First Unity Church
of
St. Louis
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THE GREATEST GIFT
The fast-approaching holiday season
can be
a time of joy and celebration. We might envision a Hallmark Christmas -- a loving family enjoying a delicious gourmet meal expertly prepared and served in a tastefully decorated home. After dinner, they gather around a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and gaze out the window to unspoiled sparkling snow. Everyone eagerly anticipates opening gifts uniquely tailored to their interests and desires. This is a lovely picture; however unless we have “staff,” it is going to take a lot of preparation and hard work to make this happen. What about the pressure to find that perfect gift for everyone on our list? I vividly remember last year standing in line to purchase a last-minute gift when the woman in front of me turned around and said, “I will be so glad when Christmas is over.”
Maybe we need to stop, breathe, and follow the advice of that great philosopher, the Grinch, who thought, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a lot more.” The Advent season, comprising the four weeks before Christmas, is a time of preparation, but it is about more than decorating, gift giving, and all our other holiday traditions. It’s a time for us to rejoice in the 2,000-year old story of the birth of Jesus
and
a time for us to prepare for and celebrate the spiritual rebirth of our own Divine nature – the Christ within. Perhaps this sacred season, our focus needs to shift from
doing
to
being.
This is the time to contemplate, claim, nurture, and share those gifts that are more precious than anything we could purchase – the inner gifts that are the themes of Advent: Faith, Peace, Love, and Joy.
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The peace of God is always with you. You only have to open your mind and heart to feel its presence. In the midst of crowded stores, long lines, and family disharmony, you can surrender the details to The Divine within and
be
the presence of peace.
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Divine Love reaches into the depths of your being; Christ Love is your nature. During this sacred season, set the intention to savor every experience and look for every opportunity to give and receive love. Let all you do be done in love.
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Joy is a gift from God; it comes from deep within your heart. As you express joy in all you do during this busy time, join in jubilant celebration of your oneness with the Divine and all humankind. Give your gift of joy.
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Rev. Kelly Isola wrote, “Recognize you are a sparkling present from the cosmos. And it is time to unwrap yourself in order to share your magnificence with the world.”
Join us the first four Sundays in December to explore the themes of Advent as we celebrate the age-old Christmas story that is as new as this now moment. Complimentary copies of the Unity Advent booklet, "Christmas in My Heart, Christmas in my Hands" are available. Have a blessed holiday season and remember,
YOU ARE THE GIFT.
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First Unity Church of
St. Louis Newsletter
Nov/Dec 2019
In This Issue:
Minister’s Corner
Unity Basic Principles
Prayer Circle Ministry
Save The Date
Upcoming Events
Core Values
Humor
Calendars
Photographs
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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:
God is the source and creator of all. There is no other enduring power. God is good and present everywhere.
We are spiritual beings, created in God’s image. The spirit of God lives within each person; therefore, all people are inherently good.
Human beings create their experiences by the activity of their thinking. Everything in the manifest realm has its beginnings in thought.
Prayer is creative thinking that heightens the connection with God-Mind and therefore brings forth wisdom, healing, prosperity, and everything good.
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.
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JOIN THE FIRST UNITY PRAYER CIRCLE
Our Unity movement began with one woman’s prayers for healing. Following the example of Myrtle Fillmore, we pray in the consciousness that all we need and desire is already ours. Almost 100 years ago under the leadership of Rev. Hilda Eilers, our spiritual community established a Prayer Circle, then called A-S-K: Ask, Seek, Knock.
Today enriching lives through positive, affirmative prayer is part of the current mission at First Unity. We are currently seeking volunteers to revive the First Unity Prayer Circle. From the comfort of your own home, you can participate either by passing prayer requests and intentions along in a telephone chain or via email. If you are interested in participating in this sacred service, please sign the Prayer Circle Ministry sheet in the lobby or call the church office. We will have a brief organizational meeting on January 12 after service.
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Minister, Jan Mourning
Board of Trustees
Hope Dodson
Rick Emnett
Betty Jean Kofron
Betty Ponzar
Mary Tumminello
John Young
Prayer Chaplains
Lance Baugh
Hope Dodson
Linda Harr
Anne Hartupee
Paul Henley
Lynn Mark
Betty Ponzar
Mary Tumminello
Platform Assistants
Hope Dodson
Linda Harr
Mary Tumminello
Bookstore Manager
Jane Vondruska
Webmaster
Carol Ellerman
Office Manager
Sara DeWitt
Music
Anne Hartupee, Music Director
Dean Wiegert, Soloist
Youth Ministry Team
Denise Halbert-Reggio, Director
Glenda Gibhardt
Cindy Gibb
Newsletter Editor
Patricia Riess
riess@htc.net
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Singles Meeting
There will be a singles meeting November 3, 2019 after Sunday Service. Come join us!
Thanksgiving Eve
Join the greater Unity community for our annual Thanksgiving Eve Service at 7:00 pm at Unity Church of Light, 2809 Yale Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63301.
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Ladies Night Out
The next Ladies Night Out will be November 21, 2019 at 5:30 pm at Syberg’s Restaurant, 249 Arnold Crossroads Center, Arnold, MO 63010.
We will be having our Christmas Party on December 16, 2019 at 5:30 pm. Please bring a dish and a white elephant gift exchange to the party. Please contact Mary at
jtpres5111@sbcglobal.net
for more information.
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Our Book Club meets on the 2
nd
Tuesday of the month from 2 pm – 4 pm at The St. Louis Bread Company on Tesson Ferry Road, St. Louis, MO.
Future books:
November 12, 2019 “
Still Life”
by Louise Penney
December 10, 2019 “
Breakfast With Buddha”
by Roland Merullo
January 14, 2020 “
Eleanor
Oliphant Is Completely
Fine”
by Gayle Honeyman
Looking forward to seeing you at the Book Club!
