The Beacon. Pastoral Word

Transcription

1 The Beacon PASTOR BRIAN WALKER It s January 2014! Welcome to the New Year. But before we fully embrace this upcoming year, I want to review the past year and count the blessings that it has given to us. Pastoral Word Probably the most dramatic event of 2013 was the sanctuary flood that took place in September as a result of a failed plumbing part. ServPro, our local cleanup and restoration masters, were working in the sanctuary for a total of ten weeks. Remarkably, in that period of time, we were never denied the use of the sanctuary on Sunday. Even though we were inconvenienced for many weeks, the result new carpet throughout, repainting throughout, and new tile in the foyer and restrooms - has been a great blessing to us. Another remarkable blessing in 2013 was the new, custom designed speaker system that was created specifically for us by Eddie Estave, a friend of mine who is a sound professional and who donated much of his time. To purchase such a system commercially would have cost us thousands and thousands of dollars (certainly not in our budget for 2013). With the new speaker system, the quality and the coverage of the sound in the chapel has never been greater. We were blessed in another way last year by the presence of author, speaker and trainer Bill Poett, who agreed to consult with us and give us the expertise of his Spiritual gift of the True North Compass. In Sept, Nov and Dec, Bill has spoken and conducted heartfelt workshops that have guided many to creating a more joyful, loving life. This past year the board has continued implementing our Thriving in Unity program, which we ve been working on for the past 2 years. We ve achieved many of the benchmarks in the Thriving in Unity 2.0 program, which is a multifaceted approach to church growth. The latest achievement is a complete renovation of our website, which has an improved look and feel, and has the capacity to transmit the Sunday message online. Joe Furcinite and Sharon Allen learned Wordpress, a website creation program, to manage and expand the changes that our website consultant introduced. We have a new meditation group that meets on Sunday mornings at 10:15. This has been a blessing to many who have wanted an introductory level meditation experience. Thanks to everyone involved has been the year that Peter Bonucci has found work that fulfills him. Unfortunately, it s in Michigan. So, we said goodbye to the Bonucci family as Andrew and Marilyn drove back to Michigan in December. Even as we know we ll miss their valuable contribution to our community, we see their move as blessing for their family. Looking ahead, there are a lot of wonderful ideas for Please join us for our Annual Planning meeting on January 18th. Everyone is welcome to join the board and team leaders as we open our hearts to Spirit s guidance in the upcoming year. As we each grow in consciousness, our spiritual community continues to evolve and become an even greater expression of what God wants us to be. Welcome, 2014, we know that you hold nothing but good! One in Spirit, Pastor Brian

2 The Beacon Published Monthly by: Unity of Santa Maria dba Unity Chapel of Light 1165 Stubblefield Road Santa Maria, CA Phone Hour Prayer Line Silent Unity E Mail: unitychapeloflight@verizon.net Web Address: Board of Directors Patti Mardon ~ President Fay Bolick ~ Vice President Sharon Allen ~ Treasurer Shirley Mazzucotelli ~ Secretary Marti Shute ~ Member At Large Marilyn Bonucci ~ Member At Large Ranald Dunfee ~ Alternate Pastor Brian Walker Income/Expense November 2013 Total Income $9,050 Total Expense $9,586 Average Attendance January -November A California Corporation Articles of Incorporation filed as Unity of Santa Maria February 20, 1980 A Non-Profit Organization Vision: To support personal and planetary transformation. Mission: To provide a loving and supportive environment, spiritual guidance, and service opportunities to realize one s highest self. January 2014 Prez Release Tis the Season, friends, - of the shining gifts of Peace, of Joy, of Praise, of forgiveness, of appreciation, and of fellowship. This community of each loving heart, of each aching heart, of each kindred heart, thrives in blessing. If we have only one friend or family member to share ourselves with, or even none, we are yet immeasurably blessed by the joy it is to have a wonderfully diverse church family that loves us in just the measure we need. It is not a holy coincidence that the law of attraction isn t limited to money, food, shelter, or transportation, no matter how practical and needed those things are. As pennies multiply with compound interest over time, so do the priceless treasures of love, laughter, joy and an open heart. It seems almost cliché to recognize that what we express becomes our success, yet we can allow that truth to ring inside and out of our souls, flooding and lighting the outward reflection of our inner experience. What a blessing that while we may sometimes forget where real value lies, we may still sow a seed and never known we ve sown. Gifts of the spirit - love, laughter, joy or an open heart - can often manifest without overtly directing the deed. And when we trust our truth, when we act from our truth, blessings flow all the more unhampered, unchanneled, and unlimited. What a marvelous thing that we don t have to stress for some concept we may have of future perfection, that we can live the truth that we individually are at that moment and everything will turn out okay better than okay laughingly, resoundingly OKAY. God bless us every one, let us love and tolerate and bless each other, In Joy, Patti

