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NEWSLETTER February 2006“Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:33-34 Beloved Friends, My thoughts this month turn to the idea of abundance and unlimited prosperity. It was Frederick Lewis Allen who said, “Prosperity is more than an economic condition; it is a state of mind.” True prosperity comes from conscious partnership with God. We take the abundance, the gifts and ideas we have, and multiply them into their greatest expression with God's help. God is Good ~ all the Time! So often we get hooked into the world’s definition of prosperity – station in life, homes, cars, jewelry, the things we can accumulate. In his book, Prosperity, Charles Fillmore wrote, “All those who place their prosperity on possessions alone have a purely material prosperity which, though it may seem great for a time, will vanish, because it is founded on the changing of the external and has no root in the consciousness…Supply may seem to come through outer channels, but your real success depends on your inner hold on the prosperity realization. Be thankful for supply that comes through outer channels, but do not limit God's giving to any one channel. Look unto God and be prospered.” We are blessed this month to have a prosperity teacher available to do the workshop in our 2006 Saturday Series. John Moore has a firm grasp on the spiritual principles of prosperity and how to direct them into action. Attending his workshop may be the best reason you have had in a long time to get up early and go to church on a Saturday! I have learned through life’s experiences that God is my Source, and a consciousness of God is my Supply. Simply put, it is all God! The more we live in conscious partnership with God, looking to be a blessing in the lives of others, the more the channels of abundance and prosperity open to us. It is simple spiritual law. Let me leave you this month with sage advice form Ralph Waldo Emerson, “To laugh often amid much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded.” May prosperity be yours this day and every day! One in Christ, MARK'S MUSINGS February is most commonly associated with Groundhog’s Day, Presidents’ Day and Valentine’s Day. Being fairly ignorant of groundhogs, I hope we get more cold weather before the heat of Houston starts. Nevertheless, I am most interested In Valentine’s Day! Valentine’s Day has generated great interest in romantic love. Sales of candy, especially chocolate, along with greeting cards are at their year-long peak. Both sexes (especially men) do their best to express their love for their “beloved”. Yet, I have found that unless I love myself and my relationship with God is sound, I fall short in expressing my love with my wife, Amy. Therefore, I will speak to love of self. I consider it no accident that the affirmation card I “chose” during the White Stone Ceremony stated “I am as God created me. I love myself!” I remember Jesus referring to this passage in Psalm 82 – “I say, ‘You are gods, sons and daughters of the Most High, all of you.’” There is a part of me that flinches at the words “I love myself!” It sounds a bit grandiose, or egocentric. As one of my clients stated, mimicking their parents, “Better watch out or you’ll get a big head!” Ah, yes…the messages of childhood (and the guilt) that resonate in my mind. There are times when I feel like I can love others more easily than myself; that it is easier to forgive others their mistakes than admit my own frailties. However, we teach in Unity that the mind is creative, and that we can transform our lives through the renewal of our minds. I affirm that I can and will love myself exactly as I am. After all, when asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus responded, “Love the Lord God with all of your mind, you heart, your soul and your strength. And the second is this, love your neighbor as yourself.” As I deepen my appreciation of God’s love for me and of me for clearly in my work. When I am preoccupied with my needs and worries, I am ineffective with my clients. As my cup fills, there is more to “pour” into others. I feel more satisfied and eager to help others, and tolerate uncertainty more effectively. Jesus’ great message was to “Love one another as I have loved you.” Doing good works is great, but when done from a consciousness of love they become holy. So I invite you to make a conscious choice to love yourself this month! Mark Groblewski BOARD TALK The early Sunday service at 8:30 started on January 15th with 32 people attending. We are starting the New Year off with a bang! We are creating Love in Action teams for the service from those who are choosing to attend regularly. The Angel Tree contributions totaled $8,887.00 for the Building Fund that is nearing $160,000. Part of our tithe each month goes to help two ministerial students each month ($100 each). We tithe to our own Janie Kelley and choose another student. This month Tom Lee is the second student receiving our tithe. Jennifer Allen’s Yoga Class at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays started on January 10th. It is ongoing and all are welcome. All fitness levels are encouraged to join in. There is no charge but a love offering for UCBA is appreciated. UCBA will have a 2006 Workshop Series one Saturday a month. This will provide an opportunity for those with busy weekly schedules a chance for spiritual and life-enriching workshops on the weekend. In April, Will Tuttle will be here to guest speak, hold a workshop and give a concert. Will is an improvisational pianist who has studied many of the world’s religions and travels the country with his wife Madeline, herself a gifted and talented artist. Together they help people awaken to their own inner gifts. The teams are doing