What Does Unity Teach?

I'm surprised at the number of people who've been sitting in Unity pews for years that have no clue as to what Unity really teaches. More surprising is the number of Unity folk who have never read the Unity textbook, Lessons In Truth.

On Sunday, we will begin thesermon series, What Unity Teaches. If you already have the textbook, please take a look at the first chapter. Our sermon-lesson is about FREEDOM

Sermon Summary-Falling In Love With God

Key scripture: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with al thy might. Deuteronomy 6:5 and Mark 12: 29-30

Jesus encouraged us to get back to fundamentals! Consistent with this most important commandment, Italian priest, Raphael Simon said, "to fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances." Prosperity teacher, Carole Dore, says we must develop a love affair with God for our lives to overflow with health, wealth, and loving relationships.

Romance is wonderful, alluring, and energizing - but too often fleeting Joel Goldsmith said in the Gift of Love, "Out of the love for God flows everything else, every other love." My theme - we must live in love (active) rather than focus on being in love (passive)/fleeting When you cultivate a love affair with God you will enhance an existing relationship and if you're not in a relationship, you will likely radiate so much love that you will attract an ideal partner. Romance versus love People spend $17 BILLION on Valentine's Day - on chocolates, flowers, dinners ($1 billion on chocolates alone). Valentine's Day should remind us of how to act all year long. Unfortunately, people treat it like Christmas - putting lots of energy into one day and neglecting the rest of the year. Cultivate a deep love relationship with God if you want to draw in an empowering love relationship into your life. Laura's 4-part LOVE formula for living in love- for daily cultivating a love affair with God

L = Life/Light and looking up - join the high watch group/Like when you're in love - you feel so light and carefree and nothing fazes you. Don't sweat the material stuff. O= Be open to your oneness with God. One with God is a majority. Develop your oneness by spending time in the prayer closet and by raising your vibration V= Your vibration must be high - do more of what makes you feel the presence of God - getting out in nature, dancing, reading scriptures, going to an art exhibit, or listening to music When you hear positive love songs - imagine that you are dedicating them to God - this will raise your vibration Like the song, "I turn to you" by Melanie C - you can use it to feel your love for God. God is our constant companion. In her book, The Soulmate Solution, Arielle Ford shared a love letter from God which says, "you will never be united with anyone or anything else until you are united with Me...."

Hearing The Voice of God

It's been a few Sunday's since you've heard and inspirational reading. For your reading enjoyment and encouragement:

READING (By Joel Goldsmith) To know the will of God and to hear the voice of God means above all things developing the practice of having many periods of solitude every day, going into the inner sanctuary. The first argument that comes to most students is, “I have no time. Others may have, but I haven’t.” Of course, it is not you saying that at all. Everybody has 24 hours in every day, so there is no person in the world who has more time than another. Everyone has the same amount of time–24 hours in every day. It just depends on what use is made of those 24 hours. When people say they have no time to attain spiritual dominion, do not believe it any more than when they say they cannot afford this or that. It is entirely a matter of how they wish to use their time or their money. People can afford anything and everything that they truly want, and they can find time for everything. It is not a question of time or money: it is a question of which thing a person values highly. You have to retrace your footsteps to the Father’s house through many periods of a day. Take mastership of your clock and don’t let your clock tell you that you do not have enough time. You tell the clock that you have 24 hours of time each day and sixty minutes in each of those 24 hours. Count them: 24 times 60, and see how many minutes you really have out of which to set aside these periods of meditation–even if it is only ten minutes before the rest of your household is awake, if it is five minutes before sitting down to that lunch or that dinner, or if it is ten minutes before going to bed. If you would use just those few minutes when you awaken in the middle of the night, you would soon find that you are developing a capacity to be still, to be quiet, to be listening.

You-The Urban Mystic

For Sunday's sermon, please read the chapter "Urban Mystic." The chapter starts on page 73.

Does it seem to you that living the Truth would be so easy if you could just get away from the sights and sounds of trouble and disaster? Do you feel that the monastic monks have it easier because they have voluntarily separated themselves from society?

This Sunday we will talk about Christ Jesus and you as "urban mystics."

Silent Prayer Pointers

I received a lot positive feedback about Sunday's sermon. And it was a great service. Below are some helpful hints about silent prayer:

• Someone asked does time and place matter. No! Eventually silent prayer becomes a lifestyle where at least one ear is always cocked to hear that still small voice.
• Length of time is not as important as quality of time. Remember I started off with two or more minutes each prayer session. (I confess my schedule allowed for a lot of these short prayer periods)
• In a crisis, I realize that it might seem difficult for you to pray, "God, all I want is you. Reveal Thyself." Remember we are only referring to 2 minutes (or whatever you are comfortable with). For those two minutes your only desire is to hear that still small voice--to be God taught.
• Silent Prayer is so powerful because (1) it is transcendental by nature. Your focus is meta (above) physical (the problem) (2) it is the catalyst to Revelation that corrects misperceptions that show up in your life as seeming problems. All problems indicate that there is some false idea being held as true and real. Revelation is the corrective.
• About that wandering mind. Just remember your focus is the "still small voice." Gently bring your attention back. Tell yourself, I'm not here for that (random thinking) right now.

