We give generously, receive abundantly and our lives are truly blessed.  Our spiritual community is a perfect example of the Law of Circulation in action.  Thank you for your continued blessings on this ministry!

Love and Light,

Victoria

At times we may feel different from others, even from members of our own families.  Rather than see that as a problem, we can celebrate our differences.

Paintings are more interesting with complementary colors.  Harmony in music comes from creating agreement between divergent notes.  Couples could not dance without taking opposing steps.

We celebrate and love ourselves for the unique expressions of Spirit that we are.  We celebrate and love others for the unique espressions of Spirit that they are.  We are all worthy; we all are sacred.  Like colors of the rainbow, we are each different, yet held together in harmony.

Love is the harmonizing power that binds us all together.  Be happy to be who you are, while allowing others to be who they are; sharing ourselves in harmony with all.  (excerpts from Daily Word)

Love and Light,

Victoria

P.S. This Sunday, LaRhonda is back!!  Come and enjoy the great music!!

P.S.S. The new roof is going on this week and will definitely give the building a facelift.  You could donate to the roof by participating in the 21st Century Barn Raising.  Click here.

The dawning of a new day fills us with the hope of infinite possibilities.  As we begin each morning, we feel our oneness with Spirit, with nature and with all of life.

There is so much to appreciate as we spend a few moments in gratitude: the people and animals we love, the things that bring us comfort, the shelter of our home, the fulfillment of our work and activities.  The more gratitude we express, the better we feel.  Our hearts fill with gladness and a smile crosses our faces.  We are cheerful, encouraging and kind.  We look for and find the good in every circumstance, even the challenges.  We see the deeper meaning in our life. We are at peace.

Our cheerful attitude and grateful heart lead us to joy and peace.  Please join me this week in affirming, “I choose to be cheerful!”.

Love and Light,

Victoria

Regardless of the circumstances at the moment,  on this glorious summer day, we look for evidence of Spirit’s goodness and take it all in with our senses.  We can hear the joyful sounds of life around us…music playing, children laughing and neighbors chatting outside.

We take the time to savor the frangrance from a nearby rose garden or the aroma of dinner cooking on the grill somewhere.  The taste of a refreshing glass of lemonade or an ice cream treat brings a smile to our lips.  We revel in the warm summer sun or the coolness of the cloud covered sky.

Each sensory experience reminds us of the joy of being alive, in this moment, as the light of Spirit shines in us and in the world.  Affirm with me today, “I celebrate life with JOY and GRATITUDE”.

Love and Light,

Victoria

“This is a day of accomplishment and fulfillment” is the affirmation from today’s Daily Word.  A perfect example is when I drove into our parking lot this morning and saw all that is being accomplished in our new gathering hall.  I felt a sense of awe and fullfillment!  My heart is overflowing with great gratitude, as the new walls are going up and our new sacred space is taking shape.  YAHOO!!  This has been a journey of remembering everything is in Divine Order.  Spirit is on time – every time.  No exceptions.

Daily Word goes on to say, “Whenever we seem to be running out of time to do what we need to do, we take a reality check.  Starting with this simple observation: There is the same amount of minutes and hours in each day.  Check!  We are the “master” of our time because we can make choices.  Check!  We have no reason to feel out of control as we look forward to the next few hours or days.  Check!”

Affirm with me:  Everything  in the Universe is on time – every time!  Thank you, Spirit!

Love and Light,

Victoria

This Sunday is our Pet Blessing service, when we honor all those wonderful pets in our lives.  How appropriate, then, to remember the Prayer of St. Francis for Animals.

“In your infinite wisdom, Lord God, when You created the Universe, You blessed us with living creatures.  We especially thank You for giving us our pets, who are our friends and who bring us so much joy in life.  Their presence very often helps us get through trying times.  Kindly bless my pet.  May my pet continue giving me joy and remind me of Your power.  May we realize that as our pets trust us to take care of them, so we should trust You to take care of us, and in taking care of them we share in Your love for all Your creatures.  Enlighten our minds to preserve all endangered species so that we may continue to appreciate all of Your creations.”

Hope to see you this Sunday.  It will be a lot of FUN!!

Love and Light,

Victoria

PS: Sunday we will be celebrating our service outdoors….be sure to wear your hat and sunblock!

Dear Friends,
I have just returned from the Unity People’s Convention in Kansas City and the theme for the week was “The Radiating Heart of Unity.” Just think if each of us took ownership of being the radiating heart, light, love, and energy of Unity.

Nearly 7 billion people live on this planet we call home. Vast distances of land and ocean separate u s from one another. Our differences create a beautiful mosaic of appearances, beliefs, cultures, and customs. Underneath, we are all ONE in spirit. Members of the family of humankind.

Are you ready to be part of the new energy that is helping to bridge the gap from fear and mistrust to collaboration and respect in our community and in our world?

Today let us celebrate our Unity, our connectedness by affirming:

“I am in SPIRIT with all people! I am the radiating light of Unity in the world!”

Love and Light,

Victoria

PS: The renovations at the center are moving quickly! As you read this, steel beams are going up and old walls are coming down.

P.P.S. OOPS, our renovation pictures are now up for you to see on the website. We apologize for the delay.

Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore wrote, “Do not hesitate to think that prosperity is for you.  Do not feel unworthy.  No one is ever hopeless until he is resigned to his imagined fate.”

We know we can choose to not resign ourselves to a life of lack or limitation.  Whenever we see the appearance of lack, we keep our thoughts on the Source of all abundance.  We claim prosperity by affirming that, with Spirit as our source, we are a worthy and powerful co-creator.
We feel prosperous and we are joyful.  Trusting Spirit-power in us, we work with the spiritual law of increase – when we think and feel prosperous, prosperity manifests in our lives.  We appreciate the abundance all about us, and we claim prosperity right here and now!!

This week we had a beautiful example of this abundance right here at The UNITY Center.  On Tuesday we had an abundance of volunteers show up to help pour the concrete footings for our renovation.  Their work saved us approximately four thousand dollars in labor costs!!  We want to thank all those who showed up to help: Dennis Meyers, Marilyn Freeman, Jeff and Karen Anderson, Mike and Ethan Sipser, Warren Easley and Paul Etchemendy.  What a great crew!!

There will be many opportunities this summer to be in service on the renovation project, so stay tuned!!  And watch our progress at our website at www.worldhealing.org.

With great gratitude,

Victoria

PS: Please note we start our SUMMER SCHEDULE – ONE SERVICE AT 10:00 AM, THIS SUNDAY!!

The wisdom of God has been guiding this ministry throughout the purchase and renovation of our spiritual home.  In the last year we have worked with an architect to create a design that will enhance our current space.  With your prayer support and financial gifts, we are now ready to take the next step in fulfilling our vision.

It is with great joy and gratitude that I share with you the good news that the City of West Linn has approved our plans and issued us a construction permit.  YAHOO!!  Thank you, Spirit!

Many blessings to all of you,

Victoria

PS: See you at the Garden Party this Saturday!!

Dear Friends,
Many of you asked me to share with you in this email the poem I read at last Sunday’s service.  So, here it is for your contemplation and enjoyment.

Last Night/ Is My Soul Asleep?
by Antonio Machado
Last night as I was sleeping I dreamt a marvelous illusion
that there was a spring breaking out in my heart.
I said, “Along what secret aqueduct are you coming to me
Oh water, water of a new life that I have never drunk.”

Last night as I was sleeping I dreamt a marvelous illusion
that there was a beehive here in my heart.
And the golden bees were making white combs
and sweet honey from my old failures.

Last night as I was sleeping I dreamt a marvelous illusion
that there was a fiery sun here in my heart.
It was fiery because it gave warmth as if from a hearth
And it was sun because it gave light and brought tears to my eyes.

Last night as I was sleeping I dreamt a marvelous illusion
that there was God here in my heart.

God, is my soul asleep?
Have those beehives who labor by night stopped, and
the water wheel of thought, is it dry?
The cup’s empty, wheeling out carrying only shadows?
No! My soul is not asleep!  My soul is not asleep!
It neither sleeps nor dreams, but watches, its clear eyes open,
far off things, and listens, and listens
at the shores of the great silence.
It listens at the shores of the great silence.

Many blessings to all of you,

Victoria

PS: Our choir will be performing this Sunday to help us celebrate Mother’s Day!! Don’t miss it!

Uniteen’s Plant Sale This Sunday
This Sunday, May 8, our Uniteens will be selling plants to raise money for camp scholarships.  Here’s how it works: bring a plant from your yard or one that you buy and donate it to the plant sale.  Then BUY a plant for yourself or for Mother’s Day!!  Last year every child received a scholarship to camp.  Let’s make that happen again this year!!

Garden Work Party
Saturday, May 14th at 9:30 am we are having a garden work party to beautify the grounds.  Bring your tools and a sack lunch and help make our sacred grounds gorgeous!  There are several ways to help out and be in service to your spiritual community in this loving and FUN way!!

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April 30, 2011

Dear Friends,
I found this poem recently when I was searching for something else.  I love how Spirit works and brings us exactly the right inspiration we need at that moment.  I hope this poem will bring a smile to your face and a tug at your heart strings. May it serve as a reminder that every day is precious and a gift of grace from Spirit.

Poem (the Spirit likes to dress up) by Mary Oliver
The Spirit
likes to dress up like this:
ten fingers,
ten toes,

shoulders, and all the rest
at night
in the black branches,
in the morning

in the blue branches
of the world.
It could float, of course,
but would rather

plumb rough matter.
Airy and shapeless thing,
it needs
the metaphor of the body,

time and appetitie,
the oceanic fluids;
it needs the body’s world,
instinct

and imagination
and the dark hug of time,
sweetness
and tangibility,

to be understood,
to be more than pure light
that burns
where no one is –

so it enters us –
in the morning
shines from brute comfort
like a stitch of lightning;

and at night
lights up the deep and wondrous
drownings of the body
like a star.

Many blessings to all of you,

Victoria

PS: Laila Murphy will be our guest musician this Sunday.  You’ll love her voice and flute.

