cou - center of unity grapevine · verification card in the mail no later than the week of january...

Dear Friends, As we enter into the

holiday season I am grateful to be able to

share with you three bits of wonderful news for 2019!

MALCOLM BEATTY – We are thrilled to an-nounce that Malcolm Beatty has accepted an offer to lead our music worship in the 10:10AM service each Sunday beginning the first of the year. Having Malcolm as a part of our worship experience every Sunday will enhance our spir-itual experience. In addition to having Malcolm with us each week, we’ll continue to be blessed with the talent of members of our spiritual fami-ly as well as special guests as they bring inspir-ing music in every service. LAY SPEAKERS – During our Strategic Planning Meeting last year, the subject came up more than once that a variety of speakers, including members of our spiritual family, may be a good idea. We have identified four such people who have agreed to serve as lay speakers beginning the first of the year. Of course, JOHN ROUZER, our Licensed Unity Teacher, will lead the group and will present Sunday messages from time to time. GIGI JOHNSON is on her path to becom-ing a Licensed Unity Teacher and we are excited that she will also participate on the team and speak occasionally. RICK WEAVER is a national-ly acclaimed speaker who captivates audiences with his message everywhere he goes. BOYD COLT is one of our most dedicated members at Center of Unity who possesses a tremendous ability to speak from an “experiential” expres-sion. We encourage you to support these lay speakers; expect to be blessed by their messag-es on a regular basis during 2019.

REV. CAROL RECORD PRAYER CHAPEL – We are pleased to announce the creation of a dedicated space in the church that is for one purpose, and one purpose only; Prayer and Meditation. We will dedicate the prayer chapel in honor of Rev. Carol Record’s practice of prayer during her 36 years at Center of Unity. The prayer chapel will be open at all times during business hours. All are encouraged to come to the prayer chapel to meditate and pray as well as take advantage of the specific daily prayer time that will be estab-lished. The Rev. Carol Record Prayer Chapel should be completed during the first six weeks of the year and plans are for Rev. Carol to return on the last Sunday of March 2019 to speak in the services and for dedication of the chapel. I want to personally thank Rev. Carol for placing her confidence in me to continue to lead the Center of Unity into the future. Thanks to each member of our spiritual family for supporting this transition and remaining dedicated to the growth and ministry of our church. I have said it many times, we have the very best group of people I have ever encountered in a church family. You are loved and appreciated. Happy Holidays,

Rev. Bill

COU.FYI free of judgment, full of love

DECEMBER 2018

“WITHOUT HOPE WE LIVE IN DESIRE.” – DANTE

Staff

Rev. Bill Brooks, Minister

Mary Salerno, Administrator

Amber Holland, Admin. Assistant/ Youth Ed Director

Karen Sanders, Office Assistant

Kenny Green, Volunteer/Facilities/ Event Coordinator

Bob Snook, Pianist

Shari Pratt, Audio/Visual Technician

David Wilhite, Visual Technician

Vickie Muncrief, Bookstore Assoc.

Keith Bailey, Youth Ed Assistant

Brigitte Hughes, Nursery

Deb Grizzel, Nursery

Volunteer Staff

John Rouzer, LUT

Board of Directors

Bill Parks, President

Bill Toon, Vice President

Debby Holt, Secretary

Mark Morris, Treasurer

Kenny Green, Member

Harry Lantvit, Member

Rev. Bill Brooks, Minister Check Out Our App

With the app you can submit prayer requests, view upcoming classes & events, donate, login to your member profile, view our Facebook & Twitter pages, and access our website.

Visit the Members page and click to download at www.centerofunity.org.

Join us to hear this gloriously uplifting new Christmas musical presentation pre-sented by the Wing and a Prayer Chorale under the direction of Dr. Juneria Berges and narrated by Kenny Green.

