Download - Unity of Merced's Newsletter: July - August, 2013

7/28/2019 Unity of Merced's Newsletter: July - August, 2013

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Spiritual Leader: Jill Loving, Licensed Unity Teacher Office: 209-723-3427 Cell: 209-489-75

Email: [email protected]

Website: unity.org

Facebook: unitymercedWe are part of: UnityWorldWideMinistries & Silent Unity

workmanship, created in ChristJesus to do good works, which

God prepared in advance for us

to do.Well the process of searching for anew spiritual leader is proving tobe quite an adventure for us all.This is where we are at.We have put together the packet ofinformation which describes whowe are and what we want.Just getting all that ready involvedupdating our By Laws, our ActionPlans and being clear about whatwe could offer. Here are some ed-ited extracts!Unity of Merced looks forward toengaging a leader who can con-tinue to empower our staff andvolunteers; encourage and imple-

ment Spiritual Education.Our newleadership will continue to culti-

vate sacred community in excitingnew ways.We have maintained a continuouspresence in Merced for the past 56years. In 2005 we became a suc-cessful self managing communitylead by a Licensed Unity Teacherwho completed her training in2007. We serve a diverse group of

individuals and our demographic

Loving Letter

for

July & August

2013

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's

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has changed significantly over thistime. Our intention is to expandour multigenerational sacred com-munity membership. Almost all ofour membership (about 70) is in-volved in facilitating our spiritualcommunity to make sacred life a

reality.We are a ministry of minis-tries!

In the last ten years this spiritualcommunity has truly taken owner-ship of Unity of Merced.It is on a sound financial footingand debt free. We were in the sec-ond cohort for the Branding Pro-ject. It is a self managing commu-nity ready for growth and devel-opment and it is in this area thatleadership is required.So we identified:Visionary / Planner / Organizer,Communication, Human Rela-tions and Leadershipas the skills most required by ournew spiritual leader.Our list ofSmallgroupministriesisastonishing!!

Prayer MinistryPrayerAngels do some randomact of kindness for their prayer an-gel each month.PrayercardMinistry Sends ap-propriate cards to our congregants.Prayergroup Meets every Tuesdayat 12 noon in the office.EducationACourseinMiracles Tuesdays7:00 p.m. with Randy and MattieLane.

BookGroup 4:30 p.m. Barnes &NobleYouth Education MinistrySunday Service MinistriesPlatform Ministry, Usher Ministry,Welcome Newcomers, FlowerMinistry, Sound & Recording Min-

istry, Hospitality Ministry as wellas the team of speakers and musi-cians.NehemiahProjects 9 11 a.m.Saturdays! Lead Mike FraguliaGrounds and Maintenance ministryOfficeMinistry Lead Janine Ad-cockMonday 9 -11 Finance with MikeTuesday 11 - 4 Administration withJillWednesday 10 -1Thursday 11-4 Sunday preparationwith JanetFriday 10-1Newsletter Editor Janet HayOverbey, Distribution CharlotteMak & Betty ParkerSunshineBookstore Lead MattieLaneBirdMinistry Whitney with thenursery childrenThis is what we decided we wouldofferFinancial Remuneration will be aminimum of $850 a month infirst instance.We tithe from the monthly incometo our Spiritual Leader and willguarantee a minimum of $500 amonth. Our present Leader works

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Blessed summer to my beloved

Come-Unity. 2013

What a wonder-us time it is to bein a shifting world. I am so thank-ful to have the Love of Spiritevolving as me and we.

The summer is a time to ripen for aharvest. Gods nature does Its thinglike butter, (including some churn-ing) thanks to the Blessed Bee-ings, and the Spirit behind all thenatural elements.

Its a wonder-us time in the evo-lution of Joy, that is my life. It hastaken roughly 47 years for me tocome this far. Up until now itseem that it has been, for the most

part, a soulful process of elimina-tion (with a couple blessed addi-tions)Eliminating that which iscontrary to joy. Joy being a lifelived tapped into the heart of onesevolving nature.

There is a movement within methat is Joy-Full of the ancient fu-ture sciences that can transform theworld from the inside out, It is my

calling to add an element to myexpression of joy. It is my desire tohost a groovy sacred atmosphere inthe service to joy in the world. It ismy intention to begin in July, onSaturday nights, and to be a Joy inthe World- Happening,

A Joy Happening is a Joy Evolu-tion. An evolution is a revolutionwithout the rrrr. Joy Happening

is an opportunity to affirm Spirit ina sacred entertainment that onlyJoy can express. Joy, when its true,ranges from the sober to the ec-static with every color in between.

In the full spectrum of authentic-ity and the dignity of Joy is a newage in the Freedom of Our Spirits.We can only really be groovy to-gether.