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Easter 2011

Dear Friends,
The butterfly is a positive symbol in many cultures, indicating powers of transformation, spirituality and immortality.  It also symbolizes the triumph of beauty arising out of apparent death and corruption (the seemingly lifeless cocoon).  Although the butterfly is universally seen as the embodiment of rebirth and as the soul’s messenger, many of us may not know that the early Greeks and Island peoples portrayed the soul as a diminutive person or child with butterfly wings.
I have always loved butterflies;  even to this day my heart sings when a butterfly crosses my path.  Such a delicate creature reminds me that life is a cycle, ever changing, ever evolving.  Butterflies are not supposed to be able to fly long distances, and yet many of them fly thousands of miles.

Marcus Bach wrote a children’s book many years ago entitled “I Monty.“  It told the story of a butterfly’s journey from captivity to freedom.  The butterfly was released from a school classroom and flew a long distance to find its way to the author’s front doorknob.  When we follow our intuition and listen to our hearts promptings, we too are being released from the captivity of our old ways of reacting to life.  Each time we listen, we experience the resurrecting power of who we truly are, and we SOAR!

Many blessings to all of you,

Victoria

PS:  Great music is planned for Easter Sunday this week with Laila Murphy, Dan Rhiger and Rahmana Weist and Mark Steele.  You won’t want to miss it!!  Plus Easter Surprise!!

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April 17, 2011

Dear Friends,
I’d like to share with you a poem that is a good reminder of our interconnectedness with all of life.  Frequently we indulge in “compare and despair” thinking, which doesn’t serve our Highest Self.  When we take the time to be still and listen for our inner guidance, there is a calmness that fills our entire being.

“This Quiet Place”, by Dorothy Pierson

“I came to this quiet place
And found You waiting for me, God.
I hadn’t heard You call,
I had no seeming need at all,
But I just felt guided to be still
And here You are!

My heart is open to Your will.
Speak to me, God,
For I am listening within myself.
I hear You in my mind,
A kind of moving
As in the quiet of a forest,
Pleasant sounds, soft and whispering
to my heart.

In this place apart, O God,
Thank You for the peace I feel,
The sure knowing that You are here,
And real,
And that we are one
In this quiet place.”

I support you in setting aside moments for quiet reflection and regeneration.

Many blessings to all of you,

Victoria

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April7, 2011

Dear Friends,
On Sunday I read a beautiful quote from Meher Baba and many asked that I share it in the email this week.

“Love has to spring spontaneously from within.  It is in no way amenable to any form of inner or outer force.  Love and coercion can never go together, but while love cannot be forced upon anyone, it can be awakened through love itself.  Love is essentially self-communicative; those who do not have it catch it from those who have it. Those who receive love from others cannot be its recipients without giving a response which, in itself, is the nature of love.  True love is unconquerable and irresistible.  It goes on gathering power and spreading itself until eventually it transforms everyone it touches.”

We concluded our service on Sunday with this “Circle of Fire Prayer”.
“I release the need to be right and find fault with myself or others.
I release my ego’s dependence on fear, facts and separation
I honor the call of Love in me!
I honor the call of Harmony in me!
I honor the call of Peace in me!
Spirit, let the Fire Light in me greet the Fire Light in you with open arms and outstretched hands!

Many blessings to all of you,

Victoria

Season For Peace Ends with Dances for Universal Peace

Sunday, April 10th, at 12:30 pm we will end our Season For Peace with a Dances For Universal Peace celebration.  Come and experience dances from many faith traditions, all with peace in mind.  Move your body in a prayer for peace.  And have FUN, too!!

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Dear Friends,

Before we can calm the troubled waters outside ourselves, we first need to learn to calm our inner selves.  Peace is not something outside of us that we have to assimilate and draw within.  We do not have to look to outside sources to comfort and calm our souls.  Rather, peace is something we already have within us.  It is a God-given quality we can call upon at any time to hold us up and keep us strong.

Peace is something that no other person can give you.  Someone else may be able to temporarily alleviate your fears, but that person cannot give you peace of mind.  Someone else may be able to assure you that things will be all right, but that person cannot put peace in your heart.

There is a simple way of achieving peace — trust in God.  Yes, trust God, not to give you peace of mind but to be your peace of mind.  Look within your heart.  God is there.  Peace is there.  When you find it, you discover that you don’t view circumstances of life in the same way.  That doesn’t mean you’ll never face another challenge.  It means that you can face any situation with a calmness in your soul and an attitude of serenity in your heart.

Namaste’,

Victoria

PS:  Don’t miss the Jewish Chantlings , April 3, at the 11:00 am service.

Season For Peace Continues
The Season For Peace extends from Jan. 30th through April 4th and honors Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, two great peacemakers, who gave their lives for peace.  Please plan to participate and open your heart to peace.

Chocolate Bake-Off This Sunday
On Sunday, April 3rd, our Youth Team will present our first ever Chocolate Bake-off after the 11:00 service. Similar to our Chili Cook-Off, volunteers are asked to create their favorite, most decadent chocolate confection to share with us.   We will buy chips and vote for our favorite dessert and declare a winner!!  All of the proceeds go to help our kids with camp scholarships.  Last year all of our kids went to camp with a scholarship.  Let’s do that again this year!!

