The Congregation

A Vision Council

Action Teams & Team Leaders

A Board of Director/Trustees

FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Board met on Nov 15 and heard reports from the Treasurer and Spiritual Director, as well as Action Teams. The Bookstore reported over $1400 in sales for the summer quarter and has given the Treasurer a check for $389; new volunteers will be staffing the desk more often. The Spiritual Life team has created a Wednesday evening Wholeness Celebration to replace the previous meditation and prayer circles. They’ve also cancelled the 9am services and asked Rev. Ruth to include more interfaith material in her 11am talks. The windows have been ordered: a 31” round one for the stained glass in front and two 4’x4’square ones for the east wall. The Development team was authorized to explore possibilities in alignment with the Vision, and the role of Sunday Coordinators was discussed, to be redefined at the next meeting.

Board meetings are at 9am, 3rd Sundays, & all are welcome to attend.

Rev. Ruth’s Ruminations

The winter storms have arrived! Seems like they’re a few weeks early—fall’s colors are still gleaming in many places, even as gale-force winds pull the leaves from their branches. But early or not, they’re here. And with them comes the yearning for a cozy fire and candlelit nights, a good book, a warm beverage, and long visits with loving friends and family.

The later sunrises early sunsets are part of this shift, for sure. Each day we see a few minutes less daylight—now I can watch sunsets from my office window well before evening classes, here at the church! So candles and other lights seem to sparkle and glow even more in the long hours of darkness.

Like many people, as each season rolls around, I tend to say “oh, this is my favorite!” Each one brings its own joys, its own colors, its own quality of light. Spring with its joyous openings, summer with its long, golden afternoons, autumn with its flaming leaves and misty evenings—each one delights in its own way.

But the special quality of winter, for me, is not the snow—which is wonderful, for sure (in small, occasional falls!), nor the amazing power of Nature we feel in these storms, nor even the silhouettes of bare trees against a clear sky. No, I realized recently, the special quality of winter for me is the way light sparkles in the clear, cold, air.

Growing up, a special part of this season was “going to see the lights.” Mom and I would bundle up and climb into the old Chevy, and she would drive out as far southeast as she could along Lake Shore Drive—then pull off and turn the car around to see the lights of the city against the night sky and reflected in the still waters of Lake Michigan. Later, we would drive up and down the streets of Hyde Park, oohing and aahing at the lovely trees and decorations shining in the windows of apartments and houses.

Apparently, my mother and I are not alone in this appreciation. For thousands of years, dozens of cultures around the world have lit candles and lamps in the dark nights of winter to honor (and encourage) the return of the light. Millions of people have seen those small, twinkling flames (or lightbulbs!) and felt comfort, delight, and even relief.

Remember when we tried to “save energy” by not lighting up our houses at Christmas time? How bleak the holidays seemed!

Maybe the draw we humans have toward sparkling light is the call of Like to Like. Maybe it’s the Light in us recognizing its own. And those same twinkling, sparkling, lights in the darkness help us remember the Truth: darkness has no power of its own—we have merely to turn on the Light and it is banished.

May you know all the blessings of a beautiful, Light-filled holiday season! R

In case you haven’t noticed, just about everything that happens here at Unity by the Sea is done by members and friends who volunteer their time, talents, and treasure to make it so.

Starting this fall, the teams have been meeting after the 3rd Sunday potluck to plan for the coming year.

So, if you have ideas about the Bookstore, or the Sunday service, or getting the word out about Unity, check the Action Team list on the bulletin board and let the folks on the Bookstore, Spiritual Life, or Newsletter/PR team know.

If you feel good making things happen in the kitchen or doing yardwork, check with Jeri or other members of the Kitchen or Facilities teams to find out what’s needed, when.

If you like meeting & greeting folks talk with Larry about Hospitality.

If you or someone you know would like a little extra spiritual or emotional support, contact Rev. Ruth or another member of our Pastoral Care team to set something up. Or, if calling, visiting, giving a ride, or just being available to someone feels like a part of your gift in this community, talk to Rev. Ruth about joining this team.

JANUARY RUMINATIONS

It’s been wonderful to watch all our new members working their way into our community! Their contributions of time, energy, talent, and love are priceless additions to the already amazingly loving and effective volunteers who bring so much beauty and comfort to Unity by the Sea. Thank you all so much!

Community is a great word—one of my favorites. First, it’s based on that lovely word, Unity. Com, from the Latin cum, meaning “with,” meets up with uni, from the Latin una, meaning “One,” and together they join with -ity, based on the Latin –itas, referring to a state of being. “A state of being with One,” would be the literal translation, with the usual interpretation, “being as One.”

To be as one in community requires a form of communion: again that “with” and “one,” but this time as a process, rather than a state of being. Most of us think of communion as sharing bread and wine, but that’s only one form. It’s the form that the Hebrew people have used for thousands of years to unite the people gathered for any ritual meal; and so is the form Jesus used to remind his disciples of their oneness together in the Christ.

But that’s not the only way to come into communion. We’re in communion with another whenever we communicate (There’s that with-One, again! This time with the Latin suffix implying action!). To communicate is not just to share information, but, in its original usage, meant to participate in Holy Communion! So we are in communion whenever we share a common vision or dream, whenever we work together as one, whenever we unite in our love, concern, or prayer.

Recognizing this, our Unity tradition encourages “spiritual” communion rather than the traditional service re-enacting the Last Supper. This way, we remember not to place our focus on outer material things and processes, but on the inner Presence—and the deep sharing that comes of knowing we are one: one heart, one Mind, one Spirit. In this awareness we focus on the ongoing process of uniting in Spirit.

So, as each of you join with us, whether in prayer, in Sunday celebration, in keeping the building and grounds nice, or simply in the fellowship of sharing coffee and cookies, we are all enhanced, all drawn further into that sacred state of being that we call Unity.

Many thanks to all of you for all the ways you help us experience our Union in the divine! R