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Interfaith Connection Podcast
"Unity" A Faith Born in 1889
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Our Interfaith Connection podcasts during the past three years have explored many faith traditions: Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Taoism and Zoroastrianism. This month we wanted to share with you a deeper exploration of the “Unity” faith tradition. Although this tradition was born in 1889, it is still little known to many. Join us as we look at a
spiritual way of living that helps us develop a deeper understanding of ourselves, God and our world, and which led to Spiritual Life Center and our Sacramento presence.
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"UNITY" PODCAST LINKS
POWR – Parliament of World Religions Conference: www.parliamentofreligions.org
Charles Fillmore – Founder of Unity Movement: Click here to learn more
Unity Beliefs and 5 Principles: Click here to learn more
Unity Village – Worldwide Headquarters: http://www.unityvillage.org/
Spiritual Life Center – An Interfaith-Based Unity Church: www.slcworld.org
“By Divine Appointment” – a book about the history of Revs Michael and Faith Moran
and the birth of Spiritual Life Center by Suzanne Joy-Livingston. To purchase a copy of this book contact Spiritual Life Center at (916) 448-6508. Price: $10
Unity Churches in the Sacramento Region
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Photos and article below from the February 7, 2024 Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento Newsletter.
Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Interfaith Council has been busy! On January 13, at District 56 in Elk Grove, we attended a Dr. Martin Luther King Community Breakfast with Dr. Tecoy Porter as one of the speakers. We were given thought-provoking questions to talk about at our tables.
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On January 27, at Sac State University, we attended the 25th Annual MLK Celebration Dinner, giving the opening Interfaith Prayer for the event.
We are so thrilled to be able to attend on behalf of the Interfaith Council, spiritually uplifting these events.
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In the photo from left to right: Father Franklin Moor, Bishop Jeff Johnson, Mateenah Jackson, Joni Roberts, Rev. Maureen White, Rev Jason Bense, Kay Alice Daly, and Edrine Ddungu.
Reactions to the MLK Event by Rev Dr. Maureen White
“The annual Martin Luther King dinner hosted by CSUS was an event supported and sponsored by several of my diverse Sacramento communities including Renaissance Society, Alumni Association, Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento and California State Retirees. I appreciated Rev Jason Bense inviting me and other interfaith community leaders to join him on stage for the prayer invocation of MLK’s message of inclusion, unity and equality.”
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February and March are filled with historical and spiritual celebrations and events.
Black History Month: Feb 1, - March 1, 2024
“Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States where it was also known as African American History month. It has received recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently in Oreland and the United Kingdom. The significance is to remember important people and events in the history of the African American people.” - Wikipedia
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Ash Wednesday: February 14, 2024
“Ash Wednesday marks the commencement of Christian Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, penance, and fasting leading up to Easter. During the service, worshippers receive ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. This act serves as a visible symbol of human mortality and penance, thus reminding individuals of their need for repentance and forgiveness.” In Judaism, Islam, and the Baha’i Faith, among other religions, there are times to focus on prayer and asking forgiveness of God for our sins. This is a commonality that most religions share.” - Wikipedia
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Valentine’s Day: February 14, 2024
“Valentine’s Day is a pretty common name during Late Antiquity. As far as anyone can tell, the Saint Valentine of Valentine’s Day was one of two guys preaching the good word in Rome in the third century. One of these two was martyred on February 14, 269, thus giving us the date for his eponymous day.” - Wikipedia
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Ramadan: March 11 – April 9, 2024
“Ramadan is in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of 30-days of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. Eid al-Fitr falls on April 9 and is a day of celebration marking the end of Ramadan.” - Wikipedia
To experience Ramadan click on the link below with Muslim Leader Dr. Irfan Haq:
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Rev Dave subscribes to “Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper – for a Life Above the Noise” series. This month Maria honored the spiritual practice of walking a labyrinth. There’s a labyrinth in the courtyard of Pioneer Congregational Church across from Sutter’s Fort you could walk, or you could make up your own spiritual labyrinth on the nature trails of any local park. | |
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Lessons of the Labyrinth
By Maria Shriver
February 17, 2024
I've Been Thinking...
