How May I Serve?
Sunday, March 29, 2026
Rev. Diana Johnson, IM, RScM, with Chris Johnson, RScP, & 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:  |
| 24:12 | Guided Meditation | |
| 48:32 | Conscious Conversation |
Taizé
Call to Awareness – 3 Bells
Chris – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Good morning, and welcome…if you’re new with us here this morning… my name is Rev. Diana Johnson. We acknowledge and celebrate with the Christian Tradition this morning. Today is Palm Sunday, one week before Easter…the day that Rabbi Yeshua was said to have entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, as an act of peaceful resistance. We’ll talk more about that next week. But for now, 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 Diana & Chris Johnson
- Beloved, written by Chris Johnson
Rev. Diana – Taking in that word, Beloved…to be loved…to be Love in action…the Power of Love is within me, and within each one of us now…forever working for the Good of all beings…bringing rebirth, renewal. We settle into the stillness of this moment…acknowledging the Love within us…bringing our awareness to the heart center…feeling it expand with every breath in… the Light of Spirit filling the heart to overflowing and making its way into the rest of the body…and on the outbreath, flowing into the room…into the world.
We are surrounded by and held in an atmosphere of Perfect Love…we are Love taken form. Love is our inherent nature…the Truth of who we are…the Truth of all creation…no matter the appearances in the world. Love unites us…is an invisible force for Good…a force of Connection…all of Life, created in Love. Every human being, every other-than-human animal, an expression of Spirit’s perfect Love…an Emanation of Divine Intelligence…every plant, rock, pebble, and grain of sand…the earth beneath our feet, and all that lives within that soil…expressions of Spirit’s inexhaustible Love…earth, air, fire and water…Sacred Elements, fundamental expressions of the Great Mystery. 9:41 Now extending our Vision upward to the heavens…sun, moon, stars, and planets, expressions of God’s Radiant Light…downward to the core of the earth…and then inward to the core of your being…
…all of creation is God’s Love taken form. I am deeply grateful to sense and know that we are literally all connected by the Love that we are.
Take a moment to breathe that in…
As self-reflective beings of Love, we are given a unique opportunity…and a responsibility…to use our conscious choice wisely…to consciously choose Love over fear in every situation…to ask, “What would Love do right now?” By truthfully answering this question, and acting from Love, we leave the world a more beautiful place…we honor the Creator…we honor one another…we honor ourselves, and all of Creation.
We are bringing awareness to The Power in Community. And this morning, we center our reflections on a question… How May I Serve? We might begin our contemplations with an Africa Proverb…When you pray, move your feet.
The Christian Path would say it this way…”As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also”. In other words, a faith that doesn’t manifest in action is not genuine. It is by our works that real Service is offered and change is accomplished. The Rabbi Yeshua calls us to serve one another…to care for those who are vulnerable…and in doing so, we are serving the Whole…serving God.
Buddhism encourages devotees to develop wisdom and compassion not only through meditation, but through personal experience and ethical conduct. By our action, we are helping to reduce suffering in the world.
Hinduism emphasizes the importance of action resulting from faith…and sees action as crucial for spiritual progress and liberation.
There is an emphasis on Seva…or Sacred Service to God by serving in Sacred Community, serving humanity, and therefore serving the world.
The Sikh Tradition also stresses the importance of both faith, or belief in one God, and action, living a life of service. Once again, Seva, or selfless service to others, is a core practice in Sikhism, demonstrating faith in action.
Indigenous Cultures across time and around the world prioritize reciprocity, kinship, and community well-being, viewing themselves as interconnected and interdependent, with obligations and privileges stemming from belonging. This manifests in practices like sharing resources and caring for the vulnerable.
No matter which tradition we may choose to follow, we are Called to meditate, to pray, to feel and know the Presence…to listen…and then to act…to pray with our feet. This is how Spirit brings relief to a brother’s suffering or the answer to a sister’s prayer…by means of our kind and compassionate deeds…through our loving and self-giving words and actions. This is How We May Serve.
To say that we are made in the image and likeness of the divine is to say we are of God’s Essence and Substance…we are of the same mysterious and loving nature, and we express by giving of ourselves, and by becoming a force for Good in the world. Becoming is an active process. And so, made in the image and likeness of God, it is my nature to take action, to give of myself, to serve in some way.
And yet, as humans, it is so easy to get stuck in our own stories…mired in our own drama…and we lose sight of the precious lives that surround us. We forget that the world is in need, that many of our neighbors are without, that our beautiful Mother Earth is struggling…and that each of us is here with a specific part to play, and gifts to offer.
