Lessons from Unity Cedar Rapids

As a follow up to her recent series, Rev. Debra will explore how we respond to change with intention and commitment.  This causes circumstances to unfold in good order for the highest and best for all concerned.

Rev. Debra continues her exploration of Finding Yourself in Transition by Rev. Robert Brumet.  This week, she reminds us that each season of life is to be honored, including the time in the wilderness --or as Rev. Brumet terms it, "The Void."  He writes: "In order to become who we really are, we must let go of who we are not... The Void is a passageway to truly becoming alive and fully awake" [p. 89]

Using the gospel account of the "Loaves and Fishes" in Luke, Rev. Debra focuses on the multiplying power of gratitude and thanksgiving. In Spiritual Economics, Eric Butterworth writes: "...gratitude is not for God...You are not obligated to thank God for your life, for your job, for your prosperity.  However, giving thanks is an important state of consciousness that keeps you in an awareness of oneness with divine flow."  Join Rev. Debra and unleash the power of gratitude in your life. 

Eric Butterworth writes in Spiritual Economics:   "The word 'affluence' is an overworked word in our time, usually implying cars and houses and baubles of all kinds.  Its literal meaning is 'an abundance flow'... and when we are consciously centered in the universal flow, we experience inner direction and the unfoldment of creative energy."  Join Rev. Debra as we celebrate the abundance consciousness of UCR and explore the essential elements of the abundant life, which include well-being, joyful flourishing, purposeful living, and peace of mind.

Rev. Debra will invite you into a larger vision for your life, your relationships, your community, and the world. The power of discerning a larger vision!

Let's celebrate summer with joy as we learn what it means to live'easy.' 

Join Rev. Debra and learn about the divine idea of freedom as we celebrate our nation's birthday.  She will answer the question:  "Are we free from certain conditions, or are we free for one another?"

Using the work of Michael Singer, author of the Untethered Soul, Rev. Debra will lead you in a journey toward self-realization --- moving beyond the thoughts, feelings, and habits that keep you stuck—so you can heal the pain of the past and let your spirit soar.

Join Rev. Debra as she takes a deep dive into our opening statement: “There is only One Presence and One Power in my life and in the universe, God the Good, Omnipotent."   What does this statement really mean and how can it help us navigate our spiritual journey?

On this Memorial Day weekend, we remember those who have graced our lives for a season.  Rev. Debra will share here own stories of grief and loss, and invite you into acceptance and healing.

Inspired by Nina Swanson's newly written song, Rev. Debra will invite you into the power of recognizing that God is everywhere present in your life.  Divine Spirit is available to us always and in all-ways. 

Using Still on Fire: Field Notes from a Queer Mystic by Jan Phillips as the inspiration for her lesson, Rev. Debra will encourage you to think through and perhaps deconstruct your perceptions about God in order to experience deeper spiritual maturity and healing.

As she approaches her birthday, join Rev. Debra for a lesson that focuses on aging well by adopting the process of ‘eldering' rather than ‘aging.'  She will use the booklet published by Unity Worldwide Headquarters as her guide.

Join Rev. Debra for a continuation of her recent lessons on love.  On Mother's Day, she will focus on love's healing and nurturing force in the world and in our lives.   Mother's Day evokes a gamut of emotions from grief to joy; however, Divine Love is available to heal, uplift, and enfold us. The "12 Powerful Women" class participants will share a 12 Powers candle lighting during the service. 

Welcome to The Unity Center of Cedar Rapids Sunday Service Podcast. We're glad you're able to join us wherever you are.   Today's message is titled “The Gospel in One Word Is Love” Join Rev. Debra for a continuation of last Sunday's invitation to love.  This week, she will share some actionable ideas and concepts that encourage the expression of Divine Love through us.      

Welcome to The Unity Center of Cedar Rapids Sunday Service Podcast. We're glad you're able to join us wherever you are.   Today's message is titled “No More Lies” April 30th is "National Honesty Day" (it is also "National Raisin Day" and "National Oatmeal Cookie Day").  It was inaugurated by author Hirch Goldberg to provide a counterbalance to "April Fools Day" on April 1st which is a celebration of lie-telling.  Join Rev. Debra while she talks about celebrating the glory of our being as we speak the truth about our true nature and its diversity of expressions.   

