March 5: The Strength to be Free in 2023 - Rev. Rose Houston
March 12: Extension vs. Projection - Larry Etheredge
March 19: The Strength of Sampson - Rev. Rose Houston
March 26: The Power of Strength - Mark Mills
Unity Small Groups- In Building, Online & Outside!
Click on the Pictures for More Information!
I will be offering a Prosperity class covering the book Spiritual Economics (The Principles and Process of True Prosperity) by Eric Butterworth. We are going to listen to the audio and then discuss the topics of interest.
I think that you will really enjoy this book as it talks about present-day experiences which we are already facing such as inflation, what we believe, security in a changing world, and much more.
We will start class on Wednesday, March 8th. at 7 pm in the fellowship hall at the Unity Church Centre. There are 12 chapters so I am planning on covering 1 chapter per week we may do more if time allows.
I will have several books available for those that do not have a book or you can purchase your own on AmazonHERE.
I look forward to sharing this time with you while growing our Prosperity Conscious.
Mark Klotz
Note Your Calendars for Saturday May 6th…… New Membership Class Announcement
Membership is an important step on the adventure called Unity. Rev Rose is facilitating a New Member Class on Saturday, May 6th at our Unity Centre. The induction into membership will be held on Sunday, June 4th after the May Board Meeting.
All are welcome: Although this class is for perspective new members, all are welcome to attend for a refresher to what Unity is about and the benefits of becoming a member.
Already a member, but have never gone through the new member class, please plan to attend to learn a deeper understanding of what Unity stands for.
More information will be available closer to the date of the class.
Sign-Up: Take a moment to sign up now via signup sheet on the bulletin board or online at minister@unitycentre.org. We need a head count to have enough handouts and materials for the class.
Class is from 9:00 -3:30 pm Lunch is provided.
The Strength to be Free in 2023 ~ What is Spiritual Strength?
Our co-founders, Charles and Myrtle identified 12 gifts of God that are built into our body, mind, and soul, and they named them as our Faculties of Mind. A more modern term is our 12 Abilities. One of those is the gift of Strength. After Faith, it is a foundational block for the other 10 Faculties of Mind. The spiritual character of Strength involves our capacity to dig deep and find the greater meaning in life; to align ourselves with a purpose that extends beyond ourselves; and to find relationship and unity with something greater such as Nature, God, or the Transcendence of Being. Properly used, this gift gives us strength in mind, body and emotion opening the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. The battle for wholeness starts in the mind—a new way of thinking. Many of us have believed negative things about our ability to change or exercise self-control or make healthy choices. We believe we will never be successful.
We need to have our minds changed.
According to 2 Corinthians 10:3, we can: “…, demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and… take captive every thought tomake it obedient to Christ.”
According to this verse, we can learn to separate God’s Truth from the unhealthy or negative thought patterns we’ve fallen into or the lies we have believed.
5 Ways to Strengthen Our Relationship with God
Humble Ourselves and Pray using Unity’s method of prayer – affirmations and denials. Meditate in the Silence every day.
Read and Study the Bible and other spiritual material.
Join a Group of Like-Minded people who are committed to this intention.
Take care of ourself first and help others as much as we can without depleting our own reserves.
Seek Out our Spiritual Gifts And develop them to use to lift ourself and all whom we meet on our path to greater understanding of “Christ in You Your Hope of Glory.” … Colossians 1:27
The Emotional Component
The emotional component helps us break free from destructive emotional strongholds related to things like alcohol, food, gambling, gossiping, complaining, and others addiction issues. Finding emotional healing requires the work of self-examination. God, through the Holy Spirit, will lead us to the root problem of emotional addiction. We have many tools available such as the 12 step groups, A Course in Miracles, A Search for God based on the Edgar Cayce material, but basically, it all boils down to doing the work and trusting that God will be there every step of the way. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. … 2 Corinthians 10:4
Join a Group of Like-Minded People
In addition, we need the support of true friends. It is far too hard to do it all by ourselves. Even Jesus, our Way Shower, surrounded Himself with close friends and a personal support system. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. … Ecclesiastes 4:12.
Humble Ourselves and Pray We have access to classes on using Unity’s method of prayer – affirmations and denials. Myrtle Fillmore healed herself of tuberculosis, considered a death sentence in her era, by sitting in the Silence daily and by using denials and affirmations. She triumphed by changing her mind to a new and life affirming way of thinking.
Read & Study the Bible & Other Spiritual Material
We are fortunate in Unity to have a Metaphysical Bible which interprets the many confusing statements in the Bible that may have been off putting or repugnant to our modern ways. Other cultures have spiritual teachings that often dovetail with our own or open to us amazing insights we’ve not considered prior to being introduced to them.
Seek Out Your Spiritual Gift(s) & Develop Them
Here is where setting an intention and then, making a commitment to follow through comes into play. There are many ways to identify what our gifts are that have been placed within us to be used to lift humanity to a higher state of being. Here are a few ideas:
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up; review what made you happy? Perhaps it was singing, hitting sticks for percussion, baking with your grandma, sewing your own doll clothes? whatever it may have been, perhaps that's an area you could develop as a hobby or perhaps even a career.
What do you enjoy doing now? For example, doodling, being in nature. a deep interest in animals. Maybe, you like to read books. How do these things fit into a new way of being? Notice I did not say career although that may happen.
Books that help identify your talents and gifts like this one:
StrengthsFinder 2.0 ~ Based on the work of Donald O. Clifton, the grandfather of Positive Psychology, this book gives an in-depth description of 34 different talent themes. After purchasing, you’ll gain access to an online assessment that will reveal your top five talents. Gaining insight into your natural gifts will give you a new language to understand how you best achieve success and will help you brainstorm new pathways for growth and development.
Written by The Gallup Organization along with Tom Rath. Read this if … you’re looking for new vocabulary to talk about your individual uniqueness. This is the perfect resource if you want to uncover your talents and strategize on how to develop them further. It will help you understand how each of your top five strengths plays out in your life on a personal level. Write up taken from the Internet.
By Investing in the time to try some of these suggestions is one way to take care of yourself. I challenge you to begin taking time for YOU in order to explore the faculty of Strength that will catapult your life into a new way of thinking, finding, and appreciating the gifts of Spirit.
Hey everyone - it's March 2023! Don't forget to 'spring forward' and set your clocks ahead for Daylight Savings time on March 12th or you will be very late for church that day! The first healing session held with Bryan Baskett in February was a great success. He'll be offering this service the 2nd Sunday of every month at 12:30 for all those interested.
Also, our new small group Soul Collage met for their initial meeting last month. If you are considering joining this group, please see Alison McNeal, as you will need to have the initial class before joining in with them virtually. Mark Klotz will soon be facilitating an evening prosperity class using the book Spiritual Economics by Eric Butterworth, so be on the lookout for more info regarding when it starts. The board will hold its annual planning meeting at the end of April. If there is something you would like to bring to the board's attention, i.e. a fundraising idea, class, etc. please contact our board liaison, Larry Etheredge.
The ministerial search survey will be on its way to your inbox this month, so please take a moment to fill it out. This survey will help the ministerial search committee and the board when reviewing resumes for prospective ministers. This survey will also be used so Rev Rose can craft an affirmation/prayer to attract the right and perfect candidate. And remember, when rating each item, please only use each number once! Thank you in advance!!
We invite you to experience in person our Sunday service and message in our lovely sanctuary. We really miss seeing all your beautiful faces! Then you can stay and join in the fun with our fellowship hour after service with a variety of mini sandwiches, fruit, veggies and cookies.
