Events
Calendar developed and supported by Kieran O'Shea
MORE UPCOMING EVENTS
The June 2012 Speaker’s Forum
Yes, June is just a month away and that means we’re finalizing plans for bringing you a month of wonderful guest speakers and performers.
June 2nd & 3rd
Rev. Robert Brumet, author, instructor in Unity Institute’s Ministerial Program, and my favorite teacher when I was in school, will be here to lead an “Insight Meditation” on Saturday. He will speak at the Sunday service and follow with a workshop based on his book: “Birthing a Greater Reality.”
June 10th
A super treat! Our very own, very talented music minister, Rob Orland, will be showcased at this Sunday service filled with music and song. It will be a wonderful way to get more than just a glimpse of the talent we hear on Sundays.
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June 17th
Rev. Paulette Pipe – a dynamic, popular speaker, workshop facilitator, retreat facilitator, and Unity Radio host brings her special gifts to this Sunday service. Don’t miss her afternoon workshop on “Balancing Your Chakras.”
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June 24th
Rev. Lynne Brown, V.P. of Silent Unity, blesses us on this last Sunday in June. Rev. Lynne brings a beautiful heart and a profound consciousness from her many years in Silent Unity. She is truly a delight and not to be missed.
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Sunday Morning Meditation
Our Prayer Chaplains are leading a morning meditation before the 10:00am service every Sunday. This will be a time to meditate and center yourself as you start your week in the silence. Meditation starts at 9:15 am and ends at 9:45. All are welcome but please be on time as the doors will close at 9:15.
Healing and Wholeness Service
Please join us on Friday, May 4th for our Healing and Wholeness Service. This once-a-month service will be filled with music, chant, prayer, and hands on healing conducted by members of our music team and our prayer chaplain team.
If you’ve ever wanted a time and place where you could just be open and surrendered to the healing power of Spirit this will a wonderful opportunity to be surrounded in love, prayer, and peace.
Join us on the first Friday of the month at 7:00 pm.
Buddhist Insight Meditation
If you’ve ever wanted to experience a true “Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation” then make sure you reserve your place for this day-long retreat on Saturday, June 2nd from 10:00 to 5:00 pm.
Rev. Robert Brumet has been teaching and leading mindfulness meditations for over 20 years. His own spiritual practices include week-long mindfulness meditation retreats and “sits.” Robert has been an integral part of training ministerial candidates at Unity Institute and is a popular, sought after instructor and spiritual director. For those looking for a deeper meditation experience using the eastern techniques of mindfulness, this retreat is a must.
A vegetarian lunch and snacks will be provided.
Registration fee $60.00
Final registration & payment in full due by May 13th.
Unity of Fox Valley 2012 Women’s Retreat
Presents:
“Simple Joys, Juicy Living”
A Delicious Retreat to Quench the Parched Women’s Soul.
Facilitated by Rev. Paulette Pipe TouchingTheStillness .org
Friday—Sunday May 18th to 20th
LaSalle Manor Retreat Center, Plano, IL
It’s time to banish lackluster, bland, and non-descript living for a zesty and delicious life! And that’s exactly what we have in store for you during this juicy weekend, where we set about finding sacred joy in the simple things of life. Come and engage in a soul-quenching time of fun, fellowship, relaxation, and spiritual exploration, designed to rejuvenate your body, mind, and soul.
Registration ends April 29th.
A $110.00 deposit is required at the time of registration.
$225.00
Price includes: 2 nights lodging, retreat workshops,
meals, snacks, and program materials.
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Unity GREEN Team
What grows green, can be wild and free, and is an inspiration to create joyful living? It’s Unity of Fox Valley’s GREEN Team!
The newly-formed Green Team with a CommUnity concept, will be host to monthly gatherings the fourth Friday of each month starting May 25th. Members of the Unity Green Team love to inspire joyful living and will start with a focus on gardens.
