Easter Time  

By Reverend Liz Petipren 

 

Easter is a time for many people to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and can also be a meaningful time for each one of us to experience our own personal rising in consciousness to a higher level of the awareness of God in our lives. 

We are reminded that through the example and overcoming by Jesus, we are shown that belief in death has no basis in reality.  It seems to me that we tend to leave the Resurrection experience to Jesus and see it for ourselves as only a future possibility.  

Let’s re-examine our concept of Resurrection and gain an insight that we can apply in our lives right now, at this moment in consciousness.  

All the demonstrations of Jesus, including the Resurrection of His body, were the result of His realization of a higher state of consciousness. Jesus literally raised His body from what we call the death state. He was operating from a higher state of consciousness than we can imagine. But He got to that state by allowing the activity of the Holy Spirit to work in Him. He worked with it. Degree by degree, level by level, Jesus expanded in consciousness until he reached the state of awareness that manifested as His risen body.  You see, His raised body was the demonstration of a raising activity that had already occurred in His mind before and during the Crucifixion.  

Let us think of the Resurrection of the body, not as a goal in itself, but as a marvelous by-product of an extremely high state of consciousness that one can attain, as Jesus did, by consciously and consistently “seeking first the kingdom of God” which is the true goal. 

If you and I can think of the resurrection of Jesus as a process, and activity that worked in His consciousness, an activity that He used and taught throughout His ministry, we can begin to see how this process works. We can begin to understand how we can use this same process in our own lives as we work with our own growth in consciousness. We must recognize that we are resurrected daily. It is now time to realize it in this now moment. 

Please join me on Easter Sunday morning  as we experience our own personal resurrection through our Easter Flower Service.  

 

 

Many people ask me what is Unity?

Unity is a link in the great educational movement inaugurated by Jesus Christ. Our objective is to discern the Truth, to prove it and to experience it.  

"Our purpose is to help, teach and facilitate mankind to use, prove
and experience the eternal Truth taught by the Master."
~Charles Fillmore, co-founder of Unity 

Many people who study Unity beliefs are Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians, Unitarians, Jews, as well as people from other denominations and religions. And yes, there are even agnostics who study Unity Principles. Many of these people are content with their religious belief systems and see Unity as a support to those beliefs. Some people are often moved to become actively affiliated with a Unity church or ministry as their spiritual home. Unity believes that God's love and acceptance are limitless, free, and accessible to all people at all times.

Unity is positive and practical Christianity, and is more a way of life than a religion. We seek to apply the principles taught by Jesus in a practical way that enhances our way of living in the world today. Unity Principles teach the practical application in daily life of the principles of truth taught and exemplified by Jesus Christ, as interpreted in the light of modern-day experience by the Association of Unity Churches International . Unity is a way of life that leads to health, prosperity, happiness, and peace of mind. The Association of Unity Churches, in cooperation with the Unity Institute , has established centers of study and worship throughout the world where people study and practice the Unity way of life.  

Unity was founded over 100 years ago in the United States by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. A ministry based on prayer and healing, Unity teachings focus on the loving nature of God, the inherent divinity in everyone and the power of affirmative prayer.  

We look to Jesus Christ, our way-shower and teacher. We act from His directive, "to love the Lord, your God, with all your soul, and with all your heart, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37, 39)  

As followers of Unity Principles, we cherish and serve all people in uplifting, spiritual and emotionally caring ways, and we teach unconditional love, acceptance and inclusion of all people. We believe the teachings of Jesus are about open doors and open minds. We believe that all of God's people are divinely created with equally sacred worth. We strive to reach out to all who are seeking in order to facilitate positive spiritual growth. In our effort to reach out and be an example to all peoples (as Jesus commissioned and He, himself, exemplified in action and deed), it is with joy, love, and celebration of our diversity that we affirm this unified position.  

Love each other, 

Floyd 

 

April V.I.P.

Erna Hribernik

 

“God didn’t divide us” says Erna, referring to the countries of the world. Born and raised in Brazil, she knows that only good can come from God. She has experienced God’s healing power in her own life and has witnessed it in others. She has served as a channel for healing energy. 

