Time flies when you’re having fun! I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful summer. We’ve certainly been blessed with beautiful weather, and our vegetable garden is thriving. We’re enjoying an abundance of fresh vegetables to take home, and we’re also grateful to be sharing some of the harvest with the Windham Food Pantry.
I wanted to do a quick check-in with you.
On June 26, we held a community meeting and invited everyone to complete a survey beforehand. One of the themes that emerged from both the discussion and the survey responses was a desire to make a few adjustments to our Sunday Celebration Service.
As a result, you may have noticed some changes over the past few weeks. We’ve reduced the number of opening songs from three to two, and we’re no longer reciting the Invocation, Vision, Mission, and Core Values each Sunday. We’ve also shortened the lead-in to sharing the Good News.
After the message, I now move directly into meditation, with music returning as we conclude our time of reflection. The final area we’ve been working on is shortening the announcements.
To be honest, that one has been a bit of a challenge! We are a very active and engaged community, and announcements play an important role in keeping everyone informed about what’s happening. Research suggests that people often need to hear information five to seven times before they take notice and act, so this is one area that may not change dramatically. We want to continue doing all we can to help people connect with the many events, classes, and opportunities available within our community.
As always, your feedback matters. If you have thoughts about these changes, we’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to email us at unitygpoffice@gmail.com with your comments, suggestions, or observations.
Thank you for being an important part of our spiritual community!
Becoming the Presence of Peace
Peace is not something we wait for the world to give us. It is a spiritual quality that begins within and radiates outward into every aspect of our lives. When we remember our divine nature and anchor ourselves in God’s presence, we discover that peace is always available, even in the midst of uncertainty and change.
Sunday’s message explored how we can move beyond simply seeking peace and instead become the presence of peace. This happens when we release fear, practice acceptance of what is, and consciously choose love over reaction. As we cultivate inner stillness through prayer, meditation, and spiritual awareness, we become a calming influence in our families, workplaces, communities, and the wider world.
True peace is not the absence of challenges. It is the presence of faith, wisdom, and trust within them. Each of us is called to be a living expression of peace, bringing compassion, understanding, and hope wherever we go.
This Week’s Spiritual Practice
Each morning before beginning your day, pause for a moment and ask yourself:
What do I wish to radiate today?
Peace?
Patience?
Joy?
Compassion?
Then, throughout the day, whenever circumstances challenge you, gently return to that intention. Allow your life itself to become a prayer. Allow your presence itself to become a blessing.
Key Takeaway
When we align with the peace of the Divine within us, we stop waiting for peace to arrive and begin embodying it, becoming a blessing and healing presence for others.
Join Us Next Sunday: Remember the Ladies
What does it take to speak truth with courage, wisdom, and compassion? Next Sunday, we’ll explore the remarkable story of Abigail Adams, a woman whose voice helped shape the conscience of a nation. Long before women had any political rights, Abigail recognized the gap between America’s highest ideals and its lived reality. She dared to challenge the status quo, urging leaders to create a more just and inclusive future.
Come be inspired by the life of a woman who refused to remain silent and discover what her example can teach us today about faith, leadership, and the power of speaking from the heart.
You are a blessing in my life,
Rev. Patricia Bessey