Bible Readers Check Your Schedules

Are you a Bible reader this Sunday? If you don't know for sure, it would be a great thing for you to check the schedule that Laura handed to you. Last minute reading doesn't give you opportunity to absorb the message and convey it in a powerful way. Again, please check your schedule.

Sermon Summary-Revelation = Transformation

Romans 12: 2..Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Focus of talk was on transformation - its roots are in the word "metamorfu" from which "metamorphis" is derived. Transformed means to change into something -usually something better is the connotation.

Renew - means to make something new - again with the connotation of something better or more expansive Not only a new year, but a new decade is upon us - it's the time when people typically make resolutions for changes they want - they see the new year as an opportunity for a fresh start - although we can make a fresh start anytime - time is a human construct As people view the new year they make "resolutions" - to create a new job, lose weight, exercise more, find a new relationship - focus is on "new, new, new." It's well known that health clubs are flooded in January - no parking spaces can be found in the parking lot. But, by March or April - many health clubs have become ghost towns! Why? People are trying to make changes by human will/effort rather than changing their consciousness.

Lasting, powerful transformation occurs only through personal revelation. Our focus for transformation should be on revelations in the silence - not resolutions. Best fictional example of overnight transformation by someone not seeking it - A Christmas Carol - story of Scrooge who changes from being a tight-fisted old miser who is totally separated and doesn't celebrate Christmas to a fun, funny guy/dude who helps his fellow man and realizes oneness in his life. It's a heartwarming, timeless story. Scrooge receives revelations (by grace and the love of his deceased business partner whose ghost visits him) through the visits by 3 ghosts (can also see them as angels) - the ghosts of Christmas past, Christmas present, and Christmas future. Through each of these visits, Scrooge reconnects with his heart and with the memories of people he had loved. Increasingly, he realizes how he has gotten off track. By the end of the last ghost's visit, Scrooge makes a commitment to change. And changed he is so that now he views people with love, he becomes jovial, and the town in which he used to walkabout not noticing anything or anyone becomes a delight for him. His new insights change his eyesight - nothing about the town had change - only Scrooge had changed. He taps into his Christ nature and his Christ light. None of us are as extreme as Scrooge - however, it's wise to do a self-assessment to ensure that we truly are acknowledging that God is all in our lives and that we are not subject to the concerns, fears, and worries of the material world. To create a transformation in our consciousness - we need only seek revelation - through the six-step RENEW process. R = Rest and relax in the silence to receive the revelation of the still small voice - touch your ear to remind you (as per Joel Goldsmith's advice) several times a day and affirm that you are listening for a Christ revelation. Also take 10-15 minutes of time during the day to sit in silence. E= Expectancy must fill your consciousness. Listen as if you were expecting to hear the winning lotto numbers as Allen says N= New ideas, insights, and inspiration will come to you E= Embrace the revelations that come - as Oprah did when in 1992 she went into the woods of Colorado to ask God, "What will you have me do?" in reference to the direction she should take with her television show. She embraced and acted on he answer, "Take the high road" and she became phenomenally successful while others went out of business. W= Wonders result - just as Oprah became so successful after acting on her revelation - wonders will occur in your life Mrytle Fillmore also focused on transforming her seemingly ill body by renewing her mind and overcame terminal tuberculosis. Revelation will create the most powerful and lasting transformation for you in 2010."

Don't Forget Children's Church

Tiffany is doing an incredible job with the children. There's only one problem. Where are the children? I am sure you know of a child who could benefit from the empowering lessons that our Children's Church is able to provide.

Sermon Summary--Lord's Prayer

The more I think about Sunday's sermon, and it's been a lot, the more I see that the elements contained in this model prayer are more matters of the heart than the lips. Below are a few reminders.

• The Lord's Prayer is divided into eight (8) sections and the first four (4) concern themselves with the nature of God. Hint: Your worded or contemplative prayers should start with Power--they should start with the nature of God. Not with your problems and seeming personal concerns. Powerful praying is always about shifting your focus from the problem to the Power (God).
• Jesus often links prayer and forgiveness together, and he does this in the Lord's Prayer as well. When you pray, if you cannot enter the "prayer closet" with a forgiving heart, you must enter with at least the willingness to forgive. Forgiveness of others is important, but so is forgiveness of self. Remember our whole aim is to see (perceive) God and only God. When we see others, we are to see (perceive) their Divinity. Yes the humanity, like the setting sun, looks real, but it's not. It's not your reality, and it's not anyone's.
• "Thy will be done." This is all about complete surrender to your Divine nature. In a nutshell, it's about completely surrendering your Body to its immortal, perfect and whole nature. It's about surrendering your Mind to "that same mind that was also in Christ Jesus who thought it not robbery to be equal to God." It's about surrendering your entire life to the presence of Perfection.

