Unity of Walnut Creek

2021-10-10 October 10, 2021 – Dreams In The Great Turning Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the power of dreams and imagination as gateways to spiritual guidance in this second week of "The Path of the Holy Fool" series. Drawing on the grail legend of Parsifal, the Fillmores' founding dream, and deep ecologist Joanna Macy's concept of "the great turning," Rev. Kristin Powell invites us to honor the liminal space we collectively inhabit during these transformative times. She encourages us to step into our imaginal realm with faith and curiosity - asking not what our dreams mean, but what they are asking of us - trusting that like Parsifal's horse, the ground will rise to meet each courageous step we take.

2021-10-03 October 3, 2021– I AM a Holy Fool for the Divine Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell invites us to embrace the archetype of the holy fool - that playful, wise, and authentic part of ourselves that holds the golden key of imagination. Drawing from Sufi poetry, personal past life experiences, and the metaphor of the labyrinth, Rev. Kristin Powell explores how freeing our "beautiful, rowdy prisoners" within allows us to unlock hidden splendor and step into visionary lives of creative service. She reminds us that the keys we need - compassion, intuition, imagination - are already in our possession, waiting to open doors we may have assumed were locked, so we might joyfully co-create solutions to the pressing challenges of our world.

2021-09-26 September 26, 2021 – Life Rev. Kristin Powell

2021-09-19 September 19, 2021– Release Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the spiritual power of release - the eleventh of twelve powers - inviting us to let go of old labels, limiting beliefs, and attachments that no longer serve our highest good. Using the story of Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt as a vivid metaphor for being preserved in attachment to the past, Rev. Kristin Powell encourages us to notice what holds us back, release it, accept what is, and bless the good that remains. She reminds us that saying no with inner knowing creates space for our truest yes, opening the way to infinite abundant good.

2021-09-12 September 12, 2021 – Zeal Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the spiritual power of zeal - the inward fire of the soul that urges us onward - drawing from the biblical story of Ruth's devoted love for Naomi and Charles Fillmore's famous declaration of sizzling enthusiasm. She reminds us that zeal expresses uniquely through each person, whether quietly or exuberantly, and can be reignited through divine discontent, heart's desire, or simply plugging back into our connection with Spirit. Using examples ranging from Van Gogh's unstoppable creative drive to the patient persistence of leafcutter ants, Rev. Kristin Powell invites us to discover what makes us come alive and go forth with all our heart.

2021-09-09 September 12, 2021 – Zeal

2021-09-05 September 5, 2021 – Order Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the spiritual power of divine order - one of the 12 powers of humankind - offering reassurance that beneath life's apparent chaos lies an unbreakable universal pattern moving us toward wholeness. Drawing from chaos theory's "strange attractor" concept, she illustrates how even turbulent times are guided by a greater design, and that our smallest spiritual actions - like the flutter of a butterfly's wings - can shift outcomes toward peace and love. Rev. Kristin Powell encourages us to establish daily spiritual routines, connect with our source, and trust that something bigger is unfolding in our world right now.

2021-08-29 August 29, 2021 – Will Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the spiritual power of Will as one of the 12 divine powers within us, drawing a meaningful distinction between willfulness and willingness. She illuminates how our deepest desires are naturally aligned with divine will when we look beneath surface actions to uncover what we truly seek - whether that is peace, stillness, or connection. Rev. Kristin Powell offers practical tools including self-compassion steps and a meditation activating both understanding and will, encouraging us to be coached by spirit rather than driven by stubbornness or immediate gratification. She reminds us that free will is our priceless gift, inviting us to choose divine right action in service of personal and collective awakening.

2021-08-22 August 22, 2021 – Understanding Veronica Wolfe Veronica Wolfe delivers a powerful and deeply personal message on the spiritual power of understanding, sharing how a violent attack on New Year's Eve 1994 became a catalyst for extraordinary growth and awakening. Drawing on brain science and spiritual wisdom, she illuminates the difference between intellectual knowing and spiritual intelligence - the deeper "why" that connects us to meaning, purpose, and the river of soul flowing within us all. Veronica invites us to trust that everything is unfolding for our highest good, offering practical steps for moving from ego to soul awareness through noticing, feeling, and simply being in connected presence.

2021-08-15 August 15, 2021 – Imagination Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the sixth of Unity's 12 powers - imagination - drawing inspiration from Olympic divers who visualized their gold medal victory each night before bed. She invites us to activate our spiritual "single eye," referencing Jesus's teaching that when our eye is single, our whole body fills with light, and connects this to the symbol of the eye of providence on the dollar bill. Rev. Kristin Powell encourages us to rise above limited perspectives at the base of the pyramid to the pinnacle of divine vision, where we can truly co-create the world we envision - one where all life thrives in conscious oneness.

2021-08-08 August 8, 2021 – Power Rev. Sonja Milton Rev. Sonya Milton explores the spiritual faculty of power - one of Charles Fillmore's Twelve Powers - through the lens of the Gospel of John's feeding of the 5,000, revealing that true power is not about dominance or control but about humble surrender to divine will. She shares how Jesus, at the height of his miraculous display, chose solitude over kingship, demonstrating that authentic power lies within and expresses through our words, thoughts, and creative choices. Drawing from a transformative encounter with blues musician John Lee Hooker, Rev. Sonya Milton illustrates that real power lives in the sacred space between sound and silence, offering four practical takeaways: clarity of word, gratitude, withdrawing to the mountain in meditation, and humility.

