Rev. brenda s. ehret

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Please note: The church office will be closed Monday, July 5, for the holiday.

REV. BRENDA OUT OF OFFICE

Rev. brenda will be on silent retreat for spiritual renewal beginning Monday, July 5 through Friday, July 9.

Rev. brenda will be out of the office on paid time off beginning Monday, August 9, and returning Saturday, August 21.  A guest speaker will be scheduled for Sunday, August 15. 

Please contact Kip at the church office (393-5422) for any church-related business.  Please contact Janith Griffith (389-0706) for any pastoral care requests.

FROM OUR MINISTER

I recently returned from the People's Convention hosted by the Association of Unity Churches.  I am truly grateful to have been sponsored by you to attend this important event.  The Association has presented us with an exciting new branding plan that I will share with our Marketing/Media team and board liaison. 

Our keynote speakers were top of the line this year-Barbara Marx Hubbard, Doug Krug, Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith and Rev. James Trapp.  My inspiration tank is definitely refilling, and I plan to share some of those golden inspirational nuggets with you over the next few weeks. 

Our Board of Trustees has completed my performance review and a mutually beneficial dialogue has taken place.  In addition, we have been doing some visioning work this spring to determine the direction and priorities for the Board of Trustees.  Spirit continues to flow from us in wonderful ways throughout this organic process. Our board members, ministry team leaders and team members have worked diligently over the past couple of years to build a deep foundation at UnityCR. 

Summer, for me, is a time of coming into greater balance-making ample time for play, spiritual renewal, and tapping into the infinite fountain of energy that fuels my enthusiasm for my ministry work.  As you all remember to play this summer, please be mindful of supporting your spiritual community on Sundays with your bright and shiny faces, as well as continuing to tithe your treasure.  I notice our auto-tithes are up this year-further affirmation of the firm foundation we are building.

Much is happening on the news front-economy, oceans, conflicts abroad.  Rev. Dr. Beckwith reminds us these news items are not fear triggers, but rather triggers for prayerful consciousness. Together we join in thoughts and prayers of prosperity, earth-care and peace.  It all begins in our hearts, my friends.  Let us go there and find the kingdom. 

Glady McMellor

Our next quarterly membership meeting will be July 25 after the Sunday service during our world-famous brunch. On the same day, the various ministry teams will be holding a fair in the CommUnity room.  What a great time to immerse ourselves in what's happening at UnityCR and to consider how we individually can serve our mission to provide spiritual awareness and share the wonder and joy of God's love.  As I often say, "We are all in this together!"

During the quarterly membership meeting, we'll share:

·       An updated financial report and information regarding the financial task force and financial policies/procedures

·       A reading of the intentions of the Earth Care Covenant signed and sent to the Unity Association

·       Updates on the Youth/Family Ministry program

·       The status of the results of the Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Your comments and questions are encouraged. We promise to keep the meeting brief -- and did I mention there will be food?

Centered in Spirit, the UCR Board of Trustees provides a safe place where we mindfully serve our congregation.

Jim Healy

First and foremost, thank you for generously supporting our Spiritual Home with your time, talent, and treasure.  What amazing energy and satisfaction we receive when, together, we channel our Spiritual Gifts to enrich the life experiences of so many!

I would like to share some insight I have gained by serving as your Prosperity Chair/Treasurer.  Not all months are equal when it comes to expenses.  The next few months tend to be the most challenging when managing our cash flow.  Our monthly operating expenses tend to increase slightly during the summer months just at the time we are out enjoying the summer season and Sunday Service attendance tends to dip.  These combine to cause a potential cash-flow gap.

Please prayerfully take this information into consciousness as you consider your tithes and gifts through the coming months. Together we will meet all of our financial obligations in a timely manner.

Questions? Please contact me or any board member. Your insight truly adds value as we make decisions for UnityCR on your behalf.     

Jonny Lipford

Are you a shepherd? A craftsman? A teacher? An encourager? Discover your spiritual gifts (unique talents) by taking a Spiritual Gifts Inventory at 6:30 p.m., July 7, or 10 a.m., Aug. 14. Our Unity 101 class and our Ministry Team Leaders took the inventory in the spring and found it fun and fascinating to uncover their hidden treasure. Interested? Sign up in the bookstore.

JONNY LIPFORD IN CONCERT JULY 11

Jonny Lipford will perform contemporary Native American flute music during the Sunday, July 11, service as well as a concert following the service at 12:30. The cost is $10. In every song you hear you'll experience the unbridled passion of an individual who has experienced far more than many people his age.  Jonny's innate sense of composition and mature understanding of melody touches the soul.  Jonny's hands play out melodies that are uniquely pure, invoking a variety of emotions that will warm your heart and leave you astonished at his musical technique.

BRING SHOES TO DONATE DAY OF JONNY'S CONCERT

Do you have some shoes you've hardly worn and no longer need? Jonny Lipford is asking that you bring new or gently worn shoes at UnityCR on Sunday, July 11. He will then see that they are donated to Soles4Souls, a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you.

The charity distributes these shoes free of charge to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 10 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently donating one pair every 9 seconds.) The shoes have been distributed to people in over 125 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States.

