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  • 8/7/2019 The Light - 2011 Winter Edition - CentersofLight.org

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    Ann ARb

    bosto

    ChARlot

    ChiCAg

    Denv

    DoloR

    DURAng

    MilwAUk

    MinneApo

    new hAv

    new Yo

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    A publication of

    Winter 2011

    Volume 3 | Issue 1Display until February 28, 2011

    www.CenersOfLigh.org

    Consciousness. Integrity. Love.

    dazed and confused?The Solution for Confusion

    attitude of gratitudeRecognizing Grace in Our Lives

    tHe reaL WorLdLife as a Novice

    PeacefullyLive

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    CO-DIRECTORSOFTHE

    ORDEROFCHRISTSOPHIA

    Moher Clare Wats

    Faher Peer Bowes

    DIRECTOROFOUTREACH

    Rev. Margare Klapperich

    [email protected]

    414.248.7405

    DESIGN & LAYOUT

    Grace Tenner Design LLC

    DIRECTOROFPHOTOGRAPHY

    Rev. Meira Leonard

    EDITORS

    Rev. Rachel Gonzalez

    Siser Camille Sikeleaher

    COPYWRITER

    Deacon Timohy Lin

    The Light is published four times annually

    by the Order of Christ Sophia and is

    distributed through regional

    Centers of Light.

    For Information on Local

    Classes & Events

    at the Centers of Light:

    Ann Arbor: 517.898.2303

    Boson: 617.990.7411

    Charlote: 704.525.8310

    Chicago: 312.623.4418

    Denver: 303.913.7053

    Dolores: 970.882.2123

    Durango: 970.882.2123

    Milwaukee: 414.248.7405

    Minneapolis: 612.205.5545

    New Haven: 203.785.9085

    New York: 347.884.1709

    Oakland: 510.207.6593

    Philadelphia: 215.421.7821

    Providence: 857 231 1920

    Seatle: 206 525 8488

    Copyrigh 2011 by he Order of Chris

    Sophia. All righs reserved. Facsimile

    reproducion, including phoocopy or

    xerographic reproducion, is sricly

    prohibied under copyrigh laws.

    The Centers of Light are Mystical Christian schools and communities

    dedicated to consciousness, spiritual growth, and empowerment.

    Much like the spiritual communities that mystics such as St. Francis

    of Assisi and Paramahansa Yogananda created, the Centers of

    Light are shining, warm places for people searching for inner truth,

    meaning, and direct relationship with God. In each of our 14 Centers

    across the country, we teach, share, and cultivate spirituality through

    sacraments, meditation, seminars, classes, and practical instruction in

    order to bring people into real, deep experiences of God. We also bring

    these teachings weekly to Satellite Centers which are located near

    established Centers of Light around the country.

    C ofLg

    ow, discipline always seems painful

    rather than pleasant at the time, but

    later it yields the peaceful fruit of

    righteousness to those who have been

    trained by it. herefore lift your droopin

    hands and strenthen your weak knees,

    and make straight paths for your

    feet, so that what is lame may not be put

    out of joint, but rather be healed.

    ~ ebrews 12:11-12

    CentersOfLight.Org

  • 8/7/2019 The Light - 2011 Winter Edition - CentersofLight.org

    3/16AskFatherPeter.com

    What dO yOu dO when you cant

    ure out what to do? veryone has

    experienced a time when you dont know

    which road to choose or what course of

    action to take. A dilemma presents itself

    and you cant decide. hat is the cause of

    confusion. here are too many options,

    and you cant be sure which option is

    the best one to choose. When you are

    confused, there is an overload of choices.

    As you weih the value of each choice,

    many possibilities ood your mind, and

    you start to feel overwhelmed. n this

    swirl of possibilities, you feel unable to

    decide.

    f this persists for a while, you will

    et a cold or the snifes because you

    are feelin sorry for yourself. You cant

    decide, so youre confused, and the cold

    symptoms are a plea for someone to

    rescue you from the problem. f you et a

    headache alon with the cold symptoms,

    then you are experiencin resentment

    because the burden of decidin is placed

    squarely on your shoulders and you dont

    know what to do.

