Daily Resurrections
FOR A LONG TIME, I DEFINED A CHRISTIAN AS ONE
WHO FOLLOWED THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS.
With
the
release of the new movie, The Passion of the Christ,
and the discussions that are taking place, I am
reminded that the word Christian represents many
meanings and beliefs to many different people.
Christians have never agreed on one form of worship or
even one set of beliefs. One of the things that I so
appreciate about Unity, is our acceptance of different
beliefs and ways of worshipping. It is that acceptance
that leads to what I believe is the thing we teach best:
that every person is personally responsible for his or her
relationship to God.
Christianity began in the life, ministry, death,
resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. Easter, of course,
is the reflection on the death and resurrection. I
remember taking a Bible class from Frank Guidici at
Unity Village years ago. He liked to remind his students,
"If you are going to have a crucifixion, don't forget the
resurrection!"
"If you are going to have a crucifixion, don't forget
the resurrection!"
The crucifixion of Jesus, as a point of reconciliation
with God, is not simply an event in the past, it enters
every Christian life daily. Crucifixion and resurrection is
a metaphor for the large and small challenges of life.
So, we live in the faith and hope of the resurrection
that is sure to come after the challenge.
Today is a day of resurrection! Let your heart soar.
Let it rejoice in celebration of life and live in awareness
of the love and life of Jesus Christ. Begin on this day
to lift your vision, and view your life from a new summit
of understanding - your oneness with God. This is the
day of your triumphant overcoming.
I live in faith and hope that you will resurrect on Good
Friday and Easter Sunday to join your spiritual
community in worship. It will be a celebration of the
spirit of Easter and gratitude for the life of our Master
Teacher and Wayshower.
Rev. Allen Moss
Click Here To Veiw Upcoming Events in March
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Special Easter Events at Tampa Unity
JOIN US ON GOOD FRIDAY at 7 pm for a meditation
service based on the last seven words spoken by
Jesus. Communion will be offered to celebrate the life
and ministry of Jesus Christ.
EASTER MORNING at Tampa Unity starts with a
Pancake Breakfast provided by the Y.O.U. from 8 to
10:30 am. The menu includes pancakes, scrambled
eggs, sausage, coffee, juice and milk. Your love offering
helps to send our Y.O.U.'ers to the International Youth
of Unity Conference at Unity Village.
EASTER SERVICES will include the traditional Living
Cross Ceremony. The placing of fresh flowers onto the
bare cross symbolizes new life, which is the deep
meaning of Easter and the Resurrection. The Living
Cross ceremony will take place at all Easter Sunday
services.
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| The Small Still Voice | | | My father passed recently. He was two months shy of
his 90th birthday and four months shy of his 60th
wedding anniversary. During his transition I experienced
the Small Still Voice and would like to share that
experience.
My Dad was a product of a broken home, abject
poverty, the Depression and World War II. He was a
non-verbal man, who had read the Bible extensively,
but had rejected the local Baptist Church and churches
in general. In recent years, his eyesight had failed. He
had become frail and depressed, but despite these
adversities, he had a wonderful sense of humor and
was a loyal friend. Dad was checked into the Emergency Room on a
Monday morning and diagnosed with renal failure,
congestive heart failure and pneumonia. I flew to New
England and was able to see him on Tuesday morning.
As I entered his room, I was overtaken by a wave of
emotion, which at first I rationalized was a reaction to
seeing him in a frail and weakened condition. These
feelings stayed with me throughout the week, and I
came to realize that they were not a reaction to Dad's
condition but the presence of a higher power enfolding
us in loving arms. Entering his hospital room began to
feel like entering into a bubble of love and peace.
Throughout the week, Dad's physical condition showed
improvement. His persnickety attitude along with
professional diagnosis suggested to my human sense
that he was improving. I saw what I wanted to see.On the eve of returning to Tampa, I held his hand and
said I would see him when he came home. Exiting the
building with my mother, I experienced a strong sense
that something was missing. Butterflies in my stomach,
an elevated pulse rate and a pounding in my head
signaled there was more to do. The Small Still Voice
was coming through loud and clear!
