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NEWSLETTER “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11-12 Beloved Friends, And the vote is...YES!!! The church members present at our Special Meeting on August 20th voted overwhelmingly in favor of moving forward and purchasing Pam's Place to convert into our own church home. Our vision speaks of a radiating center of Love, which we can be individually and collectively as a church family. This is a vision coming true for us in purchasing our own church home! Jeremiah foretold the Good News of Spirit in the Scripture above. Yes, God has plans for our church to expand and grow and share the message of Truth - of the power of practical, positive Christianity in the Bay area. Yes, God has heard our heart's desire for a home we can call our own. We continue to grow and nurture the seed planted eleven years ago by Reverend Diane Plamondon, Ph.D., our founding minister. It warms my heart to see her excited about this new possibility for UCBA. The harvest is ready! We are moving forward, taking the necessary steps to move towards final purchase and closing on the property. We will need to raise additional funds for the build-out of the inside of the church. I invite you to consider giving over your customary offering to the Building Fund to help us expedite the conversion. In the meantime, we ask that you continue to pray and vision for the future of our church. What would you like to see inside? Outside? Put your ideas in the Vision Box in the Gathering Room, or e-mail them to the church. A building is but one aspect of a church. You are the church. Take the time to consider what would make our new church home warm, inviting and equipped to serve the people we know we will draw to us. Our message is one that needs to be shared. We stand on the edge of unlimited growth opportunity. This month is filled with many special events - A Remembrance of 9/11, World Day of Prayer, our Eleventh Anniversary, a Meditation Workshop and the Welcoming of New Members. I keep imagining the excitement in Charles Fillmore when he named the movement Unity. Unity is a powerful virtue for it calls forth great strength. It is the way of seeing the universe as one, designed by the One who created us all. Unity brings peace. Unity in the human family is feeling our connection with each other, honoring and sharing in the joy of the Christ within all humanity. The time is now to move forward, as one. Yes, God is Good ~ All the Time! One in Christ, MARK'S MUSINGS It's September - time for school routines settling in among families. Especially, it is time for football, baseball pennant races, and Labor Day! It's an exciting time at the Groblewski household, as it is at Unity Church of the Bay Area. Ryan received his Driver's Permit recently and has been taking Driver's Education classes, which are scheduled to end some time next week. We've taken a few outings to assist him with turning and parallel parking, the most recent at Ellington Field this past Saturday. I'd say he's doing fairly well, overall, as he learns to slow down and accelerate through his turns. It reminds me of how many little actions we (as drivers) have adapted to drive successfully. Upcoming lessons include freeway driving…so keep us in your prayers in a good way. The excitement of possibly owning a new church home is growing. It struck me how quickly events transpired as we, the congregation, moved from the educational Church Workshop led by Barbara O'Hearne to the Special Meeting 5 days later to discuss church growth. Then, we became aware of Pam's Place, a building which could be converted easily into our new home. Then last Sunday's Special Membership meeting and vote was inspiring. I want to thank all who attended and participated; the questions were generally insightful and pertinent. I truly feel the commitment of you, the congregation, to expand our ministry here in southeast Houston and Galveston County. I want to acknowledge all parties who provided the due diligence in researching the property and all issues related to its possible purchase. I want to also acknowledge Reverend Steve for his tireless efforts to discover and gather all of the information needed to give the most complete picture of this possibility at this past Sunday's Special Membership Meeting. Kudos also to Dina Leita, Sharon Turnley, George Cushing, Marcie Hale and The Board of Trustees for their work and advice (and anyone else I might have missed). I'm envisioning that the appraisal goes well and the closing proceeds smoothly. If so, it may be possible for a closing in mid-September. So be looking for notice of other Special Meetings in the near future as we begin to organize the process of making the building our new church home! Mark Groblewski BOARD TALK The Teams are doing well. The Welcoming Team, the Sound Team and the Hospitality