From Addi, Board President As many of you are aware, our Spiritual Leader Glennie Smith is on leave due to medical issues. Glennie asked the Board for a threemonth leave; this was approved as requested. If you d like to keep up with Glennie s journey, please check out her Caring Bridge webpage at: www.caringbridge.org/ visit/glennie.smith With Glennie on leave, we will have many guest speakers, both from the church family and the Unity Community. Although we will deeply miss Glennie while she is in treatment, guest speakers will allow us to continue our journey toward raising the Christ Consciousness in us all. In December 2008, Dr. Bob wrote an essay article called A Fantastic Journey. In the article, Dr. Bob mused on the time Jerry Glawe, Laura Edwards and Dave Hamilton gave the lesson: Seeing the sparkle in Laura s eyes as she shared her thoughts, the enthusiasm of Dave and the sincerity reflected in Jerry s expression demonstrated the kind of dialogue that makes our church more meaningful. (Dr. Bob, Plus Two, 2008). Dr. Bob went on to say, it was an epiphany for me to hear the three amigos express their experience of God. He encouraged us all to share our experiences with the Divine thereby awakening more people to be aware of their spiritual magnificence and fantastic journey. There is much to learn from our varied guests! The Annual Membership Meeting will be held on November 9, 2014. Please note that Potluck will NOT be held on this day instead, we will have a Thanksgiving Potluck on ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING: NOVEMBER 9, 2014 after service. All are invited! Potluck will be held on November 23, 2014. Included in this issue: Update on Glennie List of speakers for November and December 2014 Information for the Annual Meeting Thanksgiving Potluck! Celebrating the life of Dr. Robert Heerens November 23, 2014. As Board President, I cannot stress how important each and every one of you is to the continued success of this church. In the words of Dr. Bob, You are one with Divine Energy. Your world is created by your consciousness. Choose to build your world consciously in the eternal now. Choose happiness, prosperity, love and compassion as daily practices. We hope all members will be present for this most important day, as we choose the path of our church. We have much to discuss as a church family! Please let your voice be heard by joining us for this annual meeting. With much respect and gratitude, Addi
Abundance The Board will distribute information at our annual membership meeting on November 9, 2014 in regards to the annual budge and the October 2014 s financial report. Speakers for November, December 2014 and January 2015 As with all our schedules, everything should be considered tentative. We do the best to keep you up-to-date on the happenings of our church please check your email or our member s only Facebook page to stay in-the-know! November 2 November 9 Jeannette Hirt, Unity of Batavia The Prayer of Well-Being Kathy Brown ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Thanksgiving Potluck November 23, 2014 after service We will provide the turkey, you provide the potluck! Please sign up in the church foyer. Thanks! November 16 November 23 November 30 December 7 December 14 December 20 December 28 January 4 January 11 January 18 Marypatriece Raupp, Unity of Woodstock Rich Brooks, Unity of Rockford What I am Thankful For CHURCH THANKSGIVING POTLUCK Marge Orchard, L.U.T. Karen Ream Buchen Julie Thompson, Unity of Rockford Holiday Service ***PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A SATURDAY EVENING SERVICE! No service scheduled for Sunday, December 21st. The Board of Directors will lead the service Marge Orchard Burning Bowl Ceremony Tricia Alexander, Unity of Woodstock Part I of II Tricia Alexander, Unity of Woodstock Part II of II
CELEBRATING DR. BOB 11/25/14
Dr. Bob at Unity of Rockford Whatever you do for or with people, keep the original and give away the copy, for good or bad. Dr. Bob In his book, Love and Synchronicity: A Family Physician s Reflections on Life, Dr. Bob wrote: Nearly 30 years ago, Marty and I joined Christ Church Unity of Rockford. After we had attended our second Unity service, she said, Isn t it wonderful to hear positive, practical Christianity messages and not have to be told how unable we are to overcome sin?.like a breath of fresh air on a Sunday morning, Unity thinking to us meant empowering one to live fully as a human and ignore the socalled religious messages of some denominations designed to have power over one s mind and actions. When asked, what is something that distinguishes you from everyone else? Dr. Bob replied, I feel