Page 1 of 12 Having trouble viewing this email? Click here April, 2012 Upcoming Events and Classes at Unity of Fox Valley Sunday Service and Youth Education Ministerial Musings Come join us! at 10:00am Dear Spiritual Family, I just turned off the morning news and as always their specialty is bad news. I find it interesting that there will be 57 minutes of news and, so that we won't feel so depressed, they close the show with a 30 sec fuzzy heart warming story. Well, enough of that! I have a solution. Instead of focusing on all the things and people that aren't filling our expectations, why not make a list of all those things and people they bless us, make us smile, and enrich our lives. The beautiful weather The colorful daffodils that are blooming a month early A friend you can call no matter what A job/calling you love This beautiful spiritual community Chocolate Egg McMuffins The sunset that takes your breath away Those special people who minister to you Elmo and Miss Piggy That amazing light of a full moon
Page 2 of 12 The squirrel entertaining you outside you window The wonder on the face of a baby Sailing on Lake Michigan Your favorite music Answered prayer And I think you get the idea. Why don't you make your own list and put it up on the bathroom or the refrigerator where you can see it and remind yourself of all the good news in your life. As we move into April make yourself a promise to list 5 things every morning that bless you and give you joy. Repeat this just before you close your eyes at night. There will always be things happening, life happening, but we can choose to focus on our good, our delight, our support, our love, our passion, and our joy. Affirmation for the month of April: I Choose Joy! Try it and let me know how it goes. Happy list writing as we move into the awakening of this gorgeous Spring, Rev. Jan Letter from the Board of Trustees Hello everyone, Happy Spring! I hope everyone is enjoying this lovely weather. Following is a quick report from the Board of Trustees for the first quarter of this year. In January, we met in a day-long strategic visioning retreat. During this retreat, we reviewed our past and envisioned a clear and compelling future for Unity of Fox Valley. Using Spirit's expanding vision, we developed goals encompassing a more beautiful Beth Johnson, President, church building inside and out, Board of Trustees enhancing our welcoming program, and embracing the preparations for Rev. Jan's sabbatical. It is common practice for churches to offer their ministers a sabbatical after 5-7 years of service. At the end of 2012, Rev. Jan will
Page 3 of 12 have served as our minster for 7 years. We have been abundantly blessed by Rev. Jan's spiritual consciousness and leadership all these years. With that in mind, the Board of Trustees offered Rev. Jan a six month sabbatical. She would like to take three months in 2013 and three months in 2014. In preparation for that, the Board determined that we would need about $4000 a month to provide for temporary ministers to keep our church family spiritually fed during Rev. Jan's time of rest, renewal and creative exploration. We are organizing various fund raisers throughout the next two years to help with that expense. The first event was the Penne Pasta Dinner on March 18th and it was a huge success! We look forward to a wonderful 2012 for UFV and encourage your input, questions, comments or suggestions! Blessings, Beth Johnson Board of Trustees President Buddhist Insight Meditation If you've ever wanted to experience a true "Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation" then make sure you reserve your place for this day-long retreat on Saturday, June 2nd from 10:00 to 5:00 pm. Rev. Robert Brumet has been teaching and leading mindfulness meditations for over 20 years. His own spiritual practices include week-long mindfulness meditation retreats and "sits." Robert has been an integral part of training ministerial candidates at Unity Institute and is a popular, sought after instructor and spiritual director. For those looking for a deeper meditation experience using the eastern techniques of mindfulness, this retreat is a must. A vegetarian lunch and snacks will be provided. Registration fee $60.00 Final day to register is April 15th. Good Friday Candlelight Taize Service
Page 4 of 12 7:00 pm on Friday, April 6th Unity of Fox Valley will be celebrating its traditional Good Friday Candlelight Taize Service. The Taize service engages all of the senses through music, prayer, chants, scripture readings, and periods of silent contemplation to attain a state of deep contemplative awareness. All are invited to this beautiful, soulful, candlelight ceremony celebrating the light that is not overcome by darkness. Easter Feast! Sunday, April 1st, is our annual Easter Feast. Everyone is invited. There is a sign-up board in the fellowship area for you to let us know if you are planning to attend, and also what dish you will bring to share. Save your appetite. As always - this will be delicious!! Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity This is a powerful 5-week prosperity program based on the book, "The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity: A simple guide to unlimited abundance" by Edwine Gaines and is guaranteed to change you life. The book contains an empowering message about the true meaning of prosperity to help you achieve a life of material and spiritual abundance. This class will assist you in establishing a prosperity consciousness that will catapult you into living the life you have always dreamed. During this class we will study the tools of:
Page 5 of 12 Tithing Goal setting Forgiveness Discovering your purpose Offered on Sundays after service - Starting April 15th from 11:30am - 1:00pm. Facilitated by Marge Orchard, LUT and Maria Cosentino, LUT SEE elective credit available Please sign up to order Edwine's book and workbook. POSIPALOOZA!
