* This is the start of GIVE ALOHA! month at Foodland Supermarket, a great opportunity to increase donations to Windward Unity. Please stop by the store with your Makai’i card to help us grow our prosperity in support of our Dreams and Bold Visions in this community.

* This past week we bid Aloha to the Koel family. With Milissa’s resignation from the Board of Trustees, we have another position to fill. If you are a member of WUC please consider serving on the Board till January, when new Trustees are elected. This is a great opportunity to help us move forward in a big way. Your ideas, support, and vision will be warmly welcomed.

* If you have ever wanted to take The Course in Miracles, it has come to you! Beginning on Thursday, Sept 2 we will be offering classes from now till the book is finished. This amazing book changes lives, so come see what it is all about.
We are blessed with author, Robyn Busfield, who was called to present this Course at Windward Unity. If you cannot start this week, then come as soon as you can. We will be gathering every Thursday evening at 6:30p in the nursery classroom just off the Fellowship Hall.

* Put on your calendar the date of Sunday, September 12th! The workshop being presented by Barbara Hadley, LUT from Unity Village, promises to be heart and mind opening as we learn to recognize the voice of Spirit. This will be an experiential workshop that will help us to better hear the call into our greater Be-ing. Plan on joining us right after church.

* Part of the joy of belonging to a Spiritual Community of like-minded folks is to have fun and social events, along with moments of prayer and deep introspection. On Sunday, September 19th, we are planning a trip to ‘Ward Rafters’, a unique venue that offers surprise entertainment that includes Hawaiian music, R&B, rock-n-roll, blues and jazz, and much more. The performers may be a known celebrity, or an amazing up-and-coming future star. We are suggesting that car pools be created as there is limited parking at this location in a Kaimuki neighborhood. Come along for an afternoon of great fun and entertainment! Directions soon to come.

* “Let’s do a book study!” That is a comment I have heard a number of times this past month. So we are now looking for facilitators, and attendees to form study groups. The book is called, “The Big Leap”. It is appropriate to where we are as a quickly evolving spiritual ohana. And it offers profound insights and success concepts for anyone struggling along a path to reach new heights in their life. We encourage you to gather friends and neighbors to join you in this book study. This is a great way to introduce Unity into your community.

See below for more details about these events!

In Love and Light…I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
Kerry

Theme: “Living In The Flow”

Click on World Day of Prayer.org for more information..

Additionally, there will be prayer opportunity at WUC on Thursday evening, September 9th, in honor of UNITY Village’s ‘World Day of Prayer’ celebration! Join in and participate in these blessed events!

We will be sharing with you, a Bold Vision for WUC. We have opportunity to move forward, to better fulfill our Mission and will ask for your support into this process.

As congregants and members, as spiritual beings in Oneness…I believe it is our sacred responsibility to be present, if not in person…then in prayer, to support and uphold the Vision and Mission of our Church.

I look forward to this opportunity for us to share with each other for the highest and best future that we, together, can imagine.

In Love and Light…see you on Sunday!
Kerry

Now I know why.

Just days before the event, we discovered that the original space we use was occupied by heavy equipment operators parked right smack where we set up the tarps and tables. We tried in vain to change the location for our sale but to no avail. Kerry and I were concerned. The rain at 4 a.m. awoke me and I was upset that the event could get rained out. My husband assured me not to worry.

We arrived with our belongings, tarps, tables, etc., and Georgia shows up with a coffee bar straight from Starbucks. I knew then we were off to a good start! There was a light sprinkling of rain that then stopped and never returned again during the whole event. We pitched in and set everything up without a hitch as people began arriving to start buying our wears.

Actually the location where we set up really drew attention as we were closer to the road, because of the location of the heavy equipment. This worked for our benefit as people continuously streamed in and money was being made! It turned out to be an amazing day as we worked together. The weather held out, people steadily arrived and we had such a wonderful spirit of cooperation and joy working together. And it all culminated in an amazing way as we began packing up.

“Nina” drove up as we were putting things into boxes and inquired about joining our sale. We learned that she is trying to raise money for a nonprofit organization she works with. Because our sale was over, we instead offered her what was left of our sale items to support her efforts. She accepted and it was a win-win because then we didn’t need to pack everything up to take to the Salvation Army and she received additional items to sell.

We packed her van and Jon DeLuca packed his truck too and off they went to her place. Nina was so grateful and shared that she is trying to raise money to return to Africa where she works with an orphanage there. Here in Hawaii she works with autistic children and her eyes brightened as she saw the games we had left for sale. We gave them to her as she told us that her students would love the games.