We’re taking off with both a tip-toe and a whoop and a holler through Unity of Fox Valley’s new, growing, Organic Garden! Yes, it’s a wild and free raised-garden, where yummy veggies and herbs will grow and children can learn, along with adults, just how a garden grows. This is one of many fun projects, so put on your garden gloves and let’s get planting!
Future focus will be Spring Cleaning Friday, June 22nd and Sustainable Foods, Friday, July 27th.
To teach us how to begin, the newly-formed Unity Green Team will hold a lively discussion on organic lawn care and gardening 7 p.m. Friday, May 25th at Unity of Fox Valley. Everyone is invited, including members of the community. New methods and improvements will be discussed with guest speakers, Bill Scheffler of Pure Prairie Farms and our own Chris Burisek of Pure Prairie Organics. They will share ideas on tools and tips and how to have a thriving organic garden. We will discuss the importance of growing nutrient dense fruits and vegetables, go over suggestions for some quick and easy tips on starting seeds and how to avoid some common problems. We will learn how to prepare our gardens for long-term crops and make the most of garden space, as well as learn about container gardening for small spaces at home. Correctly amending our soils, preparing seed beds, feeding our plants and knowing the problem signs to look for will lead to a bountiful harvest.
If you are interested in our CommUnity gardening project or just gardening at home, please join us to discuss the project and answer your specific questions. Please bring pen and paper for notes. Our focus is to help going green, to be beneficial and to inspire conscious, sustainable living! Refreshments will be available. Those who attend are welcome to bring a snack to share.
For information contact any member of the Unity Green Team: Jeanette Hirt, Chris Burisek, Victoria Vruno, Donna Crane and Carter Crane.
The Unity Green Team CommUnity meetings will be at 7 p.m. the fourth Friday of each month, 230 Webster Street, Batavia, 630-879-1115.
New ideas and related topics will be sure to draw your interest! The first three events will be May 25th, Organic Gardening; June 22nd, Spring Cleaning; and July 27th, Sustainable Food Movement.
Happy Joyful Living! ~ The Unity Green Team.
Youth Education for Our Teens
Things have been very busy for the Uniteen’s and YOUer’s. In March, Joey DuRocher, Kevin Raschke, and Caroline Sheehan attended the Great Lakes Leadership Training at Camp Duncan in Island Lake, IL. Sponsors and YOUer’s were treated to the music of Mark Stanton Welch, the fascinating speaker – Martha Creek, and the opportunity to take the Myers-Briggs Personality test to determine what type of leader we are. Martha taught us that it is ok to say “No, but thank you”. The Sponsors learned about Sacred Safety while the YOUer’s learned how to put a Lesson together.
We took 5 YOUer’s to the Area-Wide Event in Golden Valley, MN. We caravanned with Unity of Woodstock and Des Plaines chapters. We all “stopped, and smelled the roses” with YOUer’s from the 4 Minneapolis chapters and the 3 from Illinois. These small retreats give us an opportunity to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and connect with our inner spirit. The Unity of Golden Valley Congregation surprised the retreat goer’s to a candle-lit sit down dinner with sparkling water. They served us as though we were at a fancy banquet dinner. The YOUer’s really enjoyed the experience. The dance had a photo booth. We will share the pictures before or after church in early May.
The YOUer’s want to let you know of an opportunity to help us raise money to attend our June Rally and International IYOU event at Unity Village. We are holding a
Rummage Sale June 7 and 8
(with a rain date of June 14 and 15)
We are asking the congregation to help us with getting items to sell. While you do your Spring Cleaning, put aside items that you no longer need, bring them to church and put in the coatroom downstairs. PLEASE, NO CLOTHING!!!!!!! We’ll then sell these items at a rummage sale at one of our homes. We are looking forward to trying a new way to raise funds.
Uniteens are staying strong with sending 2 Uniteens to the Spring Event. They had a Bake Sale in mid-April and they are very grateful for the support from the congregation.
