GREAT MORNING!  

Last week we started our Lenten Series, using Rev. Mark Anthony Lord’s book, “Thou Shall Not Suffer – 7 Steps to a Life of Joy.”

We talked a bit about the very word SUFFER. It’s not a word widely used in Unity Circles, for sure. But as a spiritual being living in a human form, that physical world can present as suffering, if we allow it. Remember, our Principles, one of which is we create our world by our very thoughts.

We are made in the very image and likeness of our creator.  And our first task was to fire our old God and hire a new one! Remember, Rev. Lord’s first chapter was, “Get a New God.”

How did you do with your firing and hiring?  If we wish a personal relationship with the God of our understanding, we must put the time and energy into that relationship. After all, any relationship takes two.

And when you did your firing and hiring, did you use a different name for your God? Some people have a hard time with certain words that we grew up with in traditional Christian churches. It might be the word God, or church or even Father.

We in Unity traditionally use God, Divine Mind, Spirit, Universe, Creator, or Divine Energy.

It’s what we are feeling in our hearts when we use whatever word or even feeling when referring to our Creator. You choose, because in reality, no word fits all that that Divine Principle is…we just use a word so we can express what we are referring to as we communicate with each other.

It’s just easier to say God, Spirit, Divine Energy…

Now, let’s look at this week’s step toward more Joy; Chapter 2, “Forgive Yourself and Others.”

Forgiveness again you might think or even say!

Didn’t Jesus tell us, 70 times 7?

Here’s the Reading I selected for this week: Forgiveness

I let go of the past. I let God fill me with newness of life.

Charles Fillmore has written: all growth takes place through these two attitudes, a letting go and a taking hold, or a denial and affirmation. First we let go of old material concepts; we cannot get into a new consciousness until we let go the old…

Then there come into our mind ideas direct from the Fountainhead, and we see everything in a new light.

I let go the past. I let go outdated thinking and circumscribes beliefs. I let go any thought that I must continue in some endeavor simply because it has always been done this way. I use the power of denial to break any bond of negativity. I am free to enjoy the newness of life that is all around me.

I let God fill my mind with new and novel ideas. I am encouraged to adopt new activities, to step out in faith and meet new people and new experiences. I see my world in a new light, and I marvel at what I see!

“He put a new song in my mouth.” Psalms 40:3

“Forgive anyone who caused you pain or harm. Keep in mind forgiveness is not for others. It is for you. Forgiving is not forgetting. It is remembering without anger. It frees up your power, heals your body, mind and spirit. Forgiveness opens up a pathway to a new place of peace, where you can persist despite what happened to you.”

Are we ever not needing to forgive? Mostly ourselves, right?  Often I don’t have to work on forgiving others…it’s just second nature, thankfully. And I would venture you are the same for the most part.

But forgiving ourselves? If we could just be more God-like! God doesn’t need to forgive. God doesn’t see an error. God sees and knows only love.

Catherine Ponder reminds us: “When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.”

What is forgiveness? Rev. Lord defines it as a spiritual practice that frees us from the prison of regret; it clears away blame, removes judgment and heals a broken heart. It restores unconditional love and acceptance.

Forgiveness is for the giver.

So how do we forgive, especially in trying times?

We must be willing to forgive, to go through that process of surrendering and letting go. And it might just take 70 times 7 or 490 times!

Seven is a mystical number…it represents completion. So 70 times 7 is the infinite forgiveness, its forgiving until forgiveness is no more required. Your spirit has comprehended what our human minds cannot, that our true spirit has not been harmed.

Forgiveness is not something you do once and done, obviously, or we wouldn’t be guided by Jesus to do it 490 times! It’s a practice, a tool that helps to awaken us to our wholeness.

Deepak Chopra gives us 7 steps to forgiveness: (There’s that number 7 again!)

1. Feel your emotions and face them directly.

Resistance to forgiveness is fueled by emotions. You can rationalize why somebody else did something unforgivable, because deep down you feel angry, resentful, victimized, and hurt. Be honest with your grievance and go to the emotional level where it is rooted. Let the feeling be what it is. The purpose of this step is twofold, because if you confront your feelings, you also have the choice to release them.

Take responsibility for your own emotions. If you can, let go of at least a small portion of your story of how things were supposed to go. Letting go is almost as hard as forgiving, I know. At least say to yourself, “Maybe if I let go of my interpretation of events and what is unfair, I don’t have to be stuck with this feeling.”

• Write down your reasons for not forgiving someone.

This is best done in the form of a letter addressed to the person you feel wronged you. List all your resentments and reasons in detail. Set the letter aside for a day and return to it to add anything else you forgot to say. When you are completely satisfied, put the letter away to consult later. Don’t mail it. Its purpose was to get everything off your chest.

• Ask yourself how motivated you are to offer forgiveness.

