March - April 2009 | Download PDF
Reflections for a New Season
Dear Friends,
It has been a special year for The Guice family as we have embraced our new community at Unity of Lake Orion. During that time, we’ve been blessed to have met so many wonderful and spiritually guided souls of like-mindedness. Thank you for making us so welcome in our new church home.
March and April bring us to the renewal of life in spring and the celebration of Easter. The Easter season is a special time when we can awaken and raise our spiritual consciousness of the I AM within. The Lenten season is a time when we can take our burdens, our weaknesses, our fears and worries and lay them on the cross. In Unity, the cross represents “the state of consciousness termed mortal mind”. It is the place where we surrender to spirit for the final over-coming of our physical and material limitations.
Easter is the demonstration of Jesus, a spiritual walk of denial and rebirth. It is a walk to Jerusalem, a path to peace and a moment when we reflect upon the crucifixion which becomes a critical point in the teaching and ministry of Jesus.
In Unity, we embrace this concept of crucifixion as an example of denial, the mental process of erasing from our consciousness the erroneous or false belief of the sense mind. So often we interpret this demonstration from only a literal perspective and teach the agony and pain of Jesus’ sacrifice for the world.
The crucifixion of Jesus represents the elimination of personality out of consciousness. According to The Revealing Word, the crucifixion is “the crossing out in consciousness of errors that have become fixed states of mind; the surrender of the whole personality in order that the Christ Mind may be expressed in all its fullness”. Jesus’ journey to Golgotha, this ‘place of a skull’ or Calvary, gave to us this demonstration of love so that we might learn in our journey of life.
This Easter, we each have the opportunity to release from our consciousness those thoughts of bondage that limit our spiritual growth. As those thoughts are released on the cross of denial and death, our old mental states of consciousness enter into the tomb as a resting place for transformation. There our minds begin the process of resurrection and our thoughts become altered. We become “born again” as our consciousness goes through renewal and restoration and becomes an affirming presence for the Holy Spirit.
The Easter season is time for us all to reflect and to internalize Jesus’ message of overcoming and transformation. We welcome a flowering new presence of Christ within us that gives to the world and lives the words “I am the resurrection and the light”.
Rev. Gregory C. Guice
Back to TopThe Board of Director’s Visions for 2009
Already, 2009 is shaping up to be a year for the history books. From the United States presidency to the Oscars, change is happening fast and at times furiously as the world seems to draw in closer together and countries become more interdependent upon each other. Wisdom and steady hands in leadership positions are what we all pray for and that is no less true at Unity of Lake Orion.
The Annual Congregational Meeting in February elected two new board members: Brenda Ondejko and Cheryl Herrmann. And the first meeting of that board elected Don Stickler as our new President, Tammi Bemman as the new Vice President and Brenda as Secretary. Congratulations to them and us!
In place of the customary article from the President, the board members were asked to reflect on specific questions, and then respond to one or more of them. The questions were:
- What is your vision for the church for 2009?
- What are the key issues facing the church?
- What would you like to say to the congregation— to inform, inspire and to encourage them in their roles in meeting the vision and growing the church?
- What role does the board play and what role does the congregation play in meeting our goals for 2009 and beyond?
Here are their responses:
Don Stickler, President
As the new and happy President of the Board, I want to thank everyone for your involvement and input at the Annual Membership Meeting. This shows a wonderful commitment to our church and all the good that is coming to us this year. Tammi Bemman is our Vice President, Anna Ferman is our Treasurer, Brenda Ondejko is our Secretary, and Neal Porter, Fred Smith and Cheryl Herrmann are our Directors. Together we make a good team.
Unity of Lake Orion is an exciting community to be a part of and with people stepping up to volunteer in helping us all reach our highest good, I see this church growing, not only in size but in Spirit. Our reason for being here is to express God and I think we see that in each other. The more we put into our church, the more we will take out of it.
Rev. Guice is a great teacher of metaphysics from the podium and through his classes, teaching us to be aware of our own Spirituality. We also have good instructors in other classes teaching us a better way to live. Take a class, get involved and watch your life change for the better.
I see this year as a time of change and I know we are open to all the good this will bring.
If you know about anything that will improve our church and help us improve our lives, let the Board know (a fund raiser or just a good thought).
Just remember, “It is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom” and we have it right here in the midst of each of us.
To all the loving, caring people in this church, keep up the good work. Let us continue to help each other grow and lets look forward to a great year.
Tammi Bemman, Vice President
What is your vision for the church for 2009?
I will echo Reverend Guice’s last newsletter piece for 2009 : Prayer, Peace and Prosperity.
What are the key issues facing the church?
