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 (3/30/25) service can be watched at https://www.facebook.com/unityofthevalley/videos/3-30-25-the-power-of-connecting-in-spirit/1179925006401257/.

GENTLE IN THE STORM
by Rev. Sherry Lady

It’s been quite a week, hasn’t it? What are the things that have come into your life to make you think twice about what is yours to do, or where it is you need to go, or what is happening in the world and what is your next step? Or, have you, like me on a couple of occasions, just stared out the window at nothing in particular because your mind was too full, or the stacks on your desk too high, or your appointment book too full of the have-tos and not enough of the want-tos? Sometimes this happens in our lives. That is quite normal, really. If it does, and we are willing, we can let it be just what it is, take a deep breath and move on.

 Sometimes, however, it’s not that easy, as you may know. Sometimes, when things swirl around faster than we anticipated, we have to make the decision to take action and become part of a solution. Then we may wonder if we have the strength to do that, to handle the responsibility. Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley gave us a wonderful quote about that. He said, “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”

On one such day, a friend of mine who is going through a storm of her own – and one much bigger than my small and temporary whirlwind – sent me this very poignant poem/essay.  

Find Your Quiet in the Storm

Some days, the world feels too sharp, too loud, too raw to touch.
Headlines scream, phones ring, and chaos dances at our doorstep.

But I’ve learned to find sanctuary in small moments of grace—
The way sunlight paints shadows on walls, how wind whispers through the leaves, the steady rhythm of my own breath when I remember to breathe just…breathe.

I’ve learned to turn off the noise, to silence the endless chatter, to find strength in gentle things…a cup of coffee at dawn, a moment of kindness between strangers, the quiet courage of growing things.

They say the world’s gone mad, but perhaps the secret is knowing
when to step away from the storm - when to guard your peace like gold.
When to let your heart be still in a world that never stops spinning.

For in this rush of endless moments, we must remember to be gentle with ourselves,
and with each other, to find beauty in broken places, to create spaces of quiet wonder in corners of our own making.

This is how we stay whole – not by hardening our heart, but by knowing when to soften,
when to rest, when to breathe, when to let the world’s noise fade into the background of our being. ~Annika R. Day – Nov. 6, 2024

So how do we let the world’s noise fade into the background? We do what we know to do because, as a song we sometimes sing together says, “It’s in every one of us, to be wise. Find your heart, open up both your eyes. We can all know everything, without every knowing why. It’s in every one of us, by and by.” (David Pomeranz) Trust that Spirit knows, lives, and dwells in you, walks with you, guides you and holds you close in that gentle heart of knowing.

So let’s be at peace, no matter what. We can do this.

Love,
Sherry 

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THIS WEEK AT UNITY, APRIL 2-5

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.

- 7:00-8:00 p.m. – Chanting & Meditation in the sanctuary on the first Wednesday of each month. Join Jon West, Stephen Parsons, and Donna O'Neil in opening to Spirit by chanting our way into deep meditation. For more info., contact Jon West at 541-683-7664 or jwest97405@gmail.com. We will be saying goodbye to Stephen since he has taken work in Thailand as an English teacher.

THURSDAY
- 1:00-2:30 p.m. – Unity’s Elder Council meets in the upstairs Fillmore 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.

- 5:30-6:30 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 Alice Sparks at 541-729-3817.

- 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
- 10:30 a.m.-Noon – Sacred Women’s Circle meets in the upstairs Fillmore Wing for a time of connecting, meditating, and doing a fun project that incorporates April’s theme of Releasing & Letting Go.

THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 6

- 10:30 am Livestream & In-Person - Throughout April, our theme will be based on Joan Chitister's book, The Time Is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage. This Sunday, Bonnie Paquin will moderate a panel with Alison Cantril, Ruth Kaminski, and Ani Sinclair on “Be an Informed Voice: The Powers of Awareness, Communication and Community.”

- After the service – First-Sunday Potluck. Join us in the Fellowship Hall. Bring a main dish or salad, and invite your friends and family! Unity will provide coffee, tea, and dessert.

- 12:15-1:30 p.m. – Empathetic Presence & Nonviolent Communication (NVC): A Monthly Primer and Practice Group with Michael Dreiling. This group meets on the first Sunday of each month in the upstairs Fillmore Wing. Sessions offer an overview and Q&A about NVC followed by small group sessions to practice NVC and cultivate empathetic presence. Donations welcome.

NEXT WEEK, APRIL 7-12

MONDAY
- 4:00-5:30 p.m. – Easter Choir rehearsal in the Sanctuary. Performance Sunday, April 20.

- 5:30-7:00 p.m. – Caring from the Heart, a LGBTQIA++ Support Group. Join Shawn, Erik, and Jalon in the Garden Room on the 1st & 3rd Monday of each month for an opportunity to gather in a safe place to be open and to share, express, and support each other in the LGBTQIA++ community. No judgement and no fear. For more information, contact Erik 541-556-0228.

