Your Weekly News & Updates
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EASTER
Many years ago I wrote an article for the Kansas City Star supporting the Gay community and pushing for their equal rights. As suspected I received much hate mail from people who believed differently. I also received a letter from a Nun, Sister Dorothie Anne, who lived in a convent in Savannah, Missouri. Shortly after the article was printed, Sister Dorothie Anne called me and we talked for well over an hour. The next day I received a letter from her. The day after that I received another letter from her as well as the day after that and the day after that and the day after that. For over three years I received a letter from Sister Dorothie Anne every single day except Sunday. There were also weekly telephone calls.
One year during the Easter season, Sister Dorothie Anne asked me what my Easter sermon would be about. I gave her the first five minutes of it.
“They say Jesus brought the dead back to life. What difference does that make to us?
They say Jesus walked on water, calmed raging storms, and healed the blind, the lame, and the lepers. What difference does that make to us.
They say Jesus was crucified, he died and was buried in a cave but in three days came back to life. What difference does that make to us?
The answer to all three questions listed above is, NONE! All the magic and mystery surrounding the story of Jesus doesn’t make a difference. What does make a difference is what Jesus taught and that which can be practiced in our lives such as “Do unto others that which you would want done unto yourself.” As Christians, we can raise our voices and loudly shout praises about Jesus miracles but does that really make any difference in our lives?
The overview of my Easter sermon did not go over well with Sister Dorothie Anne. She explained to me that the Crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension make up the foundation of Catholicism. She said without it there would be no church. I still believed it didn’t make any difference on my spiritual path but came to believe it made all the difference on Sister Dorothie Anne’s spiritual path. We continued to be good friends and I still got letters every day, even though there was this major difference each of us held about a Christian belief. In the days that followed, I began to ask myself what difference it made if Sister Dorothie Anne and myself differed so greatly about the importance of the Resurrection. The answer that came back was, “None”. We continued to be best of friends, communicated daily, and loved each other very much. Somehow that difference in our beliefs got lost and it never came up again.
That experience led me to an awareness that has been invaluable when dealing with adversarial and conflictive view points between myself and those who think the opposite of me when it comes to politics, religion, lifestyles, and a myriad of other subjects. Why should I get angry and upset because of the way another person thinks? Rather than let those differences infect and deteriorate a relationship, if I don’t focus on them they will simply disappear. As Jesus said, “Agree with thine adversary, quickly.” Sometimes that means to simply agree to disagree and move on.
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RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINT
CRUCIFIXION: The tortuous means by which Jesus was killed.
RESURRECTION: Jesus overcoming death and coming back to life.
ASCENSION: Jesus becomes fully restored and goes to heaven to sit at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.
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METAPHYSICAL VIEWPOINT
CRUCIFIXION: Any situation or circumstance that eradicated one's peace of mind and sense of well being.
RESURRECTION: Overcoming or moving beyond the source of one's suffering.
ASCENSION: After experiencing a difficult and debilitating time, one finds him/her self lifted into a new reality that is much better than before.
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The path of life is one of steep hills and deep valleys. All sorts of undesirable, sometimes even tragic, things happen that can defeat us. Easter is a reminder that when in a very difficult situation, continue on. Persevere, proceed confidently, and keep the faith. You will discover that you have within you everything that is needed to move through the darkness and into the light of a new day.
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Please join us this Sunday for our Easter Celebration Service for a lesson by Duke, special music by Millie Edwards, Jim Mair, Geneva Price, Robert Pherigo, the Temple Octet and a special raising of the Flower Cross! You don't want to miss it! If you plan to join us in person, please RSVP.
Parking is available in the parking garage to the West of the church with many handicap parking options on the 47th Street garage entrance. Just a reminder, there are no longer elevators available in the parking garage, so you will need to use the stairs if you park on other levels. There will also be limited spaces available in the front of the church as well as on Jefferson Street.
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Matt Tomasic was an officer with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department for 23 years before an injury forced him into early retirement. A few years ago he invited myself and Ace Wagner to come over to Kansas City, Kansas to look at a piece of real estate he had bought. It was an old, somewhat dilapidated, shuttered Catholic church. We toured the grounds and the inside of the church. It had a certain charm to it but it seemed to clearly be something that had once served a purpose but was no longer useful. But Matt Tomasic had a vision I could not see.
He wanted to turn it into a P.A.L. Center (Police Athletic League) where
police officers would volunteer their time to interact with the youth in the area. Matt saw a boxing gym, with workout areas and other activities to bring the community together. As time continued on, Matt’s vision grew and today it includes: age range of physical fitness programs, tutoring for school studies, a community food bank, archery, Bee farming, organic gardening, community social events, and the list continues to grow. What P.A.L. has done is phenomenal and Unity Temple is proud to support and collaborate with them in their vision.
FROM THE P.A.L. PRESS
Here in Kansas City, Kansas we couldn't be more proud of our community and the opportunity to create new connections with young people. Each of us can remember that one coach, mentor, teacher, or adult who took the extra time to invest in us. This is at the heart of the PAL KCK mission, to be worthy role models for young people growing up in our city today.
More than just fun activities, we want to help KCK kids build the self-confidence, leadership, and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in today's world. We are eager to see them grow and then reinvest their gifts back into our community.