I believe the key issue for our growth is getting more members involved. We need someone to help organize committees.
I believe a strong marketing committee is needed. I have zero marketing experience, but am very willing to help on the committee. We are in need of a strong marketing person to take the lead and write the script for marketing an event. We need more people to help share the cost of running our church and I believe events are a tool we can use successfully.
What would you like to say to the congregation— to inform, inspire and to encourage them in their roles to meeting the vision and growing the church?
“Be not afraid for I am with you.”
Dan and I went to see Edwene Gaines in 2007. She spoke on The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity.
- Law 1: Tithing and Giving.
- Law 2: Setting Clear Cut Goals.
- Law 3: Forgiveness and Worthiness.
- Law 4: Find Your Divine Purpose.
Tithing is mentioned many times in the Bible, but in Malachi 3:10-12, God says to put him to the test.
That spoke very deeply to me. Dan and I were ready to take the challenge. We have tithed on our gross income ever since that day. God has showered Dan and me with overflowing blessings as he promised. This has helped Dan and I walk our talk.
What role does the board play and what role does the congregation play in meeting our goals for 2009 and beyond?
The Board's role is to be the living display of the Unity Principles in action. The Congregation's role is to guide the Board in the direction they want the church to move. We do not want to be the drivers of this movement, but I see us as the rudder guiding the ship in the direction our membership wants us to move.
Brenda Ondejko, Secretary
Greetings to everyone! Well, after attending my first board meeting I am a bit overwhelmed, but also impressed by all that goes on behind the scenes to make Unity of Lake Orion run so smoothly. I see the vision of the board as growing the church in every way possible and meeting the financial needs of our church. Even though our congregation is growing, there is plenty of room to expand.
Due to our depressed economy, one of the key issues facing our church is meeting our financial needs. I know it's difficult for everyone to increase tithes at this time. However there are other ways of giving such as the offering of time and talents. There is a great sense of accomplishment when you become a part of a committee or share a special talent. It's a great way to bond with your fellow church members. There is a lot of talent within the congregation at UOLO. Let's all work together and make great things happen!
As I see it, the role of the board members is to make sure the by-laws and principles of Unity are followed and to work as a team to fulfill the spiritual needs of the congregation.
Anna Ferman, Treasurer
What is your vision for the church for 2009 and what are the key issues facing the church?
I see a lot of growth taking place in the church in 2009. We see new faces each Sunday and it is the responsibility of all of us to make them feel welcome. I also see our church becoming more financially independent. There are a lot of financial challenges ahead of us this year, but I envision us meeting them and exceeding them. If we all pull together this can be a banner year for UOLO.
What would you like to say to the congregation-to inform, inspire and to encourage them in their roles to meeting the vision and growing the church?
I would like to encourage everyone to become involved in the church in some role. We have had a strong core group of people working diligently for the past three years. They are getting tired. We need new blood to support and run our ever increasing programs. As mentioned at the annual meeting, we need new ideas for fund raising (what else would you expect the treasurer to say). I encourage you all to put on your thinking caps and come up with some creative, innovative means of raising money for the church. Make our church a place you can be proud of and encourage your friends to attend some of our activities. They may not want to attend church on Sunday, but we do so many other fun things.
What role does the board play and what role does the congregation play in meeting our goals for 2009 and beyond?
I think we are all in this together. The Board oversees and does future planning, but it is up to all of us to put our efforts into making this church a success. We need to become known in the community as a fun place to be. If we look like we are having fun, others will want to be here. I also think it is imperative that we all make an effort to learn the prosperity principles as taught by Unity. Gregory is a wonderful teacher and I encourage all of you to join his classes. He doesn't like asking us to financially support the church any more then you like hearing it. But if we all practice the principles, there will be abundance in our future both personally and for our church.
Fred Smith, Director
Here are a few thoughts in this, my final term with the board. I have been on numerous Boards over the last four decades and this has been similar to most. Non-profit or for-profit, the issue is the same from a business point of view—financial challenges. When I was on the board at Church of Today, back in the 90's, it was still finances even, with Jack Boland out front on Sunday.
As we face this very difficult period of growth in our church, we must still remember one of the most important directions in our lives. Hope. This is what keeps me going. I can look forward to things becoming better in the future. This is true in my life and it will continue to be so. If we have a little extra, put it in the plate on Sunday.
Rev. Gregory Guice
Pastor & Board Member
I would like to answer the question that appealed to my heart: What would you like to say to the congregation-to inform, inspire and to encourage them in their roles to meeting the vision and growing the church?
Let me first begin by expressing my gratitude to each of you for your willingness to fellowship with our church community. As you know, a church and its board is a reflection of its community and those they serve. We reflect the membership itself; our diversity, our beauty, our willingness to work together.
