Renewal in Every Moment
Sunday, August 11, 2024
Rev. Diana Johnson, with 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:  |
| 19:43 | Guided Meditation | |
| 45:02 | Conscious Conversation |
Taizé
Rev. Diana – We follow the sound of the bell inward… 3 Bells
Chris – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Good morning. 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. We open our doors in welcome, trusting that you will be led to the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart. We begin our Taizé with Musical Prayer.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Taizé Chants
- Welcome Home to Your Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- Come Holy Spirit Come, written by Daniel Kopp and Sarah Liberman
Rev. Diana – We take a moment to move into the stillness of this moment…allowing attention to rest on the breath…letting everything else go…feeling a deep sense of gratitude for the privilege of being alive…of experiencing life on this beautiful planet…of coming together with Spiritual Family in prayer and meditation, in Joy and Celebration.
And now allowing awareness to move away from the breath, grounding even more deeply into the silence, into the timeless nature of your being…right here, right now…feeling your Oneness with the Creative Intelligence of the Universe…and acknowledging your Oneness with the global community…
Sensing a web of consciousness that surrounds and infuses the planet, each of us a radiant point of Light in that web…knowing that all beings carry the Divine Spark…every human, every creature, every plant…part of the web…every rock and grain of sand, every drop of water, infused with God’s Radiant Light…extending still further into the cosmos, the wind, the clouds, the stars, the planets…one Light, one Life.
Acknowledging our connection with all of life, our collective Work here is empowered…Our collective prayer and meditation leave an imprint of Peace, of Love, of Grace, on the world, on the cosmos, for all time…transformation is under way…Wholeness is being revealed.
This month, our contemplations are centered in Touching the Living Christ. By our coming together each week, sharing in prayer and meditation, we are practicing the Art of finding Renewal in Every Moment.
As human beings living on planet earth, we are multi-faceted…we have physical bodies, mental capacities, emotions, and all of it woven into our Spiritual Nature. And so finding Renewal in Every Moment becomes a multi-dimensional process. We must take care of every aspect of our being in equal measure if we are to live in a state of constant and ongoing renewal.
The human body is built for renewal. Its nature is to rebuild itself through cell reproduction…through the processes involved in healing. But in order for these sequences to occur, we must comply with the body’s needs…clean water, wholesome food in measured quantities, healthy doses of physical activity, and sufficient rest and sleep.
The human mind is also built for renewal. The human mind with its three aspects…the brain, the heart, and the gut, working in tandem; the brain, with its cognitive functions…thinking, reasoning, learning, and memory; the heart with its emotional aspects…feeling and expressing joy and sadness, empathy and compassion, anger, frustration, courage, confidence, and the like; and the gut with its processes of digestion, absorption, and elimination. The heart and gut also work together to bring us intuition and self-preservation instincts.
It is clear that, in order for the mind to be healthy, the needs of the body must first be met. That done, there is more involved in the renewal of the mind.
In the book of Romans, Paul warns the people: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” (12:2)
What was he talking about? Maintain awareness of where your thoughts are…of how you feel, and how you experience and express your emotions. Do not allow yourself to be taken in by the things of this world…by facts which are changeable; by the material world which is impermanent; by appearances, which are fleeting. Do not be mesmerized by what the world says you should have, do, or be. Do not become distracted by the physical world. And do not allow yourself to be triggered or run by anything in the world around you.
Rather, consciously maintain a focus on the Gifts of the Spirit, on the Sacredness of Life, and on Truth, however you may define it. Keep your attention focused on the Qualities of Spirit…on being as Peaceful, Loving, and Compassionate as you can; on generously giving of your time, resources, and caring in Service to others; and on leaving the world a more beautiful place than you found it.
Spiritual Teacher and Evolutionary Ernest Holmes shared the following: “Within each one of us is an indestructible, and eternal person, a spiritual person, a God-intended person. So we are told to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, by the putting off of the old person and the putting on of the new, which is Christ,” or the Christ Consciousness. He goes on to say that “The Divine Spirit has evolved a living soul, an emanation of Itself, that this soul may become immortal but individualized…Individuality means spontaneity, self-choice, volition, reality, creative ability.” And having given humans choice, “Spirit must now wait on our conscious cooperation for further evolution.”
And so each of us is responsible for our own renewal…for meeting the physical needs of the body, so that we may give attention to the renewal of our mind…and all of this in Service to the Evolution and Expression of Spirit.
