Georgia,
Wedding Minister, Gwinnett County, Berkeley Lake, Buford, Clarkson,
Dacula, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Pine lake, Loganville,
Norcross, Snellville, Stone Mountain, Sugar Hill, Suwanee. - Inter
Faith, Spiritual, Non Denominational & Civil Ceremonies, Hand
fasting, Christian, Renaissance. Vow Renewal, Baby Naming, rite of
Passage. - Spiritual Counseling Services.
Marriage
commitment, coming of Age and Birth are
three of the most significant
moments of our lives.
Theologians
and
sociologists alike have long criticized modern society for
being short on cultural rituals marking the
transitions of life. This failing comes to
us at great cost. A boy’s passage to manhood
and a woman's passage to womanhood was
traditionally marked by a clear event, such
as the inheritance of hunting tools,
secret knowledge or special ceremony. This same transition,
although no less critical today, has grown
ambiguous in our culture.
Historically,
meaningful rites of Passage were plentiful
and included marriage (e.g., handfasting) as
well as divorce and separation.
Coming-of-age rites were many, and included
not only birth, but also the celebration of
menarche and bequeathal of symbolic tools to
mark one’s passage to adulthood. To our
ancestors, life was seen as a circle with
many stops along the way, and “old age”
was treasured. This reverence was shown
through personal initiations into wisdom
(e.g., menopause), and finally observation
of the ultimate passage, death. Far from
being embarrassing moments of growing
obsolescence, every stage of human life was
celebrated as chapters in a grand whimsical
adventure.
Life
has been described as a series
of transitions from one stage to the next.
Accordingly, each stage has
three components:
Ending
one’s relationship with the familiar
(Separation - One must 'end what one was
doing and begin something new')
Introduction
to the threshold (Liminality - One must
then 'do what one has decided to do')
Rejoining
the social structure as a changed person
(Reintegration - One comes to the end
and 'the fulfillment of the doing
stops')
In order to be effective, a Rite of Passage needs to be
sacred. First, it should creatively dissolve
the barriers between your present situation
and the ideal one. Second, it should
celebrate your achievements while
tantalizing you with possibilities. Third,
it should be psychologically minded,
dramatic and playful. Using visualization,
incense, music, spiritual and archetypal
themes, a good Rite of Passage stirs the
imagination. For example, the gift of a
silver chalice might be granted by a mother
in celebration of her daughter’s newfound
ability to bring forth life within her womb.
So,
if you wish to mark your own chapter of
transformation, the SoUL Ministry can research
and design a ceremony that is rife with the
history and symbolism you deserve. Your Rite
of Passage can be conducted in special
regalia of your choice, in the beautiful
surroundings of your
favorite location (e.g., a sacred forest).
We are limited only by your imagination.
Rites
of Passage also make great gifts for that
special person in your life! Our
service is dedicated to
creating personalized, and loving ceremonies
to celebrate important life events for
people of all faiths or belief systems. We are very
pleased to offer this unique service to the
community, and are looking forward to your
call.
Contact
the SoUL Ministry today and ask about
designing a special Rite of Passage for you.
Rev.
Donald Gordon Carty, Personal Development
Institute Chaplain.
...listen to this message on Children and Marriage from Reverend
Donald Gordon Carty...
Wedding
Ceremonies that bridge traditional and
contemporary lifestyles
The
sacred journey you are about to take
together, is one of the most important
decisions of your life. Marriage is a very
transforming, magical, and enlightening
life experience. Your personalized wedding
ceremony is as special as the love you
share. One great way to show your love for
each other is through a customized Wedding
or Commitment Service that reflects the
beauty, commitment, and unity you both
share. In the future, your
customized wedding ceremony script becomes a
wonderful conversation starter, and keepsake.
Your customized wedding ceremony will
reflect your wishes, cultural elements,
theme, music, favorite quotes, beliefs,
personal life experiences, and personal vows
of love.
We help
couples celebrate their different heritages
and fully respect and integrate the
multi-faceted backgrounds of families into
our services.
It is
our joy to officiate
an interfaith, traditional, non-traditional,
civil, non-denominational wedding, vow-renewal,
or commitment, at your request.
