Taming Our Inner Attack Artist

With Cylvia Hayes

We live in a culture that pounds us with messages of not being good enough or successful enough. We get programmed to view ourselves as not enough, not having enough, not doing enough. We forget who we really are, forget that we are powerful spiritual beings with agency and ability to co-create our own lives and experiences. A Course in Miracles teaches that viewing ourselves through a lens of littleness is a form of self-attack. It takes intentional focus to deprogram ourselves from these messages but it can be done and it is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and our world. Join us this Sunday to hear about some ways to drop those attack thoughts, release littleness and embrace your full magnificence.

Bring a snack to share at our after service buffet 😁

Youth Programs

Little Ones –

The nursery is open for little ones up to 4 years old. We have a fun new addition in our nursery – come let your little ones check that out!

Elementary aged kids –

The Lumindorf adventure continues with capes, wands, adventures, and finding your magic.

Teens –

The teens will be meeting from 4:00 to 6:30 PM at Bend Church in downtown Bend.

In other teen news, we are excited to share that the staff at Suttle Lake are hosting a state-wide youth retreat, and we’d love to get a group together to go. The retreat is February 18-20, and we can send middle and high-school youth; some of our youth group staff/pastors will attend as chaperones. Kids can expect great meals, small group time, spiritual grounding, and plenty of games and time outdoors (tubing hill!) with our own small group as well as with youth from around the state. You can find out more information HERE. Please email Erika at directly if your kiddo is interested and we will begin formally registering people soon!

Sunday Sound Bath

Every Sunday at 5:30 PM at Unity

Led by Lisa Swisher and friends. At the beginning of class, you will be asked to quietly set intentions for what you would like to release and what you would like to allow into your life. Please wear comfy clothing, bring a yoga mat, pillow, blanket (if needed), and a desire to be uplifted and transported through sacred sound!

Please pay at the door: $10-$20 sliding scale

Notes From Last Sundays Talk – Finding Your Ikigai & Moai

If you missed Kevin’s inspiring talk last Sunday or would like a copy of his notes, you can find them all HERE.

Poetic Prompts Poetry Workshop

This Saturday, January 28th from 10:30 to 12:30 PM at Unity

Join Donna Benjamin and William Gregory for this 2 hour workshop exploring the many “ways in” to writing poetry. Learn how to work with prompts; how to write from the heart; and about the different forms of poetic structure. Beginners are welcome. Cost is $39.

Poetry Night Coming Up

This Saturday Night, January 28th from 5:30 to 8:00 PM at Unity

New Year, New Poetry Evening – Celebrate the New Year with your original poetry. This is an open mic poetry event featuring Donna Benjamin and William Gregory as your co-hosts as they encourage you to share your poetic talents in a supportive environment. Beginners welcome. One poem per person and a second one if time allows.

Membership Information Gathering

Sunday, January 29th from 11:30 to 12:30 PM (after service) at Unity

We’re glad you have an interest in learning about becoming a Unity member. We’ll meet about 15 minutes after the completion of Sunday service on January 29th. The gathering will last about an hour.

There is lots of great information on our website. We hope to see you there!

Prosperity Now Class with Rev. Jane

Starts February 2nd – 12:00 to 2:00 PM in-person and 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Zoom (goes for 7 weeks)

Prosperity is our essence state but often not our experience. Material circumstances and beliefs that float in our collective consciousness create the sticky illusion of lack. In this class, we will confront the beliefs that are blocking our prosperous expression and learn the attitudes and practices that will get the flow going.

Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit 2023

Sunday, February 5, 2023 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Unity Spiritual Community will be hosting the 10th annual Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit on February 5th from 1:00 to 5:30 PM. The Earth Summit will feature regional and state-level faith leaders, advocates, and climate change experts. We will exchange ideas about how faith communities can become a more effective force for planetary health and Creation care. One focus of this year’s summit will be learning how to improve regional and neighborhood climate resilience. This event is for all people of faith who care for our common home, Earth, and who are working toward environmental and climate justice.

Women’s Group Rock Painting Workshop

February 5th from 12:30 to 2:30 PM at Unity

Instructor Grace Goldberger will supply paints, and brushes and you bring your favorite rock(s). Paint sayings, happy faces, Valentine hearts, animals, etc. It’s a fun project and a great time to get to know other women in our community. No experience necessary. Just a few spots left. Cost $5 to $20 sliding scale.

