Heart Thoughts
April 28, 2016
New in this issue:
Celebration of Life
Sunday Potluck
Healing Service
Food for Thought... Food for Life
Wish List
Unity Community Garden
Prayer Shawl Team Date Change
Class Cancellation
Leaning IN
Feedback is a gift; however, it may not always feel that way when you are on the receiving end...Unless it is like the feedback that is coming about the changes being made in our children's ministry!  I am hearing that the teachers and the children are enjoying the new curriculum as well as the new meeting spaces. Kudos to all who are engaged in the new program! Thank you for putting in the extra time needed during the week to prepare the lesson for Sunday morning. Our children are worth the extra time and effort.

The Season for the Earth got a great kick off on Sunday. Our guest speaker, Andras Corben Arthen, gave a great talk, which you can listen to by clicking here. His afternoon workshop was very informative, and his passion about European indigenous people was evident. Those who attended the workshop enjoyed it and learned much from him.
 
A new class will begin on Monday, May 9 facilitated by Cynthia Froehlich and Jack Seery. The class focus is on deepening each individual's perception of the other-than-human world and to learn practices that will open our heart to perceive nature apart from our projections. Both Cynthia and Jack come to this work with a love of Spirit and Nature and so you can bet you will walk away from each class with more than you were expecting.
 
We have set May
Clean Up Day
14 as our annual community grounds clean up day. It begins at 9:00 am, and we ask that you bring any of the following that you might have: a shovel, a rake, a push broom, gloves, and appropriate clothing for this type of activity. We have a magnificent property, and we want to do all we can to insure that everyone who drives onto it see its beauty. We don't get the opportunity to make a "first" impression twice.
 
Join Rev. LeRoy this Sunday as he continues the core values series. He will be doing the core value of transformation.

You are a blessing in my life, 
Pat's Signature
Rev. Patricia Bessey
 
If you are having a birthday in May, I have a gift for you. It is meeting with me and completing an Annual Spiritual Checkup. This can be done in person, over the phone or via SKYPE. Let me know when your birthday is and that you would like to schedule a time to receive your gift. You can email me at revpatbessey@gmail.com or revpatb@roadrunner.com


If you wish to send a tithe/donation to Unity of 
Greater Portland, please click the PayPal button below.
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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
    
Wesley Barton Cannell
11/04/48-01/10/16

         
Celebration of Life
for Wesley B. Cannell
Saturday, April 30
1:00 pm

Wesley B. Cannell, age 67 from Naples, ME made his transition on January 10, 2016 while in care at Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn, ME.
 
Wes was born in Bryn Mawr, PA to L. Barton and Barbara (Gilman) Cannell. Surviving Wes is his sister, Christine (Cannell) Wolf (Buxton, ME); his brother-in-law, Rev. Airin C. Wolf; his niece, Jennifer Jones (Jamaica Plain, MA); and special friend, Anne Meade Contreras (Cerrillos, NM). He leaves behind many dear cousins, those living locally and some far away.
 
Wes grew up here in Maine, the Cannell family having lived in Naples for generations. He graduated from Fryeburg Academy, class of '68 and attended two years at the U. of Mass in Amherst, MA. He was successful as an audiophile and in sales and consultation in high-end audio sales for many years; both in Boston and New York City. He returned home to family and Maine in 1988.
 
Wes was well known for performing in Lake Region Community Theater productions and he loved singing with the Maine Gay Men's Chorus. He was dedicated to the Naples community, serving civic and non-profit organizations in various capacities particularly the Lake Region School Board.  

As brother of Christine Wolf (a long-time member of UGP), he helped out the Audio Visual Team and attended services from time to time at Unity of Greater Portland. 
 
Rev. Airin Wolf will be officiating and Wiley Beveridge will be performing some of Wes' favorite songs. There will be a reception following the service. All are invited to stay.

Sunday, May 1
 
Let us all get together for a whole lot of fun. Bring your favorite dish; one that everyone is so crazy about! 


June 1
12:15 - 1:45 PM
 
The Healing Service is to facilitate healing by the flow of energy through the power of grace. Those serving as facilitators of healing, know that their services represent their commitment to support the emergence and acceptance of the wholeness that Spirit intends for us by applying Unity's principles of healing as well as other modalities.
 
