Seattle Unity Church

"Hope to me is that idea of transcending and reaching beyond our human experiences... to me hope is Spiritual Vision." In this First Sunday of Advent, Associate Minister Diane Robertson helps us to identify hope, to cultivate our ability to see it even when we don't feel it. How do we heal, as a nation, through a time some are calling The Great Divide? Worship Arts comes from Erin McGaughan, Olivia Hamilton and David Loy. Check out the full service video here. The talk begins at 20:25. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship, Daily Prayer Boosts, and Wednesday evening prayer services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, readings, and more. Want to get regular updates? Stay updated with our most recent newsletter here.  

"When I chose this theme [Seeds of Grace], I had no idea what this year was going to be like.... but when I look back over this year I realize that we *have* been planting Seeds of Grace, we just didn't know it, seeds that will sprout and grow in the coming years." This morning Rev. Karen Lindvig prepares us for a different kind of Thanksgiving, as well as a different kind of year-in-review process, too. Gratitude becomes the sign of spiritual progress, even when outer progress is still hard to see. Our Worship Arts guest is Kiki deLohr Helland. Check out the full service video here. The talk begins at 17:37. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship, Daily Prayer Boosts, and Wednesday evening prayer services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, readings, and more. Want to get regular updates? Stay updated with our most recent newsletter here.  

"You can find that you're so depleted that making a list of your blessings can feel like another thing on you TO-DO list. One must engage the heart... what do I love?" This morning Rev. Karen Lindvig turns our attention toward Gratitude as a grounding energy.  Without the centering force of gratitude for keeping our souls held together, we can feel like we're flying off into many directions. Our Worship Arts guests are husbands, dance partners and worship artists Jimmy Shields and Charles Simmons.  Check out the full service video  here, with their dance breaks. The talk begins at 19:35. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship, Daily Prayer Boosts, and Wednesday evening prayer services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, readings, and more. Want to get regular updates? Stay updated with our most recent newsletter here.  

"So let me ask you, what is the inner work that you need to do? What is it in your own basement, in your own underground, that needs to be brought up, lifted up, brought into the light to be healed?" In this first service after the 2020 election, Rev. Karen Lindvig speaks to the metaphor of Foundational strength.   Even while the outcome is still disputed, and the way forward isn't yet clear, we can look  to strengthening our foundations through core Unity principles. Later this afternoon is a lovely blessing ritual at the new building construciton site near Denny Park, including a water ritual from Umoja. Learn all about the building project, including a video from the event, here. Our Worship Arts guest is Shaunyce Omar, who was also our guest on the first Sunday after the 2016 election.  Back then, she sang Precious Lord Take My Land, though today she sings Change is Gonna Come. Check out the full service video  here. The talk begins at 22:45. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected duri

"Each one of us has to stop and do our inner work...every single one of us has a step that we can take.. and what ever small steps you take can affect the whole." Rev. Karen Lindvig returns with our own Worship Arts team, for our first live-streamed service, auspiciously scheduled on All Saints Day, right before our national election, and exactly on the fall back Daylight Saving day.  In her message, Rev. Karen draws wisdom from current events, biblical stories, and classic New Thought writers including from Hypatia Hasbrook. Check out the full service video here. The talk begins at 22:55. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship, Daily Prayer Boosts, and Wednesday evening prayer services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, readings, and more. Want to get regular updates? Stay updated with our most recent newsletter here.  

"When an idea comes from that great galaxy of supreme ideas it goes forth in strength and harmony." Rev. Maggie Alderman joins us from New Braunfels, Texas, to talk about our most core Unity beliefs. Our principles are much easier to hold on to when things are going well. But how do we experience the Divine authentically in times of chaos? Worship Arts comes all the way from Hawaii, from Faith Rivera. Check out the full service video here.   The talk begins at 20:35. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship, Daily Prayer Boosts, and Wednesday evening prayer services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, readings, and more. Want to get regular updates? Stay updated with our most recent newsletter here.  

"I've come to be aware that grief slowly creeps into every part of us... it finds its way into the cells of our body... every aspect of our lives. So I've decided my only option is to make friends with grief." Guest speaker Rev. Meghan Brooks Smith gives a resonant and well-timed talk. Using stories from the Dalai Lama as well as her own deep personal revelations, she crafts a beautiful gift for all of us experiencing any kind of loss. Grief goes far beyond a simple 5-stage process, and becomes a many-faceted and intensely personal experience, crucial to how we each evolve. Worship Arts comes from local favorite Chava Mirel. Check out the full service video including an invitaiton from Marcia Rutan to join her November/December class, Poetry for Wellness. The talk begins at 12:56. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship, Daily Prayer Boosts, and Wednesday evening prayer services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for

