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Greetings!
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"The power of the resurrection is the Christ... [it] takes place in us every time we rise to Jesus' realization of the perpetual indwelling life that is connecting us with the Father. A new flood of life comes to all who open their minds and their bodies to the living word of God. "
Unity co-founder, Charles Fillmore, "The Revealing Word"
Before we allow Easter to simply fade away in our rear view mirrors, let's look at the resurrection experience. It's taken a long time for me to begin to understand its day-to-day relevance in my life; after all, death still appears to be very final, and I haven't really heard of anyone else duplicating Jesus' great demonstration. On some level I understood that the event was not just about Jesus doing something to "save" us, but my old childhood beliefs remained so strongly embedded in my consciousness that I couldn't really understand the symbolism or how it relates to me.
I was taught in my very first Unity class that if I didn't understand something, I should declare, "Let there be Light", and then let it go. I was told not to worry about what I didn't understand, just claim Light. Another equally important early lesson was willingness. At the time, it was quite difficult for me to really believe that claiming something and being willing to receive it could actually accomplish much. However, my teacher seemed sincere, and I had no reason to believe she was just making this stuff up. Apparently I was finally ready to suspend my disbelief and give it a try. I guess I knew that at some point, you just have to quit tip-toeing around the edges of the pool and jump in.
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| Over the years I've had plenty of opportunities to claim Light and be willing, because there has been much I did not understand. There is still much I do not understand! But every now and again, I am blessed to receive the gift of Light, and every time I do, somewhere within me, I experience a delighted little gasp of surprise that "this stuff really works!"
Jesus understood that within each of us is the One Power that is Source, Life, Love, All-That-Is-True. The name Jesus used for that Power was Father. You might name it God, Spirit, Buddha-mind, Energy, the Universe, Allah, Divine Mind, Goddess, or some other term. Whatever you choose to call It, It is within each of us, and It is the Truth-of-What-we-Are. It is our True Identity.
Energy can never be destroyed. It can be changed, but it is never destroyed. Jesus understood this. He understood that we are that Life, we can never be destroyed, we can never die. His life's work was to teach Truth through the demonstration of his understanding. He understood that since God can only create what God is, if we are made in the image-and-likeness of God, we must also be Divine. He understood that if God is Life, we must also be Life. Life is eternal. Life cannot give birth to death. Through his crucifixion experience, he demonstrated his willingness to claim Light, to claim Life, and to do what was His to do: demonstrate to each of us the un-reality of death, and, through the resurrection, prove to us the eternal Truth-of-What-we-Are.
I understand now that Jesus is not just Jesus. Jesus is symbolic of that within us that knows we are Spiritual Beings. The crucifixion is not just the horrible thing that happened to Jesus. It is the process we go through as we claim Light and willingness to release the errors of thought upon which we have previously lived our lives. The resurrection was not just a one-time miracle reserved for Jesus.
The resurrection is what we experience each and every time we raise our awareness to that level which knows Christ within us is the "only begotten" of God. The resurrection takes place in every one of us each time we allow our old, error-based beliefs to "die" and be raised to a higher level of understanding. The resurrection takes place every time we allow ourselves to raise our thinking ever-higher and embrace the infinite possibilities which are always-present in Divine Mind. So we claim Light. We claim willingness. We raise up our consciousness, and we know Truth. We claim Light, we claim willingness, and we allow ourselves to live the Truth that we know. Eventually, we know that we are the Light. We know that we no longer need fear, because we are eternal. We have been raised up in Truth. And for that, we are truly, truly grateful.
Save the Date: Marcia Breitenbach in Concert Sunday, May 20th at 1:00pm
Our music director, Marcia, has a new CD! Gifts of Joy is a co-creation with Spirit that brings messages about the choice to embrace life, love, peace, joy and transformation. Each song empowers us to do what is ours to do, as we let go of what no longer serves. This is Marcia's "first" concert of her music, and you can be sure there will be a surprise or two as well as the unveiling of her new and wonderful music. Visit Marcia's website.
Did you know...
Child care and Sunday School is always available for kids
Our Sunday School teachers look forward to sharing Unity principles with your children aged 4-12. If you've got questions, please speak to our YOU teachers: Cindy Cawthorne, LUT, Barbara Richman, LUT, Judyth Willis, and Sunni Adams. Our nursery is available for the very young ones, as well.
Spiritual Enrichment and Education Classes
Rev. Nita will be facilitating two foundational Unity Institute credit classes. Everyone is welcome to attend SEE classes.
Meditation Practices: Wednesdays, 4/18 - 5/16, 10:30-12:30 and 6:30-8:30pm
Metaphysics 1, pt. 1: Saturdays, 4/21 - 5/19, 9:30 - 11:30am
For more information, or simply reply to this email with your questions.
Some closing thoughts...
I appreciate that you've read this far! The gift of consciousness is the most important gift thee is. I hope that you'll consider attending one of our upcoming classes, or joining us some Sunday soon. This Sunday (April 22), I'll be starting a series looking at the contemporary classic "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". These 7 Habits correspond to spiritual principles, and can help you to live more effectively in every area of your life. If you're ready for change, if you're ready to invest time and effort in creating that change, you will find your life transformed. We can each be 'resurrected' into higher and higher living. It's not complicated, and you can do this!
Blessings to each of you,
Rev. Nita Strauss
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Upcoming Sunday Lessons
4/22: (New Sunday series begins) 7 (Spiritual) Habits of Highly Effective People, #1- Be Proactive.
4/29: 7 Habits, #2 - Begin with the End in Mind
5/6: Habit #3 - Putting First Things First
5/13: Habit #4 - Think Win/Win
5/20: Habit #5 - Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
5/27: Habit #6 - Synergy
6/3: Habit #7 - Sharpen the Saw
6/10: The Eighth Habit
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