Finding Gratitude for What We Would Never Have Chosen
Sunday, November 9, 2025
Rev. Cat Cox, with Lucinda Alton, RScP, and musicians Rev. Diana Johnson, IM, RScM, Chris Johnson, RScP, & Dalton Fitzgerald
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:  |
| 25:50 | Guided Meditation | |
| 45:20 | Conscious Conversation |
Taizé
Call to Awareness – Three Bells
Lucinda – Opening Prayer
Rev. Cat – Welcome and Introduction
Good morning and welcome! I am the Rev. Cat Cox, a Unitarian Universalist community minister. I offer a ministry of spiritual guidance to individuals, couples, congregations, leaders and communities nationwide, both in person and online. You can find me online at thepathofjoy.org
I’m speaking this morning at Mystic Heart Spiritual Center in Redding, California. Mystic Heart is an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality, Following the Common Threads of Truth that run through the world’s faith traditions. May our time this morning lead you inward to the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart. We settle into the flow of this morning’s Taizé service by joining our voices in musical prayer.
Rev. Diana, Chris, & Dalton – Taizé Chants
- Welcome Home to Your Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chis Johnson
- Thank You, written by Narayan & Janet Baltzo
Rev. Cat – Connection Meditation
I invite you to join with me now in Connection with the Oneness of Being. The Divine within me sees and knows the Divine in you, for we are One… I Invite you to take a long, slow, deep breath in…and then, slowly releasing it, breathe out, Allow your body to relax…
Continuing breathing slowly and deeply… Feel your connection to the Oneness of Being… Open to the Spirit of Life, Conscious Love and Light, Creating, Sustaining and Transforming Power in All, Holy One a Living Presence within and beyond us always.
Allow yourself to settle into the deep Peace that is forever available within you… Allow that Peace to move out from you, into the space around you…creating an atmosphere of calm and stillness, that ripples out forever, changing everything it touches.
Take a moment now to deepen your sense of connection with the Global Community… See with me now the huge web of life, the ever-evolving energy flow that encircles and infuses the planet… Each of us is a point of Light in that web, each one is connected to all others… Every human shines with the Radiant Light of the Divine… My Light melds into yours…
And now extend your awareness to all of the more-than-human creatures, Each one glowing with its own Light…Every plant, rock, mineral, and drop of water, sending forth its own glow, sharing in the One Light… All of Creation, all that the eye can see and beyond – to what will never be known…
As we feel our Oneness, we breathe in the Peace and Presence of Spirit, We sense the Grace that fills, surrounds, and sustains us right now…knowing that this Grace is ever-present, Underlying and ultimately shaping all that unfolds.
As one human family, we acknowledge our personal responsibility and our role as caretakers… We are in Sacred Service to one another…to all life forms…and to the planet that sustains us all.
This is our time of Celebration and Communion. In consciously establishing our connection with one another, and with all beings, we empower our work here and beyond. Our prayer, meditation, and communion ripple out and touch lives in ways we may never know.
Just breathe that in for a moment.
Blessed be.
Rev. Cat – Taizé Message
(Transcript not available)
Lucinda will now lead us into a time of meditation
Lucinda – Meditation
Rev. Diana, Dalton, & Chris – Musical Meditation
- Let It Be Easy, written by Diana & chris Johnson
Rev. Cat – Final Prayer
I Invite you once more into the spirit of meditation and prayer… Close your eyes if that feels right to you.
Trust. Let go. This moment is a Sacred moment. Every moment is a Sacred moment. Even the difficult ones… Especially the difficult ones
For they are the gateway to Enlightenment and Fully relying on God.
I let go into fully Relying on God. I let go into Releasing the old stories of the need for foreknowledge and control. I let go into being fully Present with Awareness and Compassion now. I let go into Spaciousness and Patience with all that is unknown and unresolved in my heart.
I let go into Radical Acceptance of myself, my loved ones, and all that is. I let go into the Relief of asking only for knowledge of God’s will for me and the power to carry it out. I let go into the Peace of Holy Presence within and around me now. I let go into the Power of Knowing that, in God’s time, God is opening the way.
I expand in the Golden Light. I expand into the Oneness Holding All. I rest in the Stillness deep within. I take Refuge in the Sacred Conscious Heart of God living in me.
Breathing in, Holy Love, Breathing out, Holy Flow.