"Dogs come when you call them. Cats take a message and say they'll get back to you later." Today is our annual Pet Blessing Day, and senior minister Rev. Karen Lindvig takes a lighthearted look at how animals enrich our lives and help us manifest our best, most authentic selves.  She notes the new ways our animals support us (or sometimes don't), during these quarantine times, and also quotes from the classic St. Francis Canticle of Sun. Worship Arts featured Cleveland singer/songwriter Nhojj, as well as a reading from Bonnie Pasek. Check out the full service video including a slideshow of archival pictures celebrating Umoja's 11th year of celebrating diversity and love within the Seattle Unity community. The talk begins at 15:41. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship, Daily Prayer Boosts, and Wednesday evening prayer services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, readi

Rev. Karen re-visits the core spiritual tool of prayer, in its various forms, as a great way to navigate current challenges.  Examining the healing and affirmation works of Myrtle Fillmore, she encourages us to re-invigorate our prayer practice. Worship Arts include group recordings from Seattle Unity band, Erin McGaughan, Olivia Hamilton, Jesse Whitford, David Loy, as well as commmunity members Tim Clements-Levin, Mercedes Nicole, Bonnie Pasek, Song Mei Doran, Abbie Doran, Karen R. Smith, Clara Fredrickson, Melissa Mager, Howard Langveldt, Dayna Cole, Alyce Watkins, Scott Meihn, Jay Thompson, Cindy McComish, Emily Kozie, Paul Gamman, Jennifer Bolles, Paul Liebert, Don Bennet, Inez Lindsey, Matt Corey, Becky Thatcher, Mitch Hunter. Check out the full service video, featuring a montage of chaplains and prayer team members, with archival photography from Annie Christensen, Gordon Lee, Casey Longacre and many others. Reading presented by Marcia Rutan; offering presented by James Tierney; closing prayer from S

"It is no longer a theory; it is what is. And perhaps we can use this Equinox energy to accept where we are and surrender to a higher power." With the fires, the hurricanes, and virus, Rev. Karen acknowledges our current upheavals.  She looks at some lessons offered by 12 step processes, and incorporates nature imagery, and the wisdom of Viktor Frankel, as well as a variation on a lovingkindness prayer: "May all beings be free from danger May all beings be loved May all beings be remembered May all beings be mourned May all beings be treated with kindness and compassion"    The talk begins at 16:45. Music comes from SU favorite, Stephanie Anne Johnson.  Go here for the full service video. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship and Wednesday evening Zoom services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, readings, and more. Want to get regular updates? Stay updated with our

"What is your spiritual practice, that disengages you from the Ego and the Pain Body, where you can have that space? Is it mindful meditation, is it yoga, is it tai chi, is it walking in nature?" Senior Minister Rev. Karen Lindvig returns to explore the image of an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other.  She incorporates the concepts of the Ego and the Pain Body, as discussed by Eckert Tolle, to describe what she sees as an addiction to pain, in our current culture.  But if we use our spiritual practices, we can be the space that is in between the devil and the angel. The talk begins at 19:02. Music comes from SU favorite, Jimmie Herrod.   Go here for the full service video. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship and Wednesday evening Zoom services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, readings, and more. Want to get regular updates? Stay updated with our most

"We take our stuff, we throw it on our back, and then we walk into the next situation, we take down our stuff and we plunk it right into our new situation.  We bring our stuff from the past... and put it right down into our future." Associate minister Diane Robertson welcomes her ministerial school classmate, guest speaker Thomas deSchutter.  Thomas comes to us from Nanaimo, British Columbia. He and his wife run a thriving, values-based financial services company, while Thomas also studies for the ministry. In this guest talk, Thomas hones in on the power of Release to help us welcome in the best possible future. The talk (with Associate Minister Diane Robertson's introduction) begins at 18:20. Music comes from West Seattle singer/songwriter, and home studio whiz, Justin Lacey.  Go here for the full service video. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship and Wednesday evening Zoom services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Insta

"Are we looking through the glass, and looking for the horizon... or are we focusing on the spots on the window?" Guest speaker Don Barton joins us from Christ Church Unity in Orlando, Florida, bringing his Florida flavor, along with some lovely underscoring from the CCU staff pianist. Don looks at the Unity principle of Oneness, and how we can continue to see manifestations of oneness all around us. We can do this every day, even during social distancing, even on Zoom, even on Facebook. The talk (with Associate Minister Diane Robertson's introduction) begins at 13:45. Music comes from Seattle Unity's own Worship team.  Go here for the full service video. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship and Wednesday evening Zoom services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, readings, and more. Want to get regular updates? Stay updated with our most recent newsletter here.  

