Unity of Walnut Creek

2022-02-06 February 6, 2022 – Synchronicity & Flow: Starting from Wholeness in the New Year Sky Nelson-Isaacs Sky Nelson explores the concept of starting from wholeness rather than emptiness, inviting listeners to shift from asking "how do we get something from nothing?" to "how do we create something from everything?" Drawing on his background as a physicist, he uses the metaphor of rainbows and frequency filters to illustrate how solutions already exist within our lives - we simply need to remove what blocks us from seeing them. Through a personal story about joining his brother's band and rediscovering his voice, Sky Nelson demonstrates the power of saying "not no" to unexpected opportunities, showing how synchronicities can guide us toward fulfilling intentions we may not even consciously recognize.

2022-01-30 January 30, 2022 – Prepared by Faith Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin traces the inspiring history of Unity's founders, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, to illuminate how faith - not funds - has always been the foundation of true prosperity. Drawing from the Fillmores' remarkable journey of building a spiritual movement one faithful step at a time, Rev. Kristin reminds us that prosperity is an inside job rooted in divine essence rather than material possessions. She invites us to activate our innate power of faith, center in our source, and consider writing our own covenant with spirit - knowing that when we turn on this inner power, doors of unimagined possibility continue to open.

2022-01-23 January 23, 2022 – Healed by Love Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin takes us back to the roots of the Unity movement, sharing the powerful healing story of co-founder Myrtle Fillmore, who transformed her lifelong illness through the revolutionary understanding that as a child of God, she could not inherit disease. Drawing from Myrtle Fillmore's healing letters, Rev. Kristin guides the congregation through a spiritual health treatment and reminds us that our bodies are temples of divine love deserving reverence and care. She honors the recent passing of Thich Nhat Hanh, weaving his teaching on the illusion of separateness into a call for holistic healing - of body, mind, relationships, and world - through the ever-flowing tonic of divine love.

2022-01-16 January 16, 2022 – Can MLK’s Dream and Yours Both Come True? Dr. Brenda Wade Brenda Wade delivers a powerful and heartfelt message connecting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream with the energy of the Chinese zodiac's Tiger Year, challenging listeners to move beyond spiritual comfort and into meaningful action. Drawing from her personal journey through depression, anxiety, and her awakening through Unity, Brenda Wade calls on spiritual communities to bridge divides - digital, racial, educational, and social - by using their unique gifts and talents in service to others. She emphasizes that intention must be paired with courageous action, urging everyone to activate their "tiger energy" and contribute to making King's dream of equality and love a lived reality for all people.

2022-01-09 January 9, 2022 – Aim Me, An Arrow for the Divine Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin invites us into the new year with the rich metaphor of spiritual archery, exploring how we can align our thoughts, feelings, words, actions, and body language as arrows aimed toward our highest divine potential. Drawing from Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet," Lakota wisdom, and the Japanese practice of kudo, Rev. Kristin encourages us to open ourselves like a bow - strong yet receptive - and surrender to spirit's guidance. She reminds us that "missing the mark" is simply an invitation to try again, and that by clarifying our spiritual goals and practicing with reverence, we become living arrows aimed toward our fullest awakening in 2022.

2022-01-02 January 2, 2022 – A Brilliant New 2022 & White Stone Ceremony Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin opens 2022 with the powerful revelation that "abracadabra" is rooted in the Aramaic phrase meaning "I will create as I speak," inviting the community to recognize the sacred creative power of their words. She explores how our vocabulary shapes our reality - how limiting words compress possibility while expansive words like yes, love, and imagine open us to new creation. Rev. Kristin then guides the congregation through the beloved White Stone Ceremony, where each person receives a word from Spirit to serve as their guiding light for the year ahead - a hidden manna written on a stone symbolizing freedom and new beginnings.

2021-12-31 January 2, 2022 – White Stone Ceremony

2021-12-26 December 26, 2021 – Christmastide Giving Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the sacred season of Christmastide as a time of generous giving, weaving together the story of 13-year-old Abraham Olagbegi - who chose feeding the homeless as his Make-A-Wish gift - with the biblical gifts of the Magi to illuminate both social and spiritual dimensions of generosity. She invites us to release judgment, embrace curiosity, and see the divine wholeness in every person, recognizing that temporary circumstances never define someone's identity. Rev. Kristin Powell shares her own journey with tithing as a spiritual practice, encouraging us to step into the flow of giving and receiving that opens doors to epiphany, abundance, and deeper connection with the breath of life itself.

2021-12-24 December 19, 2021 – Abiding Joy

2021-12-19 December 19, 2021 – Abiding Joy Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell delivers a radiant message on the nature of abiding joy as an inherent, unshakeable quality of our divine nature during this Advent season. She reminds us that joy is not something external that can be taken from us, but rather a fixed and stable state of being that resides within - accessible whenever we release the ties that bind the mind and relax into the truth of who we are. Through stories of tap dancing in the park, the Dalai Lama's infectious laughter, and a neighborhood hokey pokey celebration, Rev. Kristin Powell illustrates how joy multiplies when shared and how opening ourselves to divine ideas naturally leads us into joyful expression. She invites us to embrace our Christ nature with zero tolerance for self-deception, unbinding our minds like unwrapping a gift to reveal the light and abiding joy within.

