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WINGS Book Study Group: Tue, 12:00 PM
Wednesday "Faith Lift" Meditation: 7:00 PM Table Talk Thursday (Zoom): 12:00 PM
Exodus Class (Zoom): Thur, 3:00 PM (in recess)
Sunday Service: 10:45 AM
Sunday Social (Zoom): 12:00 PM
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| | | “The Gate of the Year” is the more popular name given to a poem written by by Minnie Louise Haskins (who taught at the London School of Economics in the first half of the 20th century). The poet had originally titled the poem, “God Knows.” Britain’s King George VI (represented in the movie, “The King’s Speech”) quoted it in his 1939 Christmas broadcast, as words of comfort to an empire facing the greatest conflict the world had ever yet seen:
“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown! And he replied: Go out into the darkness and put thine hand into the hand of GOD. That shall be to thee better than light and safer than a known way . . . . So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.”
“A Tribute to Minnie Louise Haskins at the Gate of a New Year” – by LH in the Winter of Corona
So, I said to the man, still standing by, at the gate of the old year’s end:
“Didn’t we meet twelve months ago, when I passed this way, back then?
I had asked for a lantern to take with me across the shadowed land.
You said, ‘Just go on out into the night. Take hold of God’s strong hand.’”
I wasn’t so sure about going ahead to face the great unknown.
My dreams of a Happy New Year did not include the word, “alone.”
Yet, I stepped out on faith, and held on tight, for I could not see my way.
The road seemed dark and darker still, and, you know, I have to say,
When I panicked and let go of my grip, I stumbled, for I couldn’t see.
I don’t know how I’d have stood up again, but God kept hold of me.
The Infinite Presence stayed with me when I faltered and faith seemed gone,
And waited in silence, patiently, till at last I could go on.
You’d said that a year is a little thing in the span of a life’s morass
And the general trend of the winding yarn would be, “This, too, shall pass.”
You said things would work out for good for those who follow Love,
Though the trek might seem impassable unless viewed from above.
But after the year just ending now, you can see I hesitate.
Tell me those things again, my Friend, as I stand here at the gate.
You say, God knows where the trail goes, but can I take a smoother route?
I can’t take another year like this last, so what’s this all about?
“My Friend,” he said, “The Light you want is shining within you still.
That Light won’t fail and you’ll find your way. I promise, you always will.”
Beyond the darkness, I face ahead a bright just-dawning day.
I’ll be happy to walk by that Inner Light, still safer than a known way. |
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Leddy's Lesson: - Everything New
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Lyrics by Daniel Nahmod to “Everything New”
“Bring it on — everything new, everything different, everything true. I am ready for my next thing to do. Oh, I know it’s gonna be everything new.
I’m through crying, I’m through waiting. I’m through hoping against all hope. I’m through longing for something gone that’ll never return. I think I finally learned to bring it on. I think it’s time.
“I’m through grieving, I’m through dreaming that the life I had is ever coming back. And no more wishing on someone else’s star, that’ll never be mine. I think it’s time to bring it on, everything new . . . .
I’ve survived many times before, broken hearts and slammin’ doors. I’ll be all right, yes, I will, once more. Just as I did back then, I’m gonna rise again. So bring it on, everything new, everything different, everything true. I am ready for my next thing to do. Oh, I know, it’s gonna be everything new.” |
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| Two Ways To Watch on Sunday & Wednesday (click images below) |
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| Hitting the High Spots of.... |
| | | Thursdays 3:00 PM Zoom
An excellent adventure in allegorical Bible study,
team-taught by our Sr. Minister and retired Reform Rabbi, Arthur Baseman, sharing insights into Hebrew Studies & Unity allegorical Bible interpretation.
All Are Welcome! All UCC classes are offered on a free will love offering basis.
To Join this Zoom Class:
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| | | | Tuesdays
12:00 PM
Zoom
WINGS is our daytime Truth Book Study Group and is led by our gifted Certified Truth Teacher, Cynthia Mackey.
The group includes men and women and includes great discussion!
Make new friends, share ideas and explore Unity teachings in a supportive, positive environment -- our Unity Café!
We'll be studying the New Thought classic, Sermon on the Mount by Emmet Fox
All are welcome to join in!
To Join this Zoom Class:
To Join By Phone Call:
646-558-8656 or 301-715-8592 (You'll Need the ID and Password Above)
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THURSDAYS & SUNDAYS! Join Us on Zoom! It's Easy!!
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Thursdays
12:00 PM
Bring your lunch and let's get together and chat!
Board Member & President of Hospitality, Deb Larkin is hosting a weekly Zoom "Table Talk Thursday" call so we can see each others faces and hear each others voices.
Why Table Talk? Well, because that's one thing we miss during this time: sitting around a table in the café and talking together. The Table Talk will last about an hour. Feel free to drop in for a few minutes or spend the whole hour with us. Each week, Deb will have a new topic and you will have the opportunity to learn something new about each other and to share your thoughts. You can choose to participate or just listen in, whatever is comfortable for you. It will be a fun time for all as we enjoy our Unity community and navigate a new normal of virtual social distancing and spiritual closeness.
To Join:
Meeting ID: 899 2533 1726
Password: 345849
Topic: Christmas Sing-along
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Join Leddy on Zoom and share your thoughts after the service. Bring your coffee and enjoy some casual face time with us.
We miss seeing you and look forward to spending this time with you from week to week. It's good for us!
To Join:
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Below Are Links To Help You Get Set Up with Zoom
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Folks are still asking: "What's the best way to send an offering to the Church?"
We're checking mail every day, so checks sent through the mail are fine, as are checks sent from your bank's online bill pay.
If you feel led you might consider setting up an automatic recurring donation. This can be done through your bank's bill pay or on the Church's donation form.
We've also been asked about the processing fees the church has to pay when the online form is used. The fees are a small percentage (3&-4%) of the total donation, however there is an option to cover fees that you may select if you feel so inclined. Every little bit helps and we're grateful if you decide to turn that option on.
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Now Available: Text Giving
Text "Give" (without quotes) to 833-679-1105 and follow the prompts. |
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| UCC Contributes Monthly to Feeding Tampa Bay
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| | | UCC
continues to contribute to FeedingTampaBay.org. They have doubled
their weekly meals distributed from 1 million meals to 2 million,
establishing six weekly mega pantries serving nearly 10,000 families
each week and converting their mobile pantries to a drive-thru model for
increased distribution and safety. Message from "Rosie" on the
organization's site: "I'm a full time caregiver to my husband, . . .
. The food provided by Feeding Tampa Bay has helped us enormously. The
meals are well balanced . . . and taste great! We really appreciate
the help during this time." |
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A late-1920s recording is a beautiful example of Charles Fillmore preaching the power of positive thinking decades before the phrase was even invented. In thirty-three seconds, Fillmore encourages his listeners to greet the New Year with faith and optimism: “The joy of the Lord be unto you. You should begin the New Year with great enthusiasm, because you know the Truth. Forget the things that are past. Rejoice in the opportunities of the present. Many blessings are yours. Pile up those blessings in your consciousness, and they will multiply and increase until your joy will be full. God bless and keep you always.” |
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OUR WEEKLY AFFIRMATION:
“I BEGIN THE NEW YEAR WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM. I REJOICE IN EVERYTHING NEW AND WONDERFUL THAT IS NOW TAKING FORM FOR ME.”
THANK YOU, GOD!
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