Passing Through, After Passing Over Jews and Christians just recently celebrated Passover and Lent. Both of these holy days are rooted in the exodus of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Join us for an exploration of the deeper psycho-spiritual significance of these ancient holidays. Michael’s approach is from a full-life experience and he can relate to a wide range of people. He has a way of communicating to those at the top of their game and those ready to quit. Life…

“Listening for Yahweh in the Fire” “Come to the edge,” he said. They said, “We are afraid.” “Come to the edge,” he said. They came.  He pushed them . . . and they flew.” ~ Guillaume Appollinaire We are living in a time of tremendous uncertainty, loss, and the unfolding of great change.  Many of us find ourselves somewhere on a spectrum between fear and despair. Our cultural inheritance tells us to listen for the “still small voice,” which we…

Snap Out Of It! Increasingly over these last few months, we have been face-to-face with our limitations and with our mortality – both as a small community and as a society.  Events of recent days, grievous and burdensome, may well lead those of us with comfort in our lives to just stay present with our own joys or to retreat into our own worries.  Most likely, we seesaw back and forth between these two poles, never grasping the big picture. …

Barn Burned Down; Now I Can See the Moon.”     ~Mizuta Masahide – 17th century Japanese poet It’s a challenging time, so let’s start with something we’re good at.  It could be said spirituality is the exploration of how to see things differently.  According to Victor Frankl, HH The Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and countless other emissaries of resilience, it is our perspective that determines how we regain our footing, take the next steps, survive and thrive in…

“A Deep Dive into Self-Love” To truly love others, we must first love ourselves. Join author Kellie J. Wright on a passion-filled mission to discover how to unblock the darkness and shine the light of your own authenticity. Kellie will share her seven-year healing journey to illustrate how the redemptive powers of self-love can open the true gifts that awaken the work of transformation. A radio show host, Transformation Coach, and business owner at internaljourneys.com, Kellie is on a passion-filled mission to…

Wrestling with the Angel In the book of Genesis, there is a well-known story about how Jacob wrestled with an angel through the night and would not release his hold until he received the angel’s blessing. This Sunday, Rev. Joanna Gabriel will reference this story while considering the blessings available to us within the challenges of our current times. Rev. Joanna’s life and work experience include serving as the Director of Education and Worldwide Communications for the ReCreation Foundation, supporting…

Detour Ahead We plan . . . and God laughs. Our goals, whether clear or muddled, are influenced by the actions of all the other souls in our path.  It may be, as the Bard says, that “There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them how we will.”  This week at Unity, are you ready for whatever comes next on the road ahead?  What if a detour leads you to a better place?  Meditations from speaker and songwriter Doug…

“From Buddha to Harriet: The Great Beyond” The concept of tolerance is limited, inequitable. It is time for us to call out the fruits of the seeds of faith we have planted. What fruits grow beyond tolerance for you? Let’s reflect within ourselves and among ourselves into the Great Beyond. An ordained Unity minister since 1995, Certified Spiritual Director Rev. Sherry Schultz serves as UNK’s Spiritual Advisor and served churches in Missouri and Kansas before returning to the Pacific Northwest.…

The Ancient Chinese Approach to Balancing Life  Many citizens of China consider themselves to be Confucianists, Taoists, and Buddhists. Why? Because each of those three life-views has a different way of viewing each life problem. Join us this Sunday via Zoom to see how these three views may help us to deal with the problems we each face daily. Michael’s approach is from a full-life experience and he can relate to a wide range of people. He has a way of communicating…

“Out of the Dark Into the Light” Award-winning, singer/songwriter, Rona Yellow Robe will share her journey of overcoming the challenges of her past and embracing the unknown. 2014 and 2016 Native American Music Awards (NAMA) Flutist of the Year, Rona Yellow Robe was born and raised in Havre, Montana and is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, Montana. Rona is known for her powerful vocal ability, Native American flute style, and heart-filled presence. She picked up her first flute…

