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JULY 2006 NEWSLETTER “Rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves.” Luke 22:26-27Beloved Friends, The president of the Pennsylvania Railway was making a quiet tour over one of the branches of the system and wandered into an out-of-the-way switch-yard. He saw something one of the yard men was doing that did not meet with his approval. He made some suggestions to the man, who asked, “Who are you that's trying to teach me my business?” “I am an officer of the road,” replied the president. “Let's see your switch-key, then,” said the man, suspiciously. Mr. Cassatt pulled from his hip-pocket his key-ring, to which was attached the switch-key, which no railroad man in service is ever without. It was sufficient proof for the switchman, who then did as he was told. Mr. Cassatt had worked the line and knew what was needed. This story suggests a great spiritual lesson. Real leadership happens when one simply serves, doing what is before them with enthusiasm and with all of their energy and attention. Robert Greenleaf called this servant leadership. Greenleaf spent most of his life in the field of management research, development and education at AT&T. He proposed the idea of Servant Leadership. Jesus was a prototypical example of the Servant as Leader. He settles the dispute among the Disciples in the passage in Luke by clarifying that the one who serves joyously and generously naturally leads. Why? Because such a person draws to them like energy. People wish to emulate them, to have what they have. This is why the yard man responded to Mr. Cassatt. He understood that this man knew of what he spoke because he had lived it, and possibly had a deeper understanding and knowing which he could share. The people around Jesus had this same experience. Here was a man, called by many the Son of God, who was right there along side them, the first to give of Himself in service. In fact, Jesus was the one who set the example of serving in love. Oh, to be a sample of the great example of Jesus Christ! We have a unique opportunity for our church this month. Barbara O'Hearne, Church Management Consultant for the Association of Unity Churches International, will be with us to help us to learn to lead by example. She will be helping us to hone our talents in the areas of leadership, relationship and strategic planning. We need servant leaders in our church if we are to grow and carry the message of positive, practical Christianity to the world. Information on this event the weekend of July 14-15, 2006, is just inside this newsletter. Make the commitment. I guarantee you will take home with you many new ideas and insights to be a better you in every area of your life. Together, we grow and flourish and prosper! One in Christ, Reverend Stephen P. Horn MARK'S MUSINGS This article has been the most challenging one for me to write. I have felt a range of emotions since my cousin Kim died this past week. Yes, this is the same cousin I wrote about in last month’s newsletter- the one who had overcome cancer. My desire for her complete healing didn’t happen as I had hoped. She had a stroke three weeks ago and died in the hospital a few days ago. The last year has been an emotional roller-coaster for all who were involved in her fight. At the time of the stroke, I found that I was mad - mad at God, I guess. I have been having a hard time releasing my cousin because the words “It’s not fair!” keep going through my mind. How could God put her through the cancer, have a remission, and finally travel to Argentina for successful surgery, only to wind up with a major stroke and a series of mini-strokes? What purpose did that serve? To what end and to what greater good? Frankly, I still don’t have an answer. The viewing at the funeral home in Central Pennsylvania and the funeral have been held. I wasn’t able to attend either event, so my saying good-bye may take longer than for others in the family. Ultimately, I may come to see the purpose of her death, but a part of me can’t understand how God would take a doctor thirty-nine years old, leaving behind two children, a husband and a sister. I have deep compassion for her husband, David, and for her two children, Morgan and Haydon. And I pray for peace and understanding for her sister Dwaine. She has lost two very dear people to cancer in little over two years, her husband and now her younger sister. For now, I am leaving this in God’s care, because I just don’t have an answer. Our family is flying June 24th to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York to see them. Right now I don’t know what I’ll say, much less how I’ll feel. All I know is that I do want to be with them. I know I will miss my cousin Kim greatly. Even if I can’t figure this death out, I can cultivate the “mysteries of faith” and renew my vow to make my life matter. I can serve and empower individuals past their fears. The best I can do is to go on, living as best as I know how. Mark Groblewski BOARD TALK by Barb Clemons Part of our tithe goes to two ministerial students each month ($100 each). This month Denise Wilson and Janie Kelley are the recipients. Diane Marion will be teaching a Bible class starting July 3rd. The area