Breathing in, Holy Love, Breathing out, Holy Flow.
Opening and releasing, I Let Go and Let God.
Bringing our awareness back into this space, we open our eyes.
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.
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 of Mystic Heart 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. We are an independent, self-sustaining organization, so we depend on your generous gifts of support. If you have found value in our time together this morning, share the Love.
Rev. Diana, Chris, & Dalton – Offertory Music
- We Let It Be, written by Rickie Byars
Rev. Cat – Blessing for the Offering
Thanks to all for your gifts of time, of treasure and of service.
Thanks to God for this sacred time and space together.
Join us in a Final Song
Rev. Diana, Chris, & Dalton – Taizé Closing Song
- A Soul’s Blessing, written by Chris Johnson
Rev. Cat – Closing and Transition
Please join us now for coffee and, if you like, for our second service at 10:30 – a Conscious Conversation focused on a shared exploration of today’s topic: Finding Gratitude for What You Would Never Have Chosen. If you are leaving us now, thank you for joining us and we bless you on your way.
Conscious Conversation
Lucinda – Opening Prayer
Rev. Cat – Welcome – Introduction
Good morning and welcome – or welcome back! I am the Rev. Cat Cox, a Unitarian Universalist community minister. I offer a ministry of spiritual guidance to individuals, couples, congregations, leaders and communities nationwide, both in person and online. You can find me online at thepathofjoy.org.
I’m speaking this morning at Mystic Heart Spiritual Center in Redding, California. Mystic Heart is an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality, following the Common Threads of Truth that run through the world’s faith traditions.
May our time this morning lead you inward to the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart. We settle into the flow of this morning’s Conscious Conversation service by joining our voices in musical prayer.
Rev. Diana, Chris, & Dalton – Music
- Welcome to the Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- One Big Family, written by Robin Hackett & Gary Lynn Floyd
- Thank You for this Day, from Native American Church
Cat – Meditation: A Love-Soaked World
One way we can serve in this world is to join in the Sacred Practice of envisioning a Love-Soaked World.
We enter the imaginal realm together, finding ourselves in a world where all humans are living from their deepest Wisdom and Generosity…their most Loving nature…thoughtful of the impact their thoughts, words, and actions have on one another, on the community, and on the planet…
This is a world without greed…where there is abundance in having enough…where all needs are met gracefully and easily…where nutritious food, clean water, and pure, sweet air are readily available to all, no matter where you live or which family you’re born into…
…where warm, comfortable, and affordable housing is a given…where all beings feel a sense of safety, belonging, and contribution…where mental/physical health, education, and healthy relationships are ensured by social systems grounded in Integrity, honesty, and Wholeness…
A world where children are celebrated as the unique individuals that they are. Where, from a young age, they are encouraged and guided to make choices based on their own preferences. A world where children aren’t taught what to think and how to act but instead are encouraged to explore all information available and make informed choices.
We live in a world where all beings work and play at whatever feeds their soul and are well compensated for their Service…all are valued and respected for their inherent Goodness. Authenticity and vulnerability are not only welcomed but celebrated. The Peace we cultivate within ourselves shows up as a world free of violence, hatred, or indifference. The Love that we are here to share is given freely to whomever our hearts are called to love. We have moved beyond all lines of separation, and live as one human family, caring for one beautiful planet with the reverence she deserves.
By the Power of our collective intention, powerful imagining, and inspired action, we have undergone an amazing transformation…we are living in a world that works for all beings. Giving no power to appearances, we live according to our highest aspirations…we do not lower our Vision no matter what the world may say. We are at Peace with our families, friends, neighbors, and other nations.
This Community stands as an open and welcoming place for all who seek support, belonging, and a sense of Family…it redefines Church as a place of Self-Discovery, Authenticity, Kindness, Radical Inclusion, and Love, as we are Guided to the Truth that lies within every heart.
Giving thanks for the Beauty of our world and trusting that a prayer spoken and deeply felt is a prayer answered, my Word is acted upon here and now. In full Acceptance and great Joy, and with the deepest humility, I release this Prayer to the One Who Gets It Done…And so it is!…Amen!
Rev. Cat – Recap main points of Taizé Talk
(Transcript unavailable)
Cat – Conscious Conversation Questions
(Transcript unavailable)
Rev. Cat – Final Prayer
Join me now in the spirit of meditation and prayer.
