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Unity Spiritual Life Center
December 25, 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 29, 2013, 10:30 am
LESSON FOR TODAY: The Cycle of Transformation
Spiritual growth is a process...a process of releasing that which no longer serves
us and claiming a new truth and a new way of being. All of life is about these
two energies or attitudes - letting go and taking hold. Today you are invited
to participate in the Burning Bowl Ceremony to establish your commitment
to this process.
SPECIAL MUSIC: Sandy Hemenway
Please take your poinsettia home with you today after the service.
This is the last regular Sunday of 2013. Please consider making a special year end gift to USLC. Thank you for your generous support.
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
Merry Christmas!
I hope by now you can take a deep breath and rest in the comfort of friends and family...or for some, to rest in the assurance that all is well even if you are alone. The key is to rest with some awareness that life is precious. It is our chance to be aware that however our life looks and feels right in this moment...well, it is enough...maybe even more than enough.
Rest today, my friends, and know that if you are here tomorrow you will have another chance to be all that you came here to be.
I wish you all of the peace, joy, and abundance that your heart can hold now and into the new year.
With a grateful heart
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
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, JANUARY 5, 2014. Note: There will be no gathering Monday January 20th as it is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.
BURNING BOWL SERVICE, December 29th. Participate in a ceremony of releasing all that no longer serves you by writing on paper and burning it in our fire pit. Claim the good you want in the new year by prayerfully writing your intentions. Don't miss this special Sunday!
FUN FIRST FRIDAY, January 3rd, 7-9pm. Our Creativity & Play Ministry will be holding our popular annual Dreamscaping playshop to help you visualize your goals and visions for 2014. After a brief introduction and guided meditation, you will create a Dreamscape (or Treasure Map, Vision Board or Goal Collage) with the provided scissors, paste and poster board. Please bring old magazines to share. Join us for this beautiful and powerful way of setting intentions for the new year. If you plan on attending the playshop, please sign up in the back of the sanctuary or email Robin at reallyveryhappy@gmail.com.
WHITE STONE CEREMONY, Sunday, January 5th Revelations 2:17 - "To everyone who overcomes...I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it." Receive your new name from the God of your being. An amazing way to begin the new year.
BOARD ORIENTATION, Saturday, January 11th, 9am-noon. Are you curious about what is involved in being on the Board here at USLC? Do you want to know what goes on "behind the curtain?" Cher & Bil Holton will be presenting a short workshop to answer questions and help us understand how Boards can most effectively serve their congregations. You DO NOT HAVE TO MAKE a commitment to SERVE ON THE BOARD!!! in order to attend. This is an information session. Sign-up is required.
WORSHIP ASSISTANT MEETING, Sunday, January 12th at noon. Worship assistants help during the service each Sunday by reading Announcements, distributing Welcome Packets to visitors and presenting an inspirational story, daily word, or other appropriate and uplifting reading. If you currently participate in this ministry or wish to participate please join Rev. Paula for
this brief meeting after the service.
COMING SOON
PRAYER PRACTICE WORKSHOP, Sunday, January 19th, 2:30-5:30pm. There are many forms of prayer, but what exactly is prayer? What is the most effective way to pray...for our self and for others? Join Rev. Paula for this interactive workshop that will include presentation of ideas, discussion and time to practice in the stillness and aloud. Energize your prayer practice! All are
welcome. Love offering.
NEW MEMBERS CLASS, Saturday, January 25th, 9am-noon. Are you ready to commit (or re-commit) to developing a greater awareness of the power and presence that is God in your life? Is it time for you to allow the gift that you are to be known here at USLC by tithing your time, talent and treasure to this spiritual community? Is 2014 the year you decide to step out in Faith to participate in the transformation of your self and the planet? Join Rev. Paula for Unity Basics and make a decision to open up and show up. All current members invited, too.
BOOK STUDY GROUPS FORMING. Living Originally, by Robert Brumet. We will order books on January 15th and they will be available on Sunday, January 26th. Groups will begin meeting the first week in February. Please sign the sheet in the back of the sanctuary if you want a book (cost $15.00) . More details to follow.
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WOW!
The Legend of Santa Claus
The legendary gift giver goes by many names, and the one we may be most familiar with is Santa Claus. His image and personality are come from several mythological figures, including Thor, Odin, and Zeus. But his name comes from a wealthy 4th century bishop who had a reputation for secretly giving gifts. Today, he is the jolly gift bringer who visits the homes of children around the world upon a sleigh pulled by twelve magic reindeer. Sharing in the myth and magic is Mrs. Claus, Santa Claus's immortal wife.
GaiamTV
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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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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
Sending you Christmas Blessings and wishing you a joyous new year.
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
The Heart of God
Turn your face to the sun that will be rising again on Christmas Day. Remember that behind that physical sun shines the glory and the power of the eternal, the sun of your universe, but also the sun of universes beyond and beyond and beyond your conception...
God bless you, my brethren, and if you open your hearts to this vibration of the Sun-life from the heart of God, you will know happiness, joy, and sweet peace this Christmastide.
White Eagle
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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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| 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. |
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