April 1, 2020
The Mystery of Time 
         

In this Void of distancing amidst a pandemic we may lose a sense of time. Whether you are going to work in extraordinary conditions or working from home or simply staying home, the days seem eerily the same. If we aren't punching a time clock, we stop looking at the clock so much.  Although we can approximate when various aspects of the Void began, there are no markers for its ending.
 
The Board of Trustees of ULV and I have been in conversation about my retirement date, April 30th.  When I planned retirement, back in November, it seemed like a distant date with no associated drama.  Easter season would be over.  There is no division or crisis in the church.  I felt good about the decision. The Universe had other ideas.  Suddenly I am now looking at retiring in the midst of the biggest drama of the century.
 
So I have agreed to go to part-time and continue to provide Sunday services and Wednesday email content through the end of May.  At that point we may have to re-assess but we all understand that there will be an end, both to the Void and to my time at ULV, at some point.  Where that end exists on a calendar or a timeline remains a bit of a mystery.   Part of our discomfort in this void is the reminder that this is always true!  We do not know the end of days and to have that in front of us daily is uncomfortable. It makes us sad.   
 
This is a great time to be present.  Present to this NOW moment. Today there are patches of blue in the sky.  Today the grass is shifting towards green. Today I have live connections to make on Facebook, calls to make, emails to send, love to share.  Today, I still get to choose how I show up in the world!  The moments of this day are sufficient for today.  

 God, the divine allness of the isness, is in the midst of us, these conditions and the path unfolding.  Be kind. Stay centered. Be well.     Reverend Joy  
 

  
Calendar for this week
TODAY:  Wednesday 4/1
 Office closed, Phones and emails answered
NEW 6pm Children's Chat FB live
NEW 7pm Vesper Service FB live

Thursday 4/2
 Office closed, Phones and emails answered

Friday 4/3
Office Closed  

Sat 4/4

Sun 4/5
10:20am: 
Rev Joy "Palm Sunday: Celebration of Ministry"  Live on our Facebook Page
  
 
CoDA*: cancelled until further notice
 
Mon 4/6
Office Closed 
 ACIM* cancelled until further notice

Tuesday 4/7
Office closed, Phones and emails answered
 
Recovery Dharma*: cancelled until further notice

 
* indicates non-Unity event
Please check with the event coordinator for the status of this event
Check out Community Events at the bottom of the page


Links to other sermons can be found on our website and Facebook page. 

Visit our website:  
 

Check out our MUSIC PLAYLIST at: 




There's no brunch at church but there will be Palm Sunday service!  Join Reverend Joy at 10:20am on our Facebook page for our live service.  We'll try to have some music and a look at CELEBRATING MINISTRY
The Ministry of Jesus and the Ministry of ULV 
 
  



Facebook LIVE!!
 
Our Sunday services are live at 10:20am on our Facebook page  
Wed Vesper and Children's Chat. 
 
 
The ULV YouTube channel will have all our videos archived after they air live.  CLICK HERE to access our channel.  We are adding music to the channel's playlist.  


Wednesday Evening Vesper Service
Facebook Live, 7pm
This week: It's Not Working  
 
As more of us spend more time at home and all of us could use a boost mid-week, Reverend Joy is adding a Wednesday evening Vesper on Facebook Live for the remainder of our time apart from the sanctuary.   
 
This service will be about a half an hour with metaphysical bible interpretation of a story, some meditation time and maybe some wisdom from Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. The bible story and interpretation will be posted on the ULV website blog after the service for those unable to access Facebook. 
 

 


Maundy Thursday Service
Facebook Live April 9, 7pm
 
 
As everything looks different these days, Reverend Joy will retain our traditional Maundy Thursday service and move it online to Facebook live.   
 
Please prepare in advance by having a small piece of bread and a liquid (clear is best, a juice or wine) for our communion.   If you would like to have a candle, we will create a new sacred memory for this extraordinary Easter season.
 
 
Sweet Memories
 

The Spirituality of Art and Creativity!!  
    
As our Sundays with Reverend Joy wind down she is leafing through some memories of Sundays between April 1, 2009 and today.  
 
"Creativity is one of our core values and the ways we demonstrate that have been varied!  Cindy Gunn facilitated different workshops that produced lasting collages for the 12 Powers and for our Core Values.  The collaborative nature of the process makes for precious memories.  Veronica Moser facilitated several card making workshops and I still have my 'Stamp Up' materials and continue to enjoy making cards.  I notice that the mandala coloring continues to be a favorite activity during our half day meditation retreats, although we began before 'adult coloring' was cool!  One highlight for me was the opportunity to have Jenny Hahn facilitate a 'Process Painting' workshop here at ULV.  Jenny's art is on the cover of several Unity publications and she was a great teacher to unleash creativity in all of us."  
 