All who attend will have the opportunity to receive a personal time for healing if they choose. Everyone is invited to remain for the whole service, even after receiving a private healing session, as to help support the service.
 
These services are offered as a gift to our community; no fees are charged. Your love offerings will be gratefully accepted and will support the work of the Healing Ministry and Unity of Greater Portland.
 
Please invite your family, friends and others who may benefit from this service to attend.
 

TWO SUNDAY SERVICES

Starting July 3

8:00 am 40-Minute Contemplative Service with Lesson/Talk (no Children's Church or coffee hour) 

10:00 am Regular service with same Lesson/Talk with lunch following service. (Children's Church during service)

 
"We need never look for universal peace on this earth until men stop killing animals for food. The lust for blood has permeated the race thought and the destruction of life will continue to repeat its psychology, the world round, until men willingly observe the law 
in all phases of life, 'Thou shalt not kill'."
~ Charles Fillmore, "The Vegetarian," May 1920
 
This week's Featured recipe: Tofu Egg Salad
 
This stuff is really amazing if you're an egg salad fan. I've heard people say they like it more than "true" egg salad! The black salt is nice, but not necessary. You can substitute regular salt and it still tastes delicious. This sandwich with a cold, crisp pickle and some Humpty Dumpty potato chips is an indulgence for sure. I didn't say it was healthy... I just said it's vegan!! Enjoy!!


If you have any questions or comments, or would like more information on vegetarian/vegan eating, email Steph Plourde, Certified Wellness Coach, at unitychurch@roadrunner.com.

for Unity of Greater Portland

UGP is looking for the following items to be donated for clean-up.


Unity Community Garden

We would like to invite anyone and everyone to make a contribution of perennials and/or herbs to the Unity "community garden". As you are arranging your gardens and creating new spaces, please think of us as you are splitting up plants. We promise to find a great home for them and to lovingly care for them. 

Please bring your plants in anytime the weekend of Saturday, May 7, and Sunday, May 8 and place along the side of the building near the kitchen door. On Saturday, May 14 we will have a crew assembled for the Unity Clean Up Day and will get them planted. If you have any questions, please contact Steph at 893-1233 or unitychurch@roadrunner.com.
 
Unity Clean-up Day
Saturday, May 14
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
 
We will be cleaning up the outside of the church by raking and cleaning the grounds and sweeping the driveway. Please bring tools if you have them (rakes, brooms, shovels, wheelbarrow, etc.).
 




 
Unity Kindness Revolution
Upcoming Activities:  

MAY DATES
May 4, 11:00 am - Singing at Florence House
May 9, 10:30 am - Preble Street Soup Kitchen
May 13, 6:00 pm - Pizza and Sing at Logan Place
May 18, 11:00 am - Singing at Florence House 
 
 Sign up on UGP Bulletin Board
For more information contact Rev. Elizabeth Peterson at:
unitykindnessrev@gmail.com

Prayer Shawl Team 
DATE CHANGE
May 15, 12:15 - 1:45 pm 
 
The Prayer Shawl Team will meet on the third Sunday of may due to Mother's Day on May 8.

Please join us, no experience is needed. If you do not know how to knit or crochet we will teach you and get you started. Any questions email Jan Strout at janstrout@juno.com.


Season for the Earth Events
LOVE OFFERING UNLESS OTHERWISE DESIGNATED
Sign-up on UGP Bulletin Board 
                                                                 
            
            
Beholding Nature: 
Spiritual Ecology Through the Eyes of the Heart
Led by Jack Seery & Cynthia Froehlich
Mondays, May 9 - June 20  
 
6:30 - 8:00 pm

How beautiful the world is when one looks at it without searching, just looks, simply and innocently. 
~ Hermann Hesse
 
In human relationships, the most honoring thing one person can do for another is to truly see them, to look deep beneath the surface and affirm the unique being within. This is how God sees.

In this class, we will work with a variety of practices to broaden and deepen our perceptions of the other-than-human world, practices that will open "the eyes of the heart" and help us to perceive Nature apart from our projections. We will do this in Unity's own backyard.
 
We will also be reading essays from Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth and exploring responses to the impacts of human doings on the earth. Through the 3 points of witnessing, tender-heartedness, and prayer, we will try to discover what action may be required of us without becoming overwhelmed. We want to engage with Earth as an infinitely creative, intelligent, and adaptive system-being, and step into the role of partner and servant rather than rescuer. Through deep-heart relatedness, we hope to craft brand-new strategies for thriving.
 