The beautiful thing is that as I take my focus off of myself, my life, and my concerns for a little while, and turn instead to the welfare of another, something in me shifts.
Suddenly I remember…I am reminded…I come into alignment with the Truth of who I Am…a caring and compassionate presence, here to Serve, here to Give. And in the giving, I receive the best gift of all…Connection to the Love that I Am, and a deep sense of contentment and fulfillment, having given that Love away.
Musical Meditation – Love, Serve, and Remember, by John Astin
In this and every moment, I pay attention…I watch and listen for what is being Called forth, for what is mine to do…I pray this question, “How may I Serve?” And then I move my feet.
Chris – Guided Meditation
Spirituality is a journey of evolution… a path of becoming… but we may ask, evolving into what?… exactly what is it that we are becoming?… Some might say we are becoming more God-like… more like Jesus… the Buddha… Black Elk… Gandhi… or the Prophet Muhammad… But that is not the goal of spiritual practice…
We are not created merely to emulate those who have gone before… our elder siblings were not trying to show us how we should Express our Divinity… they taught by example… Following their own inner inspiration, they shared their own unique gifts… inviting us to look within for our own guidance… to share our own gifts…
It is through Meditation, Self-Inquiry, and Prayer that we explore our inner terrain… We find the link between our human awareness and Divine Consciousness… and there Spirit reveals to us our gifts… unveils our deepest desires… and these capacities and dreams point us toward our truest, most authentic Self…
We embody more of God when we become more ourSelf… when we find our own manifestation of the Christ Consciousness… our own Buddha Mind… when we discover our own Prophetic Voice… When we allow the Spirit of Life full expression through us and as us, we become who we are created to be…
Each of us has a unique blend of talents, desires, and interests… and these point toward our purpose in Creation… In our three minutes of shared, Sacred Silence this morning, I invite you to contemplate your most cherished dreams… your unique combination of gifts… and the activities that most make you come alive… That is what you are meant to share with the world… that is who you’ve come here to be… Then ask Spirit within, “How can I best give of myself?… What is mine to do?…
Silence – 3:00
O Holy Mother… O Sacred Father, thank you for revealing your wisdom to me… Thank you for bestowing the intuition through which you communicate with me… and thank you for the gift of this Beloved Community of saints who worship here with me… May we always hear and follow your Divine Guidance…
Your life is not just for you… and mine is not just for me… Life is meant to be shared generously… Rabindranath Tagore said, “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy…” Sharing our unique, Divine Gifts fulfills both the world’s needs and our own…
Returning now to Rev. Diana’s inspired Taizé meditation, we allow ourselves to be changed… to be transformed… not into someone else… but into who we truly are… and we take that into the world… That is How We May Serve…
Rev. Diana – We are forever in the process of becoming…changing from one moment to the next, whether we know it or not. This is the Creative Process at work…this is human evolution showing up as each one of us individually, and as the human family collectively. It is empowering to recognize ourselves as forever becoming, and to consciously and actively engage with the process. Meditation, Self-Enquiry, Reflection, and Prayer help us stay grounded…give us time to know ourselves more fully…and keep us feeling our connection with Source.
Sacred Study keeps our minds open, builds greater understanding and broader perspective…Sacred Service keeps our hearts open, increases our humility as we serve God by serving one another…and sharing in Sacred Community keeps our arms open, offering support and connection, and serving as a reflection of who we are becoming.
As we move into prayer, I leave you with a quote from former first lady, Michelle Obama: “For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end.”
Let’s close with a Prayer of Becoming…
In this Perfect Moment, I know and experience the Presence of God…the One Source of all of Life.
I feel and know myself to be a Radiant Light…an emanation of the One Light…a perfect and intentional expression of Love in action…
I Am forever in the process of becoming, consciously participating in my own evolution…
I Am forever engaging with and drawing from Divine Mind, from the realm of Infinite Possibility…
I spend time each day, listening for what lights me up, what makes my heart sing…reflecting on my gifts and where they might best be offered…
I know that this is one way that Spirit guides and directs my life, and I Am grateful.
Thank you, Spirit, for my ever-increasing awareness.
Thank you for the countless blessings that shower my life and the lives of all who are listening…
Thank you for this Beautiful Community and the Love we share, and for our beautiful space to gather…
May I give of myself whole-heartedly in return, for the Good of all…
Musical Meditation – Greater Good of All, by David Roth
Rev. Diana – This is my heart’s greatest desire…to Love unconditionally, to Serve whole-heartedly, to remember Who and Whose I Am, and to know that I Am here for the Greater Good of All.