2021-12-12 December 12, 2021 – Infinite Love Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell delivers a heartfelt message on the infinite, boundless nature of divine love and its power to transform even the darkest circumstances - from wartime enemies sparing the Ponte Vecchio bridge to Mother Teresa's lifelong devotion to loving Christ in "all his distressing disguises." She reminds us that fear is simply false evidence appearing real, and that love is always chasing us, waiting for us to surrender to its embrace. Rev. Kristin Powell invites us to ask one guiding question throughout our days - "Am I helping or hindering love right now?" - as a practical path toward mastering love and becoming courageous, vulnerable channels for its infinite flow.

2021-12-05 December 5, 2021 – Deep Peace Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the journey toward deep inner peace, sharing her personal experience of navigating uncertainty during a family health crisis as a doorway to spiritual surrender. Drawing from the Christmas story of Joseph, the legacy of Peace Pilgrim, and her own practice, Rev. Kristin Powell offers three transformative steps for cultivating peace - accepting circumstances as they are, aligning with the divine through prayer and trust, and then acting from that place of clarity. This heartfelt message reminds us that conflict is not the enemy but an invitation to remember our true nature as peacemakers in a world that deeply needs our light.

2021-11-28 November 28, 2021– Living Faith Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell invites us into the sacred season of Advent by exploring the theme of living faith - a force she distinguishes from hope as one that helps us not merely survive but truly thrive. Through the beautiful Hanukkah folktale of Hayim, a man whose unwavering faith brought abundance to his entire village, and through the story of Mary's courageous yes to divine calling, Rev. Kristin Powell illustrates how faith requires trust, risk, and a willingness to listen for the familiar voice of spirit. She encourages us to bring sacred consciousness into everyday acts - from lighting candles to decorating our homes - recognizing that each of us lights up the world with our faith.

2021-11-24 November 21, 2021 – The Future of Gratitude

2021-11-21 November 21, 2021 – The Future of Gratitude Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the transformative power of gratitude not only as a present-moment practice but as a key to manifesting our future dreams and goals. Drawing on the research of David Desteno, she reveals that gratitude doubles our self-control, reduces stress, and connects us to what we truly value - making it far more effective than willpower alone. Rev. Kristin Powell shares the beloved Sufi story of Nazruddin and the strawberry to illustrate how presence and appreciation can arise even in life's most challenging moments. She invites us into a simple, expandable practice of giving thanks throughout each day, reminding us that this one act can uplift our relationships, inspire justice, and help co-create the thriving world we envision together.

2021-11-14 November 14, 2021 – Living One’s Own Brave Truth Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress weaves together the Grail legend, the archetype of the Holy Fool, and the transformative power of imagination in this rich and inspiring message. Drawing on the story of Parsifal's journey from self-absorption to consciousness, she illuminates how each of us can find our own "grail" - a vessel that meets us where we are and gives us what we need. She calls us to resist the hijacking of our imaginations by images of wasteland and destruction, instead embracing the vision of Earthrise and living our own brave truth with courage, openness, and beginner's mind.

2021-11-07 November 7, 2021 – What is the Holy Grail? Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the rich symbolism of the Holy Grail, inviting us to consider what makes something sacred in our own lives - whether a symbol, spiritual practice, or activity that deepens our connection to the divine. Drawing on the legend of Parsifal and the archetype of the Holy Fool, she illuminates how our spiritual journeys are shifting from individual hero quests toward collaborative, compassionate service. Rev. Kristin Powell reminds us that the essential question - "Whom does the grail serve?" - calls us beyond personal transcendence into sacred service for all life, recognizing that we ourselves become holy grails when we live receptively and give life to others.

2021-10-31 October 31, 2021 – The Wounded Healer Unmasked Rev. Kristin Powell with Brenlee Reida Rev. Kristin Powell delivers a powerful and vulnerable message exploring the intersection of the Holy Fool archetype and the wounded healer, using the thinning of the veil at Halloween as a gateway to deeper spiritual truth. Through a creative dialogue with Death personified, Rev. Kristin Powell courageously shares her own story of unmasking - coming out to her father and the healing that followed his transition - illustrating how facing our wounds frees us to live authentically. Drawing on wisdom from Khalil Gibran, Anaïs Nin, and a young blogger's reflection on Jesus as wounded healer, she invites us to embrace our full soul expression and extend compassion born from our own experiences of pain and healing.

2021-10-24 October 24, 2021 – Earthrise: Reclaiming the Web Rev. Kristin Powell with Cat Hill Rev. Kristin Powell explores the vision of Earthrise - seeing our planet as one interconnected whole - and invites us to reclaim our role as weavers of the web of life. Drawing on the ancient wisdom of spider as creator, protector, and manifester, she reminds us that the web of interconnection is our natural state, and our spiritual work is to mend where it has been broken by separation and fear. Featuring a moving story from guest Cat Hill about the transformative power of "what if," Rev. Kristin Powell calls each of us to use our imagination, patience, and courage to weave a new Earth together.

2021-10-17 October 17, 2021 – Transforming the Wasteland Guest Speaker: Bob Hardy Bob Hardy explores the concept of "Transforming the Wasteland" from The Path of the Holy Fool, inviting us to recognize how social media, constant news, and digital distractions have narrowed our perspectives and pulled us into isolation and overwhelm. Drawing on the hero's journey of Perseval, the Unity principles, and his own creative paint work, Bob Hardy reminds us that our God-given power of imagination is the key to finding our way forward out of confusion and stagnation. He encourages us to disconnect from the noise, reconnect with prayer and meditation, and remember that we are co-creators with God - capable of transforming any wasteland through commitment, vision, and action.

Unity of Walnut Creek - Messages