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Matt Tomasic was born and raised in Strawberry Hill and served on the Kansas City Missouri police force for 23 years. Now retired, he feels that it's an honor to lead the PAL of KCK. During his time on the police force, he saw first hand the lasting benefit of strong relationships between officers and the communities they serve.
Mission Statement
The Police Athletic League of Kansas City, KS offers youth the opportunity to interact with police officers in a positive setting while participating in academic, cultural, mentoring and sports programs.
Vision Statement
The Police Athletic League of Kansas City, KS will serve the Kansas City area by providing a safe, caring and supportive environment. Members of the Kansas City Kansas Police Department and citizens of the Kansas City will work together to facilitate a community free from fear and violence.
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Drive thru food pantry every Thursday at 3pm. First come first served. 800 N. 5th St., Kansas City, KS 66101
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The Honeybees at the PAL Community Garden are thriving. Know of a Kid in the neighborhood that would be interested in learning about gardening, raising chickens or honeybees? Send them down to the PAL to get signed up as a member.
To donate or volunteer contact,
Police Athletic League of Kansas City
816-241-6816
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Thriving In The Midst Of Change
Thursdays, April 8 - 22 at 7pm
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In this three (3) session series, attendees will learn simple yet effective strategies to empower them to not just survive but THRIVE through change.
Detailed Description:
Change is the only “constant in life” and we don’t always get to choose how it comes about. Sometimes it’s easy, other times it pushes us beyond our comfort zone, and then there are those occasions when every step seems so damn hard! Whether it’s a move, divorce, season of the year, unexpected medical diagnosis, child leaving the nest, new job (or job loss), the next stage of life, death of a loved one … change is inevitable.
Yet all of these circumstances offer an incredible opportunity to gently let go of the old and powerfully embrace the new. It’s not about just surviving - but thriving in the midst of change.
In this three (3) session series you’ll learn simple yet effective strategies to empower you to:
- Identify your feelings around a specific life change and what you may be resisting
- Embrace the lessons and blessings hidden within any change or circumstance
- Tap into the positive energy within the things you can control
- Step out into the world in a greater way that supports healthy ways to weather both the steady and unbalanced rhythms and cycles of life
Materials Needed:
- Blank paper and a pen for taking notes.
- Approximately 10-15 3”X5” or larger note cards, and scotch or masking tape or safety pins, to use for one of our interactive activities. In the absence of note cards, cutting regular paper into 3”X5” or larger pieces will work as well.
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Removing Writers Block
Multiple Dates
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Someone once said: “It happens to every writer. It’s inevitable. Your prose has turned to mush, you don’t have a creative bone left in your body, and you want to throw in the towel ... Every writer struggles with it. But what you do with it is what really matters.”
This popular workshop is for aspiring (or even established) writers who want to bring their words, stories, and experiences to the printed page.
In this two (2) hour workshop you’ll learn how to:
- Remove the fear that often comes up around writing
- Let go of past “failures” and view them instead as opportunities
- Overcome procrastination, perfectionism, and the pressure to “do it again” (if, for example, you’ve already published a successful article, book, screenplay, etc.)
- Embrace the process of writing
- Create an inspiring workspace
- Set an intention for writing
Class Fee: $25
Class Dates:
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Sunday Speak Easy Toastmasters
2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays
Noon - 1:30pm
Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. Guests are always welcome at our meetings. The Toastmasters program offers many benefits that help people in all walks of life.
As a result of participating in Toastmasters, you will:
Increase your self-confidence, Become a better speaker, Become a better leader, and Communicate more effectively.
This group meets on the 2nd, 4th and 5th Sunday of each month. The group currently meets online at the same time and dates via Zoom. Guests are still welcome to attend.
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A Course in Miracles
Mondays at 6:30pm
A Course in Miracles provides a useful, actionable path for a spiritual sojourner that desires a new mindset, one rooted in spirit. The book is the guidepost for this discussion group. All are welcome during this 90 minute gathering and no prior experience with the book is required.
This course is facilitated by Ace Wagner www.acewagnerco.com and Victor Martin, and co-led regularly by the brilliant minds that show up weekly!
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Every Sunday
Metaphysical Bible Class
Join us Sunday morning at 9:00am via ZOOM
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We-Rise
Every Wednesday evening at 6:30pm, tune in via ZOOM to watch the mid-week service, WE-RISE.
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CODSWALLOP
nonsense, rubbish, bosh, humbug, hogwash, tommyrot
“If you ask me, the preacher’s sermon last Sunday was a bunch
of codswallop."
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1,000 seconds is 16 minutes and 40 seconds
1 million seconds is 11 days and 13 hours
1 billion seconds is 31 1/2 years
1 trillion seconds is 31, 688 years
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A minister told his congregation, "Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark 17."
The following Sunday, as he prepared to deliver his sermon, the minister asked for a show of hands. He wanted to know how many had read Mark 17. Every hand went up. The minister smiled and said, "Mark has only sixteen chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying."
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A priest, a Baptist minister, and a rabbit walk into the Red Cross to donate blood.
The nurse asks, what's your blood type?
The rabbit says, "I'm probably a Type O”
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