Unity of Walnut Creek

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.

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.

Unity of Walnut Creek - Messages