TUESDAY
- 7:00 p.m. – The April 8th Behind the Lens film is Hobson’s Choice, directed by David Lean, followed by a Q&A session with Tom Blank. Registration forms in the Fellowship Hall. Cost is $30 for series (12 movies) or $5 per time. New series starts April 29th.

WEDNESDAY
- 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Journey of the Soul. Join Kaiven in the Garden Room for a small group meeting where we share our light, life, and love with others in an open, loving, and trusting unfoldment of our emotional and spiritual journey of our own truth and meaning. For more information, contact Kaiven at 541-933-2588. (Meets on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month.)

- 6:30-8:00 p.m. – Living Unity Principles with Jon West. This is our introductory course for newcomers and those who would like to go deeper than we can do on a Sunday. Sign up in the Fellowship Hall or email Géna at unityval@riousa.com. Congregants who attend this class will be eligible for voting membership in our spiritual community. (April 9-30)

THURSDAY
- 12:00-1:00 p.m. – Prayer Shawl Ministry potluck gathering in the Fellowship Hall. Come and knit or crochet a prayer shawl that will bless people who are going through a difficult time. No experience necessary! For more information, contact Rev. Inge Tarantola at 541-968-5540 or ingetarantola@gmail.com.

- 3:30-5:00 p.m. – Therapeutic Touch in the upstairs Fillmore Wing. The NW Therapeutic Touch Institute is offering Therapeutic Touch (TT) sessions for those who have taken the classes, those interested in TT, and for those who would simply like to experience a calming, healing TT session. For more information, contact Bev Forster, RN, QTTT, at 541-520-9358.

- 7:30 p.m. – Oasis Ensemble Concert An evening of beautiful chamber music featuring Fanny Hensel's Trio in D Minor, Op., Maurice Ravel's Ma mere l'oye (Mother Goose) and "Northwest Sketches", a world premiere by Oregon composer Brent Weaver inspired by the lush scenery and stories of the Pacific Northwest. Suggested donation: $20 adults, $10 students.

SATURDAY
- 7:30 p.m. Yagody Benefit Concert for Nova Ukraine, humanitarian aid for Ukraine. Yagody's repertoire consists of poetic songs from Ukraine and some regions around. The musicians build a very diverse and energetic world of melodies, rhythms and themes, which they blend uniquely. A concert with Yagody is a ritual. Tickets $25 advance / $28 at the door at https://turningtidesmusic.ticketspice.com/yagody-in-concert.

NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 13

- 10:30 a.m. Livestream & In-Person Service – Continuing our exploration of The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage, Sherry Lady takes a look at “Strengthening Our Spiritual Foundation.”

- 12:15-1:15 p.m. – Unity Environmental Action Team (EAT) meets in the Garden Room on the second Sunday of each month. For more information, contact Betsy Priddle at heavenstobetsy74@gmail.com or Donna O’Neil at yogawithdonna@gmail.com. Reminder: bring your clean and dry #2, #4, and #5 plastics (see more about this below under the Volunteer Opportunities/Needs section).

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES/NEEDS

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.

PLASTICS RECYCLING ONGOING OPPORTUNITY: Every Second Sunday, join the EAT team to recycle your plastics! You can recycle a lot more this way, as our local waste haulers don't take much plastic recycling. But they do take #2 jugs and bottles that are larger than a tennis ball. So, separate your clean plastic containers into bags for #2 tubs (and bottles smaller than a tennis ball), #4 and #5 plastics and their lids (All lids must be separate). Bring your clean, sorted, and dry #2, #4, and #5 plastics to the Garden Room at 11:45 a.m. on the second Sunday of the month. We can help you help the environment by recycling them! Clean them well and save them up for us! Important: Do not drop off your items.

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. 

UNITY COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS/OPPORTUNITIES

Our April Bulletin has been posted. You can check it out at http://unityofthevalley.org/April2025/April2025.pdf. 

The Youth & Family Ministry Winter 2025 Newsletter can be found at http://unityofthevalley.org/Feb2025/YFMnewsletter2025.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 (4 years old-2nd Grade) meet on Sundays in the Garden Room 10:20-11:25 a.m.

Galileans (Grades 3- 5) meet on Sundays from 10:25 to 11:25 a.m. in the Rainbow Room.

Uniteens (Grades 6-8) meet in the upstairs Treehouse room from 10:25 to 11:25 a.m.

Unity Teen Group (Grades 9-12). meet on Sundays from 10:25 to 11:25 a.m. in the Treehouse room.

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/

Unity’s 2025 Annual Congregational Meeting can be found at https://www.facebook.com/unityofthevalley/videos/unity-of-the-valley-2025-annual-meeting/9244051582348725.

"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

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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.