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This email consists of three parts:
  • Letter to members and friends
  • Guide to "Experience the Miracle of Sharing" Conscious Giving Program
  • Commitment Card
It is our hope that you will read through this entire email and make a conscious and thoughtful decision regarding your participation in our program.

Your Board of Trustees
Anne-Marie Lax
Fancy Ruff-Wagner
Robert Spiegel

 
Letter to Members and Friends
Love and Blessings to Members and Friends of Unity Spiritual Center East Mountains -
 
We wanted to share this passage by Ernest Holmes, entitled "The Law of GIVING and RECEIVING."  
 
Everything in Nature moves in circles. What goes out must come back. Unless the seed is sown it cannot bear fruit. There must be a planting time for every
harvest. Who gives all receives all. Who refuses to give, limits the possibility of the greater good returning to him.
 
Love and you will be loved. Extend joy and you will become more joyful. The ancient Talmud says, "God will doubly guide the already guided" and Jesus, the greatest of the great, said, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:38)
 
We do not give because God needs the gift but because the giving increases, broadens and deepens the life of the giver. Nor shall we give from the standpoint of duty. The universe refuses to bargain with us. It already has given us everything it has. But it also has provided that the gift of life can be received in its fullness only as it flows through us to the fullness of others.
 
How wonderful is this exact balance which God and nature keep; how perfect is the law of God and how glorious the opportunity to join with the infinite Giver in the givingness of the self to the joy of life!
 
The theme of this year's campaign is "Experience the Miracle of Sharing," for sharing encompasses both giving and receiving.  In 2015 Unity Spiritual Center experienced quite a bit of both giving and receiving.
 
  • We have continued to give Sunday Services with ritual, music, and thought-provoking talks presented by our Board of Trustees, and we have received positive feedback from guests and increased attendance.
  • We have continued to give a weekly E-Newsletter with not only a listing of events, but inspirational essays, articles, photos, and videos, and our email list been growing.
  • We have continued to put our little church and its message out in front of the people of the larger world through a Website, Facebook Page, and Pinterest Profile, and all of our social media sites have grown in fans.
  • We have continued to present our Monthly Music Ministry, The Second Saturday Community CoffeeHouse which brings high-quality FREE live music to the East Mountains, along with a short inspirational talk, and our audience continues to grow with many people returning month to month.  We have also received new sponsors and volunteers this past year.  Our monthly CoffeeHouse newsletter list is also growing.
  • We have continued our Prayer Ministry, which reaches out to and includes anyone who could benefit from affirmative prayer, and we have received gratitude and prayer in return.
  • We hosted a free Spiritual Movie Day which brought in several new people and we collected a love offering and sold DVDs and CDs as a fundraiser.  We want to continue to give Spiritual Movie Days to our community in an effort to raise awareness and spread new thought principles.
 
In addition, our budget for 2015 was conservative as it was our first full year existing without the mortgage and we didn't know how it would go.  We came within $20 of our budgeted expenses, and we received more income than we budgeted.  We were able to start giving back to our landlord host, First Unitarian Church.  We were indeed prosperous in 2015.  Thank you, God.
 
And so, as we create our annual ministry plan for 2016, we ask for your participation in the Miracle of Sharing.  We affirm that God is the source of our supply and that we all are good stewards of self, family, community, congregation, and the Unity faith. Sharing involves not only reaching out to support new things, but also protecting the resources that exist to ensure the future. Sharing invites each person to balance spiritual development with good works in the wider world, enabling us to put our faith in action.  Join us as we share the Unity message with our community and beyond.
 
With Love and Gratitude,
 
Your Board of Trustees
Anne-Marie Lax
Fancy Ruff-Wagner
Robert Spiegel

Guide to Conscious Giving Program
This guide is intended to answer questions you may have about our Conscious Giving Program. As you read through it, please consider the blessings both you and your spiritual home will receive through your participation in it.
 
What is Conscious Giving?  The Conscious Giving Program occurs each year in preparation for planning our fiscal year that begins January 1. During that period of time, all of our members and friends will receive a Conscious Giving Commitment Card and will be asked, through prayer and thoughtfulness, to make a commitment to a specific dollar contribution for the upcoming fiscal year.
 
