Faith for Today
A Bi-Monthly Publication
May/June 2008 CHRIST CHURCH UNITY VOLUME 47, ISSUE 03

FROM THE MINISTER’S HEART:

Dear Friend,

Ever since Palm Sunday, I have been contemplating the translation of the Jewish word “Hosanna.” This word is the call that filled the streets of Jerusalem when Jesus entered the city. Usually it is translated “Save us!” It can also be translated “Bless us!” It is a compound word and if you go to the root meanings, you can translate Hosanna as “The mystery we see restores us to our right mind.”

This translation challenges me to look at life in a new way. Do I see the mystery of life or family or sunsets and sunrises, or do I just gloss over things as the “same old, same old” thing?

When I am willing to look at life with what the Buddhists call “beginners mind,” everything can be seen in a new way. This openness to new ways of seeing and experiencing things challenges me to draw on the wisdom of the Christ in every situation. I must be open in a new way and bring forth new expression of the Divine blessing.

Dear Friend, take time to look at the people and things in your life from the Christ perspective. You will see something new and experience greater love and fulfillment. God will work through you in richer and more joy-filled ways.

God is revealing the blessing in all things!

Joyous in Spirit, Blair Tabor, minister

CCU Community Forum

Brunch Sunday, May 18th between services

Come share your ideas and listen to our board present information about where we are as a church.

Special Holiday Services

Mother’s Day - Memorial Day - Father’s Day

FROM THE PRAYER MINISTRY

We are Thankful for Prayers

The Prayer Ministry receives many beautiful cards and letters each month telling us of answered prayer. Periodically we like to publish a few of these lovely thanks. “I marvel at the words you convey to me through Spirit.” “I feel so much better after prayer.” “Thank you for the monthly uplifting encouraging letters.” “The Prayer Ministry is such a wonderful support and I am grateful for that part of Unity.” “I had a surge of
well-being and a fog lifted after prayer.” “Baby’s surgery was successful and she is doing very well.” “It’s so very special that you say these prayers with me.” “All fell into place for the right car for me.” “We are so blessed to have a prayer ministry in San Diego.” “Again your prayers buoyed me up and helped me through a dark situation. The words spoken touched me, I could feel the Spirit helping me.” “I found a new place to live. Thank you for prayer.” “I am happy to report that the surgery was successful and ‘even surprised her doctors’.”

We are so blessed to be here for you. We look forward to your calls.
We love you, we bless you and we behold the Christ in you.

Your Prayer Ministry

If you would like to pray, please contact our Prayer Ministry.
Our dedicated and faith-filled Prayer Workers are continuously in prayer
surrounding you and your prayer request in God’s love.
You may call us at 619-282-7609,
send us your prayer request by mail here at the church
or e-mail us at prayerministry@unitysandiego.org
All prayer requests are confidential.

Volunteer of the Month

March 2008

Our March Volunteer of the Month is Cathie Robertson. She is a Board member, and an Usher. Cathie helped organize our wonderful Fall Follies last October, preparing food for 100! She has played a major role in our Annual Teas, and she organized our Katrina Relief Effort. She is an inspiration to us all!

Volunteers of the Month

April 2008

Our April Volunteers are Byron and Esther Ayres. They have focused on Ushering and Greeting, and are the definition of the word "dependable." They often fill in when there is a vacancy, and we know that everything will be taken care of when they are serving. We are so grateful for them!

New Member Orientation

The dates for the next New Member Orientations are June 22nd, 28th and 29th.

New Member Orientation has three parts:

1: A brief meeting in St. Luke’s Chapel, first floor of the Prayer Tower, after each service on Sunday, June 22nd.

2: The following Saturday, June 28th, from 10 AM to Noon, includes a tour of the church and information on Unity's history, teachings, our church vision, and meditation.
3: Spiritual Baptism during the Sunday services on Sunday, June 29th.

