JUNE 2008
Beloved Friends,
I am excited about the completion of the interior of our church. It is beautiful and I am so thankful for all the work that everyone put into it. We can be very proud of what we have accomplished. Everyone who visits remarks on what a wondrous work we have done, with the help of our contractor. Mr. Herring went above and beyond the norm in making everything work to not disrupt the operation of the church. We are so grateful for his care and diligence, along with his foreman, Roger!
June is here and along with it the start of the summer vacation time for our children. Many of us wil be planning trips and outing to enjoy our time off. It is good to keep balance and enjoy life by taking time to rest, renew, explore – whatever brings you pleasure and joy. A wise person once said, “When you start to look like your driver’s license picture – you know you need a vacation.”
Balance is an important part of life. I am reminded of a story of one family’s vacation. A family in the East was planning a month's vacation to the West Coast. It was going to be a great adventure, driving across country and then stopping at places along the way on the return. At the last minute the father’s work responsibilities prevented him from going, but Mom insisted that she was capable of driving and that she and the kids would go ahead. Dad got out the maps and planned the route and where the family should stop each night. A couple of weeks later, the father completed his extra work responsibilities. He decided to surprise the family, so he flew to a West Coast city without calling them. Then he took a taxi out into the country on a highway that, according to his travel plan, the family should be driving on later that day. The taxi driver dropped him off on the side of the road. Dad waited there until he saw the family car coming, then stuck out his thumb as a hitchhiker. As Mom and the kids drove past, they did a double take. One of the kids said, “Hey wasn’t that Dad?” Mom screeched to a stop, backed up to the hitchhiker and the family had a joyful reunion. Later, when a newspaper reporter asked the man why he would do such a crazy thing, he responded, “After I die, I want my kids to be able to say, ‘Dad sure was fun, wasn’t he?’”
Life is meant to be joyful – to be a celebration of the gift freely given by God. Imagine if you could create a way to make each day feel like a vacation with your attitude and outlook on life. On June 22nd, we are having a Celebration! We will celebrate the completion of the first phase of remodeling, the inside of our church. Come and be a part of it at our 10:30 a.m. Service. Invite your friends to come and experience the special joy and pride we will share this day. Always remember – God is Good ~ All the Time!
In Spirit and in Truth,
Reverend Stephen P. Horn
Michael's Blog
Several days before my first Board meeting as Board President, a former board member requested time at the meeting to share what was on her mind. She came and voiced her concerns. She was heard, and her load was lightened, releasing those weighted concerns.
This same opportunity is open to each and everyone of us. You have a Board that wants to hear from you and address your concerns. We respect your privacy. Your message will be confidential; no one will be privy to your conversation, unless you share it with others. But please be willing to bring your concerns and joys to the whole board and our minister.
There's something I want to share with you. A while ago, I attended a training where I learned exercises that helped me deal with some major resentments I had been carrying around, for years. I learned that there were "costs" and "payoffs" associated with those resentments. I also learned that the costs were a lot pricier than the payoffs. First the payoffs: I got to be right. I got to talk about the other person. I got to tell the story. I got to be "better than". And, I got to blame the other person for my shortcomings. Bottom line, I didn't have to be responsible for my actions.
Equally importantly, I learned that the cost I was paying was huge. My health, my rest, my peace of mind, and on & on, and wow...my other relationships suffered. A major resentment was toward my father who had passed away years before. If only he would have behaved the way I wanted him to, then my life would be "fixed"... I came to realize that that judgment, that long-term resentment, that overwhelming price to pay, was my own choice. How did I choose to be, in spite of other people's behaviors? I made a choice.
As you know, we can not control the way other people think, nor behave. We can only hope to control our own selves. Make a choice. How do you want to be? And keep in mind, that your Board is at your service.
