Thursday, December 9, 2010

O Holy Night

The birth of the Christ child was the beginning of a spiritual awakening continuing to this day. The love and care of Jesus’ birth inspires a rebirth of our own spiritual connection.

As we express our love for family and friends, as we select gifts for loved ones, we are each affirming the value of love in our lives. God is love. The more we allow ourselves to feel and express our love, the deeper our spiritual rebirth becomes.

The Christmas carols, the manger scene and our beautiful Christmas services each call us to remember what is really important. They call us to recommit to living the love we really are. Let your heart enjoy the birth of your love into a whole new level of living this Christmas.

—Rev. David McArthur

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Who is Santa

The commercialization of Christmas is one of the most sacred parts! Thank goodness Spirit doesn't confine itself to just the religious community. Perhaps you do not like God at all. Yet, Santa gets to you.
 
 Metaphysically, Santa shows up Christmas Eve when we celebrate the birth of a new baby, which represents the birth of a new consciousness. Santa comes from the sky-- from that greater consciousness. And it doesn't seem possible that Santa can come to every house in just one night, but, metaphysically, the higher consciousness is omnipresent, and Santa (the God figure) responds to every one of us. Within the house (your state of consciousness) Santa enters through the place of light and warmth. That is the greater consciousness coming through the heart-- that child place of fulfilling dreams and desires. And you don't get to see Santa, you just get to see the gifts he leaves.

How God – Santa – shows up in an even greater way is the experience of the amazing consciousness of Christmas. It is one of the deepest and most important parts of Christmas. It happens through us. We are the love that happens, that touches, uplifts, and blesses. We are Santa. We understand that Jesus came to give us the awareness of the love that flows through us. Now we get an opportunity to bless. You can be Santa.
  
 You are invited to give to a Santa fund in the sanctuary or in the book center. The second way you can experience the amazing consciousness of Christmas is to open and accept that which blesses you. Express your need or the need of someone you know. Make out your Christmas list. Email Unity Walnut Creek or call the office with you request.
 
Who has the greater joy-- the giver or the receiver? Give and receive. Allow the flow. Budgets are not as important. Let the love be your only guide. Because of you, “Santa Claus is coming to town!”

from Mike McGuire, Prayer Team
Summary of Rev. David's sermon