First Unity Church
of
St. Louis
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Even though I am not a fan of winter, I do appreciate living in a place where we experience the change of seasons. Just think how boring it would be to live in a city like Santa Barbara where there is summer all year! After a dark, cold winter, seeing the early spring flowers break through the hard ground; the bare trees begin to bud, and the days lengthen remind us that something brighter and more beautiful is ahead.
As we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection experience during this beautiful season, we realize that spring is nature’s resurrection and a promise of positive change and personal renewal for us all. In our human skins, we might resist change, but change is an aspect of the growth process as expressed in the poem by Rev. Dorothy Pierson:
Changes
Changes come that we may grow.
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
We don’t want to change, we say,
We like our life its patterned way.
But wise we are to let it be
A growing time of good
A time to see that
God governs the universe in love
Supporting large and small.
Trusting in Divine guidance now
Let there be grace at change’s call.
For life is change and change we must,
So let us grow and change with trust.
Unity Co-founder Charles Fillmore defines crucifixion as “crossing out in consciousness of error in the mind….in order that the Christ Mind may be expressed in all its fullness.” And he writes, “Resurrection takes place in us every time we rise to Jesus’ realization of the perpetual indwelling life that connects us to the Father.”
So may this magnificent season be a time for us to let go of any darkness in our own lives in order to embrace the eternal light surrounding & indwelling us. So as we bid farewell to winter, we welcome the spring season as a message of God’s renewing life in all creation and a time of joy, growth, and new beginnings for us all.
Happy Spring, Happy Easter,
Love,
Rev. Jan
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Minister, Jan Mourning
Board of Trustees
Mary Tumminello - President
Patricia Riess - Secretary
Hope Dodson -Treasurer
Betty Jean Kofron - Trustee
Lynn Mark - Trustee
Prayer Chaplain Team
Prayer Chaplain Trainer
Mary Tumminello
Prayer Chaplains
Lance Baugh Emeritus
Hope Dodson
Lynn Mark
Platform Assistants
Hope Dodson
Lynn Mark
Mary Tumminello
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Bookstore Managers
Betty Jean Kofron
Mary Grace
Webmaster
Carol Ellerman
Facebook Admin
Eric Vondruska
Office Manager
Sara DeWitt
Music Director
Steve Schenkel
Youth Ministry Team
Glenda Gebhardt
Cindy Gibbs
Claire Gibbs
Sound Engineer
Jeremiah Burcher
Photographer
Roy Vaisvil
Newsletter Editor
Patricia Riess
riess@htc.net
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First Unity Church of
St. Louis Newsletter
March/April 2023
In This Issue:
Minister’s Corner
New Class
ABUNDANT and FREE
Book of the Month
Youth Ed Animal Rescue
Music For March
Music For April
What's Happening
Easter Lilies
Bake Sale
Dinner and Route 66 Jazz Band
Annual Meeting and Luncheon
Dean Christopher Concert
Up To The Minute News
Ladies' Night Out
Men's Night Out
Book Club
Core Values
Humor
Photos
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New Class on Sunday Mornings |
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New Initiative: Abundant and Free in 2023! |
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We have begun a fun fund-raiser to build up our reserves to care for our beautiful church and fulfill our mission to enrich lives through positive prayer, education, and service. Our goal is $50,000. We already have a donor who is MATCHING GIFTS for the first $1,000!
In our lobby, we have a large black-and-white photograph of our church. As each person contributes a gift of any amount, he/she matches a numbered color piece with the corresponding number on the black-and-white photograph. As more and more people continue to give, the color photograph will begin to come to life. At the end of this Initiative, all of the color puzzle pieces will fill the ENTIRE black-and-white photograph, and we will be Abundant and Free in 2023!
Come join us in the excitement to complete our Initiative. After donating your gift, take a puzzle piece of your choice, attach it to the black-and-white photograph, and let the fun begin!
Ways to give:
• Cash / Check (made payable to First Unity Church of St. Louis)
• Credit / Debit Card
• By mail: 4753 Butler Hill Road, St. Louis, MO 63128. Please mark your check “2023 Initiative.”
As your Board, we are visualizing this Initiative with an unwavering belief in the power of Abundance and Prosperity Consciousness.
Thank you for helping make this Initiative become a reality!
Abundant and Free in 2023 Affirmation:
In the year 2023, we visualize prosperity and abundance for First Unity Church of St. Louis and in our personal lives. We trust God and the generosity of our spiritual community, knowing our intentions for abundance are manifesting now.
