IT WAS JUST A 9TH GRADE ENGLISH PAPER. It was written not only to indicate my understanding of proper sentence, paragraph structure and punctuation, but to illustrate a since forgotten concept suggested by my English Teacher. Yet, my mother saved it. We found it among her things as my brother and sisters emptied the storage unit after her death last July.

My teacher wrote that I had missed the point of the paper. But, because it was well written and he thoroughly enjoyed reading it, he gave me an “A-” grade. Certainly, a proud mother would save a paper that received an “A-,” however, that wasn’t why my mother saved that English paper for so many years.

She saved the paper because it described the last time Santa visited me, her youngest daughter and the last of her four children. When I wrote the paper, I had no idea that it would become one of my mother’s treasures. It never occurred to me that it would be one of the yearly stories told during the Christmas gatherings. When I wrote the paper I just thought it was a funny story, one in which I could take the facts, greatly exaggerate the details, and turn a homework assignment into something funny.

The paper contained details of an aging Santa climbing into the attic to bring down the toys for a 12 year old. Santa experienced several calamities during his annual Christmas gift delivery. First Santa kicked over Mrs. Claus’ false teeth, which started chattering, next he dropped the pogo stick, which jumped down the hallway, and there was also the walking, talking doll that walked off, mumbling on its own. Best of all, the 12 year old giggled uncontrollably in her bed at the aging Santa’s attempt to bring her joy. Ultimately, she decided that for the safety of all concerned she should let on that she knew the truth about Santa.

It was just an English home work assignment, but to my mother it was a Christmas treasure. It was a real gift to me to find my paper among my mother’s best loved possessions. It had no monetary value; it hadn’t cost anything except the time of a 14 year old, yet it was one of the greatest gifts I ever gave my mother.

This Christmas season let’s all remember the real treasures, the true gifts from the heart, aren’t always expensive gifts. Real treasures don’t require that we shop till we drop and still worry about the size and color or whether or not it will be the first to be “re- gifted.” Real gifts are those prized moments that we have with family, friends and our spiritual community, ones that we’ll laugh about, that bring joy, times that we will remember with fondness years after they have passed.

I wish for each of us to remember during a season so busy to be thankful and look for the joy in everything we do. Let us all be mindful that this is the season to take time to connect with family and friends and share the joy of the Christmas season. This is how we create Christmas treasures that last a lifetime and even beyond!

Peace, love and joy!
Rev Debbie Moss

DURING THE CONQUERING OF THE NEW WORLD, it was a practice of the Conquistadores, upon landing in what we now know as Mexico, to burn their ships. This extreme action eliminated all possibility of a retreat. The task at hand was a difficult one, and the commander wanted to be sure that his men would give their all for the cause of the project. The burning of the ships was a sign to everyone that there was no other direction or possibility except the one mission they had set out to accomplish.

One of these Conquistadores was Hernan Cortes. He is remembered in history for the way he handled his assignments. When Cortes lost a battle, he found himself in a profound sadness, causing him to lose sleep in the “sad night of Cortes.”

Like him, many of us have had great challenges to deal with in our lives. We, too, have had sad nights spent alone reviewing our errors, lost and not having any notion as to what to do, unable to find forgiveness or mercy.

In the Bible, we find many sad nights: the sad night of Jacob, the sad night of King David and even the sad night of Jesus in Gethsemane. All of these people felt lonely and hopeless.

It is not uncommon to make errors when we have a great task before us. We have the fear of failing, and we remember that we too have burned our ships and there is no way back. These sad nights give us the opportunity to reflect, recognize and accept our errors. Our sad night gives us the opportunity to grow, and realize that we are not alone. The Christ Spirit is within us, bringing to our souls forgiveness, hope, and the security that our challenges are temporary. They are in truth a great blessing for the light always follows the darkness.