"So Abraham then, represents this call that we get, that says, hey, there's more to this world than eating, drinking, and sleeping.  There's more to this world than what I am currently experiencing." Senior Minister Rev. Karen Lindvig explores that something more, which we access through our spiritual practices. When we forget our practice we get stuck in one reality, one perspective, and one experience of the world -- often not a good one.   Rev. Karen weaves in examples from scripture, eastern philosophy, poetry, and her personal history, to bring this fundamental Unity idea to life. The talk begins at 15:08. Music comes from long-time friend of Seattle Unity Rafe Pearlman. Greg Rupert presents the offering.  Inez Lindsey offers prayer, with a little help from Alexander Kemp. Go here for the full service video. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship and Wednesday evening Zoom services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Insta

"I'm wondering if it's that we've stepped out of clock time.  Not totally, not a hundred percent, but in many ways we have stepped out of clock time." Senior Minister Rev. Karen Lindvig examines how the concept of time has changed due to the virus.  She weaves in historical contexts like The Spanish Flu, as well as contemporary understanding of everyday time, waiting time, Sabbath time, sequential time, and time apart. The talk begins at 16:40. Music comes from Amber Darland, a singer songwriter from Bellingham Washington. Ayn Dietrich read a piece on Sabbath from Unity.org's "Nurture Your Divine Soul" booklet. Rose Harrow Miller led a garden meditation, and Abbie and John Doran presented the offering. Go here for the full service video. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship and Wednesday evening Zoom services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, readings, and more. W

"In the garden of our lives, we might ask, what IS it that we actually planted? Did we plant good things?" Seattle Unity welcomes first time guest speaker Rev. Judith Laxer. Judith is the founding priestess of Gaia's Temple, an inclusive, earth-based ministry in Seattle, about to celebrate 20 years of service next month. She also enjoys a successful private practice as a psychic, spiritual counselor, hypnotherapist, and shamanic practitioner. In this talk, Judith looks at the rhythm of the seasons for clues for living. How can we best use this moment right now, to help us navigate the autumn and winter to come? The talk begins at 14:35. Music comes from John Coons and his accompanist/partner, Matta Aument. Go here for the full service video. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship and Wednesday evening Zoom services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, readings, and more

"When we hope, we have energy... we have vitality, we have courage, and we're able to keep moving forward. What we are experiencing right now is finite disappointment, but there's always infinite hope. " Rev. Karen Lindvig faces our current covid weariness head on, and uses Unity principles to find the glimmers of hope that we can tune into, even now.  She also pulls examples from her own life, as well as classic materials from Charles Fillmore, and excellent lessons from the life of the recently passed Representative John Lewis. The talk begins at 14:35. Music comes from the Seattle Unity Worship Arts team, this time featuring congregants Alexandrea Davis and Chris Sullivan, as well as Worship Arts Director Erin McGaughan. Go here for the full service video. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship and Wednesday evening Zoom services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, r

"Awareness is the key to being the light, and being able to stare down the darkness. " Faith Ireland has been a member of this community for more than 50 years, and this Sunday she brings her wisdom to the fore.  She uses some key points from transcendentalists as well as contemporary New Thought writers, to help us navigate rough times. Faith is also teaching a class in August based on this work, and materials from Mary Manin Morrissey, too. The talk begins at 15:30. Music comes from Canadian New Thought singer/songwriter Nathen Aswell. Go here for the full service video. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship and Wednesday evening Zoom services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, readings, and more.. Want to get regular updates? Stay updated with our most recent newsletter here.  

"I think that there is an awakening that is happening right now, and it is a furthering of the cosmic plan for equality and for justice. " Senior Minister Rev. Karen Lindvig goes deeper into how our spiritual tools are called for right now, in transforming societal structures.  How do we build structures that are more authentic and just?   How do we catch the divine vision, and then find a compassionate way to bring that vision into the world today? The talk begins at 10:45. Worship artist Denná Francesca brings a contemporary feel as well as a classical selection. Go here for the full service video. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship and Wednesday evening Zoom services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes from our lesson notes, readings, and more.. Want to get regular updates? Stay updated with our most recent newsletter here.  

"We've read our spiritual books, we've done our meditation, we've done our spiritual practices, we've gone on our retreats. We've been spiritual aspirants... and now, we need the tools that we have built over all of these years, whether you're fifteen or eighty-five, this is the moment that you have, that we have been waiting for. " Senior Minister Rev. Karen Lindvig returns to challenge us to become healing midwives to a new reality.  She uses current events as well as the classic story of the Tower of Babel, inviting us to use our spiritual tools to remain calm even when it feels like we're not being heard or understood. The talk begins at 10:45. Worship arts comes from Seattle Unity Worship Arts Team, including an original poem from Rose Ramm. Go here for the full service video. Take advantage of all the ways we can stay connected during this time, including after-service fellowship and Wednesday evening Zoom services.  And as always, see our Facebook  page or our Instagram for more, including quotes f