Join us on Sundays for Abundance in August as we study Rev. Catherine Ponder's book, Open Your Mind to Prosperity.

Long before The Secret, Rev. Ponder wrote more than 15 books on prosperity and abundance. The author, once faced with the prospect of a life of poverty, began searching for her own answers. Beginning what became her life's work during her darkest hour, seeking help for herself, she learned how to help others through her inspiring lectures, seminars, and books. She has become the clear authority on abundance and prosperity among Unity and New Thought Truth students and seekers.

Open Your Mind to Prosperity, originally written in 1971, is a sequel to The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity, which was first published in 1962. As Rev. Ponder continued to apply the principles of abundance and prosperity to her own life, her lectures, seminars, and books also evolved and continued to be more relevant to an evolving society.

We will explore the principles she writes about so personally and beautifully in this book during the month of August. Let us begin today by affirming one of her very effective affirmations:

I am the rich child of a loving Father,
so I dare to prosper.

THE LITTLE UNITY PROSPERITY BANK has become a cornerstone of our traditional Abundance in August spiritual program and it has an interesting origin. Lowell Fillmore, first born of the co-founders of Unity, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, had a divine idea.

Lowell went to work for Unity immediately after graduating from high school in 1899, a career that lasted 64 years. When he was in his early 20s, the business manager resigned and Charles told Lowell, "You are going to have to be the businessman."

Lowell confessed in his book Health, Wealth and Happiness that he never felt qualified to meet the needs of the various positions he held at Unity. He knew that he could always turn to prayer when he felt overwhelmed and receive divine ideas and answers. He counted on God to provide the guidance and direction he often needed.

In 1910 the Weekly Unity magazine published its first issue, and Lowell wrote his first column, Things to Be Remembered:

Remember to smile
Remember to say a good word
Remember to remember only the good

Charles and the Unity Board of Directors charged Lowell with increasing the circulation of the Weekly Unity publication. Lowell did what he knew to do when he did not have an immediate answer; he prayed for a divine idea.

The Prosperity Bank plan was Lowell's divine idea and the subscribers grew quickly from 35 in 1910 to 8,500 in 1912. The power is in the prayer drill Lowell created, acknowledging God as our source and repeating the affirmations daily with our deposits.

We have Joan Goodman to thank for the current Prosperity Bank design and the current affirmations. I think of her every time I use my bank, and I send my blessings to her and to Ross for all of their wonderful work.

I invite you to pick up a prosperity bank, begin making daily deposits, affirming the statements, affirming prosperity for yourself and for Tampa Unity. And watch your abundance grow! Do it in August and do it always!

Rich and Abundant Blessings,
Rev Debbie Moss

SUMMER IS STILL WITH US, but for just one minute, fast forward to Thanksgiving morning.  If your family is anything like mine, you know the drill:  put the turkey in the oven, eat a light breakfast to save room for said turkey, and then gather around to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.   What a great way to start the holiday season.  "It sure would be fun to be IN the parade sometime," I've thought over the years.  Well, that's exactly what I - and about 600 of my friends - am getting ready to do.  By the way, you're invited!

Who would have guessed?  I'm a 40-something living on Davis Islands with a fine job and great family - but through the years I never lost my love of performing in a marching band.  My high school and college band days were great fun, so when I heard about the chance to do it again, I jumped.  

 Now entering its 26th season, The Awesome Original St. Petersburg Second Time Arounders Marching Band is a 500+ member adult volunteer marching band, and for 20 of the past 25 years, I've been the auxiliary/visual coordinator and also, more recently, drum major.

 So, imagine my reaction after marching in parades and festivals all over the U.S. (and St. Patrick's Day in Dublin, Ireland), when I found out we landed the Big Kahuna, an invite to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2008!  Yes, 2008...traveling with over 600 people takes at least 18 months of planning, you know.

Approximately 500 bands apply each year, and the selection committee chooses ten!  Our band is excited, to say the least.  So, I want folks at Tampa Unity to know that we'd love to have you join us for the season and the band trip of a lifetime.  No auditions - you just need a little background in band or color guard and have the commitment to come to practice and performances. 

There's no typical "Rounder."  Our youngest members are recent high school graduates, our oldest is 94.  Our ranks include people from every profession, and we have great musicians sitting next to folks who just found their trumpet in the attic.  We also have groups that twirl batons, rifles, and flags, as well as a dance group - the Rounderettes - that can pull off a mean kick-line.  We even have room for spouses and friends who weren't in band but want to join the fun. They get into the act by carrying banners and pageantry flags.  

While the band doesn't begin practice until February, now's the time to let us hear from you. Stop by our website: www.sec ondtimearounders.org. 

There's no better time to join!  Not the band type?  Keep an eye on the TV.  You'll see us next Thanksgiving!  I'll be one of the guys with the big baton, smiling from ear to ear.

Jennis Thomas is a Tampa Unity Member, and very active with the Family Council.

By Jennis Thomas

Submit your story to the TU Newsletter: staff@unitytampa.org. All entries subject to editing, approval and space availability.