What are some of your favorite special activities we've done during Reverend Joy's time at ULV?  You can email her at revjoy@rcn.com 
  Open to the Flow

During this time of not meeting in the sanctuary, ULV will continue to pay all employees for regularly scheduled work. Additionally, we continue to have routine costs to maintain our building.   Your tithes and gifts allow us to continue to minister and be the light in the Lehigh Valley.  


There is a DONATE button on the top navigation of our website.   
 
Additionally you can mail checks directly to the church at ULV, 26 N 3rd Street, Emmaus, PA 18049 or set up a weekly or monthly payment directly from your bank. Contact the church office if you have questions about how to get your tithe to the church.

This WEEK, for Sunday March 29th (includes mailed and online donations)


 
 Thank you in advance for remembering ULV in your giving!

 
 

CHILDREN'S CHAT ON FACEBOOK Live
Wednesday evening 6pm
 
Reverend Joy is doing a Children's Chat on Facebook live each Wednesay evening at 6pm.  
The video will be available later on YouTube. 
 
During the month of April we'll be using material from the Easter, April 1928 edition of Unity's Wee Wisdom magazine for children. This week we'll look at "Scout's Manners" and learn a new prayer.  Feel free to share the video with friends and family as we continue to shine our light--all our lights out into the world.    
And we might hear a poem titled "April Fools" 








COME TOGETHER with Rev. Joy, Michael Duck (Not For Coltrane), and
musicians from across the Mid-Atlantic for a virtual concert at 7 p.m.
on Friday, April 3, to show our communities are "No Place for Hate"!

When the annual "Come Together" benefit concert had to be postponed
because of social distancing, Michael rounded up a group of musician
performers from across the Lehigh Valley as well as the Baltimore and
Washington D.C. areas and made plans to take things online. The
webcast will feature performers playing live in their own homes -- as
well as remarks by Rev. Joy and Dr. Jack Silva of Bethlehem Area
School District.

This event raises money and awareness for No Place for Hate, an
initiative of the Anti-Defamation League that's in more than 1,800
schools across the country, including many in the Lehigh Valley. No
Place for Hate supports school programs that help kids stand up to
bullying, prejudice, and bias, and it helps send a clear message that
everyone belongs.

For ticket and donation information, CLICK HERE. If you make
a donation before the show, you'll receive information on Friday about
how to watch live. Please join us!
.

   
From Unity World Headquarters:
 
Dear Friend,

We take this moment together to align our thoughts and feelings with the divine presence.

Each breath reminds us of the infinite resources of the planet and the healing power of divine love.

As we take our next breath, we see the world bathed in golden light in our mind's eye.

There are no boundaries this light cannot cross and no places this light cannot reach.

Together we see disease and contagion transformed into agape love.

The power of love heals and restores all life on this planet as it lifts each being to wholeness and health.

Joy and gratitude fill our hearts as we know and experience God's love. 
 
Reverend Ken Daigle, Board Chair, Unity World Headquarters
 
Join Unity on Facebook at noon each weekday for the Silent Unity Prayer Service
 



   
What Are You Grateful For?


We are grateful for Eddie Watkins Jr's music on Sunday!  What a gift and addition to our service.
 
We are grateful for ULV staff doing what needs to be done each week!  Learning new skills and risking failure as we stretch to continue to create spiritual community.   
 



If you have something you are grateful for or want to celebrate, please send a note to the office by Tuesday of each week at unitylv@rcn.com




July 17th: IronPigs game, 7pm
September 20th: Annual Picnic 



  
MOST COMMUNITY EVENTS ARE EVOVLING!  Please check the event website or coordinators for the latest information.  

Most school districts are offering free breakfast and lunch for qualified students.  Pick up locations are listed in the Morning Call HERE



Concert at Godfrey Daniels featuring Michael "Not For Coltrane" Duck and others is EVOLVING.  April 3, 7 to 10pm  We'll update information as it is available.
CLICK HERE for information on crowd funding for the event and access to a live webcast. 











   
Just north of us, Kirkridge offers great opportunities for renewal and spiritual exploration.   Check out upcoming programs at their website by  CLICKING HERE


Bradbury-Sullivan Center Classes, Workshops and Support   Go to their website by CLICKING HERE    The Center is located at 522 W Maple Street in downtown Allentown.  
Contact:
Unity of Lehigh Valley
26 N 3rd, Emmaus, PA 18049
610-965-3036
Office Hours: Tue-Thur 8:30am--3pm
Closed Mondays and Fridays

Administrator: unitylv@rcn.com
Reverend Joy: revjoy@rcn.com