With deep gratitude and humility, and knowing that all prayer is answered even as it is spoken, I release my Word to the Creative Power of the Universe, calling it done. And so it is! Amen!
We bring our awareness back to our bodies…to this space…and to our Community. As you feel ready, gently open your eyes and look around… really see the Love that surrounds you here this morning.
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 in the world. If you’re joining us online, you can find a Donate Button and our mailing address at mysticheart.org. We are on Venmo, as well. 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.
As we engage in the Sacred Practice of Circulation, in case you didn’t get the message of today’s Taizé, here’s another way to say the same thing.
Offertory Music Video – Use Me by Ricky Byars
https://youtu.be/CXLCKBuP128?list=RDCXLCKBuP128
Rev. Diana – Blessing for the Offering
Our Easter Gathering this year will be a single service starting at 9:30 on April 5th. It will have lots of music, message, and rituals for release and renewal. Brunch Fellowship will follow the Gathering.
Feel free to grab a cup of something hot and join us at 10:30 for a Conscious Conversation. Remember, when you hear Eddie Watkins singing, it’s time to Come Together.
Rev. Diana, Chris, & Marsh – Taizé Closing Song
- A Soul’s Blessing, written by Chris Johnson
Conscious Conversation
Chris – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Welcome, or welcome back, and thank you for being here. 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 Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality. This morning, we acknowledge and celebrate with the Christian Tradition. Today is Palm Sunday, one week before Easter…the day that Rabbi Yeshua was said to have entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, as an act of peaceful resistance. We’ll talk a little more about that at the Easter Service. But for now, let’s get our Conversation started by joining our voices in musical prayer and making our Oneness a lived experience.
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
- Song – We Shall Be Known, written by Karisha Longaker of Ma Muse
Rev. Diana – We shall be known by the ones who sow and reap the seeds of change alive from deep within the earth…that’s us. Gently close your eyes and Vision with me the seeds of a Love Soaked World that we are growing together, right here and right now…a world where all humans are living from their deepest Wisdom and Generosity, and their most Loving nature…thoughtful of the impact their thoughts, words, and actions have on one another, the community, and the planet…a world without greed, where there is abundance in having enough…where nutritious food, clean water and air are readily available to all beings…
…where warm, comfortable, and affordable housing is a given…where all beings feel a sense of safety, belonging, and contribution…To these blessings, we say Yes!
Ours is a world where mental/physical health, education, and healthy relationships are ensured by social systems grounded in Integrity, Honesty, and Wholeness…where all beings work and play at whatever feeds their soul and are well compensated for their Service…where authenticity and vulnerability are not only welcomed, but celebrated…where the Peace we cultivate within ourselves shows up as a world free of violence, hatred, or indifference…ours is a world where the Love that we are here to share is given freely to whomever our hearts are called to love…where we have moved beyond all lines of separation, and live as one human family, caring for one beautiful planet with the reverence she deserves. To these blessings, we say Yes!
We recognize that transformation is an on-going process, and especially 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. …it redefines Church as a place of Self-Discovery, Authenticity, Kindness, Radical Inclusion, and Love. To these blessings, we say Yes!
It is by the Power of the Great Mystery moving through each one of us that this prayer is acted upon, answered even as it is spoken…Divine Presence, Timing, and Process make it so. And so it is with profound gratitude and great Joy that I release my Word to the One Who Gets It Done…And so it is!…Amen!
Bringing awareness back to the body, to the room, to this beautiful life, and to the amazing beings who share this space with us this morning…
Can you feel the shift in energy as we center ourselves in such a positive and powerful Vision? It ripples out and touches everything.
Let’s take a moment to bask in that creative and powerful energy…look around to say good morning to your Spiritual Family.
Okay, we’ve done our groundwork…I think we’re ready for a Conscious Conversation.
This month we have been looking at The Power in Community, and this morning our question has been How May I Serve?
We opened to the idea that no matter which spiritual or religious tradition you may follow, one of the common teachings is that true prayer leads to action…that acts of Service are a form of prayer.
We considered this phrase from the Judeo-Christian Tradition… that we are made in the image and likeness of the divine…we are of God’s Essence and Substance…we are of the same mysterious and loving nature, and we express by giving of ourselves, and by becoming a force for Good in the world. And we acknowledged that Becoming is an active process, so being made in the image and likeness of God, it is my nature to take action, to give of myself, to serve in some way.
So, it is my nature to take action, and yet so often, I don’t. Why? What keeps us from taking action on things that are ours to do?
