WEEKLY UPDATE April 16, 2024 | |
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Excerpt from "Realize the Divinity of Your Eternal Soul”, by Paramahansa Yogananda, Yogananda.org.
Isn’t it strange that you do not know who you are? that you do not know your own Self? You define yourself by so many different titles applicable to your body and mortal roles. You must peel off these titles from the soul. “I think, but I am not the thought. I feel, but I am not the feeling. I will, but I am not the will.”
Throughout the day, you are constantly working through the body, and so you become identified with it. But every night God removes from you that imprisoning delusion. Last night, in deep dreamless sleep, were you a woman or a man or an American or Hindu or rich or poor? No. You were pure Spirit....In the semi-superconscious freedom of deep sleep, God takes away all your mortal titles and makes you feel that you are apart from the body and all its limitations—pure consciousness, resting in space. That vastness is your real Self.
Remind yourself of this truth each morning as you awaken:
“I am not the body. I am invisible. I am Joy. I am Light. I am Wisdom. I am Love. I dwell in the dream body through which I am dreaming this earth life; but I am ever eternal Spirit.”
Think away the thoughts you want to destroy, by replacing them with constructive thoughts. This is the key to heaven; it is in your hands....
I am the Infinite that has become the body.
I am Light Itself.
I am made in His image.
I am the sphere of love in which all planets, all stars, all beings, all creation are glimmering.
I am the love that pervades the whole universe.
When you experience that divine love, you will see no difference between flower and beast, between one human being and another. You will commune with all nature, and you will love equally all mankind.
When you go beyond the consciousness of this world, knowing that you are not the body or the mind, and yet aware as never before that you exist—that divine consciousness is what you are. You are That in which is rooted everything in the universe.
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Unity Williamsburg Spiritual Center offers a
safe and sacred place for study, participation, fellowship,
support, and transformation as we awaken to
the joy of living!
We invite you to join us in 2024!
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Unity Williamsburg Spiritual Center is a diverse, open and affirming community that embraces all people regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, ethnicity, age or physical or mental ability - without intent or attempt to convert.
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Calendar of Events
Tuesday, April 16
The Sound of Soul (HU), with Michael George
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 21
Rev. Virginia Roll, Guest Speaker
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Sunday, April 21
Board Meeting
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 28
Rev. Reese Washington, Guest Speaker
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, May 1
Beltane (May Day) celebration
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
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This Sunday we welcome back Rev. Ginny Roll as our guest speaker. Her message for this Sunday's talk is "Prosperity: Our Divine Inheritance".
Charles Fillmore, Unity's co-founder, said it this way, "There is a kingdom of abundance of all things, and it may be found by those who seek it and are willing to comply with its laws. Prosperity is not a matter of earnings, but a condition brought about by certain ideas that have been allowed to rule in consciousness."
How can we tap into Divine Abundance? Let's look at ways of thinking, feeling, and being that prosper us! See you Sunday!
Platform Assistant: Teo Feliciano
Chaplains: Jude Eastman
Greeters: Wayne & Lynda Jennings
Openers/Closers: Christopher Shao & Amy Shao
For those who wish to tithe during the service, go to paypal.me/UnityWilliamsburg.
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About Our Speaker...
Reverend Ginny Roll was ordained a minister in 2007. She served a one-year internship at Unity Church of Hawaii before returning to the mainland to serve with Rev. Joyce Kramer at Unity Church of Tidewater in Virginia Beach and Rev. Jan Sloan at Unity Fellowship Church in Newport News.
Ginny was senior minister at Unity Fellowship for five years before leaving in 2014. She returned to Unity Tidewater to work with Rev. Joyce Kramer and Rev. Denise Creech for several years. In 2020, Ginny filled a temporary minister position at Unity of Roanoke Valley for six months before accepting a position here at Unity Williamsburg Spiritual Center, formerly Unity Fellowship Church, where she was co-minister for two years.
Ginny currently teaches online Spiritual Enrichment and Education classes as part of Unity Institute's Adult Education Program as well as leadership classes for those preparing to become Licensed Unity Teachers. She is a regional trainer for Light and Love Ministries, training those who wish to create a prayer chaplain program within their ministry.
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I ACCEPT responsibility for my thoughts, feelings, actions, and reactions. I no longer look into the past to find a person or circumstance to blame for any negative response I may have to life. I accept gladly the responsibility for thinking positive, life-giving thoughts. I accept gladly the responsibility for reorienting my feelings. I accept gladly the responsibility for my actions and reactions.
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Unity Williamsburg Spiritual Center graciously accepts love offerings during Sunday Services and special events, online through paypal.me/UnityWilliamsburg and by check mailed to 624 Queens Creek Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185
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What an inspiring message of hope we had Sunday shared by Amber from Heart for Orphans! Their team, including our own Bob Osmon, is preparing to head to Kenya in the next 24 hours. Let's all surround those traveling in prayer for their health and safety on their journey, and for an impactful time connecting with the children and their communities while they are in country. Bob will be continuing on to Uganda once he wraps up in Kenya. I know we are looking forward to hearing all the stories he has to share about his time when he returns home.
In light of the world news earlier in the weekend, the timely talk on Sunday reminded me of the words from Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers):
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world."
Peace be with you,
A
Amy Shao, President
Jane Siegel, Vice President
Lynda Birckhead, Secretary
Johan Wagner, Treasurer
Jude Eastman, Member at Large
Ray Whipple, Member at Large
Teo Feliciano, Alternate
(*To email a board member, click on their name above.)
Next Board Meeting will be April 21st.
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Please visit our new Facebook home here or search @unitywilliamsburgspiritualcenter. We will be posting the Daily Word, affirmations, meditations, inspirational music and sermon spotlights daily. We will also post information about upcoming services and special events.
Our Sunday Services will be broadcast via Facebook Live every Sunday at 10:30 AM.
Please "Like" the posts and share content from the page to improve our online visibility. If you have suggestions from content, please contact Amy Shao or Jude Eastman.
| Please join us on our Williamsburg You Tube Channel where you will find our Sunday services and other events. For our YouTube Channel click here where you can subscribe to our channel and share it with friends and family. | |
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We are in need of additional volunteers for our rotating schedule of Platform Assistants, Greeters and Closers. Platform Assistants read from a scripted order of service each Sunday to introduce songs and guest speakers and share affirmations. Greeters arrive 20 minutes before Sunday services to welcome people as they come in a pass out Sunday bulletins. Closers ensure the thermostats are reset to non-service temperatures, turn off all lights, ensure coffee pots are turned off and ensure that the building is locked and secured before leaving after Sunday service.
If you would be interested in being added to our rotation schedule for any of these positions or have questions about responsibilities, please contact Amy Shao or Jude Eastman.
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