As we go forward this year together, let me take a moment to speak these encouraging words. So many within our community and families are facing challenges unimagined before. We're experiencing issues that are testing our spiritual faith. In Unity we are taught that there is a presence within us that will never desert us or fail us. It is a presence that lives and abides within us as a living light of the Christ. It states in scripture that we can do all things in Christ. Let us not fear the appearance or the challenge in this moment and the days ahead. God will give us the inspiration and the divine ideas that provide for us the prosperity and wellness to the proportion of our belief.
Be encouraged and know that as a church, our prosperity lives within each of us and together our prayers of oneness with the creator paint the picture of our collective growth. I see a church community that is growing and attracting to us the right people at the right time to serve together in co-creating a wonderful spiritual home. Let us affirm together:
"We live in an abundant universe. Expressing the wisdom of Spirit, we move into a new era of growth and prosperity. Infinite possibilities of good are open to us now."
As you can see, the Board members have offered insight, inspiration and some challenging facts for us to think about and then move to take action. Each of us is vital to the life, spirit and community of our church.
(Editors’ Note: Both Neal Porter and Cheryl Herrmann were unavailable for comment by the newsletter deadline. We apologize to them for the late notice.)
Men of Unity
At our February meeting, we discussed the idea of having a Saturday Morning Men’s breakfast, the date of which is yet to be determined. We are hoping that by having a Saturday morning activity, it can be attended by many who are unable to join us on our regular Thursday evening meetings. If you have not been able to attend our meetings and would be interested in joining us on a Saturday morning, please let me know. (You can find me in the bookstore after the Sunday service). We value your presence in our church and would very much welcome you. Watch for further announcements concerning this activity.
In the meantime, if you are able, please join the “Men of Unity” in the sanctuary for our monthly get together on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM for pizza, salad, and a wonderful discussion. We also are continuing our bowling nights on the third Thursday of the month.
Signup sheets will be placed in the church hallway for all of these activities. Please keep in mind that you do not have to be a church member in order to attend these events.
Paul Ferman
(filling in for Jerry Crossman)
Women of Spirit
An inspirational talk on Prosperity led the New Year in January and gave our gathering a lot to be grateful for and to think about. Thank you Anna Ferman and Tammi Bemman for a great program.
Our February program was canceled due to inclement weather.
Please mark your calendars for the following fun dates:
March
Saturday, March 21
WOS Meeting Our women of spirit monthly meeting, we will have our Qui Gong experience. Please bring a friend.
Friday, March 27
Friday Night at the Movies All are invited at 6:00 pm to a Sloppy Joe and chips dinner followed by the new Wayne Dyer movie, Ambition to Meaning at 7:00 pm. This is a movie that Wayne actually wrote and directed and has a lot of great reviews.
April
Saturday, April 17
WOS Meeting Our Women of Spirit monthly meeting in April will be on Saturday the 17th for a “Tea Party” hosted by Karen Olson. More details to come.
Friday, April 24
Friday Night at the Movies All are invited at 6:00 pm to a soup cook-off and home baked bread contest. Bring your crock pots and Mom’s best soup and/or special bread for bragging rights! The movie will be Louise Hay’s, You Can Heal Your Life.
Sharon Nettleton
(248) 628-8639
Coming In June...
Science, Health & Spirituality Festival
Exciting new event coming in June: Unity of Lake Orion's first annual Science, Health and Spirituality Festival, Saturday June 13 from 9-5 pm! You will experience a unique variety of vendors and services covering a wide range of holistic, natural and complimentary healing and forward-thinking topics and products. Enjoy wonderful guest speakers, massage therapy, reflexology, Reiki healing, aura photography, healthy food and drink, fascinating cutting-edge information and services, and much more.
Stay tuned for more details!
Sunday Lessons
March 1
Rev. Gregory Guice
Are You Ready For The Big C (Change, Challenge and Courage)
March 8
Rev. Gregory Guice
Seeing in 3D (Design It, Desire It, Demonstrate It)
March 15
Rev. Carole Mullins
March 22
Rev. Gregory Guice Sermon on the Mount (Part 1)
March 29
Rev. Gregory Guice Sermon on the Mount (Part 2)
Friendship Sunday (Please bring a friend!)