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The Art of Abundance:
10 Rules for a Prosperous Life
On Thursday, November 7th at 6:45 p.m., we will have our last class on "
The Art of Abundance"
by Dennis Merritt Jones. This book helps readers open their eyes to the limitless abundance waiting just beyond their current belief system.
Books are available in the First Unity bookstore.
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Decorations for Christmas
We will decorate the church for Christmas on
Nov. 30th, 2019, 10 am. All elves are welcomed.
Our Christmas decorations will be dismantled on Dec. 28, 2019 10 am. All helping hands will be appreciated.
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Christmas Goodies Bake Sale
Sunday, December 15 after service we will be having our annual Christmas Bake Sale.
Bring your favorite Christmas cookies, cakes, candies or treats and purchase a variety for your holiday gatherings.
All our baked goods will be sold on a Love Offering basis.
There won’t be a sign-up for the baked goods, just joyously bring them to church.
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Christmas Candle Lighting Service
As we approach the Advent season, we look forward to our Christmas Candle Lighting Service on Sunday, December 22, at 10:30 a.m. The candlelight service is to help us bring forth and celebrate the birth of Christ consciousness within our souls.
The Candle Lighting service celebrates the “12 Living Lights” within each of us. These twelve lights or powers are given to us from our Divine Creator for the purpose of unfolding our unique, individual Christ nature. As we unfold the Christ consciousness within, we also use these powers to express the eternal activity of God in all things and in all ways.
This special service is a great reminder about the true focus of Christmas. We look forward to seeing you this year at the Christmas Candle Lighting service.
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Santa and Luncheon
Join us after service on Sunday, December 22 for our annual Christmas luncheon. Invite family and friends. Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected to attend!
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Burning Bowl Ceremony
December 29, 2019 10:30 a.m,
Bridgett Nicole wrote, “One of the most courageous decisions you will ever make is to finally let go of what is hurting your heart and soul." The Burning Bowl Ceremony is a sacred and powerful ritual – a symbolic release to the fire – designed to let go of old wounds, false beliefs, and negative emotions that are blocking the flow of good in your life. Engaging in the burning bowl ritual allows you to consciously clear away the old in order to prepare for abundant joy and peace in the new year. As the fire transforms the energy in the paper surrendered to the fire, so your soul will be transformed by the spiritual power of release.
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White Stone Ceremony
January 5, 2020 10:30 a.m.
Following the Burning Bowl ritual, the White Stone Ceremony prepares you to create the vision of what we are called to
be
in the new year. In the time of Jesus, prisoners were given a new name as they were released to prove to society that all debts were paid and they were legitimately free. Through meditation, you will listen to Spirit within and your new name will be revealed to you. You will write your new name on a white stone from Jerusalem that will be yours to keep as a reminder of what you have set the intention to be in 2020. This powerful experience will be followed by our annual Souper Sunday luncheon.
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Souper Sunday
Sunday, January 5, 2020 please join us in the downstairs community room after the Burning Bowl Service for "Souper" Sunday!!
We will graciously accept food items prepared for this special occasion on the day of the event.
Please sign up for soup, bread or dessert on the signup sheets in the foyer.
Bring a can or two of soup for Feed My People.
Hope to see you all there!!
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Feed My People
Feed My People is one of the community agencies our church supports. Those who attended the complimentary luncheon hosted by our Outreach Ministry last year had an opportunity to learn more about their mission, as well as how we may be of service to their organization. Place your donations in the basket just inside our church bookstore. We are also collecting clothing and coats. A bin is provided in the Book Store.
"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me..." Matthew 25:35
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One of our core values for First Unity Church is: ACCEPTANCE
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Practicing Jesus’ teaching of love and understanding, we unconditionally honor the Divine Essence of each person.
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- 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
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- 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 other’s ideas and opinions
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HUMOR
You Better Be Good
Sarah and her thirteen-year-old sister had been fighting a lot this year. This happens when you combine a headstrong two-year-old, who is sure she is always right, with a young adolescent.
Sarah's parents, trying to take advantage of her newfound interest in Santa Claus, reminded the two-year-old that Santa was watching and doesn't like it when children fight. This had little impact.
"I'll just have to tell Santa about your misbehavior," the mother said as she picked up the phone and dialed. Sarah's eyes grew big as her mother asked "Mrs. Claus" (really Sarah's aunt; Santa's real line was busy) if she could put Santa on the line. Sarah's mouth dropped open as Mom described to Santa (Sarah's uncle) how the two-year-old was acting. But, when Mom said that Santa wanted to talk to her, she reluctantly took the phone.
Santa, in a deepened voice, explained to her how there would be no presents Christmas morning to children who fought with their sisters. He would be watching, and he expected things to be better from now on.
Sarah, now even more wide eyed, solemnly nodded to each of Santa's remarks and silently hung the phone up when he was done. After a long moment, Mom (holding in her chuckles at being so clever) asked, "What did Santa say to you, dear?"
In almost a whisper, Sarah sadly but matter-of-factly stated, "Santa said he won't be bringing toys to my sister this year."
At Grandma's
- Written by Tab Nettleton
Two young boys were spending the night at their grandparents. At bedtime, the two boys knelt beside their beds to say their prayers when the youngest one began praying at the top of his lungs.
"I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE...
I PRAY FOR A NEW NINTENDO...
I PRAY FOR A NEW VCR..."
His older brother leaned over and nudged the younger brother and said, "Why are you shouting your prayers? God isn't deaf." To which the little brother replied, "No, but Gramma is!"
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Minister:
Jan Mourning
Office:
314.845.8540
SilentUnity
prayer support
1.800.NOW PRAY (669.7729)
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