well. The Dream Team held its first meeting and the participants are busy investigating the possibilities for our own church. In Outreach, the 2006 Trash Bash to clean up the Kemah waterfront is scheduled for March 25th. The Board has moved it monthly meetings to the 2nd Monday of the month. YOUTH ED If you see your child throwing an imaginary ball out the door you have just witnessed “release.” We had our own version of the Burning Bowl and Letter to God service in January in Youth Ed. Instead of burning, we put all our hurts, disappointments, regrets and yucky feelings into an imaginary ball and threw it out the door! We then took a deep breath, inhaling God’s love and peace into our hearts, and wrote our letters to God. It is an incredible honor to help a child write a letter to God. They could easily have asked for things. I was amazed that they were so focused on the things they were thankful for. The wisdom seen in our youngest members continues to bless us all. I was given a wonderful reminder that the purpose of Youth Ed is to teach Truth. Myrtle Fillmore said it beautifully when she wrote that our “mission” is not to “entertain the children, but to draw them out.” If you feel called to help our children become consciously aware of their inner beauty through Youth Ed, please contact me through the church office or at 281-339-2096. When we give to our children, we really do give to ourselves, just as Reverend Steve has been speaking about this month. We are all one! All teachers now have the opportunity to be spiritually fed at the new 8:30 a.m. Sunday service. I thoroughly enjoyed the early Sunday service before teaching Sunday school. It is absolutely the best! It gave me time to be nourished and helped me to get centered before welcoming our children. I smile when I think of our children and their future, and how we make a difference in their lives. You can too! Youthful blessings, Teachers Needed! We have an immediate need for Sunday school teachers and Uniteen sponsors! Without your help, our Youth Education cannot thrive and grow. Volunteer now to be a part of a Team that will give back to you treasure beyond your wildest dreams! Call Chris Bennett at 281-339-2096! Unity Treasures Love Needs No Words Bonnie Day Love has no need of words. Love understands And lo! as parents still an infant’s cry, My prayer is longing, which I could not speak; New Additions!We welcome a new soul into the world! Unity Church of the Bay Area 2006 Saturday Workshop Series Attend the workshop that's being called the next step in prosperity consciousness. Learn a Simple, Livable, Step-By-Step System to Retire As-Soon-As-Possible, All with the Money You Currently Earn, how to avoid the pitfalls that cause most people to fail financially, and then learn to eliminate your debt by prioritizing your bills with my unique system. Learn to operate on cash only - even when emergencies strike - and still build wealth for retirement. The goal is to get you to the point where you can live comfortably on the interest from your investments. And, this is all possible with the money you earn right now! The difference is just a shift in "Conventional Wisdom" and making slightly different choices. The typical family following conventional wisdom, over the life of the average mortgage, they will accumulate invested assets of about $500,000 and still have all their debts. Following Conscious Prosperity, the same family would accumulate invested assets of almost $2,200,000 and is debt-free. Here's the tough question, "Which would you prefer?" This program is for everyone, especially those that are paying all of his or her debts each month and still have money left over for investing. And if you can't save money at all*this will change your life! Most of us have no idea how much of our wealth is lost to debt. Learn how to pay off all your consumer debt in 1 to 2 years! And, if you have a mortgage, you can pay that off in another 4 to 5 years. Then take the same money you were using to pay your debts and build true wealth turning every $1 of debt into $12.98 of real wealth. Imagine what your life would be like if you had no mortgage payment...no car payments...no credit card payments...no debts whatsoever. Wouldn’t you be better off? Bring a calculator and a list of your debts, showing current balance, current payment and minimum payment (principal and interest only). This information is used only to complete your personal plan and is not shared in class and is completely confidential. The workshop is offered on a Voluntary, Value-Based Tuition where the fee will be payable at the completion and will be decided by you, based upon the value you feel you received from the content. You will receive a comprehensive 18-page workbook included and there is an optional textbook available from the instructor for $49.95. The workshop lasts approximately 3 1/2 hours and will begin promptly at 9:00 A.M. on Saturday. Your seminar leader, John Moore who has been called the "pied piper" of financial independence, has been teaching the system for over 8 years. It has had a profound impact on his life. Mr. Moore, as an investment and consulting professional, has led cash management and personal growth workshops throughout the country for more than 20 years. This is not an investment program, debt-consolidation, re-financing or bi-monthly mortgage plan. This workshop is strictly educational by nature. You will leave with a written plan on how to and when you will be out of debt, as well as when you will be able to live off the income from your investments! Please register in advance to ensure that we have adequate materials by calling 281-334-9114. The workshop fee will be payable at the completion and will be decided by you, based upon the value you feel you received