The Sacred Dark

With Rev. Jane Hiatt

Light is the superstar in spiritual circles, but the Sacred Dark is just as important and powerful. In this season of Advent (coming toward) when the darkness blankets the northern hemisphere, we need its nourishment, but we can’t soak it in and consider it a bad thing or a power of evil. Rev. Jane will be exploring the dark as an aspect of the earth’s wisdom and a spiritual superpower in its own right!

Kids Activities this Sunday

The nursery is open for children 4 years and under.

Our elementary-aged children will meet in The Nest with youth teacher Genesis and work on Christmas prep.

Teens – will meet Sunday from 4 to 6:30 PM at Bend Church.

Sign Up to Bring a Snack to Share After Service

Our kitchen lead extraordinaire, Michael Ray, is requesting 3 people to sign up each week to bring a yummy food snack to share. We encourage you to visit with him this Sunday and pick a week that works for you. When you share good food you’re sure to make some new friends 😁.

Gratitude Revealed Movie, Potluck & Discussion – Don’t Miss This Amazing Movie! One Showing Only.

Saturday matinee, Dec. 3rd at 1 PM at Unity

We all need reminders to live in Gratitude. Unity will be showing this highly acclaimed movie and then hosting a potluck gathering to connect, reflect, and discuss. We hope you can join us and invite some friends. Ticket are $10 and $32 for a family.

Poetic Prompts Poetry Workshop

Saturday, Dec. 17th from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Unity

Join Poetic Presence – AKA – 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. Donna and William are talented poets who have a passion for sharing their love of words and encouraging others to find their words. They believe that there is a beautiful poet in every single one of us. Read one of Donna’s heartfelt poems at the end of this newsletter.

Cost for the workshop is $29 which supports the instructors and Unity.

Holiday Poetry Hullabaloo

Saturday, Dec. 17th from 5:30 to 8 PM at Unity

Celebrate the holiday season 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.

$5 – $15 sliding scale – includes refreshments!

Newcomer’s Potluck Dinner at Rev. Jane’s

Monday, Dec. 12th from 6 to 8 PM

A free welcome dinner for anyone new-ish to Unity! Let’s get to know each other and have some fun 🙂 All are welcome, but space is limited to 8 guests, so please RSVP as soon as you are ready to commit to joining us. The address will be given upon receipt and confirmation of your RSVP.

We look forward to getting to know you better.

Unity Action Compassion Transformation Group Potluck & Meeting

Tuesday, Dec. 13th from 5:30 to 7pm at Unity

Action Compassion Transformation (ACT) is Unity’s social and environmental justice ministry. If you are passionate about these topics or just curious about learning more, please come break bread with us as we discuss the next steps we want to take in using our Unity principles to help heal our planet and help folks in need in our community. Please bring a dish (any simple thing is just fine). Cylvia will give a summary of what happened at the recent UN climate talks and some hopeful signs for the redesign of civilization. We will also brainstorm how best to help out those experiencing homelessness in these cold months.

Healing Sound Sundays

Every Sunday from 5:30 to 6:30 PM at Unity – All are welcome

Join Reiki Master and Energy Healer, Lisa Swisher, every Sunday for an hour of soothing sonic meditation. 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

Jaya Lakshmi – Altar of Love Weekend – Yoga, Music, Meditation, & Ceremony

Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 10th & 11th at Unity

Musician, kirtan and mantra artist, and certified in Sattva Himalayan kundalini Yoga instructor, Jaya Lakshmi has been performing for over 30 years and has 19 sacred music albums. She has taught workshops all over the world and we are so fortunate to have her sharing her gifts with us! During this often hectic time of year, we invite you for a weekend self-care time with meditation, yoga, music, and ceremony. Sign up for one event, or the entire weekend.

Ongoing Programs for Adults

Women’s Activity Group – 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.

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.

Sageing Together – Join our senior’s group every 3rd Thursday of the month from 12-1:30 PM. Location changes monthly so be sure to check the website calendar.

Member Appreciation 🙏🏽

This week we’d like to give a shout-out to Michael Ray Stark, our kitchen lead extraordinaire! When Michael Ray shared with me that he loves to host of course I had to ask him if he’d like to be our lead kitchen host and he graciously said, without hesitation, YES. Every week he rides his electric bike to Unity at 9 AM (even in winter) to start the coffee and get our kitchen organized. He then cleans up when we have all finished snacking so he’s ready to do it all again the following week. He could always use a helping hand so if you’re available ask him if he needs help washing dishes, setting up, or bringing some snacks. Michael Ray, we so appreciate you volunteering your talents and time in this way for our community.

Stocking Stuffers Available at Unity

We have fun magnets, bookmarks, and cards from Advice for Life on display and for sale at the sanctuary. They are perfect stocking stuffers! Be sure to check them out this Sunday. All proceeds go to support our Unity community.

Just a Couple More Days to Get a 20% Bonus When You Turn in Your Bottles, Cans & Returnable Plastic Bottles for Unity

We’re registered for the Bottle Drop holiday give campaign. That means all cans and bottles returned by Dec. 1st to the Bottle Drop in one of our blue bags with the Unity barcode on it will receive a 20% match. Grab a labeled bag this Sunday at service or contact Clare Kubota to pick one up. Even if you can’t do a drop off by Dec. 1st we always appreciate you returning your bottles, cans, and plastic bottles in one of our Unity bar coded bags. Every cent counts!

Practice

A Poem by Donna Benjamin

I’ve had to practice patience as I emerge from the cocoon finally to become the butterfly-in-waiting

I’ve had to practice compassion as I have witnessed so many non-sensical belief systems that make my head spin

I’ve had to practice determination because moving from the old me to the new me has not been easy breezy

I’ve had to practice humor in the light of some not very funny occurrences to keep my head on straight

I’ve had to practice awe when it all gets to be too much and get reminded of how truly amazing it all is

I’ve had to practice deep listening as so many are grieving for so many things and people lostI’ve had to practice empathy for those who are so lost that they would harm another sentient being

I’ve had to practice self awareness as I’ve had some breakdowns on the way to the potent breakthroughs

I’ve had to practice resilience as I made some not so great choices along the way that need my utmost attention

I’ve had to practice peace within if I want peace without

I’ve had to practice courage as what I am taking on is calling on my inner strength

I’ve had to practice loving kindness as I sometimes want to lash out when things don’t go my way

I’ve had to practice poetry as it brings me to my knees in deep reverence for its power

I’ll leave it there for the task is now accomplished

Our Post-Thanksgiving Dance Party – We had so much fun dancing our booties off to some classic tunes. Thank you Beth Welton Miller for putting together a fabulous playlist! We can’t wait to do it again.

What an amazing talk by Timber Hawkeye last Sunday. If you missed it be sure to watch it on our website in the video library. We are such a lucky community.

Timber’s latest book. We had a packed house for his talk, over 110 people in the sanctuary. Thank you for showing your support for our guest speakers!