Membership with Christ Church Unity is an opportunity to make a commitment to your spiritual growth through our church. Many people find blessings from this process. The dates for next New Member Orientations are and October 24th, 30th, and 31st.

Memorial

Alexander Fleming

Born - March 16, 1926 Passed - February 9, 2008

Memorial

Leo Greene

Born - November 28, 1916 Passed - March 27, 2008

Leo loved our church and after a life full of community service is now at rest.

Memorial

Alice Keltner

Born - September 19, 1925 Passed - March 31, 2008

Alice was a sweet soul, loved by all who knew her. She overcame many health challenges to be a spiritual blessing to others.

Annual Tea
Saturday , May 17th

Plan now to attend this popular event! The tickets remain $15 each. The tea is 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This year the entertainment will be provided by our Sunday music team. The funds raised will be split between the music program and the Children’s camp scholarships. There is still time to volunteer to help with this event. Only 2 more
hostesses are needed for the tables. Also needed are our ever-popular male servers! There are behind the scenes help such as baking and helping in the kitchen that morning. Speak with Meredith Tabor or Cathie Robertson.

Donations for the Tea Silent Auction and Raffle

Donations of new and nearly new items are being sought for this event. Also popular are a few children’s games or gifts and gifts certificates for services such as hair salons and massages. Donations may be given to Meredith Tabor on Sundays.

Gals Night Out - May

The May activity will be the annual tea on May 17th.

Gals Day Out
Saturday, June 28th

The gals will take a trip out to Summer’s Past Farm in El Cajon to stroll the gardens and gift shop. The gals who want to carpool should meet by the Fuddruckers in Grossmont Center at 9:30 a.m. They will then drive to the Farm located at 15602 Old Highway 80,
El Cajon. After a time spent at the farm, they will drive to Alpine for lunch at the Bread Basket. Please sign up if you plan to attend. If you have questions speak to Meredith Tabor.
Bookstore Summer Sale
June 1, 2008

Mark your calendars for our annual summer sale. Everything will be on sale in the bookstore and on the patio. You will find great savings on greeting cards, ornaments,
jewelry, novelty items, books & CD’s and more! Start your holiday shopping early and
take advantage of great savings! Sale prices apply to in-stock merchandise. Also, we are in need of two volunteers to help out for one hour after a Sunday service. (Your choice of volunteering after first or second service.) Please contact Rebecca at
619-280-2501, ext. 101, to sign up.

Circulation Day

On Sat, June 7th, from 9-2 in Wrigley Hall, we will hold our annual Circulation Day. It’s just like a Yard Sale, only everything is free! Bring your gently used, clean clothing, & household items to the hall Mon, June 2nd, - Fri, June, 6th, during the hours of 10-2. Please do not bring items prior to June 2nd. (No undergarments or bathing suits, please). Call 619-280-2501, ext. 105, with questions.

Padres Game – June 20th

Join the Unity group as they go to their first game of the new season. Forty-six tickets have been reserved for this Friday, 7:05PM game. The Padres will be playing the Tigers. The tickets are ½ price at $25( regularly $50) and in the Toyota Terrace section – rows 1-4. Check with Meredith to see if any tickets remain. Tickets must be paid for by June 1st.

12 Powers Class

Wednesdays, through July 2, 2008
10 AM & 7 PM on the 3rd floor
Charles Fillmore considered the 12 Powers as advanced metaphysical teachings necessary for the regeneration of mind and body. The 12 energy centers in the body open up to give us renewed strength and energy for living life in a masterful way.

Rev. Blair will lead these sessions and present practical ways to apply the spiritual principles.
Through music, visualizations, deep meditation and simple exercises you will be able to demonstrate the gifts of God and powerful ways. Love Offering. 10 SEE credits.

Meditation Practice

Sundays, May 4th & June 1st
12:40 p.m. in St. Luke’s Chapel

The key to spiritual growth is regular times of prayer end meditation. Come join Rev. Blair for a sacred time of instruction in a simple technique for centering the mind on the presence of God. Love Offering.

