Summer is in full swing, and on Sunday the temperature broke the record in Portland for August 7 set back more than two decades ago. So, my friends, I do hope you are taking good care during these dog days of summer. Here is a little trivia… These punishingly hot summer days get their name from an ancient belief about the brightest star in the sky — not from dogs’ tendency to laze around in the heat. Who knew!
Summer also brings fresh vegetables, and we have been enjoying the bounty from the gardens. This week was a salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Thank you, Nancy Burnette, for putting it together before the service.
Once again, I want to remind you of our 85th Anniversary coming up on the 28th of August. The theme is Memories and Music. If you have a memory you would like to share during the service, please reach out to me.
We are also looking for 85 Angels to donate $85 to our general fund as a way of saying thank you to Unity for being here all these year for my spiritual growth and to be here for others in the future.
I stepped out on a limb on Sunday as I started a new series using a book that was written by my colleague, Rev. Lauren McLaughlin. It is a story of two young men that met while they were teenagers in an unusual set of circumstances. Now 20 years later, they are still as close as two brothers.
The original book was titled Go to ELF. The acronym ELF stands for Eternal Life Force. It was then rewritten, and the title was changed to Life Doesn’t Have To Be So Hard. We will have copies for sale in the bookstore this coming Sunday.
My friend Lauren posted on Facebook today…”I watched Pat’s sharing of the story and found it delightful. She challenges her congregation to experience some of the dilemmas Tony and Frankie experienced as if they were the characters in the book. I’m sure her audience left today with much to think about. What an important way to teach Spiritual Truths. Thanks, Pat.”
If you missed the service on Sunday, you can watch it here.
Next Sunday will be Kim Cowperthwaite delivering the message, and she told me that what she will be sharing is right in line with last week’s message. So don’t miss it, and then on August 21 Tony and Frankie will be back, and you will get to meet ELF…
“You made him do this.” “No, I did not, Tony,” the ELF said emphatically. “Humans think they are smarter than animals because humans can talk, but animals have instincts far superior to humans. Trainwreck could sense that you needed a demonstration of unconditional love and he was just the cat to give it to you.” – from LIFE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE SO HARD.
Have a wonder-filled week.
You are a blessing in my life,
Rev. Patricia Bessey
Labyrinths are ancient geometric figures. One leaves one’s worries and stress at the entrance and walks meditatively to the middle. As one walks to the center she/he becomes centered within her/himself, calmer, and more grounded. 
