Heart Thoughts
April 21, 2016
New in this issue:
2 Sunday Services
Unity of Greater Portland is ready to launch the first Season 
for the Earth, which is a program that comes from the Association for Global New Thought. Season for the Earth is devoted to focusing our consciousness-in-action, so we are better able to heal, nurture and transform the environment-- an undertaking now vital beyond description.
 
Sunday's guest presenter, Andras Corben Arthen, kicks off the season for us. Please join us in welcoming him for Sunday's talk and workshop to follow at 12:15 p.m. See the full description further down in the Classes & Events section.
 
Last Friday evening and Saturday your board of directors, along with Rev. LeRoy, and me met at Marie Joseph Spiritual Center to review our intentions from the past year and set new intentions and goals for moving forward. As always, we covered a lot of ground, and we are very excited about what lies before us as a board and community. You will be hearing more about our plans in the coming weeks.
 
This past Sunday we implemented one change that was a result of our meeting and after hearing from several of you. We have changed the way we greet one another on Sunday morning. We will continue to sing Namaste, which translates to the Christ in Me, greets the Christ in you...my God Self greets my God Self in you, as we are all One. The way we have been singing this has been holding hands and then giving hugs. This is a very sacred gesture and we will now sing and if comfortable place our hands into a prayerful position and acknowledge others in the room with your eyes. The feedback after doing this on Sunday was totally positive. The rationale behind this change is that for new folks the way we have been doing it has been a barrier as they are uncomfortable with this kind of intimacy and keeps them from coming back. We also had feedback from those in our community that they were uncomfortable inviting new folks because of this. So, we are experimenting and hopefully we will see many first timers return.
 
Another change being announced here for the first time is very exciting. We will be starting an earlier service on July 3. This service will begin at 8:00 am and will be designed as a contemplative service, which will be approximately 40 minutes. The format is not completely determined, but I will let you know that it will provide you with a spiritual injection to get you through your busy week. The talk will be the same topic as the 10:00 a.m. service. There will be no children's church or coffee hour. This is for folks on the run...
 
Again, we have heard you. The rationale here is that we lead very busy lives and often miss our spiritual and community connection because of other activities on Sundays whereas if you could come to an earlier service you could have the best of both worlds. This will be an experiment and we will reevaluate it after a significant period of time.
 
We continue with reviewing our core values. This past Sunday the core value was "authentic." I told the story of the Velveteen Rabbit, which is a great metaphor for becoming real or authentic. To hear the complete talk, click here.
 
Here is the definition we use for authentic... We are faithful, trustworthy, reliable and expressing our God self.
 
This statement affirms who we are individually and as a community. Our individual behaviors are:
  1. I make a commitment to Unity and its principles and willingly share how I practice these in the Good News.
  2. I share what I believe and lovingly listen to others.
  3. I lovingly communicate any issue I have directly with the person concerned using "I" statements.
Joseph Campbell, who coined the phrase "the hero's journey" as the classic coming of age story, says the hero is that indescribable part of us that remains constant and courageous, regardless of what is happening around us.
 
It is our authentic self - the essence of who we are apart from our personality traits or the drama that sometimes surrounds us.
 
It is what Charles Fillmore, co-founder of Unity would call our "Christ nature." It is our authentic self, taking action in our lives, which fills us with a sense of vibrancy. In order to access our authentic self, we must become mindful of our thoughts, feelings, emotions, perceptions and ask ourselves questions that draw us into our essence.
 
Let's look at our Spiritual community behaviors:
  1. We use the practical application examples given during Sunday services to guide our daily lives.
  2. We affirm our vision and mission statements at our weekly Sunday service.
  3. During Sunday services, we open the floor for people to share how they are putting the Unity principles into action.
"Be your authentic self. Your authentic self is who you are when you have no fear of judgment, or before the world starts pushing you around and telling you who you're supposed to be. Your fictional self is who you are when you have a social mask on to please everyone else. Give yourself permission to be your authentic self."Dr. Phil

You are a blessing in my life, 
Pat's Signature
Rev. Patricia Bessey
 
If you are having a birthday in April or 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.
undefined

Like us on Facebook
    
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
    

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)


September 16-18 ~ Women's Retreat 
October 7-9 ~ Men's Retreat
                  
 

This week's Featured recipe: Two-Ingredient Dark Chocolate Truffles

These are so easy and so delicious - just right for a little bite of chocolate. One of the easiest desserts I've ever made!


