Our Community 💗 March 27, 2025

What's Happening This Week at CSL Kelowna

Sunday, March 30: A Journey to the Heart, with Rev. Barbara Samuel
Last Sunday: Intention Deficit, with Rev. Corinne Crockett
Annual General Meeting
Upcoming Class: Commit to Your Spiritual Journey: Awakening Through Practice with Rev. Bobbi Becker
Okanagan Multi-Faith: Lutheran Community April 5th
World Philosophies and Religions: Spiritual but not Religious
Science Corner: Is the Heart Smart?
Inspirational Song of the Week: Open Your Heart by Lisa Firestone
Connect with Rev. John

Join us every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Studio 9, 1180 Houghton Road, Kelowna, BC. Doors open at 10:15 am. Please visit the event page for more details and a map. Everyone is welcome!

Or, WATCH US ON

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SUNDAY, MAY 30

A Journey of the Heart: My Transformational Experience at CSL Kenya

With Rev. Barbara Samuel

“The love you give out is the love that returns to you multiplied.”

– Ernest Holmes

Jambo! Join me this Sunday at CSL Kelowna for an inspiring, emotional, and uplifting talk that will take you on a journey to the heart of Kenya—where love, faith, and the power of community shine brighter than ever!

Laugh with me as I share the unexpected joys and funny moments from a slum school classroom.

Feel the power of Spirit moving through a community deeply committed to Science of Mind.

Discover how this experience changed me in ways I never imagined...yet again—and how it might just change you too!

Come be inspired, be moved, and be reminded of the incredible power we have to make a difference—wherever we are.

Don't miss this! Come ready to be touched, uplifted, and recharged.

Join us at Studio 9 (1180 Houghton Rd, Kelowna, BC). Doors open at 10:15 am. Enter the property by the side entrance behind the staff parking lot. Look for our signs to guide you! Please use street parking or park at Ben Lee Park (1.5 blocks away).

Or you can always watch our live stream on Facebook Live via Centre for Spiritual Living Kelowna's Facebook page.

Facebook

Last Sunday’s Talk

INTENTION DEFICIT

With Rev. Corinne Crockett

If you don’t set your own intentions for life, then something else will!

Last Sunday Rev. Corinne explored the Science of Mind’s Creative Process—the powerful practice of setting clear intentions and artfully using the principle that our thoughts shape our experiences.

In this talk, we looked at “intention deficit” as more than just distraction—it’s a spiritual disconnection from our deeper purpose. By bringing mindful awareness to how we move through life, we can shift from autopilot to intentional living, reclaiming our sense of direction, clarity, and heart.

Just as a seed takes root in fertile soil, our intentions flourish when nurtured with awareness, love, gratitude, and trust in the unfolding journey.

If you missed her talk, or want to see it again, click here:

Rev. Corinne's Talk

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who attended our Annual General Meeting last Sunday. Your support and presence made this gathering truly memorable, and we deeply appreciate all who helped bring it together. We had a Quorum and then some! More details will be shared in next week’s Blog.

We’re excited about the growing energy in our community as more people engage in our many activities and events, including our inspiring Multi-Faith community excursions.

This momentum reflects our shared commitment to create the beloved community, transform lives, and spark positive change in the world. Thank you for joining us on this journey, and let’s continue to move forward together!

We pay tribute and express our gratitude to departing board members, Rev. Jeanette Vinek and Angela Bearman.

Rev. Jeanette has served so beautifully as Board President since 2022, as a member of the New Minister Selection Committee, and before that, as a board member, leading our Centre’s Education Institute for many years.

Angela served both our Board and New Minister Selection committee over the past couple of years and is a long-time member.

These amazing women are not going anywhere, but remain within the Centre serving in different capacities.

Stepping into the void they leave is Rev. Diane Hockey. Thank you, Diane.