This musical features Steven Curtis Chapman's evocative "The Night Before Christmas," the hauntingly beautiful solo feature "Born Where the Shadows Lie" and the exuberant and creative styling of both "Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child" and "Soon and Very Soon." The Promised

Hope is simply bursting with good tidings

of great joy.

You’ll want to add this performance to your holiday season “must do” list.

DECEMBER 2 “CELEBRATE YOUR TRUE SELF”

DECEMBER 9 “CELEBRATE YOUR TRUE SELF”

DECEMBER 16 THE WING AND A PRAYER CHORALE

“THE PROMISED HOPE” CANTATA

DECEMBER 23 ADVENT: A TIME OF HOPE, LOVE,

JOY AND PEACE

DECEMBER 30 BOWL BURNING CEREMONY

WITH JOHN ROUZER only have one service at 10:10 am

The Board of Directors has been quite busy the last few weeks. Sev-eral transitions have come across our desk to discuss and decide. First, Rev. Carol made her decision to retire from full-time ministry at Center of Unity, so that lead us to meet and discuss details regarding Rev. Bill becoming the full-time minister. Then it was necessary to make a decision about the reality of Hughes Road Montessori and come to the resolution that it could no longer be sustained with tuition income due to low enrollment this year. There were several students who graduated to public school in May of this year, and new enroll-ment could not fill the gap for the Fall term. The Board and the school staff, trustees and parents made a mighty effort to get the word out in the community, but with heavy hearts, we decided to close the doors to the school, effective De-cember 21, 2018. These transitions have presented issues that, while doors close and we give all our love and apprecia-tion to Rev. Carol, will open amaz-ing new doors and usher in a higher

good and purpose. Rev. Carol re-minded us as we discussed closing the school, that we must be open and ready for the next greater thing that is waiting for Center of Unity and our community. The Board is always ready to hear your ideas for how our church can grow and pros-per - we already see great things for the future. It has been a privilege to serve on this board at this time. I have gotten to know the other directors in a way that I would not have oth-erwise. I believe that we have worked well together having to make some tough decisions. We look forward to working with and supporting Rev. Bill Brooks as he continues to lead our church in new and exciting ways. Please show him your love and support as Center of Unity continues in the flow of pray-er, community, fellowship and out-reach. Blessings to all,

Debby Holt

Transitions are in

your future.

CORKED

11:15 am

at Mac's on Main

909 S. Main St., #110, Grapevine

Get in the Spirit and join Corked in the Christmas Capital of Texas. Bring

an ornament for an exchange, couples may choose to do just one orna-

ment, if they wish.

Sign up at the Info Center.

The Promised Hope . . . starts with a baby’s first cry

Sunday, December 16 at 10:10 am

January 26 I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME (BUT IT ISN'T): MAKING THE JOURNEY FROM "WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK?" TO "I AM ENOUGH" by Brene' Brown February 23 THE FORGETTING TIME by Sharon Guskin March 23 THE SPARROW by Mary Doria Russell April 27 HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi May 25 THE TRAUMA CLEANER – ONE WOMAN'S EXTRAORDINARY LIFE IN THE BUSINESS OF DEATH, DECAY AND DISASTER by Sarah Krasnostein

June 22 JOURNEY OF SOULS: CASE STUDIES OF LIVES BETWEEN LIVES by Michael Newton July 27 THE BOOK OF M by Peng Shepherd August 24 PLAINSONG by Kent Haruf September 28 IN PIECES by Sally Field October 26 HILLBILLY ELEGY – A MEMOIR OF FAMILY & CULTURE IN CRISIS by J.D. Vance November 23 SAVAGE BEAUTY: THE LIFE OF EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY by Nancy Milford

Monday, December 24 11:30 am

Invite your friends and family to join us as we celebrate Christmas during this beautiful candle lighting service. The youth will have their own service at the same time.