As always, we are truly grateful for all the love and support that the congregation at Unity of Fox Valley gives us. Blessings to all.
Jean Boston, Teen Youth Director
Youth Education for the Younger Crowd
For the month of May, the Children’s Church and Juniors will be reflecting on the power of Power! The Disciple Philip and the Color Purple are associated with this power. The children will explore several Biblical stories that reflect the powerful Miracles of Jesus.
We greatly appreciate Lisa Carpenter, Keri Pesola, and Sue Bryan (minister in training) who had assisted as “Angel Aides” for the Children’s Church and Juniors during the month of April. And, we are extremely thankful to both Lisa and Keri who have graciously offered to occasionally teach our children.
We are looking forward to Char O’Keefe, our “Craft Angel” who will be joining us on May 6th to guide the children in creating a fun spring craft!
Help Wanted: We are in great need of at least one volunteer to alternate Sundays with Leslie Henderson and Beth Johnson, our current teachers, in providing guidance for the Juniors. All lesson plans and materials are provided. Requirements are Unity of Fox Valley membership, willing to have a background check and a love for children. Anyone interested, please come downstairs to speak with Mary or contact through email at marynowroozi@comcast.net. Your commitment would be so appreciated!
HELPING AT HESED HOUSE
Working to help the community by serving meals at Hesed House.
Kitchen at Hesed House
BEAR BRIGADE DELIVERY
This year’s Bear Brigade delivery on February 12th was great fun. 82 bears and critters were given out and lovingly received by residents of Alden Estates of Naperville – just in time for Valentine’s Day. Our Uniteens certainly make us proud
STREET MINISTRY
On February 4th we gathered and stuffed the back packs. When the packs were assembled they were given to anyone wishing to keep a pack in their home or car. When you see a person in need, it’s given to them. Trust in divine timing that it will be the right person at the right time. This quiet ministry doesn’t judge or preach. It’s just a gift.
CROP WALK
(Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty)
Crop Walk 2010
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Look What We’ve Done
Our Beautiful New Kitchen!
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Love in Action Trip
In late October, nine members of Fox Valley Unity traveled to Chestnut Ridge, West Virginia on a Love in Action outreach trip: Bob Anthony, Nancy Baker, Tony Gross, Mickey Cowles, Alex Christensen, Perry Hurtt, Rick and Marsha McKay and Rev. Jan.
While serving this community they learned about generational poverty and how the churches in the area, along with World Servants staff and volunteers support the community.
Our team did a build out of bedrooms on the second floor of the community center. We finished work on a resident’s home, built a flower garden, cleaned up for the harvest party, organized games, made beautiful baskets for the party raffle, baked items for the cakewalk and hung family photos from the community.
Over 100 people attended the harvest party with hayrides, games, dinner, a cake walk and raffle. All the children went home with a blanket and plenty of prizes from the games. A wonderful time was had by all, including our team!!
World Servants, its staff and volunteers perform God’s transforming work in these communities. We helped some of the residents meet their most basic needs. Each volunteer who participated was transformed by the opportunity to serve and be served.
- FVU Team
Finishing walls
ONGOING EVENTS
A Course in Miracles - From 7:30 to 9 pm every Thursday evening, Fox Valley Unity facilitates A Course in Miracles discussion group. This is an ongoing class – rain or shine. Each week a new topic is discussed. Everyone is welcome at any time and the class is always open to new attendees.
Sunday Morning Meditation - Every Sunday before service at 9:15 in the Adult Ed classroom. Everyone is welcome, and please be on time.
Men’s Group - Meeting the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm at the church. All men are welcome to join.
Women’s Group – Meeting EVERY Wednesday at noon here at church in the Café. Bring your own lunch. All women are invited to join.
“Let’s Talk” – A group for women, is taking a temporary hiatus.
Overeaters Anonymous meeting. Sundays at 5:00pm.
Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Tuesdays at 6:00pm.