Chris – Guided Meditation
We have heard it said that we are spiritual beings having a human experience… but it is equally true that we are human beings experiencing our Divine Nature… We cannot separate Spirit from matter… God from Nature… our soul from our body… the Creator from the Creation… We are an integration of Essence and substance …
We often speak of matter and Spirit as if they were different and distinct entities… but they are actually two aspects of One Creation… Matter cannot exist except as an expression of Spirit… and Spirit can only express Itself through taking form in the physical world… each depends on the “other”…
Renewal, then, must involve heart, mind, body, and soul… it must address our emotional, intellectual, physical, and Spiritual needs… and Radical Renewal requires a blank canvas… complete independence from what has gone before… freedom from our habitual thought and feeling patterns… from limited beliefs…
The Hebrew prophet Isaiah said, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing[i]…” He reminds us that we cannot create a new life with the same consciousness that produced our current experience… we must sacrifice what has been for what can be… we must erase our slate…
As we share our three minutes of Silent Meditation this morning, I invite you to contemplate a desired change in your life… perhaps more love… greater prosperity… more vibrant health… Now, focus on that new thing… create a space for it to show up in your life… if expectations from the past intrude into that space, seeming to limit you, don’t resist them… Simply remove your attention from them, and re-focus on your desire… Tell those limitations, “Behold, I am doing a new thing…”
Silence – 3:00
O, Divine Beloved, thank you for your Holy Presence in this place… as the Unseen Guest within the heart of each of these saints in our Spiritual Family… and thank you for the continual renewing of our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls as we evolve into who we really are… May we never forget who and whose we are…
In a vision, John of Patmos heard Rabbi Yeshua say, “The former things are passed away. Behold, I make all things new[ii]…” Our lives can only change when we completely release previous experiences and expectations… providing a pure opening for a truly New Creation…
We return now to Rev. Diana’s inspired and inspiring Taizé meditation with a deep intention to renew ourselves in heart, mind, body, and soul… developing our spiritual power to accomplish Renewal in Every Moment…
Rev. Diana
There is a simple path that leads to Renewal in Every Moment…simple, but not always easy. We start with the basics, making the care of our physical bodies a priority. Start the day with meditation, prayer, self-reflection, and study. In other words, check in with the body, mind, and spirit. As you move through your day, take Michael Pollan’s advice: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Spend most of the day alternating periods of activity, work, play, and rest. Develop a healthy and peaceful bedtime routine. And get enough sleep.
When the body’s needs are met, the mind is more free from physical disturbance and able to function smoothly…free to maintain its Awareness of something greater than itself, and to be in Service to that Something Greater.
The Spiritual Masters of the ages agree that we need not let trying to do something get in the way of the doing. It is in the trying that we spend the most energy and find difficulty; it is in the actual doing that simplicity can be found. Let’s close in prayer.
Closing Prayer
There is, and has always been, One Source, One Power, One Essence, One Substance, One Process, One Infinite Intelligence, One Life…
I Am so grateful to feel and know that I am a perfect and intentional expression of that One, as there is nothing else that I could possibly be.
In this deep Knowing, I find Peace…I find Comfort…I find Renewal.
In this Holy Moment, I set a powerful intention…to set aside trying to do anything in my life, and to simply do the things that support my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
I release any and all belief that habits run my life. Instead, I claim and know myself as a being built for constant and ongoing Renewal.
It matters not what has been…these are but shadows and memories. I release them into the nothingness from which they came.
In this moment, I Am Made New.
I pause throughout the day, allowing Awareness to guide the choices I am making, so that every choice supports my Wholeness and paves the way for Renewal.
Thank you, Spirit, for this amazing day…for the privilege of being alive and well and in Service.
Thank you for my Spiritual Family, for the beautiful space to gather in, and for the next perfect place for our community to call Home.
I offer prayers of Grace and Blessing to Randy Thompson as he makes the journey his soul has called him to.
I offer prayers of Peace, Comfort, and the most Amazing Grace to the Thompson family, trusting in God’s Powerful Presence to see them through this difficult time with Courage and Strength.
We offer this musical prayer as a reminder to take the time to take care of the important things…
Musical Meditation – Little Time, by Jason Mraz
Trusting in the power of prayer, I rest now, assured that it has done its Good Work. Knowing that each prayer is answered even before it is spoken, I let go and let God. As together we say, And so it is! Amen!
We gently return our awareness to our bodies, maybe wiggling our fingers, or gently massaging the face…moving the feet…becoming aware of our senses and the sounds in the room…and then opening the eyes and taking 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 in the world.
If you’re joining us online, you can find a Donate Button and our mailing address at mysticheart.org. We thank you in advance for your gifts. We acknowledge and give thanks for the infinite abundance of Spirit.
I wanted to share some of my experiences from this amazing and musical week…I couldn’t resist😊Please enjoy Three Things.