This is an opportunity to affirmthe Wholly Sacred in the world andcelebrate the diversity in Unity andthe Unity in Diversity. Beauty un-folding as us.

I am looking forward to lookingthrough the lens ofsimplicity andcommunity. I will have my ear tothe sacred tracks for the directionof the joy-Full movements. I willlook forward to the process and thenew seasons ahead for Us as Unitythankfully, as the world turns.

Thanks to all who are in serviceto the process and progress of love,peace, and unity. Blessing everybody!Blessing the WayWith Love & Light&Joy

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about 40 hours a month and took amonths leave without pay over andabove holiday entitlement.Our total income 2012 was$77,351 so had our SpiritualLeader had worked all year shewould have received $7,735 and a

further $2,100 for speaking eachmonth making $819 a month.We pay our speakers $175 eachSunday and we suggest the newleader speaks twice a week duringthe first year to establish a soundrelationship with the congregation.So a further Sunday a week $175would have brought her monthlypayment up to $894ORWe would pay for a leader to com-plete S.E.E. and Leadership train-ing up to $6,000 a year forup to three years. This would covertransport, tuition, board and lodg-ing and most of cost ofbooks. Once Leader was qualifiedwe would pay as above.Then there is opportunity for fur-ther income, there is great potentialfor growth of congregation andwith it income, Teach Intensive w/eS.E.E. Classes open to other con-gregations in the region and de-velop Unity of Merced as a smallwedding location.The full packet is available to youif you go to www.unity.org; - worldwide ministries: - contact; - onlinepublications and subscribe to ThePath. Our church packet will beadvertised again in the next edi-tion.Peace love and blessings,Jill Loving, L.U.T.& Spiritual Leader

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TEACHING

Book Club is on hiatus

A Course in MiraclesTuesdays 7-9:00 p.m. with Randyand Mattie Lane - this is a long es-tablished class so please call 628-6383 before joining

Way to LoveStudy group meets Wednesdays

7:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the Youth bldg.

Affirmation for new

leaderWe give thanks for the new

leader of Unity Merced. Thisleader is committed to leadingUnity Merced through Christ

light and love and Unity princi-ples to be all that it can be.

NewsletterDeadline for theSeptember / October 2013 issue is

Sunday, August 25th, 2013

Themes: Sense of Place / Service

Lead: Janet Hay Overbey

Email: [email protected]
http://www.unity.org/http://www.unity.org/http://www.unity.org/http://www.unity.org/


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BoardChaplainsCornerBy: Dr. Judith

Hartman

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If you want more balance in your

life, you must understand whatbalance means. Balance is notstatic. It is a specific act. It iswhere different parts of life are inappropriate proportion and har-mony. Balance is not something tobe achieved and then forgotten. Itchanges at different stages of life.

There are many challenges toliving a balanced life. For someit's working too much, accumulat-

ing beyond what is needed, not ex-ercising enough, unhealthy eating,not spending enough time with thepeople who are important, and thelist goes on.

You say: I want more balance,but do you make the changes thatare necessary. This question mightmake you think about what youwant in the moment or in the longrun. You may not be aware that

you are out-of-balance until youhave a problem that is big enoughto get your attention.

Deadlines are a reality but if wecontinue to operate in that mode,what follows is a deadline drivenlife that pushes family dinners, ex-ercise, meditation, a healthy diet,or fun to the side. We all need towake up to the fact that workingsix days a week, having meetings

on weekends, and working latehours, takes its toll.

Recognizing signs of imbalancemay help to find greater balance.At those times shift attention tobreathing, and releasing the strug-gle with what is happening in themoment. Slow down, focus, andrelax into the moment. Thinkabout what will bring you morebalance.

The following is not a quick fix,like taking two aspirins. But, whenyou are out of balance, rememberthe serenity prayer, and have theserenity to accept the things youcannot change and the courage tochange the things you can. Choosean area of your life that is out of

balance and make a change. Thetwo areas that will produce thegreatest results are making achange in your thinking and yourbody. This is easy, but it's not easyin the sense that there's no work orcommitment involved. It is withinyour control and you can do it!

Breath. Slow down, Relax. Thenreflect on the following three prac-tices to help you make a change

and find balance.#1 Desire is a thought impulse. Donot stop to think why you wantwhat you want. Instead, directyour thought to where you want itto go then act. The old admonitionof think before you speak is a sim-ple example. It shapes what youwant and lets your words and ac-tions carry your intention. This isas true with your personal practices

as it is with your outer interactions.If you find that you are consistentlyout of balance in one area, takesome time to think about how tomove into balance in your thinkingso that impulses do not supersedeyour intentions.#2 Put your body where it needs tobe to bring more balance. Thiscould be de-cluttering your office,making phone calls to sell yourproduct, doing yoga, hitting thegym, having a conversation you'vebeen putting off, making a healthylunch to take to work, getting upearly to finish a project, or makingtime for physical exercise. Noticewhat you eat and how that influ-ences your energy and sense ofbalance. Notice the difference be-tween busy work and intentional