map is up in the Gathering Room and congregants have been adding pins to indicate where they live. The Teams are doing well. Chris Bennett has requested an installation and blessing for the teachers in the Fall. On July 14th and 15th, the Board and others will be attending a Board Training event given by Barbara O’Hearne at our church. Rev. Steve has invited other churches in the area to attend. Plans are proceeding for the event. Attendance is expected to be about 50 – 60 people. ANSWERED PRAYER A woman named “Marie” had three daughters. Fifteen years ago, she began to act differently and was eventually diagnosed as bipolar or manic-depressive. Various medications were tried; some worked, but most did not. Repeatedly she required hospitalization when things got out of control. Sometimes the daughters had to act as the parent. It was a very difficult time. No one ever knew what to expect next. Marie’s eyes were empty, as if no one was “home.” In May, Marie was hospitalized for pneumonia. Soon she had to be transferred to an intensive care unit and eventually required a ventilator. For ten days, her doctors and her daughters wondered the cause, as there seemed to be no bacterial or viral infection. Had she attempted to injure herself? Had she ingested too much medication? Finally a diagnosis of lupus, in particular Sjogren’s disease, was made. Medications were started…and the miracle occurred. The “real” Maria returned! Her eyes were bright and her interest in her family returned. It seems that lupus can affect the lungs, the kidneys and the brain. We thank God for Maria’s miracle! Judi Hoggatt Unity Church of the Bay Area 2006 Saturday Workshop Series UCBA will be hosting a special Multi-Ministry Leadership Education and Development Workshop designed for Unity ministers, Board trustees, lay leaders, staff and interested members. The workshop sessions will be Friday, July 14, 2006 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. and on Saturday, July 15, 2006 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Snacks and Saturday lunch will be provided. This workshop is highly interactive and designed to build the leadership capacity of our ministry in innovative and creative ways. Barbara O'Hearne, Church Management Consultant for the Association of Unity Churches International will be leading this exciting, informative and interactive training to help us prepare for our next step forward as a church. We are excited that other Unity ministries will be joining us in this important event. You must pre-register to attend! Key ingredients to church growth are committed members, trained staff and spiritually-principled board members. As we grow as a church, we must also develop a strategic plan to live our Mission and give life to our Vision. Please speak with a Board member or Reverend Steve or register in the church office for this important event! All participants are asked to complete a Pre-training Survey form located on the Association website http://www.unity.org. To access the survey go to Programs on the menu to Board Training, on the page entitled Ministry Leadership Education and Development click on Pre-training Survey. This confidential survey provides information about each participant and the opportunity for the Consultant to know about the people attending the workshop. The completed survey will go directly to Barbara O'Hearne. Thank you in advance for doing this on or before July 1, 2006. Our facilitator, Barbara O'Hearne, is one of the best in sharing cutting edge ideas that help churches in developing leaders and implementing their mission/vision/strategic plan. These principles and skills are applicable in every area of your life. This is an incredible opportunity to add key tools to your life skills that will help our church and you in all areas of your life. MINISTRY LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP COMING IN AUGUST! Tracie Brace (Padma Shakti) will be with us on Saturday, August 26, 2006, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. She will be presenting Meditation ~ The Creative Pathway. Tracie is the founder of Yoga Rasa, where she empowers others to restore, improve, and maintain health with natural holistic methods by balancing mind, body, and spirit with the environment. Tracie is a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher and has trained and serves as Meditation Guide and Mind/Body/Spirit Coach. Tracie holds certification through Yoga Alliance, The Yoga Institute, The Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine, and Baylor Sports Medicine Institute. The suggested Love Offering is $40; Scholarships are available upon request. To learn more about Tracie and Yoga Rasa, visit their website: www.yogarasa.net. YOUTH EDUCATION The questions we get asked from our children may seem kind of tricky on some days. And of course, they want a truthful answer that they can understand. So when one of our children patiently explained to me that yes, she understands God made everything, her question was “Well, who made God?” Well, I did the emergency prayer “Help!” asking for guidance and searched my brain for just the right thing to say. I tried to explain the concept of eternity not just for the future