I acknowledge today the joy of diversity. Even Unity has not had a happy history with accepting differences. Our consciousness expanded. Now we are intentional about inclusion and welcoming all. I would love to look out and see people from all over the world. Please join with me in visioning this while inviting and welcoming everyone.

Welcome to August, the last hot month of summer! We will be having some sizzling Sundays. We start with considering the power of "Will" while also introducing and embracing our 9 new members. Check out their information in the hallway, a talented and wonderfully diverse group. Come join the fun and, of course, there is celebration cake!

We are a prosperous church and so very grateful for all the ways we are blessed. I am inviting everyone to join with the board as we affirm the following sentences. I love the feeling tone and the heart in each of these prayers.

Beloveds,

As people act violently, the one thing we can choose is to be the captain of our own ship and be peace ourselves. Go within. Center in the truth of who we are. This prayer has been traced back to 1912. It always touches me. May it be a blessing to you during this turbulent time in our country. We can choose peace instead of fear and violence.

I want to remind us of something. We are one! There is no separation! Are there ways in which we think differently? Of course. Do we need to let these differences divide us? No, we do not. As we head into the heat of summer, we also head into the heat of an upcoming presidential election where people have strong feelings. My only political mantra is – it is your right and privilege to vote. Please take responsibility to vote your conscience.

I shared on Sunday some of the amazing beauty of Unity’s campus in Lee’s Summit, MO. How amazing to consider the thought and imagination that caused Charles and Myrtle to dedicate their lives to living and sharing their connection to the Christ within. I participated as 62 new ministers were ordained from around the world. Some Zoomed in from Nigeria, Puerto Rico and U.K! It quickly became apparent, as I was immersed in all this growing and meeting new ministers, that we were awash in what love does. It is always expansive.

2024 Summer Book Study with Rev. Alva Pope

Prior to 2017, I knew nothing of Unity (the movement) or The Twelve Powers of Man (Charles Fillmore). My thoughts about spiritual gifts were based on the unique, mysterious and purpose driven ideas that I had been taught based on God’s special attention and connection with individual people.

We have a societal belief that summer is the time to take a break and go to the beach or visit friends and family. Unity understands that only when we love ourselves can we extend genuine love to others. I’m inviting us to do both this summer.

We are continuing to celebrate imagination all this month. This is such a life-giving power that we use every day. When we are little, our imagination works overtime. We dwell in awe and wonder as we believe that anything is possible.