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.

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


Season for the Earth Events
LOVE OFFERING UNLESS OTHERWISE DESIGNATED
Sign-up on UGP Bulletin Board 
                                                                 
 
       
Andras Corban Arthen
Sunday, April 24
Guest Speaker 10:00 am 
Workshop 12:15pm-3:15 pm

Andras Corban Arthen is the founder and spiritual director of the EarthSpirit Community, an international religious and educational organization, established in 1977, which is dedicated to the preservation and development of Earth-centered spirituality. EarthSpirit has been hosting the internationally-recognized Rites of Spring festival since 1979.
 
Arthen is also the Vice-Chair for the Parliament of World Religions, and is a recognized speaker, author, and advocate for Pagan Spirituality around the globe.
 
Morning Talk - 10:00 am 
Andras will offer a shorter talk on an animist perspective on the Mystery at the core of every religion. 
 
Presentation: People of the Earth - 12:15 pm
"Indigenous Spirituality of Old Europe" 
The cultures and religions of Old Europe that were labelled "pagan" actually represented the original indigenous traditions of Europe. These peoples were, in fact, the "Indians" of Old Europe, and they have much in common with other indigenous, earth-centered cultures around the world. Some of these original traditions have continued to exist into the present, primarily in remote rural locations throughout Europe. Andras Corban Arthen has traveled extensively throughout Europe studying these survivals, especially those of Lithuania and other eastern European countries. The presentation includes digital slides and videos from these cultures. 
 
Suggested Love Offering of $20, however, no one will be turned away.


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 
                                                                 
Happy Springtime
A time for new energy swirling
Thursday, April 21
7:00 pm
at Unity of Greater Portland
 
Please join Wiley Beveridge and me for this wonderful evening of surrendering to, opening to, and claiming what is trying to come forth anew in us 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 us again. Who knows where it will take us. If you have a favorite poem or reading on this idea, please bring to share with us.
 
Surrendering into something new, for me, can be both an exciting time and a scary time. I don't know what it will look like or how to do it. Having support on these adventures always makes them easier and more fun. Hoping we can all be part of each other's support team. 
Much Luv, Jesse 

 
Discover the Power Within You
Facilitated by Louise Flynt, LUT
Saturdays, April 30 - May 28
9:30 to 11:30 am
 
Eric Butterworth, Unity's beloved author, raises the question:  "What did Jesus really teach?" How does the answer to this question impact all of us in this time of confusion and global turmoil? In his book, Discover the Power Within You, he makes clear that "the philosophy of Jesus is a workable philosophy, a way of life," no matter what is happening in the outer world. This book is a must read for all Unity students seeking for the way of truth in these troubling times. In this class we will explore and discuss Butterworth's insights on how to maintain an unwavering connection to God using the words, actions and life of Jesus.  
 
BoProfile Picoks are available in the bookstore
 
Available for SEE credit

    
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.

   

NON-UNITY EVENTS
Happening at UGP
            

Awaken the Passionate Heart Workshop
Saturday, April 23, 2016
9:00 am - 4 pm
with Irene Tomkinson & Karen Fitzgerald

Ladies, this workshop is for you!
To quote one happy participant, "This workshop changed my life!"
 Let it change yours.

Awaken to passion.
Light up with fun.
Enliven yourself.
Your dreams are not done.

Irene Tomkinson and Karen Fitzgerald certainly know how to wake you up!
As an author, coach, therapist and workshop leader, Irene has helped thousands to unfold their potential while uncovering their deepest desires. With our shared stories and our shared dreams, she guides us to connect more fully with ourselves and others. Described as a 'teacher of teachers", she is also a hoot!

Karen Fitzgerald leads the way with her one woman solo show, "Hot Mama Mahatma," her comic tour of reinvention from New Hampshire to New York, with a stop in India. Eat, Pray, Love it wasn't, but it opened her eyes and it will open yours! A hit in NYC and NH, Dr. Christiane Northrup raved: "Great piece. SO SO SO much in here for EVERY woman! Bravo!!!" As a Hay House webinar leader, coach, performer and Huff Post blogger, Karen will dance you into your own joy.

Karen Fitzgerald 
Irene Tomkinson

$55.00 suggested donation
NO ONE IS REFUSED BECAUSE OF MONEY




For more information contact: Irene @ 603-964-7090
                              
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

Join Our Mailing List