Healing Service

Sunday, May 4th & June 1st
7:00 p.m. in St. Luke’s Chapel

The energy of God’s blessing and healing is always at work. Come and connect with that spiritual energy with Rev. Blair at our monthly healing services. Love offering.

Wish List

New Stove for Wrigley Hall $5,600.00

Union Tribune Advertising $48.00/week
Thank you for your support! Remember, if you feel you cannot give the total amount, partial gifts will be accumulated until enough is received.

New Diaper Changing Station for Nursery $219.00

Scrip Update
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are provide a great opportunity to purchase scrip such as See’s and CCU makes 23%, or gift cards as gifts for Mom and Dad. If you plan to take them out for lunch or dinner check out the extensive restaurant list. Now scrip is available for Mervyns in $25 and CCU makes 6%. CVS has also raised their donation from 2% to 6%. Scrip is a fundraising program that you buy gift cards and use them as a substitute for cash. It is available on Sundays and during the week by calling 619-280-2501 ext 109.

A Stewardship Update from Your Board Treasurer

Year to Date Budget

Income $76,039 $92,079
Expenses 95,276 105,926
-21,126 -15,683

Numbers subject to audit

Please keep the needs of your church in your prayers. Be guided in Spirit in how you share your time, talents and treasures with our church that lovingly supports your spiritual life. We know as we are clear in our intentions, we are aware of the infinite supply which is perpetually available to us. Prosperity demonstrations increase accordingly. Our every need will be abundantly met in the most appropriate and fulfilling ways. Please join me in making that a reality. And so it is and so we let it be!

Namaste, Nancy Sogliuzzo, Board Treasurer

Letter from the Board
By Cathie Robertson, Board Secretary

We have finished the Lenten season and the inspiring series of sermon’s entitled RADIANT. Just as spring is a time for renewal, rebirth and transformation, this process can be reflected in our church also. We can see around us the appearance of how the economy is in a downturn and how people’s finances may not be as good as they would like. We all know that these are appearances. Your board has decided that instead of focusing on appearances we are prepared to take steps to transform our church budget in a new and exciting manner. We began talking last year about Fun Fundraising and have had a few efforts in that direction. For example, we had the Fall Follies which raised more than $2,200 for our general funds and our music team is doing their own Fun fundraising effort in April to help generate funds for their sheet music and other items.

As our Fun Fundraising effort for this year, the board has decided on a program called Pick-a-Party. The Unity Church in Palo Alto has been doing this for several years and in a conversation with a former church member who was visiting here last year, Nancy Sogliuzzo and Patti Scrimiger. They brought the idea to our board and after much discussion we decided this would be a worthwhile venture. This fundraising effort will encompass many different activities that can be done by our congregants to help raise funds. We are soliciting people who have talents to share to share those talents in order to help us raise these funds for our church general fund. Last year, Reverend Blair led us in an exercise “Who Have I Come Here to Be?” Now our board is asking of some of you “What Have I Come Here to Do?”

The board is the first to know about this and members from the board have stepped up to the plate to be part of the group to “host” pick-a-party events. Some examples that we have volunteered to do is to teach jam making, take a group of people kayaking on the bay and being a personal chef/caterer for an event of your choice. There will be different events, different dates and different people involved in this effort.
We will be doing this throughout the year to help augment our budget. Many of us on the board are already feeling and beginning to see the possibilities of this Pick-a Party fundraising can have for our church, its fiscal responsibility and its growth. In addition, we really think we can have fun doing this. So in an effort to help us, think about your own talents or area of interest so you can be involved in one way or another to “Pick-a-Party” and you show your RADIANCE and help us transform our church budget!

"Did you know.."

It is always a good time to plan for tax deductions. There are many creative AND legal ways to get a larger tax deduction for donations to our church. For more information, please speak with Rev. Blair.