 

Erna learned to be a seamstress at age sixteen. Later, she married a man from Yugoslavia who suffered serious lung problems as a result of the war. They didn’t have children, but raised Erna’s niece to the age of six. At that time, 1963, they joined her husband’s family in New Jersey seeking better medical care. They had nothing, literally! Erna prayed and was answered with a job in a boutique. After seven years, she opened her own business in her house in the Philadelphia area. During this time, she was her husband’s care-giver and only support. 

 

Erna originally joined Unity in Brazil around 1960. She became a member of our Unity 08/29/1976. She has served in many ways as a volunteer and member of Women of Unity. We all have benefitted from her delicious dishes on many Pot Luck Sundays. 

 

Her greatest calling appears to be as a channel for healing energy. She has cared for a cancer patient for eight years; learned massage, deep-breathing and prayer while caring for another man for 21 years; survived four cancer surgeries without chemo or radiation. “God healed me!” At age 30, she suffered severe burns. She asked for God’s help and was free of all burn symptoms in less than an hour. 

 

Erna is an amazing woman with an amazing story of faith to tell. Spend some time with her and you’ll want to hear more. We honor Erna Hribernik as this month’s Very Inspirational Person, 

 

 

 

SERVICES FOR APRIL, 2010 

FRIDAY –Good Friday – 5:30 PM 

April 02 ………………..Rev. Liz Petipren 

Good Friday Meditation 

“Breaking of the Bread Ceremony” 

Music: Suzanne Walzer 

 

SUNDAY – Easter: “Flower Service”  

April 04 ………………..Rev. Liz Petipren 

“An Easter Message” 

Music: Suzanne Walzer 

 

SUNDAY – Pot Luck Sunday: 

April 11 ………………Rev. Taylor Stevens 

“In The Upper Room” 

Music: Suzanne Walzer 

 

WEDNESDAY –  04/14, Talks With Taylor 

“Audacious Authenticity” 7:00 PM 

 

SATURDAY – April 17 

Church Beautiful Day, 3:00 to 5:00 PM 

 

SUNDAY –  

April 18 ……………….Rev. Louise Morley 

“Let There Be------.” 

Music: Betty Ferrell & Carole Belcher 

Workshop: Diane Rivers -   

“How To Find the Gold Within”  

 

SUNDAY -  

April 25 ………………..Frank Hawkins 

To Be Announced 

Music: Perry Stokes 

 

TUESDAY – 04/20 – 6:30 PM 

Daily Word Meditation - Rev. Liz Petipren 

 

THE HAPPENINGS 

April – 2010 

 

 

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD 

Good Friday Meditation Hour 

April 02, 2010 at 5:30 PM 

 

Join Rev. Liz Petipren in combining a Holy Thursday and Good Friday Meditation time where you will receive a deeper meaning of the Last Supper by taking part in the “Breaking of the Bread” ceremony. This special service will consist of a sit down breaking of bread and an “Out of Body” meditation time.  

So bring your favorite bread and topping to share and don’t miss out on this fun filled meaningful event.  There will be a sign-up sheet available in the Book Room or call the church office for more information. 561-478-5454 

 

 

  THE WOMEN OF UNITY

The Women of Unity will meet for lunch and a meeting on Tuesday, April 06, 2010 at Noon. The topic for this month’s gathering is, “Soul Talk.”  

 

TALKS WITH TAYLOR:  

Join Reverend Taylor Stevens for an inspirational Lecture and Meditation on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary at Unity in the Pines. The topic for this month’s talk is “Audacious Authenticity.” 

Please see the    enclosed flier for more information.  

WORKSHOP with Diane Rivers:     

Join Diane Rivers for an exciting fun time from 1:30 to 3:30 PM on Sunday April 18, 2010. Learn how to ask the right questions that will give you answers in obtaining your goals and create the life you have always wanted. 

 

April Birthdays

   

04 – 09, Rev. Tim Sodergren
04 – 16, Betti Rogers
04 – 16, Suzanne Walzer
04 – 20, Cheryl LaVigne
04 – 24, Kay Thomas
04 – Suelene Rottura
04 – Susan Edwards

 

Alter Donors

 

Kennith Beil
Kristine Baker
Bernie & Ginny Gardner
Louise Hunsinger
Rev. Liz Petipren
Betti Rogers
Adela Samsel
Kay Thomas
Women of Unity