Spiritual Practice

Our hope is that you find Unity Church to be a place where you can find and keep your balance, where you can find support to lead a loving life of integrity, service, and joy. Spiritual practice is a primary means of moving toward that goal and Unity Church offers a variety of ways to develop and deepen your spiritual practice.

Discover or Deepen a Spiritual Practice

Throughout July and August, you are invited to attend a small group sharing one of four spiritual practices important to the Transcendentalists and their emphasis on “growing the soul.” Each week, on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m., one of the four practices – writing, reading, conversation and contemplation – will be shared in a facilitated group, some online and some in person at the church.

The Transcendentalist’s four practices have been adapted to draw upon shared practices familiar in our congregation life. A day or two before the groups meet, the weekly minister’s video message shared in the church email will highlight that week’s featured practice. A brief video describing all four practices, recorded at the June overview program, can be found on our YouTube channel.

No preparation for the groups will be required but pre-registration or an RSVP will be appreciated to help us prepare. Whether you’ve been wanting to try a new spiritual practice or to meet others interested in a practice you already claim, we hope you’ll try one or more (or all!) of these summer groups.

WRITING

July 7/August 4
7:00-8:30 PM

Writing as a Spiritual Practice: Theme of Justice

In person, meeting at Unity Church
RSVP: bit.ly/JulAugWrit

Engaging a practice of guided writing known as “contemplative correspondence” and prompts from Karen Hering’s book, Writing to Wake the Soul, this in-person group will focus on the theme of justice. Bring what you need to write on and with. Group leader Mary Baremore will provide the rest. (This practice will also be offered August 4, on the theme of hospitality.)

READING

July 14/August 18
7:00-8:30 PM

Reading as a Spiritual Practice: Lectio Divina

In person, meeting at Unity Church, led by Debbie Cushman
In person RSVP: bit.ly/JulAugLectio

Online, led by Shelley Butler
Online registration: bit.ly/julylectio

Following a centuries-old Benedictine spiritual practice of contemplative reading, these two groups (one online and one in person) will share in Lectio Divina. As an invitation to receive the wisdom and gifts of poetry, each session will engage the group in hearing a particular poem read aloud multiple times as participants listen for “what is found there.” Rather than discussing the poem, group members lift up what they heard and how the poem spoke to them. For those who love poetry and those who wish to experience a new way to receive its gifts, this practice will be rich. Led by Shelley Butler (online) and Debbie Cushman (in person).

CONVERSATION

July 21/August 11
7:00-8:30 PM

Conversation as a Spiritual Practice: Theme of Hospitality

In person, meeting at Unity Church, led by Mike Funck
In person RSVP: bit.ly/JulAugConvo

Online, led by Jim Mulvey
Online registration: bit.ly/julyspconvo

This spiritual practice adapts the Chalice Circle process to engage conversation with special emphasis on the practice of listening. Facilitators will introduce a theme (this month, hospitality) and, as each person, in turn, shares from the heart, the group listens to receive the truths spoken and unspoken without discussion. Unlike the year-long Chalice Circles, this group is designed for drop-in participation without pre-work and without a commitment to multiple gatherings. Groups will be facilitated by Mike Funck (in person) and Jim Mulvey (online).

MEDITATION

July 28/August 25
7:00-8:30 PM

Contemplation as a Spiritual Practice: Meditation

In person, meeting at Unity Church, led by KP Hong
RSVP: http://bit.ly/JulAugMeditate

Rev. KP Hong will guide members “to the cushion” for a shared practice of Zen meditation. Whether you’ve been meditating for some time or wish to begin, this group invites you to experience the grounding and renewal of shared meditation, supported by a gifted teacher.

Chalice Circles

Chalice Circles bring together groups of 8-10 committed participants with a trained leader to listen—to each other, to the world, and to their deepest selves—and develop a more intentional and authentic life.

Ministers Messages: Daily Spiritual Practice

Here you will find the most recent ministers' weekly messages about daily spiritual practice. To view past messages, click here.

Spiritual Direction

Unity Church-Unitarian has a deep commitment to each person’s spiritual growth. We encourage each member to cultivate their inner life, to pay attention to the spirit within which enables us to open ourselves to compassion, to develop reverent and nurturing spiritual practice, to embrace the world with curiosity, welcome, and love. In this spirit, we seek to offer resources to our members which will support them in this journey. We invite you to explore the gifts that spiritual direction might bring. For more information about Spiritual Direction opportunities, please visit www.GrowSoul.com or contact Sarah Cledwyn at sarahcledwyn@gmail.com.