 |
|||||
|
|||||
|
 |
||||
|
March 2006 “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Beloved Friends, March is here and with it is the beginning of Lent. We enter into a time of preparation, looking forward to Easter and the many gifts it can bring to us spiritually. This year I am consciously focusing on having a greater awareness of Jesus and what this period in His life must have been like for Him. Growing up, I had a totally different idea about Jesus Christ and my relationship with Him. I am grateful to find a spiritual home in Unity that has allowed me to finally understand the man Jesus and the way in which He related to God. Peter recognized it clearly – the Messiah (translated from the Greek Christos), the anointed one. Jesus’ relationship was so powerful, so practiced, that He literally lived as one with the Creator. And He said that we could too! Was Jesus God? Yes! Was Jesus man? Yes! Was Jesus different from the rest of humankind? No! How do we know this? He said it clearly in the 14th Chapter of John, “…the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these…” Scripture also reveals to us that Jesus was earthly enough to know hunger and Godly enough to feed 10,000 people! I once heard a Unity minister say, “I want to be a sample of the great example of Jesus Christ.” This thought has resonated in me for many years. It gives me hope, knowing that I can be the person I want to be. I can overcome any obstacle and claim what God would have me receive, which is often greater than I can imagine. God is Good ~ All the Time! This Lent I invite you to see Jesus in a whole new light. His message to all of humankind was not to proclaim His own divinity, but to help us awaken to our inner divinity. Open yourself to an even greater understanding of the Christ potential in you. Spiritual growth is growth in consciousness. It takes our commitment and preparation and our willingness to do what is ours to do in partnership with God. Let this be your question this Lenten season: How can I be a sample of the great example of Jesus Christ? One in Christ, MARK'S MUSINGS It’s March and time for Spring Break! I am reminded of the coming of spring, with its new growth. It has always been exciting for me to see the new buds of vegetation burst forth on plants and shrubs, calling me to awaken from the slumber of winter. It is a time great anticipation of the creative beauty of God in nature. This year, the Groblewski household is putting more order into our life. We have a new system of finance and are intent upon getting rid of “clutter.” I was inspired a couple of days ago when I could not find the small screwdrivers needed to reattach the loose screw from my glasses. I was very frustrated, and then proceeded to lose the screw! My local TSO was able to replace the screw, but experiencing all of the extra “stuff” and the lack of order created unwanted thoughts and the resulting negative emotions (Cause and Effect!). Reverend Steve has been going through the “closets” of UCBA and creating order, and he is to be commended. However, I didn’t feel I had “enough time” to do this for our household. Hadn’t we cleaned up and cleared out for and after Hurricane Rita? We did, but creating order has been an ongoing process in our house for the past 1 ½ years. It’s been about saying “no” to some things in order to say “yes” to others. Jesus spoke of not “putting new wine in old wineskins.” We must let go to create space for the new. Our household is creating a new order. This blessing is now spreading as a “Spring Cleaning,” helping me to clean up, clear out, and order my “stuff” by the end of the month. And it is all good! So, are you cleaning house, too? Are there areas that you, too, can look for Good Orderly Direction? Are there areas that you see at our church where you could help it to be in better order? I invite you to join with our energy to create more order and direction in your life! I promise you’ll feel better about yourself and your life! Mark Groblewski BOARD TALK Marcie Hale has donated a beautiful display case to the Bookstore. Sara Thompson has added a new section to the Bookstore, Twice Treasured, to offer items donated by congregants for sale. Proceeds from the items will benefit the Building Fund. Reverend Steve continues to make upgrades to the Church. The drapes in the sanctuary and other improvements are looking excellent! Part of our monthly tithe goes to two ministerial students each month ($100 each). This month Victoria Bunch and Janie Kelley are recipients. Jennifer Allen’s Yoga Workshop at 6:00 PM on Tuesdays is going well. It is ongoing and all are welcome to attend. There is no charge but a love offering for UCBA is appreciated. In April, Will Tuttle will be here for a weekend of special activities. He will have a workshop on Saturday, April 8th, and be our special presenter at both Sunday services on April 9th. A Sunday evening concert will truly be an uplifting experience for all. He and his wife Madeleine, an acclaimed interpretative artist, will be available for sessions over the weekend. Will Tuttle is an improvisational pianist who has studied many of the world’s religions and is a master at recreating the deepest vibrations of the soul. The teams are doing well. Amy Groblewski has signed up to sponsor the Uniteens. Amy will help facilitate a special training on April 1st for all Y.E. teachers. The Trash Bash is coming up March 25th and we will participate as a church for Outreach. The mission is to clean up the waterfront in Seabrook. Look for details in the newsletter! Rick Fnn reported on the Dream Team activities. A letter will go out to congregants about the progress the team has made and a meeting will be scheduled to discuss our options and answer questions. The Board has moved it monthly meetings to the 2nd Monday of the month. YOUTH ED I am so very grateful and thankful to all of our teens, parents, teachers and Reverend Steve for their participation in our meeting last month. Our children are growing up and maturing before our very eyes and have specific ideas about what they want on Sundays. As spiritual educators, our mission is to create the space in which they can learn and grow spiritually so that that they may know and live our Unity principles as they mature into young adults. I am so excited that Amy Groblewski has volunteered to become our Uniteen sponsor. Her energy and excitement have opened the path and we already have several new volunteers to help with our Uniteens. We believe