Before you started this process, you may have had little motivation to forgive the other person. There can be various reasons for this stubbornness, usually including righteous indignation. Now check to see if your resistance to forgiveness is ready to move. But don’t set any expectation on yourself. If you are still mad as hell, if you feel devastated by hurt, or simply consider what was done to you unforgivable, it’s better to know the truth than to pretend. No matter how weak or strong your motivation is, say to yourself, “All right, this is where I really am.” Sometimes simply being honest with yourself begins to thaw the log jam.

• Let go of as much resentment and anger as you can, here and now.

You can only change what you are aware of, and by now you have gained self-awareness about the situation. Return to the letter that outlines all your grievances and reflect on each point one at a time. As you do, ask yourself, “Can I begin to let go of this resistance?” Don’t force yourself to be magnanimous but stay with how you really feel.

Some items on your list will have begun to soften, and when you encounter this, say, “Maybe there is another interpretation of this event than the painful one I am holding on to.” Release what you can and no more. At the same time, feel the burden of anger and resentment begin to lift. That’s a positive feeling which will increase your motivation to keep with the forgiving process.

• Envision what the future would be like if you do forgive the other person.

Any place you feel your grievance beginning to melt away, pause and envision what it would feel like to be at peace with the other person. Sense the warmth in your heart. If it leads to tears or sobbing, that’s okay—catharsis is a powerful emotion. If you can, feel the possibility of loving the other person, wishing them well, and setting them free—all of which is in your power.

• Reconnect at a sincere positive level.

When you can’t forgive someone, you usually isolate yourself from them, either physically or emotionally. Make an effort to repair this isolation and decide the appropriate level of reconnection. The safest course may be to write a note or send a card expressing your desire to reconnect and then leaving the next step to the other person. Be risk-averse here. You are treading on sensitive ground for both of you.

• Find the place of forgiveness in your own awareness.

The final step of the forgiveness process is to shift your state of awareness. Forgiveness is a state of consciousness, not an action. Emotions get you closer to forgiveness yet they also block the way. If you remove the obstacles, it turns out that forgiveness is completely natural and generally far easier than you may have supposed.

More importantly, once you shift your awareness into forgiveness, there is a much smaller chance that you will relapse. The experience of being a forgiving person becomes part of your spiritual journey, something you deeply need and desire.

I think those steps could help ready us for the exercise Mark Anthony Lord gives us in this chapter.

And can you see that the suggestions by Deepak are easily used to work on ourselves?

Rev. Lord has an exercise for us in this chapter too. It’s called the 70 x 7 Forgiveness Circle. You would make 7 concentric circles, each with a different layer of relationships to you.

The Center would be labeled Your God, next Yourself, Your Family, Your intimate relationships – spouse, partner, friends, followed by Your acquaintances, then The establishment and finally, Your Beliefs.

pic

For 7 days, you would write a prayer of forgiveness, beginning with Your God and working out to the edge with Your beliefs. You would read each prayer 10 times every day for the week, giving you 70 x 7 by the end of the 7 days.

The God of your understanding does the work, you just need to be willing and open to receive.

For example, pg. 28

Does it seem like a lot of work? Maybe. Do you want to be free of suffering? Then one week isn’t a lot of time in the scheme of things.

So, there are two ways to aid your work on forgiveness. Let me know how things are working for you.

Let’s complete this message by introducing you to the Ho’oponopono Technique.

Ho – oh – Po-no – Po-no

Step 1: Repentance – I’M SORRY

As I mention above, you are responsible for everything in your mind, even if it seems to be “out there.” Once you realize that, it’s very natural to feel sorry. I know I sure do. If I hear of a tornado, I am so full of remorse that something in my consciousness has created that idea. I’m so very sorry that someone I know has a broken bone that I realize I have caused.

This realization can be painful, and you will likely resist accepting responsibility for the “out there” kind of problems until you start to practice this method on your more obvious “in here” problems and see results.

So choose something that you already know you’ve caused for yourself? Over-weight? Addicted to nicotine, alcohol or some other substance? Do you have anger issues? Health problems? Start there and say you’re sorry. That’s the whole step: I’M SORRY. Although I think it is more powerful if you say it more clearly: “I realize that I am responsible for the (issue) in my life and I feel terrible remorse that something in my consciousness has caused this.”

Step 2: Ask Forgiveness – PLEASE FORGIVE ME

Don’t worry about who you’re asking. Just ask! PLEASE FORGIVE ME. Say it over and over. Mean it. Remember your remorse from step 1 as you ask to be forgiven.

Step 3: Gratitude – THANK YOU

Say “THANK YOU” – again it doesn’t really matter who or what you’re thanking. Thank your body for all it does for you. Thank yourself for being the best you can be. Thank God. Thank the Universe. Thank whatever it was that just forgave you. Just keep saying THANK YOU.