Offertory Music Video – Three Things, by Jason Mraz
Rev. Diana – Blessing for the Offering
Feel free to grab a cup of something warm next door and meet us back at 10:30 for a Conscious Conversation. We’ll bless you on your way with A Soul’s Blessing.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Taizé Closing Song
- A Soul’s Blessing, written by Chris Johnson
Conscious Conversation
Chris – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Good morning… and welcome, or welcome back…and 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 here at Mystic Heart. We are an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality. We open our doors in welcome, trusting that you will be led to the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart.
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
- I Hear the Music Down in My Soul, written by Jan Garrett & J. D. Martin
So let’s take a creative journey…calling upon the full power of both mind and heart…engaging the body…and joining with one another in the imaginal realm, in service to the creation of a Love-Soaked World.
See and feel with me now, a world in which all beings live from their Highest Potential…from Kindness, Generosity, Peace, Compassion, Joy, and Beauty.
In this world of our creation, all people honor, respect, and care for one another, for all of the life forms that share this beautiful planet with us, and for Mother Earth Herself.
We remember that we are connected to all of Life… that we are dependent on the planet to sustain us, and on one another.
By aligning every thought, word, and action with our Vision, we are creating a world in which all people are well-fed… have the safety and comfort of home and a deep sense of purpose and belonging…a world in which health, education, and healthy relationships are supported by social systems grounded in Integrity, Compassion and Wholeness.
Valuing every being for its uniqueness… we practice living truly Authentic lives where vulnerability is celebrated… there is no need to defend or protect. The work we are doing within ourselves shows up as a world free of hatred and violence.
We recognize and appreciate the abundance that surrounds us… greed is a thing of the past, generosity is the norm, and all beings gratefully receive all that is needed to live physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually fulfilling lives.
The planet and its beings thrive like never before as we recognize the sacred in everyone and everything…we walk in reverence, humility, and gratitude for all that we have been given.
We are creating a new world moment by moment, aligning our actions with our Vision, living these changes first in our own lives, with our families, friends, and neighbors. One neighborhood, one community at a time, a new world is being born. In this process of profound change, this Beloved Community stands as an open and welcoming place for all who seek support, belonging, Family.
By the power of our deep faith and inspired action, this prayer is acted upon, answered even as it is spoken, for Spirit knows our heart’s desire and intent. In full expectation of its Graceful unfolding, and with the deepest humility and gratitude, we release our Word to the Creative Power and Intelligence that I call God… to the One that gets it done… And so it is!… Amen!
Bringing awareness back to the body, to the senses, to the room, and to the amazing beings who share this space with us this morning…look around to say good morning to your Spiritual Family.
Our theme this month is Touching the Living Christ, and the topic of Conversation today is Renewal in Every Moment.
This morning during Taizé, we spent time reflecting on the idea that we are built for renewal, in body, mind and spirit. By our very design, we are made to heal…we are made to return to Wholeness unless some kind of condition blocks the path.
We stated the obvious in outlining the simple things we can do to lead us to renewal…taking quiet time in the morning to check in with your body, mind, and spirit…“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants…”alternate periods of activity, work, play, and rest…develop a healthy and peaceful bedtime routine…and get enough sleep.
We acknowledged that when the body’s needs are met, the mind is more free from physical disturbance and able to function smoothly…free to maintain its Awareness of something greater than itself, and to be in Service to that Something Greater. This is not rocket science…but how many of us take this kind of care with ourselves?
Finally, we said that it might simplify our lives, and bring peace to our minds and hearts if we were to stop trying to do these things for ourselves, and instead, to simply do them. Our trying gets in the way of the doing.
What do I mean by that? (trying creates an expectation that you might fail, creates mind chatter around whether this will work or not, or about all the times you’ve failed before, or ???; trying implies striving…hard work; doing could be simply doing – you can bypass the mind and its arguments and chatter)
It is in the trying that we spend the most energy and find difficulty; it is in the actual doing that simplicity can be found.
What are some of the beliefs we hold that might get in the way of simply doing what we know to be good for us? (the belief that habits are hard to break; the belief that the thing we want to do is beyond our capacity; the belief that progress or growth takes a long time; the belief that our genetics determine our conditions; the belief that as humans, we are inherently imperfect)
Are these things really True? (for some people; there is a tendency to experience these things as true)
Why do we tend to experience them as True?
But are they really True? (not in the Absolute sense; if one person can break a lifelong habit overnight, then the potential is there for any of us)
What makes them true in our experience? (our faith in their reality; our beliefs and filters)
Now we’re back to last week’s topic…Faith.
And how did we define Faith?
(living as if something is true; embodied belief)
We talked about the places we place our faith as a continuum. What do I mean?
Do we all have faith?
Why does my faith look different from yours?
We talked about faith as a Spiritual Principle, as well as a conscious devotional practice. What do I mean by that?