(fear, distraction, lack of confidence, etc.)
We get stuck in our own stories…mired in our own drama…we may not even notice that the world is in need, that many of our neighbors are without, that our beautiful Mother Earth is struggling…and that each of us is here with a specific part to play, and gifts to offer.
During Taizé, we also acknowledged that if I take my focus off of myself, my life, and my concerns for a little while, and turn instead to the welfare of another, something in me shifts. Suddenly I remember…I am reminded…I come into alignment with the Truth of who I Am…a caring and compassionate presence, here to Serve, here to Give. And in the giving, I receive the best gift of all…Connection to the Love that I Am, and a deep sense of contentment and fulfillment, having given that Love away.
I’m going to make a right turn now. I’d like to share a passage from Marianne Williamson’s 2019 book, A Politics of Love. No worries, we’re not going to get into politics per se.
A quick question: What does the word politics mean?
Dictionary definition: the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.
Do you know what the word politic – without the s – means?
Referring to an action, it means sensible and judicious under the circumstances. So the role of our political system is to make sensible and judicious decisions, policies, and laws.
Just prior to this paragraph, the author has been speaking about the happenings of the 1960’s. She follows with this:
Read page 7, paragraph 1
What do you think about her last statement? “A belief in separation is always at the root of a problem, and a realization of our oneness is always at the root of its solution.”
What are some examples of separation causing problems in our world? In our families?
Let’s continue with the passage.
Read page 7-8, paragraph 2-3
Do you agree that any person, organization, or system that fails to concern itself with the pain of others is out of alignment with Spiritual Truth? How?
What are some Spiritual Principles that we might want to give attention to when we are failing to concern ourselves with the pain of others?
(Cause and Effect – reaping and sowing; Unity Principle – what we do to another, we do to ourselves)
There are no others. Every thought, word, and action has an impact on the Whole, and I am part of the Whole.
Let’s finish the passage.
Read page 8-10, marked sections
What a refreshing concept…a Politics of Love. What would a politics of Love look like?
How does this all tie in with our topic for today, How May I Serve?
A Politics of Love would look like public servants, working for the good of the whole, making decisions and policies based in compassion and caring, with pure motivations, seeing other human beings as equals, as inherently good and deserving of having basic needs met. A Politics of Love would actually help to co-create A Love-Soaked World.
And I have some news for you…when I say public servants, working for the good of the whole, making decisions and policies based in compassion and caring, with pure motivations, seeing other human beings as equals, as inherently good and deserving of having basic needs met…I’m not just talking about our local and national politicians. We are all public servants. We each have a role to play.
Thoughts?
Is there anything else that needs to be spoken right now?
Let’s close with a Musical Prayer this morning…feel free to stand up and join in…and as we do, I 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 also on Venmo.
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. And as you give, so is it done onto you. Your generosity comes back to you tenfold.
Musical Prayer – How Can I Serve? by Ricky Byars
Chris J – Blessing for the Offering
Chris J – Invitations
- Remaining Payment for the retreat was due last Sunday. If you have not paid in full, please see Rev. Diana to make arrangements.
- The Mystic Heart Book Club is reading Return to the Sacred: Pathways to Spiritual Awakening on Tuesdays from 2-4
- Shining Light on Scripture: The Upanishads by Eknath Easwaran, starting this Wednesday, April 1st from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm with Chris Johnson.
- On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss, by Elisabeth Kubler Ross and David Kessler on Wednesdays from 2:00-4:00 pm.
- 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. This week is our Community Cooking day. We will be making ??? Let Rev. Diana know if you are new to the group and wish to participate.
Looking ahead to April…
- Writing Down Your Soul: How to Activate and Listen to the Extraordinary Voice Within, by Janet Connor. Join Rev. Diana on Thursdays from 2:00-4:30 pm, April 2nd – June 4th.
- Easter Sunday Release and Renewal Ceremony – Join Mystic Heart and the House Music Team next Sunday, April 5th, 9:30 – 11:00 am for a special Interfaith Easter Celebration. This year’s Gathering will begin Taizé-style, weaving contemplation, readings, music, and silence into a beautiful and meditative experience. We will follow up with a powerful Releasing of what is no longer serving our lives and complete our time together with a bit of Celebration, joining our voices in song and prayer. This is a perfect time to bring friends and family to our Gathering Place. Please reserve your seat with Rev. Diana, as space is limited. Potluck Brunch to follow!
There is more information available in the new April Bulletin and on our website.
Information Cards for 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.