Tag Archive for: Prayer

What is Unity World Day of Prayer All About? by Marty Beery

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Several years ago while on a retreat at Unity Village near Kansas City, MO, my husband Harvey and I were able to attend the World Day of Prayer. What an eye-opening experience it was for me as I entered the Unity Village Chapel and saw that the entire front stage area was literally stacked with nearly one million prayer requests that had been received from around the world.

Even more impressive was the fact that every name submitted was going to be individually, lovingly prayed for in the silence by volunteers. Harvey and I were honored to be part of this beautiful prayer process with the devoted members of this huge prayer team that had come from across the world just for this sacred mission.

Newcomers to our own mystical, spiritual community in Tustin may not realize that Unity’s World Day of Prayer is both a global event centered at Unity Village…and a local event taking place right here at Unity of Tustin! Always held on the second Thursday in September, this beautiful tradition began just over 20 years ago as part of Silent Unity.

Silent Unity may be described as an international, trans-denominational, 24/7 prayer ministry, which has offered continuous prayer support for more than 125 years. Unity World Day of Prayer provides an opportunity for each of us, through prayer, to focus on the spiritual Truth that we are all expressions of the One, and that this recognition of oneness can, and will, heal the world.

The theme of this September’s Unity World Day of Prayer is “Peace in the Midst.” This theme provides the container for us to cultivate inner peace and explore meaningful ways to carry peace into the world for greater harmony and healing. While Unity Village has its own World Day of Prayer retreat, we will have our own day dedicated to prayer.

Here is how that sacred time will unfold in our sanctuary at Unity of Tustin:

  • You are invited to join us for an opening ceremony in our sanctuary beginning at noon. Members of our Reiki Ministry will participate in the opening ceremony.
  • The opening ceremony is immediately followed by a silent prayer vigil until 5 pm. It will be a time to pray and meditate, becoming conscious and receptive. Our Prayer Chaplains will also be present for anyone who would like individual prayers. During the vigil you are welcome to participate for any length of time.
  • During the prayer vigil, the Unity of Tustin Prayer Chaplains will also bless and honor each person in the prayer requests submitted, with confidential prayer and meditation.
  • The day will conclude with a closing ceremony at 5 pm.

Join with us on Thursday, September 14 by taking a midday prayer break, whether at your workplace or at home, or by stopping by Unity of Tustin for the World Day of Prayer 2017. For updates and more information, visit www.worlddayofprayer.org.

Introducing our Reiki Ministry

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by Reiki Leadership Team: Marty Beery, Harvey Beery, Donna Evans, Susan Gilmore, & Rev. Carolyne Mathlin

Reiki is a Japanese form of Laying on of Hands that connects you with Divine energy. Once a Reiki practitioner has been attuned to receive the Reiki energy, they simply allow themselves to be a channel for its healing flow. The Reiki energy guides itself to wherever it is needed.

Reiki promotes relaxation and peace and reduces stress so that the body’s natural healing energies can flow freely and abundantly. Reiki is safe, non-intrusive, and works only for your highest good.

Reiki has been an important part of our community for many years now. It is offered by several of our Prayer Chaplains on Sundays after service (look for people wearing the green ribbon that says “Reiki”). It is also offered at our monthly contemplative Sacred Circle of Light service.

Because Reiki is such an important part of our ministry, we recently came together in prayer and vision to explore how we could serve Unity of Tustin even more through the practice of Reiki. While we have always had people doing Reiki on behalf of Unity, what came to us was the idea to create an official Reiki Team. Being a Reiki Team member means:

· You have at least a Reiki 2 certificate
· You are a member of the church
· You are willing and available to serve in the settings where Reiki is offered, namely at the monthly Sacred Circle of Light service on the third Monday of the month
· You are invited to participate in monthly Reiki sessions at Unity of Tustin
· You are willing to use Reiki best practices determined by the Unity of Tustin Reiki Leadership Team
· You communicate with one of the Reiki Team Co-Leaders if you have questions or need to step away from the team

If you are interested in serving in our Reiki Ministry, please contact Marty or Harvey Beery, our new Reiki Team Co-Leaders. You can also email unity@unitytustin.org and your inquiry will be forwarded to them.

We are so excited to step into this new opportunity to serve our beloved community through the practice of our Reiki Team.

Answering the Call to Pray

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Lisa Huett
Prayer Chaplain Director

It has been my honor to serve as the Prayer Chaplain Director for two years now. I find with each passing year my faith in the power of prayer only grows. I watch as our Prayer Chaplains serve selflessly every week on Sundays and make monthly prayer calls to our members. When we gather for our meetings the energy of prayer and devotion is evident. I am lifted up by their spoken and unspoken prayers. I hope you are too.

I am also touched by you and your willingness to come to us for prayer. When we rise above fear and doubt, we raise our consciousness and become more readily available to receive the blessing. I often say to myself, “do your best and let God do the rest.” Having the support of our Prayer Chaplains during challenging times and joyous times is one of the great gifts we can receive at Unity of Tustin. To know there are committed souls willing to pray with you, that do not judge the situation, but instead hold you in the highest light is a blessing. They hold what is shared in confidence, ensuring that you can share the prayers that are truly on your heart. If you haven’t asked a Prayer Chaplain to pray with you recently, I encourage you to do that. It is their honor to serve you in prayer.

For those of you who are feeling the call to join in that service, it is once again that time of year when we open up our Prayer Chaplain Ministry to new members. If you are interested, even slightly, in participating in this sacred ministry, I invite you to join me and Rev. Carolyne at our orientation on March 19 at 1 pm. At the orientation we will answer questions such as:

  • What is a Prayer Chaplain?
  • What is the role of a Prayer Chaplain?
  • Position Description
  • Expectations / Commitment
  • Training Schedule

You will also have an opportunity to ask your own questions. Email prayer@unitytustin.org for more information.

I look forward to serving with our amazing Prayer Chaplains another year as we join together in prayer.