Discovering how best to journey through this experience we call
"life." Raise your
aspirations. In times past, only those who
were troubled and hurt sought the help of a
professional to help them heal and take
charge of their lives once again; However,
in today’s world of enlightenment, we
recognize that we do not have to be broken
or wounded to seek help in creating the
lives we imagine. In today’s world, people
turn to the professionals of all walks of
life to assist them with everything from
diet, personal fitness, to investment of
money. Why then, shouldn’t we turn to a
professional to assist us with our most
important asset - - our life’s spiritual
journey? If you have a desire to shift your life and chart
your own course to the destination of your
choosing and would like assistance in making
that desire a reality, please contact
us.
Baby
naming/welcoming Ceremony, Home Blessing
Ceremony,
We
can help you Create a personal Rite of
Passage Ceremony
Contact
the SoUL Ministry today and ask about
designing a special Rite of Passage or
Ceremony for you.
Rev.
Donald Gordon Carty, Personal
Development Institute
Chaplain.
Our
deepest fear is not that we are
inadequate. Our
deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond
measure. It
is our light, not our darkness that most
frightens us. We
ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually,
who are you not to be? You
are a child of God. Your
playing small does not serve the world. There
is nothing enlightened about shrinking so
that other people won't feel insecure around
you. We
are all meant to shine, as children do. We
were born to make manifest the glory of God
that is within us. It
is not just in some of us; it is in
everyone. And
as we le
t our light shine, we unconsciously give
other people permission to do the same. As
we are liberated from our own fear, our
presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne
Williamson - Quoted b
y Nelson Mandela in his
Inaugural Speech 1994. - a Return to Love
Celebrating
the Spirit which resides with us and in us ALL
The boundaries and barriers which separate
us are learned thoughts which are becoming
less valid as improved communications and
technologies introduce us to new ideas,
customs and the spiritual depth of other
cultures. We are at a point in history like
no other, where the walls are crumbling and
we are coming face to face with our fellow
human beings. No longer does the concept of
us vs. them, you vs. me ring true.
The
Spirit of Universal Life (SoUL) Ministry has a
spiritual philosophy, which honors and
values the fundamental beauty and wisdom in
ALL religious traditions. We believe that
there are many paths to God, and that all
are valid and worthy of respect. God created
humans in an amazing variety - we come in
all sizes, shapes and colors and with
different needs and tastes. Some people will
be best nourished by one type of food while
others will thrive best on something
different. So, too, will different people be
nourished spiritually by different
traditions, is this not so? We believe that
it is not the form of religious practice
that is important, but the spiritual intent
that underlies it. We recognize that God is
in all things and in ALL people.
The
SoUL Ministry
strives to promote true respect for all
diverse paths to God. Respect is different
from tolerance, for tolerance implies merely
"putting up with" something you
find disagreeable, whereas respect involves
valuing, appreciating and accepting
something for its' own true innate nature.
"religious experiences connect us with a greater,
or further, reality not accessible in our normal cognitive relations to
the world"
What
Defines our Ministry?
We seek to promote understanding, harmony
and love among people by emphasizing what
is universal in the teachings of the many
paths and faith traditions.
We have chosen to learn about, respect
and appreciate the diversity paths to
Oneness, and to look for the universal truth
contained in each one.
We are dedicated to serving the spiritual
needs of all those who seek our guidance,
counsel, and assistance, without regard to
race, religion, socio economic status,
sexual orientation, ethnic background,
gender or age.
We are committed to personal,
professional, spiritual, and ethical
integrity and growth of all people, and in
holding ourselves and each other accountable
for "walking the talk" as
ministers, guides, and teachers.
"People
say that what they are seeking is a Meaning for Life. I
believe that what we are seeking is an Experience for Being Alive"
A
Bridge between Traditional and Contemporary
Lifestyles.
It
is our joy to officiate an interfaith,
traditional, non-traditional,
civil, and non-denominational wedding,
vow-renewal, or commitment, house blessing, baby
blessing -naming- grounding, coming of
age, rite of passage, memorials or funeral services,
at your request.
Theologians
and 