If you plan to include our church in your estate, or on a deed of trust, insurance, or any other vehicle, please use the full name and address of our church: Christ Church Unity, San Diego, 3770 Altadena Avenue, San Diego, California 92105.

May & June Lessons
by Rev. Blair Tabor & Rev. Gretchen Pen

Saturdays Sundays

May 3rd May 4th
The Tangled Web On Fire with God

May 10th May 11th
The Power of Gratitude Spiritual Authority
Rev. Nancy Conklin

May 17th May 18th
Bargaining with God We Are God’s Love

May 24th May 25th
What Comes Around... What Comes Around...

May 30th June 1st
Wrestling with God Righteous Judgment

June 7th June 8th
What on Earth Have You Done? Order, Accomplishment and Completion

June 14th June 15th
What in the Name of God are You Doing? I Am Strong in the Lord

June 21st June 22nd
What Will You Think of Next? Healing Purification

June 28th June 29th
Who Do You Think You Are? Radiant, Vitalizing Life

Youth & Family Ministry

By Karla Lightner - Youth & Family Ministry Director

Greetings,

We are very blessed to have such a wonderful group of children here at CCU. Every Sunday there are children everywhere, not just in the classrooms, or playing outside together, but actually working, helping and serving wherever they are needed. This is a new, varied approach to the traditional “Sunday School” setting. It gives our children the opportunity to learn part-time in the classroom, then take what they have learned and apply it in real-life situations, while under the supervision of their Sunday school teachers. The biggest blessing is that the kids are having so much fun, they are learning without even realizing it!

Our monthly “Food Fundraisers” are a smashing success. So far, after only two fundraisers we have raised over $400 for our children to attend camp and other Unity activities. If you have any fundraising ideas to share or are interested in helping, please see Darlene or Yvonne Carter.

God has greatly blessed us with a core group of volunteers who share their gifts and talents with our children on a regular basis. It is their love, service and dedication that makes our Family Ministry Program a success. Should you feel moved to share your gifts with our wonderful children, please call me at 619-280-2501, ext 114, 619-218-6135, or you can email me at karlaatunity@cox.net

Blessings!
Karla
Youth & Family Ministry Calendar

May 2-4 2008 – Idyllwild, CA - Youth Educators Team Conference
SW Unity training conference for those involved in Youth Ministry.

Saturday May 17, 2008 – Wrigley Hall - Mother’s Day Tea. - This annual event is a fundraiser for our children to attend Kids Camp and Uniteen Camp. This year the profit will be shared with the Music Dept.

Sunday May 18, 2008 – 12:30 – 2:00 pm- Family Ministry summer planning meeting
This meeting is for parents, teachers and all who are interested in helping to plan a fun
and exciting summer program for our children.

June 22-26, 2008 – Wrightwood, CA – Kids Camp
Kids graduating 2nd -5th grades will leave CCU on Sunday and return on Thursday
after 5 days of fun, games and learning.
June 22-27, 2008 – Wrightwood, CA – Uniteen Camp
Uniteens graduating from 6th - 8th grades will leave CCU on Sunday, along with Unikids, and return on Friday after spending an inspirational week with other Uniteens in our region

July/August Faith for Today
material due June 1st!

May 2008

SUNDAY

Worship Celebration Service - Sanctuary - 9:00 & 11:00am
Nursery - Classroom 3 - 9:00 & 11:00am
UniKids (ages 4-8) - Room 4 - 11:00am
UniTweens (4th & 5th Grade) - Room 4 - 11:00am
UniTeens (6th, 7th, 8th Grade) - 3rd Floor - 11:00am
Y.O.U. (9th-12th Grade ) - 2nd Floor - 11:00am
Library Open - 10:00am - 11:00am, 12noon - 1:00 pm
A Course in Miracles - 4th Floor - 10:15am
Friendship Sunday & White Stone Sunday - 4th
Arts & Crafts Sales - Wrigley Hall - 10:15am & 12:15 pm - 4th
Meditation Class - St. Luke’s Chapel - 12:40pm - 4th
Healing Service - St. Luke’s Chapel - 7:00pm - 4th
Brunch - Wrigley Hall - 10:15am & 12:15pm - 18th
CCU Community Forum - Wrigley Hall - 10:15am - 18th
Arts & Crafts Sales - Wrigley Hall - 10:15am & 12:15 pm - 18th

