Sunday: “The Faith of a Mustard Seed” with Tom Baker
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Coming Up
- Thanksgiving Day and Friday – Church offices are closed and there are no activities in the building.
- Sunday Meditation – 10:15-10:40 a.m. Sundays in the Chapel. Come early! Space limited.
- Sunday Service, 11 a.m. Nov. 27 – ‘The Faith of a Mustard Seed’ with Tom Baker. Join us in person or online via our website or Facebook page. First Sunday in Advent.
- Unity Yoga with Katie Cook – 4 p.m. Tuesdays in the Great Room
- Giving Tuesday is Tuesday, Nov. 29!
Details below.
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Rev. Paula Mekdeci,
Senior Minister
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Gratitude as Consciousness Shifter
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Dear Friends,
When I interviewed Amber McCulloch on Feb. 28, 2021, about her amazing recovery from a terrible motorcycle accident, she confided: “Gratitude is my secret weapon.” Gratitude had not only kept her in a positive mindset, but had fostered her healing.
Gratefulness can transform our lives as well.
I can’t think of any quicker or easier way to shift one’s consciousness than to go to gratitude. As soon as we think about what we’re grateful for, our problems seem smaller, our burdens lighter. We feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally.
For that reason, I think of Thanksgiving as a profound spiritual holiday — a time to notice and give thanks for our many blessings; to focus on all that is good in our lives. It is a time to turn our attention away from what we don’t have, and deeply appreciate all we do have. When we do, our cups “runneth over.”
This Thanksgiving, Unity Renaissance is at the top of my gratitude list. Our spiritual community is a beautiful example of love, service, and inclusivity, and it is shining particularly brightly right now.
Know that as I count my blessings this week, I am counting each of you among them. You have all touched and changed my life in memorable ways. Thank you!
Have a safe, meaningful, and blessed Thanksgiving!
Much love,
Rev. Paula
P.S. There are no words for the pain and sorrow we feel in the wake of Tuesday night’s mass shooting at a Walmart in Chesapeake, and the tragic killing of five innocent people in Colorado Springs. These horrific events remind us of the policy changes urgently needed to protect our citizens and safeguard our society. Please join us in affirming a sweeping consciousness shift to end the cycle of violence and assure peace and safety, based on respect for the dignity and worth of all human beings.
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Last Sunday’s message,
in case you missed it:
“Ask the Minister”
With Rev. Paula Mekdeci
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Help Decorate Our Christmas Tree
Thanks to Denise and Floyd Beckwith, the Christmas tree is now up in our Sanctuary, awaiting ornaments! You can help complete the job by staying after the service Sunday to hang decorations, which are provided. Even if you can only stay for a short while, it will help! Immense thanks to the Beckwiths for getting our holiday season off to a great start.
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Give and It’s Given Back to You!
#GivingTuesday
November 29, 2022
Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, encourage people to do good. Over the past 10 years, #GivingTuesday has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to volunteer, give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. People can show their generosity in a variety of ways on Giving Tuesday, such as helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill, or donating to a cause.
If you feel led to make a financial contribution to Unity Renaissance on Giving Tuesday, we welcome and appreciate it. If you would like to volunteer, we have many opportunities for you to share your time and talents, from volunteering on the Hospitality Team, to feeding the homeless, serving as an usher or teacher, and so much more. Ask Rev. Paula or any of our Board or volunteers for details. Thank you for all you give, and for who you are!
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Sign Up for the Christmas Dinner
and Rev. Paula’s Retirement Party
Plan to join us for a very special event on Friday evening, Dec. 9: The Unity Renaissance Christmas Dinner coupled with a Retirement Celebration for Rev. Paula. This will be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a holiday meal together while honoring Rev. Paula before her last Sunday Dec. 18. This year we’re opting for simplicity by making dinner a potluck. Please sign up on the Signup Wall if you plan to attend, and bring a dish to share!
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Small Group Gatherings with Rev. Paula
There are still a few openings for the small group gatherings Rev. Paula is hosting for us to share thoughts, feelings, and ideas about the ministerial transition at Unity Renaissance. This is a special time to appreciate where we’ve been as a spiritual community, and where we’re headed. Maximum 10 people per group; all groups meet at church. Click on the link below to sign up for the time and date that work best for you:
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Create Your Own Video Farewell to Rev. Paula
As part of our celebration of Rev. Paula, we are inviting congregants to create personal video messages expressing their gratitude, appreciation, and/or well wishes to our departing minister. The consolidated video will be shown at the Christmas Dinner/Retirement Party for Rev. Paula on December 9. Please keep your video to 30 seconds or less. If you are using your phone to record it, please turn the phone to landscape or horizontal mode.
Please email your video to Rmekdeci@gmail.com by no later than Monday, Nov. 28. Thank you in advance for your help!
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Celebrating Rev. Paula
Dear Congregants,
As Rev. Paula’s retirement approaches, we are celebrating her and all she has done for our community. Many of you have asked how you can express your appreciation. Linda McDay and Margaret Jenkins have created a beautiful box to collect cards, notes, memories, etc. for Rev. Paula. You are invited to put a personal note, memory, thank you note, etc. into the box.
If you wish, you may also include a financial gift or gift card for Rev. Paula. This is not required, of course – just a suggestion for those who have inquired. If you are so inspired, please put your financial gift in an envelope before placing it in the box. The box will be in the Narthex on Sundays up to and including Dec. 18. It will be locked in Paul Mitcham’s office during the week.