Page 6 of 12 The Creative Process in the Bible What is going on in your life right now? Is there something you would like to be different? Imagine what your life would be if you could change it. Come join your fellow members for a lively discussion on the seven steps of the creative process as metaphysically interpreted by Unity's co-founder Charles Fillmore.
Page 7 of 12 The course reviews the biblical account of the seven days of creation from the first chapter of Genesis in the Bible. You will learn to use the seven important steps of the creative process in their orderly progression to create a more fulfilling life for yourself. There will also be emphasis on the importance of prayer in this process. This class will be facilitated Susan Bryan, a Ministerial candidate, a certified spiritual director and Licensed Unity Teacher from Unity of Oak Park, IL. Susan will receive her Masters of Divinity degree and be ordained in June. A 5-week class that will begin Tuesday, April 17th and running through May 15th 7-9:00pm This is a S.E.E. required class. Offered on love offering basis. Everyone is welcome. Learning the Skills of Meditation... Again! BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Facilitated by Marge Orchard LUT This class was so popular when offered in January, Marge has agreed to do it again. Monday, April 16th through May 21st at 7:00pm Practicing the Silence (meditating) is fundamental to Unity teaching and essential for our spiritual development. During this class, we will define meditation, explain its benefits, practice different types of meditation, learn how to deal with resistance to meditation and learn how to develop a regular meditation practice. Time will be given to journal about the meditation experience. In addition, after reading about and discussing meditation practice, we will have the opportunity to create a personally designed meditation program. Required Text: Meditation for Beginners by Jack Kornfield (Available through Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble as an Ebook) Volunteer Appreciation Dinner Attention All Volunteers!
Page 8 of 12 The Board of Trustees wants to acknowledge the support and dedication of all of the volunteers here at Unity of Fox Valley. This church could not function without you! Therefore, we are hosting a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Friday, May 11th at 6:30pm To be sure that we don't miss anyone, there's a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship area. If you've ever done volunteer work for the church, you are invited! The Board is looking forward to this opportunity of serving you as well as you have served this community! All sign-ups must be in by April 29th. Events Committee When Unity of Fox Valley invites a guest speaker and workshop presenter we frequently host a light luncheon between Sunday Service and the afternoon workshop. The Events Committee is asking for help with the food preparation and serving, set up and clean up. Are you interesting in lending a helping hand? Please sign up in the fellowship area, or contact the Team Leader Deb McQuaid at debmcquaid@aol.com. Thank you in advance for your loving assistance. Youth Education for the Younger Crowd The Children's Church and Juniors will be very busy during the month of April. For Palm Sunday, April 1st, all the children will be waving palms and joining everyone upstairs at the end of service while
Page 9 of 12 singing "Prepare Ye". Don't forget to bring a dish to pass and join everyone afterwards for the church's annual yummy Easter Feast. For Easter Sunday, April 8th, the children will be celebrating the resurrection of the Christ Light within all of us as we reflect on the metaphysical meaning of the Easter symbols. Such symbols are colored eggs that represent new life, angels that symbolize our spiritual thoughts and sunrise that reminds us of the Christ Light that always shines! Also, the children will have their annual Easter Egg Hunt, hopefully outside, weather permitting. Also, this month the children will be reflecting on the Power of Good Judgment. The Disciple James and the