WINTER
2014
The Y ear of Living Abundantly
From Reverend Charles...
Happy New Year! Many blessings for a joyous, healthy, and
prosperous 2014 from Rev. Christine
and me, the Board, staff, volunteers,
and all of us here at Unity of
Birmingham. We have an exciting
and enriching year planned, and we
invite you to join us in getting it off
to a rousing start. We are so excited
about what is going on here at Unity
of Birmingham, including our new
web site at www.unitybham.org, and
our new Music Directors, Steve and
Ashley Roberts. Most of all, we are
excited by the spirit of renewal and the loving energy that everyone
feels when we gather in our church home.
We have declared 2014
to be “The Year of Living
Abundantly”, and throughout
the year, we will be featuring
Sunday messages, classes,
and workshops to assist you
2803 Highland Avenue
in transforming to a more
Birmingham, AL 35205
abundant way of living. And,
we are beginning the year
205-251-3713
with many more important
[email protected]
events in which you’ll want
to participate.
In January, we will be
Sunday Service: 11.00 am
kicking off the New Year with
Bookstore Hours
our White Stone ceremony,
a traditional Unity service
T-TH: 9.30-4.30
which helps us set our
F: 9.30-3.00
intention for the New Year.
Then, on Sunday, January
Prayer Line: 205-251-4365
19th, we will be welcoming
Silent Unity: 800-NOWPRAY
Rev. Jackie Hawkins, a Unity
Unity of Birmingha m
minister who was a member of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr.’s church in Atlanta when she was a college freshman. She
will be sharing her remembrances of him and his ministry.
The following weekend will be our Visioning weekend and we
welcome Rev. Terrence Padgett, who will guide us through a
collaborative process to re-imagine our Vision, Mission, and Core
Values, and set us on a path to establish a strategic plan for our
church.
(cont'd pg. 3)
From Reverend Christine...
Dorothea Brande said, “Act boldly and unseen forces will
come to your aid.” The year 2014 is deemed "The Year of Living
Abundantly" at Unity of Birmingham and we are so excited to
share it with you! We use the term abundance all-inclusively as
it applies to every area of our precious
lives. The definition of abundance is
an extremely plentiful or over-sufficient
quantity or supply; affluence; wealth;
and overflowing fullness. The truth
about abundance is we cannot focus
on it in one area of our lives without it
affecting all others; and in the case of
abundance, this is especially good.
The third Saturday in January we
present our first workshop on Holistic Health: Body, Mind, and
Spirit. Each month we will be presenting a Saturday workshop
based on some aspect of living abundantly, such as, a relationship
workshop, Edwene Gaines on prosperity; Meditation/Movement/
Vision; Reiki; Nutrition; and so much more! Our 7-week series,
"Keys to the Kingdom" by David Owen Ritz begins on February 9
and goes through Sunday, March 23. David defines abundance
as including, but not limited to Finance, Health, Personal
Growth, Relationships, and Career/Creative Expression.
(cont'd pg. 3)
Service...
Transforming Lives Through
the Power of Divine Love
Unity Staff
Senior Minister
Rev. Charles Perry
[email protected]
Associate Minister
Rev. Christine Perry
[email protected]
Board of Trustees
President: Dr. George Ford
Vice President/Treasurer:
Suzie Wagner
Secretary: Joan Tufts
Carol Clarke
Jeff Khleif
Sharon Hines
Alternate
Bruce Glenn
Youth/Family Ministry
Brenda Durham
[email protected]
Exciting events are coming to Unity of Birmingham and we need many
hands to help make them happen! Lulu Richardson has graciously accepted
the Volunteer Coordinator position, and she is actively seeking those who
wish to be of service to the church.
“Over the years, volunteering has been a rewarding experience for me,
filling many of my own needs,” she says. “I love getting to know others,
feeling a sense of belonging to a community, learning through new activities,
and knowing that my little part is making a difference. If you feel called, I
will be happy to provide just the right niche for you to do what you love and
make use of your special talents in serving your spiritual home.”