Step 4: Love – I LOVE YOU

This can also be step 1. Say I LOVE YOU. Say it to your body, say it to God. Say I LOVE YOU to the air you breathe, to the house that shelters you. Say I LOVE YOU to your challenges. Say it over and over. Mean it. Feel it. There is nothing as powerful as Love.

GREAT MORNING!

Lent began on Wednesday. And we have a prosperity program going through the Lenten season, instead of giving something up as was the usual practice, back in the good ole days, in place of a cup of Starbucks or a candy bar or ice cream cone or maybe just for the heck of it, place that money aside and have an extra donation for the time between now and Easter. You choose the amount and help Unity build its prosperity. Make sure to mark the check for the prosperity program.

Also, today we are starting our Lenten Series based upon the book by Rev. Mark Anthony Lord, “Thou Shall Not Suffer – 7 Steps to a Life of Joy.”

Each week we will discuss a chapter with a suggestion on how we can increase our joy, and who wouldn’t want that?!?!?

Did you have a little pushback when you read the title of Mark’s book? Suffering…not a Unity thing, is it?

True, but let’s not forget, even though we are divine, we are human also, so, even if we have our suffering under control now, I’m betting there were times, unfortunately, when we actually had ourselves believing we were suffering, or even that we needed to suffer!

Mark Anthony Lord reminds us that we are “here, on this earth, to be happy, prosperous and free.” We aren’t here to waste our time worrying.

Many times we have been told that “suffering is inevitable,” and “a part of being human.”

We are not here to suffer!!

He tells us…“What if it were possible to experience all the trials life may bring from a place of acceptance, curiosity, strength, and a spiritual perspective that allows you to remain connected to your joy and appreciation throughout it all?

This is the Kingdom of Heaven, a state of mind, an inner reality and point of focus that remains calm and connected to the Spirit of love and Oneness. Like the Eye of a Storm.

This Kingdom is always right here, right now; perfectly located within you.

Once again, we see this verse from Romans: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.”

How are we taught, asked to conform?

Freedom from suffering does not mean there will never be any pain or sorrow…feelings are a natural part of us.

Being authentic is more important than being happy all the time. Our feelings like sadness, grief, fear, anger, etc are messengers telling us we are off course, not connected to our higher good.

It would behoove us to pay attention to them. Being authentic is where we choose to be.

Our first chapter in the book is titled, “Get a new God.” Let your mind wander a bit, and where does it go?

I can recall vividly, as I attended the United Methodist Church back home. My brothers and I attended with my Uncle & Aunt on my Father’s side. And even though we heard about Jesus loving the little children in Sunday School and how he died to save us in church, I always wondered “Where was God?”

What was the God of your childhood like? How did that picture change as you grew?

And where is that image of the God of your understanding now?

That question got me, eventually, to Unity. Maybe that was a key for you too.

Look at our first Principle – “There is only one Presence and one Power, God the Good.”

There is only God. God in us and we in God. We are One with the divine because we ARE divine.

Here’s the Reading I selected for this Message

God

I DWELL IN GOD; GOD DWELLS IN ME.

IF I HAVE thought of God as remote, unconcerned with my welfare, I supplant this concept of God with the knowledge that God is not separated from me by time and space. I actually dwell in God; God dwells in me. For God is Spirit, God is Mind, God is Principle.

God as Spirit is forever accessible. God as Mind is everywhere present. God as Principle is unchangeable. God is Father, Creator, cause and source of all that is.

Knowing this, the true character of God, I realize that God is not guilty of the vagaries of human conduct. God is love. God is light. God is substance. God is the only real presence and power in the universe. This knowledge brings me a serene peace and confidence in the final supremacy of goodness and righteousness in me and in my world.

I affirm for myself: “I dwell in God; God dwells in me.” I affirm for my loved ones: “You dwell in God; God dwells in you.” I affirm for all men everywhere: “We dwell in God; God dwells in us.”

Abide in me, and I in you. JOHN 15:4.

So the first chapter in Rev. Lord’s book tells us to get a new GOD.

And have you? Is your God of today an unconditional loving God or one from the past, a punishing, strict God?

I don’t know about you, but I’ll take the unconditional love, thank you very much!

According to the Gods of Genesis, humans were made in the image and likeness of.

But we humans, thinking we are so smart, make God in our own image. That’s where the vengeful, prejudice God of the Hebrew Bible came from and what most of us started out believing in…the old man in the sky with a long white beard with a huge book of life next to HIM to keep track of all the wrongs we have committed in our life. The God with all the human personality aspects, whether good or not.

This is why we need a new God.

In his book, Mark Anthony Lord includes some exercises to help us through the process. Here’s one; write a letter to your old God and fire them!

Tell this old God why things didn’t work out. Go deep into your psyche so you can detox, be specific. This is like spring cleaning…getting the old out to make way for the new.

