April, 2017 “A POSITIVE PATH FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING” Monthly Newsletter NOTES OF JOY Hello Friends, Spring is bursting out all over! I love this time of the year. It is a time when the dormant limbs of shrubs and trees spring forth with luscious green foliage; wild flowers shoot up without any nudging and the air ap- pears a bit lighter. I am moved to swing open both arms, swirl around again and again and sing out loud, dancing through the meadow like Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music. Of course, the only difference between Julie Andrews and me is: She can really sing…and was so young and beautiful in that musical. Our theme for April is SPIRITUAL AWAKENING. What does this mean to you? Spiritual Awakening is simply becoming consciously aware of things of Spirit, of God. When we become conscious of spirit, we begin to give our attention to its faint whispering. We come to realize that within us is a flow of thought that has been evolving independently of our own reasoning process. This is SPIRITUAL AWAKENING. We may have ignored this “voice” in the past thinking that we were daydreaming. However, we were not. As we allow it, the spirit of God projects into our mind, building our spiritual consciousness and providing intuitive knowing of that which is true. As we prepare for Easter, I believe that our theme is perfect. Easter is symbolic of the new life that can be ours. As we become spiritually awake, we come to understand the inner meaning and signifi- cance of the Easter experience. Easter is not so much the celebration of the rising of a person from the dead, as it is rising to our own spiritual consciousness…awakening to the Christ Self, which is always bursting forth from the tomb, and springing forth to our God-potential. My spring wish for each of us is that we may come into the awareness of this season inspired to push up and push out of our present limitations into a sweeter, stronger expression of our Christ Self. I hope to see you each Sunday morning at Unity of Southeast Texas! In His Service, Joy Rev. Joy Walker Minister Notes of Joy Board of Trustee Decisions In Gratitude Calendar of Events Our Community Labyrinth In this Issue You are invited to participate in the Holy Week activities. Maundy Thursday will include a communion service at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 13. Good Friday service will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 14. The annual Easter Flower service will be held on Sunday, April 16.
Transcript
April, 2017
“A POSITIVE PATH FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING”
Monthly Newsletter
NOTES OF JOY Hello Friends, Spring is bursting out all over! I love this time of the year. It is a time when the dormant limbs of shrubs and trees spring forth with luscious green foliage; wild flowers shoot up without any nudging and the air ap-pears a bit lighter. I am moved to swing open both arms, swirl around again and again and sing out loud, dancing through the meadow like Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music. Of course, the only difference between Julie Andrews and me is: She can really sing…and was so young and beautiful in that musical. Our theme for April is SPIRITUAL AWAKENING. What does this mean to you? Spiritual Awakening is simply becoming consciously aware of things of Spirit, of God. When we become conscious of spirit, we begin to give our attention to its faint whispering. We come to realize that within us is a flow of thought that has been evolving independently of our own reasoning process. This is SPIRITUAL AWAKENING. We may have
ignored this “voice” in the past thinking that we were daydreaming. However, we were not. As we allow it, the spirit of God projects into our mind, building our spiritual consciousness and providing intuitive knowing of that which is true. As we prepare for Easter, I believe that our theme is perfect. Easter is symbolic of the new life that can be ours. As we become spiritually awake, we come to understand the inner meaning and signifi-cance of the Easter experience. Easter is not so much the celebration of the rising of a person from the dead, as it is rising to our own spiritual consciousness…awakening to the Christ Self, which is always bursting forth from the tomb, and springing forth to our God-potential. My spring wish for each of us is that we may come into the awareness of this season inspired to push up and push out of our present limitations into a sweeter, stronger expression of our Christ Self. I hope to see you each Sunday morning at Unity of Southeast Texas! In His Service,
Joy
Rev. Joy Walker Minister
Notes of Joy
Board of Trustee Decisions
In Gratitude
Calendar of Events
Our Community Labyrinth
In this Issue You are invited to participate in the Holy Week activities. Maundy Thursday will include a communion service at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 13. Good Friday service will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 14. The annual Easter Flower service will be held on Sunday, April 16.
Music Ministry
Pianist - David Stanley
Coordinator - Sheri White
Diane Marie Rogers
Greeter
Sandra Rucker
Ushers
Kathyrn Chenoweth
David Stanely
Sound Tech
Micki Matthew
Platform Assistant
Brandi Palombo-White
Prayer Chaplains
Sandra Rucker, Chair
Leo Stewart
Barbara Wolfe
Shirley Rappaport
Board of Trustees
Kathyrn Chenoweth
Shirley Rappapaport
Diane Marie Rogers
Leo Stewart
David Stanley
Wendell Smith
Rev. Joy Walker
BOARD OF TRUSTEE DECISIONS
• Approved resuming the “Brick” project for the walkway to the laby-rinth.
• Added an addendum to Amsden Center rental agreement for mem-bers of this ministry
• Approved monitoring the water heater flushing in the Amsden Center • Updated financial policy
For Sunday Services
PROSPERITY REPORT FOR FEBRUARY Income $4,517.41 Expense $4,914.37 Net Income -$396.96
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR We are pleased to announce that our 2016 Volunteer of the Year is SANDRA RUCKER! A big thank you to Sandra for all that she does to assist us in being a vibrant spiritual force in this community. Again, thank you, Sandra!