    Makin a decision will solve theproblem, and the symptoms will clear up

    immediately. t is that simple. owever,

    makin a decision about somethin can

    be the hardest thin in the world. ow

    do you decide somethin when there are

    obviously a few ood choices and there

    is no way to tell how they will work out?

    You have to take the risk and weih the

    choices usin your reason.

    Write down the alternatives and

    put them on a list in order of their

    importance. Make two columns beside

    them and write out the pros and cons to

    makin that particular choice. Do this

    with each possible choice, and then weih

    them all to see which one you are leanin

    towards as a decision. You cant know for

    sure in each case, so you have to make

    a choice. Dont leave yourself hanin

    make a choice. he worst thin that can

    happen is that you have to chane that

    down the road. What is the problem with

    chanin somethin if it is not riht or

    if it is not workin out? Decide, and live

    with it for a while, and see how it ts

    you. f it is really not a ood t, chane

    your mind and do somethin different or

    choose somethin different.

    call that practicin. Practicin

    is learnin to make choices and ne-

    tunin those choices until they really t

    who you are and what you really want.

    With practice, you et to understand

    what matters to you so you can be fully

    committed to what you want and not let

    other options et in your way or confuse

    you. Confusion is solved if you makea decision and put your heart into it.

    Lettin the confusin problem sit out

    in the rain to et soy will result in

    symptoms that make matters worse than

    they are. Decide.

    For over 25 years,

    Fth Pt Bw

    has devoted his life in service to

    God as an ordained Priest and

    Master Teacher. As Co-Director

    of the Order of Christ Sophia, he

    teaches the ministers and guides

    the Centers of Light around the

    country. Known for his charisma

    and sense of humor, Father Peter

    is also an accomplished musician

    and author who has composed

    twelve albums and four books abo

    Mystical Christian teachings. He

    holds a Masters and a Doctorate

    degree in Educational Psychology

    Father Peter lives at the Center of

    Light, Chicago.

    Confused? Decide.How to Handle an Overload of Choices

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    are yOu LOnging for a deeperconnection and a stroner devotional life? t

    beins with ratefulness. Devotion is born

    in a rateful heart. t rows throuh love,

    faith and prayer. god is pourin out ifts

    and blessins upon us but most people are

    too stuck and sad to turn their eyes to the

    sun and see the races that are movin in

    their lives.

    he ruth, known by people who live

    in peace and connection with god, is that

    all thins come for ood. t is the ultimate

    promise of the universe. ven when thins

    seem broken and hard, if you shift your

    perspective just a bit you may start to see

    blessins where before you saw pain. o

    often people focus on what is bad or hard

    and riht there in the center of their situation

    is a blessin smilin upon them; somethinto be learned, some way they were protected

    that they couldnt see. What if the trafc

    jam you were in prevented you from a serious

    accident? What if the house you were tryin

    to buy fell throuh because there was a better

    home that god knew you would be happier

    in? We cant see with our limited human

    perspective that is jammed up with concepts

    and projections. f you o throuh your day

    focusin on what you are rateful for instead

    of what is hard, thins will bein to look and

    feel differently.

    We live lives that are full of material

    abundance and activity, yet so many people

    are troubled and sad. People have forotten

    about god, about the life and love that is at

    the core, at the center of their beins. Life

    can be a bold adventure if you et out of theway of yourself and embrace your life and

    your experiences. When you live turned

    inward worryin about yourself and your

    insecurities, feelin sorry for yourself, you

    are like a vacuous drain pullin enery from

    everyone and everythin around you. here

    is brihter possibility when you open your

    heart, when you pray and look outside of

    yourself to see all the ways you are blessed.

    Look into the eyes and hearts of those around

    you and care about them, learn their story.

