FIRST UNITY CHURCH – Serving the spiritual needs of the St. Louis community for over eighty-five years. The Newsletter of Some time ago when I needed to make an First Unity Church You will know important decision, I repeatedly Of Saint Louis affirmed: I will know. These words helped me relax and trust the mind of By Mary Kupferle God. They gave me assurance and led me June 2018 into the new light and understanding that Do you need wisdom and guidance? was needed in the situation. I knew what Do you wish you knew how to handle a to say. I knew what to do. No one else could have sufficiently reassured me. I  Inspiration difficult situation? Is it hard for you to make right decisions? If so, take hold of had to know within myself, and I did know.  Information these words, dear friend, and repeat them often to yourself, saying firmly and Many times this is my only prayer: I quietly, both silently and aloud: I will know. will know. Thank You, God. I will  Illumination Tell yourself often, gently but know. Time after time these words persistently: I will know. A new calm calm my fears, strengthen my will fill your mind and heart. You belief in myself as a child of God, will touch a new depth within and encourage a relaxed manner yourself that you did not know and attitude, enabling me to existed. You will find that you do meet any challenging know and that you know more than circumstance. They give blessed you thought! You will understand with peace, serenity, and relief from Inside this issue: greater clarity. You will comprehend anxiety. with greater vision. You will find that these words: I will News and events You were created to be a channel for know, spoken lightly but persistently, work God's infinite wisdom, and from God a as a track of light within your mind for all Truth Thoughts boundless stream of knowledge flows other thoughts and feelings to follow. You through your thoughts and feelings. You will find it amazing the way answers come as Quotable Quotes can know everything you need to know, they are needed. Necessary information will for God is within you. You can remember be available. You will be encouraged at the everything you need to remember, for Calendar right moment. Steps you need to take will be God is the source of all remembrance. revealed, and events will unfold in order. Your wonderful mind has no limits Humor because it is the creation of God. There is no boundary to your understanding, --Continued on page three The Thirteen because God, your Creator, is universal Commandments understanding. You can understand By J. Sig Paulson anyone and anything by becoming quiet and receptive to the mind of God within you. Flocknotes Updates Crochet/Knitting Group now meeting the First Unity has implemented our new Flocknote first & third Tuesday of each month, program to keep you posted on upcoming events 11am-1pm. Bring your supplies and lunch. via text or email. If you would like to receive Relax and enjoy some fun time together regular updates, please call the church office or creating projects for Newborns in Need. We send an email to [email protected]. are also accepting crocheted or knitted MINISTER, Jan Mourning, newborn items, yarn, & diapers. Randy Schmelig, Minister Third Thursday Quilters Emeritus For information contact Jane Horse Hooky: An Afternoon at the Races Vondruska (636 226-4562) or Tuesday, June 19 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Carpool leaving First Unity at 11:30 a.m. Paul Henley, President Sandy Etheridge (314 309-8136). Carol Ellerman, Vice President Please sign up in the foyer. Denise Halbert-Raggio, Ladies’ Night Out: June 18 at Secretary 5:30 p.m. at Zen’s, 9250 Feed My People Hope Dodson, Treasurer Donations are often down Sandy Etheridge Watson Rd, 63126. Betty Ponzar for all food pantries during Carla Reale the summer months, and Mark Whittington with children home from John Young June 12: The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by school, there are more mouths to feed, so PRAYER CHAPLAINS Dali Lama and Desmond Tutu your gifts of food are especially appreciated Hope Dodson July 10: Before We Were Yours by at this time of year. There is a table for Linda Harr donations provided in the bookstore. Anne Hartupee Lisa Wingate Paul Henley August 14: Origins by Dan Brown www.feed-my-people.org Betty Ponzar Sept 11: Killer Of The Flower Moon by Mary Tumminello If you miss a Sunday lesson, Gladys Young David Grann Oct 9: Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff you can listen to it from our website: PLATFORM ASSISTANT Nov 13: A Higher Standard by Ann www.firstunitychurchstlouis.org Linda Harr Dunworthy 10 Week Class on