Some of the duties Lulu seeks to fill are: First Voice Team, reception area in downstairs lobby;
Hospitality Team; Youth and Family Ministry, teaching toddlers; and many others. If you want to
be part of the next phase of our growth, please call Lulu Richardson at 205.912.2019 or email
her at [email protected].
Music Ministry
With the tenure of our music director, Lisa Firestone, coming to a
close, we welcome Steven and Ashley Roberts as the new music team. Dr.
Roberts is currently assistant professor of jazz studies at the University of
Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Roberts received his Doctorate of Musical
Arts in trumpet performance and jazz at the University of Illinois (U.C.)
in 2005, where he also received his Masters degree in 2001.
Ashley Roberts holds a BA in Communication and an MA in Education
from UAB. She had been part of the music staff at Vestavia Hills United
Methodist Church for seven years and performed solos, participated in
the choir, and lead the 9:45 worship service. Ashley has taught piano
and voice since 2007 at local studios such as Music Plus, Birmingham
School of Music, and most recently, UAB’s ArtPlay. She is also on the
advisory board for the VHUMC Conservatory of the Arts. Their CD, Let’s
Fall in Love, debuted in December of last year. We welcome the Roberts
to our Unity family!
Administration
Jackie Cottle: [email protected]
Volunteer Coordinator
Lulu Richardson
[email protected]
Music Ministry
Steve and Ashley Roberts
[email protected]
iGive
Help Unity of Birmingham every time you
shop online with iGive! iGive makes it possible for people to shop online at over 1400
of their favorite stores and give to their favorite charity at the same time! The iGive
Button makes it simple. It’s free and easy.
Just sign up at www.igive.com
F inancials
October
income
expenses
21,836.20
34,353.45
November
net income
-12,517.25
-6,808.31
20,920.72
27,729.03
Thank you for your generosity!
Technical Director
Barry Hester
[email protected]
Newsletter
Nabella Shunnarah
[email protected]
Bookstore hours:
Tues. -- Thurs. 9:30 -- 4:30
Fri. - 9:30 -- 3:00
Chaplain Prayer LIne: 205-251-4365
Our “Warm Hearts” event on November
29th was a huge success. Patrons were
given a hot lunch and a $2 bill as they
chose a warm coat for the winter season.
Thanks to all Unity angels who made
this day possible.
Commemorating King
Transforming Lives Through
the Power of Divine Love
Ongoing Events
9:45 am: Conversations with God
for Teens - Artie's Place
10:00 am: Sundays
Adult Sunday School in Beverly Hall
10:45 am: Sundays
Youth Ministry, Artie’s Place
11:00 am:
Sunday Service
5:00 pm: Sundays
Course in Miracles
2nd Mondays
Chaplain meetings
Reverend Jacquelyn Hawkins was fourteen
years old when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
received the Nobel Peace Prize. Later as
a college student in Atlanta, Georgia, she
attended church in his congregation. “I
was to have my own personal experience of
Martin Luther King, Jr. and my life would
be forever changed.” Reverend Hawkins will
speak at Unity of Birmingham in connection
to the Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations
on January 19, 2014. Her talk is titled, “I
Only Touched the Hem of his Garment.”
Rev. Jackie is an ordained Unity minister.
She earned her Master of Divinity degree
from Unity Institute and Seminary in June
2013. She has a Master’s of Public Affairs
and Policy from the State University of New
York at Albany, a Bachelor of Science from
Western Michigan University, and attended
Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia for two
years prior to attending and graduating from
WMU.
Currently, she is working with community
organizations in the City of Albany, New
York to promote peace through focused
meditation.
The Y ear of Living Abundantly
(from pg. 1)
From Reverend Charles...
Noon: Wednesdays
Prayer service
3rd Thursdays
Board meetings
7:00 pm: Fridays
CODA
7:00 pm: Alcoholics Anonymous Open
Meeting - Beverly Hall
Going Green
The second weekend in February will be big, as we welcome Dorothy Moore from Christ Church
Unity in Orlando to facilitate a Spiritual Gifts workshop we want everyone to attend! Then, on
Sunday, we will be holding our annual church meeting to elect new Board members and approve our
Prosperity Plan for 2014. We will also be kicking off the extremely successful seven-week prosperity
series, “Keys to the Kingdom”, which will include a concurrent Wednesday night class. Valentine’s
Day weekend will include another round of training for the Twilight Brigade. In March, we will have
a special Ash Wednesday service on the 5th, and “Bring a Friend Sunday”, with a service led by our
Youth and Family Ministry on the 30th.
