Lessons From Unity Spiritual Center Denver

Ever wondered how authentic, spiritual communities foster open dialogue around complex issues while maintaining an atmosphere of love and acceptance? Join us on this enlightening journey as we peel back the layers of connection and community, exploring how these safe havens can be conduits for fresh perspectives and deeper understanding. We share heartfelt insights on the importance of remaining connected to each other and our shared beliefs, and how embracing new experiences can inspire transformative ways of being.We reflect on our interconnectedness, learning from each other's unique experiences, and drawing strength from our shared convictions. Join us as we pay homage to the divine power that surrounds and connects us all, and take a moment to recognize the faces of God present in our everyday lives. We wrap up the episode with an invitation to join our mission in creating a safe spiritual community, and how you can support us by visiting unitydenver.org.

Community is the theme for November here at USCD.An authentic community offers a unique opportunity to bring a diverse group of people together centered around common values, needs, interests and identities. Together, we will explore the necessary ingredients for the expression of authentic community as we ground into our common values and identity as a Unity community.On a very basic human level, we all want to feel connected – with Spirit, with other people, with and with our own true purpose. This is the ultimate goal and purpose of a spiritual community!Throughout the month, we will be highlighting some of our small group ministries that help to extend the reach of this community.We will also be honoring all who currently serve and support this community. Since you are the most important ingredient of this community, we are asking you to take a few minutes to offer your feedback about how we are doing in meeting your needs for a spiritual community, and what you would like to see added, or done differentl

As those in Lewiston Maine turn to find support within their community following the horrific loss of life they endured yesterday, let us join them in a heart connection that flows beyond the limits of that small town.  From a grounded place within ourselves, we can hold their pain and devastation. We can also hold them in the energy of safety, strength and love.  I do not know the details of what drove this man to act in this way. I certainly do not condone his actions but I do believe that there had to be something deeply disturbed inside of him for him to act out in this way. Challenging as it may feel at times, I believe that every act of misplaced anger, hatred, and violence is a call for us all to connect more deeply in love.  Our spiritual principles and practices support us in this.Knowing the Love that we are as God expressing on Earth is where we find the strength and courage to offer love to our hurting world, and ourselves. God as Love is the ultimate source of all loving action and expression.  G

We have all experienced those 'seasons of life' that feel particularly difficult and overwhelming. It seems that we are collectively being called to navigate just such a season- as a human family. Our exploration of mindful self- compassion (MSC) is a timely one.Practicing MSC supports us in staying present in times of personal difficulty and suffering with less resistance and self- criticism. It also connects us in our shared humanity, which in turn fosters greater compassion for our selves and for the whole of humanity.Unity teaches that God is Love and everywhere present. This means that the love of God is present within each person and in every situation. Connecting with God as Love within ourselves supports us in being present in times of personal suffering and collective pain.

We were excited to welcome Lisa Vratny- Smith as our guest speaker on Sunday.In addition to her rich history within the holistic healing modalitites,Lisa is a trained teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion.Our world is in dire need of greater love and compassion. Centering around our shared Divinity and our common humanity can lead the way to meeting this need.As we learn to hold ourselves with greater care and compassion,we also deepen our capacity to do so with others.

To become one with all that we are is to turn toward all that we experience in life. Some aspects of our experience are more challenging than others and our human tendency to criticize ourselves when we are struggling is not helpful. A growing body of evidence suggests that learning to replace relentless self-criticism with greater self- compassion and care supports us in meeting the fullness of our experience with greater ease.From a spiritual perspective, we know that we are forever supported in this process by the power and presence of Divine Love that resides within us, in Spirit. Unity has long taught the power our thoughts have on our experience. Prayer and meditation are taught as the most accelerated use of that power as we purposely focus our mind/thoughts on that Divine Presence within and all around us. Spending time in the Silence allows these ideas to permeate all levels of our consciousness. We know that taking time to ground in the depth of Spirit deepens this connection, and  supports greater

All of the world's faith traditions offer some version of The Golden Rule:treat others as you would like to be treated.Yet, few of us would actually treat our another as harshly as we do ourselves at times!This seems to be particularly true when we are challenged or struggling in some aspect of our life. While most of us are able to offer kindness and compassion to others who are experiencing difficulty, fewer have mastered that same response to oneself.Why do you suppose that is?This Sunday we explored some of the misconceptions about self-compassion and consider the spiritual aspect of this practice.

"THE SILENCE is a state of consciousness and non- awareness to which we may retreat from the relative realm of sense consciousness.It's always there, like the sun. It is a place of inner stillness and quiet that is the source of divine revelation and from which we make discoveries of the eternal truthsand therefore, ultimately of ourselves."– Rev. Paul Hasselbeck, Heart-Centered Metaphysics

There are many types of meditation and concentration methods used in the various spiritual disciplines of the world. In Unity, the purpose of these techniques is primarily to focus the attention on the Source/God of our being. The divine life and light at the center of our being and all around us.

Shereen Hill was our guest speaker this week and here is her talk titled, "Reclaiming the Present Moment."  You can join us each Sunday morning at 10:00 at Unity Spiritual Center Denver.  We would love to welcome you into our community next week.

This Sunday, Spiritual Leader Trish Morris continued the exploration of tuning into presence with Mindfulness Meditation practices. You can join us in person each Sunday morning at 10:00 at Unity Spiritual Center Denver.  Come see what our spiritual community is all about!