The CSL Kelowna Board of Directors 2025-2026 is:

Irene Kowalchuk – President

Pauline Weninger – Vice President

Melody Bailey – Treasurer

Pam Crockett – Secretary

Diane Hockey – Member at Large

Blair Wilson – Member at Large

Rev. Corinne Crockett – Assistant Minister, Ex-officio Member

Rev. John DePalma – Spiritual Director, Ex-officio Member

Mark Your Calendars!

NEW FIVE-WEEK WORKSHOP

April 29 – May 27

Exciting new class being offered by Rev. Bobbi Becker via Zoom!

Commit to your Spiritual Journey: Awakening through Practice
Ready to awaken your inner guru and level up your life?

We’re rolling out the cosmic red carpet for our five-week spiritual deep-dive starting April 29, taught by Rev. Bobbi Becker. Think of it as your VIP pass to Presence, Oneness, Creativity, and Abundance—minus the kale smoothie (though we won't stop you from sipping one).

By blending the life-changing insights of The Untethered Soul and Living the Science of Mind, we’ll guide you in breaking up with those pesky inner obstacles and stepping into that unstoppable “YES!” energy.

Expect reflective readings, guided meditations, group dialogue, and straight-up real talk that actually sticks in your everyday life (because spiritual epiphanies are only good if you can use them while stuck in traffic).

Are you in? Bring your curiosity, your yoga pants, and your sense of humor, and let’s discover just how abundant, creative, and free you can be—one presence-powered breath at a time.

Let the awakening commence!

Begins Tuesdays: April 29 – May 27th for 5 weeks (6:30-8:30)

Investment: $160 CAD

Registration details and payment methods to follow.

ANNOUNCING THE NEXT OKANAGAN MULTI-FAITH ASSEMBLY

YOU'RE INVITED

We had a most successful and well-received experience of presenting to Kelowna’s Multi-Faith Community. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this time so rich and wonderful.

So much good is coming from these times of learning and connection. There are only three more left in this current series of presentations.

The next one is being offered by Rev. Barbara Groot at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Date: Saturday, April 5th, 2025

During this gathering, you’ll experience:

A 30-minute presentation
An opportunity for questions and answers
A social period with beverages and desserts

These events typically conclude in under two hours.

If you’re interested in attending gathering, please contact Rev. Corinne Crockett at corinne_crockett@telus.net for further details.

SPIRITUAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS

What Does it Mean?

Many people today say they are spiritual but not religious. This means they believe in a higher power, in love, kindness, and inner peace, but they don't follow a specific religion. Instead, they find their connection to the divine, or something greater, within themselves and in the world around them.

Ernest Holmes, the founder of Science of Mind, once said, “We believe in the direct revelation of truth through our intuitive and spiritual nature.” He taught that each person can have their own personal relationship with the divine without needing rituals or dogma. Holmes believed that God is everywhere and in everyone, not separate from us.

Wayne Dyer, a well-known spiritual teacher, also spoke about this idea. He said, “You are not a human being having a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being having a human experience.” This reminds us that our true essence is spiritual, and we don't need to follow strict religious rules to feel connected to something greater.

Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith, a modern spiritual leader, encourages people to look within. He often says, “Stop looking outside for answers, and start looking within.” Beckwith believes that when we quiet our minds and listen, we can tap into divine wisdom and live with purpose and joy.

Being spiritual, not religious, is about love, compassion, and personal growth. It’s about trusting your own heart and finding peace in the present moment. It encourages openness, acceptance, and seeing the sacred in all life.

In simple terms, it’s knowing that the divine is not far away — it’s already inside you. You don’t need rules to find it; you only need to listen, love, and live with awareness. Your heart knows!

IS THE HEART SMART?

The Heart–Brain Connection: Awakening Inner Wisdom

For generations, the heart has been seen primarily as a hardworking pump—vital, yes, but mechanical. Today, science is catching up with what mystics and wisdom teachers have long intuited: the heart is intelligent. In fact, it's a powerful center of awareness and knowing, deeply connected with the brain and far more than just a vessel for pumping blood.

