WE ALL SEEK THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION "WHAT CAN I GIVE _____ FOR CHRISTMAS? What is the greatest gift I can give anyone this time of year or any time for any occasion?

You know the routine: we walk through malls, we flip through mail order catalogs, we search the internet. The search for the right and perfect gifts seems endless. I don't know about you, but even after I have purchased a gift for a special someone, I still have my doubts. Will they like it? Will it fit? What if they already have one?

What I do know is that my anxiety level increases at this time every year, and I often slip into "Yikes, look at all I need to do before December 25th!" Last year I set my intentions and gave myself a time frame; everything had to be done by that date and if it wasn't done, I let it go. That worked very well; however, I was still left with this "Christmas gift anxiety madness."

I have always admired people who are excellent cooks or crafters, because they can invest their time and energy into creating something special as gifts. However, I don't have those skills.

What do people really want and what best serves all of us? I have come to believe that being authentically who I am, who God created me to be, is the best gift for myself and for everyone else! This year I will remember what I heard recently from TUT (Totally Unique Thoughts) from the Universe, Mike Dooley's creation. "If one stopped thinking about what others thought, Debbie, hardly anything would ever bother them again. At least that's what I think. The Universe."

This totally unique thought from the Universe touched me deeply, so I printed it out and keep it on my desk at home. This is a great time of the year to let go of the "gift anxiety madness" by asking for Divine Guidance and knowing that the right, perfect gifts will present themselves. I let go of my concern about how people feel and respond to my gifts. Truly, it is the thought that counts, and when done in love, that motive will shine through no matter what the gift. Let us all remember as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the rebirth of the Christ Spirit within to "Let all that you do be done in love." I Corinthians 16:14 and release any sense of obligation. Jesus said "Let your word be yes, yes or no, no." Remembering this great advice from Jesus will help us all live authentically, and that's a good Bible verse to remember during this time of the year.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year,
Rev Debbie Moss

IN LATE SEPTEMBER, THE VISIONING TEAMS MET TO SET GOALS FOR THE COMING YEAR. Since the music team had met all of the visioning goals from the previous year, we needed some new ones.

One of the areas that had been of concern for us was the need to upgrade the sound equipment in the Sanctuary to accommodate current demands. So we made a list of what we would need to solve some of the more important problems we were having, as well as improve the quality of our sound to support a thriving, growing church.

Once we had the list, we talked about some fundraising ideas, because at the time, there was $0 in the music department budget. Brian, our resourceful sound tech, continued to make do with the limitations of a sound board that was put in before we had a band at Tampa Unity. We also made what other changes we could, not knowing how long it would take to raise the money to actually buy the equipment we needed.

Last month, we received donations from two sources. One donor wished to remain anonymous, and the other was the King family, who decided that donations in the memory of Bernie (Poppy) King should be given to the Tampa Unity Music Department.

We in the music department are profoundly grateful to all the people who donated. We will put the funds to good use; in fact, as I write this, a brand new Allen and Heath 24-channel sound board is waiting for Brian and me to install it tomorrow. Come on back to the sound room sometime and take a look; it's beautiful! More importantly, it will improve the quality of a vital feature of your Tampa Unity Church experience: the music.

As we make other changes, listen for the improvements. If you don't know much about sound, you may notice that things sound better, but you might not be able to describe why. As a friend of mine explained, she thought her old TV was okay until she bought a new high definition TV. She doesn't know why it looks better to her, but she certainly doesn't want her old TV back.

by John McEwen

SANTA IS COMING EARLY TO THE TAMPA UNITY PLAYGROUND, thanks to the efforts of the Family Council and all the generous folks who filled buckets with love and donations.

In December, watch the fenced playground area for the arrival of a play set with two slides, a tire swing, a double level "clubhouse," and a picnic bench. The Garden Club has volunteered to landscape the area, and there will be a winding path and kid-friendly nature area, as well as benches to rest on.

CHRISTMAS PLAY
Be sure to attend the 11 am Sunday service on December 16 to see our Sunday School children in The Greatest Gift featuring live music and song.

Youth Ed Director Jean Wynne and the teachers wish everyone on Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

SING WITH MR. MIKE
The Sunday School asked for someone to lead sing-a- longs with the children, and Mike Donahue stepped forward, bringing laughter and song to the morning circle. Many thanks to Mr. Mike and his guitar!

