‘Engaged Mindfulness’ 6:30 p.m. Thursday on Zoom
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Coming Up
- “Divine Audacity” – TONIGHT. 7 p.m. Wednesdays through July 27, via Zoom. “Drop-ins” welcome. $20 per class.
- Contemplative Prayer” with Judie Nemeth. 12:15 p.m. Thursdays on Zoom.
- Easy Tai Chi with Katie Cook – 4 p.m. Thursdays in the Great Room.
- “The Violet Flame” with Cheryl Parry – 6:30 p.m Thursday in the Great Room.
- “Engaged Mindfulness” with Alex Botero. 6:30 p.m. Thursdays via Zoom. No preregistration required.
- Sunday Service, 11 a.m. July 24 – “The Wisdom of Jesus” with Rev. Paula Mekdeci. Join us in person or online via our website or Facebook page.
- “The Violet Flame” with Cheryl Parry – 1:30 p.m Tuesday in the Chapel.
- Unity Yoga with Katie Cook – 4 p.m. Tuesdays in the Great Room.
Details below.
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Rev. Paula Mekdeci,
Senior Minister
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Dear Friends,
Jesus of Nazareth has for millenia been a subject of immense curiosity and interest. Who was Jesus really? What can we know about him with any sense of certainty? If we peel away the layers of church doctrine and orthodoxy, what do we find?
The historical Jesus — the man who walked the earth, ministered to those in need, and taught a new way of seeing and being — can be elusive. Yet scholars, historians, archaeologists and others have pieced together enough to give us an overall sense of who Jesus was, what he did, and what he cared about most.
This Sunday, in the third installment of my Sunday series on “Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammed,” I’ll explore the historical Jesus, as best we understand him, and the ways and wisdom he shared. We’ll see how Unity is based on Jesus’s core teachings, and how we seek most to achieve Jesus’s level of consciousness — what we call Christ consciousness — knowing it can not only change our lives, but change the world.
Join us!
Much love,
Rev. Paula
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Last Sunday’s message,
in case you missed it:
“Out of the Blue”
With Pastor Daryl Craig, Sr.
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“Divine Audacity”
With Revs. Ann DeMichael and Richard Mekdeci
Six Wednesdays at 7 p.m. starting June 22
Join us on Zoom Wednesdays at 7 p.m. to learn more about your innate spiritual gifts. Tonight (July 20), we will explore our spiritual powers of STRENGTH and ORDER. Drop-ins welcome! Or you can register in advance on our website. $20 per class session. The book, “Divine Audacity” by Linda Martella-Whitsett, is available in our bookstore and online.
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Engaged Mindfulness with Alex Botero
6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays
Four weeks beginning July 14
During this four-week series, we will practice mindfulness tools to recognize the workings of our own mind in order to transform habitual patterns. By cultivating mindful speech, actions, and interactions with others, we give ourselves the opportunity for a more vibrant and fulfilling life.
- Learn simple and effective meditation practices to calm and soothe the nervous system
- Practice guided meditations for emotional well-being
- Learn to create a daily practice through the power of intention
- Begin to experience and cultivate a balanced and calm state of mind
- Keep a journal to reflect on your meditation process and daily practices
- Be part of a supportive, safe, and nurturing community
You will receive the support and guidance to create a daily practice that will benefit you for the rest of your life. What to bring: wear comfortable clothing and a journal.
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Metaphysics Made Easy
On Zoom with Rev. Dr. Paul Hasselbeck
Four Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.
Starting August 3
Rev. Dr. Paul Hasselbeck, Unity’s foremost teacher of metaphysics (the study of the nonphysical, intangible aspects of life), joins us on Zoom for this provocative four-week class on the spiritual questions people ponder most, such as: What is the nature of God? What is the nature of humankind? What is the nature of our relationship with God? How are we to think about heaven and hell, and the problem of evil? Rev. Paul takes the classic Unity teachings and updates them for contemporary language and understanding, challenging our embedded theology along the way, and assuring lively debate and discussion. The class will be held at 7 p.m. on four Wednesdays beginning Aug. 3. Register on our website, our app, or on the Signup Wall in the Narthex. $20 per class; $80 for the full course. Scholarships available.