Thanks to research from the HeartMath Institute, we now understand that the heart has its own complex nervous system—a “heart brain”—capable of processing information, sensing, remembering, and even guiding.

What’s truly fascinating is that the heart actually sends more information to the brain than it receives from it. This flips the old narrative: the heart isn’t following orders from the brain—it’s co-leading the dance of our inner life.

Even more compelling? Studies show that the heart often senses events before they happen. Participants in HeartMath experiments displayed measurable heart responses to stimuli before they appeared—suggesting that the heart plays a central role in what we might call intuition. It knows before we do.

This communication between the heart and brain happens through multiple channels: nerves, hormones, electrical impulses, and energetic fields. One of the most striking discoveries is that the heart’s electromagnetic field is up to 60 times greater in amplitude than the brain’s, and it radiates far beyond the body—affecting both our inner state and our relationships with others.

When we feel love, gratitude, or compassion, our heart rhythms become coherent—smooth and harmonious. This coherence sends signals to the brain that support mental clarity, emotional stability, and intuitive insight. In short, when the heart and brain are in sync, we feel better, think more clearly, and connect more deeply.

The takeaway? Your heart isn’t just beating—it’s speaking. And when you pause to listen, it offers a kind of wisdom that is quiet, clear, and often profoundly right.

INSPIRATIONAL SONG OF THE WEEK

OPEN YOUR HEART

Lisa Firestone

Link to Song

Lisa’s life as a musician began with her first piano lesson at the age of five, continuing with classical piano as a focus through her years at UCLA. A year at the Musician's Institute provided the theory and improvisation which brought her into a rich and gratifying career as an Artist, Music Director, and professional singer and keyboardist. She leads bands, choirs, smaller music ensembles, and continue to perform regularly for Sunday services, and for special events.

Website: https://www.lisafirestone.com/

LET’S CONNECT

Rev. John DePalma’s contact information

Contact Rev. John via email: jdepalma@cslkelowna.org

He is also available for one-on-one telephone conversations. To schedule a connection, visit his online calendar:

Rev. John's Calendar

Fill out your membership here, https://www.cslkelowna.org/membership

Regular Events at CSLK

See Upcoming Events on our home page. Stay informed of all the latest news from CSLK! Subscribe now to receive notifications of future blog posts.

Sunday Celebrations start at 10:30am PT at Studio 9, 1180 Houghton Road, Kelowna. Please park on the street or at Ben Lee Park (1.5 blocks from the school). You can also watch us live on Facebook or watch the replay later on YouTube.

Our volunteers are immensely valuable to CSLK! If you can help out with making coffee, setting up and/or after-service taking down, please contact Rev. Corinne Crockett at 250-868-9090 or email corinne_crockett@telus.net.

Do you have an idea for CSLK community opportunities you’d like to experience? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Please contact Rev. Corinne Crockett at 250-868-9090 or email corinne_crockett@telus.net.

Practitioner Support

Our ministers and practitioners are in service to all of us. If you need help to see the Truth in a situation; if you are looking for clarity; if you are struggling; our ministers and practitioners are here to support you. You can contact them through the About page on our website, or you can submit a prayer request on the Contact page.

Bring Nature’s Fare Receipts to CSLK!

Nature’s Fare grocery store receipts are worth a pretty penny to us! Bring your shopping receipts to Sunday service and place them into the receipt box on the table in front of the stage in the Studio 9 auditorium. Nature’s Fare will donate 3% of the total of your purchases to CSL Kelowna! Every receipt helps! Thank you!

Your Support Means So Much to Our Community!

We’re grateful for the ways CSL Kelowna is able to accept donations:

Online via the Ways to Donate page of our website (PayPal or credit card).
By Interac e-transfers sent to donate@cslkelowna.org .
Cheques can be mailed to: Suite 131, 101-1865 Dilworth Drive, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9T1.