Team are in need of volunteers. The Board discussed the upcoming Special Meeting which addresses the acquisition of the building and property at 1911 S. Highway 3, League City. The members are to vote on the acquisition. Comparison of the monthly expenses at Anders Lane and the projected monthly expenses for 1911 S. Hwy 3 shows that we are prosperous enough to cover the additional expenses with our current income. Coming up in September is The World Day of Prayer on 09/14 and our Anniversary Luncheon at South Shore Harbor Resort on 09/17. Reverend Steve will attend the SCUCA Regional Conference from 09/11 – 09/14. Coming up on October 8th is the Annual General Meeting. The Nominating Committee consists of Chris Bennett, Chris Kuhlman, Rev. Steve and Mark Kirby (chairman). They will be contacting members about running for the Board. Two Board members will be rotating off in October. Chaplain Training has been postponed until October. Nominating Committee for our Annual Meeting! Our nominating committee for board elections has been formed. The committee is available to take nominations for board members. If you have someone you would like to nominate for the board or have any questions, please contact a committee member. Remember, our Annual Membership Meeting is October 8, 2006. Mark Kirby 713-252-5606 Chris Bennett 281-339-2096 Chris Kuhlman 713-201-7354 Rev. Steve 832-338-8738 SPECIAL EVENTS COMING IN SEPTEMBER! SCUCA Conference ~ The Crossings, Austin A Service of Remembrance ~ Dorothy Meyer, L.U.T. World Day of Prayer ~ Thursday, September 14, 2006 Homecoming Sunday ~ Eleventh Anniversary Luncheon Receiving New Members ~ Sunday, September 24, 2006 10:30 a.m. Service Unity Church of the Bay Area 2006 Workshop Series ~ Saturday, September 23, 2006 Marketing and Media Workshop ~ Unity of the Hills, Austin ANSWERED PRAYER IT'S GREAT TO BE ALIVE! At the outset let me tell you that IT’S GREAT TO BE ALIVE, and no fooling! Last June 3, 2005, the doctors discovered that I had a 2" cancer tumor at my very bottom. While not exactly terrified, I didn't expect to live out the week, like my mother. She was diagnosed the day before Thanksgiving with cancer, and was dead by Dec 1. So, you know, inheritance and all that. I called my kids; we cried. I asked everyone I could think of for prayers. I was soon hogging all the prayers of the North American continent. But it wasn't until August 8 that I KNEW in my gut that I was going to live and flourish, some day, again. I called my daughter Lizzy. She said, “That does it! We're going to have an annual ‘It's Great to be Alive Day’ party to celebrate.” I still had the radiation and chemotherapy to finish up. The surgery was ahead. Reverend Steve drove from Galveston to be at my bedside at 6:00 AM and stayed for 14 hours till I was released into Intensive Care. No one could praise the medical staff more than I, because no one has ever received more loving care than they gave me. However, I wasn't able to sit down for 6 months. Just lying or standing, so I painted pictures to be having fun. Both Lizzy, her family, and Sarah were at the party in Austin. For the party agenda we decided to do things that Living People like to do. Eating dinner at sunset over Lake Travis, a double rainbow arched across the sky. Driving back home, another double rainbow arched over Houston. We went to Bushy Creek Park and scampered under jets of water spraying up from the sidewalk. One-year old Clayton discovered that a finger applied to the edge of a Cheerio causes it to rise up into the air. Megan, 3, observed this marvel. Soon there were Cheerios whizzing all over the kitchen, paving the floor, and Dalmatian Maggie helping clean up. I am laughing, not helping, and Lizzy whipping back and forth with dustpan and broom. That night I taught the kids a song I had started singing on my way to Austin. It was spontaneous, and I have never written a song before. It goes like this: IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE DAY Tune: It's a Long Way to Tipperrary It's a "Great day to be Alive" day! It's a great day today! It's a "Great day to be Alive" day! Let's all shout, "Hoo Ray! Hoo Ray!" It's a "Great day to be Alive" day! We are on our way to play. It's a "Great, Great day to be Alive" day! Let's all shout, "Hoo Ray!" Then Sarah began a chant. She and Lizzy began to dance to the chant. Megan joined in. It was as if I was being anointed with Life, Life Abundant, Life Joyous. The chant goes like this: "How! Do! You – Spell – Mary? L! O! V! E! Chicka Boom! Chicka Boom! Chicka Boom! Boom! Boom!" We went to church, and I got a special paper in my bulletin that was asking me to pray for their church. Only 20 are given out every Sunday out of 4000 bulletins that are printed. I came home and told Reverend Steve of the weekend party. He wanted an extra verse on my song, and here it is: "You know