Rev. Ed Townley, This Sunday at Unity in the City

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Unity in the City E-Newsletter 28 March 2024
Hello Visitor,

Join us for our Celebration Service this Sunday at:
Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis
1581 Beacon St
Brookline, MA 02446

Hands-On Healing: 10:00am 
Group Meditation: 10:30am
Celebration Service: 11:00am
 
Fellowship following the service, all are welcome.

Rev. Ed Townley This Sunday, 5/20/18

REV. ED TOWNLEY
is a part of the Unity in the City ministerial team; he leads our Sunday services twice each month.  One of the most in-demand speakers in the Unity movement, Rev. Ed is known for his enthusiastic metaphysical approach to the Bible, and for his understanding of the Hero's Journey as a roadmap for our individual spiritual unfoldment. His most recent book, Kingdom Come: A Guide to the Book of Revelation was published in 2012 by Unity Books. He is also the author of The Secret According to Jesus, a guide to the Sermon on the Mount. He answers Bible questions submitted to the international Unity website.

Weekly Message

Rev. Ed's Reflections

Dear Friends,
As many of you know, I have the distinct pleasure of answering Bible questions submitted to the Unity website.  Most ask about a specific passage, but last week I received a more general question about the understanding of ‘heart’ in the Bible.  “A lot of churches,” the questioner wrote, “preach that the heart is bad or not trustworthy. …I have had a falling out with friends who insist that the heart is not trustworthy.  I am sad.  

In preparing my response, I wasn’t surprised to find in the pages of the Bible an entire range of warnings, opinions and affirmations about the power of the heart.  They range from very negative ("The heart is deceitful above all things," Jeremiah 17:9; “Pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.” Acts 8:22) to the very positive ("Blessed are the pure in heart,, for they will see God," Matthew 5:8). 

I was surprised, howeever, to find that warnings against trusting the heart are very prevalent among many fundamentalist Christians.  We are so accustomed in Unity to affirming the positive spiritual power of the heart that we’re unaware of more negative views. We (or I, at least) tend to attribute our fear-based, negative energies to mortal mind. But, as with anything, we have the creative ability to misunderstand and misuse the power of the heart.

The overriding point, I think, is that the heart is neither good nor evil; it is creative according to the beliefs we bring to it.  If we 'take to heart' thoughts that are negative and deceitful, our choices in life will express accordingly.  If instead we 'love the Lord our God with all our hearts' (Matthew 22:37) we will find ourselves expressing that love in every choice.  

"According to your belief shall it be done to you," Jesus taught (Matthew 9:29) and it's in the heart that your belief is received and expressed.  So I appreciate the reminder from our fundamentalist friends that we need to remain as vigilant about what the heart believes as about “thoughts held in mind.”
Blessing's,
Rev. Ed

Spirit House Music

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Choir Practice - 9:30am Sunday mornings

Love to sing? Unity in the City's Music Team invites you to join our ministry! 

All are welcome to join the Spirit House Singers on Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM in the auditorium for choir practice.  You don't need to be an American Idol contender, just come and lend your voice.  We are happy to have you!

"Music is an agreeable harmony for the honor of God and the permissible delights of the soul." Johann Sebastian Bach
 

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Unity in the City - Ministers

Rev. Ed Townley -  revedtownley@yahoo.com
Rev. Carlos Anderson - timothyhaley777@gmail.com

Unity in the City - Board of Trustees

Jennifer Fortunato, Chair - jenniferfortunato43@gmail.com
Karen Ramirez, Vice Chair - karenb.ramirez@yahoo.com
Cynthia Lynch, Treasurer - cyn9396@verizon.net
Rolly Rouse, Secretary - rollyrouse@yahoo.com
  Board Pledge:
Recognizing God as our one Infinite Source and Power, we - the servant leaders of Unity in the City - are anchored in the spiritual practices of prayer, meditation, tithing and visioning.  
Thank you God, for choosing us and using us and for this opportunity to love and to serve!
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