The
Universal Center for Positive Living held its first service
on Sept. 1 in Baker Hall at the Church of the Holy Nativity,
1917 W. 93rd St. The site was chosen after a long
search for a locale that integrated beauty, comfort and
harmony, in a multicultural community that would be open to
the church’s nonjudgmental mission of helping everyone
understand their spiritual magnificence.
Rev.
Margo Ruark and Rev. Cheryl Hawkins, co-pastors and
co-founders, met in ministerial training in Oak Park and, in
service, discovered their shared goal of teaching people how
good they are.
"What we
have [at The Universal Center for Positive Living] applies
to everyone because everyone has a mind and whether they
realize it or not, they are creating their experience," said
Rev. Hawkins. She discussed the major tenets of the church
by first explaining that everyone’s image and likeness at
the spiritual core is good. Second, the UCPL believes that
our thoughts and experience create our reality. For
instance, if a congregant wanted to quit smoking, the
Reverends might encourage the smoker to look at the moments
in her day when she craved a cigarette so that even if the
congregant lapsed in her smoke-free effort, she might better
understand why she is smoking. In turn, the
congregant would find liberation and ultimately,
empowerment.
"You are
the only one controlling your life," said Rev. Hawkins. With
this belief in mind, she mentions that no thought is free
from challenge. In fact, UCPL teaches its congregants to
focus on the present and the decisions within their actual
power. Once a person makes an active decision, the entire
world will assist with that decision. Congregants are
encouraged to examine what they believe and what choices
they are making as a result of this thinking.
"We work
with intelligence intelligently," said Rev. Ruark.
Dr. Ernest
Holmes founded the Religious Science Church in 1926 as a
means to gather truthful ideas from a variety of religions
and beliefs. What began as a philosophy gradually became a
synthesis of world religion. This encompassing nature is
best expressed through the selected teachings of the UCPL,
which are taken from sources as diverse as the Bible and
Koran, and excerpted from Jesus, Buddha, Einstein and the
Sufis, to name a few.
Both
Reverends were drawn to the Religious Science Church for
different reasons. Rev. Ruark found that the Religious
Science Church brought together all of her talents including
her master’s degrees in philosophy and business. She has
been at the Oak Park teaching center for the Religious
Science Church since 1995 and it wasn’t until she met Rev.
Hawkins that they both realized they had a greater mission
to teach others about their true goodness.
Rev.
Hawkins, who came from a Baptist family, described her
parents as, "cool — they wanted their children to choose
their own religion." Rev. Hawkins explained that she was
looking for a church where God is good and once she
discovered the Religious Science Church, it felt "like
coming home."
People who
attend UCPL can expect to learn how to live a good,
prosperous, and creative life through positive living and a
healing ministry. Community members who are "tired of
feeling bad about themselves," mentioned Rev. Hawkins, or
simply want a place where they can come on Sunday and talk
about God are encouraged to check out the UCPL.
The
Universal Center for Positive Living is not the first church
to utilize Baker Hall under the urging of Father James Nako,
the Rector of the Church of the Holy Nativity, which is one
of the oldest congregations in the community. He said he was
impressed by the energy of both Revs. Ruark and Hawkins and
was eager to give them a time and place to organize their
congregation on the south side of Chicago. While different
beliefs exist in both churches, Father Nako explained it
best when he said, "The Spirit moves in many ways different
from our own worship and traditions, yet still we wanted to
give them the opportunity to express the Spirit as they are
so moved." This appreciation for people of all faiths is
apparent in discussions with Reverends Ruark and Hawkins and
Fr. Nako.
Members of
the community who are interested in learning more about the
Religious Science Church and its new congregation, the
Universal Center for Positive Living, may want to consider
the introductory and advanced classes offered at the Church.
Regular Sunday services are at 11:30 a.m. in Baker Hall, and
on Sun., Oct. 3, Rev. Hawkins’ talk will be titled, "No
Problem." Persons can call 415-1225 or visit