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Dear Friends,
Today’s Daily Word speaks so eloquently to World Peace, I’d like to share it with you.

“The media often report unrest and distress throughout the world.  We can choose to believe there is no resolution to the world’s problems, or we can choose to know the truth that Spirit, at the heart of each person, is a power for peace.  As we know this for ourselves, we also know it for all people throughout the world.

We envision the peace of God reaching into the world’s farthest corners, showing the way to peace and acceptance.  The power of God is greater than any human weakness, pride or prejudice.  We have faith that every heart is open to receiving God’s love and every mind is open to God’s wisdom and understanding.”

Here’s a lovely thought shared by Barbara Christenson.  The author is unknown:

“As the richness of my life brings peace to my soul,
So do I actively share this peace with all.
Peace with those I love,
Peace with those who trouble me,
Peace with those I fear,
Peace with those far and near.
For it is I who chain the dove of peace
Or I who let it fly.”

Affirm with me this week, “I stand for peace in all my relationships.”

Namaste’,

Victoria

PS:  Don’t miss the Baha’i Choir this Sunday at the 11:00 am service.

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Dear Friends,
Charles Fillmore wrote a beautiful piece on Faith in his book Keep a True Lent. I’d like
to share part of it with you this week.

“Faith is the perceiving power of the mind linked with a power to shape substance.  It is spiritual assurance, the power to do the seemingly impossible.  It is a force that draws to us our heart’s desire right out of the invisible spiritual substance.  It is a deep inner knowing that that which is sought is already ours for the taking, the “assurance of things hoped for.”

Faith, working in spiritual substance, accomplishes all things.  This is the faith that co-operates with creative law.  Exercised in spiritual consciousness, it finds its abode, and without variation or disappointment it brings results that are seemingly miraculous.

We realize that our faith in the invisible is building a real abiding substance in our mind and in our body.  Spiritual ideas grow quickly when planted in the rich soil of our minds and our bodies temple changes accordingly.”

Join with me this week in affirming, “Each day I build my faith.”

Namaste’,

Victoria

Season For Peace Continues
The Season For Peace extends from Jan. 30th through April 4th, honoring Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, two great peacemakers, who gave their lives for peace.  Please plan to participate and open your heart to peace.

Khadim Chishti to Speak This Sunday

This Sunday, March 20th, we are so honored to have Khadim Chishti, senior member of The Threshold Society, an organization rooted in the traditions of Sufism and dedicated to facilitating the direct personal experience of the Divine.  Khadim has been on the Sufi path for over thirty years and works within the Mevlevi tradtion of Sufism.  Please join us in welcoming Khadim.

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Dear Friends,
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.  Today we are the opportunity to let go of old beliefs and habits that no longer serve us. We gently sweep these negative beliefs and habits away as if they were a cobweb in a dusty corner.  And our thinking is transformed.

The Daily Word today says, “Lord, help me walk a path of renewal.  I lift up my old life for purification, confident a new life rises from the ashes.  I release every limilation I beleive is true about my worth and power, my beauty and creativity.  I sweep away every debt I believe anyone owes me.  I cast off every condemnation I carry.  I pray with an open heart, releasing limits, pain and false beliefs with ease.  For the gifts of my journey of purification and renewal, I am grateful”.

Pure spiritual white light is infusing all of our surroundings with a delightful spirit of wisdom, dignity and peace.

Today I affirm with you, “I let go of the past and move forward, realizing I am strong, positive, powerful, wise, loving, fearless, a free spirit.  Aligned with Spirit I create a perfect life.

Namaste’,
Victoria

PS: Don’t miss our Birthday Celebration this Sunday.  We’re 21 yrs. old!!!

Season For Peace Continues
The Season For Peace extends from Jan. 30th through April 4th and honors Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Lurther King, two great peacemakers, who gave their lives for peace.  This week our UNITY Center Choir will perform at both services! Please plan to participate and open your heart to peace.

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March  3, 2011

Dear Friends,
Mahatma Gandhi frequently said, “Truth is my religion and non-violence (love) its only realization.”  The Sanskrit word ahimsa
does not contain a negative or passive connotaton, as does the English translation “nonviolence.”  The implication of ahimsa is that when all violence subsides in the human heart, the state which remains is love.  It is not something we have to acquire; it is always present, and needs only to be uncovered.  This is our real nature, not merely to love one person here, another there, but to be love itself.

Gandhi taught four principles of nonviolence:
Respect - I vow to respect others and the interconnectedness of all life.
Understanding – I vow to understand the “whys” (meaning behind behavior), for myself and others.
Acceptance – Out of respect and understanding, I vow to accept the differences of others.
Appreciating Differences - I seek to move beyond acceptance into appreciation and celebration of difference.

Imagine a world where everyone is putting these principles into practice….imagine peace!

Namaste’,
Victoria

February 23, 2011

Dear Friends,
Our lives at times may seem chaotic, and we may have difficulty tuning in to the Presence within.  At these times, we can remind ourselves of our oneness with the One and allow ourselves to tap into a wellspring of infinite inner peace.

Spirit within us is love, is strength, is wisdom, is peace.  We draw on these divine faculties as we come back to center.  We consider any setbacks we have experienced to be stepping stones to a deeper awareness of divine Presence and the peace it provides.

