May 2008

“May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!”
Proverbs 23:25

Beloved Friends,

May is the month in which memories of my mother return to me. Often times, I remember things that I could not recall before. Being a parent, especially a mother, is truly a divine calling, with its joys and its seeming pitfalls. And yet, as I remember my mother, I keep in mind that no matter what was happening, she always wanted me to strive to be the best that I could be. She wanted me to be happy and successful in life.

Our parents teach and exemplify the values we learn. The old adage, “The older I get, the wiser my parents become.” is so true. I give thanks for each and every moment with my parents, especially my mother. Although she left earlier than I wished to do God’s work on the other side, I know her loving Spirit is still present with my family and me.

Mothers have a way of influencing us that no other person can. This thought from Bernice Maddux touches my heart. “Thank you, God, for pretending not to notice that one of Your angels is missing and for guiding her to me. You must have known how much I would need her, so You turned Your head for a minute and allowed her to slip away to me. Sometimes I wonder what special name You had for her. I call her ‘Mother.’”

I think of Mary, the mother of Jesus. In one sense, Mary was just a girl, an immature and frightened girl who listened to her inner intuition and believed what an angel told her in what seemed like a dream. In the greater sense, she was the mother of the Master Teacher, our Wayshower and Elder Brother – Jesus Christ. She had faith enough to move mountains, to sing about the great works to come of the son she carried in her womb. She knew…she trusted…she believed. When we allow God to come alive in us, there is no telling what we will become and what we can create. The potential is unlimited!

May is a time when we begin to really see the new growth in the beautiful world around us. Flowers bloom, the grass comes alive and the first crops are already being harvested. Remember the new growth that is being birthed in you. I feel a new energy in our church as we are finishing the interior remodeling of our church. There is an exciting, new transformative energy being created. If you haven’t seen the new changes, come and experience them. A spiritual community is an important family. We are here to help, support and love you, exactly as you are, no matter whether your life feels sunny or stormy. This is the Good News of Unity Church of the Bay Area – a magnificent center of spiritual love. Invite a friend and share in this exciting vision coming alive!

In Spirit and in Truth,
Reverend Stephen P. Horn

Motherhood

Some thoughts about Mothers…
A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary.
Mother is a bank where we deposit all our hurts and worries.
The successful mother sets her children free, becoming more free herself in the process.
A community or nation can be no stronger than its mothers.
Abraham Lincoln said, “The greatest lessons I ever learned were at my mother's knees.”
History shows almost all the greatest workers for God had godly mothers.
There is no modern pain medicine as effective as a mother's kiss.
Mothers write on the hearts of their children what the world's rough hand cannot erase.
If evolution works, how come mothers still have only two hands?
Thank God for nagging mothers – they do their work until God can take over.
The chain of a mother's prayers can link her child to God.
The father is the head of the house – the mother is the heart of the house.
Simply having children does not make mothers.
Mothers understand what children do not say.
Mothers love for the joy of loving.

NEW WEDNESDAY CLASS IN MAY!

Join Reverend Steve for a discussion of the writings of Florence Scovel Shinn. Ms. Shinn was an artist and a metaphysics teacher in New York in the early part of the 20th century. Her books are truly incredible, relatively short, but are profound.  In her books she shows how we can enjoy health, prosperity and happiness. We will be using the book, The Writings of Florence Scovel Shinn, available in the bookstore. It is a compilation of her four books (you may already own them individually). We will begin with the title, The Game of Life and How to Play It.
WEDNESDAYS ~ 7 p.m.
First Class will be May 7, 2008
Prepare for the first class by reading The Game of Life and How to Play It.
Class will be offered on a love-offering basis.

TREASURER’S REPORT for MARCH 2008

General Fund Income                          $ 21,862.16

Expenses                                              -17,847.87

    Net General Fund Income                 +  4,014.29

    Building Fund Income                        + 2,500.00

    Total Income                                  $ + 6,514.29

    Building Fund ***      $ 98,806.30

Unity Church of the Bay Area's tithe for February was $2419.00. It was blessed and $604.75 each was sent to the Association of Unity Churches and Unity School of Christianity. $604.75 each was sent to M.I. Lewis Center and The Wheelhouse for their special work in providing help to those in need. 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!

*** Our Building Fund decreased due to the first payment of $53,520.00 to our contractor, Herring Construction Company.