    You will feel better when you open your heart

    and ive. As you shift your perspective

    and thouhts to reconize and see how very

    blessed you are, your faith will row.

    n this season of ratefulness and liht,

    the eneries and races of Mother Mary and

    Jesus are pourin in to support and hold usin the deeper devotional work and spiritual

    practices. Durin this season you can make

    a major shift simply by beinnin each

    day ivin thanks to god, for bein alive,

    for the day ahead, for all of the lessons and

    experiences comin your way. hen at the

    end of the day you can reect over your day

    and see all that you experienced and learned

    and aain express your ratitude. Ask

    yourself: Did live with my heart wide open?

    Are there places where could have iven

    more? hen pray that tomorrow you may see

    and live more clearly.

    god has loved you your entire existence.

    Pray to see how this is true and then live in

    freedom with an open heart.

    vd Cth

    hPhd began her trainin

    with the Order of Christ Sophia in

    November of 1999 and was ordain

    a Priest in August of 2003. For

    the past seven years Rev. Cynthia

    has served at The Center of Light

    in Atlanta, GA ministering to the

    community there. This Decemb

    she and her family will be moving

    to Ann Arbor, Michigan where she

    will serve in the Center there. Re

    Cynthia is the mother of 2 young

    sons and holds a Bachelors Degre

    in Elementary Education. She

    recently closed her home daycare

    begin pursuing a degree in Nursin

    ow Very Blessed We AreDevotion is Born in a Grateful Heart

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    6

    CentersOfLight.org

    Many indiCatOrs pOint to the

    condition of human life on earth havin an

    increasin level of corruption, exploitation

    and violence on the part of the wealthy

    and powerful aainst those who have little

    or no means of defendin themselves.

    n return, those who feel abused by the

    powerful, reedy and immensely wealthy

    are becomin increasinly anry. ome of

    these people are retaliatin in words, somein political actions and a few are actin

    their aner out in violence. Unless some

    completely unforeseen events chane the

    course of these developments, it is hihly

    likely that the extremely rich will continue

    to rob the rest of the world and amass

    more wealth, and the rest of the people

    will have proressively less material

    wealth and benets while deepenin their

    feelins of despair and aner. What can we

    who want to live consciously and in a state

    of peace do in such times?

    wo thousand years ao when Jesus

    walked the earth, there was a similar

    situation in the Middle ast. he omans

    occupied srael and all the lands around

    it. hey held all the power and most of

    the wealth. hey were proud of rulinthe world and brutal in their reedy

    rabbin of all the lands they could take,

    subjuatin all the peoples of those

    lands to their tyranny. he people in the

    occupied territories resisted the omans to

    various derees, but none resisted as much

    as the Jews. hey hated the occupyin

    forces with a veneance and frequently

    some of their most anry roups rose up

    and attacked the soldiers in suicidal yet

    bold actions. he people of srael could

    hardly bear the burden of omes heavy

    taxation and their poor were ettin

    poorer as the decadence and corruption

    of ome rew to previously unheard of

    proportions.

    t was into this world scene that Jesus

    stepped. e was keenly aware of all thatwas oin on around him. e saw the

    injustices, the corruption, and the resulta

    poverty and despair. ow did he choose

    live and teach and be in this environmen

    of tyranny, decadence, hatred, corruption

    and aner? e was known as the One wh

    walked in peace and tauht peace to the

    people of all the nations that athered

    to hear him. e resisted takin the role

    of political leader when it was offered

    to him by those who hoped he could

    be their kin and as such would rid the

    nation of oman rule. e said there was

    somethin of reater importance than

    who is runnin the overnment and how

    they were doin it. e spoke of a kindo

    of heaven which is present and available

    to anyone who prepares themselves to

    live in it, even while they are still onearth. e tauht about lovin our fellow

    human beins and lovin god above all

    and not expectin to et happiness and

    satisfaction from material thins and fro

    personal relationships. e did not condo

    the corruption and reed that was eviden

    all around him. e certainly tauht that

    we are to live in enerosity of spirit and

    wealth, full of compassion for those who

    Livin Peacefully in a

    Corrupt and Anry World

    Mth Cl wtt

    s a mystic, ordained Priest,

    Master Teacher, and Co-Director

    the Order o Christ Sophia.

