“I AM A PEACEFUL PRESENCE! THIS IS MY AFFIRMATION, THIS IS MY GOAL AND THIS WILL BE THE SEASON THAT IT IS MANIFESTED!”
(December/January newsletter)

This was my intention for the Christmas season and for my time with my family during the holidays. I set my intention, I affirmed it often, and I declared my intention to be a peaceful presence in my last column. The power of intention and creating a goal need never be underestimated. With a very successful goal and intention met, I am now encouraged to set my intentions more frequently and about other aspects of my life.

The power of intention prevailed even when old familiar “discussions” occurred with family members, which have usually ended in serious disagreement. This past year I was able to keep quiet, maintain my peace and marvel at the level of anger and distress exhibited by a family member. It was totally like an out of body experience and at no time did I feel compelled to engage or participate in the discussion. It was so liberating and exciting to be an observer of someone’s anger and distress and not take it personally even when I had a completely different opinion on the subject matter. Wow, that experience felt so good and was so powerful!

What would happen if we all set our intentions to be a peaceful presence not just during the holidays, but every day? I received a message a few months ago that said “If one stopped thinking about what others thought, said and did, hardly anything would ever bother them again.” That message was so powerful; I printed it and have had it on my desk as a daily reminder. Perhaps this message was the catalyst for setting my intention to be a peaceful presence during the holidays.

Why do we care deeply about what others think, say and do? It’s a great question and when we take time to really consider it, I suspect we discover more about ourselves and our basic needs. We all need some level of acceptance, to be liked and the human ego need to be right. Once we can identify what our need is, we can make better choices about if and how we will respond to what others think, say and do. Based on my recent experience, maintaining a peaceful presence and staying quiet while someone was expressing their anger was the absolute right thing for me, I had no later regrets, just peace. In the end how I think, feel, say and do is all that matters to me. Now I have a renewed desire to set my intention regularly!

Love & blessings,
Rev Debbie Moss

NOW THAT THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS PAST, with credit cards over their limits, many of us are thinking about the great amount of useless things that we bought and about space that we do not have in our homes to store them. We are thinking about the excess of food we ate and about the flurry of activities we were involved in, and really did not enjoy. All of those things that have changed the Holiday Season into the Spending Season.

Now, as everything comes for good, it is a good moment to think about our conscience of prosperity, the true prosperity, and the abundance of which Jesus Christ spoke to his followers.

The Bible says:
“...Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matt. 6:8

But often we do not feel we are the children of God. We show a lack of consciousness that begins with the disordered use of what we have: poverty in our offerings and tithes and lack of the good that is God expressing itself in our lives.

“...give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Luke 6:38

Charles Fillmore, co- founder of Unity says:
“The real object of life is not making money or becoming famous, but the building of character, the bringing forth of the potentialities that exist in every one of us.” Prosperity, Charles Fillmore

And:
“Living in the super-consciousness calls for nothing less on our part than a definite recognition of ourselves as sons of God right here right now, regardless of appearances to the contrary.” Atom- Smashing Power of the Mind

The true meaning of prosperity is the knowledge that each one of us is the administrator of all the wealth that God is, and we must administer with wisdom everything that God has put in our hands.

Now is not the time to complain and cry over “spilled milk.” It is time to shake off our errors and move ahead.

by
Rev Enrique Amoros

I DID A GOOD THING, AN AMAZING THING. I did it at the beginning of January. I planned my daughter’s 7th birthday party an entire month early. This was so unlike me. I booked the party space. I bought cups and plates and paper napkins themed with puppy dogs in party hats. I ordered favors on line. I sent out invitations an entire month before the actual event. My guests, the ones who know me well, were astonished to receive them. “Why so early?” I don’t know what to say. I, too, am taken back, at a loss for an explanation.

I wish more of my life could be like this, arranged with a Martha Stewart-like precision and panache, all my ducks neatly in a row, all my tasks completed, all my papers stowed in cunningly decorated files and boxes. In fact, I have invested in just such containers. They are stacked, empty amid the piles of papers, pictures and possessions they are meant to hold. This is because when it comes to the sorting and filing, many of these items, the items of my life, don’t seem to fit into the box. To complicate matters, what should be tossed as obvious trash becomes an object of attachment, like my daughter’s frayed and faded blankie. I can’t possibly discard it. It must be left to decompose on its own, somewhere, in a box.

Oddly, the unnecessary fits in the boxes, while things that should be meaningful defy classification and incarceration. They are irregular, refusing to be squares or compliant rectangles. They are lumpy, bumpy awkward creatures, demanding of space and time. They complicated my schedule with their wants and needs, cluttering a to-do list that is never fully done.

