Upcoming Services and Special Events!

Sunday, August 19th, 10:30 am:   "When You’ve Fallen into a Hole, Stop Digging" will be Jon West's topic, exploring how to minimize the negative impact of life's inevitable disappointments.

Daniel Nahmod Concert at Unity. Daniel has performed his profound, heart-opening original music for over one million people in 45 U.S. states and Canada. Tickets Adults $15, kids 12 & under $10. Click here for a video message  from Daniel, and get your tickets early at https://danielnahmodeugene.brownpapertickets.com

Sunday, August 26th, 10:30 am:. "Before You Reach the Summit, Be There Now" will be Jon West's topic, examining keys to working in harmony with the universe in our efforts to manifest desired outcomes.

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From Hole to Whole and Back Again

A message from Reverend Sherry

Standing by the mountain stream, I felt such peace and contentment. My husband had just retired and we were celebrating the fact that now we could take those trips, visit those people, do whatever spirit was leading us to do. I remember the words that were pouring into my thoughts “I am whole, I am free, and I am unlimited.” It was an incredible feeling. And, within a few weeks it all changed.

In the fall, on his birthday in fact, my husband had quadruple by-pass heart surgery. He recovered well and during recovery we altered our travel plans. We would still do some travel, but we would not be as expansive as we had planned on before and as soon as his doctor had given the go-ahead words, we would begin. Our first plan was to join our children and their families at our beach place in South Carolina – one family coming down from Virginia and one family coming from Florida. We did that and had a great time. Some other trips, still not expansive, ensued, but we continued to hold out for the Europe one, especially France. We had spent four years in Japan, so we wanted to go in the other direction this time.

It was not to be. When the diagnosis of my husband’s Alzheimer’s landed in our laps, our plans were organized around what we could do to sustain his health and mind for as long as possible. One airplane trip to see our son was a disaster, so that took care of that and we began focusing on the smaller, but still big, place in our lives. I remember asking, in tears, “Why, God?” and adding “I feel so helpless. What are you doing to us?” Though I had affirmed I had given up defeating and limiting thoughts, many times through the years, they were now staring me in the face again and I felt defeated in so many ways.

Throughout the ensuing years, the narrow focus of being an at-home caregiver, and eventually a daily visitor to his memory care facility, felt like living in a hole. I shared with some friends that the reason they had to repave River Road during that time was because I cried enough tears on the journey back and forth to the facility to wash away even the pavement. And, there were moments of joy, of feeling Spirit’s presence, of feeling the energetic bond between my husband and I continuing even when he no longer knew who I was. But it was still a hole, filled with doubt, fear, and guilt for not doing and being enough as a person.

His eventual passing was difficult beyond words, of course, but life has opened up again, thanks to some incredible, loving friends who continue to show me what’s possible, and I can feel my feet no longer in the muddy hole, but on solid ground. I no longer hold the shovel of disappointment in my hand. In spite of the aging process that presents its challenges, there is an experience of wholeness that has returned. I have a wonderful guide and am being shown the way. I am setting unlimited boundaries and allowing the horizons to continue to broaden.

We all get into holes of disappointment and aborted pleasures, more than once in this lifetime. That can happen at any time and without forewarning, as many of you know. However, when we finally “get it” that we are always connected to the abundant source of goodness, we can begin to see that a hole might have been necessary to slow us down long enough to re-establish the proper connection with that unlimited source.

As I closed the pages on the album of photos of my husband’s life, it was with a sigh of relief, knowing that it was as it was. Now it is as it is. My wish for you is that you never get stuck in self-defeating reactions. But knowing you are human, as I am, it is most likely to happen at times. At those times we can stretch out our arms, let the spirit of love embrace us, the Light of The One surround us, and know that the Presence watches over us through our friends, our family, and our own intuitive process. Be here now for each other. That makes the biggest difference of all.

With love unlimited for anyone who will receive it.

Sherry  

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August 13th to August 18th

TUESDAY (7:00 p.m.) – The August 14 Behind the Lens Seminar movie is The Homecoming directed by Peter Hall, followed by a Q&A session with Tom Blank.  Cost is $30 for 12 films or $5 per time.

THURSDAY - (7:00-9:00 p.m.) - Therapeutic Touch in the Fillmore Wing. Donation basis. For more information, please contact Bev Forster at 541-520-9358.

FRIDAY (7:00 p.m.) – Friday Spiritual Cinema, a series of films curated by Tom Blank. The August screening is Kundun, directed by Martin Scorsese. A Q & A session with Tom will follow. Donation basis.

August 20th to August 25th

MONDAY (7:00-9:00 p.m.) – Unity Open Men’s Circle meets in the Fillmore Wing. This group is open to all men within our church community and our larger Eugene community. For more information, contact Raymond Albano at 541-285-3943 / ralban0@icloud.com or Jim Drews at 541-726-8510.

 

TUESDAY

– 6:30 p.m. - Board Meeting in the Garden Room. All are welcome to attend. If you would like to speak at the meeting, please contact Denise-Christine at 541-600-6084.

– 7:00 p.m. - The August 21 Behind the Lens Seminar movie is The Magician directed by Ingmar Bergman, followed by a Q&A session with Tom Blank.  Cost is $30 for 12 films or $5 per time.

WEDNESDAY – Spiritual Yoga & Meditation with Sunny Hills. Join Sunny for Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. This yoga technique is safe and effective for everyone no matter what age, experience, or level of fitness, and can even be done in a chair. $5 per class (August 22-October 10). For more information, contact Sunny at 808-359-4926.

THURSDAY (11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.) – Joy of Watercolor. The emphasis of this class is on joy. Come and explore painting with watercolor in an encouraging and fun atmosphere. All skill levels welcome. For more information, contact Ellen Ticknor at 541-344-1490.

SATURDAY - (6:00-9:00 p.m.) – Reiki Do Satori Open House. This monthly event is open to all who are interested in receiving a short, free Reiki session for relaxation and/or healing. Reiki practitioners who would like to be part of this event are also welcome. Donations accepted.

Upcoming

Sunday, September 9 - Soup Sunday Returning! Please sign up in the Fellowship Hall to bring a large pot of soup or bread. After the service, we gather and share soup and bread contributed by members of the community.

Calling All Musicians, Actors, Dancers, and Storytellers. Come and join our cabaret. We are looking for musical acts, presenters of limericks, poetry, monologues, comedy routines, dancing, etc. (no longer than 4 minutes) for our October 5 Cabaret. If you would like to be part of the show, contact Laura DuBois at ladubois@gmail.com or 732-687-3571.

Service Opportunities 

Fourth Annual Shelter Week Service Project - One Director and 8 Co-Coordinators Needed. The week of October 22-28, we have the honor of providing breakfast and dinner for 10 families staying at the new shelter at Fox Hollow and West Amazon. Unlike prior years, we will not be doing nursery care or bathroom cleanup. If you are open to the possibility of helping coordinate, please email Jon West at jwest97405@gmail.com. Once we have a list of interested people, we'll schedule a meeting to share the straightforward system of running this project developed by our Elder Council over the prior three years. 

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