Unity of Walnut Creek

2026-01-18 Committed to the Dream Rev. Kristin

2026-01-11 My Sacred Covenant Rev. Kristin In this inspiring New Year message, Rev. Kristin explores the profound spiritual practice of creating a sacred covenant with Spirit, moving beyond simple resolutions to make solemn promises that can transform our lives. Drawing from the biblical story of Noah and the rainbow as God's covenant sign, she shares how Unity's co-founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore wrote their own covenant in 1892, dedicating everything to the Spirit of Truth - a commitment that birthed the entire Unity movement. Rev. Kristin guides the congregation through understanding that our bodies are the ark of the covenant, carrying within us the divine spark, and invites everyone to write their own sacred agreement with Spirit, claiming both what they will give and what they expect to receive in return.

2026-01-04 I Dwell in Possibilities (incl. White Stone ceremony) Rev. Kristin In this inspiring New Year message, Rev. Kristin explores Emily Dickinson's profound poem "I Dwell in Possibility," inviting the congregation to shift from merely visiting possibility to truly dwelling within it. She beautifully illustrates how dwelling in possibility means finding both deep rootedness and limitless openness - like a strong cedar house with windows to the infinite sky. Through the biblical story of Zacchaeus, Rev. Kristin demonstrates how a simple shift in perspective can create instant transformation, encouraging listeners to move beyond circumstantial thinking into consciousness-based living. The service culminates with Unity's traditional White Stone ceremony, where participants receive a sacred word from Spirit to guide their journey through 2026.

2025-12-28 The Power in a Word Karie Hillery Rev. Kristin explores the profound impact our words have on ourselves and others, drawing from personal experiences of how both encouraging and discouraging words from childhood can shape our self-perception for years to come. She emphasizes the importance of speaking with intention and compassion, particularly when communicating with artists and sensitive individuals who may carry the weight of past criticism. Through practical examples and heartfelt reflection, Rev. Kristin invites the congregation to consider how they can use their words as instruments of healing and encouragement rather than harm.

2025-12-25 December 28, 2025 The Power In A Word

2025-12-24 Christmas Eve Candlelighting Rev. Kristin

2025-12-21 December 21, 2025 – "Unbridled Joy" Rev. Kristin explores the profound difference between seeking joy externally and recognizing it as our innate, God-given birthright that cannot be taken away. Drawing inspiration from wild horses running free and the joyful embodiment of spiritual masters like the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, she invites us to examine how we "bridle" or constrain our natural joy through worry, seriousness, and fear of disappointment. Through gentle guidance and practical wisdom, Rev. Kristin encourages us to loosen those reins, return to childlike wonder, and remember that unbridled joy is simply self-remembrance - coming home to who we truly are as divine beings.

2025-12-14 Advent, Week 3: Love is Why We’re Here Rev. Kristin Rev. Kristin explores the profound role of love in the third week of Advent, acknowledging that love encompasses both joy and loss as interconnected expressions of our deepest connections. Through the beautiful story of Franz Kafka comforting a grieving child and the legend of the Black Madonna of Montserrat, she illustrates how divine love remains constant even as it transforms through different experiences and seasons of life. The message invites us to ground ourselves in immovable love, open our hearts as channels for giving and receiving, and recognize that love - in all its forms - is ultimately why we are here on this earthly journey toward the rebirth of Christ consciousness within us.

2025-12-07 December 7, 2025 – "Peace Begins In Us" In this second week of Advent, Rev. Kristin explores the profound truth that we are all called to be peacebuilders in our world. She reminds us that Christ consciousness - embodying divine peace, love, and abundance - is not something we wait for but something already present within us, waiting to be embraced and expressed. Drawing on Jesus's parable of the lamp, she emphasizes that when we recognize moments of peace in our hearts, we must not hide this light but allow it to shine forth, understanding it as connected to a vast divine peace beyond human comprehension. Through practices like Chi Gong and conscious alignment with our peaceful nature, we can expand this inner peace and share it generously with others, becoming active agents of healing and harmony in our communities.

2025-11-30 Advent Week 1: Finding Faith in Failure Melissa Phillippe & Z Egloff In this powerful Advent message, Rev. Melissa shares her deeply personal journey through what she calls the three phases of spiritual transformation - define, destroy, and deliverance. Through raw and honest storytelling, she reveals how her dreams of rock stardom led to addiction, betrayal, and ultimately a life-changing awakening to sobriety over 36 years ago. She continues with her experience of debilitating back pain that forced her to surrender everything she thought she knew about her path, leading to profound healing and her calling to spiritual ministry. Rev. Melissa demonstrates how our greatest failures and darkest moments can become doorways to divine grace, inviting us to trust that Spirit sees opportunity where we see chaos and pathways to deliverance where we see closed doors.

2025-11-26 Gratitude Service Rev. Kristin

2025-11-23 Inner Net of the Heart: Cosmic Science on Interbeing Will Keepin Rev. Kristin explores the profound intersection of quantum physics and spiritual wisdom, drawing from David Bohm's revolutionary work and the recent Nobel Prize-winning validation of quantum entanglement to reveal what she calls the "Internet of the Heart." Through the lens of fractal consciousness and the ancient principle of "as above, so below," she demonstrates how modern science validates the mystical truth that each individual contains the infinite cosmos within their own being. Using stunning examples from the Mandelbrot set to the heart-shaped Laniakea supercluster, Rev. Kristin shows how we are not merely drops from the infinite ocean, but rather the entire infinite ocean contained within a single drop, accessible through the sacred portal of our own hearts.

