We are an expanding beacon of light, providing a safe harbor for all to evolve.
We are a loving, inclusive community, facilitating spiritual growth through
living and teaching Universal principles. |
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Notes from our
Church-Wide Visioning Sessions |
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What are these visioning sessions?
Each month, the entire congregation is invited to participate in a general visioning session for the church as a whole. These brief sessions are held in the Sanctuary following the Sunday Morning Service.
Rev. David opens the session with a brief meditation and then asks several questions, one at a time, with a pause after each for receiving answers from within. After all questions have been asked, participants are invited to voice their answers for the group to hear and scribes to record, impartially and without comment. Each visioning session's questions and answers are shown below.
Note: These visioning notes are from our general all-congregation visioning sessions. Other visioning sessions, focused on particular areas of the church, are held separately by the teams involved in those areas; results of those visionings are not shown here.
If you would like to be involved in visioning for a specific area of the church, please inquire about joining that area's team.
What are the visioning questions?
The following questions are common to most of our visionings:
- What is God's highest idea for (our church — or whatever this visioning is focusing on)?
- What does this highest idea look/feel/sound/taste/smell like?
- What qualities of God are present in this highest idea?
- What gift or talent do I bring to bless this idea?
- What can I choose to release/let go of, to manifest this idea now with ease and grace?
- What can I choose to accept/embrace, to manifest this idea now with ease and grace?
- What can I choose to allow others to do/be/etc., to manifest this idea now with ease and grace?
- What spiritual tools can I use, to manifest this idea now with ease and grace?
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Visioning — June 4, 2006 |
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| 1. What is God’s highest idea for the church? |
- Keeping Rev. David as minister
- To be a center of spiritual growth and awareness energized out into the community
- Build through education
- Workshops, music special events, laughter and fun
- Hold 3 Sunday services with all seats filled
- Joyous celebration
- Place for dialog with community
- Source of love, beacon of light
- Outreach and In-reach Services
- Spiritual growth and higher consciousness
- Rainbow congregation
- Major role in community
- Mingle with newcomers
- Connecting lives in a bigger way
- Place of being
- All things to all people at all times
- A new time of love and forgiveness
- Wholeness, love and community
- Glorious newness
- Greater prosperity and abundance
- New experiences of unity within the membership
- Rediscover our joy or discover it for the first time
- Spiritual evolution through experiential activities
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| 2. What does it look/feel/sound/taste/smell like? |
- Delicious, delightful, joyful
- Great music
- Compassion, inclusive, friendship
- Youthful, gracious, lightness
- Peaceful, harmonious, playful
- Prosperous and abundant
- Animal ministry and blessings (Contact Dog Whisperer – Cesar)
- Open, aliveness, uplifting and supportive
- Inspiring
- Divine order and right action
- Beautiful, nurturing, safe, stable
- Picnics, BBQ’s, beach parties, potlucks, holiday celebrations, church parties
- High energy inclusive
- Lots of youth and children
- New church name and other changes with ease and grace
- Attractive to new members and attendees
- Active membership
- Dynamic, creative, talented music department
- New musical instruments, equipment and highly talented musicians
- Concerts, musicals, wide variety of guest musicians and soloists
- Warmth, sunshine, springtime newness
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| 3. What qualities of God are in this idea? |
- Love, light, peace and grace
- Inclusiveness, unity, acceptance of self and others
- Ever expanding, creativity, joy, freedom
- Prosperity abundance, gratitude, harmony
- Forgiveness, balance, order, kindness
- Generosity, integrity, honesty, authenticity
- Beauty, compassion, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence
- Wholeness, energy, vitality, perfection, perfect health and wellness of being
- Listening and sharing
- Truth, trust, wisdom and intelligence
- Power, clarity, belief and purity
- Courage and confidence
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| 4. What can I choose to release to manifest it now with ease and grace? |
- Judgment, resentment, fear, pain and feelings of loss
- Anger, jealousy, sadness, attachment, loneliness
- Lack, limitation, poverty consciousness, disappointment, frustration
- Fear of commitment, control, the past, feeling incompetent or inadequate
- Reluctance, fear of the unknown, mistrust, suspicion
- Closed-mindedness, pre-conceptions, expectation
