September 2012-Reflections

Spiritual Tools For An Abundant Life- “The 12 Powers of Man”

Using the Powers, One Month at a Time

February—Faith

The ability to endure, stay the course, persevere.

Awakening Souls, Transforming Lives!

I always appreciate the idea of Love as an ideal to focus on for the month of

February. God is Love. What does that mean to you? To me, it means the

very essence of what God is, Love is. All the aspects that we enjoy in our

relationships, our friendships, our parenting, and the things we have in life

every day, but love is so much more than feelings or thoughts about what

Love is.

To Love God, to Love our neighbor and to Love ourselves is no small order

to fill as a commandment. Each day we can focus on the word Love and re-

flect on the inner qualities of what Love is.

1st Corinthians 13 reads: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy

gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowl-

edge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away

all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on

its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things….Faith, hope, and love abide,

these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

All the things that we strive to “GET” in the world one day will have to be laid aside. We came into the

world with no possessions and we will not take anything we have acquired in material gain when we

leave this physical experience.

The love we experience, that we share, and we give out to others is the greatest gift we can focus on for

true and lasting success and fulfillment in life.

To love and be loved is a choice. As we focus on the idea of loving God, ourselves, and all other people,

our love grows and expands for whatever we place our attention upon grows, increases and multiplies.

Let’s all work together to make the choice to love today. Together we can change the world and fill the

greatest need that all people have, to love and be loved.

Unity Christ Church is transforming into a center that is known for love and appreciation for everyone

who enters our facility. You are a necessary part to this transformation.

Thank you for choosing to love and be loved today. You will be richly blessed by your choice.

In Love,

Rev. Leslie

FEBRUARY 2020-REFLECTIONS Page 2

Affirmations by Eric Butterworth

Prosperity-We live in an opulent universe. Supply and success

are our rightful inheritance. Prosperity manifests, not by asking

God for more, but by conditioning our minds through prayer to

accept more of God’s good.

Affirm: God is my all-sufficient resource, my instant, constant,

and abundant supply.

Healing- The Twenty-third Psalm is one of the loveliest poems

in all literature. It is spoken in the language of a shepherd, but

it easily translates into the language of our experience and

need. To the one who is meeting a healing challenge it could

have this faith-inspired meaning.

Affirm: The Lord is my health, I can’t be sick. He makes me

to relax from all tension; He leads me into peace of mind and

heart, He restores my zest for living. He guides me into using

my body wisely for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I am surrounded by disease and the thought of dis-

ease, I will have no fear for You are with me. Your truth and

life sustain me. You prepare a reserve within me to meet all

life’s challenges; You charge my heart with healing life.

My energy is unbounded. Surely health and joy shall follow

me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the consciousness

of wholeness forever.

Tension and Hurry-How can we find the time to do the things

that we want and need to do, and to do them without feeling

rushed, hurried, or tense? We can prayerfully deny these things

as having any part in our life and set a new theme of living

in tune with the Infinite.

Affirm: I work without strain, walk without hurry, and live

without tension, for I am in tune with the Infinite.

REFLECTIONS Reflections is a newsletter published each month by Unity Christ Church. Its purpose is to inform and inspire our spiritual community. Submissions for publication are welcome and should be sent to the church office for review.

UNITY CHRIST CHURCH

33 N. Skinker Blvd.

St. Louis, Missouri 63105

Phone (314) 727-6478

Fax (314) 727-8895

Email officeucc@att.net

Office Manager: Erika Carmichael

Spiritual Leader: Rev. Leslie

Venable

Board of Trustees Michael Montez—President

Barbara Lanier—Vice President Juankee McKinney—Secretary

Rudolph Clay—Treasurer Leonard Smith—Board Member Maxine Curry—Board Member

Licensed Unity Teachers Mary Biggs

Juankee McKinney

Noon Day

Meditation

Every Monday

Meet us here, every Mon-day, where we will have a Silent Unity Prayer Service and live meditation held in

the sanctuary, led by Juankee McKinney. It is

recorded monthly and avail-able for replay on our

church website.

www.unitychriststl.org

www.unitychriststl.org

FEBRUARY 2020-REFLECTIONS Page 3

FEBRUARY LESSON TITLES & MUSICIANS

February 2, 2020

Lesson Title: God Will Find A Way

Guest Musicians: AJSR and Myron Williams

February 9, 2020

Lesson Title: What Do I Have To Give?

Guest Musicians: Doug Erwin and Katie Kopff

February 16, 2020

Lesson Title: Peace in an Unpeaceful

World

Guest Musicians: Deborah Sharn and Rocky

Tucker

February 23, 2020

Lesson Title: The Art of Happiness

Guest Musician: Doug Erwin and Katie Kopff

Office Closed

Monday, February 17th

Our office will be closed on this day, in observance of

the President’s Day holiday.

www.unitychriststl.org

Join us every Thursday @ 10:30am, for our Heal-

ing Circle, led by Rev. Leslie Venable.

