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Saturday, 02 January 2010
Welcome 2010!! Happiest of New Years to Everyone! My, what a magnificent a year it has been. This year no doubt promises to be our Best yet! UCC is Alive and Thriving and full of Newness and Joy! Our garden has blossomed into a beautiful scene of lush colors and fresh open spaces drawing brilliant expressions of song and dances of freedom into our ever growing family. Oh, how we are blessed.
Christmas at our house was so wonderful! Allison and I exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve and bright and early Christmas morning it was off to Hannah's, to celebrate with the grandchildren, Santa of course had come the night before and we were eager to arrive before the boys woke up. Hannah, Derek, Jacob, Zach, Holly, Daniel, Allison's brother Rod, Allison and I were all together for the unveiling of what great things Santa had done Christmas Eve. WOW! Santa is a very busy Guy! We each took turns unwrapping, yes, one person at a time, although it took several hours and I do mean several hours, and we all were cross eyed when we were done, it was the sweetest Christmas morning. Each one so excited for the other one. We ate monkey bread and breakfast casserole, drank coffee and hot chocolate. We talked of Christmas's gone by and lived very lively in the moment! We talked to my mom and dad on the phone and talked with Nan (Dorene) and Cal, wishing them a Happy Christmas and wishing they were with us. As the room oozed overflowing with love and gratitude we all nestled in to one another, with the exception of the kids who went off to play, and drifted off to sleep. As I slept, I dreamed again of the morning just as it had happened and found myself wishing for something, wishing that I would remember to love this openly each day, that I will remember to reach out this matter of factly each day, that I will remember that Christmas is not just once a year for us, Christmas is every day that we wake up, the Christ is born in me each day, I will remember to celebrate the birth of the Christ in me each day by loving openly, giving freely, receiving gratefully, and living joyfully. Happy Christmas Today! I Love You, Rev. Lisa
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Hello Everyone,
Yesterday was my birthday and it was a magnificent day! I was lovingly sung to in the early hours of the morning by my beloved. Next, I take notice of my phone and see I have a text message from the soon to be son in law wishing me happy birthday and a smile. Immediately to be followed by sweet Holly, who so lovingly gives me the privilege of calling her my daughter, prepared me breakfast in bed; and if that were not enough, she even made my eggs precisely the way I like them, over easy, just because that's the way I like them best. Over easy is not easy to do, and certainly not easy when it’s the first time you have attempted such a feat. As usual though, my eggs were perfect! My day continued with text messages from my parents telling me they loved me and then a text from my brother "Happy Birthday, I Love You, ET from SPAIN!!!!! Already my day had barely begun and I new beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was Adored! I then crawled back in to and decided I would take a nap, even though I had just woke up. After a long restfilled sleep we woke up Allison and I ran some errands and then all the kids and grandkids, Allison and I went out for a fiesta dinner in honor of my birthday. Once we came home we watched a bit of a movie and I gathered all the other children together(the four footed ones) to put them to bed for the night. I turned the lights off, locked the doors crawled into bed and before I drifted off, I thought, WOW, I am so fortunate, I am so grateful. I want everything I have. I want everything I have. I actually want everything I have! I don't know if you have ever stopped to consider if you truly want everything you have, but you may consider giving it some thought. Do you want everything you have, because it has been my experience that you can not have everything you want until you want everything you have. I am forty- one years old and Thank You God; I finally want everything I have. Happy Birthday to ME!
With Love and Gratitude,
Rev. Lisa
Monday, 31 August 2009
What a beautiful service we had yesterday honoring those chaplains who walked before and those who have answered the call of Spirit now. Truly there is none quite like the beauty of saying yes to Spirit.
Although the rain is here today and I did not get to drive my Jeep to work, it has been a glorious day, the sun has played a bit a peek a boo with me through out the day, peering through my office window, the temperature could not be more pleasant and the birds have provided a harmony that has been extraordinary. When I woke up this morning my beloved was feeling well, she was happy, my family was well and happy, I spoke early in the day with my mom, she too was well and happy to talk with me. My mom relayed information to me regarding my family in Illinois, they all were well and happy. When I hung up the phone, I realized in a very profound way, WOW!!! It is a glorious day, and I am so grateful! This day is totally and completely uneventful!! Everyone I Love is well and happy today! This is Spectacular! I am often reminded on a more regular basis how important it is to acknowledge the extraordinary, the spectacular, the profound, the well and happy moments of my life.
