Upcoming Services and Special Events!

Sunday, March 17th

Family Service Double Feature with YFM Coordinator Christina Scott exploring Is Your Energy Where Your Heart Is? and Music Director, Laura DuBois, sharing The Rippling Effects of Kindness. All youth except those needing nursery care will experience this service together. Pre-Service Meditation from 10-10:15 a.m.

– After the service – Love in Action Signups – This is a time when we invite current volunteers to recommit or to explore another area of service, and give new volunteers an opportunity to decide how they can best serve. Be sure to stop by the “Love in Action” tables in the Fellowship Hall after the Sunday service.

– 3:00-3:45 p.m. – Healing Circle based on A Course in Miracles led by Dennis and Janet Chandler in the upstairs Fillmore Wing. This circle is dedicated to acquiring healing practices and demonstrations.

Sunday March 24th

10:30 a.m Service. – Guest Speaker and Musician James Twyman.

– 12:30 p.m. Peace Troubadour and New York Times bestselling author James Twyman presents The Passion of St. Francis, a one-man musical based on St. Francis of Assisi. Suggested Donation at door $10-$15.

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St. Francis and the Bear

A Message from Jon West

What a wonderful treat to have author and “Peace Troubadour” James Twyman (pictured right) this Sunday presenting his one-man musical, The Passion of St. Francis. As the patron saint of animals and nature, St. Francis of Assisi has a special place in many hearts, including mine.

Perhaps you, like me, got your first inkling of spiritual power and beauty by contemplating some aspect of nature and feeling a mysterious sense of connection with it.

I’m sure we’ve all experienced a natural place that inspired us, whether it be in the mountains, strolling on an ocean beach, seeing a sunset in the dessert, paddling on a river, bird watching in the woods, something exotic like repelling into a dormant volcano, or as simple as walking barefoot on grass. If you take a moment right now to imagine yourself in your favorite nature spot, you can actually feel the stirring of the divine energy of Spirit within you. Try it!  

While I was usually enamored with nature as a young child, around the age of 9, I developed an exaggerated fear of bears. This might be due to stories I’d heard about grizzly bear attacks at Yellowstone Park. Consequently, whenever I went tent camping, I would lie awake for a long time listening breathlessly to every suspicious leaf rustle and twig snap.

And that’s all I heard in my forest sleepovers—just some rustling and an occasional snap—until one night when I was 18 years old and camping with two high school buddies Brett and Kenny after a 10-mile hike into the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Through the midnight darkness came crunching footfalls...followed by the crash of our water kettle and other camp items being knocked about. As the three of us lay petrified in our sleeping bags with nothing shielding us but a tarp stretched tent-like over our heads, I had one consolation: I was lying between my friends, so one of them would probably be eaten first.

For a moment, the cacophony in our camp fell silent. Then Brett whispered words that sent a chill through my bones: “Something is sniffing my arm.” There were a few inches of space between our tarp roof and the ground, and apparently a nose was poking into that space. Then Brett, far bolder than me under such circumstances, whispered: “I’m going to go see what’s out there.”

Before I could protest that his body was one of my sole means of protection, Brett unzipped his bag and quickly clambered out from under our makeshift shelter, apparently having found a flashlight in the pitch-blackness. Kenny and I listened for bloodcurdling screams but there was only silence. A moment later we heard Brett slip back under the tarp, where he spoke in a very solemn tone: “Okay, here’s the situation...we’re surrounded by about eight deer.”

Not only did that message instantly restore me to a joyful sense of harmony with nature, it gave me a metaphor for whenever circumstances in my life seem threatening or overwhelming: That the claws and fangs I fear are likely my imagination working overtime...and I’m probably surrounded by about eight deer.

Acknowledging that piece—and peace—of St. Francis that shines in every heart,
Jon

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THIS WEEK – March 11th to March 16th

(Scroll down further for ongoing weekly events)

TUESDAY (7:00 p.m.) – The March 12 Behind the Lens Seminar film is The Devil and Daniel Webster directed by William Dieterle, followed by a Q&A session with Tom Blank. If you have not paid for the series, it is $5 per time.