from the content SOUPER BOWL MONTH! Let's celebrate the Souper Bowl the whole month long! How? During the month of February, we invite you to bring in canned goods and food staples listed below for us to distribute to our local food pantries. We will have a collection box in the Gathering Room for your donations. Thank you in advance for helping in this wonderful outreach! Soups, Canned Meats Thank You! UCBA WELCOMES TWO LICENSED TEACHERS TO OUR CHURCH! Pat Whitlow I was introduced to Unity by good friends who came to my boat one Sunday to take me to hear their minister. Although I was reluctant at first, I went and was intrigued by the minister’s talk. I spoke with the minister afterwards, saying, “I do not like religion, but I really enjoyed what you had to say. I will attend your church just once.” The following Sunday I returned on my motorcycle and never missed a Sunday after that. The church in Rockport lovingly offered me the resources during the week to read, study and pray. I went on to study Unity and become a Licensed Unity Teacher in 1994. I have had an interesting and remarkable life, from teaching as a professor to working on a cattle ranch to being a sea captain, now living on a house boat. I have always been excited about the Bible, and feel that it is the most significant piece of literature in the world. I am thrilled with my new church family and am willing to help and serve in any way that I am needed. Dorothy Meyer After many years of working as a counselor, trying to help heal my fellow earth pilgrims, I discovered that healing came through spiritual faith. So I began my own journey of awakening through Unity Truth. I have been led me through many beautiful experiences in being a spiritual leader, counseling, teaching classes, doing pastoral care, workshops and speaking at Unity Church of Christianity Houston, Unity Church of Christianity in Conroe and Unity Church of North Houston. I am currently a hospice chaplain with A-Med Community hospice and recently moved to the Bay area. I was so blessed when I found Unity Church of the Bay Area and immediately felt enfolded in its loving expression. I am excited about getting to know all of my new church family and sharing some of my experiences with you. MEN’S GROUP NEWS! Several men met for breakfast on Friday, January 20th, at Skipper's in Kemah for the inaugural gathering of the men's group. Although a name has not yet been decided upon, they did enjoy the fellowship of being with other men. The next event, open to all men, will be a Super Bowl party at Paul Hoggatt's on Sunday, February 5th at 5 p.m. whether you like football or not, it is a great opportunity for men to gather and get to know and support each other. For the party, bring meat and/or a complementary dish. Paul has an excellent grill, and it will be open for business! Or, you can call Ron Blakemore for further information! YOGA IS HERE AT UCBA! Come and experience the ancient practice Tuesday Evenings at 6:00 p.m., with Jennifer Allen! DREAM TEAM UPDATE! The Dream Team was formed to explore possibilities for our own church home. The options are to purchase land or an existing building/church. Consultants agree that the mistake made by many churches is buying a piece of property that is too small to allow for parking and for future growth. In looking strictly at land, we are considering property of at least seven acres following this advice. Property along Hwy. 96 is now being developed with development reaching south to Hwy. 646. The price of property there has already reached almost $4.00 per square foot, with a price per acre of $150-175,000. Churches are asked for a 30% down payment on property. With $160,000 in our Building Fund, $3.50+ per acre is unreasonable at this time. We need a price closer to a $1.00 per square foot. We found a piece of property on Hwy. 517 for that price. Something for us to consider is where we would want our church to be located. How far from our existing location would you be willing to drive? What are your thoughts concerning property on Hwy. 517? Property north of our current location is even more expensive than what we’ve found so far. With the rate of development around us, land will escalate in value rapidly. Our church bylaws require a general or special meeting to vote for any expenditure over $25,000. How would you feel about giving the board authority to make a purchase agreement offer and pay the earnest money if a suitable and affordable piece of property is found? We need your feedback! E-mail the church or speak with a Board member! Rick Flynn ~ Dream Team Leader bacliff48@yahoo.com info@unityofbayarea.org SUNDAYS IN FEBRUARY! February 5, 2006 February 12, 2006 February 19, 2006 February 26, 2006 TREASURER’S REPORT December 12/1/05 – 12/31/05 General Fund Income $ 18,544.99 Expenses -19,540.42 Net General Fund Income $ -995.43 Building Fund Income + 3,617.00 Total Income $ 2,621.57 Building Fund (CDs & investments) $160,000.00 Unity Church of the Bay Area's tithe for December was $4,036.00. It was blessed and $100 each was sent to Janie Kelley and Dogmar Mikkila, ministerial students at Unity School of Christianity. Also $500.00 was sent to Spiritual Life Center in Sacramento, CA. $1,668.00 was divided evenly and disbursed to the Association of Unity Churches and Unity School of Christianity. The remainder of the tithe for $1,668.00 was sent to Interfaith Caring Ministries. 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! Your newsletter contributions are welcome! Please submit them to the church office or e-mail them to info@unityofbayarea.org by the 15th of each month. We ask that articles not exceed 300 words. Our goal is to share your articles in newsletters as soon as possible.
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