    he has her Masters Degree

    n Counseling Psychology and

    racticed as a Jungian-trained

    sychotherapist. Continually

    rawing rom her education

    nd her experience, including 17

    ears working as a proessional

    midwie, Mother Clare has

    arnered a reputation or

    er clarity o vision. She

    ectures nationally on Mystical

    Christianity. She has our grown

    hildren and lives in Dolores,

    Colorado where she oversees

    he the eforts

    o expand and grow the

    ophia Peace Center.

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    have less than us and happy to be able to ive to others of our

    possessions, our time and our love. And e walked in peace in the

    midst of all the chaos.

    What can we learn from Jesus example? We also are in a timewhere banks and reulators and overnment have all joined

    forces to rob the poorer and middle class people of many of

    their assets and benets. As a nation, we Americans invade

    other countries that have resources we want and lie about our

    intentions. Business ethics have deteriorated to where most

    businesses are only lookin out for the nancial ain of their

    top manaement team and hold no concern for the well-bein

    of anyone else. Many people are rain mad at the overnment

    but have still not ured out how to rid it of corruption or build a

    better society. ow can we live in consciousness and peace like

    Jesus did in these tumultuous times?

    We need to expand our vision to remind ourselves that at

    any iven time throuhout history, wars and corruption were

    dominant, occurrin in many places worldwide. While doin

    what we can to support a more just and peaceful world, we also

    need to heed Jesus reminder that there is more. o matter what

    is occurrin outside of us, we can learn to be in a state of inner

    peace that is unimainable to those cauht up in the furor. hat

    inner peace is so powerful that it rocks the world around the

    one who holds it. hat one lives in the kindom of god whic

    Jesus spoke of. his one walks in a state of race and sees t

    transient worlds of politics and wealth as minor issues compa

    to the opportunities all people have to enter into the place golives inside their bein, which is the kindom of god. he om

    empire fell apart, and many other empires have come and on

    since then, but the earth-shakin examples of those who have

    walked in peace, in truth, and in justice in the midst of the sto

    of earthly affairs have never lost their power and ability to mo

    hearts and minds to entirely new and elevated levels of bein

    We can, in these times of unrest and darkness, learn to row i

    our peacefulness and in the liht that we carry. he darker it i

    a room, the brihter and more necessary it is to have a shinin

    liht. ow is a perfect time to row in inner peace and develo

    the liht within us, which can liht the world around us. Be n

    discouraed, Jesus said, for have overcome all the world.

    We, too, can learn to overcome the world and be a liht to all

    around us. Lets take on that challene. Lets let the darkness a

    corruption around us spur us on to carry more liht and purif

    our hearts of all meanness and reed. hen we, too, will bein

    overcome the world.

    ConsciousnessForPeace.or

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    8

    CentersOfLight.org

    CLAintrOduCtiOn tO MeditatiOn &

    Christian MystiCisM

    Understandin the laws of the universe isnt easy, which is

    why the Centers of Liht offer six sessions that explore the

    foundations of Christian Mysticism. Open to all, this class ive

    an overview of what Christian Mysticism is and what mystics

    do, and, most importantly, it offers participants a chance to

    experience the spiritual world rst-hand. here is no restrictio

    on faith. You only have to believe that there is most likely a

    power and intellience that is hiher than human intellience

    Free of chare.

    bibLe COnteMpLatiOn

    t is a fairly common experience to read a passae from the

    ew estament and ask, wonder what that means? Bible

    Contemplation at the Centers of Liht helps unravel the deepe

    meanin in Jesus teachins by explorin our inner and outer

    life experiences and how they relate to the parables Jesus

    tauht. As a result, class members discover how these teachin

    relate directly to their own lives and experiences. his class isopen to raduates of ntroduction to Meditation and Christian

    Mysticism.

    tree Of Life

    he ree of Life lessons are written for the purpose of unfoldin

    the soul alchemically and openin up spiritual consciousness

    to the wisdom of god. opics such as What is liht?, What

    is love?, or What is the Creator? are presented in a simple,

    practical way that allows students to understand, discuss, and

    contemplate their meanin. hese ancient teachins are paired

    with powerful hands-on experiences, ivin students a tanibl

    way to connect to the reality of gods spirit and power. his

    class is open to raduates of ntroduction to Meditation and

    Christian Mysticism.

