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DECEMBER 2008 MINISTER’S LETTER “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Beloved Friends, Christmas is the most important season of the year in the spiritual calendar. It begins with Advent – a time of preparation for the rebirth of Christ in our hearts. It comes into its fullness when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ – our Way-Shower, Elder Brother and Master Teacher. We know that Jesus grew into the perfect expression of the fullness of God in human form, Jesus the Christ, teaching the way for us to grow spiritually. The themes each week in Advent are Hope, Peace, Love and Joy. We know that these Divine gifts are based upon faith. The world famous psychologist William James tells this true story in his book, Varieties of Religious Experience. One night a man stood all alone on a deserted hilltop. It was one of those beautiful nights when stars fill the sky, love fills the heart, and peace fills the soul. As the man stood there, waves of joy began to sweep over him. He felt like someone who was listening to a magnificent symphony. All the notes were harmonizing in a way that made his heart burst with emotion. Suddenly, the man began to feel that another person was present on the hilltop with him. Then a remarkable thing happened. The other person’s presence grew so intense that it became more real to him than his own presence. Later, the man said, “My faith in God was born that night on that hilltop.” In that moment, I believe he realized a world that is infinitely bigger, infinitely more beautiful and infinitely more real than the one we live in. I believe this is the same experience that was and still is the message of Jesus Christ. Let us know that we are never alone – God is always with us. God has given us an abundant world, with resources to fill our every need. We need only ask. Please join us this Advent and Christmas Season as we celebrate the birth of Christ in our minds, hearts and soul. The past year has been filled with incredible experiences that have pulled us in many directions. Let us find peace and joy this Christmas. Let us let the earthly world take care of itself, and focus on our inner spiritual world. Let us remember the true meaning of Christmas, joining together to celebrate the true reason for the season – the birth of Jesus Christ. With blessings of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy, MICHAEL’S BLOG My family renewed our annual Thanksgiving reunion this year and realized the “Thanks” we all have received over the year by our giving. Some pretty huge gifts! We had family from California, Louisiana and all parts of Texas. What fun it was, and I’m still stuffed. We all have had enormous issues to deal with this year – family and friends’ well being, Hurricane Ike and financial turmoil in our economy. Our church has also experienced these same issues and we are a stronger family as a result. Our church financial outlook received three important blessings. First was the great financial support of our church attendees. Secondly, we were given a two month moratorium on our mortgage, which gave us the ability to increase our cash position for daily operating expenses. The third blessing came in the form of tithes from other churches that heard the devastation that the hurricane caused our church families’ lives and homes. This combination of love and generosity proves the power of conscious giving to our spiritual home. We tithe every month as a church on all offerings to the church, and we receive in return! Our financials appear to be turning around and I’m very thankful for that. Our church group appears to have established a closer bond with each other and for that, I am also thankful. I visualize a positive 2009, with growth in attendance and the many blessings we will continue to receive by our giving. It is a pleasure and an honor to serve as your president. I appreciate and value your trust. From my family, Reverend Steve and the entire Board of Trustees, we wish you a joyous holiday season. May you be blessed in all your endeavors. Have a safe, happy and healthy New Year.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES AT UCBA Christmas is a sacred season in which we remember and experience again the birth of the Christ child in our hearts. It is a time to prepare for spiritual rebirth, as the apostle Paul said, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” We began Advent on November 30th, and in each week continue to celebrate the gifts of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy. We plan special services Christmas Eve and into the New Year. Let us dedicate ourselves this sacred season to living in the presence of God. We invite you to the special services listed below: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 ~ Christmas Eve Candlelighting Service ~ 8 p.m.
THE GRATITUDE TREE A beautiful tradition we have created in our church is a tree of Angels in our Sanctuary. It was originally created to raise the funds to buy our own church home. For the last few years, all the funds have been dedicated to the Building Fund. It has been a great blessing because your generosity through donations at Christmas helped us to bring our vision and dream alive – our own church home for our spiritual family! And, we still have money left in the Building Fund for future projects! As the Board and I reflected and prayed at our November meeting, we were guided to continue the Angel Tree. This year, we are naming it the Gratitude Tree. As you reflect on this past year, even in the wake of Hurricane Ike, I imagine you will see many blessings. This is a beautiful way of honoring God’s abundance in your life and helping provide for our church home. We want to continue to let the whole Bay Area know what a special church we are and the message we carry of positive, practical Christianity. As in years past, we will place an angel on the tree for every $100 donated to the Gratitude Fund. What you give in gratitude for this special demonstration of your thanksgiving is your choice. Give what you are guided to give above your regular donation. Even if you do not give $100, as we hit every $100 point we will add an angel to the tree. Let’s fill the tree with angels of gratitude and thanksgiving! Please write GRATITUDE on your check memo line or Credit Card envelope. We are a prosperous community. It is because of a consciousness of the Truth of giving and receiving. Know that whatever you give in love is always returned to you multiplied!