What do you think?

After you have cleaned out all the cobwebs, it’s time to hire your new God.

Your relationship with God will develop according to the time and commitment you put into it.

So now you want to write an ad for a God for hire. You get to create the perfect God for yourself, it will be different than mine or your spouses or your best friends.

I hope you give these exercises a chance and see what you come up with…it could be quite interesting.

The Indian guru Ramana Maharshi: “Each one thinks of God according to his own degree of advancement. Worship God with or without form until you know who you are.”

What does that mean? To me it means that, just like the Bible, our soul journeys through life, learning as we grow. When we start out, our God may be the God of our childhood. But as we journey and question and learn, our God becomes much more personal.

Before I would ask God why…now I ask myself what is mine to do.

The God of your being is the voice that celebrates you, adores you, and gives you clear guidance and direction. This is what I want my God to be for me.

“When you feel good, you are feeling God.”

GREAT MORNING!  

And welcome back to the Spiritual Center. It’s great to be with you again. And hello to those of you viewing the Service at home. Please let us know you are there.

So, if you recall, this topic was scheduled for January 30^th, but we had a lot of snow that day and so we rescheduled it for today.  Our topic, “Reinvent and Renew in 2022.”

It’s got a little rhythm to it, don’t you think.

Reinvent & Renew in 2022 came about during one of the Thursday morning zoom calls with ministers & spiritual leaders in the Eastern Region. Actually, these calls are widely known and so we have ministers and spiritual leaders from other parts of the country as well…Florida, California, Chicago to mention a few.

And Rev. Dr. Paul Hasselback, who I have mentioned often, has been joining in from Missouri. It was his idea to use “Reinvent and Renew in 2022” as a theme for the year.

Later, Big Unity’s Lenten Booklet titled “Release and Renew 2022,” was announced. Not quite the same. Release certainly seems to fit for Lent.

Whereas, reinvent has a whole ‘coming out of the pandemic and looking forward vibe to it.

Reinvent means to change (something) so much that it appears to be entirely new; take up a very different job or way of life.

Isn’t that what we have been doing these past years, all through the pandemic? We had to learn how to live with this threat hanging over us, trying to keep ourselves safe as well as those in our family & friends circle.

Thinking over the past 2 plus years, what have we done to keep safe? To keep others safe? Much actually.

Other than the masks and social distancing, We had to actually reinvented how to ‘do’ Sunday Services!  We started out small but have gotten better as time went on, though we still have technical issues from time to time, from sound to pictures and even printers!

The point is, we keep moving forward. And that is what most of us would want, to move forward, reinventing ourselves as we go along. Improving who we are and how we reach out to our immediate community as well as the greater community.

We have tried several ways to keep in touch with our Unity Community.

And I would guess that maybe you are thinking, when you received one of those calls, or emails, or letters, that you may have thought you didn’t need to do anything to respond to it. After all, it’s not your job to say hi back to the person writing or calling you.

But what if, that person was struggling, maybe more than you. Maybe they needed someone to say ‘hi’ back, but you never thought to do that. After all, you are not the Minister, or Prayer Chaplain or Board Member.

But, hey, they are, we are all people too. So, maybe next time, respond back, just a simple “I’m doing ok, how are you?”

You may just make their day.

So, see, it’s not that hard to reinvent ourselves!

As we reinvent ourselves, we also renew ourselves. We renew who we are and what we stand for. This is UNITY. Look at our Principles…

If Unity is not new to you, then you may recall when it was that you walked into your first Unity Center and felt at home. It was a renewing of your mind and heart. You may have been searching for your place with likeminded spiritual seekers.

“There is only one Presence and one Power, God the Good.”

“God is present in all people as our divine essence, our Christ nature.”

 

“We create our life experiences through our way of thinking.”

 

“Through affirmative prayer and meditation, we connect with God
and bring out the good in our world.”

 “Knowledge of these spiritual principles is not enough. We must live them.”

If you are new to Unity, then this may be an awakening, your epiphany. The teachings of New Thought may fit right in with your heart. You are ready to step out into a new way of being.

We are reinventing ourselves, renewing our hearts. Awakening to the teachings of the Masters who have come into this physical realm to show us the way to connecting to our inner Christ, our Buddha nature, our True Authentic Self.

This is the renewing of your mind as stated in Romans 12:2

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”

Maybe during the Burning Bowl and Letters to God, you established a new goal, a new view, maybe a new skill that you wanted to begin for this year. You were reinventing yourself, putting the idea of a new and dedicated person to work on during these months.

Maybe you even started doing that back when we were safe, inside, with extra time on our hands.

What did you do with that time? If you didn’t take that opportunity to reinvent yourself or to renew what your goals were, this is the time.

I’m shortening this Message today so we can start our H.U.G. meeting at a reasonable time. Those of you at home can link in via ZOOM, just let Dan know you are interested.