We will miss Rev. Paula and this is a way to offer a personal word of thanks or share a special memory with her.
Thank you for your love and support,
Valerie Winters
Vice President
Board of Trustees
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Breakfast on the Streets
6:15 – 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3
Come help to feed the homeless, sponsored by Norfolk Catholic Worker, Meet at Sacred Heart Church, 520 Graydon Ave. in Norfolk. We assist with food preparation, serving and clean-up. Come dressed for the outdoors. We need 3-4 volunteers the first Saturday of each month. Sign up for just one or come every month. Young people old enough to help can come with a parent.
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Help Others This Christmas
Angel Tree Nov. 13-Dec. 11
You can help others in need this Christmas and throughout the year by taking an ornament from the Angel Tree in the Narthex, and providing a gift card for the designated amount. These cards are given to people who face hardship and need support. Gift cards for gas, groceries, or variety stores such as Walmart or Target are particularly helpful. You may provide the gift cards through the end of the year; simply place in Rev. Paula’s mail slot on her door. If you previously took a card to give a gift to a child at our “adopted” school, Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, those gifts are due by Sunday, Dec. 11. Please bring the unwrapped gift(s) along with the angel card and leave them in the Narthex.
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Stuffed Animal Collection
Through Sunday, Dec. 11
Community Outreach is collecting new stuffed animals to be given to children with AIDS through Access AIDS. Bring your donations to church and place them on empty chairs in the sanctuary, to be filled with love till December 11.
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2022 Remembrance Service:
Honoring Loved Ones Who Are No Longer With Us
7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14
With Rev. Richard Mekdeci and Rev. Ann DeMichael
Celebrate life here and beyond in this beautiful service of remembrance and release. You may submit a photo of your loved one for projection or bring a photo framed or on a tablet or laptop. You’ll have the opportunity to speak about your loved one and light a candle for them. Submit photos to Rev. Richard at Rmekdeci@gmail.com.
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Unity Renaissance Receives Environmental Award
Unity Renaissance has been named a Sustained Distinguished Performance River Star Business by the Elizabeth River Project. The project’s River Restoration Advisory Committee unanimously agreed Unity Renaissance Church should be recognized for Sustained Distinguished Performance at Model Level, representing completion of a significant new initiative (in our case, the installation of 88 more solar panels on our roof). Unity Renaissance has been recognized three times previously by the Elizabeth River Project for our environmental activities; this award came as a delightful surprise! Thank you to Ed and Linda Bradley, Susan Lang, Paul Mitcham, Ed Rosequist and others who have helped raise our environmental consciousness and spearhead our green initiatives!
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Christmas 2022 at Unity Renaissance
- “The Faith of a Mustard Seed” – 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 27. With Tom Baker.
- “Great Expectations” – 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. With Rev. Paula Mekdeci.
- 2022 Christmas Dinner and Rev. Paula’s Retirement Celebration – 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9. Join us for a memorable evening in our Sanctuary. Please sign up and bring a dish to share.
- “The Gift of Love” – Christmas Cantata, 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. With the Unity Renaissance Music Team, and our youth and adult choirs.
- Remembrance Service – 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14. With Rev. Ann DeMichael and Rev. Richard Mekdeci. A time to remember loved ones (including pets) who made their transition in 2022.
- “The Power of Love” - 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. With Rev. Paula. Rev. Paula’s last Sunday. No Youth Ed. Nursery open.
- Caroling at Virginia Home for Adults – 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 24. 2701 Border Rd., Chesapeake.
- “Celebrating Love and Light Around the World” – A multifaith, multigenerational Christmas Eve service. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24. With traditional candle lighting.
- “Happy Jesus Day!” – Christmas morning celebration with speaker Rev. Richard Mekdeci. 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 25. No Youth Ed. Nursery open.
- “New Year Kirtan” – 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30. Chants and singing with Rev. Richard and our fabulous music team.
- “Letting Go of Holding On” – 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan 1. Burning Bowl Service. With Rev. Richard Mekdeci.
- “What’s in a Name?” – Sunday, Jan. 8. White Stone Service. With Rev. Ann DeMichael.
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Support Unity Renaissance through
Amazon Smile Purchases
You can contribute to Unity Renaissance whenever you make a purchase from Amazon through the Amazon Smile program. The prices, products, and site for Amazon Smile are identical to Amazon, but when you purchase through Amazon Smile, a portion of your purchase price goes to Unity Renaissance. There is NO additional cost to you, and your spiritual home benefits! Just go to smile.amazon.com, designate Unity Renaissance as your charity of choice, and shop! Remember, only purchases at smile.amazon.com or through AmazonSmile activated in the Amazon Shopping app will support your selected charity.
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Our love and prayers are with longtime Unity Renaissance member and Prayer Chaplain Emeritus Lorraine Pilarski as she recovers from surgery last week. We know your healing is already progressing well, Lorraine, and see you regaining strength and vitality by the day. God is with you and within you, and all is well!
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A huge thank you to Floyd and Denise Beckwith for all their hard work decorating Unity Renaissance this week. Thanks to these two, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here! You’ll be amazed at how beautiful and decked out the church looks when you next step through our doors. Thank you, Floyd and Denise!
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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our Unity Renaissance Bookstore, thanks to the hard work of our co-managers, Ginger Zarske and Janet Adams! Make sure you come inside and check out all of the new treasures that are available.
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Please submit news of your celebrations, milestones, needs, or challenges to Rev. Paula (revpaula@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 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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