As we begin to relax, we breathe deeply.  We allow the peace of our soul to flow through our mind, quiet our thoughts and calm our emotions.  In the presence of the One, infinite peace is revealed to us.

Namaste’,
Victoria

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February 20, 2011
Dear Friends,
I’d like to share with you a quote from Gandhi that touches my heart and speaks to the path of peace.
“Nonviolence succeeds only when we have a real living faith in God. What is faith if not translated into action”.

The following prose by Rabindranath Tagore, a good friend of Gandhi’s, reminds us of how challenging it can be to put peace into action in our daily lives.

“Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God,
First fill your house with the fragrance of love.
Go not to the temple to light candles before the altar of God,
First remove the darkness of misunderstanding from your heart.
Go not to the temple to bow down your head in prayer,
First learn to bow in humility before your fellowmen.
Go not to the temple to pray on bended knees,
First bend down to lift someone who is down-trodden.
Go not to the temple to ask for forgiveness for your reactions,
First forgive from your heart those who have acted against you”.

Namaste’,
Victoria
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February 11, 20211

Dear Friends,
I share with you these healing words from Hugh Prather.

When you pray, lay aside thoughts that peck at the body and dive after souls, fears that give birth to needs, concerns that lay ambush to the future, mistakes that make poison of the past.

When you pray lay aside thoughts of where you are and what you are doing, of your struggle to walk the Chosen Path, even your hopes to leave behind a few final footsteps in the sand.

Then pull from under you what little ground you still stand on, and fall, like a feather into the hand of God.

Rest there so lightly, so very lightly, that when you think about it (which you will not do!) you will feel no longer where you end and God begins”.

Remember, peace begins with each of us in each moment.

Namaste’,
Victoria

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February 6, 2011

Dear Friends,
World peace begins with each one of us. Our peaceful presence affects the peace in our families. The peace in our families affects the peace in our neighborhoods. The peace in our neighborhoods affects the peace of our communities. And on it goes – until peace unites our world.

We have the opportunity to choose peace with each decision we make. When we come to a crossroads, we make the peaceful choice. When we make decisions with Spirit – with a desire for peace – we feel grounded and secure. We move confidently forward with peaceful hearts.

As proactive peacemakers, we never wait for others to determine when it is time to be peaceful. The light of peace begins with each one of us now.

This year The UNITY Center will be celebrating the Season For Peace with our usual interfaith perspective, embracing the unity of diversity. This series reminds us of our own experiences of divinity and bridges the gap between fear and love. The focus is spiritual wisdom through music, chanting and prayer from many traditions.

Your involvement makes all the difference, as we hold the intention, as a spiritual community, for world peace.

Namaste’,
Victoria
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January 29, 2011

Dear Friends,
The keys to the kingdom are available to us all.  These are not hollow words; they are truth.  Life is meant to be lived abundantly.  Rather than focusing on lack, we acknowledge the ways in which we are so blessed.

Our relationships, our bodies, our bank accounts – all are healthy and strong.  With each breath, we take in the richness of life, the richness of Spirit.  Our chest swells with love, our hearts fill with gratitude and we see Spirit’s great blessings all around us.  This is our spiritual inheritance.   Claim it!

This week, please affirm with me “Abiding in God’s love, I experience the kingdom – the sufficiency of all things and the abundance of every good”.

Many blessings,
Victoria

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Dear Friends,

This recent message from Daily Word really spoke to me and I want to share it with you now.

“Worry may be a sign that I’m trying to manage what isn’t mine.  I ask myself,  Is this my work or is it someone else’s?  If it’s my work, I do it with joy.  If it’s not, I let it go.  In a moment of revelation, it occurs to me that I can choose peace; I can let go and let God.

Setting aside any of my own frenzied efforts, I call upon the One Presence and Power.  By putting my trust in God, my faith deepens and worry subsides.  The same loving Power that created and sustains the universe sustains this situation now.  God is with me and within me always – my present help in every need.  Divine ideas and solutions now come forth with ease.  My heart is peaceful as I let go and let God. ”

As we step into Trust, please join me in affirming, “I let go and I let God”.

Many blessings,
Victoria

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January 13, 2011

Dear Friends,
I’ve started reading a new book by Wayne Muller, A Life of Being, Having and Doing Enough.  He shares a poem by Mark Nepo that really touched my heart:

Accepting This
We cannot eliminate hunger,
but we can feed each other.
We cannot eliminate loneliness,
but we can hold each other.

We cannot eliminate pain,
but we can live a life
of compassion.

Ultimately,
we are small living things
awakened in the stream,
not Gods who carve out rivers.

There is nothing to do
and nowhere to go.
Accepting this,
we can do everything
and go anywhere.

Muller goes on to remind us that  “it is not our work, it is THE work”.  So what is our job?  “To be simply this: to be good and honorable stewards of the work during our lifetime.”

We play a very small part in a very long story and our gifts are priceless and ours to share.