Love Offering Welcome

4th Sunday Class

February 23, 2020

“The Art of Happiness”

Do you want more happiness in your life?

At home, at work, with your friends, your family, yourself?

This class will offer the Spiritual Practices that can help you live

a richer, happier life.

Add your name to the sign-up sheet so there

will be enough printed materials available.

Lent is a season.

First, it is a season of preparation for Easter. Beginning with Ash Wednesday on February 26, 2020, we will count 40 days plus six Sun-

days until Easter on April 12.

Lent also coincides with a change of seasons. During this period, the northern hemisphere will move from winter into spring, so Lent is

often symbolized by a return of sun and flow-ers.

Our Lenten booklet this past year was based on a poem called “Fasting and Feasting,”

originally written by William Arthur Ward. This idea of abstaining from what does not serve us in order to nourish ourselves with some-

thing more positive resonated deeply with our readers.

Pick up your Fasting and Feasting 2020 Lent booklet from our bookstore (FREE).

Page 4 FEBRUARY 2020-REFLECTIONS

Thoughts From The Heart (2015 reprint)

I have been daydreaming and thinking about the Idea of God as Love and wondering what it means and feels like to experience and truly know that I Am surrounded, enfolded and immersed in Divine Love. As this thought fills my consciousness, images of love flow through my mind and I think about all the many ways I have experienced love in this life.

I think about my Mother, and how much I loved her and how much she loved me. I remember sitting on our front porch and waiting for her to come home from work. I had such great joy and anticipation in my heart as I patiently waited for her return. I recall many times meeting her at the corner as she stepped off the bus and how I was filled with such warmth and devotion as we walked home together hand in hand. I recall my Dad and how much joy it brought me as I saw him pulling up into the driveway. I remember imagining and wondering what great surprise he would have for me today. I recall my Aunt coming home from her teaching job and how she would always bring home big red candy apples, just for me. And, of course I remember my brothers and sisters and how much fun we would have being outside playing kick ball, baseball, hide and go seek and some-times tag. I remember all the joy it brought to me just laughing, talking, joking and playing endlessly. I also re-member falling in love with that special person and feeling how my life felt so complete, knowing that this love surely would never end. All these wonderful memories bring such joy to me as I recall how these experiences seemed to shape me……… and I knew, I was truly loved.

I also remember the times when there was not much joy as I was disciplined by my loving parents. I also re-member fighting with my siblings that I loved so very much and of course having to apologize to one another for making such a big fuss. And lastly, breaking up with the one I thought was the love of my life. That heartbreak-ing experience brings to mind such enormous pain which at the time, I thought I could never possibly live through. As I look back I have come to know and understand that regardless of what it appeared to be, these experiences were love as well.

As I further contemplate this idea of love, I realize that all of these experiences are from the standpoint of hu-man love. However, my inner most desire is to experience the Divine Love of God. So the question in my mind becomes,” What is Divine Love and how does It differ from the Love that I had previously experienced?” To get a clear answer and to satisfy my quandary, I look to Charles Fillmore, our co-founder to get a clearer explana-tion. Mr. Fillmore, in The Revealing Word, states that” Love is the pure essence of Being that binds together the whole human family. Of all the attributes of God, Love is undoubtedly the most beautiful. In Divine Mind, Love is the power that joins and binds in Divine Harmony, the Universe and everything in It; the great harmoniz-ing principle known to man.” Mr. Fillmore further states that Divine Love is impersonal; It loves for the sake of loving. It is not concerned with what or who It loves, nor with a return of love….Love is an inner quality that sees good in everything and everybody. It insists that all is good and by refusing to see anything but good, It causes that quality finally to appear uppermost in Itself and in all things…….Divine Love will bring your own to you, adjust all misunderstanding and makes your life and affairs healthy , happy ,harmonious and free. There-fore , Love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans, 13:10).”

Wow! So it seems like Divine Love encompasses more than the personal love of family and friends that we all experience in growing up; It encompasses all of humanity and the whole Universe, and binds us together in Oneness and Harmony. God‘s Divine Love brings harmony where there are discords in human relationships and draws to us our own. What a marvelous revelation to know that as we allow God’s Divine Love to envelop our consciousness, everyone is bound together in a brotherhood of Pure Love and Divine Harmony.

So as we continue to contemplate love and particularly the Divine Love of God, let us choose to see the Good and only the Good. Let us also choose to love just for the sake and pure joy of loving. As we do this we will be showing forth God’s Love; filled with patience, kindness compassion, forgiveness, non-judgment and selfless-ness. And , let us remember that we are all called to love God first, and to love our neighbor as our self. In this way, we are participating in bringing forth God’s Divine Love and Harmony into fruition on earth…….therefore, we will be fulfilling the Law.