2021-08-01 August 1, 2021 – Wisdom Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the spiritual power of wisdom - that deep, gut-level knowing that differs from intellectual knowledge - as part of Unity's series on the 12 Powers. Beginning with a charming childhood story about a shoplifted pen and the visceral lesson it taught, Rev. Kristin Powell distinguishes wisdom from knowledge, showing how wisdom is honed through life experience, humility, and inner listening. She draws on Proverbs, Brene Brown's research on authentic connection, and the Sufi wise fool Nasruddin to illustrate how good judgment grows from experience - and how true community is built through patience, trust, and discernment rather than shortcuts.

2021-07-25 July 25, 2021 – Love Ron Salazar, L.U.T. Ron Salazar, L.U.T. delivers a heartfelt and energetic message on the spiritual power of love as part of Unity's 12 Powers series, reminding us that we don't simply have love - we are love, as an expression of the Divine within us. Drawing from Charles Fillmore's teaching that "God does not love anybody or anything - God is the love in everybody and everything," he explores how self-love is the foundation that unlocks all our other spiritual abilities. Through personal stories - including a touching moment with his late best friend's grandson - Ron illustrates how love flows naturally when we release ego and allow our authentic selves to shine. He encourages us to embrace our wholeness, let go of guilt and shame, and recognize that our mission is simply to be who we came here to be.

2021-07-18 July 18, 2021 – Strength Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the spiritual power of strength as part of Unity's 12 Powers series, revealing how true strength goes far beyond the physical to encompass resilience, resourcefulness, and the courage to stay open-hearted. Through stories ranging from a mother lifting a car off her child through prayer to her own rescue dog Samson's remarkable transformation, Rev. Kristin Powell illustrates how strength and faith work together as spiritual brothers. She invites us to cultivate a "strong back, soft front" - building a flexible spiritual backbone through meditation, honest conversations, and community support while remaining vulnerably open to life's possibilities.

2021-07-11 July 11, 2021 – Faith Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell introduces the first in a series on Unity's 12 spiritual powers, beginning with faith - our innate capacity to trust in what we cannot yet see. Drawing on the story of Peter walking on water, her niece's volcano hike, and her own experience walking across hot coals, Rev. Kristin Powell illustrates how faith breaks the chain of routine and invites us to expand into new possibilities. She encourages us to embrace this unique time of transition - where the familiar and the new coexist - by activating our inner power of faith, stepping forward even when the ground feels shaky beneath our feet.

2021-07-04 July 4, 2021 – American Spiritual Journey: Voices of our Community Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell celebrates spiritual freedom on this Fourth of July by highlighting the deep connection between America's founding ideals and Unity's core beliefs - equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. Rather than delivering a traditional message, Rev. Kristin Powell invites two beloved community members, Alexandra Diavalon and Dimitri Daronkin, to share their powerful spiritual journeys as immigrants who found home and purpose at Unity of Walnut Creek. Their stories weave together themes of divine guidance, service, tithing, and the transformative power of spiritual community through life's greatest challenges and celebrations.

2021-06-27 June 27, 2021 – All Our Needs Are Met Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the powerful truth that all our needs are met - not always in the ways we expect, but through divine timing and a plan greater than our own. Drawing on the parable of the rich fool, personal stories, and the charming tale of a message in a bottle found 95 years later, Rev. Kristin Powell invites us to release our need to control outcomes and instead trust in spirit's unfolding. She encourages us to unclog the channels of heart, mind, and body so we can receive the abundant good already available, reminding us that true prosperity is not about possessions but about turning toward the divine in every moment.

2021-06-20 June 20, 2021 – Reuniting in Divine Light Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell delivers a heartfelt and joyful message as Unity of Walnut Creek reunites in person for the first time after fifteen months apart. Using the powerful metaphor of metamorphosis, she invites the community to reflect on how they have transformed during their collective cocooning - what dissolved away and what new wings are forming as they emerge into fullness. Rev. Kristin Powell beautifully weaves together the imagery of butterflies clustering near their source of nectar with the human need for spiritual community, encouraging everyone to unmask their authentic divine selves and deepen their commitment to one another on this sacred journey of becoming.

2021-06-13 June 13, 2021 – With Spiritual Liberty and Divine Justice for All Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell delivers a powerful message honoring both Pride Month and Juneteenth, weaving together themes of spiritual liberty, divine justice, and authentic self-expression. Drawing on the story of the Tulsa Race Massacre survivors, the teachings of Jesus, and the interconnected nature of liberation, Rev. Kristin Powell invites us to consider where our own growing edges lie in acceptance and understanding. She offers practical ways to be allies - from sharing pronouns to focusing on impact over intent - reminding us that our liberation is bound up together. This warm and timely message calls us to pattern the divine and help manifest a world where truth, justice, and freedom belong to all.

2021-06-06 June 6, 2021 – Resilience Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the theme of resilience through the beloved story of Frog and Toad, drawing parallels between Toad's impatient garden-tending and our collective experience navigating the uncertainty of emerging from the pandemic. She shares Angela Duckworth's research on grit - the combination of passion and perseverance - alongside inspiring stories of Aretha Franklin and Vietnamese refugees to illustrate the power of a resilient heart. Rev. Kristin Powell invites us to build resilience through spiritual practice, particularly by learning to sit with uncomfortable feelings rather than pushing them away, discovering that emotions naturally rise and fall like clouds in the sky. This message encourages us to master the art of uncertainty with passionate resilience, trusting that like seeds in the dark, new growth is always possible.

Unity of Walnut Creek - Messages