Bio: Jack Seery has been a member of Unity of Greater Portland since 2004. He has been teaching classes on compassion and nonviolence for several years. He is a spiritual director and leads days of silent retreats. In the past he worked in a soup kitchen and engaged in various forms of nonviolent resistance. 
 
 Bio: Cynthia Froehlich is a member of Unity of Greater Portland. In 2009, she began three years of study with Pam Montgomery (author of Plant Spirit Healing) and with Stephen Buhner (author of The Secret Teachings of Plants and The Lost Language of Plants). Through these teachers, both of whom worked extensively with the HeartMath Institute, Cynthia has received training in "heart-centered perception" in nature. She is also a certified herbalist, Master Gardener, and holds an MA in English from Ohio University.
 
Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth required (available in bookstore)
 
     
Susan MacKenzie
May 15
Guest Speaker  10:00 am 
Workshop 12:15 - 2:15 pm
 
Talk Title: Green Faith: A Call to Act from a Christian Perspective
 
Workshop: Nature as a Gateway to God
In nature we glimpse the sacred mystery of the Creator. We feel connected to one another, to God, and to the universe. In this experiential workshop, we will reflect on how nature befriends, teaches, and heals us as we explore nature as God's sacred revelation, and its significance in our life's journey.
 
Bio: Susan MacKenzie, Ph.D.
A spiritual director for two decades, Susan works with those who seek to embody their faith and to become more attentive to their spiritual gifts. Susan leads retreats on topics including prayer, nature, environmental justice, and sustainability to faith-affiliated groups throughout the Northeast. A master naturalist, she leads kayak, hiking and snowshoe trips to help people reconnect with nature. Susan is a member of Pleasant Street UMC in Waterville Maine, teaches in the Environmental Studies program at Colby College, and serves on the Board of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the state's largest environmental policy advocacy organization. 


A Walk on the Wild Side
with Cynthia Froehlich
Saturday, May 21
9:30 - 12:30
Location TBD
 
Join us for a Saturday morning walk through spring woodlands, wetlands, and fields to see what's growing. Spring ephemerals should be in full swing, and several early-blooming wetland shrubs should be in full blossom. We will learn identify plants once used for food and medicine, and listen to what the plant guilds have to tell us about their habitats. We will take time to see from the "unused side of the eye," as Thoreau put it, looking at small details and making interesting connections that we often overlook. In addition, fresh air, exercise, and good company. A refreshing time for body and spirit.
 
Dress for wet ground and possible ticks. Bring water and munchies.
 
Bio: Cynthia Froehlich is a trained herbalist who has led nature walks for Forest Works! of York County. She also developed and headed up a naturalist program for high school students in alternative education.
 

 

Creating A Culture of Peace 
The World Peace Diet - Immersive Training 
Saturday,  June 25
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

A day-long training exploring vegan living presented by Will Tuttle, Ph.D.
  • Are you concerned about our culture's mistreatment of people, animals, and the Earth?
  • Do you feel called to help create a positive future for our children and the world?
  • Do you long to untangle and understand the hidden roots of the dilemmas we face as individuals & a society?
  • Do you aspire to develop skills to embody, share, and teach healthy and compassionate living for service, fun, and/or your livelihood?
This World Peace Diet Training is created and offered by Dr. Tuttle to provide effective responses to these questions. This day-long workshop offers time for Q & A and discussion in a supportive and nurturing environment.
 
You will gain the tools to understand veganism as a spiritually, culturally, and physically transformational path of awakening, and learn how to effectively bring this understanding to your community, friends, and family.
 
Besides lecture presentations going more deeply into the vegan teachings in 
The World Peace Diet, there will be role-playing exercises and guided meditations facilitated by Dr. Tuttle.
 
We will discuss the Five Levels of Health, the Seven Mentalities, and keys to spiritual and practical dimensions of vegan living.

Location: Unity of Greater Portland, 54 River Road, Windham, ME 04062
(If you pre-signup for the training, you'll receive a 
complimentary copy of Conscious Eating, Dr. Tuttle's  DVD).
 