“This Is Not What I Asked For!” Acceptance is the willingness to meet life in all its pain and beauty. Acceptance builds resilience and allows us to begin again. When we see from a larger perspective with humility and humor, we come to acceptance — the ability to accept life in all its pain and beauty.  Acceptance is where change begins. This is the next installment in Rev. Annie’s series on resilience inspired by The Book of Joy – Conversations with His…

The Magic of Intuition Is Intuition unconscious knowledge that sometimes surfaces… or can it be summoned at will? “Life is a series of choices. Be careful of the choices you make for they will determine your Life.” My Mother taught me this when I was growing up and it has served me well. As an Engineer, I knew exactly how to make these choices – using Logic. However, when I learned to use Intuition, my Life became Magical. And I…

Holy Ground We are living in a world that is fraught with noise, fearful threats, and distractions. How does one find peace and connection with God/Divine Essence during this chaos? Rev Joanna Gabriel discusses locating our Holy Ground right amidst it all.  Rev. Joanna’s life and work experience include serving as the Director of Education and Worldwide Communications for the ReCreation Foundation, supporting the work of Neale Donald Walsch, author of the Conversations with God books. She is also an…

9-1/2 Maxims for Wisdom Study With the discovery of the Nag Hammadi library in 1945 and the Dead Sea scrolls in the following decade, there has been renewed interest, not only by scholars, but laymen as well, in long lost writings (such as the Gospel of Judas) from ancient sources and unfamiliar cultures. Hence, what has become known as wisdom study has grown in popularity, despite the challenges it often presents. This has led George & Annette Lindamood to write a small…

The Bridge “We’re walking across the bridge of life together!”  These words were said in a moment of happiness, high in the Olympic Mountains, as two hikers traversed a bridge across a creek.  But how true this is for all of us, as we cross from unknown to unknown, together with friends and loved ones.    Do we remember that we are crossing a bridge from here to eternity?  How much do we value our crossing companions?  Do we work…

How Jesus and Buddha Stopped Being Control Freaks Both Jesus and Buddha evidently had issues with being in control. Don’t we all? How do we know? Because, prominent in both of their stories are three temptations that tried to sidetrack them from their psycho-spiritual aspirations. After successfully navigating those three tests–both men lived lives that changed the world. Join us as we look at those three control-tests that challenge us daily. How do we navigate them? Which ones have we been…

Compassion Award-winning, singer/songwriter, Rona Yellow Robe will share the story of  how Great Spirit showed her compassion’s true nature only to learn it had always been inside her all along. 2014 and 2016 Native American Music Awards (NAMA) Flutist of the Year, Rona Yellow Robe was born and raised in Havre, Montana and is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, Montana. Rona is known for her powerful vocal ability, Native American flute style, and heart-filled presence. She picked up her first…

Into The Mystery While we yearn for certainty as we grapple with the events of our lives, we know that the next moment remains veiled, and the course of our days is, ultimately and always, a mystery.  The growing darkness of autumn inclines our hearts and spirits to a more inward orientation.  In this talk, speaker and songwriter Doug Benecke will outline some guideposts to contemplating the Mystery, harmoniously joined by Sallie Spirit. To receive the Zoom login information, subscribe…

Forgiveness – It’s All The Rage Mindful forgiveness is the purest form of self-blessing. Rev. Annie is an ordained Interfaith minister, teacher, spiritual director, and author who holds a master’s degree in Humanities. Her book, Another Way Home – Moving Beyond Religion to the Interspiritual Jesus and the Sacred Feminine, was published in 2018 . Annie served as co-founder and spiritual leader of Unity Center of Peace in Bothell, WA and currently serves as visiting minister and teacher for Unity…

God for Grown-ups How do we get from our idea of God as an old man with a long white beard in the sky, watching our every move, and judging the results to a Divine Being that is everywhere present and is Knowledge, Love, and Life itself? Rev. Joanna Gabriel discusses the first of Unity’s Five Basic Principles, God is Creator of All, everywhere present, and how we can use the power of this awareness to lift us up in these…

