CMC Active Ministers (180)

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Recent events in our world suggest that we must attack, because we have been attacked. We must erect barriers, fences, barbed wired and call in the armed forces in a show of overwhelming force. Of course, some of this is required and necessary, but what we cannot overlook is how the recent happenings in the dream projection reveal the diabolical work of the ego. The ego relishes the drama and the intense emotions of fear, guilt, and blame that we now can see. The Holy Spirit gently reminds us to choose Again. Any form of an attack thought is a call for love. As miracle workers we are called to bring the light and forgiveness to all calls for love. My talk we expand upon these ideas that touch on all aspects of our perceptional lives gently reminding us to go within and forgive.  26 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE

Thursday, 14 January 2021 22:38

Catch Me If You Can

Written by

Dear Miracle Workers,

In 2002 Catch Me If You Can, a film by Steven Spielberg and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, was released. The movie was based on a real life con artist who was expert at outsmarting law enforcement. The ego is much like our protagonist in this movie. The ego seeks to constantly play the con game with us through a multitude of deceptions. These deceptions seem so real! We experience an argument in one of our relationships. We turn on the news and our sacred democratic institutions seem to be under assault. We experience people dying due to a once in a century pandemic. The ego/con is serving up the drama of deception. How do we know?

A Course in Miracles tells us "I must have decided wrongly, because I am not at peace." (OrEd.Tx.5.96) We can tell when we are upset, sad, anxious or any of the myriad ways of not being at peace. Jesus challenges us to out the con of this thought system by observing our reactions to all external stimuli! This is simple but not easy for most of us. We know on some level this is a con that we are perpetuating on ourselves, "The secret of salvation is but this: that you are doing this unto yourself." (OrEd.Tx.27.86) This is an amazing insight, but it's difficult to understand when we are in the middle of the ego con. What to do then?

Well, we ask for help in exposing the ego's cons. We ask Jesus for the miracle with great desire or as much desire as possible. As we do this more and more, we begin to see the cons faster and heal them more quickly. A Course in Miracles reminds us what Jesus would have us do, "He bids you bring each terrible effect to Him that you may look together on its foolish cause and laugh with Him a while." (OrEd.Tx.27.85) Join with Jesus by laughing at the con with him and you will experience the miracle and the love of God.

(originally published in Miracles Weekly #269, Jan. 14, 2021)

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This past week we were challenged by the image of sisters, brothers, and others, storming the USA Capital building in Washington, DC. Armed force had to be used to turn back the people. Violence erupted and some people appear to have died. One woman was apparently shot and killed inside the Capital building itself. Surely we all want to be a healing influence in this situation. The Song of Prayer says, "You first forgive, then pray, and you are healed." (So.3.IV.4.1) Forgiveness is always the first step - but I see that many have formed strong, special hate relationships that they are very invested in. People will challenge their special love relationships much easier than the special hate ones. I know we all want to be part of this healing, then it is time to do the unthinkable, forgive the unforgivable, and then start trusting the world. "The teachers of God have trust in the world, because they have learned it is not governed by the laws the world made up." (OrEd.Mn.4.3)

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Many people appear to be looking for ways to escape from the challenges of life - as if life itself was a problem. Life is a gift, an enormous treasure, and a big work responsibility. There is a quote usually attributed to Abraham Lincoln, although he probably never said it, "Folks are about as happy as they have made their minds up to be." How true. Let's make up our minds to be happy this new year. What I know is we will never be happy if we are not fulfilling our function given us by Holy Spirit, and Holy Spirit doesn't give us the function of escaping physical life since physical life isn't a problem. Holy Spirit has big plans for us. He wants us to be leaders. "Let us together follow in this way that truth points out to us. And let us be the leaders of our many brothers who are seeking for the way but find it not." (WkBk.SpTp361.2) This is not escape. This is work responsibility accepted.

Wednesday, 23 December 2020 07:25

Spend Christmas Day with Your ACIM Family

Written by
Dear Miracle Workers,
 
In less than 2 days it will be Christmas. While for many this year's celebration will seem scaled back ... here's a way to truly scale it UP!! Spend it with you CMC ACIM family of Miracle Workers! We are having a "special" Christmas Day service on Zoom: 2 p.m. Eastern , 1 p.m. Central, 12 noon Mountain, 11 a.m. Pacific. Just click on the link below at the appropriate time (or a few minutes before)
 
or just enter room number: 973 303 958
 
This is what we call a "Community Voices" service because we ask different members of our community to give short talks. This year 7 have stepped up to the "podium": Paula Carpe, Rev. Rudy Colombini, Rev. Gwen Evans, Rev. Joanie Goss, Rev. Dusa Althea Rammessirsingh, and Rev. Kim Wilson. They will be talking about what Christmas means for them through the lens of A Course In Miracles. These are wonderful talks that show the diversity of approaches to ACIM and the diversity that exists within the CMC itself.
 
These are also great events that can serve as an introduction to ACIM since experiencing all the different approaches and different people involved can show people that maybe, just maybe ACIM might be something for them to explore. Please invite family and friends to join you and us. Plus there is an increased desire from many to do "something" spiritual on Christmas Day and the CMC ACIM Christmas Service is just the thing! You can be sure it will be a happy experience! "Let no despair darken the joy of Christmas, for the time of Christ is meaningless apart from joy." (OrEd.15.108) See you on Christmas Day!
 
(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #267, Dec. 23 2020)

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I realize that there are many distortions associated with the celebration of Christmas which have been introduced over the past 2000 years. The holiday has been commercialized by becoming a secular and capitalist holiday. Another valid critique is how the true message of Jesus' teaching was lost by many folks who couldn't understand it and became afraid. His life and teachings became mythological and less spiritually authentic. My Christmas' message will be about how we can apply the essence of Jesus' teachings from A Course in Miracles and experience the Holy Instant. The Holy Instant provides us with the true meaning of Christmas which is being in a state of peace with all of our brothers and sisters. Please join me and my fellow brothers and sisters at this Sunday's gathering and experience the true meaning of Christmas.