I many times when things are sad or I am feeling discouraged I will be fooled into believeing that the night of my life may last forever, or at least last for longer than I might be able to handle. I am reminded again that it is in the night, if I will, but just wait, wait in the stillness of the night, do what I am suppose to do in the night, rest, sleep, pause, wait, that indeed, JOY, will surely come in the morning. Joy does come in the morning, and when it comes, it is equally important that I do what we do in the morning, get up and acknowledge that Joy! Joy has come, INJOY it!
I believe I am off to INJOY my well and happy day!
INJOY YOURS!
With Love and Gratitude,
Rev. Lisa
Thursday, 05 February 2009
Dear UCC Family,
Thank you for the honor of trusting me to step into a more Ministerial role while Rev. Allison is out healing. Last Sunday’s healing service was spectacular and I am deeply grateful for the outpouring of Love given so freely to Rev. Allison and our family. That evening while she was tired it was in fact one of her best days in weeks, and she continued to experience fewer symptoms throughout the week. We know that this is a direct result of the powerful unified intention of wholeness that was so lovingly channeled through each one of you. Truly we are powerful conduits of Spirit and each and everyone infused with the healing power of the Christ within.
Following the Sunday healing service I was reading a message from Rev. Jamie Sanders, Minister of Unity Pensacola and was struck by his honesty and his unashamed way of delivering his message. It spoke so profoundly to me that I wanted to share it with you. The following is taken directly from Rev. Jamie’s letter.
“…sometimes people want to imitate Christ, but when a monkey plays a saxophone, that doesn’t make him a musician. You can’t imitate Christ by imitating His external behavior, You’ve go to be the Christ!” Anthony De Mello - Awareness
“We each say we want to propel ourselves forward spiritually, to become more enlightened, more centered in our lives, and yet we find that often times it is a difficult thing to accomplish. Why do you think that is? Personally I think it has something to do with the fact that our desire may be a tad larger than our willingness to step up to the plate and bat. When I stop and think of all the remarkable things that Jesus did while here in physical form it is really quite overwhelming. He was truly all about being love, being peace and being nothing more than his authentic self. Wouldn’t it be awesome to just be ourselves, without fear of stepping on toes, or not being liked because of it? It really is okay to be who we are as long as we have no set intention in harming others through our behavior. I can desire to be loving and yet remain angry. I can desire to be peaceful and still show up with my “bully disposition” and cause chaos and fear. Want and desire are powerful things indeed, but ACTION creates results! Stop talking about what you want to become….Stop dreaming of how spiritual you will be in the New Year. Start being it now…Right Now.
You and I have the power within us to do whatever it is we desire to create, be and do…New Year, New Day, New You! Ya’ Just Gotta Love That!!”
I am continuously astounded how God shows up, although I know that we are all one, I do not always really embrace it. Much of the time I can think about too much and become confused with the details of such a reality. Then I am reminded that what is showing up poignant for me is showing up just that way for other people and someone clear in Pensacola Florida. That simply is not an accident, rather a loving reminder from Beloved Spirit that We are not alone in our pursuit of Spirit, We are not alone in our acts of our humanity or in our reaction to the acts of others. We all really are in the same boat and We all really do want and desire the same things. Like Rev. Jamie said above, the only difference is our level of willingness.
In 2008, we have witnessed many changes in the world, in our lives, and at UCC, and each and every one of them has been transformative. Personally I have grown, stretched, shifted, leapt, laughed, cried, loved, sung and stood more than I ever have in this life experience. While not may of the above – if any – have been what I would call comfortable, they all have become cherished treasures in who I am. I have laid new foundation, co-created hope in the appearance of hopelessness, uncovered my own faith in the most obtuse places within me, discovered new layers of forgiveness for myself and others, relied on courage I could not fathom, confronted the grayer areas of myself, relinquished my attachment to guilt, undeniably stood and walked on water, scaled mountains that I could not see the top of, and jumped off cliffs when I feared there would be considerably less than a soft landing – and, as a direct result of risking it all have fallen lovingly into the arms of God each and every time.
