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SEPTEMBER 2004 Beloved Friends, September is a month of celebration for our church community. We have many special events this month that celebrate God, each other and ourselves as vital ingredients of the unfolding ministry of this church. I invite you to check our calendar of events and come and celebrate with us! This month we celebrate the Ninth Anniversary of Unity Church of the Bay Area. We began with a divine idea nurtured by our founding minister, Reverend Diane Plamondon, Ph.D., and the dedicated people who held the vision with her to create our church. Our church continues to grow and prosper because of the inherent spiritual values that have shaped and formed our consciousness as a church community. We know that God continues to guide and inspire us to fulfill our mission and vision. We celebrate our Love in Action teams, who joyously and lovingly give of their gifts and talents to serve God and our church family. The call of God is not a call to serve God in any particular way. And, as we pray and meditate and deepen our connection with God, we are divinely guided to realize what is ours to offer to God in loving service. Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. When we are in tune with God, we are free to give of ourselves out of love. Thank you God! One Sunday, on the way home from church, a little girl turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, the minister told us that God is bigger than us. Is that true?” “Yes,” the mother replied, “that’s true honey.” Then the little girl said, “The minister told us that God lives in us. Is that true?” “Yes,” the mother replied, “that’s true honey.” “Well,” said the little girl, “if God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?” Yes, God does show through! This is the great cause for celebration. Through our actions we each reveal to the world our God! Join us this month in celebrating the living Spirit of God that “shows through” each of us. We each have a gift to give, a light to shine, a love to share. Thank you for the many ways that each of you has given so freely to Unity Church of the Bay Area. You are the church. And we all are blessed! In Christ Love, Reverend Stephen P. Horn
Do you ask for help? For a long time that was a loaded question for me, mostly because somewhere along the way I got confused about where help comes from. There was a time as a young girl when I didn’t get help from the source I expected for many reasons that had nothing to do with me. But at that time, I concluded that I must not be important enough and felt terribly hurt. I could not admit it at the time – not even to myself. Instead, I hardened my heart and played the cool “I don’t need your help and I’ll never ask” role for thirty something years. Part of my spiritual healing, and one of the greatest gifts of being a member of our church, has been that I have learned to not only ask for help, but to let people in. I received a wonderful reminder about the source of help recently at work. An incredibly talented coworker and friend named Laurie has been helping me with a major project I have every year. For 8 years I did this project completely by myself. Last year Laurie and another coworker helped with a significant part of the project because I was so overwhelmed I asked for help! This year, Laurie is spinning magic, doing about 90% of the project, and bringing a new vitality and creativity to it. She’s also very dependable, thinks things through, asks thought-provoking questions, has great judgment, and takes initiative. So what’s the problem?
I was feeling anxious about depending on her…fearful of what I would do if she left. I was telling Laurie this, and you know what she said? She said “You are open to help and ask for help now. Even if I were to leave, more help would be attracted into your life.” Thank You, God, for the reminder that You are the source of all help, which can come in the most unexpected and wonderful ways. Amy Groblewski NEW CLASS! How to Let God Help You! Myrtle Fillmore is the mother of Unity. Her writings are inspiring works that open the heart and uplift the soul. This timeless classic is a collection of her writings - simple, metaphysical advice to help us to live life fully. She begins with the basic Truth: “God is always available to help with your every need, and through development and righteous use of your God-given abilities, you will express your unlimited divine potential as a child of God.” Join Reverend Steve in this enriching book study, Wednesdays, September 1-October 6, 2004 at 7 p.m. The fee for the class will be $30. Scholarships are available upon request. CEP credit is available. Purchase your book in the bookstore and read the first five chapters prior to class (34 pages!). Childcare will be provided upon request. SUNDAYS IN SEPTEMBER September 5th – The Secret That Can Now Be Told September 12th – I Just Can’t Wait ‘Til Morning! September 19th – Love In Action! September 26th – Welcome Home! World Day of Prayer Thursday, September 9, 2004 Our Sanctuary will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for silent prayer. Guided Meditation at 7:00 p.m. Together we will affirm: One with you, dear God, I am united with