Let Us Daily Affirm: I Am One with God and God is Perfect Love.

Blessings As You Spiritually Unfold Juankee J. McKinney

www.unitychriststl.org

Page 5 FEBRUARY 2020-REFLECTIONS

How Black Spiritual Leaders Shape

New Thought (Reprint from Unity.org)

In “Seven Who Shaped My Spiritual Walk,” Rev. Charline Manuel talks about her experience with some of the most legendary Afri-can-American ministers in Unity. In “Two of the Detroit Eight,” Rev. Sandra Campbell explores the stories of the two Detroit Eight who are still living.

Rev. Gaylon McDowell, Unity Online Radio host and executive minister at Christ Universal Temple in Chicago, explains why the divinity of humankind is the most important concept taught in New Thought.

“Many people have been marginalized because of race, gender, social status, religion, sexual orientation, and much more,” he writes in “Hardcore Metaphysics.”

“When you realize the psychological damage that went along with the marginalization of people for centuries, you can understand what Dr. Carter G. Woodson conveys in The Mis-Education of the Negro when he writes:

“If you can control a man’s thinking, you do not have to worry about his actions. When you determine what a man shall

think, you do not have to concern yourself about what he will do.“If you make a man feel that he is inferior, you do not have to compel him to accept an inferior status for he will seek it himself. If you make a man think that he is justly an outcast, you do not have to order him to the back door. He will go without being told. And if there is no back door, his very nature will demand one.”—Carter G. Woodson

Their Stories, Their Legacy, and the Future of New Thought In “Answering the Call,” from the 2019 keynote address to graduates and ordinands at Unity Village, Rev. Kathy Beasley spoke of the challenge it is, even today, to dedicate one’s life as a spiritual leader.

“Answering the call of the One who continues to call us is an absolute act of love,” she said.

“It has taken faithfulness beyond measure for us to remain on a path when we could not always see where we were going, to trust in a process that was ever-evolving, and to lean on the shoulders of strangers who reached back to encourage us.” At Unity, African Americans played a vital role in the development of the spiritual movement. Unity has begun better recognizing how these leaders play a key role in our understanding of what “unity” means, and how we together affirm today and always a path of inclusion for all.

“It is one thing to read from the Bible that ‘with God all things are possible,’ (Matthew 19:26),” says Rev. Char-line Manuel, in the essay “Seven Who Shaped My Spiritual Walk.”

“However, to see it in living action is powerful. As a congregant I watched Rev. Ruth Mosley at West Side Unity persist in faith until she gave birth to the Unity Urban Ministerial School in Detroit. I witnessed what ‘with God all things are possible’ looks like in real time.”

An Expanding Conversation From the Unity Urban Ministerial School and Centers for Spiritual Living and more, the New Thought message has matured. It has been carried out of small ministries to a far more accepted and even scientifically affirmed mainstream conversation—due to a strong foundation of leaders.

“Today thousands of African-Americans practice and teach Science of Mind. Many are master teachers and in-fluential leaders,” says Tracy Brown, RScP, a chair of the governing board of Centers for Spiritual Living.“But let’s never forget those who came before, those who led before, those who wrote before, those who prayed be-fore. Let us tell their stories and gratefully honor their legacy.”

www.unitychriststl.org

Page 6 FEBRUARY 2020-REFLECTIONS

PRAYER LETTER

Dear Friends,

As we begin the month of February, we move into the month of love. I hope you are

making prayer a priority in your life this year, and a daily practice for your soul. Love is

the Faculty from April, but in many Unity churches celebrated in the month of February

(for Valentine’s Day). We will switch out love for strength and celebrate strength in

April.

John represents love, the harmonious presence of Christ that lives in all of us. We honor

this presence of divine love within our being, and affirm acceptance of this power.

Our Scripture for this month

Mark 12:28-34 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Great Commandment 28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and see-

ing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most impor-

tant of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our

God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and

with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is

this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment

greater than these

Our affirmation: Divine love is made alive in me. I live, move and breathe in Christ,

expressing this power of love.

Prayer: Sweet loving spirit, manifest thyself in me. Live though loving expression

through my words, thoughts and deeds so I may be loving others.

No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, make prayer your priority. Begin

each day and end each day with a loving acknowledge of the Christ Spirit within. Know

that you are a living, loving expression of the Most High.

