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ConnectingConnectingConnecting November/December 2017 InsideInside ThisThis IssueIssue Thoughts of the Season After the Turkey Is Gone WordsWords fromfrom thethe BoardBoard ............ ........... 22 After the turkey is gone, what then? Will we keep in mind the blessings HappeningsHappenings atat UnityUnity ............. 33 for which we claimed to be thankful? Or will we allow the chaos of everyday life, TithingTithing CornerCorner ....................... ...................... 44 real and imagined problems, Healing Ministry..................... 5 to intrude into the contentment Healing Ministry .................... 5 we felt on Thanksgiving Day. Music Appreciation ............... 6 The cranberries, the stuffing and pie a dim memory, Music Appreciation ............... 6 will we focus on trivial irritations, PrayerPrayer ChaplainChaplain ThoughtsThoughts ...... 66 or will we hold on to what’s really important, the deep, satisfying, good things we have ToolboxToolbox TeamTeam ........................ 77 instead of what we imagine we want but haven’t got. YouthYouth EdEd NewsNews ...................... ..................... 88 After the turkey is gone, cling to the blessings; SpiritSpirit inin MotionMotion ...................... ..................... 99 remember what makes life worth living; continue thanks giving. HolidayHoliday ScheduleSchedule ................. 1010 By Joanna Fuchs Angel Tree............................ 10 Angel Tree ........................... 10 I love this poem by Joanna Fuchs – it calls me up to a higher view of the holiday season. I find myself pondering the concept of giving thanks and of how easy it is to do so when the table is laden with delicious food and atmosphere joyous. Then I have to ask, “What if…the table held a frugal dinner, the atmosphere one of uncertainty and fear. Would I still be able to ‘give thanks’?” It’s at that point that it’s important to revisit who I am, what my purpose is, and what resources are needed to bring that purpose and me into full manifestation. Spiritual practices such as meditation and prayer, fasting, denials and affirmations, sharing in community, support these inquiries. Searching out inspired writings of those who have travelled this path before me provide grist for the mill. Here is one from Myrtle Fillmore that I find particularly helpful: “Sometimes we begin at the wrong end of the prosperity line, and our methods need changing. Perhaps we try to accumulate money to meet our temporal needs without first laying hold of the equivalent of money on the inner planes of con- sciousness. This inner equivalent consists of our rich ideas, our innate capabilities and resources of Spirit.” If you find yourself having trouble giving thanks this holiday season, I encourage you 5112 Pegasus Court to find a passage that can speak to you at your core; select one or more of the spiritual SSuiteuite E practices mentioned above and go deep. Open to God Consciousness ~ Be willing to Frederick, MD 21704 recognize the “answer” whatever it is ~ Practice your ‘practice’ regularly ~ Share your 301-846-0868 Self with those in your world ~ Remember that Life always moves to Good. www.unityfrederick.org [email protected] Happy Holidays to all! UUUnityUnity in FFFrederickFrederickrederickrederick a Sunday kind of place and so much more! A Spiritual Community 2 Unity in Frederick A Spiritual Community Words from the Board 5112 Pegasus Court, Suite E The new Board of Trustees went on a weekend retreat at the Claggett Retreat Frederick, MD 21704 Center to bond and get organized for the year. We discerned our officers: 301-846-0868 unityfrederick.org President – Kyle Huth [email protected] Vice President – Victor Ayala Sunday Celebration Service Secretary – Nancy Ahr and Children’s Sunday School Treasurer- Debbie Scott 11:00 am Member at Large (with a focus on marketing) – Laura Waggy Office Hours We focused on what we should be about during this first year in our new sacred 8:00 am - 3:00 pm space. We reviewed our Vision and Mission statements and brainstormed ideas Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday about new directions for our efforts. The results will be developed into a 3-year Office Closed on Monday & Friday strategic plan. Rev. Toni Fish We also worked on a process for taking ideas from initial glimmers to a proposal Senior Minister and “fleshing out” and approval process to implementation. Sarah Phillips, LUT We intend on doing a skills inventory of the board to identify if there are gaps in Assistant to the Minister needed areas. We will use this to identify what our needs are for future board members. We may use the resulting methodology later with the members of our Terri Miner Office Manager Unity community to help them recognize and develop their areas of giftedness. & Newsletter Editor We will be presenting proposals from these efforts and our subsequent meetings Board of Trustees to the community in some congregational