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 (5/28/23) service can be watched at https://www.facebook.com/unityofthevalley/videos/5-28-2023-health-breakthroughs-made-easy/1908541779512962/.

THE BLESSING OF SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY
A message from Rev. Sherry Lady

Little Sammy was walking with his twin sister Serena down a street in their neighborhood. They had been given the task of going together to do some shopping for their mother at a neighborhood market. They were almost there but had to cross a street with a stop sign. The metal sign was attached to a wooden post. Serena, being the more active of the twins, ran ahead of Sammy and used her arms to encircle the wooden post and swing around it several times until she stopped facing the back of it. Sammy yelled, “What are you doing? Didn’t you see the sign? You could get hurt doing that.”

“What sign,” she said. “All I see is a post with something shiny on top of it.”

“It’s a stop sign, dummy!” Sammy retorted grumpily. “It means you are supposed to stop before crossing the street.” 

“I’m stopped now,” Serena replied. “I guess you saw a sign nailed to the post and I saw a post nailed to a sign. That makes it more fun, don’t you think?”

Sammy started to walk ahead of her shaking his head. They might be twins but much of the time they were nothing alike. Then Serena yelled at him. “Wait! What’s that over there?” 

“A tree dummy. Just a tree.”

“No it isn’t,” said Serena. “It’s a wooden trunk with a bush on top of it. And over there is a rose with a bush under it. And up there is a chimney with a house under it and over there are four tires with a car on top of them.” Sammy wasn’t much into the game, but Serene was having a wonderful time using her different perspective as they walked along, including pointing out where there was a whole bunch of food with a store around it.”

This scenario is based on a children’s story I read to my classes years ago written by one of the student’s parents, I can’t remember who. I remembered it while out on a wonderful drive with a friend through one of our beautiful Oregon scenic countryside areas. My friend had said to me, “I think we will turn around now and go back the same way.” 

“Ok,” I said, wondering about the decision. Then my friend shared something that has changed my way forever of looking at all kinds of things. He said: “Things always look different when you take the opportunity to see them, even some of very familiar things, from a different perspective­­—sometimes even just approaching it from a different direction. You see things you never noticed before, and it’s always very, very interesting. 

So true. It was delightful to see what I had just observed traveling north and now traversing the same road going south. I did see so many things I had not noticed before.

I have noticed that when I need to change my perspective on how things can be, the Loving Spirit often finds a way to speak to me through unexpected sources. Trying to reconcile some unpleasant events in my life, I had chosen to see them in only one way. After this bit of wisdom, I began finding blessings in many of those experiences. My gratitude notebook expanded as I jotted down what I learned by first traveling north by car, then heading in the southern direction – the direction from where warm weather comes to us, warmth that heats the south side of my house, blesses my flowers, and brightens my world when I open the curtains. Along with the warmth from being blessed by having such a wise friend.

A man named Mark Stinson wrote: “An optimist says the glass is half-full. The pessimist says the glass is half empty. The engineer says the container is twice as big as it needs to be. Same phenomenon, three perspectives.” I am grateful for my friend’s willingness to give me a new perspective on life. I needed that. I will accept the container being its necessary size. In my view, it needs to stay that way so we can fill it with all the good, happy, blessed things that are yet to come our way.

You are very wise and don’t forget it. What you have to share is important. Spirit will guide you as to how, where, and when, but don’t hold back. When it comes from the heart of love and caring, it can change a life and thus the world, at the same time. May we all always be open to that.

Love,
Sherry   

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ANGEL NETWORK REQUEST: Meal Train for Corlea Sue: Corlea Sue is home recovering from a hysterectomy. Can you help with meals for the family? You can order delivery or whatever works for you. Your help is appreciated! To sign up visit https://mealtrain.com/v57y4y. 

THIS WEEK AT UNITY, MAY 31-JUNE 3

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
- 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.

- 6:30-8:00 p.m. – Unity’s Coming Alive Theater Group will meet in the Sanctuary on June 1 and 15 to play improvisation games and to perform skits. These will be our final meetings of this season before we take a summer break. We plan to meet again starting in September 2023. For more information, please contact Doris Hicks at 458-205-8570 / dlhlibrary@aol.com or Alice Sparks at 971-254-7564 (This group meets on the 1st & 3rd Thursday of each month.)

THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 4

- 10:30 a.m. Livestream & In-Person Service – “Finding Healing and Hope in the Midst of Crisis” with Rev. Inge Tarantola and Laura DuBois.

- After the Service – CIRCLE SUPPER HOST SIGNUPS in the foyer. We are happy to announce that our Circle Suppers are back! These intimate in-home dinner events for 4 to 10 persons are a great way to experience wonderful food along with Unity fellowship. If you are interested in signing up to HOST a Circle Supper, please visit the signup table in the foyer. Signup to ATTEND one of the Circle Suppers, will be held on Sundays, June 11 and 18. For more information, or to sign up to host or attend a Circle Supper, email Serenee at sereneeheart@yahoo.com.

- 12:00-1:00 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

- 12:15-1:00 p.m. – Youth Choir meets in the Garden Room. Ages 6 years to young adult. Led by our wonderful Music Director, Laura DuBois.

NEXT WEEK, JUNE 5-10

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 The May 30 Behind the Lens Seminar film is The Postman Always Rings Twice, directed by Tay Garnet, followed by a Q&A session with Tom Blank. Cost is $30 for series or $5 per time. Be sure to pick up a registration form in the Fellowship Hall.

WEDNESDAY
- 4:00-5:00 p.m. - Unity Grief Support Group co-facilitated by Rev. Inge Tarantola and Nancy Morrow meets in the Garden Room and via Zoom. Confidentiality observed. For more information, contact Rev. Inge Tarantola at 541-968-5540 or ingetar@pacinfo.com.

THURSDAY
- 4:00-5:30 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.

NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 11

- 10:30 a.m. Livestream & In-Person Service – “Creating a Community of Caring with Jon West.

UNITY COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS/OPPORTUNITIES

Our June Bulletin has been posted. You can check it out at unityofthevalley.org/pdfs/June2023.pdf

UNITY FOOD DRIVE – Thank you for helping us to continue filling the 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

YOUTH PUPPET DAY CAMP - Youth ages 7-14 are invited to Unity’s free Puppet Camp 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, July 10-14. Participants will learn how to manipulate many different kinds of puppets, learn how to present a story using voice and movement, and on the final day of camp will present a variety show onstage. We welcome all abilities and neurodiversities. Please preregister with Alice Sparks (voice or text) at 971-254-7564 or Doris Hicks (voice only) at 458-205-8570 or dlhlibrary@aol.com.

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) begins June 11 and meets in the upstairs Treehouse room from 10:25 to 11:25 a.m.

UNITY TEEN GROUP (GRADES 6-12). The Unity Teen Group meets on Sundays from 10:25 to 11:25 a.m. in the Rainbow Room with guidance from Jim Drews. Jim brings a deep and practical understanding of Unity principles and how to help youth develop their spiritual powers through creative exploration and fun activities. The Rainbow Room is in the Fillmore Wing of Unity, first door to the left of the stairway.

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.

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Your Prayer Team is Here for You!

Do you have a prayer request? Email Rev. Inge Tarantola your name and prayer request at ingetar@pacinfo.com.

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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

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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 below.

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.

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