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Unity Spiritual Life Center
November 27, 2013 ~ Weekly Update
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MISSION
To be a center of positive, practical, progressive Christianity devoted to helping people awaken to the Spirit within and to inspire one another into a grater experience of God and life through prayer, meditation, education, and service to others.
VISION
To create a loving and engaged Unity Truth Community that transforms the spiritual consciousness of the planet...one thought, one word, one action at a time.
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Sunday, December 1, 2013, 10:30 am
LESSON FOR TODAY: Out of the Darkness Into the Light
Tod is the first Sunday of the Season of Advent...a season of expectation and rebirth. We start by lighting the candle of Faith.
SPECIAL MUSIC: USLC Choir and Sandy Hemenway
Childcare provided for the service.
MEET & GREET follows the service ~
spend time munching and mingling,
as you greet old friends and meet new ones!
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PAULA'S PERSPECTIVE
BE GRATEFUL
"Gratitude opens your consciousness to receive more. A supply of good is always available, for God is Omnipresent." Russell W. Lake
You cannot be in a state of gratitude and at the same time feel lack or hate or anger or jealousy or fear. Go ahead and try it. Only one emotion or feeling can occupy your consciousness at any one time. The practice of gratitude cancels out the limiting feelings that can trap us in despair or depression.
Being grateful and in a state of gratefulness allows us to feel connected and engaged to something beyond that for which we are grateful. It changes our perspective, it opens up our heart, it heals sadness, hurt and anger.
We can practice gratitude at any time. We don't need to wait for a beautiful sunset, a winning lottery ticket or a birthday gift. We don't need to be cured or to be in a loving relationship or have the perfect job or place to live. Nope...gratefulness is something we practice because we believe in the constant availability of good that is waiting only for an opening in our consciousness in order to flow into our life. Gratefulness provides this opening.
Chaz Wesley says, "To the degree with which you allow, you receive."
To the degree with which you are grateful...to the degree with which you open up...to the degree with which you allow...you receive. The result of the practice of gratitude is good flowing through your life. The result is an inspired life...a joy-filled life...a life that is the best that it can be.
Be grateful...look for the good in all things...the simple, the complex...the ordinary, the extraordinary...things that have happened and things yet to happen. Be grateful for unlimited possibilities even if the temporary state of your life could use some tweaking.
If you are willing to open up and be grateful...your life will change. Are you ready?
Peace always
Paula
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Silent Meditation: 9:30-10am Sunday
First Friday of every month: 7-8:30pm - Fun First Friday
SPECIAL EVENTS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
WEDNESDAYS - The Christmas Choir will be practicing at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays through mid December. Share the gift of your voice at USLC over this holiday season. Choir will be singing on Sundays in December (1, 8, 15 and 22) and Christmas Eve at 7:00 p.m.
PRAYER AND HEALING MINISTRY SCHEDULE - Fillmore Chapel. The Prayer and Healing Ministry will be offering bi-monthly gatherings for all who are interested. We will be meeting in the Fillmore Chapel on the first Sunday of a month (after service) and the third Monday of a month at 7:00 p.m. The hour includes time for healing prayer and a guided meditation with the opportunity for a brief hands-on healing. Very relaxing and uplifting. NEXT GATHERING: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1ST AT NOON. Come join us!
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6TH - Festive First Friday, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. - Come and gather with your USLC family for our annual tree trimming party. Sing carols while sipping hot cocoa. Bring your favorite Christmas cookies to share, bring an ornament for the tree and bring a friend to share in the Christmas cheer. We'll also spread the joy by creating Christmas cards for a local nursing home. Just the thing to get you into the holiday spirit! Come one, come all, children of all ages welcome!! Let's build community.
CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS - You can purchase a poinsettia in honor of or in memory
of a loved one. We will decorate our sanctuary with your gifts until Christmas Eve when you can take them home to continue to enjoy their beauty. Fill out the slip and attach your check or cash and drop it in the basket at our Sound Booth. Due by December 10th.
CHRISTMAS BOOKSTORE SALE - Give a gift of inspiration from our own USLC Bookstore! THE place to shop for books and gifts for children and adults. Our Bookstore Director, Janice Escott is ready to bargain! Specials include the Four Agreements Gift Set (book + CD's) for $20.00. Thank you for supporting this Ministry!
COMING SOON
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE, December 24th at 7pm. Mark your calendars for our 12 Powers Candle Lighting Service.
BURNING BOWL SERVICE, December 29th. Release the past and affirm your intentions for the New Year.
FUN FIRST FRIDAY, January 3rd, 7-9pm. Dreamscaping Playshop.
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YOU CAN HELP USLC GET FREE MONEY
***HOW?***
* Pick up a gift card from Carla; $5 is already on it to get you started.
* Take it to Kroger Customer Service Desk and put your grocery money on
the card.