So, let’s take our thoughts about our reinventing ourselves into Meditation, asking ourselves what we want to renew or how do we wish to reinvent ourselves. Let that sink in and allow those questions to take hold. Let your heart wander. Who do you wish to be? How do you wish to present yourself to the world, both big and small worlds.

These are great questions as we start our Lenten Series next week.

GREAT MORNING BELOVED!!

It’s great to see you again this morning.

I wanted to revisit a topic we discussed several years ago. Don’t worry, I’ve updated it some.

It’s about Leadership.

What is a leader? Do you know?

Think on this…

When Benjamin Franklin wanted to introduce street lighting to the people of colonial Philadelphia, he did not lobby politicians, he did not publish editorials, he did not argue with those who disagreed with him.

Instead, …he simply hung a brilliant lantern on a long bracket in front of his own house.
Every evening, as dusk approached, …. he faithfully lit the wick.
People out in the dark night could see Franklin’s streetlight from blocks away and were grateful to walk in its friendly glow.

Soon Franklin’s neighbors started putting lanterns on brackets in front of their own homes, and it wasn’t long before the entire city was illuminated each night with streetlamps.

Of course, we all know Ben Franklin was and is considered a leader, agreed?

A minister was standing at the back of the Church greeting people as they were leaving one morning.

“Good morning” she said to a little boy who was waiting in line to see her.

“I’ve been waiting to tell you something that happened to me,” he said.

“Ever since I was little, I always wanted to be a bunny rabbit. I always wished I were furry and free to hop and run all over. I wished and I wished but I finally gave up
because I saw that I was never going to get my wish and become a rabbit.
Then, last week a miracle happened.”

“Really,” she chuckled imagining that he had received a special pet rabbit.

“Yes,” he said with his eyes wide in wonder. “After all this time of wishing, ….one night I had a dream, and in my dream, ……I was a bunny rabbit and I felt what it was like to be furry and free …… and run and hop and play.
I had a wonderful time, and I got my wish.”

“That’s wonderful,” she agreed.

“But that’s not all,” he said excitedly. “During my dream, …. God showed me how wonderful it is to be a bunny rabbit and when I woke up I realized that the feelings that I wanted to feel in being a bunny rabbit are already inside me.
SO, I’VE BEEN CARRYING WHAT I WANTED WITH ME ALL ALONG.”

His eyes were wide with recognition and hers were filled with tears of appreciation at his newly found inner splendor.

“Thank you for sharing your wonderful story with me,” she managed to get out.

“I just thought you’d like to know,” he said as he smiled and walked off with his mom into the crowd.

Is this little boy a leader?

A man and his son were taking a walk in the forest.
Suddenly his son triped and feeling a sharp pain he screams, “Ahhhh!”
Surprised, he hears a voice coming from the mountain, “Ahhhhh!”

Filled with curiosity, he screams, “Who are you?
But the only answer he receives is “Who are you?”
This makes him angry, so he screamed, “You are a coward!” and the voice answers, “You are a coward!”

He looks at his father, asking, “Dad, what is going on?”

“Son”, ……. the man replied, ……. “Pay attention!”

Then he screams, …… “I admire you!
The voice answers… “I admire you!”

The father shouts…. “You are wonderful!”
And the voice answers…. “You are wonderful!”

The boy is surprised, but still can’t understand what is going on.

Then the father explains,
“People call this an ‘echo’ but truly it is ‘life!’
It gives you back that which you CHOOSE to put in it.
It is simply a reflection of who we are.”

Is this father a leader?

 Are you a leader?

Sure, you are…… You’ve probably taken on leadership roles in your life that you didn’t realize at the time. We all are at one time or another, a leader.

Everyone can be a leader. There is no single answer to “What is leadership?” because it isn’t something you’re either born with or without, but a powerful skill that can be developed over time.

Don’t you know that if you have seen leadership qualities in another, then those qualities are in you also.

Leadership is the ability to inspire a team to achieve a certain goal.

A general definition of leadership is to influence, inspire and help others become their best selves, building their skills and achieving goals along the way.

It’s a skill and a tool you can continually cultivate and use to create lasting change. Leadership is also not something you’re born with or without – it’s a creative muscle you can strengthen and develop over time.

What have you done with that leadership ability?
That is the question.

The word “leadership” can bring to mind a variety of images as we just have shown.

 Here are a few more:
A political leader…. pursuing a passionate, personal cause.
An explorer…cutting a path through the jungle for the rest of his group to follow.

An executive …developing her company’s strategy to beat the competition.

Our own Leroy & Dan who started the Men’s group.

LaLa, Michael & Jeanne stepping into the role of Prayer Chaplains.

Dan, Sharon, Laurie, Carolyn & Kevin stepping into our Board and leading our way into the future.