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| 5. What can I choose to embrace and accept to manifest it now with ease and grace? |
- Courage, newness, new experiences, new friends, participate more
- God consciousness, spiritual growth
- MAP (meditation, affirmation and prayer)
- Networking, new web site, be more effective, new ideas, new structure
- Responsibility, activity, visioning, excitement
- Deeper self expression, deeper experience of God
- Bring new friends to church and pick them up
- Acceptance of self and others, communicate more with others
- Contribute more personal time to spiritual growth
- Support church through tithing, offerings and other financial support
- Personal success to support church’s success
- Reach out to others, volunteer service
- Attend classes
- Use practitioners and ministry
- Know and believe we’re already successful
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| 6. What spiritual tools can I use to manifest it now with ease and grace? |
- MAP (Meditation, Affirmation, Prayer)
- New classes and workshops
- Visualization and contemplation
- Prayerful movement, dance, exercise, Tai Chi, Yoga, African dance class
- Read spiritual books and articles daily
- Attend spiritual services regularly
- Energy cleansing
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| 7. What is my church’s commitment to manifesting it now with ease and grace? |
- God first, teaching, celebrating
- Connecting with members and attendees
- Do whatever it takes
- Healing, communication
- Reaching out, growth, fun, belonging, community
- Urgency of now, fully understanding now
- Nurturing our youth, youth service, youth activities, trips and groups
- Christmas family project
- Visioning, practitioner support
- Classes and workshops
- Charity and community support
- Prosperity and abundance
- Guidance and leadership
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~ Thank You to Lyn Williams for recording these notes from our June 4th Visioning. ~ |
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Visioning — July 2, 2006 |
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| 1. What is the highest idea for Huntington Beach Church of Religious Science? |
- Boundless Energy and Diversity
- Open at the Top
- Explosion of Energy and Love
- Acceptance of Everyone’s Path
- Service to Community
- Service to our Congregation
- Creativity
- For Congregants and Children – Safety and Flexibility
- Full House
- Abundant Parking
- Yellow Parking Spaces
- Joy
- Unconditional love
- Overflowing in a Church without Boundaries
- Excellence of Education
- The Power of Its Intent
- Abundance and Overflowing Music
- Higher Consciousness
- Flexible and Safe Sanctuary for Freedom
- Three Services—Full House
- Parking Attendants
- Exposure – being seen as a byproduct of being and doing who we are
- Inclusive and Welcoming
- Laughter
- Activity
- Knowledge
- Rock ’n’ Rolling, Movement
- OM
- Footsteps running upstairs
- Home
- Cotton Candy
- Need for Silence amidst Talking – Balance
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| 2. What does this idea sound, feel, taste, look like? |
- Joy
- Peace
- Exciting
- Freshness/Morning Dew
- Engaging and Fun
- Energizing
- Expanding Energy
- Joyful Music
- Ice Cream
- Humming
- Feels like Truth
- Buzzy – “Fun Buzz” Feeling
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| 3. What do I choose to release in my thinking so that this idea may manifest now? |
- Fear
- Limitation
- Stories
- Ex-Husbands
- Outcome
- Attachment
- It-Can’t-Be-Done Ideas
- Fear
- Subtle Layer that’s Invisible but Strong – Residual Energy
- Past
- Anger
- Ex’s, In-Laws
- Judgment
- Ennui
- How we Used-To-Do-It
- Expectations
- Ego and Thinking I Need to Do It All Myself
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| 4. What do I choose to accept/embrace so that this manifestation may be immediate? |
- Abundance
- Truth
- Breakthrough
- Unknown and Potentiality
- Wholeness/Inclusivity
- Miracle
- I am the I Am
- Joy
- Sacredness
- Holiness
- Demystification
- Accepting the Shadow Side
- Willingness to Participate
- Jubilation
- Newness
- Peace
- Timing
- Openness to Change
- Highest Potentiality
- Miracles
- Wellness
- That I am the I AM
- Transformation
- Accepting that things that irritate me are Gifts
- Sacred Service
- Ancient Wisdom
- Gratitude
- Forgiveness
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| 5. What may I choose to allow others to do? |
- Take Ownership
- Be Thankful
- Support their Being Themselves
- Be Free
- Listen
- Space for Growth
- Creativity of Others
- Patience
- Passion
- Self-loving
- Understanding
- Be Themselves
- Contribute
- Not Judge
- Listen
- Be Thankful
- Let them make their own Choices
- Open at the Top
- Honor and Respect
- Acceptance
- Do it yourself programs
- Allow others to Do
- Compassion
- Support me
- Communication
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| 6. What gift and talent do I bring to bless this idea? |
- Enthusiasm
- Courage and Consciousness
- Prayer
- Tithe, Talent and Treasures
- Enthusiasm
- Creativity
- Support
- Leadership
- Compassion
- Presence
- Talent
- Consciousness
- My Services
- Humor
- Loving Participation
- Commitment
- Responsibility
- Aligning with Higher Guidance
