Traces of Consciousness Newsletter

Transcription

1 Traces of Consciousness Newsletter Newsletter July-September 2017 Volume 5, Issue 4 Beloved Community - Then & Now Long before the name Rev. Karen Epps was on Unity of Pasadena s radar, there existed the beloved community. Rev. Karen Epps Senior Minister minister@unityofpasadena.org Unity of Pasadena Church Office: 3053 E. Del Mar Blvd. Pasadena, CA Office Hours: Tues/Weds/Thurs 10:00am 4:00pm Andrea Sheridan Admin Office: (626) admin@unityofpasadena.org Sunday Celebration Service: 10:30am Silent Unity Prayer Support Line: (24 hrs) Leadership Council: Rev. Karen Epps, Senior Minister Gary Clason, President Paul Smith, Vice-President Grace LaFranchi, Treasurer John Thompsen, Secretary Its contours followed a different outline; one in which the beloved community gathered around its Minister. It was a form quite common to its time. The Minister-centric model of ministry is familiar; people bring their heart and passion to the church largely in support of the spiritual leader. For those who were here and recall that era, no doubt, you have fond memories. You were an essential aspect of how Unity of Pasadena gave expression to the activity of God. You sat on the Board, served in the Children s Ministry, planned parties, and attended Sunday service. You loved Rev. Marilyn s message and classes she taught. Yes, beloved community was present then. Whether in our personal lives or in the life of the church, there s a gap between the then and now. It s the fodder for many a sermon! We ministers like to grab hold of Moses and the Israelites wandering the desert for 40 years or Abraham going into foreign lands. Rev. Ellen Debenport made a hit with her Hell in the Hallway talk (recently published as a book). The gap, as time of transition, represents the Void. It is the place where we encounter what is unknown, that which is yet to be revealed. For some the inherent anxiety is difficult to hold. But if we are able to stay present we often realize it s not as scary as we thought, that we do have the spiritual fortitude to stay: to wait. Continued on the next page

2 Page 2 Traces of Consciousness And wait you did. You stayed. The time between then and now certainly had its ups and downs. But you learned a lot. You became stronger and clearer about your identity. You began to draw the contours for the emerging form: Community & Mission Centric ministry. A form, that while nascent, requires a wholly different type of enactment. It s a form where the Beloved Community inclusive of the Minister orients itself as a collective to teach and share in spiritual leadership. Together, we stepped into this contour. Your voice rings throughout this issue of Traces. You ll find articles from Trish, Sandy, Gary and our Prayer Chaplains. We have a burgeoning group of in-house facilitators who are presenting several of the workshops, classes, and groups. I am so excited about this expansion because I ve been searching for you a very long time. With a depth of heart we are the Beloved Community of now. Love & Blessings, Rev. Karen

3 Page 3 Traces of Consciousness A WORD FROM THE BOARD Gary Clason Hello to all Unity of Pasadena members, families and friends. It's an honor to now be serving you in the capacity of Board Chairman. Filling the shoes of our previous Board Chairman, Barbara Sakuma will be a challenge as she served us all very, very well for many years. Thank you Barbara. Words are not enough. I want to also thank all of our past board members that have served with the same commitment in all capacities. We are all grateful for your service and your willingness to give us your time and energy that has made our spiritual home a welcome and joyful place for all. The current board is working diligently on the new projects coming our way in the following months including the potential of receiving a grant from Unity Worldwide Ministries for sound and video recording equipment and professional technical support. This will assist us greatly in allowing our talks to be broadcast via our own webpage and other sites throughout the Internet and beyond, taking Reverend Karen's awesome messages to global destinations!!! "Who is Karen Epps?" We are about to introduce her to the world! Please stay tuned. How can we serve you? Please speak to myself or any one on the board regarding ideas or concerns you may have. We are here to serve you, continuing to make your spiritual home your sanctuary for peace, love and guidance. Blessings to you all. Gary Clason Board Chairman