    VCsunday serviCe

    Open to All Followed by Brunch

    ot your averae unday ervice! xperience spirit movin

    hrouh sons, prayers, and powerful sermons that brin you

    nto closer connection to god the god inside your heart,

    nside your soul, to the god within. ach ervice beins with

    silent meditation followed by a sermon relatin directly to

    he spiritual needs of the community, nally culminatin in a

    ransformative Communion and personal blessin.

    daiLy MeditatiOn & COMMuniOn

    he beauty of gods race can be experienced with meditation

    nd Communion every mornin of the week. We offer a 30

    minute meditation followed by a readin and Communion

    ervice, which is a wonderful way to develop and deepen your

    meditation practice. here is no better way to start your day

    han to receive the love, liht and peace of Jesus and Mary. All

    re welcome.

    evening prayers

    All are welcome to join us in endin the day with evenin

    rayers and sons. Community members from the Center

    f Liht come toether to thank god, Jesus and Mary for

    he blessins of the day and offer sons of ratitude and

    hanksivin. Join us in spreadin liht into the world with this

    orm of joyful devotion.

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    gAgMACOnsCiOus MOvie nights

    ave you ever walked out of a theater affected by a powerfu

    lm and wished for a forum to discuss it? f your answer is

    then movie nihts at the Centers of Liht are for you! hese

    monthly events provide the perfect way for people to connedeeply after watchin inspirin movies and share how our li

    attitudes, and perceptions are challened and chaned. A

    the Centers of Liht we dedicate the followin lms to non-

    prots that support causes related to the theme of the lm.

    quarter, our offerins include:

    deCeMber Beyond Belief

    Supporting Beyond the 11th

    JanuaryNuclear Tipping Point

    Supporting Nuclear Tipping Point*

    february End of the Line

    Supporting Greenpeace

    Our intention for showin these lms is to brin awareness

    to the challenes facin our world everyday. With this new

    sensitivity, we ain the power to make conscious choices

    that help chane the course of world events. Any voluntary

    donations will be promptly sent to the oranizations mentio

    above. n addition, we dedicate prayers to these causes in or

    to support them materially and spiritually. We invite you to

    us in any way, helpin to chane our world into one of peace

    justice and love.

    *Nuclear Tipping Point was produced to raise awareness about nuclear threa

    and to help build support for the urgent actions needed to reduce nuclear dan

    prayers fOr peaCe

    On the rst Wednesday of every month, the members of all

    Centers of Liht pray for peace, creatin a sure of positive

    enery for people all over the world. Open to all faiths, it is a

    chance for hearts and minds to make a real difference in the

    world. People pray for the cause of the month: healin, spirit

    awakenin, love, solutions to huner crises, war anythin

    the world needs in order to become a place of peace. Join us

    friday night Lights

    ome Centers of Liht hold a uided meditation event at

    the end of the week called Friday iht Lihts. Join us for

    a wonderful close to your work week and openin to your

    weekend. his event varies week to week, however it alwa

    beins with uided meditation, followed by an enjoyable

    roup activity. Around the country, each Friday iht Li

    is different as we move with pirit and enjoy everythin from

    drummin around a bonre, to watchin movies, to playin

    ames. You can expect to leave this atherin with renewed

    enery and an uplifted spirit, which will positively inuence

    rest of your weekend.

