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State of Palmyra Unity Church – Reverend Julie Vance's Message on January 20, 2008
"We have prospered in many ways..."
In 2007 we continued to begin our Sunday Celebration Services by affirming: "Unity Church is a prosperous, vibrantly alive, and radiantly healthy ministry." We have felt the power of these words as we have prospered in many ways throughout the past year. Today it is my joy to share with you how we are prosperous, vibrantly alive, and radiantly healthy!
We began 2007 with the Giving Thanks Tithing Mastery Program developed by Paula Langguth Ryan which, I believe, raised our consciousness as a ministry, as participants became aware of the joy of tithing and began giving generously and lovingly. Our income in 2007 increased by $14,500 from 2006, and our income exceeded our expenses by $8100. We purchased a new boiler, costing over $9,000, with savings and additional offerings and gifts from our congregation. Our first yard sale in several years brought in approximately $400, and our newly created used book sale table brought us $500 in revenue.
As we continued to hold the vision of music that delights, inspires, and raises our consciousness, we welcomed some favorite musicians back to Unity – Jake Ensminger, Kate McCutchan, Michael Minor, Lauren Lane Powell, and Charles Lee; invited some new musicians - Claudia Carawan and Vanessa Lee; and became reacquainted with Natalie Keil, who bowled us over with her musical talent after completing three months at Interlocken Music School in Michigan.
Our Youth Education Program, directed by Julie Kaylor, added a YOU program this year for youth 14 years and up and a new room was created for the YOU. Our YOU group, Uniteens, and three of our teachers attended conferences and retreats this year.
Highlights of our programs, classes, and special events for 2007 were a Hand-washing Ceremony added to our Maundy Thursday communion service; a Metaphysical Christmas program in which participants portrayed the symbolic meanings of characters and places in the traditional Christmas story; a Sound Healing workshop, presented by Rene Jenkins and Janet Cipriani , in which we were introduced to a variety of unique instruments which gave us the opportunity to experience healing through sounds; and Life of Prayer and Spiritual Discernment classes which enabled us to deepen our prayer life and learn to listen more fully to Spirit's guidance in our lives.
Our first volunteer luncheon was held November 11th and was attended by 30 people.
Our Rose room, where we hold classes, have a bookstore, and serve refreshments following our Sunday services, was transformed with color and fabric by Fran Luckenbill.
October brought a new and very welcome addition to our ministry – Administrative Assistant, Heather Moyers, who works in our office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. Heather has taken over Bookkeeping, the Newsletter, and general office duties.
We chose a new name for our Board of Directors - Co-Creation Council - in accordance with our intention to co-create with Spirit and to use the Spiritual Discernment process as a basis for decision-making. Three new members joined our council in the past year.
Through the Palmyra Area Cooperating Churches Group, our ministry is actively involved in the community. I became President of the group in October and we have three representatives from Unity Church serving on the PACC Advisory Board. Through Caring Cupboard in Palmyra, we adopted a local family for Christmas, and provided 10 Easter baskets for children in the community. Our Women's group continues to provide assistance to Domestic Violence Intervention in Lebanon County.
We currently have 19 ministry teams ranging from Building Maintenance to Prayer Ministry; these teams provide support to our members and to the community.
As minister of Unity Church, I have had an exciting year! During my three week "mini-sabbatical" in August, during which I spent a week at Pendle Hill Retreat Center and attended a workshop at Omega Institute, I experienced a transforming time of more deeply connecting with Spirit. I spent a week in Chautauqua, New York, as Unity minister in residence, and attended the National Unity Conference in Kansas City and the Appreciative Inquiry Summit in New Hampshire. In October, I became the first woman and first Unity minister to be President of PACC in its 50 year history.
As we look ahead to 2008 and beyond, what do we envision?
At our Council retreat on January 12th, our co-creation council revised our vision statement:
"I Am open to Spirit, connected with Spirit, and transformed by Spirit,
We Are open to Spirit, connected with Spirit, and transformed by Spirit,
Unity Church is open to Spirit, connected with Spirit, and transformed by Spirit."
In addition, the Council committed to our vision of a vibrantly alive and radiantly healthy ministry, to personal time communing with Spirit, and to creating a specific time in our council meetings for visioning/listening to Spirit's guidance.
What can each of us as part of our Unity family do in 2008 to move us forward to a vibrantly alive and radiantly healthy ministry?
1. Join us in affirming and holding the vision that we are vibrantly alive and radiantly healthy as individuals, in Spirit, and as a ministry.
2. Build consciousness by taking time daily for communing with Spirit.
3. Discern what is ours to do as individual members of Unity Church's spiritual family.
4. Share our unique spiritual gifts with joy.
5. Remember our unity in Spirit - work together for the highest good of our ministry.
6. Know that God is blessing each one of us and God is blessing Unity Church!
– Rev. Julie A. Vance
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