SUNDAY LIVESTREAM SERVICE: Join us and many other friends of Unity live at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday at https://www.facebook.com/unityofthevalley (you don’t have to be a Facebook member). Other links and news are posted after the message. Last Sunday’s (4/14/24) service can be watched at https://www.facebook.com/unityofthevalley/videos/4-14-24-recovering-the-eternal-child-within-us/2116467995395703/.

A BED BY THE WINDOW
from Rev. Sherry Lady

Starting off with a bit of humor because it is such a good metaphor for life right now:

During a visit to my doctor, I asked him, “How do you determine whether or not an older person should be put in an old age home?”

He replied: “We fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup, and a bucket to the person and ask them to empty the bathtub.”

“Oh, I understand,” I said. “A normal person would use the bucket because it is bigger than the spoon or teacup.”

“No,” he said.” A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?”

We seem to be at a place right now where we cannot find the bigger, more creative, and often obvious answers to some things. Or even know where to look for them because “normal” isn’t normal anymore. Maybe it never was, but it sure felt that way. I know I yearn for something I can’t even describe and I want to return to that “normal” as soon as possible to see if I can find it there. But let’s face it: We never will. No matter what world, country, or personal events have happened in our lives, a return to normalcy has always looked different, mainly because we ourselves have changed as well. For me, the changing times have caused me to feel less like my true self than at any other time in my life. Or maybe I am becoming my real true self or…? I’m comfortable sharing that because so many others have shared that something similar is happening with them.   

It has been suggested that we have become polarized within ourselves, within our country, and within the world as a whole. An atheist friend of mine admitted, “We could sure use that anticipated Christian Second Coming.” He added, “Rome isn’t burning–yet. But if there is a Second Coming that will rescue us from any conflagration it needs to be now.” If not, he mentioned the potential that we would either explode or end up on a bed staring out the window while trying to figure it out. A little dire, I admit. But I know the feeling of lying in bed longer in the mornings pondering what the day could look. He and I are ready for something better. Maybe not all of you, but I’ll bet some of you are.

How do we start this return, both in our personal lives and on a larger scale? Thich Nhat Hanh suggests this rather radical approach for the larger world:

“The situation of the world is like this. People completely identify with one side, one ideology. To understand the suffering and the fear of a human being who thinks differently, we have to become one with him or her. To do so is dangerous–we will be suspected by both sides. But if we don’t do it, if we align ourselves with one side or the other, we will lose our chance to work for peace. Reconciliation is to understand both sides.”

From this we can find the common ground, which has begun to be talked about recently in the media and other places. This means having the wisdom to pull the plug, not just to empty the bathtub, but in many places where we are stuck and need to begin again.

On the smaller scale of our personal lives, consider these steps from an article titled “How to Stay Young” (author unknown):

• Throw out nonessential numbers. These include age, weight, and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.
• Keep cheerful friends. The grouches will pull you down.
• Keep learning. Never let the brain idle. Do whatever to keep it active. An idle mind will atrophy.
• Freedom unused will also atrophy, so allow freedom to flourish everywhere.
• Enjoy the simple things. Laugh often, long and loud until you gasp for breath.
• Let the tears happen. Grieve and then move on. The only person who is with us our entire lives is us. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
• Surround yourself with what you love. Your home is your refuge.
• Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
• Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country…but not to where guilt is.
• Tell the people you love that you love them at every opportunity you have.

 

On the days when none of this works, then go ahead, take that bed by the window (be sure there is a window to look out of), pull the plug on all that stuff inside, and let it drain out quickly until all is clear. No need to hang on to anything. Then let yourself be filled with Spirit’s Love. When full, call someone or tell someone in person that they are loved. Bet you will hear the same back from them. People need to hear it.

My bed is by a window and tonight, weather permitting, I will be able to see the full moon. So reassuring in its constant cycling. I may go outside and let it shine down on me as I have a treasure in my heart that needs a blessing of reassurance.

From the window of Life. 

Sherry

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THIS WEEK AT UNITY, APRIL 17-20

WEDNESDAY
- 2:00-3:00 p.m. via Zoom – Community Connect moderated by Rev. Dick Everts. This is a one hour, drop in, chatting session for discussing topics of spiritual interest, personal growth, etc. There is a new topic each Wednesday. To take part, send an email request to Rev. Dick at richard.everts@comcast.net.