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Summer Fun and Family Picnic
Sunday, July 31 at Unity Renaissance
During the Service for Youth,
After the Service for Adults
Join us for this great summer event sponsored by our Youth and Family Ministry team. Festivities for the youth begin at 11 a.m. (during the Sunday service), and adults are invited to join in after the service for a picnic lunch. Please bring a bagged lunch for each member of your family, a blanket, lawn chairs, sunscreen, etc. For more information contact Ana Vincent here.
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Here Come Our Sizzlin’ Summer Sundays!
Every Sunday in August
Get ready for a GREAT August at Unity Renaissance, with inspiring speakers and special treats for our Sizzlin’ Summer Sundays:
- Aug. 7: Hawaiian Sunday. Guest speaker Ardell McCoy speaking on “Happy Birth Days.” Fruity frozen treats provided after the service by the Unity Sisterhood.
- Aug. 14: Ice Cream Sunday. Guest speaker Dr. Shafeeq Ameen speaking on, “When Religion Ends, Spirituality Begins.” Ice cream sundaes provided after the service by our Board of Trustees.
- Aug. 21: Cookout Sunday. Guest speaker Ron Chapman speaking on “Manna from Heaven,” followed by a 1 p.m. workshop with Ron on “Your Infinite Supply.” In between, enjoy a great lunch of beef or veggie burgers and all the fixin’s provided by our Mighty Men of Unity.
- Aug. 28: Watermelon Sunday. Guest speaker Rev. Ann DeMichael, speaking on “Anything is Possible.” Enjoy ice cold watermelon after the service provided by our Unity Renaissance Singers and Music Team.
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Higher Consciousness Film
“Summer of Soul”
7 p.m. Friday, August 5
This documentary examines the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which was held at Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park) in Harlem and lasted for six weeks. Despite having a large attendance and performers such as Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson, Nina Simone, The 5th Dimension, The Staple Singers, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Sly and the Family Stone and The Chambers Brothers, the festival was seen as obscure in pop culture, something that the documentarians investigate. Free popcorn and free admission. Discussion follows the film.
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“Summer of Soul” – Post-Film Discussion
7 p.m. Monday, August 8
Join Board Member Donna Shannon and U.R. Member Charlie O’Dowd for a deep-dive discussion into the “Summer of Soul” documentary. The film is based on the Harlem Cultural Music Festival held during the summer of 1969, the same year as Woodstock. Although this festival has not been recognized or celebrated for more than 50 years, its music and message are woven into the tapestry of our culture. The format will consist of film clips interspersed with discussion and small group sharing. We will explore the themes of harmony, hope, unity, identity, and social/cultural transformation. This event is free and all are welcome. It we be held via Zoom only. No preregistration required.
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Don’t Forget! Back to School Supplies Drive
Through August 21
Community Outreach is collecting school supplies and backpacks in support of Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. Without our support, some of these school children would have few if any school supplies. Click here to see the list of supplies needed. Bring your contributions to church Sunday or during the week, and leave in the boxes in the Narthex. You may wish to purchase school supplies during Virginia’s Tax-Free Weekend Friday, Aug. 5, through Sunday, Aug. 7. During that weekend you may purchase school supplies that are $20 or less per item, free of Virginia’s combined state and local taxes (a total of 5.3 percent).
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Step into Service with Our Hospitality Team!
Our wonderful Hospitality Team needs additional volunteers to put out the coffee and snacks on Sundays. Hospitality fosters fellowship, relieves hunger, and serves as a warm welcome to newcomers and old-timers alike. If you enjoy being of service, consider serving once a month on our Hospitality Team! If interested, please contact Hospitalty Team Lead Tammy Fiske in the church kitchen on Sundays or email her here.
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Congratulations to Lauren and Luis Batista on the christening last Sunday of their precious son, Lucas Oliver Batista, age three months. What a radiant expression of the Divine he is! And what a loving, beautiful family!
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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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