December Ministers Message

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1 December 2017 A welcoming spiritual community advancing a positive message that teaches people of all ages and faiths how to thrive in a changing world. Phone: Website: Inside this issue: Ministers Message 1 Chaplain s Corner 2 Social Action 2 Adult Education 2 Youth and Family Ministry Ongoing Classes and Study Groups Ongoing Classes and Events Message from the Board 6 Directory 6 Calendar 7 Lessons and Soloists High Street Thrift 8 Special points of interest: Potluck and Ugly Sweater Contest Christmas Eve Candlelight Service New Years Eve Burning Bowl Peace Pole Rededication 3 3 4, 5 Ministers Message The Christmas season is upon us and, with it, comes the longest night of the year. In this time of increasing darkness, the lights go up on most homes and businesses which is one of the best parts of the season. One does not have to be religious or even spiritual in order to enjoy it. We are invited to step out of our usual way of living and create a world of light and fantasy that everyone is welcome to participate in, both religious and secular. At a time of year when we are dealing with increasing physical darkness, we counteract the tendency to withdraw and hibernate. It s a good thing, it s healthy and life affirming. Each Sunday morning, we welcome people to a celebration of the true, the good and the beautiful. During the Christmas season we see that celebration being reflected in the world around us. We celebrate truth with myths and stories from the Bible, TV shows and movies. The Grinch, Charlie Brown, Scrooge, George Bailey and even Bad Santa have something to teach us as do Luke and Matthew. Stories can be true without having to be historically factual. We celebrate beauty in more ways than we can count, not just with lights but with all sorts of decorations that transform our living and public spaces. Even the music and songs are different, designed to evoke thoughts and feelings that are not so often acknowledged the rest of the year. We celebrate goodness by daring to voice the hope that human beings are capable of bringing about peace on earth. More people practice generosity than at any other time of year. For some folks, the season becomes too materialistic. I choose to see the good in Revs. Mark & Karen Schindler Co-Ministers all of it knowing that I define my own boundaries so there is no need to judge what others do. The message of Christmas is that human beings are capable of being better than world events would lead us to believe. Why would we speak of peace on earth unless we thought such a thing were theoretically possible? And if so, what would it look like? Peace on earth doesn t necessarily mean the absence of violence. For those who insist that Jesus is the reason for the season and that we need to put Christ back in Christmas, peace on earth at the very least would mean that we fully embrace and live the values found in the beatitudes. The Christ named Jesus said blessed are the poor in spirit, meaning those who reject consumerism and the accumulation of wealth at the expense of others. Blessed are the peacemakers who reject violence as a solution to our problems. Blessed are the meek, those who are humble and have learned to keep the ego in check. There are more but these give us the general idea. But once again world events, especially in this country, would lead one to believe that those values have been selectively edited out of the Christmas story. This would be a great time to put them back in. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Super Solstice to all!

2 D ecember 2017 P a ge 2 Mara P. Swann Chaplain Chaplain s Corner The Joy of Giving and Receiving In the Sunday morning Quest class we ve been discussing the difference between Jesus as a human being and Jesus as the perfect manifestation of the Christ nature. When we celebrate his birth at Christmas, we invoke awareness of the Divine within each person. Giving and receiving gifts is one way we express the spirit of Divine Love at this time of year. The Christmas I was nine years old was a difficult one for my family, but I have wonderful memories of the outpouring of love and support from our neighbors and community. My father was hospitalized and my mother was left to care for seven children on her own. One evening a sailor on leave was walking home from the bus stop and saw an explosion at our house. He rushed to our door to warn us and we were taken to safety. Our furnace had exploded and our house was temporarily uninhabitable. Our neighbors opened their homes to us, and my family was scattered around the neighborhood. I got to stay across the street with a family whose teenage daughter, Violet, looked like a movie star to me. I was thrilled! Despite all efforts to get us back into our Social Action house for Christmas we ended up gathered for Christmas Eve in the home of one of our neighbors. There was a sudden knock at the door and in came Santa in all his regalia with a huge sack of gifts for us. I ll never forget the dresses I received to wear to school: one even had white squirrels on it and squirrel-shaped buttons! Later I found out that Santa was sent by the Salvation Army. To this day I don t ever pass by a Salvation Army bell ringer at holiday time. In the years since, I ve had many opportunities to be part of the flow of Christmas giving and receiving. I especially enjoyed organizing my spiritual center at Unity of Petaluma to adopt a single mom and four children through a holiday giving program. It was a joy to see all the gifts of food, clothing, games and toys flow in. I like to think those children were just as delighted as I was when Santa surprised my family on that longago Christmas. At Unity of Auburn we have similar opportunities to give. We have the ongoing Auburn Interfaith Food Closet box in Manning Hall. This month they also need small toys. Every year we also have a barrel in the entryway for non-perishable food and gifts for the Auburn Christmas basket program. Let s manifest our inner abundance for these programs this year! The Spiritual Social Action Team at Unity of Auburn is an umbrella organization encompassing all of our outreach events and activities that work together to make a positive difference in the world and support our vision which is to co-create a world that works for all. We ask members to support the Interfaith Food Closet. They will take extras from your garden. Drop them off at Earhart Avenue, Suite 301 (behind Pacific Power) Auburn, CA or call Adult Education Spiritwind is a study group for Spiritual Adventurers. We meet every Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Love offering accepted. For the month of December at Spiritwind we will be doing a series titled, "Winter Holiday Traditions." In this we will consider Christmas, in both its religious and secular expressions, Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice (complete with a ritual celebration) and Kwanzaa. Rev. Rick Reich