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7. What spiritual tool may I commit to during the GAP* between idea and manifestation, to keep this vision alive? (*GAP=God's Area of Preparation) |
- Knowing Spiritual Truth
- Patience
- MAP
- Surrender
- Openness
- Balance
- Journaling with God
- Meditation
- Doing Intention as Set
- Integrity
- Prayer
- Kindness
- MAP (Meditation, Affirmation, Prayer)
- Faith
- Detachment
- Acceptance
- Setting your Intention and Claiming it
- Setting your Intention and Doing it
- Quiet Contemplation
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~ Thank You to Theresa LaLonde for transcribing these notes from our July 2nd Visioning. ~ |
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Visioning — August 13, 2006 (focuses: Stewardship & Fresh Identity) |
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Please note: the recorded notes from this Visioning were somewhat confusing and difficult to transcribe.
Please accept our apologies if we have misplaced or omitted a few of the participant responses.
The following 8 questions were asked by Rev. David during this Visioning. (source: e-News author's personal notes)
The notes posted in the church Foyer differ, because they were posted before the e-News author's corrections.
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| Questions: |
- What is God's highest idea of Stewardship here at our Spiritual Center, here at this church?
- What does this Stewardship look like, sound like, feel like, taste like, smell like?
- What quality of God is contained in this Stewardship idea, what value that you hold dear in your heart?
- What gift or talent do I bring to this highest vision?
- In this highest vision of Stewardship I choose to express — my idea of Stewardship — in terms of Identity, fresh Identity, what comes through me as a highest idea for Identity in Stewardship?
- In this highest idea of Stewardship, what can I release, let go of, in my thinking or belief system, so this highest idea of Stewardship in Identity can manifest? What seems to be in the way?
- What can I choose to accept or embrace that will allow this idea to become reality?
- What can I choose to allow others to do or be or have as I allow this highest idea of Stewardship to become my reality?
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| 1. What is God's highest idea of Stewardship here at our Spiritual Center, here at this church? |
- Movement
- Gently providing flexible structure to guide
- Integrity
- Love, truth, balance
- Support & nurture each idea with no boundaries
- Expansion
- Getting involved
- Mystical
- Family, peaceful & comfortable connection
- Allowing more
- Continuity, peace of mind about basics being taken care of so we can expand more (financially sound)
- Balance
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| 2. What does this Stewardship look like, sound like, feel like, taste like, smell like? |
- Bliss, angelic, mystical, awe
- Leaders – loving sentinels of authenticity & truth, holding the resonance of church
- Bigger font, bigger sheet for announcements
- Outreach into community
- Newness
- Stewardship strength
- Glass dome, open, full, breezy, circulation
- Lighter, motivated, thriving
- Deeper, larger offering plates, lighter, flowing
- Harvest basket, themes for seasons of the year
- Velvet offering bags
- Themes for abundance in offering receptacle
- Love, acceptance, joy
- Compassion, cooperation, fun
- Prosperity
- Wisdom
- Giving
- Sharing
- Inclusive
- Fun
- Healing
- 3 Ts in action (Time, Talent, & Treasure)
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| 3. What quality of God is contained in this Stewardship idea, what value that you hold dear in your heart? |
- Wholeness
- Balance
- Gratitude
- Freedom
- Gentle guidance
- Giving
- Truthfulness
- Fun
- Music & support
- Love
- Acceptance
- Joy
- Cooperation
- Fun
- Compassion
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| 4. What gift or talent do I bring to this highest vision? |
- warmth
- showing up
- cooperation
- fun
- saying yes
- positive energy
- integrity
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5. In this highest vision of Stewardship I choose to express — my idea of Stewardship
— in terms of Identity, fresh Identity, what comes through me as a highest idea for Identity in Stewardship? |
- Spiritual Center for Science of Living
- Surf City Science of Mind
- A Place for Spirit
- A Place for Spiritual Celebration
- United Spiritual Center for the Science of Living
- Seacliff Center for Conscious Living
- Community
- United Spiritual Connection for the Science of Living
- Something with simplicity
- Community of Spiritual Unity
- Surf City Spiritual community
- HB Church of Spiritual Awareness
- Surfing Church
- Center for Peace and Harmony
- The House Where Love Lives
- “Community” in the name – connection
- Seacliff Community
- Surf Community of Science of Mind
- Sangha…by the Surf
- Sangha…by the Sea
- Name focused on what we are and do
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6. In this highest idea of Stewardship, what can I release, let go of, in my thinking or belief system, so this highest idea of Stewardship in Identity can manifest?