Dear Friends,
In preparation for our new series starting on January 16th, I have been rereading one of my favorite prosperity books, Dare to Prosper.  Catherine Ponder, one of my al time favorite authors, says “Prosperity comes not by chance but in accordance with absolute law” .  Co-founder of Unity Charles Fillmore says, “The law of supply is a Divine Law.  This means it is a law of mind and must work through our consciousness”.  In other words the peace, health and plenty of prosperity must come through prosperous thinking.

According to Catherine Ponder you must, “Dare to be definite about prosperity if you want prosperity to be definite in manifesting for you”.  We often hesitate to write down and think about what we really desire.  We do not realize that the mind is the connecting link between man and the rich but unformed substance of the Universe.  If you never think definitely about the prosperous results you desire, no mental contact is made with the rich substance of the Universe; you just drift along in a stream of limitation and dissatisfaction.

Today is the day to begin definitely to mold substance in your life.  Do this by sitting quietly every day and writing down on paper what you feel you want to be, have, accomplish and experience for the day, week, month or year.

I affirm with you: the rich substance of the Universe instantly responds to my propserous thinking.  I am now rich in mind and manifestation.

Many blessings,
Victoria

Renovation Fund Update
Currently our Renovation Fund stands at  $10,000.00. With our $20,000 matching grant we have raised a total of $20,000 towards our goal of $40,000.  Remember, all donations are tax deductible.  Thank you for your support of our new sanctuary and a larger, heated area for youth.

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January 2, 2011

Dear Friends,
I invite you to create a New Year’s ritual this year that involves lighting a candle for each one of our Divine Qualities. Each of these spiritual gifts lies dormant within each one of us until we express them. As we bring these gifts into our conscious awareness, we experience the birth of the Christ within us, creating a powerful and illuminating way to stay in touch with the meaning of the New Year.

“I am Faith in Action.
I am Will in Action.
I am Understaing in Action.
I am Imagination in Action.
I amenthusiasm in Action.
I am Authority in Action.
I am Love in Action.
I am Wisdom in Action
I am Joy in Action.
I am Strength in Action.
I am Forgiveness in Action.
I am Life in Action.”

Please join me in committing to expressing our Divine Nature in all of our relationships in 2011.

Happy New Year!
Victoria
Dear Friends,
This holiday season at The UNITY Center we have chosen to focus on JOY.  Christmas is a time of joyous celebrations and it also represents the birth of awareness of our spiritual potential.  Joy is our natural state when we focus on the Divine Presence within us.  It is our awareness of our own Christ nature guiding us to our highest good each moment.

As we awaken to the Christ Presence within us, we realize how our life is unfolding moment by moment in Divine Order.  Each event is part of the whole and important to the Divine direction of our lives.  We give thanks for the unexpected developments that awaken in us the Presence within.  Each one brings us the possibility of joy!

When we are wiling to be open and receptive to joy, we are reawakened to the living, loving Christ Presence in us.

I support you in experiencing the deep JOY that is who you are.

Merry Christmas,

Victoria
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Renovation Fund Update
Currently our Renovation Fund stands at  $6,655.00 With our $20,000 matching grant we have raised a total of $13,310 towards our goal of $40,000.  Please consider a donation to the Renovation Fund prior to the end of the year.  Remember, all donations are tax deductible.  Thank you for your support of our new sanctuary and a larger, heated youth area.

Christmas Eve Services
Friday, Dec. 24th , 6 pm & 8 pm
Again this year we will offer two candlelight services with a special story from Rev. Victoria for the children.  This traditional, holy night is honored through sacred music performed by LaRhonda & Mark Steele and Shelly Mathewson.  Bring your family and friends.  Start your Christmas with your spiritual community.

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December 19, 2010

Dear Friends,

Do we fully realize what a gift each of us is to our world?  Yes, we are a gift.  Just by our being here, we make the world brighter and oh, so much better, because we are in it.

We have been given so many gifts to share with others; a smile, laughter, a touch, a word of kindness.  How can we do anything but rejoice in the wonder that Spirit has created in each of us!  We ARE the gift!  We are here to share our uniqueness, our beauty, our talents with the world.  We are here to bring Love to others.

This week, please share your Love, your unigue Light, your Gift with all those you meet.  YOU are the Gift of the season!!

Many blessings,
Victoria

PS:  Our Toys For Girls & Boys was such a wonderful success last Sunday.  Many families in the West Linn area chose five toys for each of their children and paid only $ .25 per toy.  There were tears of joy in many eyes.  THANK YOU for making it a success!!

“The Gift” Youth Program & Holiday Tea
This Sunday, Dec. 19th, at the 11:00 am service, we will have a special Youth Program followed by our Holiday Tea.  Its fun for the whole family.  Our Choir will be performing and you won’t want to miss that.  Tea, cocoa, cookies and treats for all!

Christmas Eve Services
Friday, Dec. 24th , 6 pm & 8 pm
Again this year we will offer two candlelight services with a special story from Rev. Victoria for the children.  This traditional, holy night is honored through sacred music performed by LaRhonda & Mark Steele and Shelly Mathewson.  Bring your family and friends.  Start your Christmas with your spiritual community.

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December 12, 2010

Dear Friends,
Many years ago, Martha Smock wrote a beautiful meditation addressed to our “inner child.”  Listen from your heart and be at peace.

