Unity of Walnut Creek

2019-06-09 June 9, 2019 – Solidifying Trust Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the essential elements of solidifying trust through Brene Brown's BRAVING inventory - boundaries, reliability, accountability, vault, integrity, non-judgment, and generosity - weaving each element into our spiritual journey. Using the beautiful story of a calm little girl on a turbulent plane who trusts because the pilot is her father taking her home, Rev. Kristin Powell reminds us that when we know who is guiding our lives, we can release fear and anxiety. She invites us to become trustworthy spiritual leaders by aligning our actions with our values, following our inner guidance, and extending generous interpretations to others - all grounded in the knowing that we are always being piloted safely home.

2019-06-02 June 2, 2019 – Rumbling with Vulnerability Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell shares a powerful and personal exploration of vulnerability as a pathway to spiritual growth, drawing from Brene Brown's "Dare to Lead" to debunk six common myths that keep us armored and disconnected. Through stories from her own journey - from a terrifying early career presentation to breaking through a board in her kitchen - Rev. Kristin Powell illustrates how embracing vulnerability rather than resisting it opens the door to divine magnificence already within us. She reminds us that courage and vulnerability are inseparable companions, and offers practical tools including prayer, meditation, and creating a "square squad" of trusted supporters to help us lead with open hearts in every area of life.

2019-05-26 May 26, 2019 – Youth of Unity Graduation Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell delivers a heartfelt commencement-style address to the Youth of Unity graduates and the entire community, centering her message on three essential truths - love, contribution, and connection. She encourages everyone to stop comparing themselves to others, to tell themselves true stories of courage and beauty, and to follow what makes their hearts sing as a path to purposeful contribution. Drawing on wisdom from Brene Brown and her own spiritual experiences, Rev. Kristin Powell reminds us that we don't need to have it all figured out - not quite knowing what we're doing is just about right on the spiritual journey. She closes by celebrating community as a forever touchstone of love and home.

2019-05-19 May 19, 2019 – Leaders Turning Generational Pain into Generational Peace Rita Marie Johnson Rita Marie Johnson explores the transformative power of wholehearted leadership, drawing on Brene Brown's research and personal stories to illustrate how courageous leaders see and call forth potential in others rather than leading from armor and hurt. She contrasts armored leadership - marked by shame, blame, and one-way communication - with courageous cultures where tough conversations are welcomed, truth is spoken with kindness, and vulnerability becomes a strength. Rita Marie Johnson reminds us that true leadership is not about titles but about recognizing the divine potential in people and ideas, inviting each of us to lead from heart rather than hurt and to shine our light boldly into the world.

2019-05-12 Mother of the Guardrails Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell delivers a heartfelt Mother's Day message exploring how divine mother energy can guide our leadership in every area of life. Drawing from Sarah Kay's poem about being "Point B" - a constant place of return and restoration - Rev. Kristin Powell weaves together stories of Mother Mary, Kuan Yin, Amma the hugging saint, and her own mother's patient listening to illustrate the nurturing qualities leaders can embody. She encourages us to provide TLC - teaching by living example, loving unconditionally, and calling forth the best in others - reminding us that true leadership means knowing people by name and helping them discover the potential already within them.

2019-05-05 May 5, 2019 – Bringing Your Whole Heart Rev. Kristin Powell

2019-04-28 I Am the Body of Earth Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell invites us into a profound exploration of the sacred unity between our bodies and the earth, weaving together personal stories from her transformative journey in Africa with reflections on embodied spirituality. Drawing on the Resurrecting the Cosmic Christ series, she illuminates how every act of eating, every encounter with nature, and every moment of presence becomes a communion when we recognize the divine intelligence flowing through all living things. Through stories of interspecies connection and childlike wonder, Rev. Kristin Powell reminds us that honoring the body of earth and the body of self is one sacred practice - awakening us to the glory already present in every breath.

2019-04-21 Easter Sunday (I am the Open Gateway) Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell delivers a powerful Easter message exploring the unique mystical teaching of resurrection - not as transcendence away from the body, but as full spiritual awakening within our embodied lives. She guides the community through the journey from crucifixion to tomb to resurrection, reminding us that this cycle happens continually in our lives as we are invited through what Jesus called "the narrow gate." Using the story of Temple Grandin and the metaphor of unpacking a camel to pass through the eye of the needle, Rev. Kristin Powell encourages us to release attachments to identity and step boldly into the light, trusting that everything is waiting for us on the other side.

2019-04-14 I am Transfigured and Ready Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell explores the spiritual concept of transfiguration - the process of allowing divine radiance to shine through us - drawing from the story of Jesus on the mountaintop and weaving in personal mystical experiences and wisdom from nature. She reminds us that we are far more than our solid, physical appearances, inviting us to release the ego's need for control and allow a shift from being a "person" to being a "presence." Through the metaphors of the snake shedding its skin and the caterpillar becoming a butterfly, Rev. Kristin Powell encourages us to surrender into the luminous light of the cosmic Christ that lives within each of us, transforming ourselves and our world one radiant face at a time.

2019-04-07 Here I Am Rev. Kristin Powell

2019-03-31 Ressurecting the Cosmic Christ Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell invites us on a breathtaking journey into the cosmos - and into ourselves - as she launches the series "Resurrecting the Cosmic Christ." Drawing on scientific discoveries that 97% of the atoms in our bodies match those found in the stars of our galaxy, she beautifully weaves together indigenous origin stories, scripture, and the teachings of Charles Fillmore to remind us that we are literally made of stardust and divine love. Rev. Kristin Powell encourages us to cultivate spacious practices - leaving behind time pieces and words - to enter the expansive awareness where we remember our true nature as expressions of the cosmic Christ, bound together in wonder and love.

