It’s Memorial Day, and my heart is with my beloved LeRoy, who dedicated 21 years of his life to serving our country — alongside so many others. As I hold him in my thoughts, I’m also soaking in the gift of this gorgeous sunny day. I’m not quite sure yet how I’ll spend it, but I trust the perfect way to embrace it will present itself.
Sunday was full of vibrant energy, and after the service, there was so much happening! The Garden team is hard at work, planting and preparing — if you’d like to be part of this wonderful effort, feel free to reach out to Scott Mazer at semazers@gmail.com.
A Course in Miracles also gathered, as they do every second and fourth Sunday. If you’re curious about joining or have any questions, Matt Purinton (mpurin@gmail.com) is happy to connect with you.
And on the fourth Sunday, our Power Up for the Wisdom Years group met. We had some great conversations and even shared helpful apps that make life a little easier as we grow in both age and wisdom. This group is co-facilitated by Connie Troumbly and me, so if you’re interested or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out at revpatbessey@gmail.com.
Hoping this holiday brings moments of gratitude, connection, and reflection for you, too!
A new series got underway on Sunday called Let’s Make It Easy. The focus of the first talk in the series was Always Pay Attention: The Power of Presence in Relationships. Topics briefly touched on were Awakening to Consciousness in Relationships, The Myth of Multitasking: We Miss the Moment, Presence as a Spiritual Practice, Presence is Power; What Happens When We Pay Attention.
There were three practices that you can apply to support you in becoming more aware of being present.
• The first is PAUSE. Before entering a conversation—pause. Take one deep breath. Put your phone down. Bring your body into stillness.
• The second is The Loving Look: Make intentional eye contact—not a stare-down, just a soft, loving gaze. Let your eyes say, I see you. I’m here.
• The third is The Mirror Question: Ask yourself quietly, in any interaction: “Am I paying attention right now?”
So today, may we remember: Love is easy when we are present. Healing is possible when we are awake. And attention—simple, sacred attention—is how we begin.
Should you want to watch the service, you’ll find it here.
Join me next week for Week 2: Speak the Truth. Paying attention is an essential prerequisite to speaking the truth; we cannot authentically communicate without first being present and aware of our thoughts, emotions, and interactions. Looking forward to sharing this with you!
I’m deeply grateful for each of you taking the time to read this. You truly are special!
You are a blessing in my life.
Rev. Patricia Bessey
