Dear Friends,

As I write this message, I am aware that TOMORROW IS EASTER! The date of Easter, as we all know, is determined by its relationship to the Equinox (the time when daylight seems to be “resurrecting)”. Resurrection of the natural world tells us so much about OUR OWN SPIRITUAL JOURNEY.

We all go through “Winter times” and we all have our own crucifixions. We have times when we go into the “tombs “and the dark “underworld” of our being. All Creation begins in the darkness. In the darkness seeds of a NEW CREATION expand, the sap begins to rise, suddenly, mysteriously, against all odds, we find we are resurrecting! We return to the land of the living. We blossom and we find joy again!

May Your Know Love, Joy and Peace
Rev. Joanne

Dear Friends,

As we here at Unity by the Shore, “journey through” the Lenten Season, we are called to look deeply into our individual lives, see what needs to be released-let go of. It’s about changing your consciousness so that the Truth of who you are can live to its fullest expression. It requires that you let go of illusions held within your human personality and bring the Light of Christ, your divinity, into your humanness. This revelation of Oneness can be experienced through prayer and meditation-also by practicing Truth Principles in your everyday life experiences.

You may think “Oh, it all “sounds” good but I’m nowhere close to being able to achieve “revelation”! But as Charles Fillmore, in his classic book “Keep a True Lent”, says that it is a season of spiritual growth – A TIME FOR PROGRESSIVE UNFOLDMENT.” “Progressive” – the dictionary defines it as a “moving forward”, “continuing by successive steps”. Oh, there will be “crucifixion” challenges, but that’s part of the “Easter Journey” which results in “resurrection” – a raised consciousness and realization of your TRUE SELF in which lives love, wisdom, power and freedom! It is the “unfoldment” of the beautiful beloved child of God that you are!

What can you do during this Lenten season? My suggestion is that you learn to love yourself right here, right NOW!

May you “spring” in Joy!
A Very Blessed Easter!

Reverend Joanne

“we are called to look deeply into our individual lives, see what needs to be released-let go of. It’s about changing your consciousness so that the Truth of who you are can live to its fullest expression”

Dear Friends,

As I write this for our Jan-Feb. newsletter, snow is on the ground and Christmas will soon be here. And, then before we know it, we will be preparing for Easter with the preparatory practice of the Lenten season. On the outer, life seems to be one of “coming and going”– always anticipating the next “celebratory”
experience and hoping that life will become more prosperous and problem-free. But Life is not about running about the world trying to find satisfaction in the outer… we are to make Peace our FIRST goal. Charles Fillmore, co
-founder of Unity, defines life as the expression of BEING. He tells us that life is not a period of time. Life IS. Life does not come and go. Life can neither be created nor destroyed. Life is divine and spiritual. We were created for happy, successful, healthy, prosperous living! How do we experience that? As the song says “It’s All Inside Us.”

Let us join together as a Spiritual Community to discover the Christ consciousness within each one of us and TOGETHER in our ONENESS, we can let our Light shine!

Abundant Blessings!

Rev.Joanne

“We were created for happy, successful, healthy,, prosperous living! How do we experience that? As the song says “ It’s All Inside Us.”

Dear Friends in Christ,

With Christmas approaching, I am reminded of our annual CANDLELIGHTING SERVICE with individuals representing the metaphysical messages in the Christmas story as written in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. One of them, the Christ Child, is that which gives birth – just as Spirit created you out of Itself!

We are all unfolding with Faith into the full Christ of our Being. Rejoice in the process of our spiritual understanding which is born in us each day! Let us be willing to be open to this spiritual birth by going within each day in meditation and prayer to BE aware of the Presence of Spirit, the Christ of our Being.

Come and celebrate this Joyous Season together as the Community of God which we are!

Christmas Celebration Service With Children and Santa: Sunday, December 15, 10:30 a.m.
Sunday Service: December 22, 10:30 a.m.
Candlelight Christmas Eve Service: Tuesday, December 24, 7 p.m.
No Service Christmas Day: Wednesday, December 25.
Sunday Service: December 29, 10:30 a.m.
New Year’s Eve Burning Bowl Ceremony: Tuesday, December 31, 7 p.m.

CHURCH MEMBERS – Annual Congregational Meeting at noontime on Sunday, January 26, 2014.

“LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME!”

A very blessed Christmas and NEW Year!
Rev. Joanne M. Murphy

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over….For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

Dear Friends,

The reason this Spiritual Community continues to keep its doors open is the result of those who give of their time, talents and treasures. I want to honor a congregant who has “given” over and over again in so many ways, over so many years! It is our beloved BARBARA ELY!  Barbara has been responsible for creating and serving in so many areas that have enhanced and grown Unity by the Shore!

One of the many “roles” she plays is that of her production of our “Flying High” Newsletter which she started in 1988. She studied at Brookdale Community College the fundamentals of typesetting, design and layout.

Barbara said, “I have enjoyed working on the Newsletter and I have been blessed in many ways through my work and relationship with the church community. Now, I think it is time for others to receive the great blessings, and for our church to hone fresh and new creative ideas.”

The November-December 2013 “Flying High” is Barbara’s final issue. She would be happy to sit down with anyone who steps up to continue the “Flying High”Newsletter.

And I ask… who will “come up,” who will come up “higher” to know the joy of continuing this blessed service?

Again, Barbara, we honor you and thank you for your years of undertaking in this area and we thank you for all you continue to do in supporting Unity by the Shore!

Abundant Blessings!
Rev. Joanne