PUPPETS WITH PRINCIPLE
Sponsor Jon Close has devised a unique way to help the Uniteens focus on the 5 Unity Principle. The group has been using colorful hand and rod puppets to create and perform puppet theater shows. They hope to present some of their work (You Can't Judge A Monster by His Looks) during the Sunday Children's Lesson after the first of the year. In addition, the Uniteens have been helping with the younger Sunday School groups by singing Do You Believe in Magic for them. Jon visualizes a troupe of Uniteens promoting Unity principles with their performances!

THE SOUL OF CHRISTMAS
Are you lacking the Christmas Spirit this year? Do you feel like you need more soul? Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul, writes a column for the publication Spirituality & Health. In the current issue he writes, "People often ask me how to get more soul into their lives. So, I usually say, get some children in your life. Take care of them, play with them. You will be giving them a priceless model of how to be thoughtful, giving adults, and they will give you soul."

If you feel you are missing something, please consider joining the dedicated Tampa Unity Church Sunday School teachers and get more soul in the process. Due to insurance regulations requiring 2 adults in each classroom, we need five assistants each week to ensure that each age group can have their own class.

Everyone who volunteers in Youth Education receives a free CD of the Sunday service. Let's make sure all of our needs are met this Season and the coming year!

Here's to more soul!

MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO BROUGHT IN ITEMS FOR THE Y.O.U.'S CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS.

Every year Tampa Unity's Youth of Unity collects small gifts and gift cards as stocking stuffers to distribute to children and teen-agers who might otherwise be left off Santa's list. Over 100 stockings were filled!

But their service to the community doesn't stop there. The Y.O.U. works with Meals on Wheels to craft napkin rings for 400 food trays at Thanksgiving and another 400 holiday tray favors at Christmas.

Of course, their big drive at Tampa Unity during December is for teddy bears. From December 2nd through the 23rd, the Y.O.U. will collect teddy bears and similar stuffed animals to distribute to those in need of something to hug.

Many bears are needed to see that everyone at the Home Association, the Tampa Bay area's oldest assisted living facility, gets a bear. Even more are needed for the Tampa Police Department and R.I.C.H. House and their programs that support disadvantaged and neglected children.

Bring your bears to the Sanctuary on Sunday and leave them there to be filled with love and good wishes. On December 23, the Y.O.U. will collect the bears and deliver them to their new homes.

IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT TO OUR ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING in October (and you didn't read all the hush- hush correspondence leading up to it, you may not know that Jeff King was honored as our first Volunteer of the Year.

Considering everything he's done for Tampa Unity since he and Nancy joined, there was no question about acknowledging him.

Everyone who knows Jeff is very familiar with his quick wit and outlandish sense of humor. To honor him properly as our 1st Annual Volunteer of the Year, we had to do something funny and outlandish: a roast!

Over the years, Jeff has tithed his time and talents to Tampa Unity in too many ways to fully list in this small space:

• Creating and updating our award-winning website and Constant Contact, our email event updates.
• Conducting workshops and classes, with all proceeds dedicated to Tampa Unity.
• Performing for our listening pleasure in the choir.
• Serving six years on our Board of Trustees - four of those years as President.
• Being a behind-the-scenes seasonal planner and decorator with Nancy for myriad events, such as the Christmas Ornament Party last year and the Pumpkin Patch this year.

Starting next January, we will begin honoring a Volunteer of the Month as our way of showing our deep appreciation to those who go above and beyond the call of duty for Tampa Unity. In early 2009, the Volunteer of the Year for 2008 will be chosen from the twelve Volunteers of the Month.

Whoever follows Jeffrey King as our next Volunteer of the Year will have some mighty big shoes to fill!

by
Carol Ferguson

Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born, if He's not born in thee, thy soul is all forlorn.
Angelus Silesius (1624-77)

Children of God,
brethren are we,
we are all made of the earth,
into the light we all will go,
then we will know we are ONE.
While on this plane,
let your Light Shine
Lyrics and music by John McEwen

We are naturally drawn to light; even though we need the darkness for restful sleep, we are drawn to light. Beautiful lights and decorations are some of the first signs of the Christmas Season. Lights are shining in the church, our homes, and along our streets. The lights create a special glow that children of all ages enjoy. As you celebrate the birth of Jesus and the light that He brought to the world, remember to let your own light shine. Reconnect with the Christ Spirit within and allow that Spirit to be reborn in your hearts and minds.