Are My Dark Desires Spiritual? Desire is at the heart of all spiritual and religious traditions. But some of my desires are dark and destructive. What about those? Join us as we openly explore the spiritual aspects of those secret desires, fantasies and feelings that disturb and sometimes ruin our health and relationships. We will focus on the Hindu/Buddhist and Jewish/Christian traditions. Michael’s approach is from a full-life experience and he can relate to a wide range of people. He…

Everyday Saints We may think of saints as unreachably pious, unimaginably pure beings, figures of holy legend.  We who live in ‘the real world’ more often see unsaintly behavior – in others, and, if we are honest, in ourselves.  Yet it’s possible that every day we are given an opportunity to rekindle our love of all that is sacred in our lives and to listen to ‘the angels of our better nature.’  We invite you to join us for a…

Rev. Sherry Schultz An ordained Unity minister since 1995, Rev. Sherry is an APC board certified chaplain with over 25 years of experience in hospice and palliative care, as well as being a certified spiritual director.  She has pastored churches in Missouri, Kansas and the Pacific NW and currently serves as the Spiritual Advisor for Unity of North Kitsap.  Sherry is Rosie’s mom and guardian of canine, Mimi.  Her interests include sporadic piano lessons, exploring a new co-housing community, healthy food for elders,…

“Seeking the Invisible” We live in the Physical Dimension: the World of the five senses. There are other dimensions. For example, the Spiritual Dimension, which is invisible and contains my Spiritual Path. This is one reason I come to this Church, for your help and support in finding my Spiritual Path. So together we are “Seeking the Invisible.” How can we do this better? Doctor Gale is known for his simple, yet powerful spiritual work. His skill lies in taking…

Walking in the Dark Our spiritual journey isn’t always a walk in the sunshine.  At times we will be walking in the dark and unsure of the next step, but we can trust in a journey of depth, substance and hidden treasures. Rev. Annie is an ordained Interfaith minister, teacher, spiritual director, and author who holds a master’s degree in Humanities. Her book, Another Way Home – Moving Beyond Religion to the Interspiritual Jesus and the Sacred Feminine, was published…

The Real Christmas Story Hidden in the stories that are part of the rich tradition of Christmas is another story. Yes, it touches on baby Jesus, the manger, wise men and, from the Koran, a different story of Mary. It has been hinted at in the Edgar Cayce Readings and in the Gospel of John. This is a story that is as timely today as when it was hidden in the original stories about shepherds and the inn over 2,000…

Turning Toward Light Each day we have choices and we exercise free will.  The question is – as always – what direction do we take?  Which way do we turn?  There is a light that shines and an affirmative reality that beckons us to turn toward it – if we have eyes to see.  How may we turn our vision toward love and service?  This week at Unity, as our Advent journey progresses, songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke discusses “Turning…

Letting Go Gives Us Freedom For centuries, indigenous peoples used smoke as a symbol of their thoughts and prayers rising to the Great Spirit. Engaged couples have also released the past in a burning bowl before taking their vows. Whatever the circumstances, the purpose of the ceremony is to shift consciousness. It’s about becoming still, naming what you want to release, and letting it go. When we let go and let God, we experience freedom. Letting go opens us to the…

This Unity ritual is based on Revelations 2:17: “They that hath an ear, let them hear what the Spirit said unto the churches; to they that overcometh, will I give to eat the hidden manna and will give them a white stone and in the stone a new name written, which no person knowth saving they that receive it.” Symbolically, the stone represents freedom. As was custom in ancient days during slavery in the Holy Land, a prisoner was given…

Now What? We’ve said goodbye to a year that has been aptly called “unprecedented.” With much of what has made it so still very much with us, how do we move forward into a New Year that will be better? Rev. Joanna will discuss some tools we have that support the likelihood of a bright, healthy, and peaceful experience in 2021. Rev. Joanna’s life and work experience include serving as the Director of Education and Worldwide Communications for the ReCreation…