Robert Baca

PSYCHIC MEDIUM ROBERT BACA AT UNITYCR JULY 15

Robert Baca, psychic medium and gifted communicator, will hold a special public gallery (forum) from 7-9 p.m., Thursday, July 15. The cost is $20 and five nonperishable food items. He will also be scheduling private readings. To schedule, call 1.877.270.5033. Come prepared to be enlightened, educated, informed and entertained. Learn more about Mr. Baca at his website

www.voicesfromheaven.com.  

MINISTRY TEAM FAIR JULY 25

Have you been wondering how you might get more involved at UnityCR? Plan to attend our Ministry Team Fair, Sunday, July 25, after brunch in the CommUnity Room. During the fair you'll have the opportunity to learn more about each of our Ministry Teams - what they do, why and when they do it, and whom they are looking for to join their team. Ministry team leaders will be designing their booths through the lens of "Spiritual Gifts." They have taken the Spiritual Gifts inventory - a great discovery tool - and have identified the gifts or qualities that are beneficial for their team members to have. This will be a great time to connect and share! Questions? Please contact Susan Liddell.

"THE LIVING MATRIX" TO BE SHOWN SATURDAY, AUGUST 7

Join us Saturday, August 7, from 1-4 p.m. for an introduction to Reconnective Healing and a screening of The LIving Matrix, a documentary on evidence-based research in bioenergetic medicine that reveals energy and information fields - not genetics - drive human physiology and biochemistry. Reconnective Healing is a new and powerful form of frequency healing that uses frequencies of energy, light, and information. It is complete and comprehensive. What is light and information? The Living Matrix dives into this topic in depth. Audience members will have an opportunity to experience the Reconnective Healing frequencies. The Living Matrix DVD and Eric Pearl's book - The Reconnection:  Heal Others / Heal Yourself will be offered at a discount to all event attendees. For more information, contact Laurie or Richard Moritz at 319.731.0236.

UNITY 101

Want to get better acquainted with UnityCR and learn more about the Unity movement and its teachings? Join us for Unity 101 at 11:45 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, and Sept. 12, 19 and 26. This is a great opportunity to make connections with other congregants. You may attend the class for your own personal spiritual growth whether you are a current member or someone who is considering membership. If you want to become a member, you must attend all four classes. New Member Sunday will be Oct. 3. Also in October, we will offer Unity 102 so stay tuned! Questions? Please contact Susan Liddell.

CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES!

·       Laura Miller, daughter of Scott and Renee Miller, graduated from Knox College

·       Brandon Price, grandson of Benita Price, received his GED in Cedar Rapids

·       Gage Osburn, grandson of Benita Price, graduated from Eldora High School

·       JP Krejci, son of Rev. brenda, received his MBA from Kellogg Business School at Northwestern University

TRANSITIONS

We bless Shelly Vermazen whose mother-in-law made her transition on May 25.

Ministries of the Month

The Welcoming Ministry is seeking people who enjoy socializing! We specifically desire people who would be willing to close up the church around 1 p.m. on Sundays as well as to do a few tasks that would take about 10 minutes to complete beforehand. Interested? Please contact Barb Buchanan(364-5875).

UPCOMING MUSIC

July 4: Marylee Camp, vocalist 

July 11: Jonny Lipford, Native American Flute; also 12:30 concert

July 18: Unity Men's Choir

July 25: Shawndell Young, vocalist

August 1: Kimberli Maloy

August 8: The Yahoos (Tom Zimmerman, et al)

August 15: TBA

August 22: Unity Women's Choir

August 29: Unity Spirit Band

JULY BIRTHDAYS

Michelle Wick  2

Polly Gould  4

Aria Polglaze-Carter  6

Sheila Streeby  6

Andrew Miller  7

Korderro Carter  9

Jeanne Huber  11

Chloe Brigl  11

Scott Jamieson  12

Jan Luebke  12

Mike Myhre  15

Tracey Supplee  19

Jan Armentrout  21

Pete Abolins  21

Kim Chandler  23

Martin Fisher  23

Cindy Ellenberger  24

Thom Petersen  24

Sarah Katcher  25

Kevin Krumvieda  26

Will Springfield  27

Michelle Zumhof  30

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS

Vickie Nurre  1

Shirley Pike  2

Brian Zumhof  2

Sherry Kuba  4

Larry Perkins  7

Craig Lekin  8

Sandra McCright  10

Parker Jamieson  10

Terry Galvin  11

Verne Eggleston  12

Greg McGaffic  14

Peggy Cretin  15

Mary Brubaker  15

Tina Debban  17

Tyman Boyd  18

Melissa Carter  18

Susan Primrose  18

Allan Viktor  19

Lydia Hassman  19

Deb Breeden  21

Nancy Dearborn  21

Bettina A. Hass  21

Laura Miller  22

Karen Knight  24

Penelope Hedden  25

Renee' Miller  26

Richard McDowell  29

Ashley Swore  29

Sean Smith  31

Glady McMellor  31

DID WE MISS YOU?

Contact Jan Armentrout at harmentrout@mchsi.com or 377-5889.

"Healthcare with Heart"   

MEDICAL & NON-MEDICAL SERVICES:
o  Companionship
o  Cleaning, Laundry & Meal Preparation
o  Transportation & Errands
o  Medication Assistance & Injections
o  Safety Improvement
o  Bathing, Dressing & Toileting
o  Please ask about availability of other assistance