Upcoming Services and Special Events!
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Sunday June 30th

Pre-Service Meditation from 10:00-10:15 a.m.  

10:30 a.m. Service: Guest Speaker Yogacharya Rev. Ellen Grace O’Brian will share her insights in “Life in Dynamic Balance: How to Prosper Without Losing Your Soul” followed by a book signing in the foyer after the service (Her book is available in the Unity bookstore). 

Sunday July 7th

Pre-Service Meditation from 10:00-10:15 a.m.  

10:30 a.m. Service:   “The Divine Dance.” Rev. Sherry Lady will explore the goodness, truth, and beauty that unfolds as we join the Divine Dance of a life in partnership with Spirit. 

SEVEN DAYS, OR TEN DAYS, HOW EVER LONG IT TAKES

A Message from Sherry Lady

In 1935, a very wise man named Emmett Fox was becoming well known for his teachings on spirituality. One of his books became a best seller and is still read and used as a text in classes on living a spiritual, fruitful, and joyful life. The title is The 7-Day Mental Diet. If you haven’t read it, now might be just the time.

In his book, Fox states that it is important to rid one’s self of all negativity – even if it has to be in small doses at a time – and think only positive thoughts. He uses the phrase, “Thoughts are things,” and, when held onto for long periods of time, they manifest in our life experience whether visibly or hidden within circumstances. If you believe that thoughts are things or become things, then it follows that a great deal of your life today is based on past thoughts you had at one time or another. Scary isn’t it?

Many years later, Tony Robbins, a well-known motivational speaker and author wrote a book entitled Awaken the Giant Within – The 10-Day Mental Diet. I had to smile a bit that Robbins’ suggested diet was three days longer than Emmett Fox’s. Maybe life was that much simpler in Fox’s time and perhaps with the advent of industry and technology it takes a bit longer to clear the mind of negative thoughts and de-stress our over-active nervous systems. Tony Robbins, who noted that he received inspiration from Fox’s writings, states in his book: “The most important diet you can undertake is the mental diet. This is the one everyone in the world needs and yet many will not partake of it.”

(I was secretly hoping that if I did a 10-day, or even a 7-day mental diet my body would cooperate and automatically rid itself of all the negative baggage hanging around under my skin that causes me to yell at my bathroom scales. No luck with that so far. I did find out, however, that if you step on the scale with one leg at a time and add the two figures it comes out less than when you step on it with both feet at the same time. Aren’t you glad you know that now? That’s positive thinking to me – ha ha.)

As Jon states in his description for his talk this Sunday: “Our thoughts can affect our minds like the empty, heart-clogging calories of junk food.” I’ve experienced that often enough to know there is Truth (yes, with a capital T) in that statement. I also know that thoughts are more powerful than we realize. Until we understand this fact, we will suffer needlessly, agonize critically, and even forget to breathe physically when we allow negative thoughts to take over our day and affect our health. But…

What about those thoughts that come unbidden? Can we stop them? Can we as human beings dwell only in the realm of positive thoughts and if so, how much training is needed to make that happen? The key word is “dwell,” which means to hang-out, stay in the middle of, make a home there, as well as hang on to and use those negative thoughts as tools or weapons to justify our behavior. Once we stop “dwelling” and move into “releasing and letting go,” life begins to turn around in wonderful and unbelievable ways. Over time, the positive shines brilliantly through until negative thinking just can’t stand that incredible radiance.

Some ways to get there according to both Fox and Robbins include: 1) Ask empowering questions like “What else could this mean?” 2) Never spend more than 10% of your time on the problem and at least 90% on the solution; 3) Realize it might take several 7 or 10-day rounds to accomplish the goal; 4) Commit to a friend or family member that you are going on a mental diet and ask for their support; 5) Be still, pray, and listen and you will know what to do; 6) Realize that being happy and cheerful feels better than feeling low-spirited and fearful and hold that in thought.

We are transformed by the renewing of our minds, and we have a powerful, loving and supporting Spirit encouraging us every step of the way.

Now onto round 3 of the 10-day mental diet. I’m getting there, though a bit slower than I anticipated. How about you? Shall we cheer each other onward? I’d like that.

In the light of the brightest day possible.

Sherry

Week of June 24th to June 29th

(Scroll down for Ongoing Weekly Events)

TUESDAY (7:00 p.m.) – The June 25 Behind the Lens Seminar film is Casablanca directed by Michael Curtiz, followed by a Q&A session with Tom Blank. If you have not paid for the series, the cost is $5.

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.

Week of July 1st to July 6th

(Scroll down for Ongoing Weekly Events)

 (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 (7:00 p.m.) – Silent Movie Night with Live Music. Join us for this exciting event where we will be showing the movie Modern Times, directed by Charlie Chaplin. In this film Chaplin’s “Little Tramp” struggles to survive the Great Depression, unemployment, and a Henry Ford-like factory assembly line. This screening will feature live music during the movie by PAUL BIONDI on sax and GUS RUSSELL on piano. Suggested donation $5-$10.

THURSDAY, JULY 4 – The office is closed for the Independence Holiday.

Ongoing Weekly Events

Service Opportunities   

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