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6073 Summit Blvd
Office: 561.478.5454 |
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| Unity in the Pines: A Christian Community Church that Love is Growing. | ||
Unity in the Pines
A Christian Community Church Newsletters Editors -- Joyce Bailey and Kristine Baker
Christmas
By Reverend Liz Petipren President, Board of Trustees
It seems there is a basic human need to periodically move outside of our daily experience and connect our lives with something greater than ourselves. That is why, even in our society with the wonders of technology all around us – we still set aside time to partake in meaningful rituals. So it’s time, once again, to tell the story we have heard so often and to celebrate Jesus’ birth. What child is there who can’t recite the story, and yet what adult is there who can give the deeper meaning of it? In Unity, we look at the story metaphysically, which means we see beyond the words. We put ourselves into the story and see that every character and place are part of us. I believe that each of us comes to a time in life when we feel the urge to go beyond the literal stories of our everyday lives; to go beyond our intellect and what we see on the surface. It seems we have need of a time to feed the soul – to take part in something higher and deeper. That’s what Christmas – and the story – offer us. But in order to take part in the mystery, the richness, and the beauty of it all, we must open our hearts. Then we see this is our birth too – this is our awakening. There are so many elements in the Christmas story that have special meaning concerning our spiritual journey. Jesus represents the Christ Spirit within us that waits to be reborn. He was also an example of what is possible for all of us. Symbolically, the Star of Bethlehem represents that Christ consciousness and only those who are willing to accept life from a higher spiritual perspective are able to see the Star. The Wise Men, who represent our inner wisdom, followed the Star from the East (a place of Spiritual consciousness). Now isn’t it interesting that Herod represents our ego that sees anything spiritual as a threat. Herod saw Jesus as a threat to his worldly kingdom and so wanted to get rid of Him. The four Sundays of Advent provide a preparatory time to find the beauty of Christmas. Just as the Star led the Wise Men, it shines for us too – leading us into a new way of thinking, a new way of abundant living. On behalf of the Board of Trustees I welcome you, your family and friends to join us in celebrating this beautiful season.
In Christmas Light,
Rev. Liz
Christmas Greetings from the
Editors
Sunday December 6th Rev. Taylor Stevens “Coming To” Music: Suzanne Walzer
Sunday December 13th Rev. Bob Konrad - “The Perfect Gift” Music: Suzanne Walzer Pot Luck Sunday Board Meeting
Friday December 18th Suzanne Walzer “Christmas Carole Sing” 6:00 PM
Sunday December 20th (This Service may take longer than 60 minutes) Rev. Louise Morley Rev. Tim Sodergren Christmas Candle Light Service Music: Betty Ferrell & Carol Belcher
Thursday December 24th 6:00 PM (This Service may take longer than 60 minutes) Rev. Liz Petipren “12 Power Christmas Eve Candle Light Service” Music: Suzanne Walzer & Jane Seaman
Sunday December 27th Rev. Liz Petipren “Let Go and Let God” Burning Bowl Ceremony Music: Perry Stokes
December’s
V.I.P.’s Hilton & Lillian Stone By Kristine Baker “We were born at exactly the right time and in exactly the right place. We both had very good parents. We grew up during the great depression but we did not feel depressed.” That’s Hilton Stone writing about his life with his wife, Lillian. They met in St. Louis in 1947 and have been happily married for more than 61 years. Hilton likes to say “if someone had told me, when I was 20 years old, that someday I would be madly in love with an 82-year old woman, I would have thought they were crazy.” In 1979, Lillian and Hilton moved to Florida from Connecticut. Because they liked what they had been reading about Unity, they joined the church in West Palm Beach. Over the years, Hilton has been on the Board and Lillian has served as a Sacred Server. Hilton takes care of the financial books for us, and has done so for many years. They are two of our most faithful attendees. Lillian and Hilton stay active physically, mentally and spiritually. They owe their financial prosperity to their early depression training and to tithing. Hilton served in the U.S. Army during WW II and took advantage of the G.I. Bill to earn an engineering degree. Lillian attended college and over the years has continued to read and research healthy life styles. The couple has built three houses and lived in two of them. They have four children – Hilton III, Arthur, Dale and Christina. A favorite quote of Hilton’s comes from J. Paul Getty: “I’d gladly give up my millions for one experience of marital happiness.” Well, Lillian and Hilton Stone are setting an example of how to live and love, stay healthy and happy, and prosperous for more than six decades. That is why they are Unity in the Pines “Very Inspirational People”.
Holiday Season Events At Unity in the Pines December 2009
The Advent Season Take part this Advent Season by reconnecting with the spirit of faith, peace, love and joy that represent each of the four Sundays in Advent. You may sign up to light the candle on the Advent Wreath and do the reading for one of the Sundays. An Advent booklet from Silent Unity will be available to everyone which is an aid in reclaiming our spiritual rebirth, the essential meaning of Christmas.
Women of Unity Holiday Luncheon
Tuesday, December 08, 2009, 12 noon at Perkins Restaurant. Please see Louise Hunsinger for reservations. The cost is $12.50 per person. Everyone is invited.
Join Rev. Taylor Stevens on Wednesday, December 9th for his monthly, “Talks with Taylor” Lecture, titled “Making Room Within”. The service starts at 7:00 PM. Music by Suzanne Walzer.
Join Perry Stokes for a “Christmas Concert” at Old School Square in Delray Beach on Friday, December 11th at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $20.00. Call 561-243-7922 to purchase tickets ahead of time.
Christmas Carol
Sing Friday, December 18, 2009 6:00 PM
Join Suzanne Walzer at Unity in the Pines for our 1st annual “Christmas Carol Sing”. Everyone loves to sing Christmas Carols. The Holidays are the perfect opportunity to come together and have fun and sing, sing and sing! Both spiritual and traditional Christmas Carols will be presented. This event will also feature a Children’s Choir. Refreshments will be served. Call the church office to make arrangements if you want to be picked up.
December Birthday’s 06 – Milton Green 29 - Helen Smellie 11 – Inga Lohgren 29 – Christiana Callahan 30 – Suzanne Bauchner 30 – Ira Goldstein
Christmas Carol Sing Friday, December 18, 2009 6:00 PM At Unity in the Pines
Everyone loves and wants to sing Christmas Carols whether they are Spiritual or Traditional, the Holidays are the perfect opportunity to come together have fun and sing, sing, sing, sing!
Children's
Choir
Join Suzanne Walzer & be a part of Unity in the Pines 1st Annual “Christmas Carol Sing Deck the Halls, Angels We Have Heard On High, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town of Bethlehem, My Favorite Things, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, O Christmas Tree, The Twelve Days of Christmas and many, many more.
Call the Church Office at 561-478-5454 if you would like a pick-up
INVOCATION I am now in the presence of Pure Being and immersed in the Holy Spirit of life, love and wisdom. I acknowledge thy presence and thy power. Oh, Blessed Spirit, in the Divine wisdom Now erase my moral limitations and from Thy pure substance of love bring into Manifestation my world According to thy perfect law. Charles Fillmore
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Talks With Taylor
Christmas Concert
© Copyright Unity in the Pines, 2009. All Rights Reserved.