Why am I bringing us back to Faith when today’s topic is Renewal in Every Moment? (when I consciously place my faith in God it has a renewing effect on every area of my life; accepting Divine Power as my own, all things become possible)
Let’s take a little side-step here. I was listening to a podcast last week, while I was preparing to talk about faith. The speaker was Joanna Macey, and she was talking about the difference between faith and hope. At one point, she was encouraging self-inquiry as a personal and Spiritual Practice, and she invited the listener to change a question that many of us ask ourselves. Rather than “what do I hope for?,” she suggested we ask ourselves “what am I faithful to?.” And then she took it a step further… “what are you willing to go beyond your limits for?”
Is there a difference between these questions? How are they different?
“What do I hope for” points to what I would like to see happen, but offers no commitment to making sure it does – nothing is required of me – it’s passive; “what am I faithful to” and “what am I willing to go beyond my limits for” both point to what I am willing to work towards…they are active…they imply commitment…they allow for and accept the possibility of discomfort in the process)
Is there anything that wants or needs to be spoken before we close in prayer?
I invite you to take these questions into your week. What am I faithful to? And what am I willing to go beyond my limits for?
Let’s close in prayer…
There is, and has always been, One Source, One Power, One Essence, One Substance, One Process, One Infinite Intelligence, One Life…
I Am so grateful to feel and know that I am a perfect and intentional expression of that One, as there is nothing else that I could possibly be.
In this deep Knowing, I find Peace…I find Comfort…I find Renewal.
In this Holy Moment, I set a powerful intention…to set aside trying to do anything in my life, and to simply do the things that support my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
I release any and all belief that habits run my life. Instead, I claim and know myself as a being built for constant and ongoing Renewal.
It matters not what has been…these are but shadows and memories. I release them into the nothingness from which they came.
In this moment, I Am Made New.
I trust and know that it is the Father/Mother God within that does the Work…that there is a Source of spiritual Power that is forever available.
All I need to do is remember and allow that Power to move through.
I pause throughout the day, allowing Awareness to guide the choices I am making, so that every choice supports my Wholeness and paves the way for Renewal.
I keep before me those things that I Am faithful to, those things that inspire me and move me to action.
And as I do, the way is made straight…I find Clarity, Guidance, Courage, and Strength.
Thank you, Spirit, for this amazing day…for the privilege of being alive and well and in Service.
Thank you for my Spiritual Family, for the beautiful Gathering Place, and for the next perfect space for our community to call Home.
I offer prayers of Grace and Blessing to Randy Thompson as he makes the journey his soul has called him to.
I offer prayers of Peace, Comfort, and the most Amazing Grace to the Thompson family, trusting in God’s Powerful Presence to see them through this difficult time with Courage and Strength.
Trusting in the power of prayer, I rest now, assured that it has done its Good Work. Knowing that each prayer is answered even before it is spoken, I let go and let God. So let it be! Amen!
Take a moment to allow your awareness to return to your body, to this space, to this beautiful gathering…welcome back.
Diana – Love Offering
I 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.
As we receive your gifts today, I wanted to share a piece of the amazing concert we attended last Tuesday night. I think you might like it 😊
Offertory Music Video: You Might Like It, by Jason Mraz
Chris – Blessing for the Offering
Chris – Invitations
- Fast Track to Wellness and Metaphysical Bible are both taking a break. We’ll see you back for both on August 22nd.
Mark Your Calendars…
- A Survey of the Christian Bible begins on Wednesday, September 4th from 2 – 5 pm, and runs 15 weeks, ending on December 11th with a week off for Thanksgiving. Join Rev. Diana as we explore the culture, history, metaphor, and symbolism behind one of the most influential collections of stories in the western world. Contact Rev. Diana to register in advance.
- Emotional Intelligence and the Power of Positive Prayer. Join Rev. Diana on Thursday evenings from 6-9 pm, beginning September 5th for a 10-week deep dive into the world of the emotions, how they work, why they’re sometimes triggered, and how we can use affirmative prayer to move toward greater Harmony and Wholeness. Contact Rev. Diana to register in advance.
- The Mystic Heart Book Club will be returning Tuesday, September 10th. They will read Conversations With God, Book 2 by Neale Donald Walsch.
There is more information available in the August Bulletin and on our website.
Information Cards if new people
Prayer Requests: I am available after service for prayer, or fill out a prayer card and I will get your request to our Prayer Team for daily prayer – We invite everyone to help us make a private space for prayer here in the Sanctuary by joining us next door for lunch
Rev. Diana & Chris – Closing Song
- Love Be With You, written by Lainey Bernstein, RScP & Gary Lynn Floyd
Notes:
[i] Isaiah 43:18-19
[ii] Revelation 21:4-5
©2024 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.