While these are my personal experiences, I believe they are the words of Unity Christ Center too. Time after time we have fallen into the loving arms of our Creator. I see a clear vision with the above words and that for me personally, Beloved Spirit has looked deep into my cloudy eyes and sweetly said “You are My Child and I could not be more Pleased.” I believe those very words are spoken softly and consistently to the sometimes cloudy eyes of Unity Christ Center.
May this year be our most Divine, our most Harmonious, our most Joy-Filled, our most Abundant, our most Loving and Unifying year yet, and may we fully embrace our humanity that we may know Love in the most profound way.
Thank you God for Grace. Thank you UCC for the Honor and Privilege of serving you this past year and I am deeply Grateful for the opportunity of serving you in 2009. May we continue to make beautiful music together while being ever mindful that to God be the Glory.
I Love You, I Honor You, and I Behold the Christ in You.
In Love and Service,
Rev. Lisa
Monday, 05 January 2009
2008 has been great, we have witnessed many changes and each and every one of them has been transformative. Personally I have grown, stretched, shifted, leapt, laughed, cried, loved, sung, and stood more than I ever have in this life experience. While not many of the above if any have been what I would call comfortable, they all have become cherished treasures in me. I have laid new foundation, co-created hope in the appearance of hopelessness, uncovered my own faith in the most obtuse places within me, discovered new layers of forgiveness, relied on courage I could not fathom, confronted the grayer areas of myself, relinquished my attachment to guilt, undeniably stood and walked on water, scaled mountains that I could not see the top of, and jumped of cliffs that I feared there would be considerably less than a soft landing, and as a direct result of risking it all have fallen lovingly into the arms of God each and every time. While my words are personal I believe they are the words of Unity Christ Center too. We have time after time fallen in to the loving arms of our creator. I see a clear vision with the above words and know that for me personally Beloved Spirit has looked deep into my cloudy eyes and sweetly said, “You are My child and I could not be more pleased.” I believe that those very words are spoken softly to the sometimes cloudy eyes of Unity Christ Center. May this year be our most Divine, our most Harmonious, our most Joy filled year yet and may we fully embrace our humanity that we may know Love in the most profound way. Thank you God, for Grace. Thank you UCC for the honor of serving you this year. May we continue to make beautiful music together while being mindful, to God be the glory. I Love you, I Honor you, and I behold the Christ in you.
Harmoniously Yours,
Rev. Lisa
New “Musical” Additions:
This year we will branch out with an extension of “UCC’s Voice of Expression Praise Team”. This team will be a choir. Meaning we will meet regularly and we will sing as a group one Sunday a month. I am excited about bringing this group in to fruition. We will meet on most Thursdays from 6pm to 7:30pm, see list of dates below. The first 30 minutes will be devoted to a heart check with each participant, to be followed by an hour of singing. My vision is to develop a cherished group of friends who are passionate about being musical and who seek a more intimate relationship with the God of their understanding. The only qualification is that “YOU” have a desire to sing. Don’t miss out on this wonderful journey of expression. Let God out of the box. If “YOU” want to sing, “YOU” can sing. I Guarantee it. Below you will find the first series of dates for our rehearsals. The dates are all Thursdays and we will meet from 6pm – 7:30pm. Rev. Allison will accompany us on piano. In the meantime, feel free to gather music you would like to learn or song suggestions. Thank you in advance for your choice to elevate your experience and our Sunday Service.
· January 8th
· January 15th
· January 22nd
· January 29th
· February 19th
· February 26th
Our next musical addition is an orchestra. Yes, an orchestra, if you play or have ever played an instrument on any level and you are interested in becoming a part of this exciting branch, please email me lisa@unitychristcenter.org or mail a letter to the church office to include the instrument or instruments you play, if you still own this instrument, if you have extra instruments, or if you would love to participate but need an instrument, and if you play by note, by ear or both. Also include a day of the week and time that works best for you for practices. Please send this information as soon as possible along with your name, phone number, and addresses (email and mailing). We will meet together to discuss the details and interest level on Sunday January 25th following the Volunteer Fair. Do not bring your instruments that day please. Don’t miss this opportunity to create something beautiful!
In Harmony,
Rev. Lisa
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