What seems to be in the way? |
- ego
- fear
- moving on
- being shy to step out
- outcome
- intentions
- control
- judgment
- the “was”
- change
- perception
- expectations
- my attachments
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| 7. What can I choose to accept or embrace that will allow this idea to become reality? |
- Control – spiritual control, visioning, prayer, practice, discipline
- Love
- Flexibility
- Openness
- Oneness
- Openness
- Other people’s ideas
- Expanded creativity
- Love
- Sense of enrichment
- Gratitude
- Connectedness
- Fun
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| 8. What can I choose to allow others to do or be or have as I allow this highest idea of Stewardship to become my reality? |
- Be themselves
- Be joyful
- Be open to express themselves
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Visioning — October 1, 2006 |
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| 1. What is God's vision or idea of highest good for this church? |
- To be loved
- To serve
- Known as a recharging center
- Healing Haven
- Loving, growing spiritual living in community
- Each other’s prince and princess
- Fun, joy & laughter
- Prosperous fun community
- Community of purpose and vision
- Tenacity and continuity
- Family fun center
- Truth center
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| 2. What does it look like? |
- Exciting
- Fun
- Doors open
- Spiritual
- Birthing
- Loving
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| 3. What senses are involved? |
- Taste sweet
- Sounds like laughter
- Free
- Uplifting
- Doors wide open
- Flow
- From everywhere
- Spiritual midwife
- Home; sweet; laughter; free movement
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| 4. What qualities of God are involved? |
- Exuberance
- Clarity
- Acceptance
- Holy breath
- Wisdom
- Passion
- Expansion
- Unconditional love
- Abundance
- Joy
- Inspired
- Fellowship
- Compassion
- Truth
- Movement
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| 5. What gifts or talents do I bring? |
- Volunteerism
- Available focus
- Sincerity
- Music
- Childlike excitement
- Deep experience
- Poetry
- Facilitate healing modalities
- Focus and clarity
- Excitement
- Art
- Playfulness
- Energetic
- Laughter
- Once-a-month pot luck after service
- Smiling chalice
- Inspiration
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| 6. What can I choose to release, let go of, as this vision becomes my reality? |
- What was; anything that does not support increased good
- Unworthiness
- Limitation; judgment
- Fear and separation
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7. What can I choose to accept or embrace that will allow this idea or vision as it
becomes my reality? |
- Gratitude
- Acceptance and respect
- Other opinions
- Think out of the box
- Open mind
- Play big
- Made in the image and likeness of God
- Forgiveness
- One mind
- Knowing that everything I need is here already
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| 8. What can I choose to allow others to do, to be, or to think? |
- To be themselves
- Be ok
- All that they are
- All as is
- Opportunities to learn
- Their full expression
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9. What spiritual tool can I commit to choose or use as this vision or idea becomes
my reality? |
- Love and acceptance
- Meditation; oneness; commitment to vision with daily meditation twice per day
- Affirmation; prayer; intention
- Visioning; fun
- Let go and let God
- See you as a part of me
- We all are one
- Appreciate the process
- Acceptance
- Gratitude in present space; heart communication
- Enjoy myself in the box
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~ Thank You to Linda Klein for transcribing these notes from our October 1st Visioning. ~ |
This page was last updated on November 11, 2006. |