With Peace, Love, Honor, Respect and Understanding,
Michael
Youth & Family Ministry
This is such an exciting time for all of us at Unity Church of the Bay Area! And we are so pleased with our rooms and all the accommodations for our children and teens. Rev Steve and the Board also approved funds to purchase some new tables and chairs that will be age appropriate for our youth. Thank you, God! Thank you, Rev Steve and our Board! Thank you to each and every one who helped to create this beautiful new facility for our children! God is Good ~ All the Time! Especially at UCBA!
Our new Youth & Family Ministry Wing, Uniteen and YOU rooms are ready for the children from new families we will attract. Class volunteers are needed to ensure we can honor and serve our children. We desire your help! If you are familiar with Unity teaching and have attended church regularly for at least six months, I invite you to stretch and become part of a Ministry that will return to you incredible blessings. Our Unity curriculum provides us with great material to share with every age group – from toddlers to teens. Let us help them to learn, experience and live our Truth. Our future generation is right in front of us – in a world that is sometimes confusing and uncertain. Now is the time to nurture and help prepare them to live and thrive in love and peace. Please contact me at church or at home (281-339-2096) to volunteer and lovingly serve in our Youth & Family Ministry in any way you are guided – teacher, assistant or nursery helper.
There is a beautiful poem by James Dillet Freeman which speaks to the inspiration I receive from or little ones and what they reflect back to me…
Life’s Child
When I was a school boy, I confess
My favorite subject was recess,
And still I do not find it hard
To loiter in my heart’s schoolyard
Entranced by all the things that are
Such bright adornments of this star.
I pray I shall not ever be
So grownup that the child in me
Will have no wish to run and play
And sing and dance the hours away.
Oh, may I sometimes in my mind
Leap up and leave my cares behind
And live as if I truly were
Life’s child and chief inheritor.
Youthful Blessings!
Chris Bennett
CELEBRATION SUNDAY
It is time to celebrate the completion of the interior of our church! Many hours of our time, energy, talent and treasure have been given to help make the inside of our church beautiful and functional to serve our church community. Our contractor, Herring Construction, has gone above and beyond to help with modifications and changes to create a smooth and orderly transition during the construction. A special thank you to each and every one of you who helped in this beautiful transformation!
We are having a special service on June 22, 2008. We are combining the early and late services so that we can all celebrate together at the 10:30 a.m. service. We are having a special guest speaker, John Bradshaw, who will be speaking on The Love That Is Unity. John is a world-renowned author, speaker and workshop facilitator who has brought healing energy to millions of people with his work. We are blessed to have him with us for this special day! (He also will return the following weekend for a powerful workshop. See the details in the newsletter. You can learn more John and his healing work at www.johnbradshaw.com)
Afterwards, we will have a potluck luncheon. So, plan to be with us. Sign up at the Welcome Table and let us know what side dish you are bringing. Invite a friend! We will have plenty of joy and love flowing through the church to share!
CELEBRATION SUNDAY
JUNE 22, 2008
10:30 A.M. SERVICE
POTLUCK LUNCHEON TO FOLLOW
(THERE WILL BE NO 8:30 A.M. SERVICE THIS SUNDAY)
Unity Church of the Bay Area
Welcomes John Bradshaw!
June 27-28, 2008
LOVE: SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE
John Bradshaw, MA, MSP, THD.
For the past four decades, John Bradshaw has combined his exceptional skills as counselor, author, management consultant, theologian, philosopher, and public speaker to become one of the leading figures in the fields of addiction/recovery, family systems, relationships, Spiritual and emotional growth and management training. John brought the phrases dysfunctional families and inner child into mainstream society. His dynamic training and therapies are practiced all over the world. John has truly touched and transformed the lives of millions. You can find out more about John Bradshaw and his healing work at www.johnbradshaw.com.
Friday, June 27, 2008 ~ 7:30 – 9:00 P.M. ~ $25
This evening will be devoted to an overview outlining the two dominant unconscious blocks to rigorous honesty and how they distort intimacy and love. Living in a rigorously honest way is a difficult task. It must be done by becoming honest with oneself because no one can be more honest with others than one can with his or her self. You can achieve this personal self-honesty!
