unityofsantarosa

As congregants of Unity of Santa Rosa, I think that most of us could probably recite our vision and mission statements.

I don’t believe that that can be said about the value statements of our community. And sadly, I must include myself in this category. The values are:  Unity teachings, spiritual growth, prayer, community service, abundance and positive living.

Prayer is such an integral part of Unity, and we have held classes on prayer in the past and hope to again. Also, before each service a prayer group meets in the Youth Education room at 9:40 for 20 minutes. Everyone is welcome to attend.  At the end of each service, one of our dedicated chaplains is available to pray with you. A chaplain training was held in mid-April, and there will be others in the future.

Here at Unity there are many opportunities for congregants to serve, and you do not need to be an official member to serve. We have our welcome team that greets us every Sunday with a smile and makes newcomers feel at home. There is the hospitality crew that puts together the refreshments that we enjoy after each service. We have our worship assistants that keep our Sunday services running so smoothly. Then there is the sound team, which fits all of our Sunday Service participants with microphones, so that we can enjoy the talk and the amazing  music. This brings me to our own choir, Heartsounds, which adds a wonderful element whenever they perform. If you enjoy prayer, then maybe becoming a chaplain would be a way for you to serve your community. Sunday school teachers, bookstore helpers and ushers are a few more ways to serve here at Unity.

I believe that abundance and positive living almost go hand in hand. One must remember that abundance does not just mean monetarily, it also means an abundance of love from family and friends. It can mean fulfillment with one’s occupation. And maybe most importantly, it can mean an inner peace within oneself; being happy and proud of the person that you have become this day. Positive living can bring all of this abundance into your life.  Positive living does take practice and patience, but it does work! How does one start this path of thinking? Well, I would strongly suggest joining the Prosperity Plus classes that are held at church a few times a year. The next one starts May 8th. By putting in a little work, you will see your life become abundant.

I would like to end this by saying how grateful I am to be a part of a community that holds these values so close to heart.

My best to you all,

John Consedine, Unity Board of Trustees

KNOWING GOD, TEACHING TRUTH, INSPIRING DREAMS, TRANSFORMING LIVES. These words probably look familiar to you. While we repeat this phrase every Sunday, sometimes I think we forget that this is Unity of Santa Rosa’s mission statement. I know I do. It is easy to get caught up in the details and responsibilities of life and forget our purpose. Let’s look at the four components of our mission:

1. KNOWING GOD: This may be a different experience for each of us. We also hear every Sunday: “In Unity we believe in one God, many paths.” For me, when I saw the light I  realized that we are all connected.  I knew God, and I knew deep in my bones that Spirit is in every one of us.

2. TEACHING TRUTH: In Unity we do not insist that anyone share our beliefs; however, we do accept a few basic principles as true. We know there is only one presence and one power active as the universe and as our life, God the Good. Spirit, Source, Intention, Love, however we may know God, it is all one infinite field of energy.

3. INSPIRING DREAMS: We have been blessed with inspiring teachers, ministers, music, movies, books, and art this past year. As we open our hearts and minds to infinite possibilities, we nurture the dreams that come from the innermost part of our being. When we co-create with God we access the creative energy of the universe.

4. TRANSFORMING LIVES: A few weeks ago a young visitor told me that one of our events had changed her life. Perhaps, you’ve had an Epiphany like this, a life-changing insight that comes to you in a flash. More often the transformation comes gradually through the inner work of prayer, meditation and thoughts held in mind. The outer work is just as important. We live the truth we know through our actions, through kindness, caring and service.

Someone said that all those who serve are leaders. If so, we are a community of leaders, from our ushers and greeters to our music team and the choir, from the prayer team and the chaplains to our audio/visual technicians, from the bookstore team to the worship assistants, from the Sunday School teachers to the hospitality team, and from the Board of Trustees to all those who help with special events and pray for others.

Many Thanks & Many Blessings,

Cindy Jacobs, Unity Board of Trustees

The end of one year and beginning of the next has always been a time for reflection and possible course correction for the coming year. We do this individually and also collectively as organizations.