all creation. In this sacred moment of prayer, I open my heart in faith to You and to Your Infinite blessings. Prayer forms are available to add your family and friends to our prayer list. Please place them in the prayer box in the Gathering Room or in the foyer. You may also choose to add them online at www.worlddayofprayer.org. New Member Sunday We will be receiving new members on Sunday, September 19, 2004. Unity membership is unique, in that it does not require anyone to renounce his or her affiliation with any other spiritual discipline. Membership is a declaration of one's commitment to a spiritual path, one aligned with the principles of Unity. If you would like to become a member of Unity Church of the Bay Area, please fill out a membership card at the church office. There will be a New Member Meeting on Friday, September 17, 2004, from 7-9 p.m. Team Sunday! September 19, 2004 Love in Action Teams: Bookstore, Building and Grounds, Chaplain, Development, Hospitality, Outreach, Sound, Special Events, Welcoming and Youth Education. Please join us for a celebration of Love in Action in our church! Meet our different teams and their members and help us celebrate the many ways that each blesses our church. Join us after the service and find your perfect place to discover the Joy of Giving through Loving Service! Food Provided by Youth Ed Team Ninth Anniversary Luncheon Sunday, September 26, 2004 All are invited to the Celebration of our Ninth Anniversary at 12:30 p.m. at South Shore Harbour Resort, Marina Plaza. Luncheon Plates are $18.50 per adult, $13.00 per child. We have entertainment by Mike Buentello, Chuck Gunn, Jack &Jill Kastle, Jeff Stocki and Elton Witt Make your reservation through the church office. Youth Ed Every once in a while when we're listening closely to our inner voice and asking for guidance, we get a message that is calling us to our greater good. It is asking us to be willing to be open to new possibilities. We don't always know why and it sometimes doesn't make sense or seem feasible. It may come as a soft whisper, a gentle nudge or even through someone else in a passing conversation. I invite you to listen and watch for this as I believe it is God's way of leading us to greater blessings and a more abundant life. Please let me know if you interested in serving or assisting within our Youth Education ministry. You can contact me at 281-339-2096. There are many ways you can contribute and I assure you that the blessings are magnificent! Youthful Blessings, Chris Bennett Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors So do you remember the story of Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors? Whether you remember the story or not, there is cause for great excitement! The Uniteens of our church have been working and creating an amazing celebration of the story so that everyone will know this great Bible story. We have created sets, characters, and props using clay. That’s right, clay! Let me explain. We have recreated Joseph’s story in a method called claymation. Claymation is an animation process using clay figures instead of drawings. Pictures are taken as you move each character bit by bit. It’s a very long process but is really great in the end. So are you ready to see this amazing film? Once we are finished with editing the film, we will show it to the younger children of the church. Then we will have a special Sunday service and show it to you! Sarah A. Hilburn Board Talk by Barb Clemons The Board voted to split the tithe for July between Association of Unity Churches and SCUCA. Gayle McFadden reported on Team activities. The Teams are doing well, but new volunteers are always needed and welcomed. On September 9th, World Day of Prayer, our sanctuary will be open from 8 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. There will be an evening meditation at 7:00 P.M. The Building Fund is doing well. The sale of coupon books has raised $600.00 for the fund so far. The Nominating Committee for the elections at the Annual Meeting in October is looking for nominees who are interested in serving on the Board. Homecoming Sunday! Our Ninth Anniversary Luncheon is scheduled for September 26th at the South Shore Harbor Resort in League City. Jerry Roberts will be our guest speaker on Sunday, September 12th. Circle of Hearts This month’s Circle of Hearts article is filled with news! The July 22nd Circle of Hearts meeting was honored to have Reverend Diane Plamondon and George Cushing take us on a journey to Costa Rica and Honduras. Chris Bennett’s heartfelt cause of Softly International was brought to life by Sara Thompson and Pauline Hitt as they introduced us to the young children and their mothers as well as the beauty encountered in that country. Softly International meets the needs in our world community by bringing beds to those who have none. Then, we learned of the great work of Sister Maria Rosa Leggol in Honduras. Her Sociedad Amigos de los Nin´os organization addresses the needs of the poorest people of this land by meeting the basic needs of food, shelter, clothing, and health care. She empowers her people through education, faith and job training. Sister Maria Rosa has built homes, a training center for girls, a hospital, a boarding house, a