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Unity Spiritual Life Center
January 15, 2014 ~ Weekly Update 
2604 Carver Street, Durham, NC 27705 · 919.471.3504  www.UnitySpiritualLifeCenter.org 
  

 

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.

 

In This Issue
SUNDAY, January 19, 2014. Today's Lesson: Be Transformed. Special Music: Eileen Argenbright
PAULA'S PERSPECTIVE: Be Well
WOW! Love
BUILDING COMMUNITY;TRANSFORMING LIVES...Check out events...Mark your calendars! Meetings...Workshops...Events....Projects...and more
FUNDRAISER: You Can Help USLC Get Free Money...***How?***
COMMUNITY ZONE... Check out What's Happening in the USLC spiritual community.
SUNDAY: 9:30am: Silent Meditation. 10:30am: Celebration Service, Childcare and Youth Classes...Office Hours 10am-1pm Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
FEATURE: You Are Where You ARE

 

 

Sunday, January 19, 2014, 10:30 am

 

 

 

UNITY THEME FOR JANUARY 2014:  Expect Good

 

AffirmationI affirm my good and accept the best!

Check out unity.org/resources.

 

 

LESSON FOR TODAY:  Be Transformed  

 

We say it every Sunday here at USLC - Building Community, Transforming Lives.  What does it mean to transform your life?  Transformation doesn't just happen.  It is not usually a lightning bolt event.  Transformation requires cultivation and stepping outside of our comfort zone.  The reward is a life fulfilled.

     
 
SPECIAL MUSIC:   Eileen Argenbright from Unity of Wilmington 

 

 
 
 
Childcare provided for the service.


MEET & GREET follows the service ~

spend time munching and mingling,

as you greet old friends and meet new ones!   

 


  

 

PAULA'S PERSPECTIVE


Be Well

"Inner sensitivity is a symptom of non-well-being." Michael A. Singer, The Untethered Soul

 

Our expectation that other people act, speak and treat us a certain way is the cause of much of our suffering. Think about it. Think about it right now. Who in your life is it that brings up judgment, guilt, pressure, depression, anger, passive-aggressive behavior, hurt...in you? Who is it that makes you want to scream, pull out your hair, get in their face, let them know they are wrong?

 

It is amazing how many moments of our life we give away to these emotions and behaviors when we have such a short precious time to live. These ways of being, or what Michael calls non-well-being, rise from our wounded self...the one that expects the outside world to conform to our perspective and idea of how life should be. If anyone disrupts our vision, we react...we want it to be different, better, our way. We want to fix it, make it go away or run from it.

 

We have set ourselves up with such an unrealistic expectation. We expect that the entire world, every person...neighbor, co-worker, family member, ex-_____, store clerk, stranger, minister, team member, coach, service provider, potential employer, boss, friend, bus driver...any driver of anything, kids, boyfriend or girlfriend, bloggers, politicians and world leaders past and present...we expect all of them to speak and act according to our idea of how life should be. How do you know if this is true for you? Examine your reaction. 

 

Does it include any of the emotions or behaviors I mention above?

If you have an inner sensitivity to what 'they' say and how 'they' act, it is a call to examine the place in you that is feeling hurt or anger or depression. There is nothing in the external world that can alleviate these feelings...only you can decide to be well.

 

Michael says "...everything will be okay as soon as you are okay with everything." Think about it...how this applies to the one person who you allow to trap you in non-well-being.

 

Peace always

Paula


 

  

REGULAR EVENTS

  

Silent Meditation:  9:30-10am Sunday

First Friday of every month: 7-8:30pm - Fun First Friday

  

  

  

SPECIAL EVENTS 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

  

   

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.  Sunday, January 19th is the last day to sign up.  If you are interested in finding out more about Unity and the Unity Spiritual Life Center join Rev. Paula to 'Build Community'. Curious?  Make plans to attend.  All current members invited.  
 