First Unity Church of St. Louis, Board of Trustees:
Mary Tumminello, Patricia Riess, Hope Dodson, Lynn Mark, and Betty Jean Kofron
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Secret of Unlimited Prosperity
By Catherine Ponder
Expounding on the universal law of giving and receiving, this guide to prosperity and successful living is packed full of practical advice from Catherine Ponder, one of the best-known sages of the New Thought Movement. The central theme is God is the source of human supply and provides many channels through which the riches of the Universe flow in us, through us, as us.
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Stop by our bookstore and visit our Prosperity Table! |
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Youth Ed Boys and Girls Are Excited About Their New Animal Rescue and Sanctuary Project
The boys and girls of First Unity’s Youth Ed are excited about their new charitable project to support the No Time to Spare Animal Rescue and Sanctuary.
The project is seeking both monetary and non-monetary donations to help the rescued animals at No Time to Spare. Located in Warrenton, MO, No Time to Spare is staffed by volunteers devoted to the care of its animals.
Monetary Donations
No Time to Spare says, “While rescuing animals is wonderfully gratifying, it is also an expensive venture. Every penny we raise goes directly back to the animals in our care. But, as a non-profit organization, we rely heavily on the generosity of others to allow us to continue our work.”
For more information on how you can offer a monetary donation to No Time to Spare, click the Donate Button.
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Non-Monetary Donations
If you would like to make a donation that isn’t monetary, No Time to Spare is always gratefully accepting donations of items click on the button below:
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For more information about
No Time to Spare, please see their website
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First Unity Church Presents Its Outstanding
Music Calendar for March 2023
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First Unity's Music Director, Dr. Steve Schenkel, has arranged for a variety of renowned guest musicians, singers, and groups to be with us for Sunday Services during the months of March and April. All are truly welcome here, and we hope you will join us in the sanctuary or online as we seek together to know God, to unfold spiritually, and to understand, love, and align with Spirit’s Laws of Being |
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March 5, Brian Clarke, vocals and guitar. Brian is perhaps the most beloved New Thought musician in St. Louis. He is most recently the recipient of the St. Louis Magazine “A-List” Award as Best Vocalist and Best Musician.
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March 12, Scott Alberici, clarinet. Scott Alberici is one of America’s finest clarinet virtuosos. Known for his superbly rich and warm tone, lyrical phrasing, and command of the American songbook, Mr. Alberici has developed a personal style that is instantly recognizable. His rare ability to capture the moment with subtlety of expression mixed with brilliant and melodic improvisations will keep the listener on the edge of their seat from the drop of the downbeat to the end of the performance.
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March 19, Terri Langerak, harp. Terri is a renowned harpist and recording artist in the St. Louis area. Ms Langerak serves on the faculties of the University of Missouri St. Louis and Maryville University.
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March 26, Tyler Dale, vocals and guitar. Tyler is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. His most recent recording, “Last Goodbye", is available on all major streaming services.
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First Unity Church Presents Its Outstanding
Music Calendar for April 2023
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April 2, Brian Clarke, vocals and guitar. Brian is perhaps the most beloved New Thought musician in St. Louis. He is most recently the recipient of the St. Louis Magazine “A-List” Award as Best Vocalist and Best Musician.
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April 9, Dan Rubright, jazz guitar. Dan recently received a prestigious 2019 Arts Fellow grant from the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission for his work as a composer and leader in the arts. In addition to composing and performing, Dan leads a workshop called The Hidden Jazz of Teams.
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April 16, Deborah Sharn, vocals. Deborah Sharn has been singing in St. Louis for many years and is a guest vocalist at various places of worship each Sunday.
She is an actress who has worked with the Black Rep, New Line Theatre, The New Jewish Theatre, and the Mustard Seed Theatre.
Winner of two JUDY Awards, Deborah has performed her cabaret show, An Evening With Deborah Sharn, several times at the Kranzberg Art Center to sold-out audiences.
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April 23, Chuck Flowers, vocals. Chuck Flowers is a veteran singer/entertainer. He has recorded with the Gospel Symphonic Choir, The O’Neal Twins and the Interfaith Choir, and the Golden Gospel Singers. He performed in Porgy and Bess with Union Avenue Opera Theater.
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April 30, Mitzi MacDonald, vocals and keyboard.