that I am more curious about everything and constantly deal with other humans with forgiveness, love and compassion. In his book, he wrote: The path to harmonious living is based largely on interactions with other humans participating in both our sorrow or our joy. Such interactions can be enhanced through the constant practicing of Forgiveness, Love and Compassion (FLC) in our daily living....flc should be acknowledged as good health practice. Our immune systems fight off disease and can be more active through daily practice of positive friendly attitudes. Forgiveness, Love and Compassion are examples of such attitudes. We will miss this man of music, of enthusiasm, of curiosity. Thanks, Dr. Bob you are fantastic! ROBERT E. HEERENS, M.D., 99 ROCKFORD - Robert E. Heerens, M.D., 99, of Rockford, died Sunday, October 19, 2014, in his home. Born July 2, 1915, in Evanston, Ill,. the oldest son of Joseph and Karen (Larsen) Heerens, he graduated from Evanston High School as an Eagle Scout, Kalamazoo College in 1938, then attended medical school at the University of Alabama and Northwestern University, graduated from Northwestern Medical School in 1944. He served as a physician in the U.S. Navy assigned to the first Marine Division in the Pacific theater. He married Martha Lysne, August 21, 1943, in Batavia, Ill. She predeceased him May 15, 1996. Robert was a family physician in private practice for 44 years in Rockford, during which time he delivered 3,000 babies. He was a member of Christ Church Unity of Rockford. A highly civic-minded man, Dr. Heerens received many awards for his service, and served on the board of directors of many organizations, including President of the Illinois Academy of General Practitioners, the V.P. of the American Academy of Family Physicians, President and Board of Directors of the Winnebago County Public Health System, which he helped pioneer along with the T.B. Board, President of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the N.W. Area Agency on Aging, and he was on the initial committee that started the Center for Learning in Retirement 20 years ago, to name a few. People who knew him experienced a curious, funny, avid learner, who was a compassionate, unfettered soul with a keen interest in Cosmology, as well as a scholar of Body/Mind Medicine, Religion and Spirituality. He was a people person who made personal connections with his patients that lasted well after his retirement. His is survived by his daughters, Martha Jill (David) Windahl of Bogota, Columbia, Nancy (Ralph) Heerens-Knudson of La Crosse, Wis., Robin Heerens Lysne of Santa Cruz, CA, and Sara Heerens of Singapore; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Priscilla Heerens of Mt. Prospect, Ill. Predeceased by his daughter, Kisti Beckwith; sisters, Dorothy Ann Heerens, Gertrude Gayner; and brother, Joseph Heerens. -
STAY UP-TO-DATE: GLENNIE S JOURNEY TO HEALING One of the best ways to stay up-to-date with Glennie s treatment process is to read her Caring Bridge page. It was developed (1) in an effort to keep everyone up-to-date on Glennie's treatment; (2) to provide a central location for people to send their well-wishes; and, (3) with hopes it will cut down the volume of calls being received at their house! Please post comments or sign the page. You can even make a tribute in her honor. Glennie reads all the postings, so rest assured she knows you are thinking of her. As you can imagine, Glennie and Jackie have been inundated with calls, texts and emails. Add this to all the appointments and related treatment needs (read: insurance approval!) and you ve got an ever-increasing stressful and exhausting endeavor. Although they would love to talk to each and every one of you, there s not enough energy to go around. They will do their best to stay in touch with all of us during this process and will do so mainly through the Caring Bridge page. Glennie plans to make a few journal entries as she goes through the various phases of treatment. What can YOU do? Please keep Glennie in your thoughts and prayers. See her surrounded in a bubble of health, life and love. Envision her treatment going smoothly and quickly. Thank the Universe for her full recovery. Bless her treatment team in your thoughts. Attend church and support the guest speakers that would mean the world to her. Meditate often. Sign the guest book, post a comment. Make food for Jackie! (Glennie won t be eating much of anything once radiation takes hold. Save her treats and goodies for after treatment!) Send her cards in the mail. Most of all, thank Divine Consciousness for our connection with our Spiritual Leader. Healthy, happy thoughts to you, Glennie!