meetings after the first of the year. President We ended the weekend tired from our efforts (and a little lack of sleep) and ex- Kyle Huth cited about the wonders and awesomeness that next year will bring. Vice President Victor Ayala Secretary Nancy Ahr Treasurer Debbie Scott Members at Large Laura Waggy Connecting is the official newsletter of Unity in Frederick and is published bi-monthly. Submit articles to [email protected] by the 15th of the month prior to the next issue. For the most up to date and detailed infor- mation, see our website: www.unityfrederick.org 3 Happenings at UUUnityUnity in Frederick Services & Sunday School Classes, Workshos & Meengs Sunday, November 5 Mondays 11:00am - Sunday School 5:00pm - Ballt for the Rst of Us 11:00am - Celbraon Servce November 6, 13, 20, 27, Decmber 4, 11, 18 Sunday, November 12 6:00pm - Candllht Yoa 11:00am - Sunday School November 6, 13, 20, 27, Decmber 4, 11, 18 11:00am - Celbraon Servce Tuesdays Lesson by Sarah Phllps, LUT 6:00pm - Musc Pracce Sunday, November 19 November 7, 14, 21, 28, Decmber 5, 12, 19, 26 11:00am - Sunday School 6:00pm - Pub Theoloy at Vn Culture 11:00am - Thanksgivn nner & Celbraon Servic November 7, 21, Decmber 5, 19 7:00pm - Speaker’s Circl Sunday, November 26 November 7, 14, 21, 28, Decmber 5, 12, 19, 26 11:00am - Sunday School 11:00am - Celbraon Servce Wednesdays Sunday, December 3 1st Sunday n Advent 6:30pm - Healn Circl 11:00am - Sunday School November 1, December 6 11:00am - Celbraon Servce Thursdays Sunday, December 10 2nd Sunday n Advent 10:00am - o Greater Good 11:00am - Sunday School November 9, 16,30, Decmber, 7, 14 11:00am - Celbraon Servce 7:00pm- Wnter Solsc Servic Lesson by Sarah Phllps, LUT Decmber 21st Sunday, December 17 3d Sunday n Advent Fridays 11:00am - Sunday School 9:15am - Ballt for the Rst of Us 11:00am - Celbraon Servce - Chldren’s Pageant November 3, 10, 17, Decmber 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Sunday, December 24 10:30am - Spirtual Yoa 11:00am - Sunday School November 3, 10, 17, Decmber 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 11:00am - Celbraon Servce 12:00 noon - Book & Ba scusson 7:30pm - Chrstmas Eve Candllht Servce November 3, 10, 17, Decmber 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 5:30pm - Youth Group Sunday, December 31 November 17, Decmber 15 11:00am - Sunday School 11:00am - Celbraon Servce Saturdays 11:00pm -- New Year’s Eve Servce 9:00 am - Staff & Mnstry Team Leaders Meeng Decmber 2 6:30pm - Drummn Circl November 25, Decmber 23 Sundays 8:30am - Class -- Breakn the Ten Commandments November 5, 12, 19, 26, Decmber 3, 10, 17 12:45pm - Journey To Radant Health November 5, December 3 4 Ministry Team Leaders for Unity in Frederick Tithing Corner If you are called to serve on one of these teams, contact the Team Leader. I found this article on the Unity Worldwide Ministries website Resource Library and really like the way the author presents the concept. Board of Trustees Kyle Huth “Let’s Talk Prosperity Consciousness!” By Patsy Scala [email protected] We in Unity often talk about “prosperity consciousness,” but I wonder how often we think about what it really means. Let’s take a look at this concept . define Book & Bag some terms. and see how it plays out in our lives and in our churches. Jude Oyler [email protected] First of all, a question: What exactly is this prosperity that is in our consciousness . that we want to bring into our lives and into our ministries? I define prosperity Building Maintenance as the state of having everything we desire in our lives. For some people, and for some Kyle Huth churches, this could be money. For others, it could be healing . inner peace . [email protected] world peace . love . joy. the ability to serve. The varieties of our desires are Celebration Service Coordinator endless. At this time, however, let’s confine our discussion to that most elusive Rev Toni Fish and most misunderstood aspect of prosperity. money. [email protected] And what is consciousness? Let’s start first with the simplest definition of con- sciousness. It is that which exists in our awareness. And it is much, much more. Community Outreach Consciousness is what H. Emilie Cady, in her Lessons In Truth, defines as soul . Rev Toni Fish that part of each of us which is non-manifest, and is connected to Spirit, which is [email protected] the Divine Energy present in, surrounding, and as everything in the world. This Drumming Spirit, too, is consciousness. Rosalind Jack If we put these two definitions together, what we have is the idea that all that we [email protected] desire is present in all things. We hear this in various ways in our churches. We are Paula Willey told that we live in an abundant Universe . that we need only to claim our part [email protected] of this abundance, and we will prosper. Healing So why don’t we do this? Well, first of all, even though it’s relatively easy to talk Healing Minstry Team about having a “prosperity consciousness,” it’s a lot harder to have one.