Soulcial Potluck & Annual Meeting

Tuesday, Feb. 21st from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Unity – In-Person & Zoom

Join us for an evening of connecting, eating, and getting informed. Bring your favorite dish to share and we’ll spend the first hour enjoying a meal together and socializing. We’ll then move into the sanctuary where Rev. Jane and the Unity board will share important information for 2023. You’ll vote on new board members, what local non-profits we’ll contribute to as a community in 2023, review our finances, share ideas for 2023, and answer any questions you may have. We hope you’ll join us! This meeting will be live-streamed for those that can’t make it in-person.

You need to be a member to vote, so be sure to renew your Unity membership, or become a member before this meeting if you’d like to have your vote counted.

Ongoing Programs for Adults

Women’s Activity Group – Every Wednesday at 10:00 AM. Join a group of wonderful women for hikes and other fun adventures. Contact Suzanne Landry to be notified of what’s happening each Wednesday.

Men’s Group – A time to connect and get to know each other. Gatherings are held on the 1st and 3rd Monday at 6pm at Unity. Contact Dan Stephenson for more info. Next gathering is Feb. 6th.

Singing Group – Join Unity SolShine music director, Dave Finch every Wednesday at 7pm at Unity. No experience is necessary and all ages are welcome! Contact Dave for more info.

Member Appreciation 💖

This is Kevin and I’ve hijacked the appreciations section of the newsletter! Muah hah hah! Normally Clare helps to curate the candidates for our gratitude, but this week I’d like to appreciate Clare. As her husband, I certainly am a little biased, AND I also have an intimate view of how much she does behind the scenes to support our community, and how much her heart believes so deeply in it’s success and prosperity. There is not a day that goes by that we are not discussing new ideas, brainstorming solutions, or working on logistics for Unity together. At Unity events, she is usually one of the first ones there, and last to leave, and is always thinking about the “Big Picture” of what needs to be done to make things run as smoothly as possible. Most of all, I see the deep love and connection she feels for this community and I am constantly inspired by the effort she puts in to expressing that. If you get a chance, give her an extra big hug and thank her too, I know she’ll appreciate it!

Free Workshop on Legacy Giving

Thursday, January 26th at 5:00PM

Come join Nativity Lutheran leaders as we host a free workshop on “Legacy Giving”. “Legacy” is the term we use to describe the way you want your life to leave a blessing on the world and your family. Have you made plans for the legacy you aim to leave? Many of us have strong opinions and hopes, but very few actual plans. Come and learn how to make plans that achieve your goals! Thrivent Financial is partnering with Nativity by bringing a Financial Planner, a CPA and an Estate Attorney to explain how legacy planning works – and to also describe what happens when no planning has occurred! This is purely an educational event, with no sales pitches or “great deals”. Some topics we will discuss: Charitable Gift Strategy, Estate Creation, Trusts, Beneficiaries, Oregon Estate Taxes Qualified, Charitable Distributions. Come with questions, leave with focus! Please RSVP with Nativity Lutheran Church office 541-388-0765. Location – 60850 Brosterhous Rd Bend.

Would You Love to Tour Sicily, Italy This Fall?

Tour dates September 25th – October 6th 2023

Unity members, Kevin & Clare Kubota, have been leading tours all over the world for almost 20 years. They and their wonderful Italian friends and tour guides have taken over 20 small groups on special experiences all over Italy. This time they are touring the entire coast of Sicily. Sicily, or Regione Siciliana, is a cultural melting pot – full of diversity and unique culture found nowhere else in Italy. They will be hosting a Zoom gathering for you to meet the guides and ask questions.

How Can We Be a More Welcoming Community?

At service last Sunday Kevin asked you all to share feedback cards with how Unity can help create more community – our moai. We had some great suggestions! The most popular request was for more social activities, including dances, meditation gatherings, picnics, and walks that are open to everyone. If you are interested in hosting any of these types events let Clare Kubota know!

We also had requests to create an LGBTQIA+ group, create a space at Sunday service for those that prefer to wear masks and socially distance, and that we could be more welcoming to those with more conservative views. Here again, we’d like to ask for your help. If you are willing to help create, and possibly lead, an LGBTQIA+ group let Clare know. If you have suggestions for how we can create a space for those that are at higher health risk, or how we can do better at helping those with more conservative views feel welcome, let Clare know.

Email Clare HERE and let her know your thoughts, what you can help with, or if you’d like her to call you. Thank you!