MONDAY

Office closed in honor of Memorial Day, 5/26

NA Group - 2nd Floor - 7:00pm
Arts & Crafts Group - 3rd Floor - 10:00am - 12th

TUESDAY

Fit for Life Class - Wrigley Hall - 7:00pm - (through 6/10)
Planning Meeting - 3rd Floor - 7:00pm – 13th
Board Meeting - 4th Floor - 7:00pm - 27th

WEDNESDAY

12 Powers Class - 3rd Floor - 10:00am - (through 7/02)
Prayer Ministry Guided Meditation - St. Luke’s Chapel - 11:00am
Unity Fellowship Potluck Luncheon - Wrigley Hall - 12:00pm - 14th
12 Powers Class - 3rd Floor - 7:00pm - (through 7/02)

THURSDAY

Choir Rehearsal - 2nd Floor - 7:00pm
Fit for Life Class - Wrigley Hall - 7:00pm - (through 6/10)

SATURDAY

Saturday Night Alive Worship Celebration Service - St. Luke’s Chapel - 5:00pm
Annual Tea - Wrigley Hall - 2:00pm - 17th

June 2008

SUNDAY

July/August 2008 Faith for Today Material due June 1st

Worship Celebration Service - Sanctuary - 9:00 & 11:00am
Nursery - Classroom 3 - 9:00 & 11:00am
UniKids (ages 4-8) - Room 4 - 11:00am
UniTweens (4th & 5th Grade) - Classroom 4 - 11:00am
UniTeens (6th, 7th, 8th Grade) - 3rd Floor - 11:00am
Y.O.U. (9th-12th Grade ) - 2nd Floor - 11:00am
Library Open - 10:00am - 11:00am, 12noon - 1:00 pm
A Course in Miracles - 4th Floor - 10:15am
Friendship Sunday – Wrigley Hall – 1st
Bookstore Sale - Patio - 9:00am - 1st
Meditation Practice - St. Luke’s Chapel - 12:40pm - 1st
Healing Service - St. Luke’s Chapel - 7:00pm - 1st
Brunch - Wrigley Hall - 10:15am & 12:15pm - 15th
Arts & Crafts Sales - Wrigley Hall - 10:15am & 12:15 pm - 15th
New Member Orientation - St. Luke’s Chapel - 10:15am & 12:15pm - 22nd

MONDAY

NA Group - 2nd Floor - 7:00pm
Arts & Crafts Group - 3rd Floor - 10:00am - 9th & 23rd

TUESDAY

Fit for Life Class - Wrigley Hall - 7:00pm - (through 6/10)
Planning Meeting - 3rd Floor - 7:00pm - 10th
Board Meeting - 3rd Floor - 7:00pm - 24th

WEDNESDAY

Prayer Ministry Guided Meditation - St. Luke’s Chapel - 11:00am
12 Powers Class Class - 3rd Floor - 10:00am - (through 7/02)
Unity Fellowship Potluck Luncheon - Wrigley Hall - 12:00pm - 11th
Faith for Today Mailing Party - 4th Floor - 9:00am - 18th
12 Powers Class Class - 3rd Floor - 7:00pm - (through 7/02)

THURSDAY

Choir Rehearsal - 2nd Floor - 7:00pm
Fit for Life Class - Wrigley Hall - 7:00pm - (through 6/10)

SATURDAY

Saturday Night Alive Worship Celebration Service - St. Luke’s Chapel - 5:00pm
Circulation Day - Wrigley Hall - 10:00 am - 7th
Gals Day Out - Off site - 9:30am - 28th