Unity of Walnut Creek

2022-10-16 October 16, 2022 – Making Friends with Conflict Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin explores the transformative practice of embracing conflict rather than avoiding it, drawing on martial arts wisdom, Chinese proverbs, and the teachings of Jesus to reveal that we have more options than simply fight or flight. She introduces the concept of "tend and befriend" as an alternative response and encourages listeners to love, bless, do good, and pray when facing their foes - whether external challenges or the inner critic. Rev. Kristin reminds us that true peace comes not from avoiding life's inevitable storms but from returning to our centered, connected selves where divine wisdom reveals creative solutions and deeper wholeness.

2022-10-09 October 9, 2022 – No One is Against You Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin opens this fall series by drawing inspiration from the ancient bristlecone pine trees - beings that have thrived for nearly 5,000 years by embodying the truth that nothing is against them. Drawing from Rev. Dr. Gary Simmons' book "The Eye of the Storm," Rev. Kristin explores how our fear-based language and assumptions keep us feeling like victims, and invites us to shift from a mindset of fear into one of faith. Through personal stories from her early ministry journey and a guided visualization, she offers the acronym REST - Root in spiritual principles, Express gratitude, Surrender in prayer, and Trust divine timing - as a pathway to remembering that life's challenges are not working against us but are portals for spiritual awakening.

2022-10-02 October 2, 2022 – In Praise of Sacred Service Rev. Kristin Powell

2022-09-25 September 25, 2022 – Coming Home…A Spiritual Journey to Self Rev. Arabella Marie Rev. Bella Blackstock shares her powerful personal testimony of spiritual awakening and transformation, tracing her journey from a prison of isolation, illness, and fear to a life of freedom, purpose, and joy. She describes how a spontaneous awakening in 2012 launched a decade-long walkabout that included healing estranged relationships, battling thyroid cancer, and learning to say yes to divine guidance - even when it felt uncomfortable or impossible. Rev. Bella Blackstock reminds us that coming home to ourselves requires releasing old stories, doing the inner work of forgiveness, and trusting that when we say yes to life, life says yes to us.

2022-09-18 September 18, 2022 – Stories of Triumph & Realized Dreams (Part 2 of 2) Rev. Kristin Powell with Edna Castillo & Dimitry Doronkin Rev. Kristin presents the second week of "Stories of Triumph," featuring two powerful immigrant stories from Unity of Walnut Creek community members. Edna Castillo shares her journey from Guatemala - overcoming her father's chauvinism, bullying, and an unhappy marriage to become a certified life coach and author who now helps others heal. Dimitri Doronkin recounts his path from Uzbekistan, navigating the struggles of starting over and losing everything, only to discover that God was not distant but intimately present within him. Rev. Kristin celebrates how these stories reveal the spiritual ideals of inclusivity and equality, reminding us that diversity strengthens community.

2022-09-11 September 11, 2022 – Stories of Triumph & Realized Dreams (Part 1 of 2) Rev. Kristin Powell with Scott Babcock and Delila Brookstone Rev. Kristin opens this powerful service by inviting two community members to share their personal stories of transformation and resilience. Scott Babcock recounts his recent heart attack and the profound spiritual deepening it sparked - renewing his trust in inner knowing and inspiring him to finally pursue his lifelong dream of walking the John Muir Trail. Delilah Brookstone vulnerably shares her journey through generational trauma, addiction, and multiple attempts to end her life, ultimately finding sobriety, purpose, and healing through following the quiet voice of spirit within. Rev. Kristin frames these testimonies as expressions of human oneness, reminding us that our stories of struggle and triumph are deeply interconnected.

2022-09-08 Sept. 4, 2022 – Affirming Life

2022-09-04 September 4, 2022 – Affirming Life Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin invites us to embrace the sacred practice of affirming life - seeing, appreciating, and calling forth the goodness that is already present all around us. Drawing on the Gospel of Thomas, Unity's 12 Powers teaching, and the story of a maiden who rejected every pearl in search of something better, she reminds us that the kingdom of God is spread upon the earth and our work is simply to notice it with soft focus, open hearts, and grateful words. Rev. Kristin encourages us to move through the world like Persephone returning in spring - wherever we walk, speaking truth and appreciation, life blossoms.

2022-08-28 August 28, 2022 – Me and My Shadow Rev. Kristin Powell In this powerful message, Rev. Kristin explores the concept of shadow work - the spiritual practice of acknowledging and integrating the hidden parts of ourselves that we have repressed, denied, or cast aside. Drawing from Carl Jung's psychology, the teachings of Jesus on projection, and her own personal stories of buried anger and reclaimed confidence, Rev. Kristin reminds us that the shadow is actually the source of our highest good. She invites us to courageously shine light into our inner darkness, recognizing that wholeness, authenticity, and deeper joy await when we welcome home every part of who we are with love and acceptance.

2022-08-21 August 21, 2022 – Overcoming the Trolls Under the Bridge Rev. Larry Schneider Larry Schneider draws on decades of fascination with the human mind to explore what keeps us from experiencing our innate divinity, using the metaphor of "trolls under the bridge" - those ingrained thought patterns and attachments that block our spiritual growth. Weaving together insights from Genesis, the teachings of Jesus, Unity principles, and modern neuroscience, Larry shows how our brains are physically designed to reach higher states of compassion and connection, yet our lower-level thinking often holds us back. He offers practical tools like identifying a "dream team" of inspiring mentors and centering on core values to overcome the trolls and return to the garden within.