Practical Metaphysics: BOOKSTORE MANAGER Dec 11: This Time Together by Carol Sunday mornings at 9am beginning June 17 Jane Vondruska Burnett Planned Giving involves donations planned WEBMASTER eScrip News – Remember to use your today which the church will receive at a later Carol Ellerman eScrip card at Schnuck’s. Go to date. One of the simplest and most popular OFFICE MANAGER www.escrip.com, or look for the link on the ways to make a gift to the church is through Sara DeWitt First Unity website to earn money for First your will. However there are many options for planned giving such as: a charitable gift MUSIC Unity as you shop. Thank you! Anne Hartupee, Piano/Organ of life insurance, stock, IRA accounts, and Dean Wiegert, Soloist Youth Education real estate. Calling all kids to join our Planned gifts will help to build the YOUTH MINISTRY TEAM financial stability of our church. Such gifts Denise Halbert Reggio, Director incredible Sunday School Glenda Gebhardt Classes. Also we welcome in the past have played a big role in the Cindy Gibbs extra adult hands. If you financial success of First Unity. You can could help just one Sunday contact the church office at 314-845-8540 for WINGS NEWSLETTER Faye Schmelig, Editor a month, it would make a difference. further details and help in your planning. Email: [email protected] Stop by Our Lending Library Note from your Wings editor OFFICE HOURS and check out an inspirational It is with deep regret that after more Mon. – Thu. 9am – 3pm title from among a wide selection Church phone: 314-845-8540 than 25 years of creating the Wings news- Minister’s home: 314-520-3440 of books written by some of letter, this month will be my last. This has Fax: 314-845-0022 Unity's greatest authors. been my ministry and my joy for all these www.firstunitychurchstlouis.org/ Silent Unity: 1-800-669-7729 years, and I am sad to have to give it up. Choir rehearsals meet on Friday afternoons Both Rev. Randy and I have experienced Wings at 4pm. Our rehearsals are open to everyone. some health challenges, so please keep us in If you enjoy singing with others, we'd truly your prayers. God bless all of you. June, 2018 love to have you in the choir! Page 2 Email: [email protected] From Page One . . . going on?” “Quotable Quotes” If you long to see “Son,” the father replied, a member of your “listen to this.” He then shouted, “I A father’s words are like a family or a friend find admire you!” thermostat that sets the a way out of difficulty, “I admire you!” answered the temperature in the house. the strongest help you can offer is voice. —Paul Lewis the simple affirmation: You will “You are wonderful!” shouted know. Say it silently. Say it aloud. the dad. Untilled ground, however rich, will No matter who it is—sister, And the voice replied, “You bring forth thistles and thorns; so brother, mother, father, child, are wonderful!” also the mind of man. grandchild, employer, or The father turned to his son —St. Teresa of Avila employee—you can count on the and explained, “People call that an great truth that the mind of God is echo, but it’s really life. Life Whatever you think, be sure it is within those you would bless, and always gives back to you what you what you think; whatever you through this great mind of God, give to it. Life is a mirror of all want, be sure it is what you want; they will know. your actions. If you want to be whatever you feel, be sure that it is Charles Fillmore stressed this loved, give love. If you want what you feel. truth when he wrote, “No matter respect, give respect. If you want —T.S. Eliot how ignorant you may be of the people to be patient with you, be world's ways or God's ways, if you patient with them. This rule of The world is round, and the place will give your mind to the attention nature applies to every part of our which may seem like the end may of the one Mind, you will in due lives.” also be the beginning. season become wise.” —Ivy Baker Priest Be still, and know. You will Dad’s Incredible! know exactly what to do and how Man wishes to be happy even to do it, for the mind of God is in Author Jim Wallis tells how when he lives as to make you. Be still, and know, and you his young son ends telephone happiness impossible. will handle all things with ease and conversations with him. —St. Augustine of Hippo grace, and with blessings for all. “Daddy,” the boy says, “I love Be still, and know, and you will you, I like you and you’re The miracle is this — the more we feel the peace, assurance, and quiet incredible.” share, the more we have. joy of realizing that your direction What makes an “incredible” —Leonard Nimoy comes from the fount of all father? It isn’t