Sunday, December 27, 2015

Burning Bowl and White Stone Ceremony, 2015


In another holiday tradition, you will have an opportunity to write down and burn up whatever you wish to leave in the old year, then listen in meditation for a word to guide you through 2016.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Season of Light: Solstice

The Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere is Dec. 22, which will be the longest night of the year, a time for contemplation and reflection.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Season of Light: Advent

Advent is the run-up to Christmas, celebrating the divine light that enters our world through each baby born.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Season of Light: Hannukah

Season of Light: In this darkest time of the year, cultures throughout the northern hemisphere and throughout history have celebrated festivals of light. Hannukah, which begins today, is a Jewish holiday observed by lighting candles.

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Does Unity Believe Anything Is Wrong?

We don’t talk much in Unity about sin, and nobody is telling you how to live your life. So is anything considered immoral? And if not, how do you know you’re living right?

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Grateful for the Small Stuff

It doesn’t matter what’s going on in your life right now, you’re surrounded by things to be grateful for. Little things.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

How Spiritual Is Too Spiritual?

Some people work awfully hard at being spiritual. Is it possible to take it too far? What is “spiritual” anyhow?

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Can Ministers Learn Anything?

Rev. Ellen shares part of her spiritual journey and how her beliefs have changed over time. Does she still believe what she’s been teaching us?! There was a Q&A session for the curious.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

You Live Such a Charmed Life!


Kit Holmes
Some people seem to have it all. They seem to sail through life, continuously blessed, even in hard times. Ever wonder what their secret is? Our guest speaker was our Music Director and ministerial candidate Kit Holmes.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

The Metaphysics of Frankenstein


What can we learn from a monster who bolts his neck? What does a mad scientist have to teach us? We approach Halloween with spiritual messages from the movies Frankenstein and Young Frankenstein.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

You CAN Handle the Truth


Kim Andrews

Have you ever run away from your own greatness? Denied your opportunities? Kim Andrews did, until she faced the truth of her own divinity.

Our guest speaker today, Andrews is a Dallas businesswoman who has created a global network of women who pledge to heal and nurture themselves and each other by sharing their wisdom. She is the author of The Global Red Circle: Standing in Truth, Unleashing Our Most Powerful Selves.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

10 Steps to Healing: Faith


We invoke our 12 divine powers to heal, and we are at peace.

This is the final part of Rev. Ellen's series based on the teachings of Unity Founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. They both healed their bodies using spiritual principles, with prayer woven through all of them.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

10 Steps to Healing: Forgiveness


Letting go of old pain literally translates into letting go of pain and disease.

This is the fourth in a five part series based on the teachings of Unity Founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. They both healed their bodies using spiritual principles, with prayer woven through all of them.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

10 Steps to Healing: Release


Is it possible - or even wise - not to resist illness? Is it possible to pray for healing without being attached to the outcome?

This is the third in a five part series based on the teachings of Unity Founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. They both healed their bodies using spiritual principles, with prayer woven through all of them.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

10 Steps to Healing: Words

Some of the most useful tools of healing are denials and affirmations. The words we use determine how we think about healing.

This is the second in a five part series based on the teachings of Unity Founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. They both healed their bodies using spiritual principles, with prayer woven through all of them.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

10 Steps to Healing: Joy

Did you know that Joy has healing properties? Joy is realizing that wholeness and health are our natural state of being. But that does not mean the body will always be well.

This is the first in a five part series based on the teachings of Unity Founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. They both healed their bodies using spiritual principles, with prayer woven through all of them.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Who Hears Your Prayers?

Unity's World Day of Prayer is Sept. 10, so its a good time to talk about prayer again. As you become convinced the divine is within you, prayer becomes more confusing. Who are you praying too? What do you say? Rev. Ellen talked about prayer and formally installed our UofW chaplains in a short ceremony.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

The Hero's Journey

All of us are on a hero's journey. Just like the Prodigal Son, and just like Luke Skywalker, or Neo from the Matrix, or Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. We get "called" out of our ordinary world. If we answer that call from spirit, we find the opportunity for spiritual growth and transformation.
Rev. Cindy Wright

Our guest speaker was Rev. Cindy Wright. She has written a new book about the spiritual messages in movies, Reel Transformation.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Resist Not Evil. Really?