that there are many others who would like to help in our Youth Education program, but may have a doubt or a fear or a concern. We have a solution! We will be having a special teacher training day in which ALL of our teachers and prospective teachers can come together to discover their potential as a teacher! I invite you to set aside the time to attend on Saturday, April 1, 2006 from 9 A.M. to 12 Noon. Please register in advance, because we have special ingredients in this training which includes interactive learning that will appeal to the child in all of us. If you are interested, please contact me at 281-339-2096 or the church office as we need to know in all who are participating. To learn more about Amy and this important training event, see her article! We use curriculum that is age appropriate for our youth and our lessons are timeless. Last week, we walked around with a bean in our shoe for a few minutes to demonstrate what it’s like to hold on to a grudge or resentment. We found that going to God to help us forgive ourselves or one another is just like taking the bean out of our shoe and walking free of discomfort. Time and again, I wonder if the lesson might be secretly designed to help me learn instead of primarily aimed at our children. All I can tell you is that I always feel enriched and very blessed by my time spent with our youth on Sundays. Come and join in the fun and be a part of this new and exciting energy in Youth Ed on Sundays! Youthful Blessings, EXCITING THINGS ARE HAPPENING! Remember how it feels when you KNOW you made the right decision about something? More energy, more excitement, expansion! Well, that’s what I’ve been feeling since I decided to become the Uniteen Sponsor. I’m EXCITED about the opportunities in our Uniteen program and in creating a vision for a YOU group. I’ve been teaching in our Youth Ed program for six years now. I brought my then 8-year old son Ryan to Youth Ed for the first time in 2000. We have evolved from a “one classroom” setting to having a nursery, preschool class, elementary class and a Uniteen group. Ryan is now almost 15 and is a great example of a kid who has been spiritually, mentally, and emotionally enriched by our Youth Ed program. I count being a Sunday School teacher on the list of the top 5 or 6 most rewarding things I’ve done in my life! It has helped me to cure a tendency to be way too serious and awakened creativity I didn’t know I had. It has helped me to bond with kids and other teachers, and made me a better parent and a better person. How rewarding it has been to see kids grow and blossom from the love they learn about and experience in Youth Ed! We would love to have you become a part of our Youth Ed program. There are many ways people can contribute and benefit – from teaching, or as helpers supporting the teachers, or helping on outings and fund raisers. (Are you a retired teacher who knows Jr. High or High School kids? We are looking for mentors for our teachers!) We’re excited about the teacher’s training coming up on Saturday April 1st. We will be exploring our own learning styles and learn the skills which will allow us to more effectively teach our kids about God. And we’ll have a great time learning ourselves! I believe a strong and vibrant Youth Ed program is a vital part of growing our church and creating our vision of “a magnificent spiritual center of love.” We are committed to Unity’s Basic Principles. The Uniteens in particular are focused on number 5 – living our spiritual truth. We are thinking big and creating excitement and a new vision. We ask for your physical and spiritual support and prayers. Consider volunteering – our Youth Ed Director Chris Bennett and I would love to talk to you about the abundant opportunities to work with any age of kids in our Youth Ed program! Just call the office or ask for us at church. NEW MEMBER SUNDAY We will be receiving new members on Sunday, March 12, 2006. We welcome and embrace all who choose our simple spiritual principles and embrace the teachings of Jesus Christ. Membership is a declaration of one's commitment to a spiritual path, one aligned with the principles of Unity. Unity is unique in that it does not require anyone to renounce his or her affiliation with any other spiritual discipline. If you would like to become a member of Unity Church of the Bay Area, please fill out a blue membership card and turn it in to the church office. There will be a meeting for all new members on Thursday, March 9, 2006, from 7-9 p.m. Unity Treasures The Answer When for a purpose THE BEGINNING OF LENT…ASH WEDNESDAYAsh Wednesday Healing Service Ash Wednesday begins one of the most powerful and sacred times of the year. Lent is a time of preparation for our own personal overcoming - a new sense of freedom, vitality and joy. Join us in this sacred service as we pray and meditate and open ourselves to the Spirit of God within us. This year we will be using sacred oil, anointing those that choose to as a sign of their opening to the infinite possibilities of God's transformative power in our lives. Let’s Eliminate Negative Thinking! TRASH BASH 2006 Start 2006 off the right way – mark March 25th on your calendar! Come out and join forces with the dedicated volunteers who help clean Houston area waterways for the 13th Annual River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash. Last year 150 Seabrook volunteers removed 2.5 tons of trash from the Galveston Bay watershed within a two-hour period! Our church has joined in this wonderful outreach the past three years. Please plan to join us at the Seabrook Boat ramp on March 25th! MEN’S GROUP NEWS Our Men's Group is meeting to explore ways to support each other in creating lives that reflect our deepest spiritual values. As men, we are leaders, fathers and elders who have gifts to give to the world and one another. We are still in our formative stage. Men, feel free to come and share your ideas of who we can be together and ways to make this group meaningful and empowering to you. This month's gathering will be on Thursday, March 16th in the evening. For information, contact Ron Blakemore at 281-992-5353, or at ronalin@houston.rr.com. EASTER CHOIR! Jill Kastle is now forming our Easter Choir! Practices will begin in March! See Jill after Sunday services or call her at 281-344-9626! Practice tapes/CDs and music will be available on Sunday, March 5th. Practice begins on Sunday, March 19th after the 10:30 a.m. service. Come and join in the fun! New Additions!
|
|||||