These are just a few examples of leaders.

Leaders help themselves………. and others………. to do the right things.

They set direction, build an inspiring vision, and create something new. Leadership is about mapping out where you need to go to achieve your goals as a team or an organization.

When one person harnesses their powers to lead, it strengthens the leadership opportunities of others, rather than diminishing them. That’s because the ultimate definition of leadership is empowering others to become effective leaders as well. As one person begins to embrace their role as a leader, they inevitably connect with others who have already mastered the art of leadership.

We are using our leadership abilities to grow ourselves and aid each other on our Spiritual Journey.

Great leadership – quality leadership – is servant leadership. Servant leadership refers to someone who wants to influence others to serve the greater good. They don’t just want to get from Point A to Point B, and they’re not searching for an outcome that only benefits themselves; a great leader always has the big picture in mind. They’re searching for ways to not just help themselves, but to help other people and the community at large. They’re figuring out ways to influence their community and culture in such a way that everyone who’s part of it benefits. Serving the greater good is their driving force, also known as their purpose.

The purpose of spiritual leadership is to tap into the fundamental needs of both leaders and followers for spiritual well-being through conveying that life has meaning and makes a difference and through membership (belonging); to create vision and value across the congregation; ultimately, to foster higher levels of well-being, commitment, and social responsibility.

This is why we have reached out in many ways to support this community as we travel through the pandemic. We’ve tried several ways to stay connected with you, our immediate community.

This is why we have put in place our safeguards to keep everyone safe who enters the Center. We wanted our space to be welcoming to others, and to help our community spread the word about Unity.

While spiritual leadership involves many of the same principles as general leadership, spiritual leadership has certain distinctive qualities that must be understood and practiced if spiritual leaders are to be successful.

Leaders share their gift of leadership by sharing courageous ideas in compelling and inspiring ways.

They demonstrate integrity…. intelligence…… creativity……enthusiasm…… and humility, among other characteristics.

That is why I ask what are you doing when you walk out the door each Sunday? What are you thinking and saying and doing? Are you putting the Unity Principles into practice?

This is why I ask, are you sharing your gifts? Everyone has gifts but if they are not shared, they are wasted.

Sharing your gifts, being the light why you leave here each Sunday helps to promote your leadership ability.

So, you can see that your participation in the leadership of this Community, in whatever way………is important.

Everyone has the responsibility of leadership.

Our Members and Congregants are asked to further the work of Unity Spiritual Center of Coastal Delaware through active interest, love and support, including but not limited to regular attendance at services and programs, financial support and ongoing volunteer services.

Jesus is our example of spiritual leadership. He led the 12, teaching them through lessons and parables, and his example. And gave us a perfect guide for our lives. He showed us that we journey better when we journey with others.

It’s much more difficult to achieve connection to God if we try to do it alone. When we come together—as we in Unity do each Sunday, as well as other times in meditation, classes and fun times—we find it easier to see the Christ expressing as each other than it is to see it in ourselves. And seeing it in each other becomes an easier path to recognizing it in ourselves.

We help ourselves and each other by sharing our gifts and experiences, by service to Unity and the larger community.

It was Jane Goodell who reminded us,

“You cannot get through a single day …. without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

We develop our leadership by letting our inner light shine and letting it ripple out into the world.

This is our first step in leading a change……. a change in ourselves as leaders.

Use your God-given gifts ……. and lead where they take you.

I hope to see even more of you stepping into your leadership places inside this Center and out.

God has something wonderful to say through you, which God can only say as you. The cosmos can never be quite complete without you.” — Eric Butterworth

GREAT MORNING BELOVED!!

And Happy New Year. May it be blessed with all that you require for a wonderous year of love, peace, and compassion for all.

We begin the new year with the White Stone Ceremony. It logically follows the Burning Bowl Ceremony. These two Ceremonies are meant to open, to clear out all that is holding us back, to let go of anything that we are prepared to release, and then to be open to receive a name or word for our intention for the new year.

Last week we participated in a sacred fire ceremony of clearing…clearing out those thoughts, habits, situations and even people that no longer serve us.

We affirm “I release the past and bless this past year with love. I am grateful for all I have experienced and learned. Now begins a new adventure and I look forward to it eagerly!”

We look to set an intention for this new year that we have begun. Intentions are a favorite of mine. They help us set the tone for each day and year as well as for our lives. Try it each morning, set an intention and see how it guides your day.

“Our words have the power to shape and mold the invisible substance of the Universe.” From non-form to form, our thoughts create our world and our experience. The law is always at work whether we acknowledge it or not. Change your mind, change your words, change your world. It all starts with the words that follow “I Am….”

Jesus spoke often and taught the importance of hearing in a new way. And in the quote, it is clear that we are listening for Spirit. It is a voice of Spirit arising from within us, not coming to us from outside us.