effort. In other words, if you aredoing yoga, you need to have yourbody on the mat. If you are makinga healthy lunch, your body needs tbe in the kitchen. If you are mak-ing phone calls, your body needs tobe on the phone. You cannot be intwo places at once. Direct your

body to match your intention.#3 Mindfulness is the practice ofconnection and presence. A mind-fulness practice gives you space tobe with what is occurring when itis occurring. If you find that you'rnever where you are, such as,thinking about something elsewhen others are speaking, or in aconstant hurry to get on to what'snext, or aggravated by having to

wait in line or in traffic, use thispractice to bring balance to themoment. Smile, breathe in and ouslowly, and expand your awarenesto include your physical environ-ment, and notice your thoughtswithout holding on to them. Youwill find you can bring balance toan agitated mind.

When we are alert to these prac-tices, the result is a delicious sim-

plicity. We sleep better, eat health-ier, exercise daily, love in all waysand find pleasure in work and play

My love goes with you as you goforward in a balanced and happylife.

SERVICE

Hospitality Ministry meets 12

noon 1st Sunday of the month.

Lead: Susan Benes

Call: 209-777-7771Email: [email protected].

Sunday Service SupportMinistry We are looking for

ushers and someone who would

like to participate in the Flower

Ministry by being responsible for

bringing flowers when ever there i

a 5th Sunday of the month. If you

are interested contact the Office.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Getting

UnstuckOn a certain

level, resistanceto the futureand the changeit will likely

bring is a reason most of us stub-

bornly reenergize our past and con-tinue down the same mental roadswe blazed so many years before.Those youthful roads, once com-pletely open, remain alive withinthe memories of our ageless minds(eternal consciousness). Theseyouthful roads and ways of beinghave the eternal power to link uswith an HD vision and the mindsetnecessary to accomplish being

young at heart, again and again andagain. So, the deeply spiritual problemof resistance to change, or betteryet the ego-stubbornness of re-maining right (or righteous)always; or the problem of closedmindedness; however you want totranslate itis all just a matter ofthe old dog learning and relearningnew tricks. The old trick mightbarely still work, but real spiritualawakening and evolution upwardstowards divinity and all that comeswith it (joy/real love/heart chakraflowering/spiritual maturity) is onlyfound through constant improve-ment or spiritual evolution. Thenew trick is how to access youthfulenergy, or a very powerful creativeenergy, while still experiencing lifein your old Buick (versus that new

Corvette of your youth). Surviving well in this logical,matter of fact, and seemingly non-spiritual world must be done byaccessing efficient and powerful,even youthful, energy. For mostthis energy can be found at the timein ones life when you were mostwinning and the world was ac-knowledging and celebrating youraccomplishments. For the high

school football player, the StateChampionship game might be thebest highlight in the highlight reelfootage of his mind and thus hisstuck point. What is the victoryyou keep imagining and relivingover and over again? What age(s)were you? This will give you aclue as to your stuck points fromthe past and the reason you may beexperiencing difficulties in certainareas where openness and changeis preferred and almost necessary.

One of those areas are long termrelationships such as within onceclose-knit families where grudgesare still kept from ancient times sothat silence takes the place ofhealthy, happy, sibling-sibling or

parent-child relationships.Whymust it always be the same, al-

ways? The stubbornness of re-maining rigid within ones mind isthe resistance one should considereliminating in order to break (onceand for all) the illusion of separa-tion; the illusion of changelessness;keeping one from the reality ofeternal creation; that constantlybeginning again is ultimate reality.Its OK to start over! This is thesecret mindset of those able tochange!

Be forewarned: once spiritualevolution occurs, one will findgreat difficulty in going back-wards to a place in ones past be-cause it has now been supersededby a higher power accessible in thepresent moment. Now the past iskept in the photo albums and fa-

vorite songs from that era, but itstays outside of dominating onesmind and ways of being. This per-sons aura, nature, and ways oftreating others has now improvedfor the better because of ones newability to change. It is as if onescomputer was cleaned of a majorvirus from the past and updateswere successfully installed. Nowprocessing time is faster and the

whole system is overall moreefficient. This is the power ofspiritual evolution and it is onlyavailable to those who can accessspiritual power in the presentmoment. All else remain in thepast.

My prayer is we may all remainunstuck from the past and ride theenergy of the powerful wave of theever advancing (evolving andchanging) present moment. Jer-eme.

PRAYEROur Prayer ministry continues to

thrive on Tuesdays at noon. BettyParker sends out our new prayercards every Tuesday morning.

email Prayer Requests to:

[email protected]

Every TUESDAY at 12 Noon

Prayer Service in the Office

Meditation Room.