4 Page 4 Traces of Consciousness July-September November Newsletter CHAPLAIN S CORNER Thoughts on Gratitude from Our Chaplains Trish Bryant Gratitude is like a magnet; it keeps drawing love, joy, peace, harmony, wholeness and prosperity into your life. Helen Dersjant Gratitude uplifts, expands, heals and renews. It is the great stress reliever. When I am grateful, I edge out fear and lack. Gratitude immediately increases my good. It brings me back to love, my inherent Source. I am grateful for the beautiful expression of gratitude in my life. And So It Is. Amen Stacey Kelly Gratitude has changed my life for the better. A few years ago, I experienced a career and health challenge. When I was able to express gratitude for the good health I did have at the time, I found healing. (Yes I worked hard and changed my lifestyle to be healthier but the gratitude definitely helped.) On the rare occasions I don't feel gratitude, I find the day overtakes me and is usually unproductive. I make an effort to always be grateful for what I have. When in gratitude, happiness prevails rather than depression. Gratitude is the one thing that both grounds me and makes me soar at the same time. Michelle Gillette Gratitude: a simple word with profound meaning. Living in gratitude changes our lives in all ways. It is a shift in perspective. God is love. We are in Oneness with God. Gratitude and anxiety cannot exist in the same moment. Saying thank you steadies our breath. Instantly, our bodies start to relax. I choose this easy way to remember God s presence in my life often throughout my day. A simple, Thank you God for my blessings is a wonderful way to live God s love. And so it is. Amen Continued on the next page

5 Page 5 Traces of Consciousness Donna Gannon Five Ways to Live In Gratitude 1. Count your blessings, especially if you're feeling low. 2. Light a candle for someone, either in your home or online at 3. Start a gratitude journal. Each day before you go to bed, write down five or more things you are grateful for. 4. Make a gratitude part of your daily routine. Give thanks as a part of every meditation and prayer practice. Give back to the universe through random acts of kindness. Help someone with his or her groceries, leave a generous tip, smile at a passerby, or give an unexpected compliment. I practice this list daily as part of my spiritual routine. It has made such a shift in my life and I am forever grateful to have learned this from Unity.

6 Page 6 Traces of Consciousness THE BOOK NOOK Yes, we have a new name! Welcome to the Book Nook, where you will find an inviting selection of books, music and meditation CDs. We have the Daily Word and a wide array of Unity truth pamphlets. The Book Nook is staffed by our Unity volunteers Ann Burnett, Milly Drake, and Sandy Brancheau, who will be happy to help you during Book Nook hours 11:30 to 12 noon every Sunday. Do you need help with prosperity, relationships, or other spiritual issues? We have books to help! Books are shelved by categories that include Unity Classics, spirituality, self-help, creativity, religions, prosperity, personal growth, prayer, metaphysics, and many other themes. If you d like to listen again to any of Reverend Karen s inspiring truth talks, you can order a CD in the Book Nook, and it will usually be ready the same day for you. CDs of the service are $3.00. Books make wonderful gifts, and we now gift wrap! The latest addition to the Book Nook is a shelf labeled Previously Loved Books. These books have been formerly purchased, and then donated back to the Book Nook. They are priced at $2.00, $1.00 or less, depending on condition. Come in and shop our bargains!

7 Page 7 Traces of Consciousness WHAT IS REIKI? ~ TRISH BRYANT People often ask the question, What is Reiki I ve never heard of it. Reiki is a Japanese healing practice. The word Reiki is a combination of two Japanese words. Rei means the spiritual source of the universe or higher mind. Ki is life energy or universal life force also called Chi or Qi in Chinese. Reiki can be understood as spiritually guided life force energy. This means the Reiki energy guides itself with its own wisdom rather than requiring the direction of the practitioner. This gentle healing practice is based on the principle that the practitioner can channel energy into the patient/client by touch to activate the natural healing processes of the body. Reiki reduces stress and will relax the client by restoring physical and emotional well-being. When the Reiki session is over the client will often feel a sense of peace and rejuvenation. Having explained the meaning of Reiki, I would like to share why I decided to become a Reiki Practitioner. I was curious about the interaction between Reiki, spirituality and my relationship with God. I also wanted to learn more so I could share this wonderful healing energy with family and friends. After much prayer, meditation and research, I came to understand the many spiritual aspects of Reiki. My belief is Reiki energy comes from and exudes many wonderful attributes of God. Through Reiki, I feel more love, peace, harmony, joy and compassion. I think clearly, am more relaxed and feel the ability to use my hands in a healing way by relaxing the clients mind, body and soul is a gift. Today, I am grateful for the guidance of Spirit, which lead me to Reiki. Janet Stoner and I discovered this beautiful healing energy was practiced and taught through friends at our sister church, Unity of Tustin. We are prayer partners together and wanted to radiate this wellspring of healing energy from our hands to others. It was those friends who took us under their wing mentored, encouraged and taught us the full three degrees of Reiki. We are grateful to our Reiki Masters for their constant support. Continued on the next page