Using the Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rev. Debra will explore how to experience joy no matter the circumstances of life.  Books are available for purchase at UCR.   February 13: "Obstacles to Joy" To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/  

Using the Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rev. Debra will explore how to experience joy no matter the circumstances of life.  Books are available for purchase at UCR. February 6:  "The Nature of True Joy" February 13: "Obstacles to Joy" February 20: "The Pillars of Joy"   To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

More often than not, we jumble our judgements and feelings with reality when communicating with others, leading to ineffective, incomplete, and inflammatory results. Learning to separate facts from our judgements and feelings is key to enjoying more harmonious and more constructive relationships.  Jonas will also be our guest musician and song leader.  He is truly a man of many talents!

This lesson is a celebration of Unity Center of Cedar Rapids and its resilience and commitment during a challenging two years.  

On this Martin Luther King Day weekend, we are reminded of his powerful intention for our nation.  As we revisit his inspiring life and work, we open ourselves to the power of intention and the necessity to pay attention to its unfoldment. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman, mentor to Martin Luther King, wrote: When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins...   As we continue to celebrate the rebirth of the Christ in our awareness and as we begin the New Year, let's gather and open ourselves to the transformative work of the Christ in us.  We will release the things that limit us and open new interior spaces for growth.   Part of the service is the "Burning Bowl" ceremony (weather permitting).  To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

Special Zoom Service To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/  

You will notice that the candles on the Advent Wreath include a pink one that is lighted on the Sunday of 'Joy'.  This is called the 'Gaudete' candle which is the first word of an ancient Latin Christmas carol and it simply means 'Rejoice!'  On this last Sunday of Advent, let's join as a spiritual community to rejoice with one another as we prepare for the birth of the Christ in us. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”  (Matthew 22) These words, quoted by Jesus from the Jewish scripture, teach us the requisite order of love.  We are to love God with our whole being and recognize God as the very essence of love itself.  We are to love ourselves by affirming our value and worth for we are God's beloved children in whom God is most well pleased.  We are to love each other by acknowledging and serving the Christ within them.  Join Rev. Debra and learn the importance of rightly ordered love. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

On the second Sunday in Advent, Rev. Debra will remind us that peace begins within each of us.  When we are peaceful, we become true peacemakers in the world. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

On this first Sunday of Advent, Rev. Debra will encourage a deeper understanding of our journey toward Christmas.  Advent is a time of reflection and preparation as we open our hearts, minds, and lives to the renewed experience of our divine self. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

Join Rev. Debra as she invites you to open your life to the power of freely giving and gratefully receiving.  To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

Lesson Series: "Grateful Living" During the first three weeks of November, Rev. Debra invites you into an intentional season of grateful living. Lesson 2: Grateful Hands As our lives are transformed and blessed by the power of divine love, the natural impulse is to share our gifts, graces, and life experience in gratitude. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

This past week, many communities commemorated either All Souls' Day, All Saints' Day, or  Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

On this Halloween Sunday, Rev. Debra will encourage you to take off your mask and let your authentic self shine!  You are amazing and you are enough --just as you are!  

While we may feel a sense of brokenness during difficult seasons of life, these moments can also open us to the healing love of God and its ability to transform our lives.  In Truth, you are whole --not broken; yet, these dark nights of the soul can give birth to something new. To learn more please visit https://www.unitycr.org

Rev. Debra will explore the quintessential ideas that spiritually ground us as a Unity congregation. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/  

I Pray Rev. Debra will explore the quintessential ideas that spiritually ground us as a Unity congregation. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/  

During the month of August, our Sunday services will be inspired by important values that guide us as a spiritual community: To learn more please visit us at https://unitycr.org/

In the gospel accounts, when Jesus referred to God as father he used the Aramaic word 'abba' which most closely translates in English as 'daddy'.  Let's celebrate Father's day and learn how to create an intimate, close, and joyful relationship with God! To learn more please visit: https://unitycr.org/

This is the third lesson in our Advent Series, "The Light of Christmas."  Join us as we explore the words of John Shelby Spong: "The experience of Jesus was an experience of love. This love was a powerful life-affirming reality.  It was love that broke every human barrier and that swept over every human prejudice. Jesus lived the love of God. This love was and is wasteful love, embracing love, inclusive love."   To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