Many Blessings,
Rev Enrique Amoros

THE TAMPA UNITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES welcomes Fletcher Dyches and Diane Kelly. They were elected at the annual Fall meeting on October 23. Diane served as an alternate on last year’s board and supports Tampa Unity through her work in many volunteer activities. Fletcher has practiced law for over 35 years in the Tampa Bay area.

Elected as alternates were Pat Fenda and Kimberly Taylor. Pat is a successful entertainer and business woman as well as a longtime member of Tampa Unity. She served last year as a Board alternate. Kimberly Taylor is a graduate of the Tampa Unity Youth of Unity. Her many community service activities include work with the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and the Special Olympics. She is currently studying for a degree in Music Therapy. Alternates attend and participate in Board Meetings. They are prepared to replace voting Board members in the event one must step down.

We can look forward to a prosperous and rewarding year in 2005-06 with the special talents and energies of our new Board of Trustees at work.

A heartfelt thank you goes to outgoing Board members, Robert Gordon and Jane Toombs. Robert retires after serving three years as Treasurer. Jane was chairperson of the Tithing Committee. Both have given selflessly of their time and talents as members of the Tampa Unity Board of Trustees.

UNITEEN SPONSOR BRENDA HUNT is in the process of expanding the Tampa Unity Uniteens program. Uniteens is the Unity-based youth group for 6th, 7th and 8th graders. On Sundays, they come together to explore their spiritual beliefs and discover their unique talents while learning to apply Truth principles to their lives. They share loving , spirited fellowship, serve the community and have fun!

Currently, we have three energetic participants in the Uniteens: Shane Spilman, Aura Amoros and Connie Wood. We invite you to bring your 11 to 14 year old son or daughter, niece or nephew, friend, or any young person who is special to you on Sundays to join the group.

With your help, Brenda hopes to increase the size of the Uniteens program. She pledges to follow Uniteens guidelines and the Unity principles to aid parents and guardians in guiding these young people through their early adolescent years.

Please feel free to set up an appointment after a Sunday Service to speak with Brenda and learn about the Uniteens of Tampa Unity. You will know that your child is in safe and loving hands.

THE Y.O.U. IS MAKING THIS A MERRY CHRISTMAS for needy teens. For the past three years the Youth of Unity has worked with the Salvation Army to sponsor teenagers who would not receive any gifts at Christmastime. They are filling 75 stockings with donated items young people desire including, candy, games and gift cards for fast food restaurants and discount department stores. Many thanks to everyone for their generous contributions to this worthy project.

THE SEASON’S GOOD DEEDS continue with the Y.O.U.’s Annual Teddy Bear Drive. Please bring new teddy bears to church on Sunday beginning December 4. On December 18, the Y.O.U. will take bears to the Home Association, Tampa’s oldest nursing home/assisted living facility. They will hand deliver bears to each of the home’s residents. The rest of the bears will go R.I.C.H. House, a safe haven project in Sulphur Springs. As the Sanctuary fills with bears, you can hold and bless them each Sunday, sending your love out to brighten the world this holiday season. Please contact Lynda Taylor, Y.O.U. sponsor, for further information.

THE Y.O.U. CHRISTMAS PIE SALE will be on Sunday December 18. This year’s sale will include cakes as well as pies, with special containers to keep them perfect on the trip home. Please support the Y.O.U. and take home a tasty treat at the same time!

OUR YOUTH MINISTRY PROGRAM is here for families, both first-timers and members, to teach children Unity principles and ways of life in spiritual lessons that are written specifically for the children, with age- appropriate stories and activities.

All people, young and old, gather in the church each week and remain with the family for the beginning of our service. Then, the children are called down front for their lesson in the “big” church.

If your child is shy, feel free to accompany them down. You can either walk them to their classroom and return to the back of the church, or send them off with the teachers if they feel comfortable. Once in the Education Wing, the children have a short group lesson and are then separated for age appropriate activities into age groups of 3-4, 5-7, 8- 10, and Uniteens 11-13. Older teens, our YOU er’s (ages 14-18) meet separately at this time.

