support circle would be beneficial for anyone. We will be using On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Grief by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler as a guide. Suggested donation: $10/week.
- Ember of Wisdom: Dancing the Wheel Cacao & Movement Journey — Join April & Maile for this special event on February 28th from 10:30am-1:30pm. This is a 3-hour Medicine Wheel gathering dedicated to the time of the Elder, the season of Winter, and the element of Fire. This will be a ticketed event. Purchase ahead and save your spot.
There will be more information available on new classes and activities soon. We thank you for your patience as Rev. Diana and Chris take this time to move into their new home.
Information Cards only if new people
Prayer Requests: I am available after service for prayer, in our beautiful Prayer Room or fill out a prayer card and I will get your request to our Prayer Team for daily prayer.
Rev. Diana, Chris, & Marsh – Closing Song
- Love Be With You, written by Lainey Bernstein, RScP & Gary Lynn Floyd
©2025 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 © by Barefoot Angel Publishing, ASCAP.
Chris Johnson’s music is © by SeaJay Music & Publishing, ASCAP.