QUEST CLASS IS VIBRANT Enthusiasm is in the air for the new Quest class of about 12-15 participants. We are so excited that the majority of the participants are first-timers to Unity of Southeast Texas. We are so pleased with their exuberance and invite you to join us each Saturday morning from 10:00- 12:00 noon. Delicious refresh-ments are served and each class stands alone. The Quest is a journey of spir-itual discovery; a transforming experience; and a program to support successful living.
NEW MEMBERS We are pleased to welcome three individuals who were installed a members in March. They are Raymond Buckingham, Linda Ferrell and Chuck Knipp. Welcome new members!
ANNUAL CLEAN-UP DAY The Board of Trustees invites you to join them on Saturday, April 29 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. to clean our facilities. The focus this year will be on the Amsden Center.
BOARD MEMBERS TO SPEAK Board member, Shirley Rappaport will be our guest speaker on Sunday, April 9 and Leo Stewart, Vice president of the Board, will speak on Sunday, April 30. Your presence is appreciated in supporting our speakers.
ROAD TRIP ON THE HORIZONS Stay tuned for an opportunity to go as a group to Unity Village in September 2017 for the annual WORLD DAY OF PRAYER events. Three ministry teams are working together to plan the details for the trip. More information will be coming soon.
FRIENDSHIP SUNDAY Sunday, April 23 is our quarterly FRIENDSHIP SUNDAY. This is your oppor-tunity to invite lots of friends to join you at the morning celebration service. Do bring someone with you.
FELLOWSHIP PERIOD CHANGED The Sunday celebration fellowship period has changed from moving around the sanctuary to remaining and greeting individuals on your respective row, as appropriate.
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24
5:30pm Tai Chi
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26 11:30am Silent Unity Service 5:30pm Joyful Noise Choir Practice
27
5:30pm Tai Chi
6:30pm Over - eater’s Anonymous
7:30pm Yoga
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29
2017
9:30am Meditation 9:45am Adult Class 10:45am Celebration
Service
Guest Speaker: Rev. E.J. Niles
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1
10:00am-12:00pm Quest Class
12:30pm Tai Chi
Beginners
2 9:30am Meditation 9:45am Adult Class 10:45am Celebration Service
3
5:30pm Tai Chi
4
Golden Triangle Sierra Club Meeting
5 11:30am Silent Unity Service 5:30pm Joyful Noise Choir Practice
6
5:30pm Tai Chi
6:30pm Over - eater’s Anonymous
7:30pm Yoga
7
8 12:30pm Tai Chi
Beginners
9 9:30am Meditation 9:45am Adult Class 10:45am Celebration Service
10
5:30pm Tai Chi
11
12 11:30am Silent Unity Service 5:30pm Joyful Noise Choir Practice 7:00pm Reiki Healing Circle
13
14 15 10:00am-12:00pm Quest Class 12:30pm Tai Chi
Beginners
30
9:30am Meditation
9:45am Adult Class
10:45am Celebration
6:00pm Service 6:00pm
Service
HEAR YE! HERE YE! AN EXTRODINARY OPPORTUNITY! We are so fortunate to be able to engage Rev. E. J. Niles, Ordained Unity Minister, Bible Instructor
for Unity Institute and certified Spiral Dynamics levels I and II expert. She will be our guest speaker at the morning celebration on Sunday, April 23 followed by a workshop at 2:00 pm. Lunch will be served immediately following the celebration service. You are requested to assist us in getting the word out to everyone. Bring lots of friends to experience this magnificent opportunity. Rev. Niles holds the Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.
MOVIE NIGHT Please mark your calendars now for our Movie Night on Friday, April 28 at 6:00 p.m. in the Amsden Center. Lots of delicious popcorn and drinks will be served. Come and bring the entire family for an evening of fun!
6:00pm
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17
5:30pm Tai Chi
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19 11:30am Silent Unity Service
5:30pm Joyful Noise Choir
Practice
20 5:30pm Tai Chi 6:30pm Over-eater’s Anonymous 6:30pm Songwriter’s Cafe
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22
10:00am12:00p
m Quest Class
12:30pm Tai Chi
Sheri Champagne 21
Rev E.J. Niles
APRIL
10:00am12:00pm Quest Class
12:30pm Tai Chi
Beginners
9:30am Meditation 9:45am Adult Class 10:45am Celebration
Service Easter Flower Service
Centered in God, we celebrate oneness and wholeness in a world of diversity.
Rev. Joy Walker, Minister is available for appoint-ments, special services or for counseling on a Love Offering basis.
OUR COMMUNITY LABYRINTH Open to the public from sunup to sundown, the Unity Community laby-
rinth is the largest labyrinth in the Southeast Texas region. It is a seven circuit triune pattern. The labyrinth is an archetypal symbol of wholeness that invites one into a transformative prayer experience. Walking this mystical path is a personal pilgrimage to spiritual whole-ness. The labyrinth has been used for centuries. It is a tool for bridging the known and unknown so that individuals may experience transfor-mational growth, expansion and self-
discovery. It is our purpose to bring awareness to this sacred space.
