CHRISTMAS—ITS SPIRITUAL MEANING
By Swami Sivananda
Christmas is known to all men the world over historically as the memorable day of the birth of Jesus, the Saviour. Though it is true that Christmas is thus celebrated as the day of the advent of Christ into this world, yet it also symbolizes a very deeply significant truth of the spiritual life.
Jesus Christ lived and symbolized Divine Consciousness. He is the very personification of Divinity. He was born at a time when ignorance, superstition, greed, hatred and hypocrisy prevailed upon the land. The rulers were arrogant and unrighteous. The people were avaricious, indolent and heedless. Purity was forgotten. Morality was neglected. They were intent upon worshipping mammon than adoring God. There was no idealism.
In the midst of these conditions, Christ was born and He worked a transformation in the lives of people. He gave a new and a spiritual turn to the lives of man. There came a change upon the land. People started upon a new way of life. Thus a new era dawned for the world.
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TONIGHT
DECEMBER 22nd at 7:00 pm ET
Join us a bit earlier to listen to some music
Bring a Candle, or manifest it in Divine Mind
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Let’s celebrate the Season of Light
We invite you to find your personal “reason for the season”, to celebrate in a way that nourishes you, allowing the birth of new Light and a new year within you.
Light your candle for the Power you wish to manifest in 2023
FAITH – BLUE - The ability to believe, intuit, perceive
LOVE – PINK – The ability to attract, unify, desire
STRENGTH – LIGHT GREEN – The ability to endure, stay the course, persevere
WISDOM – YELLOW – The ability to evaluate, discern, apply what you know
POWER – PURPLE – The ability to master, have dominion
IMAGINATION – LIGHT BLUE – The ability to image, picture, conceptualize, envision
UNDERSTANDING – GOLD – The ability to know, perceive, comprehend, apprehend
WILL – SILVER – The ability to choose, decide, lead, determine
ORDER – GREEN – The ability to organize, balance, sequence, adjust
ZEAL – ORANGE – The ability to be enthusiastic, passionate, motivated
RELEASE – RUSSET – The ability to eliminate, remove, deny, let go
LIFE – RED – The ability to energize, vitalize, enliven, animate, invigorate
DIVINE LOVE – WHITE – The Ability to engage all the powers, welcome major change, embrace the new
Meeting ID: 896 2229 2733
Passcode: 145273
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WHAT DOES HANUKKAH CELEBRATE?
Contrary to popular belief, Hanukkah is not the “Jewish Christmas.” This is a common misconception that is often held because the two holidays happen to fall around the same time of the year.
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Jews rose up and defeated the mighty and oppressive Greek-Syrian army during the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd century BCE.
When the Maccabees endeavored to light the Temple’s menorah, they discovered that only a single day’s worth of olive oil remained and hadn’t been destroyed by the Greeks. Miraculously, the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days!
As a remembrance of the miracle and a reminder of the oil, the menorah is lit and prayers are said every night for eight nights as Hanukkah is celebrated. Often foods that have been fried in oil such as latkes, donuts and fried fish are eaten.
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WHAT DOES KWANZAA CELEBRATE?
“Kwanzaa” comes from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits.”
Though often thought of as an alternative to Christmas, many people actually celebrate both. “Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, but a cultural one with an inherent spiritual quality.” Africans of all faiths can and do celebrate Kwanzaa, i.e. Muslims, Christians, Black Hebrews, Jews, Buddhists, Baha’i and Hindus, as well as those who follow the ancient traditions of Maat, Yoruba, Ashanti, Dogon, etc.”
Kwanzaa centers around seven principles, unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
In order to avoid over-commercialization, gifts handed out to family members on the last day of Kwanzaa are often homemade.
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before the year ends.
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
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This year we will join Unity Spiritual Centre of Windsor's
Burning Bowl Ceremony.
This will be a hybrid (both in person and on zoom) service and we look forward to 3 communities coming together, as one.
Meeting ID: 707 358 016
Passcode: 224114
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January 3rd @ 7pm ET
After our powerful releasing event on January 1, we are ready to make space for a wonderful 2023. Bring a white stone, a piece of special paper or a journal to write down the word that comes to you.
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Meeting ID: 890 3207 8083
Passcode: 796716
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WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT UNITY
AND AFFIRMATIVE PRAYER!
SIGN UP for the Unity Prayer sessions starting February 25th, 2023!
Everyone one is welcome!
Members. non-members, family and friends too. Have someone do it together with you...and have fun doing it together!
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Affirmative Prayer
There is One Power, One Creative Intelligence, One Source, One Substance some call God. An energy of Love and Light, and it permeates and penetrates all existence as Love, the life giving force of this Universe. God is everywhere present, all powerful and all knowing, expressing itself in me and as me. I release anything that no longer serves me. Living in faith and filled with Gratitude I know that all is well in my world and in my life. And so I let it be...
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Affirmative Prayer Requests |
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Silent Unity
Canada and U.S. Call
1-816-969-2000
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Cheques - can be mailed to:
Unity Kitchener, 47 Wellington South, Cambridge ON N1R 8N4
Consider setting up consistent giving so that even when we are out of sight eg. on vacation, never out of mind.
All donations accompanied by contact information
are issued a charitable tax receipt
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Other links that may be of interest |
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Unity Kitchener | www.unitykitchener.org
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