8 Page 8 Traces of Consciousness When we met Reiki Master Teresa Morris at Unity of Pasadena, we knew Spirit had placed her in our life to allow us to advance further in our Reiki practice. In June 2016, Teresa encouraged Janet and me to hold weekly Reiki Share sessions at Unity of Pasadena. The idea was to give our time and talent to those interested in a new way of healing that included relaxation and rejuvenation. We were excited to have the opportunity to do this. As we aligned ourselves each week with our passion for Reiki, the sessions were well received by our congregation. We have had the pleasure to meet several first timers and repeat friends. There are some who enjoy the healing energies of Reiki and never miss a session. Recently I hurt my finger, it began to throb and bleed. Teresa ran to my aid, performed her nursing skills and immediately used her Reiki energy on my finger. Within minutes, the pain and bleeding stopped; I applied a band-aid and continued what I was doing. Reiki works! Our Reiki team Teresa, Janet & Trish opens the doors every Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00pm. We welcome anyone interested in a 15-minute session for $ All proceeds are donated to Unity of Pasadena. We can be found on Meetup.com under Unity of Pasadena Reiki Share. Trish Bryant is a Reiki Practitioner. She is a member of Unity of Pasadena and Prayer Chaplain. She will be happy to talk about Reiki and how it can benefit you. For more information contact her: (626) or tbryant0324@gmail.com

9 Page 9 Traces of Consciousness Workshops & Events July Annual Backpack Drive Every year we support the children of Woodrow Wilson School with fresh new backpacks. A school representative will visit us to share the fun way the children are gifted with the backpacks. Sunday July 30 WEvolutionary Salon Conversations That Matter: Living Our Mission 12pm We have embraced a new Mission statement but without being lived, the words are meaningless. How do we see ourselves expressing our mission in the world? In this conversation we ll vision, hold sacred space, and tap into the Divine voice to guide our next steps. Thursday August 3 Prosperity Prayer Circle 6-7 Our group is focused on creating a prayerful prosperity consciousness. Prosperity is abundance in all of life. Whether concerns are health, work, finance, or personal relationships, bring them into our circle of prayer. Using affirmations, writing, and various spiritual tools, the focus will be on bringing important goals into manifestation. Sunday August 13 Process Painting Workshop Jenny Hahn (And she will be joining Rev Karen on the platform for Sunday Service) 12:30-3 $30 Process painting is quite different from regular art making. It s really not about art at all it s about being. Being present. Being willing. Being courageous. Being with whatever is showing up in the present moment. Sound familiar? Yes, it s a form of meditation. A mindfulness practice. Except that it s really more of a heartfulness practice as one drops from the obsessively judgmental activities of the mind into the pure and raw terrain of the heart, and allow whatever is showing up to express on paper in full color. As an artist who has used process arts to reclaim wholeness in her own life, one of Jenny s greatest joys is to share the transformational power of this process with others. She provides not only the tools and the space but also the support of a fellow traveler and confidant as one begins the creative trek. The materials Jenny uses are simple, by design. In this practice, one does not need any prior artistic experience or any kind of talent.