SMALL GROUP BOOK STUDY.  Sign up for a book TODAY.  Living Originally by Robert Brumet will be the basis for Rev. Paula's Sunday lessons and the group meeting for ten weeks.  Short meeting next Sunday, January 26, for all participants to form groups and arrange dates and times for meetings.
 

FUN FIRST FRIDAY, February 7th, 7pm.  Share the Love!  Join us for our \February Fun First Friday as we create valentines to share with the community.  You've heard of Random Acts of Kindness - now we will share Random Acts  of Love!  Materials will be provided for you to create valentine cards and share them with anyone you happen to meet in the coming week - store clerks,

mail people, random strangers on the bus, etc.   Let the power of our love for all of humanity radiate through Durham this month!

 

 

 
COMING SOON
 
ANNUAL MEETING, Sunday February 9th.  Mark your calendars.
 
DINNER AND DISCUSSION, Wednesday, February 19th.  New once peer month event.  Details to follow.
 
 
 
WOW!

 

LOVE is a powerful force. It can transcend any situation in which you find yourself and lift you out of emotional turmoil.

 

Make love your focus as you master the art of living. Here are some ideas:

 

Look for ways to express love to others in quiet, surprising ways. Surprise people with your gifts of appreciation for who they are.

 

Spend time in meditation, forgiving anyone who has created pain or turmoil in your life. Hold them in prayer and lift them up to their highest and best good. (This one action can literally transform your life!)

 

Affirm the beauty of who you are! Look in the mirror and say "I love you and accept you just the way you are right now!"

 

Practice the art of beholding the Christ spirit within and as in every person you see. Simply send the thought "I behold the Christ as you" to anyone you pass on the street, meet in passing, or deal with on a regular basis. Don't forget to affirm it to yourself as well!

 

Make the decision to practice love in every area of your life!

 

Blessings, love, and light,

 

Drs. Bil & Cher Holten

 

 

YOU CAN HELP USLC GET FREE MONEY
***HOW?***
 
Groceries Fundraiser

 

 

*  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.

 

 

 

 

 
 

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.

 

 

travel guide  
 
COMMUNITY ZONE
 

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, February 3, 2014.  Note: There will be no gathering Monday January 20th as it is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.

 
 
SERVICE PROJECTS
 

Non-perishable food collection for the Durham Rescue Mission

Bring in boxes, cans and jars of food to share with those less fortunate.  We will collect food through the end of January.  No outdated items please!  Pick up a grocery bag on your way home today.

 

 

 

 




   
KEEPING UPWhat'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.
  

FEATURE ARTICLE

 

You Are Where You ARE

 

Stop shoulding on yourself!  Who or what says you're where you're supposed to be?  The truth is you are where you ARE.  And you are where you are because of the choices you've made and the actions you've taken.  To give someone or something else credit for your being where you are is being too modest, or too naive, or just plain gullible. 

 

There is no GOD "out there" separate from us that is pre-determining our lives.  God, Spirit, the Truth (whatever name you give to the Ultimate Oneness) does not have an individuallized, predetermined, tactical plan for your life or anyone else's.  Our overall direction is our own spiritual unfoldment.  And that direction is the same for all of us.  We are here to express as much Good and as much Christ Consciousness as we can, based on the level of our consciousness, awareness, and growth.

 

We are right where we are as a result of our own thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and choices.  There is no external pre-determining force.  That would be a farce.  We are not puppets moved about by a micro-managing puppeteer.  We are right where we are because we are us being us at the point of us.  In that sense there is nowhere else we can be, unless we're beside ourselves because we're upset about something.  And that subject is outside the scope of the book...we know our limits.

 

At the risk of repeating ourselves...and boring you...we want to wrap this small treatise up by saying, rather emphatically, that you are where you are because where you are is the result of your choices and your right of consciousness.

 

And excerpt from Get Over It by Paul Hasselbeck, DDS and Bil Holton, Ph.D.

 

          

 

 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.

 

 

 

 

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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