    Master teaCher seMinars

    eminars from the Master eachers of the Order of Christ

    ophia are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to receive spiritual

    teachins that can move mountains in your life. he old sayin,

    one day with a eacher is worth 200 years on your own applies

    to these enlihtenin and life-chanin events. xperience it

    for yourself by checkin the enclosed chedule of vents or

    contactin a Priest at your local Center of Liht.

    eXperienCing gOd

    emember that it is possible for your heart to inite with love

    and liht aain. his is not just feelin a nostalic sense of

    peace or happiness or awe. t is experiencin riht now that

    gods love for you is real and that anythin healin, joy,

    peace, understandin is absolutely possible. Meet those who

    have cleared away the distractions of the world, healed the

    wounds of the past, foriven all, and iven all to develop a real

    relationship in which they can hear and see god. You can have

    this experience, too. isk lettin o. Open your heart. Join us for

    this special seminar, tauht by one of the Priests at the Center

    of Liht.

    Creating yOur Life

    ome of us travel throuh life knowin we are in chare of our

    destiny and that everythin in our life is there by our choice.

    We call ourselves co-creators. Co-creators know that when

    you take on the responsibility for your life, then you et all the

    power to chane itto chane it into exactly what you want it

    to be. n this seminar you will learn how to use the laws of the

    universe for your hihest ood and how to make a connection to

    the Divine that will brin the fulllment you have always been

    seekin. Come and learn how to be a conscious co-creatorand

    become empowered to chane your life!

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    Our spirituaL

    COMMunity is a place

    where real, meaninful

    conversation can happen,

    thanks to the hih level of

    interity and honesty in

    every relationship. piritual

    community ives us the

    opportunity to learn, row

    and support each other in

    our individual journeys to

    god, no matter how youn

    or old you are, whether you

    are sinle or married, with

    children or not. Activities

    such as campin trips, mov

    nihts, picnics and cookoutmake spiritual community a

    the Centers of Liht an eve

    more dynamic and vibrant

    part of life.

  • 8/7/2019 The Light - 2011 Winter Edition - CentersofLight.org

    11/16CentersOfLigh

    A little over a year ao, packed everythin owned in my 1992

    onda Accord, ready to travel 1,200 miles to my new home

    in Milwaukees Center of Liht. t was only a couple months

    earlier that my teacher and priest at the Denver Center of Liht

    had extended the invitation to enter the ovice Proram in

    Milwaukee. remember the joy of that day vividly because my

    heart nearly leaped from my chest. ven the sun and all colors

    seemed to be shinin more vibrantly as walked from the chapel

    after was iven the news. Prior to this, had iven it very little

    thouht. here was another student in Denver who was enterin

    a novice proram at Chicaos center and briey considered

    what it miht be like if could do that. he thouhts were fond

    but eetin did not imaine it would happen for me.

    My family moved around a lot when was youn, and

    consequently left a lot of developin friendships behind. As ot older, wanted even more for my friendships to be stron

    and reliable, open and honest. o the best of my ability would

    share these ideas with my friends and make an effort to live them.

    But there was still somethin missin that couldnt put a ner

    on. just knew that there was much more that wanted to share

    with them. remember a day in my friends car on our way home

    from hih school. was readin the Four oble ruths by the

    Dalai Lama, and there was somethin read earlier that day that

    had moved me deeply. asked them if could read it to them,

    and afterward was surprised that it had little to no effect on

    them. was hopin it would move them, too, and maybe we

    talk about the mystery of who we are, why we are here and wh

    is our purpose in life. his was the rst of many efforts to ta

    about such questions with my friends. A particular friend w

    occasionally take a sincere interest and it was the most cheris

    time spent with him. hose times of connection created a b

    that still feels close to us both, even thouh we havent conne

    in that way for many years.