I walked through a labyrinth last Sunday.
Have you ever walked a labyrinth before? If not, I highly recommend it. The practice of walking in silence around and around until you come to the center, and then back out again, is a powerful one.
I love labyrinths. I feel a sense of reverential awe whenever I’m in the presence of one, especially one out in nature. I love how walking a labyrinth mirrors walking one’s own life path. Around and around we go. Just when we get to the center, we have to walk back out. Life’s path is often circular; it can be arduous, bumpy, and filled with rocks and stones. It can also give way to a beautiful stretch, one in which we feel, "Oh wow, I’ve got this," only to then hit a rock, twist our ankle, and start again. Like a homemade labyrinth, our lives are homemade. They can be messy and beautiful, mysterious, heartbreaking, awe-inspiring, and rough around the edges. They are ours to define for ourselves with every turn.
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By Rev Dave Lyman
I have been on an extended road trip around health. I went into the hospital the last week of December and visited various hospitals, ICU’s, and rehab facilities after Spirit and I had differing views on how my body was working.
I came home last Friday and now have such a deeper meaning of the word ‘home.’ We are still in the midst of determining some of the strange workings still going on with me, but I know my healing has been amplified since coming home.
Thus is the journey for all of us – this journey of going home. In the end, each of us in our Divine magnificence shows up on the planet. We are given a temporary body to use for our brief time here. All too son, it is time to go home.
I’ve shared often that one of my big learnings is that we are not here to do the journey alone. But think of the most amazing opportunity we are given in collaboration with Spirit to move forward. The winds blow us to learn spiritually or to get caught up in ego.
Each day I pray that I will learn more on my steps forward. I guess we each have our own ‘smart’ internal phone which measures how many steps we’ve taken. How many spiritual steps have you done lately?
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By Rachel Lyman
I was waiting for a home delivery to be made one evening so to keep myself occupied, I picked up a book and started reading. It was Adam Grant’s book, “Think Again.” I was fascinated by what Grant had to say. He was talking about the fact that we process information and communicate with others by making assumptions, counting on our instincts and sticking with habits. It sounded like the old adage that we consciously or unconsciously cling to ideas that have been ingrained in us since childhood, and find it difficult to “think outside the box.” Grant spoke of roles we assume when we communicate; a preacher, prosecutor, politician or scientist. The preacher accepts things on faith with no proof required. The prosecutor holds tight to what he or she thinks and often attacks the opposing view. The politician espouses a particular point of view with fervor. The scientist, however, relies on evidence and requires experiments to prove what they choose to believe.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to write a “corner” this month, but when I started reading Grant’s book I felt his ideas translated to spiritual processing and growth. In the past few months my life got more challenging and unpredictable. I found myself holding tight to my humanness and I often portrayed the preacher, prosecutor or politician (not taking time for scientific experiments). Uncertainty, fear of the unknown and lack of any control over what was happening brought my spiritual nature to a standstill.
As I look back now I realize there were moments when I did stay true to spiritual trust and hope. Small miracles did happen. Now I’m grateful for this back-peddling awareness and in the future I hope to stay more centered in my spiritual nature as life continues to unfold. I feel like I’ve just said “much ado about nothing” so bear with me this month.
It’s the beginning of Spring and a new year awaits. Keep building those bridges of understanding and stay grounded in your spiritual nature. Make new interfaith friends and share your spiritual oneness with them. No matter what the challenges we face, I know we can bring about a more peaceful world together.
Namaste
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Newsletter Contributions Welcome
If you have a story for our “HAPPENINGS” section - connecting with people of other faiths, please submit your story by the second week of the month to Rachel Lyman at: rachel24@surewest.net.
If you have a story for our “GOD MOMENTS” section, please send your story to Dave Lyman at: tigger1@surewest.net.
Seriouslygod.net is the name of the new daily blog by Rev. Dave Lyman. It is a look at the quirky world. Connect at link: seriouslygod.net
Mission Statement for Interfaith Explorers
“Interfaith Explorers builds bridges by providing interfaith education and events of different faith traditions in the greater Sacramento region.”
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Spiritual Life Center | Interfaith Explorers
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