April 5
Rev. Gregory Guice
Palm Sunday (A Sacred Path to Peace)
New Member Class at 12:30 PM
April 9 (7PM)
Rev. Gregory Guice
Maundy Thursday (Sacred Communion)
April 10 (7PM)
Good Friday Service
Rev. Gregory Guice Seven Last Words of Jesus
April 12
Easter Schedule
Rev. Gregory Guice
- 8 AM - And He Has Risen (Morning Service and Meditation)
- 9 AM - Breakfast
- 10 AM - Beyond the Crucifixion
Spiritual Baptism for Membership During Service
April 19
Rev. Gregory Guice
The Second Coming of Christ
April 26
Rev. Gregory Guice
Seven Spiritual Steps for Development
Achieving Career Transition Success
With Carole Mullins
Saturday, March 14 from 10am to 3pm
Welcome back, Carole Mullins!
On Saturday, March 14th, Carole is coming to Unity of Lake Orion to offer her professional expertise on achieving career transition success, a perfect and timely workshop for these challenging times.
Carole is a popular speaker in New Thought churches and corporate organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada. She brings over 20 years of experience, providing career transition training and help to organizations and businesses throughout the nation including Fortune 500 companies.
Carole will teach us how to sharpen our job search skills by using Spiritual principles to assist us in achieving the goal of getting that perfect job! Ms. Mullins workshop will cover:
- How to effectively access your skills and experience to showcase your talents
- Learn to effectively network your way to the desired position
- Write a solid resume that gets attention and interviews ♦ Learn how to present and pace the interview
- Effectively negotiate and receive the salary you desire.
This is a special opportunity for our church members who may need this type of training and information. We urge each of you to come and also bring your friends and family members – anyone who might benefit from this experience. A sign up sheet is available in the hallway.
Look for the Good is Looking for Artists
Recreate Art on Earth Day
Wednesday, April 22
The Look for the Good campaign’s next event, open to the public, is an art show in April. We are planning a show called “Recreate” to open on Earth Day, April 22nd—It will be a fun and funky show where all art is to be “re-created” from recycled materials. There will be three age groups: youth, teen and adults, and two categories to enter. Household refuse: paper, plastic and glass and Industrial/Commercial: rubber, metal and glass. For a fee, each artist can enter two pieces.
We invite anyone who wishes to sponsor a cash award to be named after the sponsor or their business to contact, Sharyn Davis or Reggie Harrison, Director of Lake Orion Art Center. There will be three awards in every age group and/or best of show. We plan to award $1,000 worth of prizes to create a powerful Look for the Good Show that will attract many fine artists.
The show will be exhibited at the Orion Art Center and Library, April through June. Entry forms will be available within a week. Start creating!
Lets have fun and “Look for the Good in 2009.
Sharyn Davis
Unity Bookstore
BOOKS, CLASSES AND YOUR SPIRITUAL PATH
There are many in our church who have never visited the bookstore and have never attended a Unity Class. If this applies to you, please read on.
Like other Christian religions, Unity is Bible based. However, I believe that there is one tradition (among others) that separates Unity from many “typical” churches. That is the fact that Unity stresses the utilization of books and classes as a complement to the Bible in order to help guide Unity members along their spiritual path. Keep in mind that Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, co-founders of Unity, at first did not establish Unity “churches”. Instead, they created the concept of “centers of learning”. Unity students met in people’s homes with the Fillmores and others to read about and discuss ideas about spirituality.
The Fillmores’ tradition of using books and discussions as a means of furthering spiritual development is being carried forward right here at Unity of Lake Orion! Unfortunately, there are too many of us who are not taking advantage of this opportunity to learn more of what Unity is all about.
It is wonderful that there are so many attending Sunday services. Reverend Guice’s lessons are very powerful, educational and entertaining. However, if you have a desire for an even deeper understanding of Unity, about how you can be more spiritually aware, or if you are curious about how other people approach these subjects, then there are two things that you could do.
First, I would encourage you to attend at least one of Reverend Guice’s classes. Don’t let the word “class” scare you off. There is no homework and no tests. Books are read during class, and ideas are discussed. Even if you join sometime after the first class, it will not matter. You will not be lost. I guarantee that you will come away with a deeper respect for Reverend Guice, as well as the other attendees, and a desire to learn even more.
Second, I suggest that you visit our bookstore and at least get an idea of the variety of books that could further your understanding of Unity and yourself. Our experienced staff (me!) will help you choose a book to get you started. Most books are fifteen dollars or less.
Books and classes – your key to understanding Unity and yourself.
Paul Ferman
Book Store Coordinator
Valued Volunteer
Congratulations and many thanks to Paul Ferman for his tireless dedication and commitment to Unity of Lake Orion. Paul has greatly improved the quality of book selections and variety of books in the bookstore and is a friendly and knowledgeable presence there each Sunday who answers questions and helps those new to Unity. He also puts in long hours as Co-Editor of the Newsletter. Paul is a shining example of the volunteer spirit here at UOLO and we celebrate him.
Thank you Paul!