BURNING BOWL CEREMONY | SUNDAY, DEC 30 | 10:10 am *only one service*

Bring in 2019 by taking part in the Burning Bowl Ceremony led by John Rouzer. This ceremony can be powerful as you focus on symbolic release of that which no longer serves you, or never did, making room in your life for the good. The youth will have a ceremony at the same time. This year, our Burning Bowl ceremony will be combined with our regular 10:10 am service. It will be our only service that day with Country Truth meeting the following Sunday as usual.

Are you a current volunteer or thinking about joining those who serve during Sun-day services?

Following the church sponsored first Sunday Lunch, we will gather in Fellowship Hall and talk about all the changes that were made this past year in our service team. We'll go over the duties and requirements of all the different positions, up-dating you on the new ones. There will also be ample opportunity for questions and conversation. All current volunteers are asked to attend and if you're considering stepping up to serve, this might answer any questions you might have.

4th Saturdays 10:30 am

CHECK OUT OUR READING LIST FOR 2019 AND JOIN THE BOOK CLUB IN JANUARY AS WE START OUR 3RD YEAR TOGETHER. WE'RE SAVING A PLACE FOR YOU.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

YOUTH ED: Ryan Earll 21 Natalie Salter 23 Claudia Valle 30 Avery Fullbright 31

ADULTS: Bronson Chapman 04 Doug Parks 05 Monica Cordova 06 Mike Record 06 Laura Wheat 07 Margie Jones 08 Faye Craig 09 Kristin Kaser 11 Hillarie Parks 11 Noelle Salter 15 Melissa Gillaspy 16 Violet Gillaspy 17 Anna Lanham 19 Brian Urban 20 Dawn Morris 21 Carol Ramsey 21 Paul Caraway 22 Judy Grossman 23 Lee Spradlin 30

Brian & Virginia Urban 20 Allan & Helen Werst 27

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Celebrate

Each member will receive a membership re-verification card in the mail no later than the week of January 7. These cards must be returned to the church office no later than January 20th in order to be added to the 2019 membership roll. For your convenience, we’ll also have re-verification tables set in Fellowship Hall on Sun-days, January 13th and January 20th. Please be sure to complete your card so that you can contin-ue to receive the benefits of membership and vote at the Annual Meeting on February 24th.

Re-verification

Every Christmas the youth ed program chooses a charity to contribute to during the holidays. In years past we’ve given to Operation Christmas Child and GRACE Christmas Cottage. These are amazing pro-grams that help lots of children have a wonderful Christmas morning. However, this year I thought we’d try something different and help bless people that are often not thought about in our communities and that’s our seniors. I’m so excited about this! When I was in middle school, I would walk to the local nurs-ing home every Friday to visit with the people there. I would paint their fingernails and listen to their stories. I always enjoyed my time there but never really thought about the fact that, for a lot of them, I was the only person coming to visit them. There are approximately 48 seniors at The Lodge at Bear Creek in Grapevine. Our goal is to provide each resident with a personal gift and card. There are multiple ways you can help. Visit us in Fellowship Hall each Sunday through December 23 to:

We will also have a list of gift suggestions available.

Please join us after church to, as Elf said, “spread Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear.” We will deliver the personal gifts, sing Christmas carols, take homemade goods for all to enjoy and let our seniors know that they are important and loved.

Volunteers are needed to attend the event, wrap gifts and provide homemade goods to share! See Amber Holland for more info or email [email protected]

ATTENTION

PARENTS We know how hectic the holi-day season can be so we want to help out! Leave the kids to enjoy lunch, movies & crafts while you finish up some shopping. RSVP at the Info Center or email amber@ unitychurchgrapevine.org by Sunday, December 9.

LOVE OFFERING

Sunday, December 16 11:30 am - 2:00 pm

Ages 2 - 6th Grade

We’re looking for folks to adopt some Christmas Angels. This program has over 250 moms and kids it will help this holiday season. You can buy gift cards or presents for them. You could even buy gift cards from our book

store and we will make arrangements to get them there. If you can help with either, please contact Debby Holt [email protected] or I Can Still Shine at 817-616-3500 directly to see how you can help.