Let Your Heart Listen
You are My beloved child. Out of My own self have I created you.  My life is your life; My breath is your breath; My Spirit is your spirit.  There is nothing to fear, for I am with you, mighty in the midst of you.

I am the life that heals you.  I am the love that lifts your heart and sets you free.  I am the wisdom of your mind.  I am the light of your path.  I am the peace of your soul.

I am with you, dear child, through every hour of the day and night, standing with you, upholding you, supporting you, revealing Myself to you and through you.

I am the love that will not let you go.  I seek you out when you do not know how to reach Me.  I speak in your heart to comfort you.  I am the life of your body, and My life is perfect and eternal.  Trust me.  I am your health.

I am with you in all the experiences of your life.  I am the power in you to understand; I am the power in you to forgive; I am the power in you to become.

Beloved, I am with you.  Live in Me.  Rejoice in Me.  You are My beloved child.

Many blessings,
Victoria
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November 26, 2010

Dear Friend,
This Thanksgiving Holiday set aside some quiet time and create a sacred space in which you commune with God.  I encourage you to use this simple five step prayer process from Unity; whether you have five minutes or an hour to pray, you will feel a connection with your indwelling Spirit:

• Relax - Let go of your concerns and know that “all is well”.
• Concentrate – Focus your mind on a single thought, idea or scripture that resonates with you.
• Meditate - Be still, as you connect with the Divine Presence within you.
• Realize – In this receptive mind and heart, listen for the inspiration of God, the answers to your prayers.
• Give Thanks - Let gratitude be your heart’s joyous response to this experience of communion with God.  Give thanks for blessings to come, ready to receive your good.

I am so grateful for you and the light you bring to the world.

Many blessings,

Victoria

Raphael Cushnir to Speak
Always a favorite, Raphael Cushnir is back this Sunday, Nov. 28th at both services.   The author of five books and a leading voice in the world of emotional connection and present moment awareness, Raphael is not to be missed!!

Know Anyone Planning a Wedding or Event?

The Unity Center is a great venue for a small wedding (up to 125 people), anniversary or renewing vows.  It is a beautiful location and our pricing is reasonable.  We now have a wedding planner available to help make your event extra special.  Give us a call at 503-697-9765.

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November 21, 2010

Dear Friend,
Counting our blessings is a thoughtful practice, which helps us maintain an attitude of gratitude.  It is good, though, to move beyond gratitude for people, places and things, to gratefulness for existence itself.

Going within, we begin by appreciating this moment of peace.  Then we become grateful for simply being.  This shift in consciousness allows us to fully experience our oneness with the Divine Presence, oneness with all that is.  The peace we feel is expansive.  Our gratitude opens wide the realization that we are more than our bodies, our personalities, our experiences – we are an expression of the Divine.

We’ve been given this moment in time to exist in this world, to love and to serve, to follow our bliss.  And for this, we are truly grateful!!

Love and Light,
Victoria

PS: Come this Sunday and hear our beautiful new choir perform!!

Harvest Celebration

To celebrate the completion of our seven week series on “Loving What Is”, we are holding our Annual Harvest Celebration at The Lakewood Center for the Perfoming Arts on State St. in downtown Lake Oswego.  Come and join our wonderful party with a great potluck luncheon and fabulous music by LaRhonda and Mark Steele and our new choir!!  The celebration begins at 1:00pm. Don’t miss it!!

Volunteers Invited

We invite all our many volunteers to join us this Sunday at 1:00pm for the Harvest Celebration so we can truly honor all that you do for us.  We are so grateful for our Gardening Team, our Marketing Team, our Prayer Team, our Sunday Morning Team, our Hospitality Team, our Youth Team, our Office Team, our Food From The Heart Team, our Choir and  our Leadership/Board Members.  We are so blessed by each one of you!!

Know Anyone Planning a Wedding or Event?

The Unity Center is a great venue for a small wedding (up to 125 people), anniversary or renewing vows.  It is a beautiful location and our pricing is reasonable.  We now have a wedding planner available to help make your event extra special.  Give us a call at 503-697-9765.

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November 7, 2010

Dear Friend,

There is an art to being wise. Have you noticed how a person can pick up a little thing we have said and make a mountain out of it? Unintentional statements may often be blown up into life shattering insults by sensitivity and imagination. Seeming slights, neglect, and thoughtless acts toward us on the part of others can make us feel unhappy if we let them get under our skin.

One of the best ways to be on our guard against the barbs and arrows of daily living is to practice a philosophy suggested by the great psychologist William James.

“The art of being wise,” he wrote in Principles of Psychology is “the art of knowing what to overlook.”

When we learn to overlook things and to give the other person the benefit of the doubt, we pull the stinger of the bee before we get stung. The art of overlooking is the highest form of living.

This idea is very similar to what we are learning in our Fall series, Loving What Is. Don’t miss Susan Beekman, our speaker and workshop leader this weekend, who has worked with the author Byron Katie for many years, and is a trained facilitator.

Love and Light,
Victoria

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October 31, 1010

Dear Friends:
One of my favorite poets, Robert Frost, said, “The people I am scared of are the people who are scared.” People who are afraid create a fear-filled world.

