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Unity Spiritual Life Center
January 22, 2014 ~ 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, January 26, 2014, 10:30 am
UNITY THEME FOR JANUARY 2014: Expect Good
Affirmation: I affirm my good and accept the best!
Check out unity.org/resources.
LESSON FOR TODAY: How to Get from Where You Are to Somewhere Else.
You may have heard the joke: The absent minded maestro was racing up New
York's Seventh Avenue to a rehearsal when a stranger stopped him, "Pardon
me", he said, "can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?" "Yes" answered
the maestro breathlessly. "Practice, practice, practice."
SPECIAL MUSIC: 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
Ch-ch-ch-CHANGES
We've all heard it said...the only constant in life is change. This is easier to believe when it's someone else that is having a particularly intense experience of change. Even though we might know this truth on an intellectual level, when change comes knocking on our door we might not be as open to it. Sometimes it might be a change that we initiate and other times it is beyond our control. Changes that deal with losing a job, being diagnosed with an illness or having a car accident seem to be things that are happening to us and result in changes that we tend to resist or try to fix. Even when we initiate a change like moving to a new city, going back to school at 40 or committing to a new relationship we can feel tension, maybe even questioning our choice.
If change really is the only constant in life...I say we should embrace it! I mean all the way! Open up your arms and your heart, in fact you whole self and give it a big old hug...embrace it! Know that this change, whatever it is, will serve to expand your life in ways you would not know unless you choose to be open to it. Know that there is an opportunity here to be the best and biggest self you can be. Change is the only constant in life and here you are right in the midst of it. It is a great place to be!
Change is the place of potential and growth. It is the edge of your comfort zone and the springboard into the next phase of your life. Change requires stretching and trusting and believing in yourself. It is about showing up to life and not backing down.
One of my favorite rock-and-rollers from the seventies, David Bowie, had it right...Ch-ch-ch-changes, turn and face the strain, ch-ch-ch-changes. Facing the strain will take you further than you otherwise might go...and the strain part is only temporary. As you learn to let change be a great teacher you will look forward to the gifts that it brings.
With much joy to you
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
ANNUAL MEETING, FEBRUARY 9TH
SMALL GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL BOOK STUDY. Short meeting at noon Sunday, January 26 to form groups and arrange dates and times for meetings. Living Originally by Robert Brumet will be the basis for Rev. Paula's Sunday lessons and the group meetings for the next ten weeks. Books available. Member price: $10. Non-member price: $12.
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!
ANNUAL MEETING, Sunday, February 9th. You will have an opportunity to vote for a new Board member, review the annual budget, ask questions, and sign your commitment form for 2014. Current members and interested congregants are welcome. Get to know more about USLC! Let's Build Community.
DINNER AND DISCUSSION, Wednesday, February 19th. Sign up for this fellowship event! We will be serving chili (meat & vegetarian), side salad, crusty bread, and tea or coffee. BYOB...Bring your own BOWL! Cost is $10.00 Reservations required by Sunday, February 16TH. Topic: Getting to know Rev. Paula and USLC 2014.
COMING SOON
BOOK GROUP MEETING with Rev. Paula - Monday, February 24th,
7 - 8 p.m.
ON-GOING
PRAYER AND HEALING MINISTRY GATHERING. Healing prayer, guided meditation, and opportunity for hands on healing. Be still and know. Every 1st Sunday at noon and 3rd Monday at 7pm, Fillmore Chapel. Next meeting: Sunday, February 2nd at noon.
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WOW!
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Creating Positive Change
1. Attitude determines altitude. Your attitude is everything. You get what you expect. Focus on the good.
2. Start every day with a six-pack. The kind of six pack that gets you headed in the right direction. Highlight the six most important things and knock them out first. Don't sweat it if you can't get you whole list done; simply roll it into the next day.
3. Cut yourself a break.
Take time throughout the day to have a cup of tea, take a few deep breaths, get centered and reflect on what's working and what's not working in your day.
4. Make exercise a daily priority. Exercise reduces stress and builds self-esteem. Starting your day with some kind of physical activity for at least 20 minutes will create a profound effect.
5. Work smarter not harder. Focus on the priorities and concentrate on getting them done. To get more done, you may have to do less.
6. Journal your ideas. Form the habit of reflecting and jotting down your thoughts and ideas. This type of reflective writing builds inner strength and is an amazing tool for reviewing the year and your accomplishments.
8. Read and achieve. Invest at least 15 minutes every day reading about your interests. Listen to audio books while commuting. Fill your mind with positive and motivational content. You will become what you think about most. So, when you're reading make sure you're thinking positive thoughts.
Thom King
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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
PRAYER AND HEALING MINISTRY SCHEDULE
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 2, 2014.
SERVICE PROJECTS
Non-perishable food collection for the Durham Rescue Mission
Bring in boxes, cans and jars of nonperishable 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 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
WHY MEDITATE
We are all engaged in a continuous internal dialogue in which the meaning and emotional associations of one thought trigger the next, usually without our being consciously aware of the process. Buddhist psychology describes this process as samskara, which can be seen as grooves in the mind that makes thoughts flow in the same direction. Our personal samskaras are created from the memories of our past and can force us to react in the same limited way over and over again. Most people build up an identify on the basis of samskaras without even realizing they are doing this.
In meditation we disrupt the unconscious repetition of thoughts and emotions by focusing on a new object of attention... the object of attention is a mantra that we repeat silently to ourselves. A mantra is pure sound, with no meaning or emotional charge to trigger associations. It allows the mind to detach from its usual preoccupations and experience the spaciousness and peace within.
Meditation is one of the best ways to loosen the grip of sticky emotions and connect to our true self, which isn't limited, angry, or fearful, but is infinite, pure consciousness. It gives us a direct experience of our Spirit and in the process dissolves the impurities which are preventing Spirit from shining forth in our lives.
Deepak Chopra
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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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