Your light shines brighter when you turn inward to the Christ Spirit within. Take the time for prayer and meditation, especially when you don't think you have time! Let Your Light Shine! It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of the holiday season and forget to let your light shine while you're shopping, driving, cooking, wrapping, whatever you are doing. Remember to breathe, and even just a moment of going within will make a big difference. Let Your Light Shine!

You light up our lives; serving and supporting you is a sacred trust we hold dear to our hearts. You are a wonderful blessing to those of us on staff and to our Board of Trustees members.

The lights will be shining brightly here at Tampa Unity Church and you are invited to participate in all of the wonderful Christmas events. We are affirming for you a light-filled wonderful Christmas experience and a very happy, prosperous, and healthy New Year.

We love you,
We bless you,
We appreciate you,
and we behold the Christ in you!
Let Your Light Shine!

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO DEFINE GOD? If we can define something, it usually means we see its boundaries: a beginning and an end. The concept of God is so vast, we just cannot comprehend it. God knows everything. God is all knowledge. It is God who has created all. We can know bits and pieces of what God is as we know something of ourselves, our world, and nature.

Every day we hear of new discoveries, but imagine holding the planets in their orbits around the sun, or remembering to tell the tides to rise, or pushing the plants out of the ground. There is so much we do not understand.

God is the superstar of all, yet the Bible offers us only one definition: God is love. Who can define love? We can only know love when we feel it, experience it. We cannot define God because God has no boundaries. What we really want is to feel the presence of God.

How do you find God and feel His presence? Your mind is the link with God. The perfect intelligence of God is in your body. Each cell knows what is theirs to do without your awareness. Your heart beats without being told. Food turns into strong body tissue. Consider all the chemical and electrical processes in your body. Nothing is impossible for God!

God is a gift waiting to be discovered. You open this gift by thinking about God. The perfect intelligence of God is in your mind. This is where all those great ideas come from. God's gifts are spiritual, infinite ideas you can use to bless your life.

NEW CLASS FOR THE NEW YEAR: LIFE OF PRAYER - PART A

"As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, oh God."
Psalm 42:

PRAYER IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE UNITY MOVEMENT. It is through the activity of prayer that we come to know God. When we grow frustrated with our lives, confused as to our choices, or mystified at our place in this vast universe, we ultimately turn to prayer. We feel a boundless longing for God. Prayer is a means of changing us and changing our life.

Join us on Saturday mornings, January 12 through February 16, 2008, from 10 am -noon in Fellowship Hall for "Life of Prayer." The class is facilitated by licensed Unity teacher Mary Riley and is eligible for S.E.E. credit. See Clara in the bookstore regarding the workbook. The class is presented on a love offering basis.

by Mary Riley

"MO-MMY," SAID ALLYSON, PUTTING THE ACCENT ON THE SECOND SYLLABLE OF THE WORD in a way calculated to make her sound older and more sophisticated than her seven years. "Mommy, it is not fair. You have a cell phone and a laptop, and I do not."

I explained that she is only seven years old and I did not have either until I was 40 - at least. Allyson slipped her feet into my sandals. She flipped open my cell phone, tripping about the kitchen in her oversized footwear, pretending to make a call. "Hello, this is Janet." she said. "This is my cell phone. My daughter cannot have a cell phone until she is 40 years old."

This was where I had to do something other than try to keep from laughing. So, I explained to her that a cell phone is not a one-time expense. You have to pay for it every month and the cost adds up. Also, a person had to be very responsible and not lose it or break it.

"So, then can I have the laptop?" she asked, her eyes big and eager.

"No!"

"OK. Fine!" She humphed in a tone I recognized as my own. She minced down the hall, talking again into the phone, "Yes, this is Janet. I'm taking my daughter to schoo-el. No, she cannot have a cell phone or a laptop or anything until she is 40 years old!"

This is why, when I left the house the next day, my cell phone was not in my purse and I did not realize until too late that I had LEFT THE HOUSE WITHOUT IT! I suddenly felt very much alone and incommunicado, out of touch and just a little out of control. I took a breath and told myself it was okay. I wasn't expecting any important calls, nor could I think of any pressing calls I had to make in the 20 minutes it takes to drive to the office, which has a phone (three lines, in fact). Anyone who needed me could find me there. I could reach out and touch someone from there. No need to panic.

"I will be fine," I told myself as I drove to work, and as I left work later that afternoon to pick up Ally after school, and on our way home. And when I got there, the first thing I did was locate my cell phone. And then, I felt much better.

"Hello, this is Janet. I did not have a cell phone until I was 40 years old."

by Janet Stanley