A R T I S T S P L A Y 4th Mondays from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Each month a different facilitator will lead participants through a specific art or craft project. A love offering will be collected for each class. In 2018 we had some great workshops, and Artists Play has become somewhat of a tradition at Center of Unity. Share your talent in 2019 by showing others what you do and how to do it, even if you held a workshop in 2018! If you have the time and a talent that you’d enjoy sharing with a group, contact Mary Salerno at [email protected].

The following dates are available:

January 28

February 25

March 25

April 22

May 27

June 24

July 22

August 26

September 23

October 28

November 25

December 16

Not scheduled. Add your talent here!


Gardening with Kenny Green







Zentangles with Jennifer Brecht



LABYRINTH A Labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness. The Labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world. Labyrinths have long been used as medita-tion and prayer tools.

Did you know we have a labyrinth? It’s located at the back of the property, to the west of the playground. The goal is to make it a peaceful place with benches and greenery where we can go to meditate and to just “be.” Information on walking the labyrinth is available there and, although the area is a work in pro-gress, we invite you to walk the labyrinth now.

I Can Still Shine Christmas Event at Birdville Baptist Church, 3141 Carson St., Haltom City

Saturday, December 8 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

mailto:[email protected]

Meister Eckhart

INNER JOURNEY

GIFTS & BOOKS

HUGE SALE

You’ll definitely want to shop in the gift and book store this month to save big!

And remember, or-der your gift cards early to give as pre-sents, or buy from the small stock on hand.

Sale excludes books, oils and bath products.

Our office will be closed from Thursday, December 20 through Wednesday, January 2, reopening on Thursday, January 3. We wish you and your family a joyous holiday.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for an incredible “rewirement” service! The speakers,

music, laughter and tears were perfect!

The fabulous reception was such a surprise with the posters and

pictures reflecting the past years as your minister.

Thank you for the flute; Mike’s looking for the earplugs and I’m

working on getting the breath to start playing it. The crystal

recognition sculpture is a beautiful reminder of our relationship

and fits perfectly on my office shelf.

All of your cards, thoughts and prayers touched me deeply. I look

forward to seeing you when the prayer room is dedicated.

For all that has been, “Thank you,” for all that will be “Yes!”

You are loved beyond measure,

, Minister Emeritus

WELCOME NEW CARE TEAM MEMBERS We are honored to announce our new Care Team Members: Alexandra Campeau, Gloria Caraway, and Judy Grossman. These caring individuals have successfully completed Care Team train-ing and now join our other members: Barbara Luders, Charlotte Win-ton, Dawn Morris, Jennifer Brecht, Juneria Berges, Madeline Losito, Mark Morris, Mary Salerno, NJ Pyles, Phyllis Lantvit, and Sue Elseewi. This team lovingly supports this congregation in times of joy, chal-lenge, and all moments in between. Thank you for allowing us to pray with you.

CARE TEAM HOTLINE: 817-251-2341

S u n da y , D e ce m b e r 9 @ 1 0: 1 0 A M The bookstore will be open exclusively for the kiddos to do their Christmas shopping, with the assistance of teachers. So open up those piggy banks and tackle some extra chores, it’s time to let the kids learn and get excited about the joy of giving this holiday season.

K i d s O nly

C h r is t ma s Sh o p

9:30 - 10:00 am

Each Sunday a member of the Spiritual Education Council will facilitate a discussion focused on the previous week’s Sunday lesson. Join in for a live-ly conversation. Meet in the classroom at the end of the hallway classroom.

SAVE ON THE TREE OF LIFE IN DEC. There’s no time like the present to purchase a plaque for a loved one to place as a permanent reminder on the Tree of Life. Through the end of December, each plaque is offered at a 20% discount. This will make a per-

fect Christmas gift, or a remembrance of any type.

Fill out a card with your information or see Jennifer Brecht or Mary Sa-lerno for assistance.

