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JANUARY 2009 MINISTER’S LETTER “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on to the high calling of God…” Philippians 3:13 Beloved Friends, Happy New Year! The new year will bring with it different experiences one day at a time. The sun will rise and set, and each one will unfold as we expect it to, according to our thoughts, beliefs and attitude. Always remember that God is the Source of each day and our most important partner in creating the life we want. Emerson made a good observation, saying, “Any time is a good time if we know what to do with it.” Positive thinking creates positive living which creates a more fulfilling life. Reverend Eric Butterworth once shared his personal practice of what he does at the end of a year. He called it “A Backward Glance and a Forward Look.” Each day is a new beginning. With blessings of a bright and prosperous New Year,
TIME FOR A CHANGE?
Thank you to all who contributed gifts and items for our Interfaith Ministry Outreach Christmas Store Program. We filled the Critter Corral to overflowing! You opened your hearts with gifts and toys for families who might not have had a Christmas this year. You are the best! Our Christmas Santas, Bruce Landry and Steve Broom delivered the gifts to ICM’S Christmas Store. We filled the van to overflowing. We will be posting pictures on our Outreach Page on our website. Please look for it in the list when you click on ABOUT US on the menu on the home page on the left side. Then select OUTREACH on the right menu. Thank you for your generosity! We give thanks for all who contributed to our Gratitude Tree this year. Many reflected on the blessings of the past year and some planted a seed for blessings in the coming year. We raised just a little over $7000 for our church. Our tithe went on to help a church which needed a little help. We give thanks to God that we could be a channel of blessing to them. We see them receiving our tithe with love and knowing that we are a community of Unity churches that help each other, just as Jesus taught us to “Love one another.” We are still receiving tithes and love offerings from churches that knew we were affected by the Hurricane. The spiritual Law of Giving and Receiving always works. As we have tithed each month on all financial gifts to the church, including our Bookstore sales, we have opened the door to also receive. Thank you to all who gave to this special project. Thank you to God, who is our true Source! We were also able to follow up with the Rojas Family, our Christmas family from last year, who lost everything in the Hurricane. Their resolve in restoring their trailer is inspiring! A special thank you to Sara Thompson and her volunteers who helped them have a Christmas to remember. Sara has created a special friendship with this family and we have been able, through the generosity of Spirit, to help them know that Love is universal. God is Good ~ All the Time! Also, several churches have tithed to us during the past few months. One even sent a tithe for three months straight! We give thanks for our sister churches in ministry who heard that our members were affected and displaced by the Hurricane and wanted to help the church financially. We have always tithed every month on all the funds the church receives. We faithfully follow the Law of Giving and Receiving each month, knowing that God is our Source. We gratefully accepted these love offerings, knowing that it is just as important to receive as it is to give. Thank you to our Teams and volunteers that help each week in so many ways. The church depends on the gifts and talents of each volunteer and team member, especially in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Many stepped forward and helped to make sure that we had enough volunteers for services and to assist Carla in the office. You are loved and appreciated! And Thank You to everyone who is a part of our church family. You are important, no matter whether you are a regular attendee or someone new. You each bring spiritual energy that is vital to our church. And as we share our time, talent and treasure, we live the teachings of Christ who said to “Love one another as I have loved you.” You are the best! Reverend Steve and The Board of Trustees YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY We are excited to bring to all our teachers and assistants in Youth and Family Ministry the following training (which was rescheduled from November). The training will be facilitated by Marygrace Sorenson, SCUCA Children’s Ministry Consultant, who has extensive credentials and experience teaching the children and youth of Unity. We look forward to a rich learning environment and a great time for getting to know and enjoy each other as well. I strongly encourage you to talk to me if you have been considering serving in this vital way, so that you may take advantage of this opportunity. CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TRAINING Please call me by January 10th if you are interested or have questions I can be reached at (832) 657-7574. We must pre-register all participants and there is no cost to you! UNITY TREASURES: WHAT IS POSITIVE PRAYER? “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Positive prayer is a form of prayer taught and used throughout Jesus’ ministry and by His disciples. It consists of statement of Truth, like the one above, that acknowledge that God is already supplying whatever good thing we need. Positive prayer allows us accept the gifts of God and give thanks for them even before they have become apparent. Jesus taught this in the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 6:25-34. Speaking in ways that everyone could understand, Jesus was teaching that God was more than just the loving Father of us all. He teaches that God is divine mind, and the eternal, ever-present, all-wise and understanding principle of good that creates and sustains the universe. Jesus knew that God is always at work to supply every created thing whatever it needs to express the nature it was created to express. He knew that human beings were created to express the image and likeness of God. God, who supplies what birds and lilies and grass need to express their nature, certainly supplies what we each need to express our nature. Jesus used positive prayer because it was the form of prayer He was most familiar with. Positive prayer is seen in the Psalms, statements that affirm the presence and activity of God in all things. Read Psalm 23 to see this assurance. His use of positive prayer signified His belief in a God of unconditional love, the eternally active principle of absolute good. Jesus had utter confidence in God, trust that was not shaken by the most negative of circumstances. He encouraged his followers to develop that same degree of confidence and trust. He invites us to “practice what we preach.” The writings of Paul show the power of practicing positive prayer. Read Philippians 4:8 to see how Paul uses positive prayer. If we are to pray constantly, our thoughts must always be constant with the mind of God that dwells within us. We were created to be prosperous, joy-filled and fulfilled. God's great desire for us is to express our true nature, love. By practicing positive thoughts and beliefs, we allow God to do God's work through us and for us. Positive prayer is more than deliberate, conscious communication with God. It is the way to form a permanent attitude of mind that reflects the eternal, benevolent activity of God so that we may greater express our nature as children of God. TREASURER’S REPORT for NOVEMBER 2008 General Fund Income $ 30,241.36 Unity Church of the Bay Area's tithe for November was $3,020.00. It was blessed and $755.00 each was sent to the Association of Unity Churches and Unity School of Christianity. $755.00 was sent to our sister church, Unity of Kerrville, TX, in support of them. $755.00 was also sent to Positive Christianity, the Unity internet ministry of Reverend Chris Chenoweth that blesses so many people with prayer and inspirational messages each day. 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!
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