carpentry shop and even a brick making factory to help meet the needs of young mothers and their children. After 38 years of hard work and faith, more than 34,000 children’s lives have been touched by this wonderful organization. Reverend Diane and George are collecting tools and/or money to bring on another trip to Honduras to help this worthy cause. If you are interested in donating and/or in going on this trip (tentatively planned for next spring) contact Reverend Diane. August 12th Unity Church members got a real treat by attending a musical comedy with Ms. Freddie Weber based on “The Power of Now.” Sharon Turnley started off the evening with a “witt-y” poem. Thank you, Sharon, for stepping up to the plate with such style and finesse. This was an evening of laughter and insight into living in the moment of NOW. Many thanks to the ladies who helped present this evening for our church (and to the wizard behind the curtain – our sound guy, Elton!) The September Circle of Hearts group will be meeting September 16th at 7:00 PM at The China Star Restaurant at 18027 Point Lookout Dr., Nassau Bay (right off of Nasa Road 1 between Hwy 270 and Upper Bay Drive) for an evening of relaxing and talking and celebrating our “being” for a full year! Please either sign up at church or call Susan Witt at 832-385-5658 to let us know you will be attending. October 14th is another important date to put on your calendar. Our own resident artist, Dianna Marion (and, yes, I did spell that correctly!), will present an introduction to the Artist's Way series of books by Julia Cameron which emphasize art as play and fun and joy. Everything we do that evening will be hands on, full of fun and delight! Remember to sign up for this one also. We will need to provide materials for all who attend. So, hope to see you ladies September 16th at China Star for our year celebration and October 14th with Dianna Marion to joyfully create an evening of play. Susan Witt 2 – 4 Book Club The 2-4 Book Club is inviting everyone to join us for a Road Trip on Sunday, September 12th, to hear Bishop John Shelby Spong speak at 2:30 p.m. at Unity Church of Christianity in Houston. Bishop Spong is known as the “teaching bishop who makes contemporary theology accessible to the ordinary lay person.” Challenging traditional church, his passionate, enlightened and courageous message takes his audiences deeper into the Bible for a new understanding of Christianity. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by contacting Unity Church of Christianity at 713-782-4050, or online at www.unityhouston.org. For those who want to join us on our road trip, we will be meeting at the Grand Buffet at 12 noon, and then carpooling to the church in time for the 2:30pm event. The restaurant is located in the shopping center with Academy at I-45 and FM 518 (Main St.) in League City. If you have any questions, please call Sue Brooks, 832-419-7525. Lastly, we will not be meeting for our book discussion on the evening of Sept. 12th. Outreach Team News Thank you to everyone who donated to help furnish children in our area with school supplies. We partnered with Interfaith Caring Ministry and raised $600, enough to outfit a whole classroom! Our next Outreach project will be facilitating a clothes drive to support those in need through our local charities. Right now is a wonderful time of year to begin looking through your closets and drawers for clothing that is no longer serving your needs, yet could be a great blessing to others. We will be collecting for clean, useable clothing, shoes and accessories. Blankets and linens are also welcome. The collection box will be set up in the Gathering Room on Sunday, October 3rd and will remain there until Sunday, October 31st. The church will supply a donation letter if you request acknowledging your gift of clothing. Thank you for your continued loving support. The Outreach Team Important Date in October! Annual Membership Meeting Mark your calendars now for our Annual Membership Meeting which will be held after the Sunday service on Sunday, October 10th. Everyone is invited to attend. Church members will be voting on any business matters before the church and for two new members to our Board of Trustees. Plan to attend! NOMINATING COMMITTEE Our nominating committee is seeking your nominations for our Board of Trustees. We will be electing two trustees at our Annual Meeting on October 10th. Contact a committee member with your nomination! Contact committee members with your nomination! Michael Goldreyer - 281-334-4911 Amy Groblewski - 281-992-0287 Mark Kirby - 409-744-2417 Rev. Steve - 832-338-8738 Treasurer’s Report Weekly Goal - $3655.00 July - 7/01/04 to 7/31/04 Total Income - $14,904.84 Expenses and Tithe - $13,067.92 Net Income - $1592.04 Unity Treasures A Teacher’s Plea Dear Father, here me as I pray For every child I teach today; That each small face may be to me A cherished photograph of Thee; That when I make their record sheet No space may be left incomplete; My heart may leap with love and pride In every soul I seek to guide. Let my impassioned phrases give A clear-marked rule by which to live; And then, dear Father, I beseech That I may keep the rule I teach
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