After the service, children remain in the classroom until their parents or guardians come to pick them up. This assures that they are supervised at all times. You will often be provided with a summary of that day’s lesson. We encourage you to talk with our teachers about your child's interaction in the classroom.

NEW TEACHERS NEEDED!
We are constantly looking for new teachers and assistants and have great plans for expanding this division of our church with more exciting Youth programs. If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a teacher or an assistant, see Jean Wynne in the Youth Ed department. If you’re interested in participating on our advisory group, the Children and Family Council, please contact Jennis Thomas at 813- 250-0896.

In addition, everyone can show their support by purchasing a Discover Greatness t-shirt, available in our bookstore for $10.00 All proceeds help defer Youth Education program expenses. It’s a small way to help both the church and the children!

THE TAMPA UNITY YOUTH OF UNITY recently attended the Southeast Regional Fall Rally on St. Simon’s Island, GA. We joined Y.O.U. groups from other Unity churches for a weekend of learning and spiritual celebration.

At the opening ceremony, we broke into our family groups. Family groups are usually comprised of about ten people from different Y.O.U. chapters. We met several times throughout the weekend to discuss the family group material. This weekend's theme was Meditation Station.

In our first family group, we created a banner of what we felt the universe was made of, or of how we thought of God. No one's picture was alike, and all of us found that what we started drawing was not how we finished. This exercise mirrored the work of monks making sand mandalas. Over several days time they make complicated wheels using single grains of sand, all the while in a deep state of inner meditation. After the completion of the mandala, it is swept away and deposited in moving water to spread the monks' consciousness. We took our banners into the main hall.

On Saturday, we participated in workshops. They were all about different ways to meditate. Some of our choices were learning about chakras, whirling dervishes, chanting, shouting and yoga. In the evening we had spirit sharing, which is like a Y.O.U. talent show. It is not a contest. It is simply a chance to get up and share your spirit. Even if you sing badly, you're likely to get a standing ovation! Afterwards, we were led into a silence and each family group gathered up their banner to take out to the bonfire. We had a ceremony of release, burning our works of art to send all of our good intentions out into the universe as the drummers played. We then had a short dance outside the fire ring, and went into the silence again before going to bed.

The next morning we packed up, went to breakfast and attended a Sunday service led by a Unity minister, who talked about meditations in different countries and religions. Our last family group was held, and we all went out to the fire pit and gathered a cup of ashes. We took a short walk to the edge of the island to deposit the remains of our banners into running water, imitating the meditation of the monks. We had our closing circle, thanking all who helped create the weekend: our adult sponsors; workshop and family group leaders; and participants in the spirit sharing before departing home again, home again, back to the real world, hoping to bring some of our lessons back with us to our schools, work-places and families.

It's tough coming back, but there is a smile we all wear the next day that nothing can take away, knowing that we have returned from a spiritual journey to spread a universal peace consciousness with those around us.

By, Miranda Bailey

Miranda Bailey is the Officer of Communications for the Tampa Unity Youth of Unity. She is also a student at Blake High School

IT IS STARTLING TO ME that I already have Christmas lights up this year. This is what happens when you have a five year old who constantly queries as to why the Halloween ghosts are still illuminating the trees because, “Mommy, it is not Halloween!”

At my house, I have always let the seasons blend together in montage of decor. Halloween pumpkins adorn the Thanksgiving table - “harvest,” right?- Turkeys go with Christmas. Red and white candy canes complement Valentine’s Day hearts. And, really, what is wrong with a pastel egg or two peeking out from beneath the Fourth of July flag? “Mommy, can we get out the Christmas things? Puh- leeeeeesssse...”

I am not ready for this, but my daughter’s love of Christmas knows no patience. So, I told her that MAYBE Thanksgiving weekend we would get the tree, unwrap a few ornaments, plug in more lights.

And, I may even take the “Happy Halloween” banner down from the hall. Though, I just hate to rush it. Have a merry Christmas and...take it easy.
Janet Stanley