This is the second lesson in our Advent Series, "The Light of Christmas."  Join us as we explore what it means to be a peacemaker and establish peace on earth. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

This is the first lesson in our Advent series: "The Light of Christmas."  Join Rev. Debra as we rekindle the power of hope and faith as we journey toward Christmas. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

Gratitude is a way of life.  As we saturate our lives with it, we create the space for abundance and joy!  To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

The poet William Blake wrote: "For everything that lives is holy, life delights in life.”  What transformation would be wrought if this was the lens through which we view ourselves, our lives, and our world!  To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

"Hope is an orientation of the spirit, an orientation of the heart...it is not the same as joy that things are going well or a willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously headed for early success, but rather an ability to work for something because it is good, not because it stands a chance to succeed.”-Vaclav Haval In this service after election day, Rev. Debra Williams encourages you to anchor yourself in hope as you continue to do what is good and just.   She will call you to remember that you are a point of light and healing in the world as you instantiate divine love. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

November 1st is "All Saint's Day" and the service is dedicated to the memory of those who have transitioned. We will also remember those who died this year as a result of COVID-19. Hebrews 12:1 shares that, "we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses" --those who still live within the great heart and mind of God and who continue to love us and bless us with their lingering and present wisdom. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org

Voltaire wrote: "If God created us in God's own image, we have more than reciprocated."  At times, we project our anxieties, biases, and negative self-image onto God, creating a rather capricious, fickle, and unreliable deity. Rev. Debra challenges you to unmask God and discover the transformative power of God's true nature. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

Topic: "A Brave and Startling Truth " Rev Debra Carter Williams A poem by Maya Angelou serves as the central theme of Rev. Debra’s lesson: We must confess that we are the possible We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world That is when, and only when we come to it. This lesson is an affirmation of the possibilities that lie within us and before us. It is a celebration of the miracle that you are and your ability to co-create a world of peace, abundance, and well-being for all! To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

God is both immanent (indwelling and permeating all creation) and transcendent (greater than all creation). However, the poet and mystic, Hildegard of Bingen, wrote: “You are encircled by the arms of the mystery of God.” In other words, the indwelling God envelopes us and bathes us in Divine Love as we experience challenges, but calls us to know that the One Presence and One Power in the universe is greater than anything we experience. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

James 1:7 affirms that in God there is “no variation or shadow due to change.” How do we reconcile the unchanging nature of God with the constancy of change in life? Indeed, the “times they are a-changin’ "as poet Bob Dylan reminds us. Perhaps the ability to experience change points to the dynamic of transformation itself. Perceptions must shift, attitudes and beliefs must realign, and unhealthy behaviors must be released. However, even during the most difficult seasons of change, we can rely on the sure and unfailing guidance of Spirit to help us navigate the challenges we face. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

I Corinthians 13:5 shares: “Love does not insist on its own way.” Therefore, true love requires us to let go of a desire to control or to be overly directive—even overly helpful.  We must love in a manner in which the person we love feels free.    Using the book by Thich Nhat Hanh as the basis of the series, as well as the teachings of Jesus and our foundational Unity principles, Rev. Debra Carter Williams will explore four important elements of loving relationships that are integral to compassionate engagement with the world. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

Joy Thich Nhat Hanh writes: “If there is no joy in love, it is not true love.”  But, is true love really without struggle? This lesson explores the meaning of joy and how it can be experienced, along with other emotions, in relationships of trust and mutual respect.   Using the book by Thich Nhat Hanh as the basis of the series, as well as the teachings of Jesus and our foundational Unity principles, Rev. Debra Carter Williams will explore four important elements of loving relationships that are integral to compassionate engagement with the world. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/

Loving Kindness: While loving-kindness expresses as selflessness, watchful care, thoughtfulness, and gentleness, it is rooted in our intention to love and our ability to deeply understand and recognize another’s joys and struggles.   Using the book by Thich Nhat Hanh as the basis of the series, as well as the teachings of Jesus and our foundational Unity principles, Rev. Debra Carter Williams will explore four important elements of loving relationships that are integral to compassionate engagement with the world. To learn more please visit http://unitycr.org/