Dr. Will Tuttle, author of the acclaimed best-seller, The World Peace Diet, and recipient of the Courage of Conscience Award, is also co-founder of Veganpalooza, the largest online vegan event. A vegan for 36 years and former Zen monk, his Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley focused on educating intuition. He has created eight CD albums of uplifting original piano music. With his spouse Madeleine, a Swiss visionary artist, he lectures extensively and internationally. See www.worldpeacediet.com for more information.



Awakening Your Inner Genius
Sunday Talk - June 26
10:00 am
            
Opening the Intuitive Gate:
The Keys to 
Developing Your Intuition
 Sunday Workshop - June 26
12:15 - 2:15 pm
           
An acclaimed pianist, composer, educator, and writer, Will Tuttle unites both eastern and western meditation traditions and is a Dharma Master in the Zen tradition.

Uplifting, philosophical, musical, inspiring, and both challenging and reassuring, this is a seminar that can change lives, as we invite spirit to work its wonders on the ultimate frontier: the human heart.

Dr. Tuttle's insights include:
  • Discovering your unique ways of accessing your intuitive wisdom
  • Effective inner & outer practices for developing joy and spiritual awareness
  • Techniques using meditation, imagery, music, and art that inspire intuitive insights
  • How to respond to the global "intuitive imperative" and meditate more effectively
  • Ancient secrets for awakening the love, compassion, joy, and peace within.
Will Tuttle, Ph.D., has performed and lectured widely throughout the United States and Europe. His doctorate degree with highest honors from the University of California, Berkeley, focused on educating intuition in adults, and he has taught college courses in creativity, humanities, mythology, and philosophy. He has a broad background in both Eastern and Western meditation traditions, and is a former Zen monk. Devoted to planetary awakening and to creating uplifting healing music, he has created 6 much-loved CD albums of original piano music. He currently travels with his spouse, Madeleine, a visionary artist from Switzerland, providing concerts, seminars, and exhibits, and their intuitively-inspired Personalized Music and Art Portraits for individuals and couples.

 

Piano Passion ~ Concert for a New World
Monday, June 27
7:00 pm

A master at recreating the deepest vibrations of the soul," Will Tuttle's uplifting original piano music evokes deep feelings and a sense of wonder, joy, and adventure. 

An acclaimed pianist, composer and recording artist, as well as a Dharma Master in the Zen tradition, he has performed widely throughout North America and Europe for the past 15 years, and has created 6 beloved CD albums of all-original piano music. 

This Piano Passion Concert is an affirmative musical prayer for world peace and for celebrating the beauty of the Earth and potential of our Spirit. Rooted in ancient sacred traditions that see music as a vehicle of consciousness, the concert generates a field of healing and insight. It includes visionary art by Will's spouse, Madeleine, who is a nature artist from Switzerland. 

Come and expect to be transported, uplifted, and carried to new inner places! 

This concert is offered for freedom, for Earth-healing, and for the happiness of every being.

      
Dr Will & Madeleine Tuttle
June 25-27
Individual Sessions 
for Personal Music & Art Portraits 

These sessions can be for either individuals or couples.
 
In your session, Will meditatively tunes into your unique essence and translates this into music.  You will receive a private piano concert inspired by your spirit, and the music is recorded onto a 30-minute CD and a digital master.
 
Simultaneously, Madeleine creates a 9" x 12" watercolor painting also inspired by your essence, not a physical likeness but a unique artistic blend of evocative images.
 
Will and Madeleine have been creating individualized Music & Art Portraits over 10 years and are the only ones providing these unique, uplifting, healing, and evocative creations. People are consistently deeply touched by them.
 
Please see Will and Madeleine at their table for more details or to schedule an appointment! The suggested donation is $135 and the sessions last approximately 45 minutes.


OTHER CLASSES & EVENTS
LOVE OFFERING UNLESS OTHERWISE DESIGNATED
Sign-up on UGP Bulletin Board 
                                                                 
Cancellation of 
Discover the Power Within You
 
Due to low enrollment the class has been cancelled.
Happy May
A time for new energy swirling
Thursday, May 19
7:00 pm
 
Please join Wiley Beveridge and Rev Jesse James for this wonderful evening of surrendering to, opening to, and claiming what is trying to come forth anew in you this season. You may know what it is and you may not but it is a time of leaning in together to allow this force of Love to mold you again. Who knows where it will take you. If you have a favorite poem or reading on this idea, please bring and share.
 
