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May Global Theme: Raise Your Voice

Weekly Theme: Negotiating Peace

Your weekly newsletter for May 15, 2025

Stay informed, engaged and inspired with Centers for Spiritual Living

Quote of the Week

“Love is the victor in every case. Love breaks down the iron bars of thought, shatters the walls of material belief, severs the chain of bondage which thought has imposed and sets the captive free.”  

― Ernest Holmes, "Loving the Science of Mind," page 331

Table of Contents: In This Issue

Click a link below to visit a topic or enjoy the entire newsletter by scrolling down.

There is a link to "Go back to Table of Contents" at the end of each article.

A Statement from the CSL
Spiritually Motivated Social Engagement Committee

Shining Our Light in Challenging Times

In times of global uncertainty, it's natural to feel overwhelmed by the challenges we face. Yet, history and human experience remind us that even small acts of compassion and resilience can illuminate the darkest times. As Clarissa Pinkola Estés writes, “We were made for these times.”

At the heart of our collective vision is a commitment to unity and interconnectedness. Our Global Vision articulates this beautifully:

We envision a world in which we live and grow as One Global Family that respects and honors the interconnectedness of all life; a world where this kinship with all life prospers and connects through the guidance of spiritual wisdom and experience.

This vision comes to life through the actions of CSL communities around the world, including those in Ukraine, where individuals have demonstrated remarkable resilience and compassion amidst adversity.

CSL Bela Tserkva: Embracing Unity Amidst Conflict
In February 2022, as conflict erupted, a group of women in Bela Tserkva were concluding their Practitioner Studies. Led by Lyudmila and supported by her daughter Anastasia, they chose to focus on the interconnectedness of all people, transcending divisions. They continued their spiritual practices, holding vigils for peace and offering support to their community, embodying resilience and unity.

CSL Cherkasy: Cultivating Community Support
In Cherkasy, under Olga's leadership, the CSL group initiated activities to support both civilians and soldiers. They organized community events, prepared care packages, and created spaces of solace and connection. Their efforts provided tangible support and reinforced the bonds within their community.

The Power of Collective Action
These narratives highlight that while we may not change the world single-handedly, our collective efforts can make a significant impact. By focusing on compassion, unity, and proactive engagement, we contribute to the healing and betterment of our communities.

As C.G. Jung observed, “As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.” Let us continue to shine our individual and collective lights, fostering hope and resilience in challenging times.
 
Engage Thoughtfully, Act Compassionately
In these times, consider engaging in practices that promote unity and understanding. Whether through community involvement, supportive dialogues or personal reflection, each action contributes to a more compassionate world. Remember, it's not about grand gestures but consistent, heartfelt efforts that bring about meaningful change.

SMSE Committee
Rev. Dr. Sunshine Michelle Coleman, Chair
Rev. Dr. Soni Cantrell-Smith, CSL Spiritual Leader
Lusia Rivera, RScP
Rev. Beth Linguri
Ayodele McClenney, RScP,
Rev. Obakeng Gaitate

CSL Leadership Council Retreat
Reveals Purpose and Commitment

An update from CSL Leadership Council Chair Dr. Deborah Gordon

As your new chair of the Leadership Council, I want to begin by saying how grateful I am for the opportunity to serve our beloved Centers for Spiritual Living. Many of you know, and for those who may not, I have a long and heartfelt history with this organization. Two and a half years ago, I retired from active pulpit ministry after 30 years at the center Dr. Kenn Gordon and I pioneered in Kelowna, B.C., Canada, back in 1993.

Life is full of surprises. Being chair of the council is not a role I ever specifically sought out. Yet here I am, humbled by this opportunity and deeply appreciative of the trust placed in me by our field.

With a shared desire to serve CSL to the best of our abilities, we made the decision to hold an in-person retreat April 26 – 28, 2025. Joining us were Acting Executive Director Dr. Tye Minckler, MBA, CMA, and CSL’s Spiritual Leader Dr. Soni Cantrell-Smith.

I’m pleased to report that each member of the group made their own way to Unity Village to be fully present — body, mind and spirit. The experience was powerful, deeply connecting and laid a strong foundation for a high-functioning, collaborative leadership team.

During our time together, we focused on clarifying roles and responsibilities, improving communication, exploring the council’s purpose and, perhaps most importantly, how we can truly serve our field of communities and bring real value to all. We also shared spiritual practices throughout our time together and enjoyed quite a bit of laughter. The weekend work was authentic, moving and a big success.

We came away with a shared understanding that, as a council, the “buck starts here.” I can confidently say on behalf of all of us that we are honored and blessed to embrace our responsibilities and serve with open hearts.