3 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP The annual meeting of Unity of Santa Maria, (Unity Chapel of Light) will be held February 16, 2014 immediately following the 11 a.m. service. All members are encouraged to attend and everyone is welcome. We will be electing two members to the Board of Trustees and passing the 2014 Budget. We have accomplished a great deal that we can be proud of in 2013 and we have even bigger plans for We at Unity are blessed with a high degree of member participation and we look forward to continuing that tradition. See you on February 16th! Happy New Year! Patti Mardon, President, Board of Directors RECIPE FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR Take twelve whole months. Clean them thoroughly of all bitterness, hate, and jealousy. Make them just as fresh and clean as possible. Now cut each month into twenty-eight, thirty, or thirty-one different parts, but don t make up the whole batch at once. Prepare it one day at a time out of these ingredients: Mix well into each day one part of faith, one part of patience, one part of courage, and one part of work. Add to each day one part of hope, faithfulness, generosity, and kindness. Blend with one part prayer, one part meditation, and one good deed. Season the whole with a dash of good spirits, a sprinkle of fun, a pinch of play, and a cupful of good humor. Pour all of this into a vessel of love. Cook thoroughly over radiant joy, garnish with a smile, and serve with quietness, unselfishness, and cheerfulness. You re bound to have a happy new year. ~ Author Unknown ~ January 1:30 P.M. Video of the Month MEETINGS WITH REMARKABLE MEN Peter Brook, one of the pioneers of the experimental theatre movement of the 1950s and 1960s, was the director of Meetings with Remarkable Men. Brook tells the story of Asian mystic G. I. Gurdijeff, here played by Dragan Maksimovic. Gurdijeff devotes his entire existence, from youth to old age, in quest of the meaning of life. He eventually develops a form of meditation incorporating modern dance. Terence Stamp, who in Meetings with Remarkable Men plays Prince Lubovedsky, himself briefly retreated from his career after this picture, in favor of Eastern meditation.

4 Walkin the Talk Happy New Year!!! Have you made your New Year s resolutions? Have you vowed there will be changes in your life this year? Will you be doing something to be healthier both physically and mentally? Are you looking forward to improved relationships and greater total prosperity? If all this happens and your dreams come true, do you think then you will be satisfied? In My Search For The Infinite by Evelyn Stark, pages 39-40, Evelyn quotes Joel Goldsmith as saying Man will find that even when all physical, mental, moral, or financial discords have been eliminated there will still be an inner unrest. Man will still not be at peace with himself. Joel says Even were you healed of every physical or mental ill at this moment, even if your economic situation or personal relationships were entirely to your satisfaction, there would still be unrest within, and a discontent. My Life Is By Evelyn Brill Stark A never-ending story, Each time I reach my goal New vistas rise before me And beckon to my soul. They challenge me to action They tease and tantalize With visions and new images New truths to realize. The call is irresistible I can t evade or hide I eagerly go forward I m tested and I m tried At last the victory A lovely peace and then Once more the call Break through that wall! And off I go again. So, are there any revisions you would like to make to your New Year s resolutions this year? Perhaps you feel led to shift your focus inwardly, to seek first God and the Kingdom of Heaven that is within you. Instead of asking God to put His stamp of approval on your goals and to give you things you seem to desire, perhaps you feel drawn to just seek God alone, a God Who asks you to trust His leading. My ways are higher than your ways, says the Lord. (Isaiah 55:9). As you sit in the silence, as you listen deeply to the still small voice of the Lord, you may want to meditate on these words of Saint Patrick Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me. JANE FURCINITE C H A P L A I N C Y