This will be the last time for Wiley and Jesse to be doing this because Wiley is leaving the area the end of May. He will be journeying to Texas and then to New Zealand.
 
Love Offering will be taken

    
Todd Glacy
"Instrument of Love" CD Release Concert!
May 22, 12:15pm
 
Join us as we help celebrate the release of Rev. Todd's new CD "Instrument of Love" with this afternoon concert event. Todd will perform many of the songs from the CD, as well as share stories about the creative process. Afterwards Todd will be available to answer questions and sign CD's. 
 
You can listen to the song "Instrument of Love" here.

   
                              
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
                       
 
Sun    Morning Prayer Circle 9:15 a.m. in Unity Hall with Rev. Pat
Meditation 9:30-9:45 a.m. in Sanctuary
Service 10:00 a.m. in Sanctuary
A Course in Miracles 12:30-2:00 p.m. Contact: Randall Sawyer 749-4205
Mon    * Preble Street Soup Kitchen (2nd Mon) 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
           AA Women's Step Meeting 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Tue     Men's Spiritual Progress Group (3rd Tue) 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Women Empowering Women (3rd Tue) 6:30-8:00 p.m. 
Wed    * Florence House Sing (1st and 3rd Wed) 11:00 a.m.-12:00 
Fri       * Logan Place Pizza Party/Sing-along (2nd Fri) 6:30 p.m.
            Cancer Support Group (3rd Fri) 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Sat      Team Leader's Meeting (2nd Sat) 9:30-11:30 a.m. - closed group
  
* Unity Kindness Revolution Events
 
                               
GENTLE REMINDERS
                                   
   
Online Church Directory

Join our Online directory - It's simple. Just contact the office at unitychurch@roadrunner.com or call 893-1233 Tuesday -Thursday, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and ask for Steph, or leave a message on box 1. We ask that you have been actively attending services and/or classes for at least 3 months and if you no longer are attending to please let us know that you no longer want to be on the directory. We do have to pay for the number of people who are on it and would prefer to pay for those who are actively using the directory. 
 
You are welcome to join our online directory to be able to connect with one another for social and outreach reasons - We ask you refrain from using it as a marketing tool. Your compliance if appreciated. If we receive a spamming complaint, you will be removed from access to database.

                        
God is our Source and provides us 
with many 
CHANNELS OF SUPPLY. 

Some of those channels are the following:
                                 

When ordering through Amazon, if you go through Amazon Smile (smileamazon.com) and designate Unity of Greater Portland as your chosen charity, .5% of your purchase will be donated to Unity of Greater Portland.  It will show up as Unity Church of Truth, our official name, but it is us! This deal is not quite as beneficial as the old Amazon Associates Program but, if we use it, it will add up. This is a great way to still support UGP! 

   
Do you shop at Staples? 
logo
Many members of our Unity family shop at Staples and collect a few "Staples Reward Points" each month.  But if you're like me, they seldom amount to enough to really save me much money.  Then I found out that I can use the Staples Rewards Number for Unity of Greater Portland.  My points are added to those of many other members and help the church save money on much needed office supplies. 
 
Staples Rewards Number for Unity Church
5000266261

Unity Recycles Ink Cartridges and gets reward for that too!
 
Also, if you want to you can drop cartridges at Staples 
and use our number and we get credit there as well. 


When you pick up a Clynk bag in our bookstore and  
recycle your bottles in it, Unity gets a check!


Used Books and CD's/Tapes

Check out the gently used books 
in the hall by the Office.   
Leave a donation and enrich your library!
 

Thank you God for all the channels of supply you provide us with! 
We are so Blessed!

                              
CHURCH INFORMATION
                       
   
Unity of Greater Portland
Office and Bookstore are open from 
10 AM to 3 PM on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
207-893-1233
 
Prayer Support
Minister of Prayer:
Rev. Airin Wolf - unitygpprayers@gmail.com
UGP Confidential Prayer request and Prayer Chaplain 
Line: 893-1233, EXT. 3
Silent Unity Prayer Support 
1-800-NOW-PRAY 1 (800) 669-7729 or Silent Unity's website

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