NEWSLETTER. UNITY of St. Petersburg s. Thoughts From the Minister Rev. Fred Clare. Centered in God, we cocreate

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1 UNITY of St. Petersburg s NEWSLETTER August 2010 Vol. 14 Issue 4 Vision: Unity of St. Petersburg celebrates and supports the realizing and expressing of our divine purpose through prayer, community, and spiritual education. Mission: Centered in God, we cocreate a world that works for all. Values: 1. Spirit-Led - We are centered in God. Sprit leads our thoughts and actions as we co-create a world that works for all. 2. Integrity - We act from a place of wholeness and are ethical in all our actions. We keep our word. 3. Diversity - We believe that all people are created with sacred worth. We promote greater understanding among people in a spirit of unity. 4. Transformation - We are a dynamic movement on the cutting edge of spiritual evolution. We teach universal spiritual principles that change lives. 5. Prosperity - Living in the infinite flow of God's good, we draw from God's inexhaustible supply and wisely use our rich resources to serve the world Thoughts From the Minister Rev. Fred Clare T Centered in God, We co-create a world that works for all his month is designated Love in Action month and I want to assist you in discovering the many ways you can find a place here at Unity of St. Petersburg to pursue selfless service as a path to God, connect with other people, use your spiritual gifts and talents, deepen your spiritual life and make an important contribution to the life of our spiritual community. Our Love in Action Program is prepared to support you in discovering your spiritual gifts, choosing where to share your gifts, provide you with training, answer your questions and help you evaluate your service experience. Our goal is for you to have a satisfying, rewarding experience when you serve in our community. In the process, we foresee that some of you will discover new friends, talents, and opportunities for leadership. During the month, I will present a workshop on discerning your spiritual gifts. The Spiritual Gifts Discernment Workshop is designed to help you discern the spiritual gifts or charisms you have been given. It helps you begin to learn how to use those gifts to serve God, other people, and the world. Charism is simply the Greek word used in the New Testament for "favor" or "gratuitous gift". Charisms, or spiritual gifts, are special abilities given to you by Spirit enabling you to be a powerful channel of God's love. Whether extraordinary or ordinary, charisms are to be used in service to build up the world. Charisms, or spiritual gifts, differ from natural talents in two important ways. Charisms are not "inborn" or inherited from our parents, but are given to us by Spirit. There are gifts of the Holy Spirit that we are given to keep and gifts we are given to give away. Charisms are gifts given to us to give away. Charisms are always focused outward; they are especially empowered ways by which God's love and goodness reaches our neighbor through us. They expressed through us and enable us to serve as a beneficial presence in our world. As we learned during our Spiritual Liberation Series, we are here to become enlightened so we can participate in co-creating a world that works for all. So, explore the opportunities and listen to see how Spirit calls to you. Let your imagination soar. You never know if you will enjoy a position until you try it and Unity of St. Petersburg is a great place to experiment and take risks. If you have questions or wish to explore other ideas that are not listed, please speak with Lillie Cintron or call me. Peace, For current information about events and activities at Unity of St. Petersburg visit our website at

2 Page 2 OUTREACH TEAM UPDATE Thanks to our Operation Birthday Child, every child who is presently living in a local shelter is receiving a beautiful gift bag filled with just the right gifts and a card with a loving message on their birthday. Thanks to everyone who has donated gifts bags, birthday cards, jewelry for teens, and of course money. A special thanks to Kellie Beale who submitted and received a $600 grant from Tech Data for our Outreach Team s community projects. At our Annual Meeting we set the goal of providing twenty women in third world countries with $50 microloans though FINCA International so they can start a small business. As of now we have provided twelve loans assisting women with families in seeing their dreams come true. Let s continue to hold our vision and see us easily reaching our goal of eight more loans in the next six months. Remember this is a gift that keeps on giving as 98% of the women repay their loans and that money is then loaned to another woman. To donate, see me, deposit money in collection can in Outreach Corner or contact the church office. As Michael Beckwith writes in his book, Spiritual Liberation, Through all forms of giving we become the vehicle through which the Spirit gives of itself and we become a beneficial presence on the planet. This is what our outreach program is about. Love & Peace Tania Citvaras Outreach Team Leader New! Angel Team forming in August The purpose of the ANGEL TEAM will be to provide temporary, supplementary support to other USP family members during those stressful times related to events such as injury, illness, following births, deaths, etc. Filling this role is one of the ways our community demonstrates love in action and puts into practice compassion and human kindness. See Judy Mellor, Liilie Cintron, or Rev. Fred for details on how to serve your spiritual community family. SPIRITUAL GIFTS DISCERNMENT WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY AUG. 11 TH & 18 TH 7-8:30 PM This two week workshop, facilitated by Rev. Fred Clare, is designed to reveal ones spiritual gifts and learn how to use them to become a beneficial presence on the planet. Participants will have the opportunity to: Take the Spiritual Gifts Inventory and discover their unique spiritual gifts Learn characteristics of the most common spiritual gifts Learn the process for discerning how to best put their spiritual gifts to use Benefits of discerning spiritual gifts: Discerning spiritual gifts gives one a new sense of personal purpose and direction. Many individuals don t understand the active part they play in fulfilling their Spiritual Community s mission and are excited to discover God is calling them and equipping them for a unique work of love. Discerning and exercising one's spiritual gifts is a wonderful catalyst of spiritual growth. Every gift represents a call from God. Becoming clear about our spiritual gifts greatly clarifies decision-making. A lot of energy is released for service as individuals acknowledge where they are not gifted and begin to concentrate on the areas where they are Understanding our spiritual gifts helps prevent unnecessary failure and burn-out. We are much less likely to burn out if working in the arena of our giftedness Recognizing the spiritual gifts of all fosters coresponsibility in the Community s mission to the world. This Workshop will be presented on a love offering basis. Sign up sheet is located in our bookstore.