Changing the world does not require violence. Jesus proved that. "Do not resist an evildoer," he said. "Love your enemies." But what about ISIS? What about injustices and tyrannies that need to be addressed?

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Which Flags Do You Fly?

Confederate flags were raised in the 1960's as a symbol of resistance to integration. They're coming down because the statement they make is harmful and outdated. Are you still flying any flags that stand for unhappiness in the past?

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Success and Failure in a Universe of Abundance

Rev. Ellen has been reviewing the rich classic, Spiritual Economics by Eric Butterworth. Today's talk was from page 127, "When you are grounded in the field of limitless substance, then you may be broke, but you can never be poor."

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Gratitude and Giving: Expressions of Abundance

Rev. Ellen is reviewing the rich classic, Spiritual Economics by Eric Butterworth. Today's talk is from page 166, "Your life is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift to God."

Sunday, July 26, 2015

What You See Is the Abundance You Get

Rev. Ellen is reviewing the rich classic, Spiritual Economics by Eric Butterworth. Today's talk is from page 34, "Discover for yourself the great Truth that things may happen around you, and things may happen to you, but the only things which really count are the things that happen in you."

Sunday, July 19, 2015

The Abundant Universe and You

Rev. Ellen is reviewing the rich classic, Spiritual Economics by Eric Butterworth. Today's talk is from page 20, "The free flow of substance in your life is the continuation of the divine effort that made you in the first place."

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Remember the... What Was That Again?


Rev Russell Heiland
The commandment to “remember the Sabbath” is the only one that implies it could be forgotten. But what does it mean to “remember the Sabbath” in the 21st century when “open 24 hours” and 60- to 80-hour workweeks are common. Is this really a commandment, or a throwback to a simpler time? 

This Sunday's guest speaker was Rev. Russell Heiland, senior minister at Unity of Fairfax, VA, outside Washington, D.C. He has also served churches in Florida and North Carolina, and he focuses on teaching Unity core classes, youth and families and community outreach. Fairfax is also an active EarthCare center.

Read his blogs here

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Being Completely Connected

Rev Rita Marie Johnson
Rev. Rita Marie Johnson is a Unity minister who works for global peace. Living in Costa Rica, she helped create a Ministry of Peace and developed a Be Peace curriculum that has been in used in the schools there and is being tested in Houston, Fort Worth and elsewhere. She combined HeartMath with Non-Violent Communication to create what she calls The Connection Practice.

In her workshop, Collective Care Through the Be Peace Practice, she taught this combination of feeling peace and speaking peace. 

Her book, Completely Connected, was just released this year. This is a video of Rita Marie telling how her peace work came about.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

The Energy of the Heart


Rev. Diane Venzera gave the message. She is a Unity minister, based in Chicago, who specializes in youth and family programs and consults with churches all over the country. She has written 19 curricula for Unity children and teens, including the Harry Potter series we've used with our children, and has three more in development.
Rev Diane Venzera

Diane has served the past year as chair of the Unity Worldwide Ministries board.

After the service, she gave a HeartMath DeStress Workshop, a form of meditation based on the physiology of the heart. The HeartMath Institute for more than 20 years has developed scientific tools to help people bridge the connection between their hearts and minds, and deepen their connection with the hearts of others. 

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Music of the Spheres

Kit Holmes
We know Kit Holmes for her music, but she is also a licensed prayer practitioner and ministerial student with the Centers for Spiritual Living. Kit spoke about the healing power of music and the basics of toning. 

This award-winning singer-songwriter, who moved last month from Austin to Wimberley, has been performing, composing, arranging and producing music professionally since the age of 13. She also speaks and conducts workshops and is known for her spoken guided meditations.

Rev. Ellen is on sabbatical and will return next month.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

The Power of Your Dream



Special guest minister this Sunday is Rev. Michael Gott, Music Minister of Unity of Houston. He talked to us about the continued faith of Joseph, not letting go of your dream, and how the journey toward your best may seem misleading but continues towards our higher good. The service was highlighted by his phenomenal singing and songs he has written.To purchase music recorded by Rev Gott, you can go to michaelgott.com. You may watch videos of his past talks at Unity of Houston, but if you only have five minutes, be sure to listen to Michael singing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" on this video.