Learning to discern between the chatter of monkey mind or ego mind and the truth of our divine self is part of our journey. We must practice getting the clutter out of the way so this divine self could inform our subconscious and conscious mind with new patterns of thought which we had EARS TO HEAR. This new hearing invites us into the silence to hear more clearly. And it requires us to trust what we hear.

And that brings us to this week’s White Stone Ceremony.

This time of year, where one ends and another begins, is a special time. It’s a time of endings and beginnings.

Why would this be something important for us? These last two years have been an interesting learning experience, wouldn’t you say, filled with growth opportunities for us all. It is important that we release those people, places, things, thoughts, the energy that no longer serves our higher being.

And after that, we look to the Universe to fill that void where those things and ideas, those feelings and that energy are held in our consciousness and subconsciousness.

Let’s begin….

If you haven’t done so, choose your White Stone from the basket being passed. Please go through the ceremony with me before writing anything down. Give the energy surrounding us, and each of you individually, time and respect for the process. We want to give that word or name time to come to you from the ethers.

Those of you at home, please honor this also. And if you do not have a white stone, just jot down what comes to you, and you can pick up a stone next time you are at the Center.

What is the history of the White Stone Ceremony? It comes from the writing in the book of Revelation, which was written around 95 CE.

In Revelation 2:17: “Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers (who overcomes) I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

This Biblical verse is stating many things…. first: “Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying…”

In other words, we must have our outer and inner ear willing and open to the

messages coming to us. If we are not willing, we will not hear the word or words, the new name that our Higher Self, our Christ Presence is giving us.

The great theologian Paul Tillich said that listening is the first law of love. So, if that is true, look what happens when we apply the word “listen” to the great commandments … the greatest thing we can do is to listen to God with all our hearts, minds, soul and strength, and to listen to others as we listen to ourselves.

Interesting take on those words from scripture.

We develop this inner listening quality by getting out of our intellect and into our hearts, through meditation.  In meditation, we stop our daily busy-ness and listen to the Divine Voice of Love.  We open our minds and hearts to a deep intuitive “knowing.”

Then the verse from Revelations states, ‘To everyone who conquers’ (who overcomes)

What are we overcoming…? What do you think?

What are your thoughts and responses? If you are watching at home, write your thoughts in the comment sections.

The conquering is not an outer war, but an inner one. To everyone who takes the time to listen to the still, small voice; to everyone who practices release and affirms inner spiritual qualities…. We realize it requires surrendering personal will to Divine Will, and the paradox is that in that surrender of the egoic self is Victory. It is a birthing of the Essential Self just as Jesus taught and demonstrated.

We are overcoming – unnecessary fears, anxieties, the strains, and stresses of the physical plane.

And that is everyone, maybe not all day, every day, but we ALL overcome the trials of living a spiritual life in a physical body. And the more we listen, the more we are willing, the more we will overcome.

To everyone who takes the time to listen to the still, small voice; to everyone who makes the effort to deny outer appearance and affirm inner spirituality; you will realize it requires surrendering personal will to Divine Will, and the paradox is that in that surrender of the egoic self is victory. It is a birthing of the Essential Self, just as Jesus taught and demonstrated.

In this passage there are also 3 Promises:

“To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.” 

The first promise is “Hidden Manna.”

When we are in “the wilderness” of our spiritual searching, and if we surrender to the I AM, we receive “hidden manna,” not visible to the world.  We are given an entirely new source of energy and nourishment.  We are given peace that passes all understanding. 

This hidden manna is derived from the higher level of being within us.  It nourishes the soul first and then, the body.  It benefits the whole being.  Jesus alludes to this when he says to his disciples in John 4:32, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”  

In the Revealing Word, Charles Fillmore says manna is“The bread of life, the Word of God. [Manna] represents the realization that the divine substance is everywhere present, in every part of the consciousness.”

Think about how you felt when you realized a spiritual Truth. What was the energy behind an epiphany you had? If you were like me, you were so excited and couldn’t wait to share your news with someone close or special.

That energy comes from Source. It fills you up and just the memory of it can make your day.

I recall my first time at Unity Village for a week of classes. What a wonderful experience. When I got back and was at my home Unity church, many people expressed the peace that still shone on my face. I can still recall some of that feeling from so long ago.

THAT is the hidden manna.

The 2^nd promise is a White Stone

The white stone is an ancient ritual.  Back in ancient times, when someone served time in prison or in bondage of any kind, they were given a white stone when they were released.  It served as a symbol that they had done their time and they had been given passage to live with all the rights of a free person. Each of us comes from the bondage of past nonsense – false limitations, old beliefs, error thinking that have been a prison to us.  With surrender of the belief in separation and bondage comes a sense of worthiness:  we are beloved, one with the Divine, free, and unlimited. 

