Happy New Year! Cheers to 2016! C’est La Vie to 2015!

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Tim Truitt, Board Treasurer

I hopTim Truitte your Holidays were filled with love, peace and Joy.  Our Burning Bowl service on New Year’s Eve reminds us to remember and then release the stuff that no longer serves us and then set our intention for the New Year ahead.  Remember the adage:  “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.”  When spiritual practice is the foundation of our lives, we don’t need to fall into that insanity trap.  When I think of our spiritual practices and the commitments we made on Commitment Sunday during Adventure in Faith, I ask myself how I’m doing so far in our areas of practice.

  • Prayer and Meditation
  • Tithing and Conscious Giving
  • Spiritual Study
  • Devotion
  • Selfless Service
  • Transformation of the self

Are you willing to do a similar personal inventory?  I really welcome the opportunity to review these practices and re-commit as needed, even challenging myself to go deeper.   It’s so common to have great intentions and make New Year’s resolutions, only to fall back into old habits. Miracles happen every day but most of us are on auto pilot and do not even realize it.  Taking conscious action to manifest what we want to see in our life is what makes the difference.

While all the spiritual practices are important, as the Board treasurer, I naturally focus on our church finances and our consciousness of giving.  Unity of Tustin is entirely self-sustaining.  All the aspects of our church, the staff, the programs and the property, are maintained through your donations. I am constantly asking myself, “have I given back to Unity as much as I have received?” I encourage you to ask that question of yourself as well.

There are several ways you can give to Unity:

  • Cash
  • Checks
  • Credit Card – on-line at unitytustin.org/donate
  • Recurring Donation by credit or debit card – call 714-730-6392
  • Stock donations
  • Including the church as a beneficiary in your will or trust
  • Creating an insurance policy with the church as the beneficiary
  • Legacy gifts

If you have further questions related to financial giving, please contact Mary Jeanne Hawes, Director of Ministry Operations.

Intention backed by action is a powerful force. My responsibility as your Board treasurer is to emphasize that we all share in the intention to support our spiritual home. Put action behind this intention to preserve, maintain and grow Unity of Tustin.

As we enter 2016 I invite you to make a change and be all you can be for those around you witness.  Let your light shine bright by evidence of the work you do, practicing the spiritual principles and giving back to your source, Unity of Tustin, so that future generations always have these sacred grounds and the many ministries supported by your financial support.

My intention is for a prosperous 2016!

 

Statement from Unity Ministers & Leaders regarding ban on Muslims

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December 12, 2015
Ministers and Spiritual Leaders of Unity Worldwide Ministries adopt the following resolution:

The ministers and spiritual leaders of Unity Worldwide Ministries condemn hate speech and any call to ban Muslims from entering the United States. We believe in the equality of all people and the Golden Rule in almost all world religions. We refuse to condone any policy of discrimination against others. We believe that all people have been created in the “image and likeness of the Divine.” (Genesis 1:26-27) and we hold all people as our sacred brothers and sisters. In Unity, we understand our sacred oneness with all people and realize that any split in that oneness, is a split within the very fabric of our own nature.

We realize that we learn and deepen our spiritual understanding by coming together, standing together, and learning from one another. We realize that FEAR stands for False Evidence Appearing Real, and we refuse to give power to any fear. We understand that while fear may be a natural immediate response to situations, it is not a response that leads to wise actions, for it injures ourselves, our bodies and our relationships. We call on all people to lift their consciousness to one of compassion where we are led by God and by the wisdom within our hearts. It is up to us to denounce the spread of fear which separates us from our innate wisdom and from our human family. It is up to us to embrace our shared humanity as we welcome in the stranger and realize that we are one family in God. During this sacred time of Christmas, let us make room in the Inn of our hearts and our Nation for the sacred families that flee terrorism, for as we do this, we raise not only our own consciousness but the consciousness of our planet! We find the Peace that passes understanding and make a place for it in this world!