color yellow are associated with this power. To further enhance this power, the children will be exploring the Biblical stories of Mary and Martha and the Proverbs of Solomon. Lastly, we are so grateful to Beth Johnson for stepping up as an "Angel Aide" volunteer teaching the Juniors once-a-month. We are so appreciative of Beth and Leslie Henderson who both do an awesome job guiding the Juniors as they explore their spiritual paths. UNITEENS & Y.O.U. We all know what a GREAT job Mark Boston does with the Uniteens and Jean Boston with our YOUer's, but they really do need some help. Just think about what it would be like to make a difference in someone's life. These kids are great and they really take truth to a new level. Feel free to come and visit either Mark or Jean giving a lesson. Jean Boston Community Outreach
Page 10 of 12 Working to help the community by serving meals at Hesed House in Aurora. 2012 Women's Retreat Unity of Fox Valley 2012 Women's Retreat Presents: "Simple Joys, Juicy Living" A Delicious Retreat to Quench the Parched Women's Soul Facilitated by Rev. Paulette Pipe TouchingTheStillness.org Friday-Sunday May 18th to 20th LaSalle Manor Retreat Center, Plano, IL It's time to banish lackluster, bland, and nondescript living for a zesty and delicious life! And that's exactly what we have in store for you during this juicy weekend, where we set about finding Rev. Paulette Pipe sacred joy in the simple things of life. Come and engage in a soulquenching time of fun, fellowship, relaxation, and spiritual exploration, designed to rejuvenate your body, mind, and soul. Sunday Morning Meditation Registration begins March 18 and runs through April 29. A $110.00 deposit is required at the time of registration. $225.00. Price includes: 2 nights lodging, retreat workshops, meals, snacks, and program materials.
Page 11 of 12 Our Prayer Chaplains are leading a morning meditation before the 10:00am service, every Sunday. This will be a time to meditate and center yourself as you start your week in the silence. Meditation starts at 9:15 am and ends at 9:45. All are welcome but please be on time. The doors are closed at 9:15. Prayer Chaplains In April, Ana Solares-Ballado joined our Prayer Chaplain team. Ana comes to us from Unity of Chicago where she has served as a prayer chaplain. Please welcome her as she prays with you. If you are interested becoming a Prayer Chaplain, one of the requirements, besides being a member of Unity of Fox Valley, is taking a Prayer Class. The next scheduled class will be August 7th through September 11th. Please see or call me if you have further questions. A big "Thank you" to the Board and all of you for the redecorating we prayer chaplains were able to do for our office. Please stop and see our lovely home. The prayer chaplains respectfully request that everyone honors the sacred space for congregants and the chaplains at the front of the sanctuary immediately following service. Your cooperation is appreciated. Namaste! Ongoing Activities A Course in Miracles - From 7:30 to 9 pm every Thursday evening, Unity of Fox Valley facilitates A Course in Miracles discussion group. This is an ongoing class - rain or shine. Each week a new topic is discussed. Everyone is welcome at any time and the class is always open to new attendees. Men's Group - The Men's Group meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7:00pm at the church. All men are welcome to join.
Page 12 of 12 Women's Group - Meeting EVERY Wednesday at noon here at church. Bring your own lunch. All women are invited to join. "Let's Talk" - A Group for Women, is taking a temporary hiatus. Overeaters Anonymous meeting. Sundays at 5:00pm. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Tuesdays at 6:00pm. Contact Information phone: 630.879.1115 fax: 630.879.1728 prayer line: 630.879.1129 office@foxvalleyunity.org www.foxvalleyunity.org Forward email This email was sent to office@unityoffoxvalley.org by office@foxvalleyunity.org Update Profile/Email Address Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe Privacy Policy. Fox Valley Unity 230 Webster Street Batavia IL 60510