FRIDAY (7:00 p.m.) – Friday Spiritual Cinema: Parables & Epiphanies, a series of films curated by Tom Blank. The March screening is First Reformed, directed by Paul Schrader. A Q & A session with Tom will follow. Donation basis.

SATURDAY (10:30 a.m.-noon) - Treasures of Unity Volunteer Appreciation Brunch. Your Shared Leadership Team would like to honor you and express our appreciation for your gifts of time, talent, generosity, love, and service to this community. Please sign up in the Fellowship Hall and join us for this event.

 NEXT WEEK – March 18th to March 23rd

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

– 3:00-4:30 p.m. – Prayer, The Game Changer with Rev. Inge Tarantola. This class offers the opportunity to take a look at how you pray, learn steps to affirmative prayer, and how to create a daily spiritual practice. Donation basis. Sign up in the Fellowship Hall. (March 19-April 9

– 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 Pam Gutierrez at 541-232-5612.

– 7:00 p.m. – The March 19 Behind the Lens Seminar film is The Maltese Falcon directed by John Huston, followed by a Q&A session with Tom Blank.  If you have not paid for the series, it is $5 per time. Be sure to pick up the registration form for the Spring Behind the Lens Seminar in the Fellowship Hall. It starts April 9.

THURSDAY (1:00-3:00 p.m.) - Spring Equinox Celebration for Women hosted by Unity’s Elder Council in the sanctuary. Our theme is From Darkness into Light. Come and join us as we honor this change of season. Please wear bright spring colors and bring a snack to share.nt.

MARCH COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Collecting Linen Items: We are working with the Church of the Resurrection to provide Home Starter Kits to families who are moving into permanent housing. These families have been homeless for some time, and often do not have the basic items to set up a new home. In March, we will be collecting donations of new or lightly used linen items. These items include:  Crib blanket &/or fitted sheet, Twin, Double, Full, Queen, King blanket &/or sheet sets, Pillows (new only), Pillowcases, Washcloths, Bath towels, and Hand towels. A container will be in the foyer for these donations. For more information, contact Grace Low at 281-507-2707. 

ONGOING WEEKLY EVENTS

MONDAYS

– 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Meditation Circle in the Fillmore Wing. All meditation approaches and drop ins are welcome. For more information, contact Laurie Cracraft at 541-345-7563.

– 7:00-8:00 p.m. – Choir Practice in the Sanctuary.  For more information on sharing your voice with the choir, contact Mo Robeson at 541-520-8489.

TUESDAYS

– 10:30-11:45 a.m. - Tuesday Spiritual Discussion Group in the Harmony Room. This group reads together and discusses books chosen unanimously. The emphasis of the group is on discussion. For more information, contact Judy Richardson at 541-484-1958.

– 12:00-1:30 p.m. – Vitality Yoga Series! To find out if space is available, contact Donna O'Neil at yogawithdonna@gmail.com or call or text (541) 632-0105. 

– 7:00 p.m. –Behind the Lens Seminar film series with Tom Blank. See listing at top under This Week.

WEDNESDAYS

– 10:30-11:45 a.m. – Mellow Kundalini Yoga, Meditation, & Gong Relaxation. Perfect for beginners and people who don't think they can do yoga. Drop-ins welcome. Bring your own yoga mat or blanket. $5 per class, 100% to Unity. For info, message or text Sunny Hills anytime at 808-359-4926.

– 12:00-12:30 p.m. - Noon Prayer & Meditation in the Peace Chapel with Linda Flock. Everyone is welcome!

THURSDAYS

– 1:00-2:30 p.m. The Elder Council meets in the Garden Room. If you are 60 or older and have an interest, please join us. For more information, contact Bonnie Paquin at 541-345-8873. 

– 5:30-6:45 p.m.  - Passage Meditation as taught by Eknath Easwaran. For more information, contact Laurie Cracraft at 541-345-7563.

FRIDAYS 

– 10:00 a.m.-Noon - A Course In Miracles (Fillmore Wing).  For more information, contact Janet and Dennis Chandler at 541-485-5235 or email at janetkoppchandler@gmail.com.

Service Opportunities   

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