as difficult as it wisdom—God! might seem. Children, of We must all work to make the course, aren’t awed by the world worthy of its children. Life is an echo size of your paycheck, —Pablo Casals office or retirement A man and his young account. Instead, it’s the Lord, make me see thy glory in son were walking on simple, everyday gestures every place. a mountain trail when that make you a No. 1 —Michelangelo the boy tripped on a dad. rock and twisted his ankle. In Stories for the Family’s The most important thing a father “Ahhhhh!” he screamed in pain. Heart, Steve Stephens offers some can do for his children is to love “Ahhhhh!” came a distant sure-fire ways to be incredible in their mother. reply from the mountain. your kids’ eyes: —Theodore M. Hesburgh The startled boy shouted back, “Who are you?” • Play tic-tac-toe and hide-and- I believe that nothing I deserve to “Who are you?” replied the seek. be ashamed of will ever make me voice from the mountain. • Be consistent. unacceptable to God. This made him angry, so he • Buy ice cream cones. —Lewis B. Smedes shouted, “You’re a big coward!” • Don’t discipline in anger. “You’re a big coward!” was • Count stars together. Faith doesn’t get you around the reply. • Pray with (and for) your children. trouble; it gets you through it. The puzzled boy looked at his • Hug and say “I love you” often. —Anonymous father and asked, “Dad, what’s before the true God. This applies this point of view you can find The Thirteen to the universe as a whole, and to three good Biblical sources of such Commandments us as individuals. It has been said authority. (rightly) that the first four com- Moses put his realization of By J. Sig Paulson mandments revealed through this truth into these words: "I AM Moses relate to our duty to God, that I AM." That is to say, "The and the last six relate to our duty to reality of myself is the Spirit of (This book was first published our fellow men. However, until we God." Jesus Christ had a further in 1964 by Unity.) have some concept of the nature of revelation of the same great truth: God, we do not really understand "I and the Father are one." "The No Graven Image what the commandments are all kingdom of God is within you." "I about. am the light of the world." "Ye are The second commandment of We have discovered that in the light of the world." God, as revealed by Moses, is this: the history of mankind, the Paul, writing in the New "Thou shalt not make unto thee a concept of God has changed from Testament, puts it in this manner: graven image, nor any likeness of generation to generation. It has "Christ in you, your hope of any thing that is in heaven above, unfolded; it has expanded. From a glory." The reality, the true nature or that is in the earth beneath, or viewpoint that God is a great of every man and every woman, is power for good, opposed by the God, pure and simple. There is no that is in the water under the earth: devil or other evil forces, we have other god; there is no other power. thou shalt not bow down thyself come gradually to a belief that There is nothing that is true about unto them, nor serve them; for I there is only one power in the you, except that you are the nature Jehovah thy God am a jealous universe, God the good, and that of God, the Spirit of God coming God, visiting the iniquity of the the only thing that has (seemingly) into expression. fathers upon the children, upon the opposed the nature of God is man's Now we are told that we shall third and upon the fourth false belief. have no other gods before us. We generation of them that hate me, In a general way, such a shall not make any idols or graven and showing loving kindness unto development in man's thinking is images; we shall have no other thousands of them that love me all to the good. However, the concept of ourselves except this commandments are related to us one great truth-the Spirit of God in and keep my commandments. " specifically, as individuals. They each one of us is his real self. Only We might paraphrase this are related to our own nature; and as we accept this truth and begin to commandment in this way: "You the great revelation is that our real live in accordance with this shall entertain no false notions of nature is the nature of God, that understanding can we truly be said My nature, because to do so will the God we worship is our own to be entering the kingdom of God, lead to idolatry." We are thinking God-self, or the nature of God or experiencing the kingdom of now about the nature of God, the within us. The Ten Command- heaven in our life. Spirit of all good throughout the ments tell us how we can live in Most of the Children