10 Page 10 Traces of Consciousness Workshops & Events Sunday August 27 Your Money or Your Life Workshop 1-2:30 $25 This workshop is for professional entrepreneurs who have recurring money struggles and lack of time for self-care that keeps you from a more harmonious and joyous Life. I will help you discover your unconscious energy blocks, and empower you to clear these obstacles effectively. Yes, you can fully express your inner brilliance, creativity, and productivity! Marguerite Dastoor is a Licensed Clinical Social worker, Certified Transformational Life Coach and "Tapping Into Wealth Coach. After decades of struggling with money issues she has finally overcome this affliction. Tuesdays September 5-26 The Four Agreements 7-8:30 $40 Series (Advance Registration Required)/$20 per class drop in. Facilitated by Selam Meharena Starting from our early life journey, we began making agreements. Our parents rewarded us when we did what they wanted and they punished us when we didn t. We also learned behaviors and habits in school, church, and from other adults and children on the playground. The tools of reward and punishment were often emotional and sometimes physical. The impact of other people s opinions and reactions to us became a very strong force in the habits and behaviors we established. In this process we created agreements in our mind of who we should be, what we shouldn t be, who we were, and who we were not. Do you have OLD AGREEMENTS that you want to break? Are you ready to be Transformed and be Free? If yes, then sign up for this class, based on don Miguel Ruiz's best selling and powerful book "The Four Agreements". As you read the agreements, you may think they are simple, however they are not easy to keep. If you are curious to learn more about the four agreements and understand how to integrate, be transformed and live the practices, sign up today. You will be happy you did! Required Book: The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz Sunday September 10 Soul Spa Sound Bath 12:30 with Karen Apostolina $25 A Sound Bath is a relaxing, immersive experience where quartz crystal singing bowls and planetary gongs are played with the intention of providing relaxation and an overall feeling of well being to the listener. Participants are encouraged to recline or sit comfortably and let the sound waves wash over them. Sound has been used for thousands of years to provide an outlet for emotional and physical release as well as activate the body s natural capacity for healing. A Sound Bath is like a massage for your soul.

11 Page 11 Traces of Consciousness Worship, Devotion & Celebration Wednesday July 26 6:30-7:30 Taize Service & Labyrinth Walk Prayer in the Taizé style of worship is reflective; it is both peaceful and joyful, including simple chants, readings, silence and prayer. Our sacred gathering is spiritual and inclusive. The chants for this service have been composed by New Thought songwriters and are trans-denominational. We will conclude with a labyrinth walk. Love Offering July Sunday Talk Titles Metaphysical Movie Month July 2 July 9 July 16 July 23 July 30 Yankee Doodle Dandy Inside Out Collateral Beauty Finding Dory The Way: Contemplative Service August Sunday Talk Titles Spirituality & The Arts August 6 August 13 August 20 August 27 Spirituality & Mandala Spirituality & Painting: With Jenny Hahn Spirituality & Music: Guest Speaker Randy Ross Spirituality & Dance September Sunday Talk Titles Marketplace Mystics September 3 September 10 September 17 September 24 A Labor of Love Heart2Heart & Hand2Hand GAIA: Global Awakening in Action Fur, Fins & Feathers

12 Page 12 Traces of Consciousness Ongoing Groups & Services Choir Practice Choir practice is at the Church on Wednesdays at 7pm Prayer Service Every second Sunday, our Prayer Chaplains have a prayer service immediately following our Sunday Service. Come enjoy this prayerful time. Each month s service will have a new theme. Meditation Service Noon every Thursday Join us for a guided meditation with Suzanne Peters, including long periods of silence for contemplation. This 30 minute meditation is sure to rejuvenate and renew your mind, body, and soul. $10 Reiki Sessions Every Thursday 7-9 Come experience the relaxing, energy-balancing, healing practice of reiki with certified practitioners for a price that can t be beat! 12-Step Meetings at Unity of Pasadena AA Women's Group Sunlight of the Spirit Monday 12-1:30 Childcare Narcotics Anonymous Meeting Wednesday 5:30-6:30 Cocaine Anonymous Meeting Saturday 7:30-9 Al Anon for youth and young adults Sunday 7:45-9 Writing Group Meets the 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month Join this fun and inspirational group anytime. Everyone gets to tackle the same thought provoking topics from their own unique perspective and life experience. Facilitated by Mary Coolman $15