Mary E. Biggs, LUT

P.S. Recommended book of the month, Life is for Loving, by Eric Butterworth.

www.unitychriststl.org

Page 7 FEBRUARY 2020-REFLECTIONS

February Friendship Potluck

Join us on

Sunday, February 2nd,

for our monthly friendship

potluck. Please bring a dish to share

during the potluck:

A-H; Salad or Vegetable Dish

I-R; Dessert or Bread

S-Z; Casserole or meat Dish

www.unitychriststl.org

Outreach-Food Pantry

Thank you to everyone who continues

to support our outreach program. We

are faithfully supporting the Salvation

Army Homeless Shelter and Rehab

center. It is thanks to you that there

are people in our world who are hav-

ing food to eat and personal care items

that they otherwise would go without.

Make a commitment to bring dona-

tions on a weekly or monthly basis as

part of your service to the community

and tithing to Unity Christ Church.

The great law of giving and receiving

will bless you in all that you give.

Rev. Leslie

Upcoming Events:

Every Wednesday

W.O.W. Book Discussion

Saturdays in February

You Can Heal Your Life (starting Feb. 8th)

Sunday, February 2nd

Monthly Friendship Potluck

Sunday, February 9th—

Movie Matinee—2pm.

Monday, February 17th—

President’s Day—Office Closed

Sunday, February 23rd

4th Sunday Class—The Art of Healing

Su

nd

ay

Mo

nd

ay

Tu

es

da

y

We

dn

esd

ay

Th

urs

da

y

Fri

day

Sa

turd

ay

1

9:3

0 A

M—

AC

A

2

SU

ND

AY

PO

TL

UC

K

Yo

ga

—1

PM

3

4

5 W

.O.W

. B

ook D

iscus-

sio

n—

10

:30

AM

Sp

iritua

l S

up

po

rt

Gro

up

—7

PM

6

Hea

ling

Cir

cle

—1

0:3

0A

M

7

7 P

M—

AC

A

8

9:3

0 A

M—

AC

A

10:3

0am

—Y

ou

Can H

eal Y

our

Life

9

Yo

ga

—1

PM

10

11

1

2

W.O

.W. B

ook D

iscus-

sio

n—

10

:30

AM

Sp

iritua

l S

up

po

rt

Gro

up

—7

PM

13

Hea

ling

Cir

cle

—1

0:3

0A

M

14

7 P

M—

AC

A

15

9:3

0 A

M—

AC

A

10:3

0am

—Y

ou

Can H

eal Y

our

Life

16

Bo

ard

Me

etin

g

Yo

ga

—1

PM

17

Off

ice C

losed

18

19

W.O

.W. B

ook D

iscus-

sio

n—

10

:30

AM

Sp

iritua

l S

up

po

rt

Gro

up

—7

PM

20

Hea

ling

Cir

cle

—1

0:3

0A

M

21

7 P

M—

AC

A

22

9:3

0 A

M—

AC

A

10:3

0am

—Y

ou

Can H

eal Y

our

Life

23

4th

Su

nd

ay C

lass—

12

:30p

m

Th

e A

rt o

f H

app

iness

Yo

ga

—1

PM

24

25

26

W.O

.W. B

ook D

iscu

s-

sio

n—

10

:30

AM

Sp

iritua

l S

up

po

rt

Gro

up

—7

PM

27

Hea

ling

Cir

cle

—1

0:3

0A

M

28

7 P

M—

AC

A

29

9:3

0 A

M—

AC

A

10:3

0am

—Y

ou

Can H

eal Y

our

Life

Febr

uary

202

0 at

Uni

ty C

hris

t Chu

rch

Su

nd

ay

Pra

ye

r a

nd

Me

dit

ati

on

Se

rvic

e—

9:4

5 A

M

Su

nd

ay

Cele

bra

tio

n S

erv

ice

-

10

:30

AM

Fe

llo

wsh

ip a

fte

r th

e s

erv

ice

in

th

e L

ob

by

.

Regularly Scheduled Classes, Groups and

Events

Sunday Celebration Schedule

Prayer and Meditation Service 9:45 AM in the Prayer Room. Please come and join us for a quiet time of healing and renewal. Bring your prayer requests and get prayed up!

Sunday Celebration & Fellowship 10:30 AM in the Sanctuary

11:30 AM in the Lobby (Fellowship after service)

CD’s of each Sunday’s service are available at the book desk following the service.

Fourth Sunday Classes

Every 4th Sunday at 12:30pm. Led by Rev. Leslie Venable

Healing Circle

Every Thursday at 10:30am. Led by Rev. Leslie Venable

Noon-Day Meditation

Mondays at 12:00 PM in the Sanctuary. Led by Juankee McKinney

Spiritual Support Group

Wednesdays at 7 PM led by Juankee McKinney.

W.O.W. Book Discussion

Every Wednesday at 10:30 AM in the Lobby

Yoga

Every Sunday at 1:00 PM in the Lobby

Additional information is available on the website (www.unitychriststl.org) or by calling the office at 314/727-6478.