Coming Up
- 7 p.m. New Year Kirtan with Rev. Richard and the Unity Renaissance Music Team
- ‘Letting Go of Holding On’ Burning Bowl Sunday Service with Rev. Richard Mekdeci 11 a.m. Sunday, December 25. Join us in person or online via our website or Facebook page.
Details below.
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Valerie Winters
Vice President, Board of Trustees
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Dear Friends,
What a year we have had! We hosted our first Eastern Region Uniteen retreat, we started Food and Fellowship Sundays, we repaved our parking lot with the help of our neighbors, we had many successful Community Outreach programs. We hosted the Future of Christianity with exceptional guests from diverse religious affiliations. Our Prayer Chaplains restarted Sunday meditations in the chapel. We have welcomed many new members and families with young children, which means our Youth Ministry has grown. I could go on but it is obvious as we look around that this community is growing. We also bid farewell to Rev Paula, who’s vision and leadership have left us poised for an explosive and astounding 2023.
As we look to 2023, there are great things ahead. Where does Unity Renaissance go in the New Year? That is the question we must ask as Rev Richard Bunch arrives to lead us through our transition. What is ours to do next? I, along with the rest of the Board, look forward to working with all of you as we step into our future. We will finish 2022 strong, emboldened for 2023 to again stretch our wings and soar.
The time is now, the future is ours and we will seize the moment. I wish all of you a wonderful, safe and blessed New Year filled with good health and abundance.
With Much Love,
Valerie Winters
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Last Sunday’s message,
in case you missed it:
“Happy Jesus Day”
With Rev. Richard Mekdeci
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- “New Year Kirtan” – 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30. Join Rev. Richard Mekdeci for a sacred celebration of life, love and God as we share and sing sacred Eastern and Western prayers and chants. Kirtan is call-and-response devotional chanting performed in India’s Bhakti tradition, with mantras in both Sanskrit and English.
- “Letting Go of Holding On” – 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan 1. Burning Bowl Service. With Rev. Richard Mekdeci. Time to let go of the old and make room for the new! This service will include our annual Burning Bowl Ceremony to release what no longer serves us. The Burning Bowl is a ritual in which congregants write down on flash paper whatever they wish to release; then place it in a flame to be burned.
- “What’s in a Name?” – Sunday, Jan. 8. White Stone Service. With Rev. Ann DeMichael. During our annual White Stone Ceremony you will be invited to ask for guidance on a word or words that represent your highest intention or a name that you may hear for your new spiritual identity. You will then write that name on a white stone to keep as a reminder of your intention for the coming year.
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2023 Board of Trustee Candidates
Three candidates are running for three openings on our Board of Trustees come January. They are Christopher Naughton, Mary Williams, and Joleen Zackowski. We will offer two opportunities to learn about the candidates and their visions for Unity Renaissance:
Jan 8: Informal Meet and Greet. Candidates will be introduced; congregants can meet with them one on one.
Jan. 15: Formal Meet and Greet. Candidates will answer questions in an open forum.
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Help Feed the Homeless
Breakfast on the Streets
6:15-9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7
Help feed the homeless through this program sponsored by Norfolk Catholic Worker. Meet at Sacred Heart Church, 520 Graydon Ave. in Norfolk. We will assist with food preparation, serving, and cleanup. Come dressed for the outdoors. We need 3-4 volunteers the first Saturday of each month. Sign up at church for just one Saturday or come every month. Young people old enough to help can come with a parent.
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New Recovery Support Group Informational Meeting
1 p.m. Sunday January 8
Join Dawn Bennett in the Great Room to learn about a new recovery support group being started at Unity Renaissance. All are welcome.
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Unity Yoga and Tai Chi with Katie Cook
Join in on yoga and tai chi classes in the Great Room beginning January 10. Tuesdays at 4 p.m. is Unity Yoga and Thursdays at 4 p.m. is Tai Chi. All levels are welcome to join. Walk-ins welcome. Bring a mat for yoga!
Katie Cook is a RYT® 200 Hour Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher, a Qigong practitioner (trained through the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi), Spiritual Director, Certified Integrative Health Coach (Duke Integrative Medicine trained), and Healing Touch Certified Practitioner. Katie is passionate about fostering communities that encourage harmony, vitality, and peace. She aims to empower abundant wellbeing through mind/body/spirit practices. Love Offering.
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Unlocking Your Spiritual Heart with Gail Boynton
7 p.m. Wednesdays for three weeks starting January 18
An interactive, engaging class on keys to understanding the connection between Spirit and your heart and how to listen to its intuitive guidance as a path to well-being, and meaningful connection with others. Recommended reading: Your Spiritual Heart, Unity Rev. David McArthur.
Zoom only $20 per class or $50 for all three classes if paid in advance. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Register here.
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Please submit news of your celebrations, milestones, needs, or challenges to Rev. Ann (revann@unityren.org) or Ellysia Flores (ellysia@unityren.org). Note: Items included only if the person involved (where possible) has given their permission.
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Join us in holding Unity Renaissance member Kim Warder in prayer as she continues her recovery from a recent surgery. We love you, Kim and see you growing ever stronger each day.
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Our Christmas Eve Service, “Celebrating Love and Light Around the World“ wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and inspiration from our Youth, led by Anna Vincent and Bea Clendenin. The children did a wonderful job, along with narrator, Charlie O’ Dowd, in introducing us to the Christmas traditions of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Advent. Thank you all for letting your light shine!
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Thank you to Deb Amme, Debbie Farrell and Lynn Kline for coordinating a Christmas Caroling event at the Virginia Home for Adults. There was music and gifts for the residents and the cheer was spread around to all! Ho Ho Ho!
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Join Our “Virtual Family” Watching
Unity Renaissance Live at 11 a.m. Sundays
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Unity Renaissance (757) 420-5280
1120 Eden Way North, Chesapeake, VA 23320
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