From the Vice President

Transcription

1 From the Vice President What a warm and wonderful Christmas season we had in December! Our traditions of generosity and caring spread Love in our greater community with food and gifts. We shared our joy and affection through music and fellowship. At our Candle Lighting Service, we affirmed the rebirth of Christ in each of us and celebrated the sacred stories of our past. But now a new year gleams before us as fresh as new fallen snow. We bid 2018 goodbye through Burning Bowl and gaze forward to 2019 through our White Stone Ceremony. We celebrate progress through paying off our building loan ahead of schedule! We have tweaked our search packet and broadened our search parameters for a new minister! And though our impulse is to emphasize what is ahead, I find myself considering the thoughts of Eckhart Tolle in his book, The Power of Now : "Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life." While it seems that success is just ahead on the path before us, I wonder if sometimes we miss the perfection of the current moment. Our congregation continues to demonstrate strength and resilience that can only be borne of true faith. Each of us has found the one or two things that we can do each week or each month that contributes to the good of our community. When a new need arises, someone is always there to respond. Every Sunday a new speaker has brought just the right message to guide us along and nourish our journey. We have found inspiration through our fellowship that keeps our gatherings lively and joyful. A welcoming hug, a hearty handshake, a bright smile keeps us connected and comforted with each step we take. And every week we celebrate stories of real abundance and prosperity with joyful affirmations. So, as we venture into 2019, perhaps our focus should not be on the next mile of our journey, but on the step we make today. "The eternal present is the space in which your whole life unfolds, the one factor that remains constant. Life is now...so do not be concerned with the fruit of your action--just give attention to the action itself. The fruit will come of its own accord." The indwelling Christ shines brightly through USLC of Yakima as we stay mindful of our blessings and continue to serve in gratitude. Happy New Year to all! Kylle Fish A world powerfully transformed through the growing movement of a shared spiritual awakening. We empower individuals to collectively transform the world.

2 Transforming lives through spiritual growth Unity Spiritual Life Center 401 S. 8th Avenue -Yakima WA Dial-A-Blessing: A Course in Miracles - Book Study Every Tuesday, 11:00am - 12:30pm Website: UnityYakima.org Minister@UnityYakimaMail.org Office: Chris@UnityYakimaMail.org Sunday Celebration - 10:30am Office hours - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Minister.Coming Soon! Music Director..Sylvia Holtman Adm. Assistant.Chris Roybal Newsletter...Chris Roybal This class meets every Wednesday from 10:45-noon. Beforehand, from 10:15-10:40am, there is quiet meditation with music in the sanctuary. Currently: The Power of Now ~by Eckhart Tolle Board of Directors Kylle Fish Patrick Graham Joann Jaramillo Marilyn Freed Sharon Hamson Lori Warnick Youth Education Teachers: Chaundra Ambrose Teens Dawn Fulton Children the Imagineers We want to hear your ideas! The 2nd Tuesday of each month, from 4:30 5:30pm, we will gather to listen, discuss, and brainstorm ideas people have for our spiritual community. Do you have ideas for a fundraiser, decorations that might really add to our décor, ideas about the website or newsletter, a different way of distributing information, or something else entirely? We want to hear it! Any and all ideas are welcome! You don t have to join the group, but you may want to come often to hear the ideas being brought up. The next meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 9th at 4:30pm. Support Groups that meet at Unity Alcoholics Anonymous: "The Early Birds Everyday - 6:30am, Sisters in Sobriety closed women's group - Thursdays - 6:00pm The Grapevine closed women's group - Fridays - 12:00pm & Al-Anon: Steps to Recovery Every Wednesday 5:30pm

3 Sunday Celebration Service 10:30am January 6 Burning Bowl Ceremony Guest Speaker: Marilyn Holloway Come join us at Unity as we release old thoughts that no longer serve us and welcome in fresh intentions for the year ahead. We actually transform those old thoughts in the fire of the Christ light, watching the paper they were written on disappear in the burning bowl. Then, we each write desires of our hearts in a Letter to God, seal it in an envelope, and see how things worked out when we get the letter back next December. What a great way to finish out the year! January 13 The White Stone Ceremony Guest Speaker: Prayer Ministry This is a treasured ritual here at Unity Spiritual Life Center and in many Unity communities. Each person chooses a blank white stone that was quarried in Hebron, near Jerusalem. In a guided meditation, you will choose a name or a word of inspiration to write on your stone. It becomes a powerful symbol of who you have become, or who you are becoming, or who you would like to become. Keep this stone in a place you can see it often as a reminder throughout the coming year. January 20 Our Unity Power of Release: Letting strong emotions go Guest Speaker: Dawn Fulton In Unity we talk about how we must release emotions, beliefs and thoughts from the past to create space for all of the good that we intend to manifest in our lives. Some events in our lives trigger strong emotional reactions that are difficult to release, so this week I will be discussing a Mindfulness technique that can help you to process and therefore eventually release those strong emotions. January 27 Our Unity Power of Release: Guest Speaker: Dawn Fulton Letting destructive thought patterns go Sometimes we find that we have unproductive thought patterns that cause us suffering and are difficult to release. This week I will be going over The Work of Byron Katie and how you can use her techniques to question these recurring thought patterns, and underlying beliefs, which can lead to their eventual release.

4 Financial Report December Operating Income: $6523 Planned Monthly Income: $9830 Expenses: $5507 Planned Monthly Expenses: $9830 Special thanks goes out to Anna Marie Dufault, for bringing us two homeless families to sponsor for Christmas and delivering all the gifts to them (and there were a lot!!). And to all of you, who made sure these families had an amazing Christmas! We are, God s Love in Action! We gratefully share what we receive! Unity believes in the spiritual practice of tithing. As we share our income with others, we also generously receive. In December we tithed 10% of our total income to: Unity Worldwide Ministries, Unity NW Region, Silent Unity and Unity of Bremerton, WA Movie Night! Same Kind of Different as Me! Join us in January for a movie night! We ll have popcorn and hot cider. Stayed tuned for the date. de-cluttering?! If you are in the de-clutter mode, please remember Unity has it s Annual Rummage Sale in April.

5 Valentines Dinner/Dance/Concert! Mark Your Calendars for Sunday, February 17th! February Guest Speakers February 3 Leslie Smyer February 10 February 17.. February 24..Dot Bristow UNITY'S Metaphysical Event Saturday, March 16, 2019 from 10:00 am 4:00 pm Sign up sheets will be out for the Planning/Organizing Volunteers and for Vendors interested in purchasing a space. See Chris with any questions.

6 401 S. 8th Avenue - Yakima WA RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED If you do not want to receive this newsletter, please mark the box and return to your letter carrier We re on the Web: Sent with love and blessings to: Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Keeping the Dream Alive! Sunday, January 14th - 3:00pm Community MLK Service at Greater Faith Baptist Church Monday, January 21st Join us for the Peace Walk that day at noon, starting at 5th Ave & MLK Blvd and ending at the Convention Center. The office will be closed Monday, January 21st.