Our Community 💗 May 15, 2025
CSL Kelowna- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
What's Happening This Week at CSL Kelowna
Sunday, May 18: Let’s Talk It Out: Taking the Dreary Out of Drama and Turning Conflict into Harmony! with Rev. John DePalma
Last Sunday: Whole-Brained, Whole-Hearted with Rev. John DePalma
Volunteer Opportunities: Pride 2025
Are You Ready to SOAR?
Multi-Faith Gathering
What Grows in the Garden of Your Mind?
Inspirational Song of the Week: Wind Beneath My Wings, by Bette Midler
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
THIS SUNDAY
Let’s Talk It Out:
Taking the Dreary Out of Drama and Turning Conflict into Harmony!
With Rev. John DePalma
Who says conflict has to be a drama-filled nightmare? Join Rev. John as we explore the opportunity to take the dreary out of drama and turn those tense moments into opportunities for growth! ...and dare I say find peace emerging? Perhaps even humour?
Whether it's a squabble with a colleague or a family disagreement, we’ll see how active listening, empathy, and assertive communication can transform conflict into connection. Are you up for it?
Using the power of intention in the creative process, we’ll explore how to approach conflicts with purpose and clarity, shifting from frustration to understanding.
No need to dread those awkward silences or uncomfortable conversations— if you’re willing to use them, we’ve got the tools to handle those moments with humour and grace.
Get ready to learn how to negotiate peace, communicate with ease, and build harmony in your relationships—because peace doesn’t have to be boring, and it starts with you!
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.
Last Sunday
Last Sunday Rev. John gave us a powerful Mother’s Day talk that honoured more than tradition —it honoured the timeless feminine wisdom that lives in every human being.
We explored:
Our brain “wiring” as a symbol of the bridge between logic and intuition, doing and being
Why embracing your inner feminine isn’t a trend — it’s spiritual competency
How we can draw on feminine qualities like empathy, receptivity, and creativity to co-create The Beloved Community
And how to make Mother’s Day a return — not just to memory, but to embodiment of the Divine Feminine
If you missed his talk or want to see it again, click here:
Pride 2025 Is Around the Corner — And We’re So Excited to Be Part of It!
We’re delighted to share that we’ve been granted a booth at this year’s Pride Festival on Saturday, May 31st—and we’d love for you to be part of the celebration.
As Centers for Spiritual Living affirms: “We believe the ultimate goal of life to be complete freedom from all discord of every nature—and that this goal is sure to be attained by all.”
Volunteer at the Festival!
On Saturday, May 31st, we’ll need helping hearts at our booth throughout the day. Two-hour shifts are available between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM—and trust us, it’s such a joyful experience, you’ll leave with a full heart and likely a few hugs.
Whether you want to help prep, be at the booth, or just cheer us on, your presence makes a difference.
The festival will run 11:00-3:00, so these times are inclusive of set-up and tear-down.
To sign up, ask questions, or share ideas, reach out to Rev. Corinne: corinne_crockett@telus.net
Let’s show up with love. Let’s celebrate every person’s right to be who they are and love who they love. And let’s do it together—with open hearts, open minds, and maybe a few sparkles too.
Are You Ready to SOAR?
Centers for Spiritual Living Summer Conference
An Incredible Spiritual Opportunity Right in Our Own Back Yard
A Journey of Revelation, Restoration, and Grace
August 7–10, 2025
Banff, Alberta
Summer retreats have been a long-standing tradition of our movement for over 50 years. In 2017, our summer retreat was reinvented, and our new event was born…SOAR!
This event takes place every other year in late summer. While it is held in various locations around the globe, our connection and community never change.
This year the retreat will head to the heart of Canadian Rockies and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff, Alberta.
SOAR 2025 Summer Retreat A Journey of Revelation, Restoration, and Grace is an opportunity to gather and connect through inspiring speakers, musical performances, experiential workshops, spiritual practices, meditations, and communal meals.
There is so much happening that it’s impossible to list it all in one newsletter. For more information and registration, go to:
This intimate retreat has limited space. Register early to secure your place.
Multi Faith Gathering
Okanagan Multi-Faith – Update and June Offering
Members of our CSL Kelowna community were warmly welcomed at the recent Multi-Faith presentation hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).
We had the opportunity to learn about the rich history and guiding beliefs of the LDS Church and were deeply inspired by the breadth and depth of their service-based initiatives that truly aim to make the world a better place.
At the heart of their faith are the principles of community service and compassion, with a strong focus on addressing the suffering caused by poverty.
Their global programs emphasize self-reliance and welfare, offering support in areas such as employment, education, addiction recovery, food insecurity, emergency response, English language learning, and more.
We were especially intrigued by their creative “giving machines,” placed in cities around the world to make charitable donations more accessible and impactful.
We’re all praying Kelowna will have one in 2026.
Many may not realize that the BC Thanksgiving Day Food Drive—an initiative CSL Kelowna has supported from the beginning in Kelowna—is coordinated by the LDS Church. In 2023, they also joined us as engaged and generous partners in offering the Walk of Memories.
We are continually reminded that when we come together in shared purpose and mutual respect, we truly can contribute to a world that works for all.
You’ll be excited to know our next Multi-Faith opportunity is a visit to the Islamic Community on Saturday, June 21st. Contact Rev. Corinne for details if you’d like to join in this visit.
WHAT GROWS IN THE GARDEN OF YOUR MIND?
In a quiet corner of the world, Maya tended her garden—a sanctuary where roses bloomed beside wild sage, and silence whispered truths the world forgot. She dug deep into the soil, her fingers caked in earth, her heart open like the sky. With each seed she planted, she remembered Ernest Holmes' words: “Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it.”
At first, nothing came. The ground lay barren. But she watered anyway, prayed anyway, believed anyway. Michael Beckwith’s voice echoed in her spirit: “You can start with nothing, and out of nothing and no way, a way will be made.” Slowly, green shoots broke through, not just from the soil, but in her soul.
Each weed she pulled was a limiting belief released. Each bloom, a revelation. “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need,” she recalled from Mary Baker Eddy, letting it nourish her roots.
By autumn, her garden flourished—an outer reflection of inner awakening. Maya smiled, realizing she hadn’t just cultivated plants, but Presence. Her soul now bloomed, not from striving, but surrender—growing not toward the light, but as the light.
Inspirational Song of the Week
WIND BENEATH MY WINGS
Bette Midler
Given that SOAR is going to be in Banff this year, Wind Beneath My Wings seems like an appropriate inspirational song for the week. The song was written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley, and intended for Bob Segar. He passed on it. Incredibly, the song was recorded by Roger Whittaker, Sheena Easton, Lou Rawls, and Glady’s Knight and the Pips before Bette Midler’s version struck #1 in 1988.
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:
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.
For more information, please contact Rev. Melody Bailey.
MINDFUL MOMENT
"The best way to take care of the future is to take care of the present moment"
– Thich Nhat Hanh
Copyright © 2025, Centre for Spiritual Living Kelowna.
All rights reserved.
Vol. 2, Issue 18
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