Mitzi MacDonald performs at numerous churches, peace events, pubs, coffee houses, outdoor concerts, and special events. She has opened for authors Alan Cohen, and Neal Donald Walsh at Westport Playhouse, and has performed at the Sheldon Concert Hall with CD release concerts.
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First Unity Church is offering Easter Lilies this year! |
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The cost is $9 for each lily and can be purchased in honor or memory of a loved one.
The deadline for ordering is March 26, 2023.
You may call the church at 314-845-8540 to place your order, mail a check made out to First Unity Church of St. Louis, or pay by Paypal on our web, unitystl.Org.
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Sunday, April 9
You can donate your favorite baked goods and shop for others’ goodies to take home!
Items are sold on a Love Offering basis.
No need to sign up. Just bring your baked goods to the church on Saturday, April 8 from 10 - 12 or if you prefer you may deliver your goodies before the Easter service.
For questions please get in touch with Hope:
hope_dodson@yahoo.co.uk or
Donna: dlllampert5@outlook.com
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First Unity Church Annual Meeting and Luncheon |
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First Unity Church of St. Louis will hold its Annual Meeting on April 30 immediately following the Sunday Service.
After the meeting, a luncheon will be served downstairs, in the Community Room.
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Ladies and Men's Night Out meets on the third Monday of the month! |
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March 20, 2023, at 5:30 pm.
Fitz's SoCo
5244 S. Lindbergh
Sappington, MO 63026
April 17, 2023, at 5:30 pm.
Bartolino's South
5914 South Lindberg Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63126
Please contact Mary at jtpres5111@gmail.com for more information.
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March 20, 2023, at 6:00 pm.
Joey B's Food & Drink
189 Concord Plaza Shopping Center
St. Louis, Mo 63128
April 17, 2023, at 6:00 pm.
The Pasta House Co.
6214 South Lindberg Blvd
St. Louis, Mo 63123
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Join the First Unity Book Club meeting on the second Tuesday of the month from
2 pm - 4 pm. Everyone is welcome. Looking forward to seeing you there!
For the months of March and April, the book club will be meeting at:
Miss Sheri's Cafeteria
5406 Southfield Center
St. Louis, MO 63123
Future books:
March 14, 2023 - Book of Lost Friends - Lisa Wingate
April 11, 2023 - Still Life - Louise Penny
May 9, 2023 - West with Giraffes - Linda Rutledge
June 13, 2023 - The Circus Train - Anita Parika
July 11, 2023 - Three Faces in the Mirror - Veronica Mivon
August 8, 2023 - Christie - Katherine Marshal
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One of our core values for First Unity Church is: SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Spiritual growth is a life-long practice of bringing one's mind into harmony with the Absolute Goodness of God
COMMUNITY BEHAVIORS
- Embracing the wholeness, abundance, and wisdom that we all have within, we open a space to support everyone on his/her individual path toward ever-expanding spiritual growth
- We teach and practice spiritual principles that inspire us to look beyond human conditions and claim our greater good
- As a spiritual community, we make decisions from our inner Christ, contributing to the well-being of one another and the world
INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIORS
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I engage in metaphysical Bible interpretation, seeing my own soul's evolution in the characters, places, and events in the Bible
- To develop increased spiritual understanding, I read and listen to spiritual material, engage in daily prayer and meditation, and attend classes
- As the realization of my Divine identity evolves, I align my thoughts, words, and actions with the Absolute Goodness of God
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Q. What's the Easter Bunny's favorite restaurant?
A. IHOP!
Q: What is Easter Bunny’s favorite kind of music?
A: Hip-hop, of course!
During a Sunday school lesson, a child learned about how God created human beings. The child became especially focused when the teacher explained how Eve was created from Adam’s ribs. Later in the week, the boy’s mother saw him lying down on the floor, so she asked him what was wrong. His reply was priceless: “Mom, I have a pain in my side—I think I’m getting a wife.”
A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom as the children drew pictures. The teacher would occasionally walk around and see each child’s artwork. As she approached one little girl who was working especially hard, she asked what the drawing was.
The little girl told her: “I’m drawing God!”
“But sweety,” the teacher replied, “no one actually knows what God looks like.”
Automatically, the little girl continued drawing and said: “Well, they certainly will in a minute!”
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Minister: Jan Mourning
Office: 314.845.8540
SilentUnity prayer support
1.800.NOW PRAY (669.7729)
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