What is the purpose of the program?  Our annual Conscious Giving Program has a twofold purpose. First, it is our intention to promote the consciousness and demonstration of financial prosperity in the members and friends of Unity Spiritual Center. As the quotation by Dr. Ernest Holmes in our annual letter indicates, the key to ongoing financial prosperity is consistency in both giving and receiving and a remembrance that ultimately all that we give and receive is to and from God. Prosperity teachers of the ages have taught that when we acknowledge God as our Source through consistent and dedicated giving to the place (or places) where we are spiritually nourished, we activate a law of circulation that secures our abundance.
 
The second purpose of our Conscious Giving Program is to ensure that Unity Spiritual Center remains a vibrant and dynamic center for expressing God's Love, being God's Light and living God's Truth not only for our current congregation but for those who will be drawn to us in the future. Part of being such a vibrant and dynamic center involves vision, excellent stewardship and active planning. Our Conscious Giving Program is intended to support our stewardship and planning. By knowing the congregation's commitment to giving for our upcoming fiscal year, the Board of Trustees can plan with care and precision the annual activities and expenditures of the church. It takes the guesswork out of our planning process and enables us to bring the highest level of stewardship to our activities.
 
How does the program work?  The Conscious Giving Program occurs each year in preparation for planning our fiscal year that begins January 1. The program usually takes place during the fall, but we got a late start this year and it will take place between now and February 14th.  During that period of time, all of our members and friends will receive a Conscious Giving Commitment Card and will be asked, through prayer and thoughtfulness, to make a commitment to a specific dollar contribution for the upcoming fiscal year.
 
Commitments may be made individually, as a family, or through one's business, and they may be made on a weekly, monthly or annual basis. Once completed, the Conscious Giving Commitment Card is to be mailed to the church or placed in the offering basket on any Sunday during the four-week program. We ask that all cards be submitted by February 14th.
 
What if I choose not to commit during the next four weeks?  Whether you fill out a Conscious Giving Commitment Card or not, you will remain a beloved member and/or friend of USCEM, participating at the fullest level of your desires in the activities of the center.  Making a financial commitment is truly an individual choice, and we support you in whatever choice you make. It is our hope, however, that you will thoughtfully consider how making such a commitment can help you grow into a greater idea of what you can create.
 
Remember, our first intention of this program is to support each of our members and friends in developing the consciousness and seeing the demonstration of financial prosperity in their lives. The world is full of individuals who have trusted Spirit to provide based on their willingness to give.
 
What if my financial circumstances change during the year?  May I change my commitment?  Absolutely, yes. Once a fiscal quarter, we will send you an update of your identifiable giving just to keep you informed of where you are. You may increase or decrease your giving level at any time, and we will not contact you to discuss your participation. This program is not designed to be a bill you owe, but rather a gift you give that transforms your life.
 
Is tithing related to this program?  If so, how?  Before addressing these questions, let us first look at a few other questions that typically come up around tithing.
 
First, what is tithing?  Tithing is the regular, consistent act of giving the "first fruits" of your labors to God. "Tithe" is derived from the word "tenth," and, therefore, literally means one-tenth. Traditionally the tithe is ten percent of gross earnings. We often refer to this as "tithing of our treasure." People who tithe give their tithes first and then consider their expenses and bills. Some people like to cultivate the attitude that the first ten percent of their earnings was never theirs. They see the tithe as God's from the beginning, and so it was never theirs to spend.
 
Since it is literally not possible to give a tithe directly to God, tithers give to God's work. Or, put another way, they give to the source or sources of their spiritual inspiration, because to inspire others to know God is, most purely, God's work.
 
Why would I tithe?  Tithing is a tool, really a spiritual practice, based on the principle of giving and receiving. It is the deliberate practice of regular, structured and conscious giving. When you look up the great tithing promises in the Bible, such as the one appearing at Malachi 3:10, you find that the Bible says that the individual who tithes is prospered. As you tithe, so you prosper. When you give consistently to God's work, you open the way to receive consistently in your own. Ask anyone who tithes why they do it and you will always hear about the abundance tithing creates in their lives -- abundance in love, friends, careers, peace and financial resources. Eric Butterworth in his book, Spiritual Economics, says, "There is no magic in tithing whatsoever, any more than there is magic in the flow of water when the tap is turned on. There is no need for magic when one works diligently to keep in the flow of life." Tithing, simply stated, keeps us in the flow of life.
 