Please hold your PrayerAngelsintention daily.

An occasional note, card, orsmall gift is also appreciated. Usethe AngelDropOffPoint (bookshelves under the bulletin boards atthe back of the sanctuary) or ourchurch address as your return ad-dress to preserve your anonymity!

Sharing Our Premises

Currently AA and RCA meetings

plus the Unitarians share our

building. Please see our Weekly

Calendar for scheduled meetings

and office hours.

Board NewsRemember we have established aScholarship Fund to pay tuitioncosts for members who furthertheir Unity Education through at-tending Regional weekend courses(check Notice board in church) orSEE at the Village or online. Itnow stands at $3,000. Apply to the

Board in writing for a scholarship.


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July 2013Sunday Service Line-up

10:30 AMJuly 7thSpeaker-John Butler (tbc)Music-Kate & Roddy JacksonPlatform-Ida FraguliaSound-Mike/JeremeFlowers-Dee DeeLead Usher-Lamech HowardBookstore-UniTots-WhitneyUniKids-Sarah AndersonUniteens/Y.O.U.-Karen DammeHospitality-Janine

July 14thSpeaker-Margaret SimmondsMusic-Allan SpencerSpecial Music-Cheryl LocketPlatform-Dan AlemanSound-Mike/JeremeFlowers-Charlotte MakLead Usher-Lamech

Bookstore-

UniTots-WhitneyUniKids-Sarah AndersonUniteens/Y.O.U.-Karen DammeHospitality-Betty P.

July 21stSpeaker-Jill LovingAccompanist-John AlbanoSpecial Music-Lorraine WalshPlatform-Rich GipsonSound-Mike/Jereme

Flowers-Twila StoutLead Usher-LamechBookstore-UniTots-Whitney

UniKids-Sarah Anderson

Uniteens/Y.O.U.-Karen DammeHospitality-Frank & Janie

July 28thSpeaker-Karen DammeMusic-Ed Benes&Allan SpencePlatform-Jill LovingSound-Mike/JeremeFlowers-Rosemary&Betty JoLead Usher-LamechBookstore-

UniTots-WhitneyUniKids-Sarah AndersonUniteens/Y.O.U.-Karen DammeHospitality-Rosemary F.

August 2013Sunday Service Line-up

10:30 AM

August 4thSpeaker-Allan SpencerMusic-Kate&Roddy JacksonPlatform-Ida FraguliaSound-Mike/JeremeFlowers-Dee DeeLead Usher-Lamech HowardBookstoreUniTots-WhitneyUniKids-Jereme Anderson

Uniteens/Y.O.U.-Karen DammeHospitality-Janine

August 11thSpeaker-Ed BenesAccompanist-Allan SpencerSpecial Music-Cheryl LochettPlatform-Dan AlemanSound-Mike/JeremeFlowers-Charlotte MakLead Usher-Lamech Howard

BookstoreUniTots-WhitneyUniKids-Jereme AndersonUniteens/Y.O.U.-Karen DammeHospitality-Betty P.

August 18thSpeaker-Jill LovingAccompanist-John AlbanoSpecial Music-Lorraine WalshPlatform-Rich GipsonSound-Mike/JeremeFlowers-Twila StoutLead Usher-Lamech HowardBookstoreUniTots-Whitney

UniKids-Sarah AndersonUniteens/Y.O.U.-Karen DammeHospitality-Frank & Janie

August 25thSpeaker-Rev. Nancy McNattMusic-Ed Benes&Allan SpencePlatform-Jill LovingSound-Mike/JeremeFlowers-Rosemary&Betty JoLead Usher-Lamech HowardBookstoreUniTots-WhitneyUniKids-Sarah AndersonUniteens/Y.O.U.-Karen DammeHospitality-Rosemary F.

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

10:30 a.m.Worship

Service----------------4:00 p.m.U.U. every2nd & 4thSunday

7-8:00 a.m.AA Meeting----------------9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.Office Open----------------6:30-8 p.m.RCA Meet-ing

7-8:00 a.m.AA Meeting----------------11:00 a.m.to 4:00 p.m.Office Open----------------12:00 NoonPrayerService----------------7-9:00 p.m.A Course inMiracles w/Mattie andRandy Lane

10:00 a.m.to 1:00 p.m.Office Open----------------BellydanceFitnessw/Janet6-7:00 p.m.----------------also6-7:30 p.m.AA Meeting(Children

Welcome)

7-8:00 a.m.AA Meeting----------------11:00 a.m.to 4:00 p.m.Office Open

7-8:00 a.m.AA Meeting----------------10:00 a.m.to 1:00 p.m.Office Open

8-9:00 a.m.AA Meeting

July / August 2013 Weekly Calendar & Scheduled Meetings

305 W. 26th StreetMerced, CA 95340