of Israel universe; and as we have learned, the realization of our divine nature, had a very limited, erroneous and how we can bring this divine concept of God; this was these commandments set forth nature into expression in our life demonstrated when they made an principles, or laws, by which we Thank God that humanity has idol, a golden calf. They took all can let the Spirit of God, the progressed to the point where we their treasures and melted them Creator of the universe, operate in can stand up fearlessly, without down, just so they could make a Our life. fear of persecution, and declare golden idol to worship. They could Actually, there is only one that man is the son of God, that the not have done such a thing except commandment, the first one: Spirit of God lives within man! for the fact that they were ignorant "Thou shalt have no other gods We have made that much progress, of the true nature of God. They before me." The other nine at least. thought of God as a powerful man, "commandments" are extensions Specifically, the second living on a mountain top, who of this one. There is one God-all commandment makes this clear: talked to Moses. They decided that good, all power, all wisdom, all “You shall entertain no false if God were up there, He certainly strength, all love, all life, all joy; concepts of the nature of God could not be down in their midst, there are no other gods, and man within you.” If you feel that you so they made themselves a god shall not place any other gods want some scriptural authority for that they could worship directly - an idol, a golden calf. [that is, in our mind], or on the nature of God. We have progressed beyond earth beneath [that is, in the God is jealous, in the sense that. At least, we do not melt down physical realm of expression], or that Truth is jealous. Truth is our earrings and our bracelets and that is in the water under the earth jealous of its own nature. Nothing make golden calves of them. But [that is, in our own emotional na- false can stand in the presence of we do have many other "graven ture)." We must learn not to make Truth. Truth does not punish images": money, personal any of our mental, physical, or anyone for trying to live a lie; possessions, investments, social emotional projects into images or living the lie is its own standing, institutions, comforts. false pictures or false gods. We punishment. In the same sense, we How do we worship these things? must remember that God is, that can say that God is jealous of His By serving them, by struggling to we are the expression of His Spirit, own nature, His own integrity God attain them or to keep them, even and that many of the images and is the integrity within our own by praying to God to get them. projects that we are working soul; when we attempt to use God We try to make God a means toward really destroy our to accomplish things for us in an to an end, to prevail upon Him to connection with God because they outer way, we violate the integrity bring us happiness or abundance cause us to forget our oneness with of our own soul. We or peace or strength. This is setting Him. That is not to say that these misunderstand God; we have a something before God, and when outer activities and projects are false concept (a graven image) of we attempt to do this we are wrong in themselves-but they are His nature. breaking the second wrong when we allow them to When we realize that God is commandment, because of our destroy our consciousness of our real Self, we no longer pray to ignorance of the true nature of oneness with God. Anything that Him to do this or that or the other God. God is the Spirit of disrupts our sense of oneness with thing. We recognize the fact that wholeness that is within us. God is God is a graven image, a false our work is to let our real Self peace; God is supply; God is likeness. express itself. When we do this, strength; God is life; God is joy. All of us have had experiences we may enter into all kinds of God is the supply of the entire such as this: We sit down to pray, projects, all kinds of activities, and universe; He is also our individual or to read the Bible or some Truth still keep the second supply. In our prayer time we literature, and we feel the presence commandment. should have only one purpose: to of God. We know that God is the The commandment's warning, attain conscious oneness with God, Presence, the Spirit within us. "I Jehovah thy God am a jealous because this consciousness, this Then we go to our work, and in a God, visiting the iniquity of the awareness of our oneness with matter of a few hours (or even fathers upon the children, upon the God, is our