Do I have to tithe ten percent?  Remember, the word "tithe" literally means "tenth."  So, yes, if you choose to tithe, it means you choose to give ten percent. There are many people who consider their tithe as their minimum level of giving, and they then contribute to their spiritual home above and beyond their tithe as they are internally called to share their good.
 
Conversely, others begin to build a tithing consciousness through "percentage giving." In percentage giving, a conscious commitment to give a certain percentage (say two, three or five percent) is made and then the percentage is increased over a period of time as the individuals see the principle of circulation at work in their lives in obvious and meaningful ways. Percentage giving is a powerful tool for building faith and reliance upon God as Source, but should not be confused with a "tithe." Remember, "tithe" means ten percent.
 
May my tithe be in the form of service?  Tithing of service - often called tithing of time and talent -- is as beneficial to you as is tithing of your treasure. Tithing of service helps spiritualize your attitudes toward work, while tithing of your treasure helps spiritualize your attitudes toward money. We should not, however, do one in lieu of the other. It would be like asking if exercising very hard on the right side of the body would strengthen the left side as well.
 
Initially, it is often harder for us to tithe our treasure than to tithe our time and talent. We have to give our "hard-earned money," or at least we sometimes think of it this way. As often as not, the desire to give service instead of money is only a rationalization to avoid having to make what at first seems the larger sacrifice.
 
The truth is, the more we give freely of ourselves, the more joy we experience in all areas of our lives. In this way, the larger "sacrifice" becomes the larger source of joy.
 
Now back to the original question:  Is tithing related to this program, and if so, how?  Tithing is related to this program if you want it to be. Many people choose to commit to tithe. Others choose to commit to percentage giving or to a specific amount. Others choose not to commit but to continue giving at the level their hearts call them to give in the moment. Remember, the choice is entirely yours.
 
If, however, you commit to tithe through the Conscious Giving Program, here's how it might work. Let's say your average income per month is $3,000. You would commit $300 per month or $3,600 per year. Or, if your income varies from month to month, you could estimate a minimum amount and commit to tithe 10% of that. Then, if your income is greater, you will be in a position to tithe more than your commitment. If it is less, you will make an adjustment in your tithe accordingly.
 
May I participate in this program if I choose not to tithe?  Without a doubt. The Conscious Giving Program has a place for those who choose to tithe as well as for those who choose to support the church financially at the level they desire. Remember we are all about choice, so you decide what works for you and know that your gifts will be gratefully and lovingly received and that your consciousness of giving will be a blessing to you.
 
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We thank you for taking the time to read and consider the information contained in this guide.  If you have questions that are not answered here, our Board of Trustees is available to answer them. 
 
The loving commitment of your gifts and tithes enables your Board to be better financial stewards, which, in turn, allows Unity Spiritual Center to continue to be a place where God's Love, Light and Truth are shared. Individually, each of us makes a difference in this world. However, together we can create the world anew - a world that works for everyone!


2016 Conscious Giving Commitment Card

Unity Spiritual Center East Mountains
2016 Conscious Giving Commitment Card - The Miracle of Sharing
 
Tithe/Financial Support Commitment
 
I (we) choose to tithe to / financially support Unity Spiritual Center East Mountains during 2016 in the amount of:
 
$________________________________ per week  /  month  /  year     (circle one, please)
I (we) understand this amount can be changed at any time of the year if I (we) so choose.
 
ญญ
Signature _______________________________________________
 
Signature _______________________________________________
(if a couple/family commitment)
 
Please Print
 
Individual Name(s) or Business Name ____________________________________
 
___________________________________________________________________
 
Address  ____________________________________________________________
 
City ________________________________  State _______   Zipcode___________
 
Email Address(es): ญญญญญญญญญญ____________________________________________________
 
____________________________________________________________________
 
 
Please return this Commitment Card in the Sunday offering or by mail by February 14, 2016.
Unity - A Positive Path for Spiritual Living
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