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February 2009 MINISTER’S LETTER Don’t copy the customs and behaviors of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by the way you think. Romans 12:2 (NLT) Beloved friends, February is here already! It amazes me how, even living life one day at a time with God, how quickly the days add up. A sense of order and calmness has returned to our church. Even though there is still plenty of work ahead for families still recovering from their losses from Hurricane Ike, there is an optimistic feeling and attitude I have been noticing each Sunday in the New Year. The last Wednesday of February is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. I have always believed in the acronym of Let’s Eliminate Negative Thinking. It is so in tune with our Unity philosophy of the creative power of our thoughts. I believe we all wish that every thought we held in mind was positive, life-affirming and non-judgmental. But we are all human beings and sometimes fall short of that mark. Lent is a wonderful time to practice being consciously aware of our thoughts to keep in alignment with the Truth that God has created for us an abundant universe to live in. All that we need can and will be provided for if we but ask for God’s help. There's an old Greek proverb that says, “The bow that is always bent will soon break.” What that proverb seems to imply is that the bow that is always under pressure, if it never releases or lets go, will soon break into a million pieces. I believe it is an appropriate analogy for the pressures and stresses we face in our daily living. It is time to let the stress and tension go and put our faith and trust in God. In so doing we will avoid the downward spiral into old patterns of negativity or pessimism. Instead, our faith will be quickened and we will know greater freedom and see new opportunities and blessings. Charles Fillmore, in his book, Keep A True Lent, wrote: “One of the most valuable ways of observing the Lenten season is to fast from (loose and let go) the belief that men or nations can stand in the way of God's good will for man. Every follower of Jesus who would keep Lent in the true Christian spirit follows the way of prayer and fasting that He taught His disciples…the way to keep the soul cleansed and purified that it may feel the presence of God.” I invite you into the daily practice of beginning your day with God, affirming God as your Source and co-creator of life. Then, be consciously aware of your thoughts, willing to release those that do not create joy, happiness and peace within you. Thank God each night for each day, and any insights you have received. The result will be a deeper connection with God, and a knowing faith that brings with it healing and incredible joy! P.S. The Association of Unity Churches and Unity School of Christianity have come together as one online! Visit www.unity.org to see the new Unity! Always remember that God is Good ~ All the Time! MICHAEL’S BLOG During our annual “White Stone” service, the word that appeared immediately for me was “forgiveness.” At that particular time, I didn’t realize that I needed to forgive anyone. As the days progressed and this “domino-looking” piece of white rock rattled around the console of my car of which I’m in quite often, the realization of forgiveness got louder and louder. I noticed, (first step) that I did have some major resentments. I had resentments towards God for sending Ike our way. I had resentments toward the corporate thieves that because of their greed, created the financial crisis we are in. I had resentments toward co-workers, family members and business partners. I had resentment for the minor physical condition that I contracted several weeks before Christmas. I had resentments toward myself for all the “should’a, would’a, and could’as” that I wanted to do in 2008. Noticing, (being the first step) allowed me to start the forgiving process. By forgiving, I am in NO way saying that I am condoning someone’s behavior, or saying it’s OK that I was hurt. I’m just saying I forgive you. I continue on a daily basis, of which I get a lot of opportunities, to practice my “forgiving.” Being the person I want to be is so much easier for me when I notice those resentments and forgive. Thank you Reverend Diane and Reverend Steve for making this Service an annual part of our Church. Michael Goldreyer VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER! The Men’s Group is hosting a special evening. All are invited to come together and celebrate Valentine’s Day. Come and join in for a wonderful evening of good food, fellowship and fun! So if you are married, engaged or single, make your reservations now in the church office! Deadline for reservations is Sunday, February 8th by 2 p.m. SUNDANCE GRILL II IS LOCATED AT THE WATERFORD HARBOR MARINA. TURN NORTH ON ADMIRALTY WAY(STOPLIGHT) NORTH ON FM 2094. BEAR TO THE RIGHT AND FOLLOW THE SIGNS. AT THE CIRCLE, FOLLOW IT 3⁄4 WAY AROUND AND TURN RIGHT ONTO MARINERS DRIVE. FOLLOW MARINERS DIVE TO SUNDANCE GRILL II ON THE LEFT. WE WILL GATHER IN ONE OF THEIR PRIVATE DINING ROOMS. During the month of January we have been watching spiritual movies that reveal the principles of Truth we have found in Unity. Our last movie will be Wednesday, February 4th. Then we will begin studying the book, The Simple Truth, by Mary-Alice and Richard Jafolla on February 11th. This simple, yet profound book covers the Unity teachings. Movies and the class are offered on a love offering basis. On Ash Wednesday, we will have a shortened class after the service. ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY Our Y&FM teachers and assistants are thrilled and energized with the incredible devotion and loving support you are giving us. Thank you one and all for what God is building through us. We appreciate your support! And look for our first Family program, coming up in March. The best is yet to come! Joy to Our Youth! Amy Hart Groblewski, TREASURER’S REPORT for DECEMBER 2008 General Fund Income $ 26,080.69 Unity Church of the Bay Area's tithe for December was $2,578.88. It was blessed and $644.72 each was sent to the Association of Unity Churches and Unity School of Christianity. $1,289.44 was sent to a sister Unity church, Unity of the Black Hills, SD, in support of their ministry. 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! PRINCIPLES OF TRUTH: PROSPERITY! Man comes into the world financed by God, with all that he desires or requires already on his pathway. This supply is released through faith and the Spoken Word. “If you can only believe, all things are possible to him that believes.” (Mark 9:23) For example, a woman came to me one day to tell me of her experience in using an affirmation she had read in my book, The Game of Life and How to Play It. She was without experience but desired a good position on the stage. She took the affirmation, “Infinite Spirit, open the way for my great abundance. I am an irresistible magnet for all that belongs to me by Divine Right.” She was given a very important part in a successful opera. She said, “It was a miracle, due to that affirmation, which I repeated hundreds of times.” I now draw from the abundance of the Universe my immediate and endless supply. All channels are free! All doors are open! I now release the gold mine within me. I am linked with an endless golden stream of prosperity which comes to me under grace in perfect ways. Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of abundance forever. My God is a God of plenty and I now receive all that I desire or require, and more. My ships come in over a calm sea, under grace in perfect ways. All that is mine by Divine Right is now released and reaches me under grace in miraculous ways. Unexpected doors fly open, unexpected channels are free, and an endless abundance is poured out upon me. My supply is endless, inexhaustible and immediate and comes to me under grace in perfect ways. I am fearless in letting money go out, knowing God is my immediate and endless supply. Excerpted from Your Word Is Your Wand, by Florence Scovel Shinn 2-4 BOOK CLUB The 2-4 Book Club will be carpooling to hear Bishop John Shelby Spong in February! Plan to join us on February 13, 2009! The Foundation for Contemporary Theology is hosting this powerful weekend lecture at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Houston. Bishop Spong will be speaking on Reordering the Center of Christianity. He is the retired Bishop of the Diocese of Newark (NJ), and known all over the world as a prophet, in and out of the pulpit. He calls for a non-theistic rethinking of Christian belief. His book, Why Christianity Must Change or Die, is a powerful book that invites people to really look at their understanding of God. All are invited to join the Book Club for this insightful lecture on Friday, February 13th. We are going to meet at the church at 6 p.m. and then carpool up to St. Paul’s Methodist Church. We will forego our regular dinner afterwards. Reordering the Center of Christianity with Bishop John Shelby Spong THE VEGETARIAN SOCIETY OF THE BAY AREA SPECIAL ON UCBA COOKBOOKS! TRASH BASH Once a year thousands of volunteers gather along the Texas waterways to do their part in cleaning up the environment and participate in the largest statewide event to educate the public about the importance of our water resources. This is even more important in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Unity Church of the Bay members are invited to participate in this wonderful outreach. Those who have participated in the past have shared their experiences of how meaningful it was to help our environment and make new friends. Each participant must sign a registration form, also known as the liability form, for the event. Registration is usually done at the cleanup site the day of the event. For more information about this important outreach, visit www.trashbash.org. There you can download information (Safety Information…what to wear) or to download and complete the registration form in advance. Come join in the fun! Park under the Boat Ramp at Highway 146, Seabrook 8:30 am - 9:00 am Registration at the Boat Ramp Sit 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Debris Cleanup (see Safety Instructions) 1:00 pm Free lunch served by the Rotary Club, recognition of sponsors, exhibits to learn about our watershed, music entertainment, door prizes, souvenirs. Youth/scout activities to earn participation patch.
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