Nov/Dec 2020 Newsletter

First Unity Church

St. Louis

2020 Volume II

Issue 6

FIRST UNITY THEME FOR 2020

Compassionate, Courageous, Community

Minister's Corner

In ALL CIRCUMSTANCES?

In the book Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, the protagonist who is shipwrecked on a desert island, creates two columns in his journal listing the “GOOD” and “BAD” of his situation. He is cast on a desolate island with no hope of rescue; but unlike his shipmates, he is alive. He is alone with no human support, but he has access to food from the destroyed ship. He has no clothes, but he is in a warm climate with no need of them. He has no means of defense, but no wild beasts threaten him. Crusoe concludes that in setting “the good against the evil,” no worldly condition is so miserable that one cannot find something for which to be grateful.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul writes, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” This might work for fictional characters like Crusoe, but are we in the real world really expected to give thanks in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES? How can we possibly give thanks for the loss of a loved one, a life-threatening diagnosis, a personal financial crisis, or a pandemic?

Eric Butterworth calls us to notice that Paul does not say, “for all circumstances but in all circumstances." No matter what shows up in the outer world, we realize the omnipresent Power, Presence, and Love of God in the midst of it. Because God is always present, goodness is always present. Time and time again, Jesus gave thanks before the good was manifested. In feeding the multitudes, he did not give thanks for hunger or for the lack of loaves and fishes. When raising Lazarus, he did not give thanks for the lack of life. Jesus looked beyond appearances to ever-present substance in all life. Like the fictional Robinson Crusoe, we can observe and accept the outward condition and use our perceiving power of faith to find the good outer conditions or to bring good to them. Discord, inequity, and COVID-19 are not the will of Good. The will of God is for our ever-unfolding good.

Paul gives us three, clear directives. In all circumstances, we can:

Rejoice -Turn away from victim, “poor-me” consciousness and joyfully claim all the powers of the Christ for ourselves and all humankind.

Pray without Ceasing - Consciously align in Oneness with God and all humankind, understanding that we are on this earth to express the Divine and to embrace infinite possibilities of good.

Give thanks - Show genuine appreciation for the allness of life, our joy and sorrow, laughter and tears, dreams and disappointments.

True gratitude, like prayer, is causative energy. Our co-founder Charles Fillmore wrote, “Pronounce every experience good and by that mental attitude, you will call forth only the good.” Especially during this holiday season, we have the power to look beyond challenging circumstances to a Greater Reality. In all circumstances, an attitude of gratitude enriches our lives, uplifts others, and causes a global shift in consciousness. With grateful hearts, we envision a world awakened to infinite possibilities of love, compassion, and peace.

Holiday blessings,

Rev. Jan

Special Announcements

POINSETTIAS

Christmas Poinsettias are available for purchase in honor of a loved one. Cost is $7; orders are due by December 6 and flowers will be available on

December 20, 2020.

FEED MY PEOPLE

FOOD DRIVE

Saturday, November 7, 2020 from 11:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m., bring non-perishable food items to donate to Feed My People. Just pull into the parking lot, open your trunk, and your donations will be unpacked. Our food donations will help many families enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

TOILETREE DONATIONS

Our Youth Education group is sponsoring a Toiletree Drive again this year. Bring personal care items from November 29, 2020 through January 10, 2021.

Minister, Jan Mourning

Board of Trustees

John Young - President

Rick Emnett - Vice President

Betty Jean Kofron - Secretary

Hope Dodson -Treasurer

Betty Ponzar - Trustee

Mary Tumminello -Trustee

Prayer Chaplain Team

Prayer

Chaplain Coordinator

Anne Hartupee,

Prayer Chaplain Trainer

Mary Tumminello

Prayer Chaplain Admin, Coordinator

Linda Harr

Prayer Chaplains

Lance Baugh

Hope Dodson

Paul Henley

Lynn Mark

Betty Ponzar

Gladys Young

Platform Assistants

Hope Dodson

Linda Harr

Mary Tumminello

Bookstore Managers

Betty Jean Kofron

Mary Grace

Webmaster

Carol Ellerman

Office Manager

Sara DeWitt

Music

Music Director

Anne Hartupee

Soloist

Dean Wiegert

Youth Ministry Team

Denise Halbert-Raggio, Director

Glenda Gebhardt

Cindy Gibbs

Facebook Admin

Kathy Boyd

Photographer

Roy Vaisvil

Newsletter Editor

Patricia Riess

riess@htc.net

Updates for Events

Ladies Night Out

Ladies Night Out will remain suspended until all restrictions are lifted.