The conquest of fear begins with our thinking. Fear starts as a thin stream, trickling through our minds. If we do not stop it, it will expand into a torrent, parting a channel into which all our thoughts will drain. Fear will dominate our lives.

The way to stop fear is to convert the stream of fear into a stream of courage. We do this by substituting thoughts of courage for fear thoughts. Thus, the mental stream becomes a constructive instead of destructive force. As it grows in power the courage stream will transform our lives.

Faith and love are vital elements in courageous thinking. It takes courage to have faith and it takes faith to have courage. Walt Whitman called faith “the antiseptic of the soul.” Emerson said, “He has not learned the lesson of life who does not each day surmount a fear.”

Courage, faith, love…these are the creative ingredients that overcome fear in the stream of our thinking.

Join me in affirming, “I have the courage, faith and love to overcome my every fear.”

Love and Blessings,

Victoria

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October 24, 2010

Dear Friends:
We can think of the heart as a metaphor for feelings of openness and receptivity, or hardness and constriction.  Perhaps its time for a heart check.  Are you open and receptive?  Or closed and not about to let anyone or anything in?

How does it feel when your heart is open?  What triggers the opening of your heart?  A baby reaching its arms to you?  A well-worn book, a special song, or a loved one’s smile?

What does it feel like when your heart is closed?  What is most likely to close your heart and close you down?

If we believe that love is always present, we can know that our connection to everything is also present.  We can call upon Spirit, our inner connection to love, to open us and help us experience the flow of love expressing thru and as us.

In our study of the book, Loving What Is, we’re given the opportunity to question those thoughts that close our heart and to turn them around into thoughts that bless us and others.  Join me this week in affirming “ I open my heart and all is right in my world”.

Love and Blessings,
Victoria

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Miracle Sunday! October 10, 2010

Dear Friends:
Living mindfully means that we are constantly aware of the unity that underlies all of life.  When we turn to the unalterable Oneness that lies at the center of our relationships and  that lives beneath disagreement and discord, we open our heart’s doorway to the expression of a greater love.

Our fall series, “Loving What Is,” gives us the tools to accept reality the way it is and stop wishing it was different.  Some of the benefits of learning to question our stressful thoughts are the ability to move from chaos to clarity and to create a life from a peaceful mind.

Please come this Sunday, as we start our Fall Series and celebrate Miracle Sunday. Hear of our new renovation plans and learn of the many blessings that have been bestowed on our ministry this summer.

I support you in loving your life, just the way it is.

Love and Blessings,
Victoria

PS: Joining Mark & LaRhonda Steele this week at the 11:00 am service are guest musicians Andy Harris and Shelley Mathewson and guitarist Mike Dolin.  Don’t miss this fabulous music!

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October 3, 2010

Dear Friends:
As we continue our dialogue on how prayer works in our lives, this quote from the mystic Rumi spoke to me.  He reminds us that every time we experience oneness we are living a prayer.

“If ten lamps are present in one place,
each differs in form from another;
yet you can’t distinguish whose radiance is whose
when you focus on the light.
In the field of spirit, there is no division;
no individuals exist.
Sweet is the oneness of the Friend with His friends.
Catch hold of spirit.
Help this headstrong self disintegrate;
that beneath it you may discover unity,
like a buried treasure.”

I support you in living this Truth in your daily life.

Love and Blessings,
Victoria

“Loving What Is”
Our Fall Series begins on Sunday, Oct. 10th .

The series is based on the book, “Loving What Is” by Byron Katie.  Why let our fears stop us from experiencing greater love, intimacy and fulfillment?  In this series we will explore four questions that can change our lives, and learn the incredible power of loving life, just the way it is. To take “the work” deeper, sign up for an in-home study group.  Books are available for sale at The UNITY Center.

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September 26, 2010

Dear Friends:
As we continue our focus on prayer, please enjoy the following words from Rev. Lynne Brown, Director of Silent Unity:

“In Unity we believe that God is everywhere present.  In prayer, we focus our attention on God within us, and we pray from an awareness of God as our source of divine wisdom, ever-present to guide and inspire us.

“Our intention, then, is not to pray in order to ‘get’ an answer, but rather to discern the answer that resonates with our soul.  When we recognize or realize the answer to a question of our heart, there is peace.  In this way, we are assured of our openness to discern, to know and if appropriate, to act.

“We determine the time frame for answers – our openness, receptivity, willingness and readiness to discern and know.  The gift of prayer is precious as we commune with God – partnering with God in our sacred life journey of transformation.”

And a quote from Eric Butterworth is worth remembering:

“Prayer is not a means of arousing God to action, but the process of waking up from our drowsiness so we can see ourselves, not in a mirror darkly, but face-to-face.”

Many Blessings,
Victoria

“How I Used Truth” Class Continues

Class is on Tuesdays at two times, Noon and 7:00 pm

There’s a space reserved for you! This new four-week class, taught by Rev. Victoria,  started on Sept. 21st. The study is based on the book How I Used Truth by Emilie Cady, and  explores how to put spiritual principles into daily practice. Offered on a Love Offering basis; available for S.E.E. credit.  Call 503-697-9765 to sign up or to order the book.