As the birthday party approaches, I think of it with a sense of relief and peace, knowing it is one thing taken care of, virtually done. That is until the last minute rolls around and life becomes frantic with misplaced cake orders and delayed pizza pick ups. But, for now it is one thing done. And, at the end of the day, that is as good as it gets.

by
Janet Stanley

THE SECRET IS OUT! YOU’VE SEEN THE MOVIE, NOW JOIN US ON SUNDAYS for talks focusing on the Law of Attraction and the profound prosperity lesson in Luke 12:22-34. The holidays are over and for many the bills are just now arriving! What better time to focus on prosperity and abundance?

Beginning February 18 and continuing for seven weeks, we will be teaching The Keys to the Kingdom enhanced by quotes and clips from The Secret in our Sunday lessons and in classes. The Keys to the Kingdom is a guide to developing a higher level of spiritual awareness and leads to a greater understanding of the spiritual foundation of true abundance. The principles and steps of The Keys to the Kingdom are an excellent way to put the Law of Attraction to work in your life.

We are offering The Keys to the Kingdom because of the many requests from those who experienced it to the fullest when we last taught these powerful principles. So many wonderful experiences from so many of you have led us to offer these principles in a structured way again.

There are several ways for you to experience the spiritual principles of The Keys to the Kingdom. The most effective way is to commit your self to the seven week classroom experience. Because each class is carefully constructed to gently lead you through a personal transformation and awareness, it is vital that you attend each class.

The Sunday morning lesson/sermons will compliment and enhance your classroom and deepen your spiritual experience. Sharing with other classmates is very supportive and you will learn from the experiences of others. The classroom setting maximizes the learning experience by incorporating many methods of learning.

If you are unable to attend classes, purchase and work through The Keys to the Kingdom manual, seven lessons and CDs on your own and attend every Sunday service during the seven week process for additional support to your own study. Make your own commitment to yourself to follow the daily practices and time commitments outlined in the book.

Classes will be taught by Rev. Allen on Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm immediately following meditation at 6:15 pm in the Sanctuary and Rev. Debbie will offer the class on Sunday morning at 10:00 am in the Margaret Giles room.

Student manuals and CDs are available in the bookstore. Your full participation in The Keys to the Kingdom is both requested and recommended.

by
Rev Debbie Moss

OUR WORDS ARE POWERFUL INDICATORS OF OUR THOUGHTS. When we complain, gossip or criticize we draw negative things to us.

In connection with the Season for Non-Violence and our endorsement of Non-Violent Communication we are offering a special bracelet in the Bookstore For a $5.00 Love Offering.

Scientists believe it takes 21 days to form a new habit (or rid yourself of an old one!) and complaining is habitual for most of us. The bracelet is a powerful tool to remind you of how well you are creating your life with positive intention.

HERE ARE THE RULES:

1. Begin by wearing the bracelet on either wrist.
2. When you catch yourself complaining, gossiping or criticizing (it’s ok, everyone does) move the bracelet to the other arm and begin again.
3. If you hear someone else who is wearing a bracelet complain, you may point out their need to switch the bracelet to the other arm; BUT you must move your own bracelet first!
4. Stay with it. It may take many months but when you reach 21 days you will find that your entire life is happier, more loving, more positive and more abundant.

When you reach 21 days, e-mail the office you name, address and we’ll send you a “Certificate of Happiness. The e-mail address is staff@unitytampa.org.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world”
Gandi

THE ONLY THING THAT DOESN'T CHANGE IS CHANGE ITSELF and we know that as change occurs, God's wonder working power is constantly flowing into our lives and all life. This is a principle that applies to all aspects of our life and in the life of our church.

We are making some changes to our chaplain program, which has been a tremendous success and fulfilled many needs. All things need to be refreshed and reinvented and such is the case now with our chaplain program.

Immediately following the services chaplains on call will go to the Prayer Room (library) in Fellowship Hall. If you have a prayer request or would like prayer, please meet them there and they will be happy to pray with you. If you would like to receive a monthly telephone call from a chaplain, please call our chaplain line (813- 870-0731, ext. 301) and request this service. Chaplains will no longer make monthly telephone calls unless there is a specific request for a monthly call. We are here to be of prayer support to everyone in our church family. Our prayer is to always remain open to God's guidance in creating programs that will answer the pastoral care needs and be the perfect path of service for Tampa Unity.

Of course, our prayer team members are always ready to respond to your prayer requests daily in the privacy of their own homes. This service will not change and our prayer team members remain anonymous for your privacy and confidentiality.

The Spanish Ministry is launching their own Chaplain program for their ministry. Training is underway and will be led by Rev. Enrique Amoros. Please see him for more information.

We are pleased to announce that one of our chaplains, Laurie Collins is starting a care givers support group. If you are a care giver who would like to participate, please sign up in Fellowship Hall. Laurie will be in touch with you regarding time and location.

Gods Blessing to each of you,
Mary Riley and Rev Debbie Moss