Please contact Mary at jtpres5111@gmail.com with any questions.

Book Club

Our Book Club meets on the 2^nd Tuesday of the month

from 2 – 4 pm. During this time we are meeting via the Zoom platform.

Nov 10 - "When Crickets Cry" - by Charles Martin

Dec 8 - "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" - by Kim Michele Richardson

Jan 12 - "Olive Kitteridge" - by Elizabeth Strout

Please contact Carol at cabullock48@yahoo.com for instructions on joining the Zoom meeting and future updates.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Book Club!

Unity Basic Principles

We encourage you to explore and apply Unity teachings based on your own spiritual understanding. We believe this spiritual understanding is enhanced through reflective prayer and meditation.

The five basic Principles that make up the Unity belief system are:

Principle One

God is the source and creator of all. There is no other enduring power. God is good and present everywhere.

Principle Two

We are spiritual beings, created in God’s image. The spirit of God lives within each person; therefore, all people are inherently good.

Principle Three

Human beings create their experiences by the activity of their thinking. Everything in the manifest realm has its beginnings in thought.

Principle Four

Prayer is creative thinking that heightens the connection with God-Mind and therefore brings forth wisdom, healing, prosperity, and everything good.

Principle Five

Knowing and understanding the laws of life, also called Truth are not enough. A person must also live the Truth that he or she knows.

One of our core values for First Unity Church is: ACCEPTANCE

Practicing Jesus’ teaching of love and understanding, we unconditionally honor the Divine Essence of each person.

COMMUNITY BEHAVIORS

We rejoice in the individuality of each person and the richness this diversity brings to our spiritual community
As an inclusive community, we prayerfully support and consciously recognize the sacred worth of all people
We celebrate life together knowing that we are all made in the image and likeness of the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God

INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIORS

I practice self-acceptance and monitor self-talk to ensure I am saying only affirming, loving Truths to myself
I challenge myself to reach out to others who appear different from me
I listen mindfully and extend appreciation for others' ideas and opinion

HOLIDAY SERVICES SCHEDULE

All-Unity Thanksgiving Service

Cancelled for 2020.

First Unity will host this event in 2021.

Candle Lighting Service

Dec. 20, 2020

Reservations will be taken for this service.

Two services will be held if necessary.

Lunch and visit with Santa is cancelled.

Burning Bowl Service

January 3, 2021

White Stone Ceremony

January 10, 2021

HUMOR

Christmas Shopping

It was Christmas and the judge was in a merry mood as he asked the prisoner, “What are you charged with?”

“Doing my Christmas shopping early." replied the defendant.

“That’s no offense." said the judge. “How early were you doing this shopping?”

“Before the store opened.”

Christmas Service

It was a cold and misty Christmas morning in the very depth of winter after a heavy fall of snow. Only one farmer and the minister managed to arrive at the church for the morning service.

“Well,” said the clergyman “I guess there’s no point in having a service today.”

“Well that’s not how I see it,” said the farmer. “If only one cow turns up at feeding time, I still feed it.”

A Miracle?

Father O’Malley was driving down to Boston on Christmas Eve when got stopped for speeding in Medford. The highway patrol officer smelled alcohol on the priest’s breath and then saw an empty wine bottle on the floor of the car.

He said, "Father, have you been drinking?"

‘"Only water," replied Father O’Malley.

The policeman asked, "Then how come I can smell wine?"

The priest looked at the bottle and said, "Good Lord! He’s done it again."