5 A BIG THANK YOU From Charlies Angels to our Unity Community for your participation/support in Oktoberfest, Silent Auction and donations to The Women s Shelter. We couldn t have done it without you. Watch for additional opportunities in Happy New Year to all of you. We pray it will be your best year ever. Charlies Angels You re Invited January 5th & 12th New Member Class I ll be facilitating new member classes from 1-3pm on January 5th and 12th. Although everyone is invited to these classes, they are both required for anyone who wants to become a member of the church. We have an enjoyable time discussing different aspects of the Unity teachings, the Unity organization, what it means to be a member of Unity Chapel of Light, and how you can best make your unique contribution to our spiritual community. In addition to getting to know members of the church, the classes provide an opportunity to ask any questions that you have about religion and spirituality. You might find that some of your most cherished beliefs are subject to rethinking. I like to remind everyone that Unity is great place to get your answers questioned. Pastor Brian New Book for Home Study Group with Doris Oakes Phone Mondays 7 p.m. In this truly inspirational memoir, Anita Moorjani relates how, after fighting cancer for almost four years, her body--overwhelmed by the malignant cells spreading throughout her system--began shutting down. As her organs failed, she entered into an extraordinary near-death experience where she realized her inherent worth... and the actual cause of her disease. Upon regaining consciousness, Anita found that her condition had improved so rapidly that she was able to be released from the hospital within weeks... without a trace of cancer in her body! Within these pages, Anita recounts stories of her childhood in Hong Kong, her challenge to establish her career and find true love, as well as how she eventually ended up in that hospital bed where she defied all medical knowledge. As part of a traditional Hindu family residing in a largely Chinese and British society, she had been pushed and pulled by cultural and religious customs since she had been a little girl. After years of struggling to forge her own path while trying to meet everyone else's expectations, she had the realization, as a result of her epiphany on the other side, that she had the power to heal herself... and that there are miracles in the Universe that she had never even imagined. In Dying to Be Me, Anita freely shares all she has learned about illness, healing, fear, "being love," and the true magnificence of each and every human being!this is a book that definitely makes the case that we are spiritual beings having a human experience... and that we are all One

6 The Bonucci Family Moves to Michigan After many loving years of service and to our Unity Community, the Bonucci s have packed up and moved to Michigan where Peter found a great job. We ve been blessed by their dedication and have watched Andrew and Theresa grow into fine young people. Andrew remains with us in Santa Maria. We certainly pray God s continued blessings on this great family. December 31 at 7 p.m. December 31 at 4 a.m. BURNING BOWL SERVICE Enjoy the experience of Unity s Burning Bowl service. The object of the ceremony is letting go of that which no longer serves you and welcoming in that which will serve your highest good in the years ahead. If you ve never attended one of these uplifting services...give it a try and you won t want to miss another. WORLD PEACE MEDITATION Noon Greenwich time, December 31st, (which translates as 4 a.m. our time) as men, women, and children around the world gather to participate in a most comprehensive prayer activity a planetary affirmation of peace, love, forgiveness and understanding involving millions of people in a simultaneous global mind link. After the meditation, we go to breakfast together.

7 Annual Planning Meeting The church s Annual Planning meeting is scheduled from 9:30am-12 in the Activities Center on Saturday, January 18th. Light refreshments will be served. Everyone is invited to attend, but this meeting is especially important for board members and team leaders. After we review what we ve accomplished last year, everyone will get an opportunity to participate in a discussion about what we want to achieve in So, we ll be discussing our mission and vision statements and see how we re aligning with those goals. In addition, we ll be entertaining ideas for new classes, events, fund raisers, community service projects, etc. There are several important aspects of us all getting together at the same time. One is that we can network. As we share our ideas together, members of other teams can contribute suggestions on how our plans can be improved or others can be involved. We can also make sure that we don t have scheduling conflicts. We are also gathering important information for our 2014 budget. As enthusiastic as we all are, we want to do everything. But it s important that we re setting priorities based on what Spirit calls us to do. If you have suggestions for a new activity, please do some preliminary work by getting an estimate for what the expenses will be. Please plan to join us for this very important meeting. Your contribution is valued! White Stone Ceremony Unity Chapel of Light will be holding a White Stone Ceremony at the Sunday service on January 6th. The White Stone Ceremony is derived from a passage in the book of Revelation (Rev. 2:17) about a new name to be written on a white stone. Members of the congregation receive a specially prepared white stone. While holding the stone, there will be a guided meditation, during which each participant will have revealed a name, characteristic or value that will guide them for the coming year. This is a wonderfully powerful and spirit-guided ritual that will help you intuit what Spirit is revealing to you this year. $$Prosperity Bank Sunday$$ January 5, 2014

8 TAPE Unity of Santa Maria 1165 Stubblefield Road Santa Maria CA JANUARY 2014 TAPE Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Santa Maria CA Permit No. 127 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Please check the box & return newsletter if you no longer wish to receive it. Cultural Creatives