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January - February 1999
In this year of 1999 I look around and see all the magnificent technology, things that were yesterday's dreams. Just a memory ago we didn't have microwaves, cell phones, VCR's, pagers, cordless phones, computers, compact discs, the many things that make our lives so easy...and complex. Life has changed so much ! and yet... have we??? Do we put all our focus on things, instead of what is important?

People still look for answers...and don't find them. They hurt, they get sick, sometimes they hurt each other...they are homeless and hungry, they lose jobs and friends. Relationships and people and dreams sometimes die. As an observer I ask myself, "Where are we going, who leads the way, and what is our final destination? Do we have a plan? How do we turn things around? How come there are all these side journeys and where do we find the answers? Of course the real answer is "inside", but how do we access it? How do we get in touch with Self?

One way is to be part of a community, a common unity of souls...seeking Truth. That's what our Church Center is about. What do we as a church and individually, as a participant in this church, have to offer? We are a unique kind of a church for a unique kind of people.

The beginning of the year is a good time to remind ourselves what we are about. First and foremost...we are about God, an Energy, a Power, a Love, a Creative Force, a Power for Good, that we can use. We are a church for thinking people. We believe that God does things through us, not to us. We know we are responsible for everything in our lives, and that we create with our thought. We also know that what we create we can un-create...pretty powerful stuff!

Dr. Dennis Merritt Jones wrote a little booklet called "How To Speak Religious Science" that covers some of the basic ideas. It's useful for new people who have just discovered SOM and also as a refresher course for long-time Religious Scientists. The following are excerpts:

WHO WE ARE

Religious Science is not in opposition to any religious belief or philosophy. Rather, it seeks to bring to light the thread of Truth which exists in all religions.
BIBLE: Do we use it? Of course. Do we take it literally? No. Truth is Truth and the Bible must be read with an open mind, looking for the higher meaning in the stories, metaphors, and parables.
CHRIST: Was Jesus the Christ? Yes! Christ is a universal idea, and each one "puts on the Christ" to the degree that he surrenders a limited sense of life to the divine realization of wholeness and unity with Good, Spirit -- God.
CHRISTIAN: Do we consider ourselves Christians?
A "Christian" by definition is one who:
  1. Believes in Jesus Christ
  2. Follows his teachings.
We believe that the teacher Jesus came to show us each the way of the Christ. Therefore, it is up to each individual to analyze his own life to decide if he is Christian of not.
CULT: Are we a "cult"? Religious Science is the furthest thing from being a cult. Our teaching places no one above or below ourselves. We believe God is available to one and all equally.
DEVIL: Do we believe in a devil? No. There is only one power and it is God. Some people misuse their power.
HEAVEN: Do we believe in Heaven? Heaven is an inner state of happiness, not a place or locality out there somewhere.
HELL: Do we believe in Hell? Hell is a lack of awareness of the presence of God within us.
JESUS: Was Jesus the son of God? Yes. So is every other human being the son or daughter of God.
LOVE: God is the essence of love. To know God's presence is to experience unconditional love. To see the presence of God in others is to love them.
MIND: By 'Mind" do we mean God's mind: Yes. We also mean our own mind, as we are all one in God.
SIN: Do we believe that man is a sinner? There is no sin, but a mistake, and no punishment, but a consequence.
SOUL: Do we believe man has a soul? Yes.
SPIRIT: Does man have a spirit? Of course!

I like Gary Zukov's (author of Seat Of The Soul) explanation, ..."Our soul is not in our body, our body is in Soul."

Perhaps this brief mini-course will help you in explaining to others and yourself what we are about. Our church and personal goal this year is to grow...to share with others this magnificent way of knowing about God and ourselves, that Divine Connection with which we are all blessed, wanted or unwanted, known or unknown. It is the Truth for all.

We are all moving toward enlightenment. For some it takes longer than others. We will all arrrive. God (Energy, Power, Divine Intelligence) our inner knowing, is what guides us. Sometimes we take alot of detours. We can change things by becoming aware and paying attention to what we are doing, being, thinking and believing! In every experience there is something for us to know.

If you really want a deeper understanding of your spiritual nature, sign up for a class. There is so much to learn. There is an electrified energy, a powerful vitality in a group that comes together seeking to know more about each other and about God. You already have your answers, why not get in touch with them.

Together transforming our world,

Reverend Doris Gallagher


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