(Be sure you do this at least 12 hours before you plan to use it. It takes time for it to be put in Kroger's system.)
* Go grocery shopping with the gift card.
This does not affect your regular rewards from Kroger.
Every time you use your card to buy groceries or gas at Kroger, the amount is credited to USLC toward a 5% reward when our total reaches $5000...that's $250 for the Center.
You continue to receive all your regular Kroger rewards. Encourage friends and family to join our fund drive.
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WOW!
The unlimited power of your own consciousness is a vital force that moves through the Universe and plants the seeds of your destiny far and wide.
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| Sundays:
9:30
Silent Meditation
Fillmore Chapel
10:30
Celebration Service & YOU/Uniteen classes
(Childcare available) | | |
Directions: Exit 175 off of I-85. Turn NORTH on Guess Road; Turn right onto Carver Street. Go approximately half a block; USLC is located in the small business park on your left. |
Opportunities to Serve at USLC
Sunday Service Ministry
Co-directors Rev Paula and Renee Piere. This ministry takes on the responsibility for an exciting and inclusive experience for all who attend Sunday Services. Most team members arrive at least 20 minutes before the start of the service and some stay after everyone is gone to put our space back in order.
* Hospitality Team: Sets up coffee, tea, refreshments, and snacks and puts hospitality area and kitchen back in order at the end of fellowship time.
* Collection Counting Team: Two members count the Sunday collection and fill out the forms necessary for accurately recording tithes and love offerings.
* Greeter/Usher Team: Greets visitors and members, hands out bulletin, and collects the offering during the service.
* Sound Team: Sets up microphones, checks sound with musicians, provides sound control during the service, records service ,and provides CD's for purchase after the service.
* Worship Assistant Team: Reads announcements, provides inspirational reading, and hands out welcome packets.
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COMMUNITY ZONE
Thank you to all who donated to help us purchase a new vacuum cleaner and three tables. We are blessed by your geneerosity and expression of God as the One Source. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!
3 Christmas Projects
Social Service Project: Family - Information on the family and requested items will be on the table in the back of the Sanctuary. Select the item(s) you wish to purchase and bring them to USLC. There will also be a sign up sheet available for those who would like to participate and have not already signed up. Deadline for items is December 15 (Sunday).
Holiday Gift Bags for Carolina House of Durham - Information on requested items will be in the Sunday Bulletin. There will also be a sign up sheet available for those who would like to participate and have not already signed up. Deadline for items is December 22 (Sunday).
Caroling at Carolina House of Durham - There will be a sign up sheet in the back of the Sanctuary for those who would like to participate and have not already signed up. Wear festive holiday clothes. Carolers will meet at the Carolina House at 1:00pm on December 8 (Sunday).
KEEPING UP: What's happening in your neighborhood? Are you traveling, hosting visiting friends or relatives, having a yard sale, announcements, other activites? Send your information to rodgers.jean@gmail.com by Tuesday of each week.
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FEATURE ARTICLE
Transformation
Transformation is not only a spiritual movement; it is an all-inclusive transition into a completely different consciousness about our interconnected global, if not cosmic community. Expressions of this collective transformation movement include redefining ourselves as multisensory beings and accepting intuitive abilities as a natural part of our organic skills. The only choice we truly have is to understand these changes unfolding within us as well as around us.
Caroline Myss, a five-time New York Timesbestselling author and internationally renowned speaker in the fields of human consciousness, spirituality and mysticism, health, energy medicine, and the science of medical intuition.
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MINISTRIES
Creativity and Play Ministry: Director: Robin Johnson. This ministry schedules an event each month that is fun and provides an opportunity for fellowship.
Bookstore Ministry: Director: Janice Escott. Many people love to browse our books and gifts after the service on Sunday. Team members are available to ring up and record purchases.
Music Ministry: Works on special singing projects during the year including Christmas and Easter. Team members sing on Sundays.
Healing and Prayer Ministry: Co-directors Lisa Giragosian and Rev Paula. Twice monthly this team conducts healing and prayer service. Team prays with members requesting prayer one on one and also prays for requests dropped into our prayer box. One member carries the prayer box at the Offertory during the Sunday Service.
Youth Education Ministry: This essential ministry provides Sunday lessons from an established curriculum for our youth during the 10:30 service.
Adult Education Ministry: Director: Rev Paula. Unity classes are offered for credit and other classes for spiritual enrichment by Rev Paula and other teachers.
Media and PR Ministry: Co-director: Jeanie Rodgers and Renee Piere This team handles all things media...social, print, electronic and visual.
Earthcare Ministry: This team is focused on activities related to caring for our planet. If you are called to this ministry you can help guide us into the next greatest expression for how we accomplish this goal.
Community Service Ministry: Giving to our community and to the world is important at USLC. This team helps identify ways we can do this and organizes our efforts.
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