While every ACIM student will probably agree that the Course is all about healing, there are vast differences on whether the Miracles student believes that we COULD – or even SHOULD – expect this healing to manifest physically in our bodies, or in the bodies of others. Various teachers have dug proverbial trenches into the ground about this discussion with dogmatic proclamations. Where a student stands on this issue has defined many things about them: favorite Course authors, favorite ACIM organizations, and even which Course edition they study.

While I definitely have my own opinions about this (you all probably know what they are) I recognize that our community is broad, and we ALL are ACIM students regardless. There is a place for all ACIM students, and all approaches, in the "big tent" that is the Community Miracles Center. The seven, long term, ACIM students who make up the CMC Board of Directors do not all agree on this – yet we all agree in our love of the Course and in our dedication to the Community Miracles Center.

I am the coach of the CMC Healing Team and we DO celebrate and acknowledge when healing manifests in physical form. "WooHoo!" However all healing is worth celebrating and the psychological healing from fear to peace is always worth achieving, and always worth celebrating as well. In this holiday season of 2020 let us put our theological differences aside and acknowledge that we are all Miracles students and with cooperation we can accomplish so much more. "My own injunction, 'Do this in remembrance of me' is the request for cooperation from miracle workers." (OrEd.Tx.3.10)

(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #266, Dec. 16 2020)

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We are in the midst of the Jewish Festival of Lights - Chanukah. Sunday will be day 3 of the 8 day celebration. Chanukah is a wonderful holiday to mesh with the ACIM teaching. The story always relates the miracle of how after reclaiming the Temple the Temple's menorah lamp burned for 8 days even though there was only 1 days worth of fuel oil. Looking out at the world it can seem as if many peoples' - and perhaps our own - fuel oil is running low. The light can seem to be flickering. However our steady light can shine into the lamps of others and ignite their eternally burning flame illuminating and thus reclaiming their Temples. Hallelujah! "The power of one mind can shine into another, because all the lamps of God were lit by the same spark. It is everywhere, and it is eternal." (OrEd.Tx.9.91)

Wednesday, 09 December 2020 07:23

Another Guest "TV" Appearances for Rev. Tony

Written by
Dear A Course in Miracles Students,
 
Fri. Dec. 11 ... and after
2) TGF (Teachers of God Foundation) TV with Kelly Russell (see below)
10:30am Eastern / 9:30am Central / 8:30am Mountain / 7:30am Pacific
Chanukah Up! "Rock Your Inner Menorah and Be the Lamp"
This is a live interview for free, followed by Q&A for subscribers
 
In the Jewish tradition, Chanukah, also known as The Festival of Lights, celebrates the purification and rededication of the Holy Temple after its reclamation from those attempting to force the people to worship false idols. Fast forward a couple of thousand years, and isn’t that what we’re still pretty much doing right now? Liberating and reclaiming the sacred temple of our minds from the false self of the ego?
 
Please join Kelly and her special guest Rev. Tony Ponticello as they explore the symbolism of Chanukah and its relationship to the thought system of A Course in Miracles. They will discuss how the power of faith and the miracle of forgiveness allow the abundance of Light to illuminate the temple of our hearts and minds, transforming the darkness of fear, scarcity, lack, and conflict to peace, love, and joy.
 
In this Season of Light, choose to reclaim your inner temple and BE THE LAMP that lights the world!
 
Premiers 10:30am Eastern Fri. Dec. 11th on Zoom and TGF's Facebook page

(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #265, Dec. 9 2020)

Wednesday, 09 December 2020 07:20

Guest "TV" Appearances for Rev. Tony

Written by
Dear A Course in Miracles Students,
 
I am excited to report that I have collaborated with two other ACIM content providers to produce two different video "TV" programs. The first will be shown Thu. Dec. 10 and the second will be shown Fri. Dec. 11. Hey I'm in demand! The shows have entirely different topics, so plan to watch them both. Both will be available after their premiers for later and multiple viewings. Please forward this email to all your ACIM friends. (Look there's an angel over my shoulder!)
 
Thu. Dec. 10 ... and after
1) A Course In Miracles TV with Robin Duncan (see below)
3:00pm Eastern / 2:00pm Central / 1:00pm Mountain / 12noon Pacific
Practical Steps to Healing
 
This is a prerecorded and edited hour long interview with Robin. We covered:
  • How the ACIM community has evolved
  • Practical steps to physical healing
  • Students approach to practice
  • Miracle Story on Mental Health
 
Premiers Thu. Dec. 10, 9 am Eastern, on Robin's web site and YouTube channel:

(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #265, Dec. 9 2020)

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Select CMC Minister

  • Rev. Tony Ponticello is CMC Minister #20. He was ordained on Oct. 17, 1997. He is Executive Minister of Community…
  • Rev. Peter Graham is CMC Minister #40. He was ordained on Feb. 23, 2002. He serves on the CMC Board…
  • Deb Canja is a spiritual teacher dedicated to removing the obstacles that prevent us from experiencing self-love and inner peace.…
  • Rev. Joanie Schaeffer-Goss is CMC Minister #71. She was ordained on Feb. 16, 2014. She co-facilitates the "Southern Spirit Sisters"…
  • Rev. Paula Carpe is CMC minister #125. She was ordained Feb. 14, 2021. She teaches CMC's Wed. morning 9:00 a.m.…
  • Rev. Kim Wilson is CMC minister #85. She was ordained Mar. 15, 2015. She teaches CMC's Tue. evening A Course…
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