More Golden Key Points

How's the Golden Key Program working for you? Maybe I should ask, are you really working the Golden Key Program? When you are really Golden Key-ing, every time you start to worry, you turn your attention to God facts. You don't turn your attention back to the situation to figure out different and perhaps better solutions. You leave the situation completely alone--at least the worrying and figuring part of it.

Yes, it will seem by magic that the problem is solved. Magic, because you did little or nothing to assist in the miracle. The truth is God (the perfect manifestation) was always right there.

Tell Your Friends About The Prayer Line

The "Prayer Chain" is not just for our church family. It's open to anyone who feels they need prayer support. Right now, you may not feel such a need, but perhaps someone in your social circle does. Tell them to call (301)362-6520 (they don't even have to leave a last name) or send an email to prayerworksunity@gmail.com

Why Go To Church

The Silent Sermon

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reasons for his preacher's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, pucked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday." We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

Golden Key Pointers

Below are some highlights, helps and hints regarding last Sunday's Golden Key service.

• Read "The Golden Key" four (4) times this week. Someone asked, "How about more times?" If you feel the need to, why not.

• Don't be confused if you seem to have more than one issue to Golden Key. The Golden Key is not about the issue(s). It's about God. Our Bible says, "That shall keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee." The Golden Key is about keeping your mind stayed on God. If a zillion issues trigger your attention to the truths of God, so be it. It's all about God.
• Remember you are not directing the Key at an issue. You are not working on an issue. You are being more mindful of being God-focused. In the conscious awareness of God, problems cannot exist. That's why they seem to disappear. They don't really go anywhere, but you are more conscious that right where the problem seems to be, only God is there.

Annual Meeting Is Rescheduled

F.Y.I. Unity in Silver Spring's informative Annual Meeting, originially slated for October 25, has been rescheduled. The new date is November 22, 2009.

Need Prayer? Call The Prayer Chain

On Monday, October 12, Unity in Silver Spring's "Prayer Chain" will be up and running. A pdf flier will be emailed to you this week. In a nutshell:

• You can call the dedicated "prayer line" at (301) 362-6520, or you can e-mail your prayer request at prayerworksunity@gmail.com Our dedicated prayer team will respond to your requests. All matters are kept confidential.

Children's Church

The Children's Church got off to a great start this past Sunday. The children enjoyed it, and they learned something. Perhaps I seem a little too excited about the Children's Church, but you know it's been a long time coming. And what's more fascinating is that the coordinator, Tiffany Manuel, seems as excited about it as I am.

Tiffany is making an effort to echo the Sunday message in a child friendly way each week. Sometimes this may not happen as a more appropriate lesson is being taught. Know this, your child is learning something that prepares them to live powerfully.

Our Tithes

This month our tithe goes to the Association of Unity Churches, and Silent Unity. Knowing that our supply is constant and infinite, we gladly release this tithe. Thanks to all of you who contribute to the power-filled ministry of Unity in Silver Spring.

Parents and Caretakers of the Children

As you know, we start the Children's Church this Sunday. Tiffany and I were talking about the how's and how to's of this activity and we agreed to bring the children back into the service during the Tithes and Offerings so that they may get accustomed to the giving and tithing. Please give your child something to put into the offering bag. Thanks to all of you for supporting our Children's Church.

Children's Church

On Sunday, October 4, we will finally begin the first phase of our Children's Church Program. Dr. Tiffany Manuel will be helping us launch this program. Tiffany, as our have frequently pointed out, grew up in Unity and knows the potential of a good children's program.

Parents and concerned adults, Tiffany will need your help. First, there will be Sundays when she cannot be present. We will need backup leaders. Second, we need you to get your children to church to participate in the program. When I am apprised of other requirements, I will let you know.

Sermon Recap--On Baptism

The purpose of Sunday's sermon was to give you a brief history of Christian baptism and then move on to the spiritual significance of this sermon. The highlights are as follows:

• In the Gospel of Matthew, John the Baptist mentions two baptisms: (1) baptism unto repentance and (2) the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The first is a requirement for the latter, but both are necessary.
• The more correct translation of the phrase"baptism unto repentance" is "baptism because of your repentance." In other words the water baptism was a visible symbol of the repentant heart.
• The repentant heart (or mind) is when the life focus changes from getting and acquiring things to having a conscious experience and understanding of God.
• The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the REVELATION OF THE ALLNESS OF GOD. This baptism only happens when the prayer is knowing God just for the thrill and glory of knowing God. When the desire to know God is for a healing or changing of conditions, it is a sure sign that the baptism of repentance never occurred.
• Is baptism necessary? Yes, but not as an institutional ritual. It is all a matter of Consciousness.