October General Fund

Income: $32,969.00 Expenses: $36,750.00

YTD General Fund

Income: $293,727.00 Expenses: $307,386.00

God is the Source of Center of Unity. We are lavishly prospered in all ways. Thank you, God!

Center of Unity 1650 Hughes Road, P.O. Box 667 Grapevine, TX 76051 www.centerofunity.org

Our Mission Statement: We accept and support all people as we live universal truths of unconditional love, prayer, abundance and service.

Our Vision: We are a prominent spiritual and holistic center for inspiration and transformation.

Self-directed communion will be available in the Prayer Room. You are invited to take part in this special activity and to spend a moment or two in silent meditation there after you’ve received the elements.

EVERYDAY OPPORTUNITIES FOR KINDNESS

♥ Spend an hour writing Christmas cards to people you might interact with on every day engagements: cashiers, baristas, those in the service industry, etc. Then take notice of those opportunities when an overworked or overlooked worker could use an extra smile and give them one of your cards. Make the most of every opportunity during the holidays when “strangers” may be more open to receiving a warm greeting.

♥ “Can I pick something up for you?” Everyone is so stressed over the holidays. If you’re going to the store already, call a neighbor you think could use a break and ask if they’d like you to pick something up for them while you’re at the store.

♥ Help a teacher get the supplies needed for class so students can get the tools, supplies and experiences they need for a great education. Here’s an opportunity where a small dona-tion will make a big difference.

♥ When you see people doing something right, tell them. It’s always a great time to give out compliments, but since the holidays can be stressful – your compliments might be even more appreciated than usual. If you have something nice to say, then say it! Find opportu-nities to give compliments. It costs nothing, takes no time, and could make someone’s entire day. Don’t just think it. Say it.

Come enjoy our Soup Bar!

Suggested Love

Offering $5

Great time to invite a friend!

No sign-up

required. Just come on down!

As we begin this season of giving and focus on step-ping out of the darkness into the light, the finance committee would like to thank each of you for shin-ing your light on our con-gregation. Your spirit of giving is so deeply appreci-ated! We wish you a Merry Christmas and send wishes for all good things in the coming year! With gratitude,

Mary Salerno, Finance Committee

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 9:00 am - 10:15 am Yoga & Meditation

2 8:15 am Country Truth

9:20 - 9:40 am Communion

9:30 - 10:00 am Sunday School

10:10 am “Celebrate Your True Self”

11:15 am: Sunday Lunch

3

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Ukulele Lesson

4

11:30 am Turnaround Tuesday

Bible Study

6:30 pm Centering Prayer

5

6

7 Office Closed

8

9:00 am - 10:15 am Yoga & Meditation

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

I Can Still Shine Christmas Event

9 8:15 am - Country Truth 9:30 am - 10 am Sunday School

10:10 am: “Celebrate Your True Self” Kids Only Christmas Shop Adopt-a-Senior Items Due RSVP for Kids Drop & Shop

11:15 am: Corked Christmas

10

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Ukulele Lesson

11


Bible Study


12

13 14 Office Closed

15


16 8:15 am - Country Truth

9:30 - 10:00 am: Sunday School

10:10 am “The Promised Hope” Cantata

Adopt-a-Senior Monetary Donations & Wrapped Gifts Due

11:30 am - 2:00 pm Kids Drop & Shop

17

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Ukulele Lesson

18


Bible Study


19 20 Office Closed

21 Office Closed

22


23 Spam Sunday 8:15 am - Country Truth

9:30 am - 10:00 am Sunday School

10:10 am “Advent: A Time of Hope, Love,

Joy and Peace” 12:00 pm

24

11:30 am Christmas Eve Service

25 Merry Christmas

Office Closed

26 Office Closed

27 Office Closed

28 Office Closed

29

30 10:10 am Only

“Burning Bowl Ceremony”

31 Office Closed

cou - center of unity grapevine · verification card in the mail no later than the week of january...

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