supply, our peace, our minutes) we become caught up in third and upon the fourth health. the mental, emotional, and generation of them that hate me, When we try to get God to physical activities of the day. At and showing loving kindness unto give us things, we are departing first thought this would seem to be thousands of them that love me from this great Truth of the nature breaking the second and keep my commandments," is a of God as the reality of our own commandment; actually, it lesson in consciousness. being. We are breaking our illustrates the truth that we cannot Those who try to break the connection with God. We are break the commandment with commandment enter a state of severing the link with the Truth of impunity, because when we do so iniquity, of separation from God, our being. What we are doing is we lose our consciousness of the and will have to answer for it. This trying to get God to give us Spirit of God as the reality of our state of consciousness brings into something which we already have, being. being other states of complete within ourselves, as our We are told that Jehovah, our consciousness. The state of own true nature. God, is "a jealous God." Many consciousness we live in today is Most of us can see that it is have erroneously accepted this as the child of the state of wrong (and it leads us into endless part of the concept of God as a consciousness we lived in difficulties) to worship money and superman, wandering around the yesterday; the state of material things. But there is a more universe and watching His consciousness we live in tomorrow subtle significance to this children to make sure that they are will be a descendant of the state of commandment, and it is expressed doing what He tells them to do. consciousness we are living in in these words: "Thou shalt not However, the idea of God as a today. If in our present state of make unto thee ... any likeness of jealous God does fit in with our consciousness we are unaware of, any thing that is in heaven above spiritual understanding of the or ignorant of, the true nature of God as our real Self, we are going about the nature of God or of articles for newspapers, to manifest this ignorance, or lack ourselves that opposes this great periodicals, and magazines all of awareness, in continuing states truth. We do not entertain any over the world. He lectured of consciousness. This goes on false notions about the nature of throughout the United States, the from day to day, not only to the God or about our own divine European continent, Africa, the third and fourth generations but for nature. We will not depart from West Indies, South America, many generations to come. It will this consciousness; we will let our Australia, New Zealand, Britain, continue until we break the real Self, the Spirit of God within, and Canada. succession by returning to the express itself through our Spirit of God within. thoughts, our feelings, our words, When God speaks of our actions, our response to life. "showing loving kindness unto Because God is our true Self, thousands of them that love me we need never pray to Him again and keep my commandments," this to do anything for us in an outer is not an evidence of divine way. Our work is to remain at one favoritism. This is simply a with this true Self, to let it express Blessing for a Child of God statement of one of the great laws itself; to let it be the impulse that of the universe. Only as we return begins and fulfills our thinking, By Elizabeth Landeweer to the integrity within our own our feeling, our words, and our soul, and learn to love our real Self actions; to let it be the substance You shall have silver as the Spirit of God, can our real and the supply of our minds, our nature show forth. bodies, our businesses, our And you shall have gold— In faith, let us recognize the activities ... to let it be the end of Shimmer of moonlight truth of the nature of God and each prayer, and not a means to an ourselves. We accomplish nothing end. And sunlight to hold. by trying to argue ourselves into it. You shall lack nothing These great truths are presented to us-and Truth never argues. The On this earth below, Truth is; we can accept it or reject ACTION AFFIRMATION it; there is nothing to be gained by And shall be prospered arguing about it. There is one God. I make no Wherever you go. The truth (according to the graven images and no mental You shall be healthy best revelation of the great minds images. I do not try to use God as of all times) is that there is one a means to ends of my own Through all of your days, Power at work in this universe. Its choosing. And shall be strengthened nature is all