This year we have chosen ICM's Christmas Store as our Sharing Project for Christmas. Hurricane Ike and the present economy have created an even greater need this Christmas. The Store gives parents an opportunity to choose free gifts for their children and families. All gifts must be new and unwrapped. Below is a list of suggested gifts for children of all ages. Use your imagination! Gift cards are also welcomed! Please bring your gifts to church by SUNDAY DECEMBER 14, 2008! Baby Gifts: Children's Gifts: Teen Gifts: Family Gifts: We are blessed at Unity Church of the Bay Area. Please search your heart and join in helping to make those less fortunate than us have a better Christmas. Our gifts will make a difference to those living right here in our community. Again, please bring your gifts to church by SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008! If you have a truck and are willing to help transport the gifts on Sunday after services, please see Carla. YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY I am profoundly grateful to our church family, our Board, Reverend Steve, Reverend Diane, and all the volunteers that have participated in our team for the honor of serving as your Youth & Family Ministry. I am especially grateful to our children and teens for all their wisdom they have shared with me through their ideas, words, artistic creations, and the best hugs ever! God is Good All the Time and Divine Order is active in all that we do. I am pleased to announce that Amy Groblewski has agreed to serve as our new Youth & Family Ministry Director beginning this month. Amy brings many gifts to this role with a new energy, great organizational skills and a sincere dedication to serve our spiritual community through this vital team. Thank you, Amy, for your wonderful spirit and willingness to move into this role! I will continue to serve as a volunteer in our Y&FM team as I don’t know that I could ever not be a part of it. I am nurtured in a way that is so heartfelt words are often inadequate. Looking directly into the eyes of our children and teens is connecting to God in a way that deepens my faith and reminds me of what life is all about. Being a part of their lives, even for a few moments in time is a blessing that also provides incredible, magical and unforgettable memories. Thank you all for your support, prayers and love. And please continue to hold us in God’s light as we grow, transition our leadership and serve our youth.. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Youthful blessings, FROM OUR NEW YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY DIRECTOR First, let me say how grateful I am for the opportunity of serving as the new Youth and Family Ministry Director. And secondly, how excited we are (the kids too!) that our beloved Chris Bennett will still be teaching in Elementary two Sundays a month. Chris has been such a blessing to all of us teachers in Sunday School for over six years. I especially appreciated her loving and flexible attitude while our church was in transition/construction. This change in Directors is blessed by Chris’ continued presence as a teacher and as a mentor as we move forward. We love and appreciate you Chris! I’d like to share with you how I was called to take this position. I’d been going through some “pre-empty nest” sadness – our only child, Ryan, will be going off to college next year. I prayed about it one Sunday morning in my quiet time. I got a strong message that I needed to seek opportunities be with children more. That morning when I went to church, Chris told me she was resigning as the Director and asked me to consider the position. Hmmmmm…sometimes the answers come fast and furious. I also want to remind myself and you that we are the Youth and Family Ministry. We are here to also serve families – whether they are single folks, blended families, empty nesters, single parents and their kids, or committed couples with and without kids – all have the important need to belong and be a part of a church family. We’ll be asking you more about how we can better support your family. Stay tuned…I know God has some exciting things in store for us to grow our church family! Amy Hart Groblewski CHRISTMAS PEACE Accept this gift of Christmas Peace. Of hate and fear and condemnation, My forgiveness is the means Accept this gift of Christmas peace, By Ann Rasch TREASURER’S REPORT for OCTOBER 2008 General Fund Income $ 24,356.40 Unity Church of the Bay Area's tithe for October was $2,390.00. It was blessed and $597.53 each was sent to the Association of Unity Churches and Unity School of Christianity. $1,195.00 was sent to our AUC Region, SCUCA, of which we are a member. Your continued financial support allows our church to flourish and carry the message of positive, practical Christianity in the Bay area. Thank you, and thank you God! SPECIAL ON UCBA COOKBOOKS! Buy one of our great UCBA Cookbook and receive a free book, I Turn To The Light!
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