THURSDAY
- 1:00-2:30 p.m. – Unity’s Elder Council meets in the Garden Room. If you are 60 or older and would like to explore the journey and wisdom of elderhood, please join us. For more information, contact Julia Linebarger-Taylor at jlinebargertaylor@yahoo.com or 541-968-5896.

- 5:30-6:45 p.m. – Passage Meditation in the Fillmore Wing. This group practices “Passage Meditation” as taught by Eknath Easwaran. For more information, contact Laurie Cracraft at 541-554-5434.

SATURDAY
- 10:00-11-:30 a.m. via Zoom - Gong Bath Meditation Class with Sunny & Vicky Hills - Several Unity of the Valley Members attend regularly, including Laura & Inge. Please Sign Up Here: https://sunnyhillsmeditation.com.

THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 21

- 9:00-10:20 a.m. – Sunday Morning Book Study Group. Join Cynthia Fulton-Tinawi in the Rainbow Room for the study of the book Spiritual Awakenings by Barbara Harris Whitfield. For more information, contact Cynthia at 216-466-1897.

- 10:30 a.m. Livestream & In-Person Service – “Opening Our Skin to the Earth” with Guest Speaker Tom Titus.

- 12:15-1:15 p.m. – Healing Prayer Circle meets in the upstairs Fillmore Wing. We offer healing prayer to individuals who request it. All are welcome to join us. For more information, contact Julia Linebarger-Taylor at 541-968-5896.

NEXT WEEK, APRIL 22-27

MONDAY
- 7:00-8:30 p.m. – Choir Practice in the Sanctuary. If you would like to be a part of the choir, contact Mo Robeson at 541-520-8489.

TUESDAY
- 7:00 p.m. – The April 23rd Behind the Lens film is Annie Get Your Gun, directed by George Sidney, followed by a Q&A session with Tom Blank. Cost is $30 for series or $5 per time. Registration forms in the Fellowship Hall.

WEDNESDAY
- 6:30-8:00 p.m. - Youth & Family Wildlife Adventure Night in the Garden Room. Calling all adults with children to join us in the Garden Room for an evening of fun. We will go on a bear hunt, make a glow-in-the-dark fun craft, have an adventure activity, and food too. Free, but donations welcome. R.S.V.P. to Alice Sparks at 541-729-3817.

NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 28

- 10:30 a.m. Livestream & In-Person Service – “Honoring Your Creativity” with Rev. Inge Tarantola.

UPCOMING

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 (7:00-8:00 p.m.) – Chanting & Meditation in the sanctuary. Join Jon West on the first Wednesday of each month and open to the Infinite Spirit within through the timeless practice of chanting our way into deep meditation. For more info., contact Jon West at 541-683-7664 or jwest97405@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 2 (6:30-7:30 p.m.) – Parents Empowered by Connecting group. This group meets on the 1st Thursday of each month in the Garden Room. For more information, contact Amanda Hadd at 541-999-6673 or Alice Sparks at 541-729-3817.

SATURDAY, MAY 4 (10:30 a.m.-Noon) – Sacred Women’s Circle in the upstairs Fillmore Wing. Join Géna on the first Saturday of each month for a time of connecting, meditating, and doing a fun project that incorporates the theme for that month’s gathering. May’s theme is Nature’s Gifts.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES/NEEDS

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY: We are looking for volunteers to help make prayer shawls either by knitting or crocheting that are then given away to people in our community who are going through a difficult time. No experience necessary. To become part of the team, contact Rev. Inge at 541-968-5540 or ingetarantola@gmail.com. 

POTS OF SOUP: Each Sunday we serve 2-3 pots of soup. We are looking for 1 person who can bring a pot of soup on a Sunday. Please sign up in the Fellowship Hall if you can help out.

UNITY COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS/OPPORTUNITIES

Our April Bulletin has been posted. You can check it out at http://unityofthevalley.org/April2024/April2024bulletin.pdf.

The Youth & Family Ministry Spring Newsletter has been posted as well. You can read it at http://unityofthevalley.org/pdfs/YFMspringnewsletter2024.pdf.