Hold your stone in your hand. Feel the energy there. Remember, everything is made of energy. If you quiet yourself, and close off any outside noise, maybe you will be able to feel it.

The 3^rd promise is a New Name 

In Biblical times, a name was a very sacred thing.  Every name represented a quality that was in the person who carries the name. Parents didn’t choose a name for their child just because they liked the name. They chose it for whatever essence they saw in the child.

Abram, meant ‘high father, & as he grew in spiritual awareness, he became Abraham, ‘father of many’.  Sarai, his wife went from ‘my princess’ to Sarah, ‘noble woman’.  Simon, ‘to hear’ was named Peter (Faith).

The meaning of Sandy is “Defender of mankind,” or “she is brave”. The name comes from the Greek, Alexandra.

So, when we surrender to the inner Spirit, we take on a new identity, a new name so to speak.  This refers to the new, higher realization of the I AM, a new awareness of our God Self, our higher self.  And this is where the Ceremony called White Stone” comes in. In the passage, we are told that “I will give a white stone and on the white stone is written a new name that no knows except the one who receives it.” 

So, I invite you to meditate on what you’re being called to in the new year and claim that as your new name. 

In our oneness with God, we surrender our human identity to recognize our full potential.  We let go of unnecessary baggage.  Picking up a white stone is a symbol of receiving our “hidden manna” to feed us and is our white stone of freedom.

Hold the white stone in your hands and open your mind to “hearing” your new name.   At any time in the next few minutes as I am speaking, if the new name comes to your awareness, hold it your heart.  Don’t be hasty. Let it resonate with you.

If nothing comes to you during this ceremony, continue to ask.  Be open to an answer to your asking.

Allow yourself to ask a question: Who or what am I called to be in this coming year? As I let go of my old habits, those I released during the burning bowl ceremony, what is it that I am called to be known as?

Let your awareness drop from your head down into your heart: from your intellect and into your deep inner knowing; to an awareness of Divine Love and Wisdom. Listen for a moment to your still small voice. 

Open your imagination, allow Wisdom to speak, give your ego a few minutes off and let that divine holy Voice in you come through. Perhaps there is a new career, a new title, or a new quality that Spirit is pressing out through you.

Charles Fillmore says this new name is your concept of yourself. 

The White Stone is your sign of a clean slate.  Whatever has gone on in the past, let it go.  Give yourself permission to know that as you release that which no longer serves your highest good, you can claim a new quality, a new name.

This word can be an overall intention…a way of being in the world…something to grow into…something that allows a deeper Truth to express more fully through you. 

As you hold the white stone in your hand, hear the Christ Self that is you saying, “Behold, I make all things new.”

This is a sign of your ability in this moment to live in this new beginning. This is a moment in which you know you are free, free from all that has bound you.

And so, as you are guided by Spirit, I invite you to trust in this now moment, ….as Spirit gives to you in this sacred place…in this moment of Truth…an insight into your divine purpose…an insight into your holy essence, and so in that secret place of the most-high, I invite you to allow yourself to hear the new name that is speaking within you.

And, as that name becomes clear, just allow yourself to write it on your stone…If a name has come to you, remain quiet and allow yourself to ask for a deeper understanding, to ask if there are any steps to take. 

In this moment allow yourself to simply open to Spirit, to say, “God in me reveals my true essence.  God in me reveals my next step.  God as me, lives a joyous, peaceful, fulfilling life.”

Pause – silence-

Anytime you look at your white stone realize that you have the gift of choice; the gift to live differently, to live a more fulfilling life, to begin again, to connect with God and create with God.

Jesus said, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you this kingdom. “Accept this consciousness of ever increasing good in your life. I invite you to carry this white stone or card as a reminder of that promise.

Remember this:

Your greatest power is the power to be:

To be more loving

To be more courageous

To be more joyous

To be more friendly

To be more sensitive

To be more aware

To be more forgiving

To be more forgiving

To be more tolerant

To be more humble

To be more patient

To be more helpful

To be a greater human being

A prayer for the New Year from Howard Thurman …

Grant that I may pass through the coming year with a faithful heart.
There will be much to test me and make weak my strength before the year ends.
In my confusion I shall often say the word that is not true and do the thing of which I am ashamed.

There will be errors in the mind and great inaccuracies of judgment…
In seeking the light, I shall again and again find myself walking in the darkness.
I shall mistake my light for Your light and I shall drink from the responsibility of the choice I make.

Nevertheless, grant that I may pass through the coming year with a faithful heart.
May I never give the approval of my heart to error, to falseness, to vanity, to sin.
Though my days be marked with failures, stumblings, fallings, let my spirit be free so that You may take it and redeem my moments in all the ways my needs reveal.
Give me the quiet assurance of Your Love and Presence.
Grant that I may pass through the coming year with a faithful heart.

  T.S. Eliot – “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language; and next year’s words await another voice.”