Blessings upon blessings,

Dr. Deborah Gordon, Chair
CSL Leadership Council

Change to the Weekly Newsletter

Based on suggestions from the field and to limit mailbox impact, beginning June 2025, your "We Are CSL: Consciously Connected" newsletter will move to every other week for the summer. Check in every other week for all the information you've come to count on from CSL international home office.

Centers for Spiritual Living Tithes in Action: Fourth Quarter 2024

At CSL international home office, we are committed to practicing the Law of Circulation by sharing our abundance and supporting individuals and organizations who embody the principles of Science of Mind and nurture spiritual growth around the world. In fourth quarter 2024, we joyfully tithed to these outstanding recipients making a meaningful difference in their communities

MusiCares, the philanthropic arm of the Recording Academy, provides vital health and human services to musicians, including mental health support, addiction recovery and emergency financial assistance. This year, MusiCares launched a powerful wildfire relief initiative in response to the devastating fires in California, offering $1 million in emergency aid to music professionals impacted by the crisis. From housing support to replacing lost instruments, MusiCares is helping artists recover and rebuild — honoring the spirit of creativity, resilience, and community care that aligns deeply with our values at CSL. Learn more at MusiCares.org.

Ahiah Center for Spiritual Living in Pasadena has been a beacon of hope and support during the recent California wildfires, offering both spiritual care and tangible relief to families affected by the Eaton Fire. From sheltering displaced families (and their pets) in their sanctuary to distributing care packages, gift cards and more than $24,000 in emergency cash grants, Ahiah has responded with compassion in action. They’ve also hosted grief circles, legal support sessions and created a robust online resource hub to aid in recovery and rebuilding. Their work embodies the heart of spiritual community and service — values we hold dear at CSL. Learn more at Ahiah.com/Relief.
 

CSL Committed Giving Committee
Rev. Dr. Soni Cantrell-Smith, Spiritual Leader 
Dr. Tye Minckler, MBA, CMA, Acting Executive Director 
Rev. Dr. Deborah Gordon, Chair, Leadership Council
Mary Lindsay, Director of Operations & People Services

SOAR 2025 Register Now!

Join us for SOAR 2025 in Banff, Alberta, Canada, from August 7 - 10. For only $649 USD, your full 2025 SOAR registration includes access to all general sessions, workshops and spiritual practices. Also included is an opening welcome dinner as well as lunch on Friday and Saturday on site at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
​​​​

Speakers

CSL's SOAR 2025 Summer Retreat, "A Journey of Revelation, Restoration and Grace," is proud to announce the confirmed general session speaker lineup. Attendees will be inspired by:

• Rev. Dr. Andrea Asebedo
• Rev. Dr. Pat Campbell
• Rev. Dr. Soni Cantrell-Smith, CSL's Spiritual Leader
• Rev. Sunshine Daye
• Claudette Gadsden
• Deborah Gayle, RScP
• Rev. Abigail Schairer
• Rev. Elzia Sekou
• Rev. Dr. Christian Sorensen
• Rev. Michele Synegal
• Rev. Dr. Roger Teel
• Rev. Dr. Petra Weldes

Musicians

We are also excited to announce the musicians for SOAR 2025. Banff will be swaying to the sounds of:

• Amy Bishop (music director)
• Steph Chapman
• Oliver Miguel Gonzalez
• Lisa Jacobs
• Martin Kerr (featured artist)
• Luis Tovar

Workshops

Friday, August 8  | 1 – 2:30 p.m.

• Revelation: "Amplify Your Divine Presence" with Fran Watson, RScP
• Restoration: "Bringing Sacred Ceremony Back Into the Mainstream of the 21st Century" with Rev. Stephanie Clarke
• Grace: "The Alchemy of Release: Transforming Pain Into Power" with Rev. Dr. Michelle Wadleigh
• Revelation/Restoration/Grace: "The Magic of Mind Release: The Shift that Changes Everything" with Indira Dyal

Saturday, August 9  | 1 – 2:30 p.m.

• Revelation: "Revel Night Live: Expressing Spirit Through Art and Community" with CHRIS[THE]ALCHEMIST and Noadiah Shanti
• Restoration: "Divine Vibrations Through Color and Healing" with David and Lin Serlin, RScP
• Grace: "Finding Inner Peace: A 90-Minute Workshop" (with NLP, Huna and MER) with Rev. Elizabeth Rowley Hogue
• Revelation/Restoration/Ritual: "Rekindling My Memory of the Divine" with Rev. Jill Brocklehurst-Booth

Questions? Email Communications@CSL.org

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Updates From Camp Cedar Ridge

Questions? Email KWilson@CampCedarRidgeOR.org

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Record CSL Curricula for Accessibility

New Accessibility Project for Service Hours for Licensed Practitioners

The CSL Education Department is launching an exciting new accessibility project for licensed CSL practitioners! This initiative invites practitioners to support greater accessibility in our certificated courses and Practitioner Studies by creating audio recordings of student materials.