2022-08-14 August 14, 2022 – Providing Sanctuary Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin explores the profound meaning of sanctuary - not merely as a physical space, but as something we embody and provide for one another. Drawing from the powerful story of two families connected across generations through acts of refuge during the Holocaust and the recent Ukraine crisis, Rev. Kristin invites the community to embrace their natural calling as a place of healing, love, and inclusivity. She encourages Unity of Walnut Creek to be a wide-open space where weary hearts find rest and full cups find purpose, reminding us that we are each called to become the sanctuary we have found.

2022-08-13 August 14, 2022 – Providing Sanctuary

2022-08-07 August 7, 2022 – Receiving Sabbath Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin offers a beautiful exploration of Sabbath - the sacred practice of rest - reminding us that if the infinite source of the universe rested on the seventh day, we too are invited into that rhythm. Drawing from her transformative sabbatical in Africa, the wisdom of Jewish Shabbat rituals, Mary Oliver's poetry, and the simple elements of earth, water, fire, and air, Rev. Kristin illuminates how pausing - whether for one conscious breath or an entire afternoon in a hammock - reconnects us to the drumbeat of life and resurrects our sense of aliveness. She invites us to transform everyday acts like eating and washing into sacred communion, discovering that rest is not absence but the very portal through which we remember who we truly are.

2022-07-31 July 31, 2022 – Always Do Your Best Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin wraps up the Four Agreements series by exploring what it truly means to "always do your best" - not through overachieving or sacrifice, but by reconnecting with our authentic spiritual nature and letting it guide our lives. Using a childhood story of rebellion, the character of Forrest Gump, and a Buddhist teaching tale, Rev. Kristin illustrates that doing our best means saying no to old limiting agreements while saying yes to the freedom of spirit within us. She invites the community to consider how living these agreements - being impeccable with our word, not taking things personally, not making assumptions, and doing our best - can transform not only our individual lives but our relationships and shared spiritual journey together.

2022-07-24 July 24, 2022 – Don’t Make Assumptions Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin delivers a lively and practical exploration of the third agreement from Don Miguel Ruiz's Toltec wisdom - don't make assumptions - showing how easily we fill in gaps of knowledge with made-up stories that we then treat as truth. Through humorous anecdotes and relatable examples, Rev. Kristin identifies three common habits that don't serve us - making stuff up, needing to be right, and expecting others to read our minds - and offers powerful antidotes including curiosity, generous interpretation, and Byron Katie's inquiry process. She reminds us that the ultimate key to breaking old assumptions lies in trusting our innate spiritual wisdom and seeking to understand rather than be understood.

2022-07-17 July 17, 2022 – Don’t Take Anything Personally Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin draws a beautiful connection between the awe-inspiring images from the James Webb Space Telescope and our daily spiritual practice, reminding us that as beings literally made of stardust, we can choose to live from a vaster perspective rather than getting caught up in life's small irritations. Exploring the second of Don Miguel Ruiz's Four Agreements - don't take anything personally - Rev. Kristin illustrates through relatable everyday scenarios how old limiting beliefs keep us trapped in cycles of seeking validation or swallowing emotional poison. She invites us to ground ourselves in our intrinsic divine worth, remembering that others are starring in their own movies, and encourages us to lighten up and shine our cosmic light into the world.

2022-07-10 July 10, 2022 – Be Impeccable With Your Word Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin explores the first of Don Miguel Ruiz's Four Agreements - being impeccable with your word - through personal stories of shedding old agreements that kept her small and stepping into her authentic calling. She illuminates how every word we speak carries the creative power of God, reminding us that "in the beginning was the word" and inviting us to consider how we use the sacred "I am" in our daily lives. Rev. Kristin offers practical wisdom on releasing gossip, speaking truth, and aligning our words with love, encouraging us to see this practice not as perfection but as a liberating journey toward our divine potential.

2022-07-03 July 3, 2022 – Freedom Together Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin delivers a powerful Independence Day message exploring the deeper meaning of freedom - not merely as carefree pleasure, but as a spiritual capacity we cultivate within and share outward. Drawing on Khalil Gibran, the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty and the bald eagle, and a touching parable about two brothers choosing a bridge over a fence, Rev. Kristin invites us to recognize that true liberty begins in the "land of the I Am" and flows into collaborative, compassionate action. She reminds us that we are all needed as bridge-builders - choosing freedom over fear in every thought, word, and encounter we have each day.

2022-06-26 June 26, 2022 – Spiritual Questions and Responses Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin offers a dynamic and heartfelt message responding to spiritual questions submitted by members of the congregation, covering topics ranging from prayer and the divine masculine-feminine balance to trusting life's transitions, tithing, shadow work, and her vision for Unity's future. With warmth and authenticity, Rev. Kristin explores how prayer changes us rather than changing God, why restoring divine feminine energy is essential for healing our world, and how everyday challenges like gophers and clogged toilets become invitations for spiritual growth. She reminds everyone that the answers they seek already reside within them, encouraging deeper practice, presence, and trust in their own innate wisdom.

2022-06-19 June 19, 2022 – Manifested in His Eyes Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin delivers a heartfelt Father's Day message weaving together the stories of two remarkable fathers - Ray Kimbrell, a Marine who discovered his greatest mission in devoted fatherhood, and Bobby Flay's father, whose gentle nudging unlocked his son's hidden potential. Through these stories, Rev. Kristin reminds us that we all carry a divine inner father energy - a loving presence that sees our fullest potential already realized and loves us unconditionally beyond measure. She encourages us to trust that guiding wisdom within and offers this simple yet profound advice: show up, pay attention, and respond in love.

Unity of Walnut Creek - Messages