that today Is "God is Good" day! What a good day, today! You know that today Is "God is Good" day! Let's go out and play today! You know that today Is "God is Good" day! What a good day is today! It's a great, great day That God is Good day! WHEN? All of the time!!! WHEN? AGAIN! ALL OF THE TIME." So when I see you, I will sing these songs for you, so you can learn them too. Let's make, "It's a Great Day to Be Alive Day" part of our new church spirit, and perhaps, part of a national holiday. Aren't you lonely for a National Holiday on August 8th? Unity Church of the Bay Area 2006 Saturday Workshop Series Recollective Awareness Meditation ~ Develop a Process of Awareness Are you interested in creating your own personal meditation practice? You might consider attending this workshop facilitated by Linda Modaro, L.Ac., an acupuncturist and meditation teacher in Santa Monica, California. This workshop is to help others to cultivate an independent meditation practice and is suitable for people from any meditation tradition. There will be time for two 30-40 minute meditation sittings, followed by a chance to explore your meditation experience in a small group setting. Rather than teaching a technique, Linda will focus on presenting an approach which is gentle and flexible, allowing the process to unfold naturally. Posture is not emphasized and time will be spent helping people find comfortable ways to meditate. Please contact Linda Modaro at 310-451-2036 if you have any questions on the workshop. You can find more information about this approach at the Skillful Meditation Project website, www.skillfulmeditation.org. YOUTH EDUCATION What an exciting time this is for our church family! I’ve already starting imagining what our new Sunday school rooms might look like and I can already feel the new children that will be drawn to us at our new location. And yes, I want a fenced area with playground equipment, too! OK, maybe not everything the in the first month. It’s so exciting that we have the opportunity to enrich our children’s lives and many others that will join us soon. I love this quote from Kym Farmer in Unity’s Education Links Summer 2006 edition, “The most important job in the world is parenting. The second most important job is teaching. And the exploration of spiritual values with children is the most important gift we can give the world.” As I kept thinking about this, the Truth of her statement is clear and the impact we can have on our youth is simply unlimited! Thank you to all our parents, teachers and those involved with our youth at all levels! In preparation for greater things yet to come, we have several openings in our Youth Education ministry. Research shows that people looking for churches are very interested in the youth Education offered at the church. We have excellent Unity curriculum that we use for each group that is wonderful and most of us feel we learn much more from our youth than they learn from us. We need teachers and assistants to volunteer if we are to be prepared for growth. We need you! I am continually surprised by the difference we do make in our children through sharing our real selves infused with God’s grace. If you wish to assist in any capacity with our youth, please contact me or leave a message with the church office. We will train you and provide you with all you need to not only enhance our children’s spiritual growth, but your own as well! Youthful Blessings! A Cracked Pot An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. SUNDAYS IN SEPTEMBER! During the month of September, Reverend Steve will be offering Sunday talks based on the Four Principles found in the book, The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz. These simple spiritual principles reflect our Unity principles. Join us for this series! Books are available in the bookstore. Each Wednesday at 7 p.m. we will have a class discussion on the principle covered the previous Sunday. September 3, 2006 September 10, 2006 September 17, 2006 September 24, 2006 TREASURER’S REPORT JULY 7/1/06 – 7/31/06 General Fund Income $ 34,567.09 Expenses − 29,082.55 Net General Fund Income $ 5,484.55 Building Fund Income + 340.00 Total Income $ 5,824.54 Building Fund (CDs & Investments) $ 172,000.00 Unity Church of the Bay Area's tithe for May was $3,415.00 It was blessed and $100 each was sent to Janie Kelley and James Pearce, Jr., ministerial students at Unity School of Christianity. The tithe was split as follows: $803.75 each was sent to the Association of Unity Churches and Unity School of Christianity. $1607.50 was sent directly to Unity of the Keys, in Key West, Florida, to help support a sister ministry who lost their church home due to hurricanes. 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! 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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