This is a meaningful way to be of service while earning verified credit toward your practitioner license requirements for service hours. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate of service from the Education Department.

If you're interested in contributing to this important work, contact Senior Director of Education, Rev. Ryan Alexander, at RAlexander@CSL.org for more information.

Questions? Email RAlexander@CSL.org

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CALLING ALL CHAPLAINS!

SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, June 17, 2025

On behalf of the CSL Chaplaincy Committee, we would like to invite our CSL chaplains – active or retired – to join us for a Town Hall on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 4 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. CT / 7 p.m. ET.

This is an opportunity to meet the newly formed Chaplaincy Committee and get to know one another. Let's share the good work you're doing in your communities.

Watch this newsletter for more details and a registration link.

CSL Chaplaincy Committee
Rev. Susan Overland
Rev. Toni Cormier
Rev. Jim Rigsbee
Rev. Judy Ann Young

Questions? Email SOverland@CSL.org

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Spiritual Practice of the Week:
Mindfulness Practices
to Move Toward Freedom

It is safe to say that, at some point, everyone has had — or will have — something that stands between themselves and the life they dream of, which lies just on the “other side” of the invisible bars of their current belief system. With this in mind, Dr. Dennis Merritt Jones offers five mindfulness practices to assist you in moving toward spiritual freedom.

1. Be present in the moment. The first step in setting yourself free is taken the instant you present yourself in the moment. Becoming aware in the moment is liberating because it allows you to see clearly what is happening — not only in your outer physical environment but also within your body and mind. Being present also sets the stage for practicing the Presence that will free you.
2. Get out of denial. It is impossible to set yourself free until you can first honestly acknowledge you are being held captive behind the invisible bars of your current consciousness. With awareness comes power; once you take ownership of the situation, you empower yourself to change it and see through new eyes. Always remember ABC: Awareness Builds Consciousness.
3. Challenge the problem. Courageously examine the beliefs you embrace and see if they correspond with your problem; it’s a matter of cause and effect. If they do, you must challenge them. To challenge the problem that holds you captive means you call it out. Once you are present in the moment and out of denial, you automatically give notice to the “prison guard” (your current consciousness) that you know there is a way out.
4. Be open for guidance. Rather than wasting precious hours, days, weeks, months and years of your life pushing against the problem (which only gives it more power), make the divine surrender, not to the outer condition but to the inner solution. Invoke the awareness of God’s presence within and ask for guidance. Rather than saying, “Show me the way out, God,” say, “Show me the way in.” Then be patient; step back, breathe and wait for an opening (in consciousness) to appear. Be willing to follow the guidance.
5. Stay conscious. After waking up, often the greatest challenge is remaining awake. The collective consciousness is seductive and continually trying to lull you back to sleep, into an invisible prison cell of ambivalence. Remembering that your mind is a container for the beliefs that form your consciousness is a lifetime practice. Knowing how to look at what lies before you in any moment determines what you will see. The only way out truly is in.

Questions? Email Communications@CSL.org

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Join Us for the
Science of Mind Archives
"Lunch n Learn"

Thursday, May 15 at 11 p.m. PT / 12 p.m. MT /
1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET

Español aquí

Join the Science of Mind Archives and Library Foundation on Thursday, May 15, beginning at 11 a.m. PT (12 p.m. MT / 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET) for an hour with Rev. Chris Plym and our founder Dr. Ernest Holmes. We'll listen to and discuss his talk, "Wisdom of Solomon."

Many of Holmes' talks are newly digitized and regularly added to our website. Holmes released some of his talks on 45s (records albums), and his thoughts on affirmative thinking are some of his most life-enhancing.

Rev. Chris Plym will facilitate this engaging conversation. Enjoy your lunch with us and bring your questions about Holmes and/or the Science of Mind Archives and Library Foundation.

This series is free and open to the public on the third Thursday of the month.

Questions? Email Info@SoMArchives.org

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CSL Connection! Call

Monday, May 19 at 9 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. MT /
11 a.m. CT / 12 p.m. ET

The connection is incomplete without you. The CSL Connection! Call is the third Monday of the month from 9 to 10 a.m. PT (10 a.m. MT / 11 a.m. CT / 12 p.m. ET). The May call is Monday, May 19.

Your questions and ideas are always welcome. If you can't attend, the recording is shared in this weekly newsletter. And you can email us anytime at Communications@CSL.org.

​​​​​​Add this Zoom link to your calendar and join us on Monday, May 19: https://pub.csl.org/e/1087013/j-933448796/djxnzj/1650310674/h/vnO-JF_2IB5_vOwvLQnWWp10uc1_CdIYSS2_oPs7cYk

Here's our May agenda:

• Hear an update from CSL Spiritual Leader Rev. Dr. Soni Cantrell-Smith on her recent visits to CSL communities and how you can request her participation. She'll go over the Spiritual Leader Letter Request Form.
• Receive important information from the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity on what to do if ICE comes to your spiritual community.