As I look back on the year 2012 for Unity of Santa Rosa, I see a year of transformation and challenges. We had to let go of our spiritual leader at the end of February and the Board of Trustees assumed the duties of church administration. The Board functioned with 5 members for 6 months and ended the year with 4 members. We hope to increase the number of Board members to 5 at the Annual Meeting on February 17, 2013. Kathy Hoare, our Treasurer, will be leaving the Board after 3 years of consistent, strong leadership.

This spiritual community has shown great generosity, compassion, dedication, resilience and loving relationships as we have negotiated this transition together. Our guest speakers continue to inspire and stimulate our spiritual growth and understanding. Our congregation and everyone who volunteers their time and talents to ensure the best possible experience for all who walk through our doors, deserves our utmost gratitude and praise. We would not exist without you.

The question remains, however, how do we move forward in 2013 to build our community and maintain the services and programs that contribute so much to our lives?

We celebrated the 37^th anniversary of Unity of Santa Rosa in October and I’m looking forward to the 40^th in 2015. Changes will be needed to let us continue on our path to serve. We do not have the luxury to draw from financial reserves. Spiritual leadership and administrative support will suffer in the long term as Board members suffer potential burn-out.

Unity minister, Eric Butterworth, tells a story that puts it all in perspective: A traveler in ancient Greece had lost his way and asked directions of a man by the roadside who turned out to be Socrates. “How can I reach Mt. Olympus?” he asked. Socrates is said to have replied. “Just make sure every step you take is in that direction.”

If our intention is to preserve and grow Unity of Santa Rosa, then every decision we make needs to reflect that goal.

I urge all of you to attend our Annual Meeting on Sunday, February, 17, 2013 at 12:30. Only members may vote but all are welcome to attend and give voice to your visions for our church. Important decisions will be made affecting the future path for Unity of Santa Rosa.

With loving blessings and abundant gratitude,

Sue Hicks, Board President

I love the Fall. The whole idea of winding down the productivity of a growing and harvest season to prepare for a long winter rest draws me into the perfection of our earth’s cycles. In anticipation of Thanksgiving I get to take stock of the riches in my life – my family, friends, profession and Spirit’s love.

The most valuable gift I get from my participation in Unity of Santa Rosa is an incredible family in which to heal, grow and contribute. In my involvement as a Board of Trustees member, my attendance at Sunday service, my spiritual exploration in community, and the resulting friendships, Unity teaches me every day that I am loved and a precious part of the Infinite Divine. I can’t get this support outside of a spiritual community. I am deeply grateful for this spiritual home.

Working with the Board as Treasurer for the last three years has given me an opportunity to share the gift of who I am while gaining blessings and personal growth. The common view of “service” for the benefit of others does not ring true for me. I give of myself, not because it helps others, but because it helps me. By giving fully and as honestly as I can, I get to see the world respond back to me with abundance, peace and joy.

Unity of Santa Rosa will need growth and prosperity consciousness to sustain itself into the future. With the base expenses of operating our church at approximately $104,000 annually, we need to increase our church size. In addition, each of us must evolve in our prosperity consciousness so financially supporting our spiritual home is no longer a burden. In our current church size, an average annual contribution to support our church would be $1,800 per person, or $35 per week. Some of us can support at a higher level than others and joyfully do this. We no longer have reserves on which to operate. We must now be fully self-sustaining each month to continue our operations. This means bringing in at least $9,000 per month.

Financial commitment is where the rubber meets the road. We might ask ourselves, “What value does my church provide me?” and “From where comes my good?” To support our church we can raise our own prosperity consciousness through study, prayer and practice. We can open our hearts to our church visitors. We can financially commit to the support of our church. We can give our time and talent according to what calls to our hearts. We can pray for each other, our church and our world.

In Deep Appreciation,

Kathy Hoare, Treasurer, Unity Board of Trustees

“The New Thought Christian knows life is great and wonderful.” – William March

The first time that I can truly say I felt life was great and wonderful was when I first stepped off a plane some 29 years ago and came to live in the Bay Area from my home of New England. The Bay Area felt like a great big playground for a young, gay man. I no longer felt guilty for who I was, and that was big!

Don’t get me wrong, my upbringing was very June and Ward Cleaver’ish.  I was the youngest of five and, as some would say, very spoiled! I was raised in a strong Catholic community. As you can imagine, being gay did not mix very well with the teachings of the Church.

