A universal assembly for true discernment
Topic: “Know Thy Self”
Rev. Joanne Schneider talks about watching our mind and our body shows us our belief in the world. Belief in the world is our hindrance to awakening. By looking at our beliefs with our Heart, we can practice discernment and choose again. Thus we will return to our Heart’s Desire, to know thy Self.
Topic: “Surrender, Obedience and Listening”
Rev. Jacquelyn talks about the struggles of releasing the mind’s authority over thought and giving allegiance (or becoming obedient) to the inner voice – Holy Spirit.
Topic: “Be Thee Imitators of God”
Description: Rev. Regina discussed “imitation” as a step towards realizing our genuine true Self, because when we “imitate” God, we are being our Self. It isn’t imitation at all!
Reading: Rev. Joanne Schneider read an excerpt from The Short Path to Enlightenment by Paul Brunton.
Topic: “Healing the Second Universal Fear”
Description: Rev. Jay McCormick talked about how on some level we believe that we do not measure up to the cultural, societal and ‘presented’ image of what we should be. What is necessary is identifying those beliefs and realizing that those beliefs are just thought. The motivation however, to change those thoughts must be for the sake of truth and the revelation of Awareness-Love-Bliss and not for a ‘better life’ or physically improved conditions, because very seeming place we are itself is within the mind BELIEVED to be real.
Reading: Rev. Sonja Spahn read from Chapter 5, a section called “The Second Universal Fear: Self Worth” from Walking Between the Worlds: The Science of Compassion” by Gregg Braden
Topic: “Six Seconds”
Rev. Gloria talked about perception and it’s role in the awakening process
Topic: “If the World is Not Real, Do Actions Matter?”
Description: Rev. Regina discussed how clear discernment leads us consistently towards truth realization. Does discernment apply only to how we think, or does it apply to what we do too? Do we need to change what we do in order to awaken to truth? Regina will answer these questions in this talk.
Reading: Shawna Summers read NTI 2 Corinthians 9, which is on pages 319-320 of The Holy Spirit’s Interpretation of the New Testament (NTI).
Topic:“Truth for Truth’s Sake”
Rev. Jacquelyn looked at how discovering and honestly examining our underlying motivation(s) for awakening can reveal that which prevents us from knowing the Truth about ourselves.
Topic: “Are you a Mary or a Martha: Choosing Action or Contemplation”
Description: Rev. Rebecca talked about how we all put on masks as we move through the world in order to play different characters; each being chosen for different reasons. Rev. Rebecca Gibson will talk about choosing characters, such as sisters Mary and Martha from the New Testament stories, to emulate in life and how each character brings with it a certain persona that affects how we see ourselves and others. Understanding what’s behind our choice of character helps identify and heal that which separates us from our ‘selves’.
Reading: Rev. Regina Dawn Akers read three versions of “At the home of Martha and Mary”,Luke 10:38-42. 1st from the New International Version, 2nd from NTI and 3rd from a talk by Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber
Topic: “The Power of Looking Into Your Fears and Resistance.”
Description: Rev. Jay McCormick talked about how we have been brainwashed to NOT Look within. Trained to be afraid that if we see it then that means we have accepted its real. Learn to be in the feelings without being caught in them. Learn to listen to what the story teller is saying with a compassionate heart and listen to the body’s present experience. All is passing through out. Learn to develop open curiosity about Life rather than trying to control it.
Topic: “Healing Thoughts of Division”
Rev. Helen talked about one of the root beliefs that underlies our thoughts is that we are separate. How can we believe otherwise if our direct experience seems to suggest we are?