Intuitively, I knew the missing piece was saying, "I
Love You, Dad." I felt the Voice urging me to return to
complete my task. Telling my Dad that I loved him
would be difficult, as I can never recall him ever saying
those words to me. All my life he was a silent and non
demonstrative man. I now know that he showed his
love in non-verbal ways.My intuition was extremely clear about what needed to
be done. I knew I had to see Dad one more time.
Despite a worsening snowstorm, I returned to the
hospital the next day. It was very early in the morning
and as I entered his room I felt a terrific emotional
rush. I leaned over the bed and said "Good Morning,
Dad, how are you doing? I stopped by before leaving
for the airport." He said, "Fine, I am glad you are here."
My eyes were blurred with tears and I could not speak.
I finally said that I wanted to talk to the nurse.
I needed to compose my emotions and to satisfy myself
that it was okay to leave. The nurse indicated that, in
her opinion, he was improving. I was given the green
light to leave for home.In retrospect, I now believe he was well into his
transition yet my humanness would not recognize it.
Dad knew all along he was transitioning but was waiting
for permission to take the final step.
Upon re-entering his room, the Small Still Voice was still
pounding away. I stood over his bed, held his hand and
said, "Dad, I love you." I kissed his forehead, squeezed
his hand for the last time and said, "I will see you when
you come home." The voice stopped and more than
ever I felt as though I was being held ever so tightly.
After a few minutes I left. Turning at the door, I looked
back and saw his eyes reddening. I waved and
said, "see you soon" and left.
Three hours after I returned to Tampa, my Dad stopped
breathing, completing his transition in the manner he
apparently wished, alone in his hospital room.
My immediate thought on hearing of his passing was
that I had given him permission to die. That realization
triggered an enormous rush of emotion and guilt ,but
also a feeling of love, peace and understanding
prevailed. The next day my mother's minister told me
that what I said to my Dad was "a wonderful gift."
Finally, I began to understand what had happened, and
how grateful I was to God for including me in my Dad's
transition.The Small Still Voice that rang loudly in my being was
God's message that my role was important but
incomplete.
There are several gifts for which I am thankful.
First, that through Gods message, I was able to let my
Dad's spirit leave knowing I love him. I am grateful for
there is peace.
Secondly, that God chose me to participate in my Dad's
transition. It was a gift of indescribable proportions.
Thirdly, for the gift of my ministers and friends who
supported my family in prayer, and for their patient
listening and validation of the Still Small Voice.
I am grateful that I had my dad for all these years and
I will miss him. I am grateful for all the memories,
particularly those in the past year. Most of all I am
grateful to have experienced God's Divine Plan first
hand. God did not display his plan as logically and
visually as I would have expected, but in the end it
made perfect sense. I feel blessed to have witnessed
the enfolding of God's love, which is the most precious
gift of all.
By Jim Atkins
Jim Atkins is a member of Tampa Unity and often
volunteers his time to assist with the monthly
newsletter.
Readers are encouraged to submit articles for
publication in our newsletter. Suggested format is via
disk or e-mail. Suggested length is 200-500 words. All
submissions are subject to approval and editing.
Contact Janet at 870-0731 ext 208 or
staff@unitytampa.org. | | |
| Tampa Unity Garden Party a Divine Inspiration | | | AFTER ALLEN'S SUGGESTION THAT WE DO A CLEANUP
OF THE GROUNDS, a Divine plan began to form in my
mind like a beautiful flower unfolding, and each petal of
the blossom had God's touch on it. As I prayed for guidance, a prominent landscape
designer, Brian Schatz came to mind. Brian assisted us
in laying the groundwork for our plan. He reluctantly
accepted a nominal fee. Next, plant purchases were
made at a minimal price from donated funds. If you're
going to maintain and beautify, you need mulch!
