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JULY 2007 "All shall give as they are able, according to the blessings the Lord your God that he has given you." Deuteronomy 16:17 Beloved Friends, Happy Independence Day! This is a special month for all of us. We are again accepting bids for the interior buildout of the church for the Board and the church membership to review. I feel the excitement growing as we move closer to choosing and then beginning the next phase of the inner transformation of our church. Bids will be received in the middle of the month and we will schedule a Special Membership Meeting to vote on which plan will serve the greatest good for all. Members will be notified by mail and all who attend our church are invited to be part of the discussion. Isn't that the best? We have received inquiries about our General Fund from church members. The monthly financial reports have shown that the General Fund has been operating at a loss for most of this year. We do have large expenses which occur in some months which are budgeted over the year which sometimes gives the appearance that we are loosing ground. We have had Building Fund Drives, the most recent being the Matching Fund Drive which added $31,678 (before tithing) to our Building Fund. We have seen that people sometimes divert their financial gift to special projects instead of contributing to such projects in addition to their regular giving. We do appreciate every financial gift to the church and bless each one! Our monthly expenses have increased now that we own our own spiritual home. Erich Fromm, noted psychologist and author, once said, "Whoever is capable of giving is rich. Giving is the highest expression of potency." Potency is power and strength. Power is a spiritual capacity. As an ability, power is our capacity to transform energy. Strength has four spiritual aspects: patience, acceptance, steadfastness and balance. When we combine these aspects of our inner Divinity, we create a dynamic energy that is creative and balanced! Do you see yourself as a person in spiritual balance, able to live in the world and not be overly consumed by the events surrounding you? A balanced person is truly strong and flexible. As we move forward, I invite you to stretch a little. Extend yourself beyond your comfort zone. Invite God to inspire you in your practice of giving and receiving. The evangelist Billy Graham said it quite simply - "God has given us two hands - one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing." As you prayerfully consider where you share your treasure, I invite you to bless our church. We are here, every day, to assist and support and help you on the spiritual pathway we call life. We have an energy of love that is felt by all who come to our church. Let us continue to ensure the growth and expansion of our message of positive, practical Christianity. The world is hungry for it, and we are called by Divine Appointment to share it! In Spirit and in Truth, Reverend Stephen P. Horn MARK’S MUSINGS It's July – time for the 4th of July celebrations and going to the beach! It's also a time to slow down, relax, and enjoy life and the fruits of our labors. I was struck by Reverend Steve's 6/10/07 sermon wherein he discussed all of us being great. The story he told about looking for a condo and finding all of the faults and errors in each prospective one made me look at my move and transition to my new office. I had kept a list of "what's missing" for the month of May in order to "motivate" myself to complete all of the furniture buying and building, the picture hanging and the respective insurance companies and clients to contact. While I had my office basically complete in a month, I noticed that I had not developed any appreciation for what was "right" about it. I had not acknowledged the work I did and the extra hours I put in to make it so. Therefore, I didn't feel great, but burdened by the never-ending list I was continuing to make. So I gave that up and began to notice the things I liked about the office, and what I appreciated about myself and my efforts. Possibly there are some areas in your life wherein you can “bless a mess!” I also think this may apply to the re-bidding process we are currently engaged in with the Church Build-Out. We received only one bid at the end of May, and now we are accepting new bids again. This was perhaps disappointing, but I believe, just like Reverend Steve has spoken in his talks, that this was all in Divine Order. We congregants can be patient and know that the perfect contractor and situation will manifest. God has truly guided this process from the start. Remember, it has only been seven months since we purchased this property and look how far we have come! Let's all take some time to continue to bless the build out of the Youth & Family Ministry Wing, and appreciate all of the blessings we have experienced and will continue to enjoy in the future. So, remember to be patient with yourself and our process, and always remember that God is Good ~ All the Time! God bless you, THE Activities Team presents: PICNIC at Haak’s Winery Let’s eat together and listen to some Cajun Blues music by Tom Dardar. Those who wish can meet at the church at 6 p.m. to carpool. You can bring your own food or purchase some there. They do not allow alcoholic beverages to be brought in. Bring a lawn chair and a hat (the sun is setting later these days) and join in the fun and fellowship. Bring a friend! GREG TAMBLYN RETURNS! We are excited that Greg Tamblyn is returning for a Sunday visit. He is an incredible song writer and musician who weaves personal stories and experiences into music that touches the heart and also brings laughter and joy. Invite everyone you know to especially come to the Concert. They will have a life-changing experience and have fun! Youth & FAMILY MINISTRY We have a new name – Youth & Family Ministry! We feel that this expresses who we are and what we are creating in God’s unfolding plan for Unity Church of the Bay Area. As we continue to grow and attract new members, it is important to recognize serving our youth has a profound influence on the family as a whole. We are honored and blessed to share and teach Truth and spiritual understanding through our Unity principles. It really excites me to see our youth grasp and understand these Truths! We have new service opportunities available on Sunday mornings to welcome and assist with Youth & Family Ministry. You can assist from 10:00 am to 10:30 am with our children in pre-class activities which range from creations on paper with crayons and markers to other crafts related to that Sunday’s lessons. (And the adults can give their inner child some creation time as well!) No preparation is required as we will have the activities and supplies planned in advance. This will still allow the volunteer to attend either or both of the regular Sunday services. This will enable a greater feeling of community for our children knowing that they are supported by so many loving adults. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or a congregant – we are all beloved children of God. And in sharing some time with our children, the experience will bless you more than you know! We are also asking that all of our teachers and helpers commit to at least two weeks every month. This will create deeper connections in relationships with our youth. Those who dedicate themselves to serve our youth are blessed by their service and also gain a deepening understanding of Unity principles. I know that we already have all that we need within our spiritual community to serve within Youth & Family Ministry. Please join me in prayer in support of all our past, current and soon-to-be-called members of this vital and vibrant ingredient of our future world. Youthful blessings, TREASURER’S REPORT for MAY 2007 General Fund Income $ 17,581.11 Expenses -21,233.04 Net General Fund Income - 3,651.93 Building Fund Income + 1,700.00 Total Income $- 2,051.93 Building Fund $ 114,835.44 Unity Church of the Bay Area's tithe for February was $1,895.00. It was blessed and $100 each was sent to Janie Kelley and Margaret Flick, ministerial students at Unity Institute. $423.75 each was sent to the Association of Unity Churches and Unity School of Christianity. $423.75 each was sent to each of the New Thought Organizations, the International New Thought Alliance and the Association for Global New Thought. 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! Congratulations! Our own Janie Kelley is now the Reverend Janie Kelley! Janie was ordained a Unity Minister on June 7, 2007. Many blessings to her and the ministry she will serve! They Are Here! Our purple bracelets from A Complaint Free World.org are in! Are you ready to become aware of the negativity of complaining and give happiness a try? Pick up your bracelet and visit the website to begin!
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