3 P a ge 3 D ecember 2017 Youth and Family Ministry Dear Friends, Mary Lou Banahan Youth and Family Leader Unitots Sundays, 10:00 a.m. UniKids and UniTeens Sundays, 10:00 a.m. Location: Youth and Family Ministry Wing The YOU group is discussing The Four Agreements. We studied the book a few years ago so this time we will use Four Agreements discussion cards. The nice thing about the discussion cards is the conversations are focused each week so if a teen drops in (visiting family or friends) they will feel a part of the discussion. This also helps with our own members that must miss a Sunday now and again. Recently I attended a Youth Education workshop at Unity of Sacramento. It was led by Bethany Hannon (retired Unity Youth Minister, Palo Alto, CA). It was great to meet with other centers leaders, discuss common ground and be inspired by what more can be done. I received new curriculum, refreshed my memory of YOU songs, and enjoyed the fellowship. Blessings, Mary Lou Banahan Ongoing Classes and Study Groups Monday through Thursdays, 12:00 Noon 12:30 p.m. Location: Upstairs in Church Office During Noon prayer we experience various types of meditation: guided, mindful, or in the silence. We also hold the high watch for those who have placed their names and needs in our prayer chest and anyone you may be praying with. If you can't attend, pray with us wherever you are! A Course in Miracles Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. Yoga With Friends We will be taking a holiday break with our last session of the year on December 4th. We will resume on Monday, January 8th, at 4 pm. Bring water and a sticky mat or feel free to use a chair for gentle yoga. Location: Youth and Family Ministry room The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love s presence, which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite. Open to all. A love offering will be accepted. Facilitated by Ruth Ackerman. 12 Step Meetings at Unity of Auburn Gold Rush Al-Anon Family Group Mondays, 7:30 p.m. Location: Manning Hall Women s Courage to Change Al-Anon Family Group (Women only; childcare available) Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m. Location: Manning Hall Primary Purpose Narcotics Anonymous Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. Location: Manning Hall SLAA Twelve Step Group meets in Youth room. Thursdays, 7:00 p.m. Chaplain Prayer Circle 4th Sunday of the month at 11:30a.m. NOTE: No Circle in December. We will meet again on January 28th, Join us at the front of the sanctuary after service every 4 th Sunday for a circle of prayer and commitment. The chaplains will guide us in a 5-10 minute prayer practice focusing on using our Divine strengths to transform our desires and intentions into physical manifestation. We will stand witness for one another as we commit to take positive action.

4 D ecember 2017 P a ge 4 Ongoing Classes and Events Women s Creative Insight Circle Saturday, December 9th 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Cost: $25.00 Location: imagepathways Gathering Place, 461 Main Street, Newcastle, CA Connect with other women for a day of sharing. Take some time for your self to creatively play and explore in a safe, loving, fun and reflective environment. Let the creative woman who lives inside bring you insight and greater innerawareness. December s topic will be: Christmas Potluck December 17th After Sunday Celebration New, this year: Ugly Sweater Contest Being a Light in The World: How do I make a difference? Eat lunch at a local eatery, bring an addition to our community salad or bring your lunch. RSVP to: Deborah at NOTE: We will be moving to the third Saturday of the month. Break out your ugliest sweater and bring your favorite dish to share. Also, bring a white elephant to participate in a gift exchange. Adults bring adult gifts, children bring children s gifts. Festival of Lights Parade December 2nd LET IT GLOW GLOWING GRATITUDE We are in the parade again this year! If you d like to help decorate the float, come at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. We are also in need of cookies, brownies or other sweets to share with the community. Come before 5:30 p.m. to set up chairs in the front of our building. The parade goes right past the front of our building. Bring your family and friends. By participating in this event, we are spreading our Unity teachings to the larger community. Sunday, December 24, 10:00 am This year, our Christmas Eve Service will be celebrated during our regular 10:00 am service. Celebrate this time of year with an hour of song and story. Watch the light spread throughout our sanctuary during our beautiful candlelight service.