Another Divine intervention came in the truckload of
mulch that was delivered (free!) the very next day.
Then came the edging for the front walk (one side had
edging, one did not). Assuming it was available only in
25, 50 or 100 feet, I was delighted to find the 60 feet
that I needed to cover a 57-foot area! On the "Work Day", Saturday, March 20, a very hard-
working group of a dozen or more people responded to
do the labor. We happily planted, replanted, trimmed,
and did general clean up. Each person adopted their
own area to play/work in, and labored continuously until
their task was finished! It was fabulous to have people
that just knew what to do and did it all so well! How awesome it is to see a plan come together so
effortlessly! We are blessed to have such faith and
evidence that God works through us. As you admire the work we have done, know that we
still have more to do! So, if you missed out on this first,
wonderful opportunity to play in the Tampa Unity
Garden with us, never fear! There is more to come! On
Saturday, April 17 we will gladly accept more volunteers
for tree trimming. No need to RSVP, just show up! And,
on June 13, we will assist a landscape consultant from
our church who is arranging for a hedge to be
planted.
By Fern Kinion We deeply appreciate Spirit for guiding our steps along
this path, and thank the many volunteers who are
making the landscape reflect an inviting and peaceful
atmosphere for Tampa Unity. | | |
| Metaphysical Malpractice | | | ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES all Truth
Students face is the potential for Metaphysical
Malpractice. Metaphysical malpractice means using
truth principles inappropriately to diagnose someone
else's challenges. Early in my Unity/New Thought
experience it was customary to hear statements
like "Oh, too bad you're sick, what have you been
thinking to create such a condition?" This is a clear
example of what is now known as Metaphysical
Malpractice. This form of abuse can be used against
other people and also against ourselves creating a New
Thought form of guilt. It is my belief that those who unknowingly use this new
form of guilt do so with the best of intentions. After
all, one of our five Unity Principles is:
Human beings create their experiences by the activity
of their thinking. Everything in the manifest realm has
its beginning in thought.
At the very depths of my being I believe this principle is
true and yet, when I am in the middle of a challenge, I
prefer not to be reminded but rather inspired by the
principle. There is no room for guilt, shame or
malpractice in any Unity/New Thought tool kit. I think
of Myrtle's response to the idea that changing her
thoughts could have a positive impact on her health.
Who would not be inspired by her words after hearing a
Myrtle was inspired by Truth, not burdened by it or
made to feel guilty by Truth. Myrtle was guided to go
within, change her beliefs and thoughts about herself.
As she continued her healing work she wrote that Spirit
also instructed her: "You have looked among your
faults; now look among your virtues." Myrtle lived her
truth, changed her life and from what I can tell did so
with great joy and guilt free. This is an invitation to all
of us, look among our virtues see what is good and
right while continuing to examine our own beliefs about
ourselves free of guilt and shame.
Isn't it interesting that it seems easier to see another's
challenges than our own. I believe that is what Jesus
meant when he said, "Why do you see the speck in
your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your
own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me
take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your
own eye?" (Matthew 7 :3-4, NRSV) So for others, I
have adopted the philosophy of "it's not my spiritual
business" and hope that something I say or do will
inspire change where change is needed. Let's
remember that Unity is the guilt free religion! Love and blessings!
Rev. Debbie Moss | | |
| Chaplain Changes | | | AH, HOW THE WORD "CHANGE" STIRS THE EMOTIONS.
Some of us feel scared, some want to deny and others
are learning to "resist not," to be flexible like a wispy
sea oat, not rooted and fixed like an oak tree. That I
may move easily with the winds of change, is my goal.