2019-03-24 The Wisdom of Elders and Youth and the Future of our Planet Matthew Fox Matthew Fox delivers a passionate call to action for the healing and protection of Mother Earth, drawing on the wisdom of Thomas Aquinas to illuminate humanity's unique capacity for both creativity and destruction. He shares the story of how a vivid dream led him to co-found the Order of the Sacred Earth - a spiritual, intergenerational community united by a single vow to be the best lover and defender of our planet. Matthew Fox emphasizes that this order transcends religious boundaries, welcoming people of all faiths and none, organized not from the top down but as self-organizing pods rooted in local bioregions. He invites listeners to consider joining this movement as a meaningful way to channel love into action for future generations and all living beings.

2019-03-17 From Breaker to Mender Consciousness Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell concludes her illumined shadow series by exploring three types of consciousness from Sharif Abdullah's work - keeper, breaker, and mender - inviting us to recognize where we stand at the precipice of transformation. She weaves together the story of Casa de Maria, the biblical tale of Jacob and Esau, and the Israelites' journey to the promised land to illustrate how breaker consciousness must break down so mender consciousness can be born. Rev. Kristin Powell reminds us that we are here by divine appointment, called to move beyond division and into compassion, creating a world that works for all.

2019-03-10 From Other to One Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell delivers a heartfelt message on dissolving the shadow of "other" and returning to the spiritual truth of oneness. Drawing from her experiences in the interfaith movement, her own journey navigating difference in intimate relationships, and the wisdom of inclusivity teacher Dr. Sharif Abdullah, Rev. Kristin Powell invites us to remember what it feels like to be othered - and to let that remembrance fuel compassion rather than division. She offers three transformative practices: befriend what and who we don't know, recognize our privilege, and remember what it feels like to be the other. With vulnerability and humor, Rev. Kristin Powell reminds us that we are not just our neighbors' keepers - we are our neighbors.

2019-03-03 Lack to Abundance Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell invites us to examine the hidden beliefs of lack and limitation that keep us playing small, using the memorable image of fleas trained to stop jumping even after the lid is removed from their jar. Drawing on Lynn Twist's "toxic scarcity myths" - that there's not enough, more is better, and that's just the way it is - Rev. Kristin Powell illuminates how these shadows prevent us from embracing our true magnificence and sufficiency. She offers two practical spiritual tools for shifting from lack to abundance - meditation and tithing - reminding us that when we prioritize our spiritual connection, everything else flows naturally from that grounded place.

2019-02-24 Anxiety to Peace Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell opens a new series on shadow work by exploring the shadow of anxiety - a feeling she was surprised to discover in herself during an emotional intelligence practice, and one she recognizes many are experiencing in today's uncertain world. Through the charming story of young Travis conquering his fear to climb a lighthouse and Sharif Abdullah's tale of venturing into unfamiliar Pennsylvania Dutch country, Rev. Kristin Powell illustrates how naming our anxiety brings it into the light where healing can begin. She shares practical steps for moving from anxiety to peace - breathing, speaking words of truth, trusting our faith, and taking persistent action - reminding us that we are built for triumph and that divine order is always at work.

2019-02-17 Thriving Through Uncertainty Tama Kieves Tama Kieves shares her powerful journey from Harvard-trained lawyer to bestselling author, illustrating how following an inner voice - even without a clear plan - can lead to extraordinary outcomes we could never orchestrate on our own. Drawing from her personal story of self-publishing a book that eventually landed with a major publisher through an unexpected "fairy godmother," Tama Kieves reminds us that we cannot plan an inspired life but we can receive it moment by moment. She encourages listeners to stop looking at missed opportunities and instead face the stream of abundance that life continually offers, choosing love over fear at every new level of growth.

2019-02-10 The Unstoppable Flow of Love Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell delivers a powerful and heartfelt message about the unstoppable nature of divine love, reminding us that our sole purpose on this earth is to be courageous embodiments of love in every interaction - whether at Safeway, on the road, or with those closest to us. Drawing from the Bhagavad Gita, the story of Dante and Beatrice at Ponte Vecchio, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s wisdom, Rev. Kristin Powell illustrates how love transcends war, grief, fear, and all the barriers we construct against it. She invites us to stop our "silly antics" of self-protection and instead open the doors of our hearts, trusting that love - like the ocean endlessly kissing the shore - will always replenish itself and heal whatever needs healing.

2019-02-03 Always Do Your Best Rev. Kristin Powell

2019-01-27 Don't Make Assumptions Rev. Kristin Powell Rev. Kristin Powell delivers an engaging and practical exploration of the third agreement from Don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements - don't make assumptions. Drawing on humorous stories and relatable examples, Rev. Kristin Powell illuminates how we create suffering by making things up, believing our fabrications, and operating from untested stories about others and ourselves. She invites the community to seek understanding over being understood, to practice direct communication, and to use tools like Byron Katie's four questions to shine the light of truth on our assumptions. Rev. Kristin Powell encourages listeners to find spiritual partners who can help call each other forward into greater authenticity and connection.

Unity of Walnut Creek - Messages