but also for the past. I couldn’t come up with something in plain terms that would be clearly understood. And then, I heard another child’s voice say very simply, “It’s like a circle.” WOW! How simple and easy to understand! My lesson for the day was that God works through all of us, even the young ones in our midst. As adults, we sometimes aren’t supposed to have an immediate answer so that our younger ones are able to express God’s grace through them. They can explain to each other in “kid’s language” what we struggle to say as adults. It takes each and every one of us to grow spiritually as we have lessons to learn not only for ourselves but also from others. We’re used to listening to others within our peer group and leaders in our various social groups and relationships. However, I think we sometimes overlook the possibility of great wisdom from our younger generation. We need to ask and be willing to listen to their thoughts and ideas as much as we do the older generation. After all, if we expect them to know what to do in the future, they need an opportunity to think it through in the present. We are so blessed and enriched by our children within our church family, our community and our world. Let us purposefully give them the opportunity to hear their ideas and thoughts, as they grow into adulthood and our future. And then, stop by the Angel Wing or give me a call and share with me what you learned from a child today! Youthful Blessings! Chris Bennett (281-339-2096) UNITY TREASURES ~ UCBA’s OWN Writing poetry is a God thing for me. I have been writing since I was a young girl. The writing for me is a pouring out. It seems to come through me. It is not something I consciously sit down to do. When it is time to write, it is as if I must do so as the words swirl into my thoughts and cannot be emptied until they are put to paper. May our spirits connect through this one. The light that shines in you Let us remove our lampshades, We can handle the brightness---- With a love indescribable. Let us look upon one another If we want to see clearly, Then, let the Light shine through us, Bringing us to the contentment that comes only For God is the Light. Kim Stephens ~ 6-15-2006 ~ 11:45 p.m. The next day the scripture from the Daily Word: IT’S PICNIC TIME! What: A Picnic! Food, Friends, Fun, & Games! Dress casually for church. Wear a silly hat! Then come on over to the picnic! The church is bringing the meat, iced tea and water. Bring a covered dish to share. Picnic tables are provided under a covered shelter, with a playground for the kids and a boat ramp for water access to the Bay. Join us for a fun-filled afternoon! Would you like to help with the Picnic? Marcie Hale is looking for volunteers to help with different details. Give her a call at 713-854-5683. To find out more about the park, visit the web: Easy Directions to Bayshore Park from UCBA: SUNDAYS IN JULY! July 2, 2006 July 9, 2006 July 16, 2006 July 23, 2006 July 30, 2006 TREASURER’S REPORT MAY 5/1/06 – 5/31/06 General Fund Income $ 27,200.56 Expenses - 21,358.61 Net General Fund Income $ 5,841.95 Building Fund Income + 911.27 Total Income $ 6,753.22 Building Fund (CDs & Investments) $ 172,000.00 Unity Church of the Bay Area's tithe for May was $2,130.00 It was blessed and $100 each was sent to Janie Kelley and Monya Sherzer, ministerial students at Unity School of Christianity. The tithe was split as follows: $482.50 each was sent to the Association of Unity Churches and Unity School of Christianity. $965.00 was sent directly to the Association of Unity Churches to help in supporting the growth of new ministries internationally. Your continued financial support allows our church to grow and flourish and carry the message of positive, practical Christianity in the Bay area. All tithe checks for the month are written and sent in the first week of the following month. Thank you, and thank you God! (Our General Fund Income this month includes the accounting of Rev. Chenoweth's Prosperity Workshop in which we shared the proceeds with him. Tithing works UNDER CONSTRUCTION! Work has begun on the widening of Hwy 518. Although no work is presently planned for Sundays, please notice that the speed limit has dropped to 30 m.p.h. Also, you can use Hwy 96 to come to church because Anders Lane runs between the two highways (96 and 518), and from Hwy 146 all the way to I-45! We are looking into placing a small sign at the Hwy 96 and Anders Lane corner. GRIEF RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUP We are blessed to add another healing support group to the group offerings at our church. The response to the Grief Workshop Facilitated by Dorothy M. Meyer M.Div., L.U.T., was so great that the group has chosen to have a monthly on-going support meeting. It will meet the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. All are invited, regardless of whether you attended the original workshop. We don’t always take the time to grieve, give ourselves the permission to do so, or know why or how to do this sacred healing work. Each month Dorothy will facilitate and create a sacred space for healing from life’s losses. 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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