Please close your eyes if that feels right…
I invite you to open your heart to the certain knowledge that you, yes you, are held by Holy Love. No matter what choices you have made in your life… Or what choices other others have made that are impacting you now, No matter what is unfolding within and around you, You are held by a Love that will never let you go. There is nothing you have done to earn it, any more than you have earned the sunshine or the rain – they simply are. In just this way, Holy Love and Divine Grace – God’s unconditional blessing and uniquely individualized guidance – are flowing to you. Not only did you not earn this love, but there is nothing you can do, no misstep you can take, that will make it go away. It is a given of your existence – and the existence of all.
Stop fighting yourself. Stop trying to earn what has always been yours. You might as well. Take it in. You are, at this very moment, in God’s Grace whether you like it or not!
Love Offering
Now – Bringing our awareness back into this space, we open our eyes.
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.
As we close our Conscious Conversation, we offer the opportunity for you to share of your financial good in support of the work of Mystic Heart 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.
Mystic Heart is an independent, self-sustaining organization, so we depend on your generous gifts of support. If you have found value in our time together this morning, share the Love.
Rev. Diana, Chris, & Dalton – Offertory Music
- We Let It Be, written by Rickie Byars
Rev. Cat – Blessing for the Offering
Thanks to all for your gifts of time, of treasure and of service.
Thanks to God for this sacred time and space together.
Invitations – Rev. Diana
- 12 Days of Kindness – Call April up to talk about it if she’s there.
- The Mystic Heart Book Club meets every Tuesday from 3-5 pm. We are currently reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
- This Wednesday, from 11am – 1pm, finishing the study of the Bhagavad Gita, including a video from the author; beginning The Dhammapada (Buddhist Scripture for the householder) on November 19th.
- Fast Track to Wellness meets every Thursday from 11:30 to 1:30 pm. This is a body/mind/spirit support and education circle.
- There will be a Gratitude Dinner and State of the Heart Gathering on this coming Friday, November 14th from 6-8 pm. This is a time for Rev. Diana and Chris to serve the community dinner as a Thank You for all the ways we contribute to the growth and success of Mystic Heart. It is a time to share where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. It is also a time for us to share our feedback. Dalton will be sharing some uplifting music, as well. There is more information in the November Bulletin. Please RSVP to Rev. Diana if you plan to attend.
Looking Ahead…
- The Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting Please join Rev. Diana Johnson, Thursdays, November 20th – December 18th , 2:00 – 4:30 pm for a four-week deep dive into the meaning of Advent. The group will be reading and discussing Seven Gifts of Waiting by Holly W. Whitcomb.
- Our Holiday Boutique is fast approaching…November 21 & 22, 9:00am to 2:00 pm. This is a Mystic Heart Holiday Fun Raiser. Bring your gently used items for resale…donate baked goods…help set up the Boutique on Wednesday or Thursday morning, November 19th-20th…help work the sale…or come shop 😊Contact Rev. Diana for more information.
Looking Way Ahead…If Rev. Cat is here, invite her to announce this one.
- Cat Cox will be presenting a Dream Workshop on Saturday, December 6th from 10am – 12:30 pm. Again, there are more details in the Bulletin, and online.
- Celebrating the Light – Our Holiday Candle Lighting Service will be held on Wednesday, December 17th from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. It will be a beautiful blending of music and Interfaith Message. Please RSVP Rev. Diana if you plan to attend. Seats will be reserved. Heidi will have a children’s program planned for the evening, as well. More information to come.
There is more information available in the new November Bulletin. Remember to take one home with you. Or check online at MysticHeart.org.
Information Cards ONLY if new people
Prayer Requests: Lucinda is available after service for prayer, in the Practitioner Prayer room or if you like, fill out a prayer card and we will get your request to our Prayer Team for daily prayer.
MUSIC: final song
Rev. Cat – Closing Words
May we close this time together remembering that no matter what happens, there are gifts to be found that will move us forward in creative engagement with life!
May we return again and again to holding compassionate, open hearts for ourselves and for all beings.
I invite you to remember that everything that any person has ever done is one of two things: either it is an act of love, or it is a cry for love. Those are the only possibilities.
Blessings to all.
Please join us for lunch if you are able to do so.
©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.