It was so heart moving and it occurred to me how this giving has opened up a door for WUC to receive abundance. The blessings that the money that Nina will be able to raise is a direct result of our giving her the leftover yard sale items. A blessing occurred right then and there as we gave her all we had left. Sure, we always gave away our leftovers, but this time we got to meet the recipient! And what a grateful recipient with the passion that she has for helping the orphans in Africa. To learn more about Nina and her mission, here’s her website: http://lovemozambique.oziah.com

She wants to stay in touch with WUC. With all her connections in Hawaii, I’m sure some great collaborative efforts will come about, because when you give like we did that day, what gets set in motion will assure the financial success of WUC because of the principle of giving that opens the door. A huge door opened that day and a necessary breakthrough occurred. I will never forget this beautiful day and am so grateful to witness the power of Spirit at our Yard Sale. All is indeed well and WUC will never again need to be concerned about finances for the blessings to come will be far reaching and long lasting.
Thank you, God. Thank you, thank you!

Milissa Koel

Spiritorial issue #26 / Milissa Koel / Windward Unity Church

Our spiritual growth is measured,in part, by our participation in and understanding of the Law of Reciprocity. Reciprocity is described as an exchange, or a trade…usually an agreement, spoken or unspoken, or understood on some level, that when something is given, something will be received. It is an energetic exchange of one thing for another.

When someone sells you something, you exchange ‘energy’ by giving them ‘money’…a trade of one thing of value for another of value. A ‘love offering’ is an exchange of energy. For example, when a performer offers a free concert, in return we may give a monetary gift as a way of expressing our appreciation for the entertainment and supporting a talent.

In Unity we call this the Law of Giving and Receiving. Jesus taught, …’as you give, so shall you receive.” And in the Bible we are promised to receive far more than we give, in an equal measure of how we gave. If we give with an open heart, freely and joyfully with good intention, we shall receive with the same energy, and many times over. If we give with a resentful heart, or from obligation, not freely or with ill intention, we shall also receive in that same energetic measure. In the long run, this usually does not produce a desirable result.

We can also give of our time, our talents and abilities, or our treasure. Treasure could be items that have some value to us or others, such as clothing, household goods, other material goods, things we grow or make, or even money.
And we can tithe, which is giving 10% of our earnings to whatever feeds us spiritually. This was a law from the Hebrew scriptures. Ten percent of all that was brought into a household, be it in produce, livestock, household items or actual money, must be given to God. This was a way the temples could survive, more could be built, and the priests could live.
This tradition has carried over through the centuries, and is the resource for most churches and spiritual centers to survive. For many, especially in what appears as challenging economic times, it can be a difficult concept to grasp. But with spiritual maturity, faith in the promise of the Law in action, and through experience, the concept proves itself to work.

I have certainly had my struggles with this idea. When my income is at a level that does not pay all my living expenses, the idea of giving away 10% of it stretches my willingness to do so. And yet, the more consistently I tithe, with a joyful heart, the greater the results I see. Over time, I have discovered that I am ‘reciprocated’ in ways that I never imagined. It is not usually money that comes back to me in the form of checks or cash, but somehow other opportunities, events, serendipitous occurrences, unexpected gifts, surprise discounts on purchases, and many other things happen that greatly supports me monthly.

I have more than enough to eat, my rent gets paid on time, I am entertained, there is gas in my car, and all my bills get paid. I may receive gifts from friends or loved ones that is just what I need at the time. I find that my life is rich and overflowing with love and I have no lack of…actually…anything. I am supported in all ways with exactly what I need in any given moment.

I truly understand this to be the result of tithing to what feeds me spiritually, so that spiritual source can continue to thrive and serve others, as well as myself. I have tithed to churches, to people, and on occasion to organizations that do spiritual work in the world. I receive way more than I give. For this I am thankful and appreciative of the “magic” of the Universal Law of Giving and Receiving, and the Universal Law of Tithing.
I invite everyone to participate in these wonderful exchanges of energy. It is a blessed miracle in action! Try it…you’ll like it!

God Bless You All…see you Sunday at Windward Unity!

In Love and Light,

Kerry

Spiritorial issue #25 / Kerry Lyn Kelley / Spiritual Leader, Windward Unity Church

Join us – and bring a friend! When: Last Saturday of every month at 8:30am Where: Cinnamons 315 Uluniu Street in Kailua Get a sneak preview of their breakfast menu choices by clicking here.

Everyone is invited! This is a perfect time to invite a neighbor or a friend to enjoy an epic breakfast, and, make a few dozen new friends!!

Just ask for the Windward Unity Church Group. See you there!

At Windward Unity Church parking lot while you enjoy the Church Service! All Bagels, breakfasts, and carwash performed by the Youth of Unity are all in support of sending them to the west coast for the Y.O.U rally in May. Thank you for your support!