"Labor Pains"

Once again the Earth, in her majestic orbit, takes us toward summer and further into God’s re-creation of the blossoming year. Yet, if we undergo a kind of rebirth, it is not without its labor pains. This week at Unity, we'll discuss experiencing that resurrection of Spirit while, yet, grappling with the difficulties of our human dramas and sorrows --- whether in world events or in our own hearts.  Reflections by songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke with uplifting music by Sallie Spirit.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

"Watch Out!"

"Can you not watch with me a single hour?" Jesus asked of the disciples in the garden.  As they slept, he had prayed.  As we pass the precious moments of this life, which are we doing?  Are we awake, are we awakening?  If we do awaken, do we show up with gratitude, with grace?  Or do we pull the covers up over our heads?  Thoughts on being present in wisdom by showing up, being in the eternal present, witnessing the life we are leading.  A talk by songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke with Sallie Spirit bearing musical witness.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

"Avoid Static Cling"

At times, we wish an instant could last forever; we want to hold on to it and have its joy continue.  Some moments we wish we could skip over entirely, never feeling the discomfort they offer.  Though we may cling to pleasure and retreat from pain, we mostly can choose only our own attitudes.  This week at Unity, embracing life and learning from what it sends, thoughts by songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke with musical grace notes from Sallie Spirit.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

"Like A Child"

In more than one Gospel, Jesus is recorded as saying that someone who doesn’t approach the transcendent reality of God as a little child will not enter into a sustaining connection with the Sacred and essentially just does not get it.  At the advent of a new year, how much are we willing to become beginners and approach our lives - and spiritual practices - in a trustful and unguarded fashion?  New Year’s thoughts from speaker and songwriter Doug Benecke with musical contributions from Sallie Spirit.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

Awakening

December brings an anticipation of all the gifts - spiritual and otherwise - of the Christmas season.  But what if all we are waiting for is, in fact, not the presents but the Divine Presence?  What if, somehow, what happens Christmas morning is simply that we notice what we have had all along?  This week at Unity, "Awakening," from songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke, musically joined by the ever-giving Sallie Spirit.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

The Gratitude Way

November brings anticipation of the annual Thanksgiving celebration and may spark a sense of: ‘What am I thankful for?’ What if gratitude is less a sense of thankfulness for anything specific and more a way of living, praying, thinking, and being?  This week at Unity, "The Gratitude Way," from songwriter and speaker Doug Benecke accompanied, as always, by the ever-musical Sallie Spirit.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works daily as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

Lesson Planet

As another summer concludes, kids get ready to return to school.  But doesn’t learning continue year-round and lifelong for those on a spiritual path?  Aren’t our very challenges, our areas of difficulty, the syllabus of the Spirit?  This week at Unity, always in back-to-school mode with speaker Doug Benecke and music by Sallie Spirit and Doug.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works daily as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

Sacred Honor

America was founded by dedicated souls who pledged “our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor” to its establishment.  In the more than twenty decades since, democracies have found footholds across the globe.  Now, in a world more interconnected than ever before, democratic governments are facing threats.  As members of a free society and a spiritual community, what should be our response to attacks on democracy?  When is our sacred honor at risk through inaction?  This week at Unity, join speaker and songwriter Doug Benecke, as always, along with his musical muse Sallie Spirit, in exploring these questions.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works daily as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.

"Working Class"

If we create our life experiences through our thoughts, then how do we change by working on ourselves?  If all of life is like a class in spiritual labor, then we may say we spend our days in a kind of “working class.”  These ideas explored in a talk by speaker and songwriter Doug Benecke, joined in music, as always, by Sallie Spirit.

Doug is a lifelong musician and student of the human spirit. He holds a religion degree from Oberlin College and works as an addictions counselor. Doug and his wife, Sallie Spirit, share talks and music at churches all around the Sound.

For the Zoom login links, subscribe to our newsletter here.