Other ongoing activities will include another Unity Basics class in January, and a Prayer &
Meditation class in March, both primarily for our newest members, but open to long time Truth
Students who want a “refresher” as well. We will continue to move ahead with the exterior
renovations to the sanctuary building, as we continue to clean, repair, and brighten up the interior
of our church home. We will form development and strategic planning teams, as well as add new
members, training, and initiatives for our ongoing teams.
We extend our appreciation for your support, and tell you how important it is as this ministry
moves forward into this next year. On new member Sunday, one of our newest members expressed
her appreciation for our openness with the church finances, which we print in the bulletin each
week. She noted that we have been operating with more expenses than income, and asked if we
needed to worry. I told her at Unity we don't teach worrying, and there are two simple things we can
all do: tithe, and bring people to church. Let us step into the flow of abundance by getting into the
cycle of giving and receiving. And tell everyone what a wonderful, welcoming, transformative church
we have. Thank you for being with us through an eventful 2013, and know that together we will be
blessed with a Spirit-filled and abundant 2014!
Unity of Birmingham’s Green Team is
connecting with The Unity EarthCareTeam
(EUT), a ministry team of Unity Worldwide
Ministries to implement a recycling program.
The mission is to foster awareness of our
spiritual oneness with our Earth home and
promote active care of creation. Please help
keep us green by:
recycling plastic bottles
using the new water fountain and From Reverend Christine...
eliminating plastic water bottles
Focusing on all aspects of abundance throughout the year we will move toward our individual and
recycling paper by printing/
collective dreams, goals, and desires with the support of a loving community. We will be offering
writing on both sides and placing suggestions for living a whole and radiantly healthy life, and inviting you to share what works for you.
used paper in recycling bins
We will be inviting congregants to share “Abundance Moments” because we know how powerful it is
using black plastic recycling bins to hear real life stories of Truth, spiritual practice in action. Knowing we are all in this together, we
for bottles and cups in Beverly Hall breathe a sigh of relief, and affirm “One for All and all for One”. We boldly claim 2014 to be "The
Thank you for your part in making Unity of Year of Living Abundantly". And so it is!
Birmingham green.
www.unitybham.org
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Unity of Birmingha m
Non-profit Org.
US Postage
2803 Highland Avenue
Birmingham, AL 35205
PAID
Permit No. 2501
Birmingham AL
Sunday, January 5 Service - "White Stone"
Saturday, February 8 - "Spiritual Gifts Inventory"
10am -- 4pm
Wednesdays January 8 & 15 - "Unity Basics"
6:30 -- 8:00pm
Sunday, February 9 - Annual Business Meeting after service
Saturday, January 18 - "Holistic Health Workshop"
10am--noon
Every Wednesday beginning February 12 – March 26
“Keys to the Kingdom” 6:30 - 8:30pm
Sunday, January 19 - Rev. Jackie Hawkins, "I Only Touched the Hem
of His Garment"
Saturday, March 22 & 29 - "Prayer & Meditation"
10am--noon
Friday, January 24 - 7-9pm and Saturday, January 25 - 10am - 4pm
Visioning Weekend with Rev. Terrence Padgett
Sunday, March 30 - YFM Sunday - "Bring a Friend Sunday" followed
by a picnic in the park
Sunday, January 26 - Chili Cookoff, after service
Welcome
New Members!
From left to right:
1st row: Joanna Deuser, Susan Scott, Allyn Boucher,
Miriam Newman; 2nd row: Thomas Jackson, Melanie
Jackson, Jamie Donaldson, Karimah Fowlkes, Rita
Thornberry, Prisca Rollins, Sandra Gillis; 3rd row:
Roger Salter, Lisa Crymes; 4th row: Alan Wood, Goldie
Williams