There are two major blocks to personal honesty and they are both partially unconscious. Sometimes we have been living in a defensive false self for so long these blocks are completely unconscious. There are ways that we can become conscious of them if we are willing. When we are able to speak the truth (i.e. the truth of ourselves), we can love in an unconditional way and receive the love of others. Saturday’s workshop is designed to help make our unconscious deceptions conscious.
Saturday, June 28, 2008 ~ 10:00 A.M. – 4 P.M. Experiential Workshop ~ $70
Speaking the Truth in Love: Removing the Unconscious Blocks to Rigorous Honesty
John will lead workshop participants through a workshop guiding you through several ways to help you become more rigorously honest. In the morning, he will help you look at areas of toxic shame, which interlock and form what is called your Shadow Personality. You will have the opportunity to inventory wounds from your family of origin and childhood in the afternoon. Their non-resolution keep you imprisoned in the past, contaminating your current life. New freedom, honesty and love can be yours by doing this important work!
(Hour Break for Lunch on your own – map of nearby restaurants/fast food supplied)
SPECIAL PRICING! FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: $89.00 PER PERSON
BOTH PROGRAMS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
Tickets are available by phone (VISA and MASTERCARD accepted).
Tickets are also available in the Church Bookstore, Church office or at the door.
AVENUES OF PROSPERITY FOR OUR CHURCH
There are different ways our church can profit from purchases you make on the Internet or in the community!
Krogers has a new Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program that replaces their old Share Card program. You can pick up a flier at church, or paste this URL into your web browser to download and print the flier: www.krogerneighbortoneighbor.com/pdf/10000080283.pdf
The instructions are simple. Take the flier and have the cashier scan it with your Kroger Plus card. This will attach your purchases to our church and we will continue to benefit from your grocery purchases. This will allow you to use only one card for purchases! And, the card is active for purchases in Texas and Louisiana! Did you know that if you purchase $100 in groceries at Kroger each month, you get a discount on Kroger gas?
Do you ever buy at Amazon.com. If you go to our website, www.unityofbayarea.org and click on the BOOKSTORE link, you can then click on the Amazon.com link. If you save and bookmark this in your favorites, every purchase through this link creates a profit for the church!
God abundantly supplies our every need, even in places we least expect!
TREASURER’S REPORT for APRIL 2008
General Fund Income $ 16,847.38
Expenses -20,605.37
Net General Fund Income - 3,757.99
Building Fund Income + 0.00
Total Income $ - 3,757.99
Unity Church of the Bay Area's tithe for February was $1749.00. It was blessed and $874.50 each was sent to the Association of Unity Churches and Unity School of Christianity. Your continued financial support allows our church to grow and flourish and carry the message of positive, practical Christianity in the Bay area. Thank you, and thank you God!
Building Fund*** As of this printing, we have paid Herring Construction the majority of the contract for reconstruction. We have also added a new state-of-the-art fire alarm system.
Unity Church of the Bay Area Board of Trustees:
Michael Goldreyer: President
goldreyer@yahoo.com
Home: 281-334-4911
Cell: 281-684-4094
Bob Lawson: Vice-President
rwlawson2003@swbell.net
Home: 281-218-8869
Cell: 713-628-2266
Sylvia Hicks: Treasurer
hickssyl@verizon.net
Home: 281-326-3334
Cell: 409-771-9872
Sara Thompson: Secretary
srthompson36@sbcglobal.net
Home: 281-291-0472
Joe Skinner: Trustee
wheelhead8@aol.com
Home: 281-479-6363
Cell: 832-498-7552
Jo McPherson: Trustee
Enjaymcpherson@aol.com
Home: 409-927-4603
Cell: 409-765-9872
Reverend Stephen Horn:
minister@unityofbayarea.org
Church: 281-554-2450
Cell: 832-338-8738