As a child, being told that you are “bad” just for being who you are, is very traumatic. I would lie in bed, in tears, begging God to make me “normal”. When I came out to my mother at the age of 19, her biggest concern was that I would be alone as I got older.

The second time in my life that I felt life was great and wonderful was when two dear friends invited me to a service at Unity of Santa Rosa one Sunday in 2011.

I was in a time of big transition. I had just separated from my partner of 16 years and moved into my own place by myself. Even though it was the right thing to do, it was very hard.

From day one, Unity felt like coming home. The community that we have at Unity is so accepting, with no judgment or guilt. People truly care for one another. That is an amazing thing.

The Unity teachings have gotten me through some tough times these past months, like remembering compassion towards others, even my soon-to-be ex. Unity has taught me the joy of just being “you”, and that you are not ever alone, as my mom worried, because the spirit of Christ is in each of us. I also know that I will never be alone, because I belong to the Unity community who will always be there to support, and not judge, the choices that I make.

Knowing that you will never be alone is such a powerful feeling. Sit quietly in a calm environment and let that force in you shine through. Experience the warmth, the love and the knowledge that life is great and wonderful!

Warm Blessings,

John Consedine, Board Vice President

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

I know, I believe, I practice, I have faith (most of the time) and still I am delightfully amazed when I become present to the miracle that is my life.

Recently I was told about a class called “Cellular Regeneration”. The name itself was intriguing to me and that coupled with a colleague’s amazing experience while receiving a session was enough for me to clear my schedule and attend the three day workshop.

I realized very quickly that Divine Presence had arranged for me to come to this work. The instructor prefaced the class by explaining that the healing came from the Divine and was directed to the Divine. In essence the body was simply reminded of its divine origin and the divinity present in each and every cell. In Unity we might say that this work acknowledges our being created in God’s image.

I later learned that there were others who were not admitted into the class because they hadn’t done the “pre-work”.  When I inquired the instructor acknowledged that something urged her to allow me into the class, sight unseen. The Divine Presence? The Christ Within? No matter what label we put on it the blessings are always available. Even if like me, in my delighted ignorance, we don’t know it until after the fact!

So I continue to affirm: “I have faith that all things are working together for my good and I am working with them in the wisdom and power of spirit. I have faith in the perfect outcome of every situation in my life.”

I feel good to not fret over how I’m going to reach my destination. When I get out of my own way I make room for the miracle!

Bright Blessings,

Elizabeth Cupp, Board Trustee

Joy and Gratitude, May 2012
Cindy Jacobs, Board Secretary

Dear Friends of Unity,

“We are full of joy and gratitude now that Unity of Santa Rosa is healing and creating and thriving.” This is one version of an affirmation fellow Board members and I have used since we took the Prosperity Plus class last summer. Thanks to all of you, we are indeed healing, creating, and thriving. We have had inspiring and thought-provoking speakers, including some of our very own congregants, as well as amazing musicians, classes, workshops, Movie Nights, and a Healing Fair. We could not do any of this without the help of our many volunteers. We do appreciate you. Many people comment on the warmth and light they feel when they enter Unity of Santa Rosa. It is due to each and every one of you.

I have also been using these personal affirmations: “I am full of joy and gratitude now that I am healing, and my relationships are loving and accepting. And I am so happy and grateful now that I am expressing and creating, and I am so prosperous that I live well and give freely.” More often than not this is what shows up in my life. We know that we create our experiences through our thinking and our hearts. This is one of our basic Unity principles. Fortunately, as Rev. Eric Butterworth said, “Grace, the divine favor, the activity of God’s love, works for us constantly.” When we miss the mark, we do not have to experience all the effects of our negative thinking.

Maybe you’ve noticed that Unity has made Eric Butterworth’s “Discover the Power Within You” the theme for 2012. I was pleased to see this, since this is one of my favorite books of all time and it changed my life. I’ll close with another quote from Rev. Butterworth: “Remember God is in you as the ocean is in the wave. There is no possible way in which the wave can be separated from the ocean, and there is no way in which you can be separated from God.”

Many Blessings,
Cindy Jacobs, Board Secretary