5 P a ge 5 D ecember 2017 Ongoing Classes and Events (Cont.) New Year s Eve Service Sunday, December 31st, 10:00 am This year, our New Year s Eve Burning Bowl Service will be included in our regular Sunday Celebration at 10:00 am on December 31st. The Burning Bowl Service is a time to relinquish anything that burdens your mind. We will be writing a letter to ourselves about those things we wish to occur in the coming year. We will put them in a self-addressed and they will be sent back to you around Thanksgiving in It s always interesting to see what manifested from the letter. Peace Pole Rededication Sunday, December 31st at Noon (after service) Location: 350 Nevada Street, Auburn Join us at the Peace Pole, near the Library Amphitheater. This is a brief service of reaffirming our vision of peace for the world. Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I m a dreamer But I m not the only one. I hope someday you ll join us And the world can live as one. J. Lennon

6 D ecember 2017 P a ge 6 Message from our Board of Directors Here is it December 2017, in the midst of the Christmas season and moving quickly toward the end of 2017 and into a New Year. Quite the year it has been, for both our Unity Center and Community as well as for our country and world-wide. Shelly Rutheford Unity has once again risen to our message of thriving in a changing world. Our Prosperity Team began its work toward providing more financial security for our church with a very successful Unity Bingo Night. Our Chaplains, eight strong after years of being stretched thin, provided much welcomed prayer counsel and continued support with positive affirmative thinking. The Thrift Store continued its amazing success, and support for the needy in our Auburn community. And there have been many more wonders in Unity this year (too many to include in such a short space), including another year of balancing our financial books! We all know the many changes and challenges of our country this year; I will not mention anything specific. And our world continues with its many facets, good and challenging. Let's take a moment and be grateful for all we have been blessed with through Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah/Happy Kwanzaa/Happy Holidays to you all! Directors Board of Trustees Shelley Rutherford.....President Justene Da Costa Vice President Sharon Hardie Treasurer Brennan Toohey.Secretary Russ Purvis...Member Edna Sparkes...Member Staff Bill Mahl...Member Unity of Auburn Staff Karen and Mark Schindler......Co-Ministers Lynn Liddell Licensed Unity Teacher Marra P. Swan......Licensed Unity Teacher Mary Lou Banahan...Youth and Family Leader Ken Kligerman, AFM.....Keyboard/Piano Mary Lou Banahan...Youth and Family Ministry Leader

7 24 Christmas Eve Service Unity of Auburn December 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 10:00 am Celebration Service 10:00 am Youth and Family Ministry 10 10:00 am Celebration Service 10:00 am Youth and Family Ministry 17 10:00 am Celebration Service 10:00 am Youth and Family Ministry Potluck and Ugly Sweater Contest after Service 31 Burning Bowl Ceremony during 10:00 am Service Peace Pole Dedication At Noon 4 Yoga 4 pm 11 NO YOGA 18 NO YOGA 25 CHRISTMAS NO YOGA :30 pm Death Cafe :00 pm Sisters 6:30 pm A Course in Miracles 13 5:00 pm Sisters 6:30 pm A Course in Miracles 20 6:30 pm A Course in Miracles 27 6:30 pm A Course in Miracles 7 6:00 pm Spiritwind 14 6:00 pm Spiritwind 21 6:00 pm Spiritwind 28 6:00 pm Spiritwind Festival of Lights Parade 4:30 pm 9 9:00 am Insight Circle

8 Unity of Auburn Offering practical, spiritual teachings that empower abundant and meaningful living! 1212 High Street Auburn, CA Phone: Pray with Silent Unity: Join our Facebook pages: Unity of Auburn Unity of Auburn Events Unity of Auburn-High Street Thrift and Gift Lessons and Soloists December 2017 Talk Titles December 3, 2017 Talk: Christmas in a Changing World Soloist: Dennis Cain December 10, 2017 Talk: Christ and Christmas Soloist: Brenda Boston December 17, 2017 Talk: How Wonderful Is Your Life? Soloist: Billy Bensing December 24, 2017 Talk: The Return of the Light Soloist: Beth and Fiona Gillogly December 31, 2017 Talk: Ringing In The New Soloist: Clint Ritchie Note: You can watch our talks on Youtube...go to unityofauburn.com, click on Sunday Lessons on Youtube. And don t think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It s quiet, but the roots are down there riotous. ~ Rumi To donate: Bring good quality clean items when the shop is open. Reduce... Recycle... Reuse Check us out on Facebook : Unity of Auburn - High Street Thrift and Gift Unity of Auburn 1212 High Street Thrift & Gift Shop Hours Open: Monday Thursday 10:00am-4:00pm Friday & Saturday Closed Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (if we have volunteers) We are in need of volunteers and donations! Sign up at Unity Central