Faith, Sanctuary & Solidarity

Have you ever wondered what to do if ICE comes knocking on your ministry door? Join us for a powerful and timely conversation on how faith communities can respond with courage, compassion and clarity when immigration enforcement threatens our sacred spaces.

Our special guest will be the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, a California-based organization that connects clergy and people of faith to the work of social justice. For more than 20 years, they have united people across Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, the Baháʼí faith and beyond to uphold the sacredness of every person.

Their mission is to defend the humanity of immigrants and advocate for the rights of the incarcerated. You can learn more here. Together, we’ll explore what to do if ICE visits your ministry or community space and practical tools for faith-rooted advocacy and protection.

Questions? Email Communications@CSL.org

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CSL Member Council: Join the
Conversation on Thursday, May 22

4 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. CT / 7 p.m. ET

The CSL Member Council invites you to join our monthly Member Forum. We meet the fourth Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. CT / 7 p.m. ET. We want to hear your thoughts on expanding our reach, sharing best practices and creating a world that works for everyone. We look forward to seeing you there. Use this link.

Questions? Email CSLMemberCouncil@Gmail.com

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Practitioner Council Sensational Saturday

Saturday, May 24 at 9 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. MT /
11 a.m. CT / 12 p.m. ET

Español acquí

Questions? Email PracCouncil@CSL.org

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Retired Ministers Golden Hour

Tuesday, May 27 at 4 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. MT /
6 p.m. CT / 7 p.m. ET

We’re thrilled to share what’s blooming within the Retired Ministers Committee this season. Together, we continue to honor the legacy of our spiritual pioneers, uplift those in transition, and deepen our connection as wise and vital contributors to CSL.
 

Program Spotlight: The Partner Program
The Partner Program pairs ministerial students with seasoned elders for connection, companionship and support. Whether it's a simple phone call or ongoing mentorship, this initiative ensures no one walks the path of ministerial training alone. Interested in becoming a partner or being matched with one? Reach out to Lgood@Att.net or JuliaMattis@Hotmail.com.

Celebrating Our Own: Emeritus Recognition
We’re delighted to celebrate our newest Emeritus Ministers who have given decades of faithful service to our movement. The recent honorees were acknowledged with a special blessing at our monthly gathering. We extend deep gratitude for their lifelong dedication. 

Golden Hour: A Monthly Virtual Gathering
Our April Golden Hour was a special treat. We welcomed ministerial student Richard Jarvis as a special guest. He introduced us to Rev. Paul Domanski and PrayersRadio.com, a focused ministry project that is bearing beautiful fruit. 

Prayers Radio streams Science of Mind talks 24/7 and offers dynamic video content across YouTube and other platforms. Using AI, Ernest Holmes quotes and music, they create engaging learning videos and have recently added a SOM AI coaching platform to the website. Their weekly show, "Prayers Radio Conversations," explores the practical application of Science of Mind principles. They are actively inviting ministers to join them and share how they apply affirmative prayer in everyday life. This is a great opportunity for retired ministers and those who have moved from pulpit to other spiritual adventures. We encourage you to check it out and support this inspired project.

The Golden Hour continues every fourth Tuesday of the month. Bring your beverage, your truth and your heart. In May, we'll open the floor to share what the RMC is doing, what more we can do and what we want to be known as. See you there.
 

Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Time: 4 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. CT / 7 p.m. ET
Location: Zoom Link
Theme: Honoring the past. Supporting the present. Inspiring the future!

Wisdom Shared: Elders Speak (October 2025)
Elders Speak is an annual event spotlighting the voices and vision of our elder ministers. From early CSL history to lessons learned along the way, these heartfelt conversations offer treasure for the whole movement. If you are retired from pulpit ministry and would like to serve on our panel, contact Revjb18@Gmail.com. Stay tuned for Elders Speak details!

Coming Together: Retired Ministers Breakout at SOAR 2025
Join us at CSL's SOAR 2025 Summer Retreat in Banff to connect with other retired ministers. During a coffee connection break, we’ll share updates, enjoy fellowship and dream forward together. Dr. Deborah Gordon will be available at the gathering to help support this time together. If you are retired and you are going to Banff, let her know at RevGord@Shaw.ca.

Make Your Voice Heard: Committee Participation
Your voice matters in shaping the future of this sacred circle. If you would like to serve on this committee, contact LGoold@ATT.net

With love and appreciation,
CSL Retired Ministers Committee
Together, we are creating a spiritual legacy rooted in wisdom, service and belonging.

Questions? Email RevJB18@Gmail.com

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