PANCAN IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION DEVOTED TO RAISING AWARENESS OF PANCREATIC CANCER and increasing funding for research. We have recently formed a local TeamHOPE affiliate, which meets here at Tampa Unity the third Saturday of each month in Fellowship Hall. (Thank you, Debbie and Allen!)

When my husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1998, there were no diagnostic tests that could have found the tumor early enough for surgery and no proven treatments to save or prolong his life. The prognosis back then was only three to six months.

Unfortunately, nine years later, the situation has not changed much. Still no diagnostic tools; still no effective treatments. Of the five top cancers, this cancer remains the deadliest and it's the only one whose numbers are increasing.

I went to Capitol Hill this spring to help lobby for increased funding for cancer research, and our affiliate is planning a fundraiser in November to raise awareness and make our contribution to find a cure.

If your life has been touched by pancreatic cancer - or any cancer - and you've been looking for a way to fight back, come join us at our next meeting.

See Carol Ferguson on Sundays for more information or email:
unityvolunteers@aol.com

BISHOP SHELBY SPONG, IN HIS NEWSLETTER, "A New Christianity for a New World," discusses the use of hymnals in the 21st century church. He makes the point that hymnals in Christian churches have not evolved with the theology over the past 100 years, in that they reflect a view of God that is "up there or out there," as opposed to a more modern view of God that is described as "the ground of being."

What I sensed as I read this article is that there is uncertainty as to the role of tradition versus the evolution of thought in the music of mainstream Christian churches. I have wrestled with this uncertainty as a Unity music director as well. It has led me to ponder the role of tradition in Unity, and more specifically, Unity music.

I know that Charles Fillmore said he reserved his right to change his mind. A man who greatly respected science, Charles Fillmore was open minded, and would not be pinned down to former thinking as new discoveries were made. So in Unity, more than in most Christian churches, I think we see our spirituality as ever changing, more than something that is anchored in ancient wisdom. My friend and sometimes spiritual advisor, Thalia Potter, informed me that Unity did not start out as a church at all, but a prayer group with no affiliation to organized religion.

Yet, there is a good possibility that we will sing the Malotte arrangement of the Lord's Prayer on Sunday. We may sing Breathe in me Breath of God, which can be found both in my Wings of Song and in my Baptist Hymnal. Amazing Grace can also be found in our hymnal, as well as in most other Christian hymnals. We have changed the words to reflect Unity thinking, but I believe these old hymns have power, in that they link us to traditions that are older than Unity itself. These hymns, the robes that our ministers wear during special ceremonies, our christening services, and our "fuzzy green cross" upon which we plant our flowers on Easter morning are all traditions we have carried down from churches that existed before Unity.

These churches are our ancestors. As with our family ancestors, we can reject them, but we will lose something of incalculable value if we do. We can only fully understand ourselves in as much as we understand our ancestry. My conclusion: even in Unity, tradition is important.

We on the music team will continue to bring you the newest and best in New Thought Music. I will also recognize the theological and musical traditions that have led to our being capable of thinking the way we do.

Thalia said this to me as we discussed the role of tradition: "Unity is in the vanguard of breaking down rigidity; they don't reject tradition but update it so as to have more meaning today."

Within the next few weeks, the choir will be premiering my latest choir piece, Kyrie. Kyrie is the text of the first movement of the Latin mass, and I have composed the music from a theme that was written sometime in the Middle Ages. A solo tenor will begin with the theme, which is reminiscent of monks singing in unison within a resonant cathedral. It is hauntingly beautiful, for reasons that cannot be adequately explained in words.

by John McEwen

FAIRYLAND IS IN MY GARDEN. This is where my daughter, Allyson, and her friend, Helena, search for these elusive creatures. This is where butterflies flit from bloom to bud. This is where lizards bask on sun warmed stones and black snakes rustle in the hedge row.

The garden is imperfect, the lantana straggles into the pathway, the rose petals droop. The blue plumbago has overgrown its bed and the purple porter weed is leggy. Errant grasses have emerged in the corners. My brother calls it "The secret garden...of weeds!"

But, this is where the fairies live. There is magic in the less pruned. This is where the hunt begins, tiny cups and saucers placed to lure and tease, homes of twigs to entice. Allyson and Helena scurry to the garden, nets in hand. There is evidence that fairies have been here: a plate askew, a stone amiss.

The river's edge is next to check for water fairies. Minnows flit near the surface, nibbling toes and fingers that dally in the water. When you are very still, the water fairies will nudge your arms and shoulders.

If you are persistent and perceptive, there are fairies to be found. The moss in the oaks hide much, promise much. A fluttering cloud ascends. Is it dragonflies or fairies? Gnomes disguised as lizards? Ask the hopping toads with huge and knowing eyes. Butterfly wings or fairy wings? Minnow or water sprite? There are fairies to be found, if you know how to look.

by Janet Stanley

IS THERE ANYTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS?

Make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon:
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love:
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.