    god knew my lonin and my heart when the uidanc

    was iven for me to move to Milwaukee. ere in Milwauke

    have six brothers who are dedicated to spiritual rowth. W

    want to connect and develop deep and meaninful relationsh

    We have the teachers and priests who uide our rowth and hus to deepen in our spiritual practice and our relatin to one

    another. We never weary of real conversations and sharin

    is in our hearts with each other, sharin what moves us, inspi

    us, lifts us up, or motivates us. his is the brotherhood have

    always desired and more. ~ Jonah

    Life as a ovice: In Their Own Words

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    Advent~The Holy Season of Light

    A time when nature quiets down and sleeps,

    allowing your spiritual senses to awaken.Join with us this Advent and experience the

    difference the inner light will show you.

    he Advent eason is a powerful time of purin

    and preparation as we wait in reat expectation

    for the birth of the Liht. Outwardly, the days ro

    shorter, the nihts et loner, and it appears that

    darkness has taken hold of the earth. But inwardl

    in quiet repose, lies the most brilliant of all Liht

    the most bold of all Loves, and the most radiant o

    all Joys.

    A silent and most manicent estation

    n order to truly experience the brilliance of this

    eason, we must decide to open our hearts to

    foriveness. Foriveness uncovers what has stoodbetween us and the Liht, revealin to us what w

    have desired to see, know and understand for so

    lon that we are seen, known, and loved by god

    he Centers of Liht celebrate the Advent easo

    durin the entire month precedin Christmas v

    very unday ervice durin that time is focused

    on facets of the eason and on comin toether i

    peace to witness the reat ift iven to us. his is

    not a season to understand with our minds; this i

    a eason to realize with our hearts. his is a time

    delve into the mystery of a Birth that chaned the

    planet and the possibility for every livin creatur

    to return to an inner peace that is profound, true

    and deep.

    We welcome you to join us this Advent eason

    and invite you to decide that this will be the year

    you allow the oly eason to make a mark on youheart and transform you into a new bein that

    on this Christmas mornin, you awaken with a

    new understandin and profound depth that was

    previously unknown to you. Arise! hine! he tim

    is now and the Joy awaits you.

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    Top 10 Ways to Have a

    More Meaningful Christmas

    1. Let the Christmas season be a holy process that happens within you and not just

    a historical event that happened long ago.

    2. Recognize that the Christmas season begins four weeks before Christmas Day,

    with the season of Advent.

    3. Ponder what was happening as Mother Marys pregnancy progressed and

    culminated in the birth of Jesus.

    4. Realize that you can prepare, as Mother Mary prepared,

    to receive the gift of the birth of the Christ.

    5. Attend spiritual services as often as possible and dedicate yourself to growing

    closer to Jesus, Mary and God as the weeks progress and Christmas approaches.

    6. Take 10 minutes each day in meditation to cultivate the qualities of stillness,

    purity and humility within yourself. Lovingly intend that these qualities willprepare a place in your heart where the miracle of Christmas can happen.

    7. See everyone as your brother and sister and pray for peace every day.

    8. Ponder what gift we receive in Christmas, what gift can we give and what a gift

    really is. Remember that it is love, and not money, that makes a gift valuable.

    9. Stay connected to God in love and devotion and to others in the spirit of good

    will throughout the Christmas season. Stay clear of the frenzy of commercialism.

    10. Let Christmas Eve and Christmas Day be a time when you focus the most on

    God, Jesus and Mary. Attend a Midnight Mass and let the miracle of Christmas

    happen in your heart.

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    Want to Learn More?

    Signup

    for a free 6-week

    introductory series:

    Introduction to Meditation

    and Christian Mysticism.

    Joinus

    for our monthly seminars

    to meet our Teachers and

    Priests.

    Gatherwith us on Sunday for a halfhour of meditation followed

    by singing, a sermon, and

    Holy Communion.

    See our Schedule of Events on pages 8 and 9 for all Classes, Seminars, Services, and Community gatherin

    CentersOfLight.org

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    Available a Amazon.com

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    steps On the Way is a treasury

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    Centers Of Light OnlineTruth. Connectivity. Depth.

    re you seeking a spiriua eacer, a spiriua communiy or spiriua raining bu can

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