Rev Ellen is on a four week sabbatical and will return in July.

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Stop Resisting A Rest

Why is it so hard sometimes to stop doing and thinking and running around and just rest? What would happen if you took a little time for yourself?

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Technicolor Dreamcoat

His father adores him, and his older brothers hate him. After Joseph charms his way to wealth and power in Egypt, he finally holds their lives in his hands.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Bride of Karma

Torrential floods hit Wimberley two nights ago and the Blanco River was up to 42 feet; 12 feet is the flood stage. (thereabouts). At this writing, 12 people are missing. The church is fine, but many people have lost their homes, bridges are out, and the Red Cross is helping out. Your prayers are welcome to assist congregants and the community recover from this unforeseen calamity.

Meanwhile, enjoy the talk.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Go Forth and Multiply!

Abraham and Sarah, an elderly couple with no children, decide to use a servant girl to start a family. Then – surprise! – they have a child of their own. Can this be anything but trouble?

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Will Your Prayers Be Answered?


We pray, we affirm, we visualize, we set intentions, and sometimes we outright beg. What does it mean when prayer just doesn’t seem to work?

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Are You Going to Hell?

 Most of us know that heaven and hell are states of mind, so how can we choose heaven more often? And why is the idea of punishing the wicked still so alluring?

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Have You Been Forgiven?


Some of us have been told we are miserable sinners who need forgiveness and will be lucky to get it. But in fact, forgiveness is something we do for ourselves and each other. If you still have a physical body, you’re not finished forgiving! Give a listen to Rev. Ellen...

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Have You Been Saved?



You don’t hear the words sin and salvation much in Unity, but we are living them nonetheless. We choose sin or salvation every day -- just not in the ways you might think.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

The Life and Death and Life of Jesus

Easter is truly celebrated within the context of Jesus' life as a man and his life as Spirit today.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

The Presence of Jesus

People who loved Jesus believed they were in the presence of God. Those who didn't were threatened by his presence, especially in Jerusalem during the week of Passover, his final week.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

The Heart of Harmony - A Concert

 

Jan Garrett and J. D.  Martin

A special treat today! A concert by J.D. Martin and Jan Garrett of spiritual songs. They are based in near Aspen, Colorado. If you want to enjoy more of their music, (all original compositions) you can find the songs and more at their website: http://www.garrettmartin.com/store.html

Sunday, March 15, 2015

The Words of Jesus

Jesus' words were cryptic and mystical, words we are still trying to sort out and understand.

Sunday, March 8, 2015

The Deeds of Jesus

Jesus' deeds, known as miracles, demonstrated the kingdom of heaven at work in us.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

What If It's All Perfect?

We check in on 99 Days of Forgiveness and explore the idea that nothing bad happened in the first place.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Affirmations of Truth

Can making positive statements really make a difference in your life? Yes and no.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

The Power of Denial

Did you know there's something to do before stating an affirmation?  It's called denial, and it might not be what you think.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

The New Normal: A Thinking Person's Guide to 21st Century Spirituality

Rev. Jill C Carey
Our Guest Speaker is Rev. Jill Carey. Got questions from your early religious training? Want to know how to answer or counter traditional challenges to your own belief system? How about seeing some sacred cows from a different point of view? Rev. Carey targeted "death" and the name "Jesus."

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Deep Dive into Forgiveness

This is Day 36 in our 99 Days of Forgiveness. We discuss traditional forms of forgiveness, then Rev. Ellen leads a powerful forgiveness meditation called Release Your Prisoners. ("Recovered" means this talk was resurrected from a computer and posted later than usual.)

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Making a Commitment


Rockets use 90 percent of their fuel just getting off the ground and away from the pull of gravity. The equivalent for you might be overcoming fear and staying focused on your intentions. This is how you launch.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Setting Your Intention


So what is it you want this year? To do something specific? To be somehow different? This is how you aim.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Hearing God's Voice

Starting a New Year off right might not mean rushing out to DO something. First, be open to divine guidance. This is how you get ready.

Sunday, January 4, 2015

The Wise Men


Epiphany on Jan. 6 is the traditional day the Wise Men arrived to see baby Jesus. The sometimes riotous holiday represents the divinity of Jesus being revealed to the Gentiles. How is your divinity revealed? Does anything keep your light from shining?