good; there is no power to oppose the expression of In wonderful ways. its perfect nature, other than the J. Sig Paulson became a Unity All things shall bless you false beliefs and concepts of man. minister after a successful career This universal Spirit of good is in business. He was minister of And work for your good. resident within each man, each Unity Christ Church in St. Louis You shall inherit, woman, each boy, each girl. Our and Unity in New York City true nature is divine; it is the Spirit before going to Unity’s Through God’s Fatherhood, of God within each one of us. International Headquarters as Love’s many mansions Let us faithfully accept the director of the Unity Field truth that God is the integrity of Department and later the Eternally bright, our own soul. God is the eternal Department of World Unity. And forever shall dwell Spirit of all good, which is the He was a world traveler, Truth of our own nature. Having author, and lecturer. He served for A child of the light! accepted this truth, we do not 16 years as minister of Unity make any graven images. We do Village Chapel. In 1978 he not worship any images in an outer became co-minister with his wife, sense; we do not allow mental or Jane, at Unity’s Golden Pyramid emotional concepts to interfere of Light in Houston, Texas. with our sense of oneness with Mr. Paulson was the author of God. We do not accept any belief several books and hundreds of June 2018

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Choir Rehearsal, 4PM

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sunday Services, Knitting/Crochet, A.A. Men’s Group,Ukulele Choir Community Room 10:30AM 11AM 10AM Practice, 7PM Rehearsal, 4PM Project, 9AM Youth Ed, 10:30AM Jazz Concert & Dinner, 6PM

C.A., 7PM 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Sunday Services, Prayer Chaplain Book Club, The A.A. Men’s Group, Choir 10:30AM Meeting Book of Joy, by 10AM Rehearsal, 4PM Youth Ed, Dali Lama & 10:30AM Desmond Tutu at C.A., 7PM Bread Co. at 2PM

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Practical Ladies’ Night Out, Knitting/Crochet, A.A. Men’s Group,Third Thursday Choir Metaphysics 5:30PM at Zen’s, 11AM 10AM Quilters, 10AM Rehearsal, 4PM Class, 9AM 9250 Watson Rd, 63126 An Afternoon at theC.A., 7PM Ukulele Sunday Services, Races: Horse Practice, 7PM 10:30AM Hooky, 11:30AM Hospitality Mtg, Youth Ed, 6PM 10:30AM Board Mtg, 7PM Promotion Ministry Meeting 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Practical A.A. Men’s Group, Choir Metaphysics 10AM Rehearsal, 4PM Class, 9AM C.A., 7PM

Sunday Services, 10:30AM Youth Ed, 10:30AM Wings Non-Profit THE JUNE 2018 NEWSLETTER OF Organization U.S. Postage FIRST UNITY CHURCH OF ST. LOUIS PAID St. Louis MO Permit 909

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The light side - Jokes that can be told in church left helpless beside the road. Then she asked the class, “If you came After crawling into Grandpa’s lap, little Freddie asked, “Were you in the A little girl attending her first ark with Noah, Grandpa?” wedding was impressed with the upon a wounded man lying by the The grandfather chuckled, lovely white gown the bride was road and he had blood all over him, “Why, no, Son, I wasn’t.” wearing. After a while, she what would you do?” The youngster persisted, “Then whispered to her mother, “Why is the A dainty girl spoke first, “I why weren’t you drowned?” bride dressed in white?” think,” she said with a wince, “that Bending down and whispering I’d probably throw up.” A father asked his 7-year-old softly in the child’s ear, she son to say the mealtime prayer. “All answered, “Because white is the The marriage ceremony was right,” the boy said. “Let’s pray.” color of happiness.” over and the pastor raised his hand to When every head was bowed, The child then glanced over at pronounce the benediction. The the boy prayed, “Lord, we thank you the groom and the groomsmen in bride, however, must have thought for the pancakes we’re going to eat their black tuxedos. She whispered he was offering her a “high five.” tonight. Amen.” again, “Mom, why is the groom She raised her hand and slapped the “Jimmy,” his mother said. “I dressed in black? Shouldn’t he be pastor’s hand. The congregation think you should know we’re having happy, too?” laughed. Not wanting to leave the chicken, not pancakes, tonight.” groom out, the minister gave him a “I know,” Jimmy answered. “I A Sunday school teacher was high five as well. Then the pastor just wanted to see if God was paying telling the story of the Good finally offered the benediction. attention.” Samaritan. In graphic detail she described how the assaulted man was