2025-11-16 November 16, 2025 – "Ordinary Mystics Unveiled" In this culminating message of the "Ordinary Mystics" series, Rev. Kristin explores the profound truth that spiritual awakening doesn't require mountaintop experiences or cave meditations - it unfolds in the sacred simplicity of folding laundry, smiling at strangers, and being fully present to everyday moments. She acknowledges that spiritual transformation, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly, often involves grief for what we're leaving behind and the disorienting process of growing into our new selves. Drawing on Emily Cady's concept of "chemicalization," she offers compassionate guidance for navigating the sometimes challenging physical and emotional symptoms that can accompany spiritual growth, reminding us that we are explorers of the sacred ordinary and devotees of what is.

2025-11-15 November 16, 2025 – "Ordinary Mystics Unveiled"

2025-11-09 November 9, 2025 – "Let Your Heart Break Open" In this powerful message, Rev. Kristin explores the profound spiritual practice of allowing our hearts to break open rather than resisting life's inevitable heartbreaks and losses. She shares that while we often try to numb, resist, or quickly fix our pain, true healing comes when we embrace our feelings as pointers to wisdom and allow ourselves to move through grief with the support of loving witnesses. Through personal stories, including her friendship with Joni and the mysterious connections that emerged after loss, Rev. Kristin illustrates how heartbreak can lead us into greater love and the beautiful mystery of life itself. She offers practical tools for navigating difficult times - from staying present to beauty and using encouraging affirmations to creating meaningful rituals that bridge the spiritual and physical realms.

2025-11-02 Series, Part 5 Co-Creating Beloved Community Rev. Kristin In this fifth installment of the Co-Creating Beloved Community series, Rev. Kristin explores the profound difference between being watched and being truly seen, drawing inspiration from the transformative work of Father Greg Boyle with former gang members. She emphasizes that authentic community is built not by trying to fit in or conform, but by courageously expressing our unique soul essence and honoring the beautiful diversity within our spiritual family. Through the wisdom of Rumi's poetry about soul friendship and the evolution from the Golden Rule to the Platinum Rule - treating others as they wish to be treated - Rev. Kristin invites us to create deeper connections that serve as both safety nets and springboards for our collective becoming. This message calls us to step boldly into our authentic selves as the foundation for building the beloved community we are all meant to co-create.

2025-10-26 October 26, 2025 – "Step Into Your Sageness" In this fourth installment of the "Step into Your Sageness" series, Rev. Kristin explores the profound difference between spirit and soul, defining the soul as our unique spiritual imprint that yearns to be nurtured and expressed. She guides us through understanding how to tend our soul's garden - sometimes lush through nature, art, music, and community, and sometimes arid during necessary desert periods of spiritual growth. Drawing wisdom from mystics like St. John of the Cross and contemporary teacher Mirabai Starr, Rev. Kristin reminds us that as ordinary mystics, we are called not only to cultivate our souls but to transmit our authentic light into the world, recognizing that there is a void in the universe when we fail to share our unique soul expression.

2025-10-19 October 19, 2025 – "Radical Amazement In this transformative message, Rev. Kristin explores the profound spiritual practice of surrender as a pathway to radical amazement, drawing inspiration from Mirabai Starr's "Ordinary Mysticism." She illustrates how true surrender involves both releasing what no longer serves us and opening to the divine mystery that surrounds our everyday experiences, using touching examples from "Tuesdays with Morrie" and personal encounters with the sacred in ordinary moments. Rev. Kristin invites us to embrace our identity as "ordinary mystics," recognizing that when we peel back the layers of resistance and self-consciousness, we discover that our seemingly mundane lives are actually filled with magic, miracles, and divine presence. Through surrender, we can step into our magnificence and walk through life like the Roman goddess Flora, with flowers blooming beneath our feet.

2025-10-12 October 12, 2025 – "Loving Attention and Compost" In this second part of the series on everyday mysticism, the speaker explores how paying loving attention to our daily experiences can transform ordinary moments into sacred encounters. Drawing inspiration from nature's teachings and Brother Lawrence's kitchen monastery wisdom, the message invites us to move beyond constant judging and categorizing toward a deeper awareness that sees the divine in simple activities like cooking, commuting, or even scooping pumpkin seeds. Through contemplative practice and intentional attention, we can become "translucent love light" that serves not only our own spiritual growth but also illuminates the path for others in their darkness.

2025-10-05 Fall Series, part 1 of 7 “The Intentional Everyday Mystic” Rev. Kristin In this opening message of Unity of Walnut Creek's fall series, Rev. Kristin explores the profound truth that we are all mystics living on sacred ground. Drawing inspiration from Jane Goodall's reverence for nature and a simple story of a woman experiencing the divine in a sunset at a traffic light, she invites us to recognize that mystical experiences are not reserved for saints or sages but are available to each of us in our everyday moments. Through setting clear intentions and crossing the thresholds of our daily lives with awareness, we can transform ordinary activities like washing dishes or commuting into sacred ceremonies. Rev. Kristin challenges us to claim our inherent mystical nature and discover the presence of the sacred hidden within the beautiful chaos of our regular lives.

Unity of Walnut Creek - Messages