UNITY FOOD DRIVE – Please help us to fill the food barrel in the foyer with shelf-stable food (i.e., canned or no refrigeration needed) for Food For Lane County. Together, We Are Making a Difference!

SUNDAY GATHERING & NEWS FOR YOUTH

NURSERY (INFANT-4 YEARS OLD) Nursery care is offered during the service in the Harmony Room.

UNIKIDS (KINDERGARTEN-5th GRADE) We currently offer fun and inspiration for the kids. There is a puppet show each Sunday for the first 10 minutes. Parents are asked to drop off their children starting at 10:20 a.m.

UNITEENS (GRADES 6-8) meets in the upstairs Treehouse room from 10:25 to 11:25 a.m.

UNITY TEEN GROUP (GRADES 9-12). The Unity Teen Group meets from 10:25 to 11:25 a.m. in the Rainbow Room with guidance from Jim Drews.

UNITY’S SIMPLE GIVING PROGRAM

Unity of the Valley’s Simple Giving Program is an easy, automatic means by which you can give gifts or tithes to the church in the amount you specify at the frequency you select. To sign up and for more information, click http://www.unityofthevalley.org/pdfs/simplegivingform.pdf. If you have any questions, contact our Administrator, Géna, at 541-345-9913, ext. 11.

FACEBOOK USERS

Did you know that you can help spread the word about Unity of the Valley and its events? By Liking the Facebook page and then clicking "Like" or "Share" on individual posts, you can let Facebook know that these posts are important and make sure that the posts are seen by MANY more people. Please take a moment now to Like the page (if you haven't already) and share a Unity post with your friends. Unity’s Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/unityofthevalley.   

 

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Your Prayer Team is Here for You!
Do you have a prayer request? Contact Julia Linebarger-Taylor via phone or text at 541-968-5896.

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Unity of the Valley’s Music Releases can be found at
https://www.facebook.com/unityofthevalley/videos/368369060857899/

"Connecting from the Heart" is now an independent nonprofit organization, working closely with Unity of the Valley. To enjoy their music, meditation and mental wellness videos, please click on this link: cfth.us.org.  

We also post Unity videos, when possible, at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqUL3d7-JjO_45Bo3vLfrWQ/videos

You can visit Unity Online at:
Website: http://www.unityofthevalley.org

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OUR SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUND

The Unity Board has approved the creation of Our Spiritual Community Support Fund. This fund was inspired by a Unity member who offered her government stimulus funds to assist individuals in our spiritual community who need it most. 

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY

·     Send a check to Unity of the Valley, 3912 Dillard Rd., Eugene, OR 97405 with a note designating if it’s for OSCSF or general Unity finances.

·     Send a donation through PayPal using the yellow DONATE button on the home page of our website: unityofthevalley.org. This can be a one-time donation, repeated as often as you wish for different amounts, or a monthly recurring donation for a set amount. Make sure you designate whether you want your donation to be applied to OSCSF or to general Unity finances.

·     Send an email to unityval@riousa.com stating that you wish to pledge a certain amount, possibly from your government stimulus check to the OSCSF or to general Unity finances. Give your phone number so Géna can contact you to arrange how and when you wish to donate.

·     You can write a letter stating you wish to join our Simple Giving Fund to contribute a set amount (state the amount) on a regular basis (state how often) with your bank account routing and account number. Just designate what portion should be used for OSCSF or general Unity finances. Géna, our Office Administrator, opens all our mail in private. So, it is safe to include your account information in a letter, but not in an email.

IF YOU NEED MONETARY ASSISTANCE
To request monetary help, you can write a letter or an email (unityval@riousa.com) directed to the Ministerial Team. Please include the following information:
1. Your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.
2. Your association with Unity of the Valley.
3. Name of reference at Unity of the Valley (someone who knows you).
4. Brief description of your financial need.
5. How much you are requesting.
6. Do you think your financial needs will require monthly support? 

Requests for monetary help will be reviewed by our Ministerial Team. If a request is approved, the amount granted will be dependent on how many requests we receive and how much money is available in the OSCSF.

Thank you all for being an integral part of our loving and supportive community.