3 August 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat POTLUCK The Silence 6 7 Spiritual The Silence :45 pm Spiritual The Silence Spiritual The Silence Cinema TONES FOR LIVING 7pm Gifts Workshop 6:30-8:30 Gifts Workshop 6:30-8:30 Paradise Road 7 pm 4-4:45 pm Choir Rehearsal 6:30-8pm 7:30pm 4-4:45 pm Choir Rehearsal 6:30-8pm 4-4:45 pm Choir Rehearsal 6:30-8pm St. Pete Song Circle 6:30 pm

4 Converse with James Twyman August 12th, 7:30 PM What s New The Barn Dance Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth On November 27, 2005, two men broke into Linda Twyman s apartment in Evanston, Illinois, and brutally ended her young life. Three and a half years later, guided by a series of visions and dreams, James Twyman was mystically drawn to a barn deep in the Nevada wilderness where Heaven and Earth collide and magic changes lives. Best Selling author, James Twyman generously gave Unity of St. Petersburg 48 FREE, ADVANCE copies of this book to anyone who was willing to: 1) commit to reading the book and 2) attend the Skype video conference with James Twyman on Thursday, August 12th, 7:30 PM If you were one of the 48 who made this agreement, please be at Unity of St. Petersburg by 7:30 on August 12th for that is the time James Twyman is scheduled to call. The conference will last about forty-five minutes to one hour. Thank you for honoring your commitment. SUMMER SPIRITUAL CINEMA SERIES New Choir New Prayer Chaplains New Members New Men s Group Wed. Aug. 25th, 7 PM Paradise Road is an honest examination of the bonds that are formed during extreme situations meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays every month 6:30-8 pm

5 Page 5 Giving carries immeasurable benefits with it, for it loosens us from the personal life, unifies us with the universal, and so opens our inner and outer life to the grace of God. From Prosperity by Charles Fillmore Love in Action Program Mission Statement We identify and develop our spiritual gifts and use them in service to one another to live love in all aspects of our lives. Love in Action Program Core Beliefs To invite members of Unity of St. Petersburg to live into their spiritual lives by identifying their own unique spiritual gifts through spiritual discernment and by participating in a way that enables their talents and passions to grow and be appreciated. To honor the efforts of those who offer selfless service by ensuring that their experience is both positive and enriching as they deepen their connection to the Unity family. To achieve greater satisfaction of the members through their involvement in the Unity of St. Petersburg community, more effective use of the gifts of our members, and an expansion of Unity s ministry out into the greater community. To fully honor and appreciate the spiritual gifts that each member brings to Unity of St. Petersburg and to support them in developing these gifts. TIP OF THE WINGS TO Grace Turner, Jo Ann Arnold, J. W. Hayes, Marie Brumer, Gail Othote, & Lindsay Mainland Wilson for answering the call our serving as our Prayer Chaplains. Mary Stevens for her many years of services as coffee angel. Mel Infanzon, Matt Kolb, & Logan Supper for their A/V tech service on Sunday. Mary Thorne for her adoption of our inner garden space. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Unity of St. Petersburg Desires List Credit Card Reader for Bookstore $ 95 Laptop Computer/ Bookstore & Sanctuary $ 500 Dishwasher for kitchen $ 350 Choir Microphones $ 420 Equalizer/ Sound system $ 325 SundayPlus Software/Sanctuary computer $ 350

6 Unity of St. Petersburg Reverend Fred Clare, Minister st Avenue North St. Petersburg, FL Phone 727/ Board of Trustees Ellen Levett, President Garland Money, Vice-President Kellie Beale, Treasurer Judy Saitta, Secretary Mary Stevens, Trustee Marie Brumer, Trustee Staff Office Manager Mary Ann McNamara Licensed Teacher Bill Allard LUT Family Ministry Lindsay Wilson Music Ministry Mele Sunday Services 9:45 a.m. Prayer & Meditation Service 10:30 a.m. Children s Church 10:30 Uniteen 10:30 a.m. Worship Service Noon Y.O.U. Office Hours Tuesday-Friday 9:00 to 12 noon Bookstore Hours: 10-12:30 Sunday Manager, Joy Roberts Prayer of Protection The Light of God surrounds us. The Love of God enfolds us. The Power of God protects us. The Presence of God watches over us. Wherever we are, God is and all is well st Ave. N St. Petersburg, FL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO ST. PETERSBURG FL Return Service Requested If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please mark it return to sender and drop in mail. No postage required.