This doesn't mean that I am not saddened by some
changes and delighted with others. It is important to
feel whatever comes up for us in the midst of change
so that our feelings can be faced directly and
embraced. In completing the first year of our Chaplain Program and
beginning our second, we have experienced some
changes. Six Chaplains, Robert and Julene Gordon,
Barbara Sensale, Sigrid Tidmore, Donna Tritt and Liz
Velásquez, fulfilled their year's commitment and have
now become Chaplain Emeritus. In this role, although
they will no longer be making monthly calls, they are
still available for prayers after services on Sundays. Three of our existing Chaplains, Pat Dunning, Anne Giles
and Dennis have committed to another year in the
program. We are deeply grateful for their continued
commitment of their time and talents.
New Chaplains have joined in the program, made the
commitment and completed approximately 30 hours of
training. We welcome Laurie Collins, Luis E. Jansen,
Linda and Robert Mandell, and Joanne Rossano.The Tampa Unity Chaplains are here to offer prayer
support for life's challenges and/or joys. Chaplains are
available after each of the Sunday Services for your
prayer needs. Chaplains can also, at your request, call
you at home. If you so desire, a Chaplain will be
assigned to you to call you on a monthly basis.
Chaplains create a sacred space for you and listen to
you. They never judge or offer advice. Chaplain's keep
all prayers and consultations in strictest confidence. If
you would like a Chaplain to contact you, please leave
a message on our Chaplain line, 870-0731, ext. 301, or
contact a Chaplain after Sunday Service. We are so grateful to all of our Chaplains and know that
our Spiritual Community will continue to be blessed by
this program. Our Chaplains are always praying for your
highest good as well as for the highest good of our
entire church. Blessings! FROM A UNITY CHAPLAIN
BEING A CHAPLAIN AT TAMPA UNITY has been one of
the most rewarding experiences of my life.
I love my Tampa Unity family and this opportunity has
helped me to grow and become more of the person I
truly want to be in this life. I enjoy so much being part
of a team that supports our church as well as each
other. My heart is so full and I feel so good when I pray
with someone. I can not put into words how special
some moments are when we pray together. I know now
that God really does work through all of us and to have
had this experience is a gift I will treasure always.
Donna Tritt,
Chaplain Emeritus | | |
| New Board Member | | | WE WELCOME JANE TOMBS as a new member of the
Tampa Unity Board of Trustees. Jane has been a
member of Tampa Unity since 2002 and an Alternate
Board of Trustees Member. She will be replacing Board
Member Ed Rood, who has resigned his position to
travel and pursue personal interests. We thank Ed for over four years of service on our Board
of Trustees, including two as President. Ed's dedication
and guidance has seen Tampa Unity through many
critical times in the recent past. Accomplishments
include implementing a Board Liaison Plan to provide a
link between each of the major aspects of the Tampa
Unity Ministry and the Board. He was also instrumental
in streamlining the Annual Meeting process. As an outstanding and extremely active member of
Tampa Unity, Jane will be a great asset in her new
capacity as an official voting member of our Board. She
is, among other duties, assuming responsibility as Chair
of the Tithing Committee. She is also in the process of
creating a business plan for Tampa Unity. We bless and thank each of these dedicated members
of Tampa Unity for their service and dedication past,
present and future.. | | |
| A New Minister at Tampa Unity | | | CONGRATULATIONS TO DEBBIE MOSS on completing the
first phase of the Unity Field Licensing Program. This is
a four-year process upon the completion of which
Debbie will be an ordained Unity Minister. The program
features an individualized program of study and
reflection including the teaching of workshops and
lesson Sermons, as well as ongoing outside studies and
retreats. Debbie recently completed a week of intensive
ministerial training at Unity Village, which culminated in
a licensing ceremony on March 18. She is now a
Licensed Unity Minister. Reverend Debbie Moss will be available to officiate at
Weddings, Baptisms and other ceremonies as well as
continuing with her Chaplain Program, workshops and
Sunday Lessons, etc. We look forward to welcoming her
as a fully ordained Unity Minister in 2007. | | |
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