Unity of Walnut Creek

2020-05-24 Series, Part 2 "Anger to Peace" FINAL In this powerful message on transforming anger into peace, Rev. Kristin Powell explores how anger - often labeled as "bad" - actually serves as a sacred call toward greater self-clarity. Drawing from the Buddhist story of The Angry Buddha, brain research by Rick Hansen, and the biblical account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walking unharmed through flames, Rev. Kristin Powell offers practical wisdom for working skillfully with anger rather than suppressing or exploding with it. She invites us to become "fire walkers" - centered in spirit, using anger's illuminating flame to reveal our deepest needs and values while discovering the transformative peace that awaits within.

2020-05-17 Series: Transforming The 7 Vices to Virtues PART 1 "Greed to Generosity" Rev. Kristin Powell launches a transformative series on turning the seven vices into virtues, beginning with the powerful shift from greed to generosity. Drawing on the Ojibwa concept of the Wendigo - a being whose selfishness can never be satisfied - she illuminates how our culture often celebrates endless accumulation while inviting us to examine where we cling, hoard, or grasp from a false belief in scarcity. Through inspiring stories including the Pachamama Alliance's work to protect the Amazon rainforest and a child's extraordinary willingness to give, Rev. Kristin Powell reminds us that generosity is our true nature and that through conscious choices in how we think, shop, and act, we can dream a new world into being.

2020-05-10 Mother's Day "The Great Mother's Embrace" FINAL Rev. Kristin Powell offers a tender and timely Mother's Day message inviting us to surrender into the nurturing embrace of the Divine Mother - that ever-present, unconditional love that holds us exactly as we are. Drawing on imagery from the Egyptian goddess ISIS, Michelangelo's Pieta, and the Hebrew name El Shaddai, Rev. Kristin Powell illuminates the feminine face of God that cradles, comforts, and accepts us without condition. She encourages us to release our need to control, to make peace with not knowing, and to simply receive - allowing ourselves to rest in the lap of the Great Mother and know that we are enough.

2020-05-03 "Questions on the Path" Rev. Kristin Powell offers a thoughtful and practical exploration of the spiritual questions arising during uncertain times, responding directly to questions submitted by her community. She shares the FACE framework - Focus, Acknowledge, Connect, and Engage - as a grounding tool for processing anxiety, and offers creative approaches to overcoming negative self-talk, walking through grief, and discerning what is truly essential in our lives. With warmth and wisdom, Rev. Kristin Powell invites us into compassionate abiding - gently living in life's unanswered questions while staying present, connected to spirit, and tender with ourselves and one another.

2020-04-26 Praise For Those Who Serve FINAL Rev. Kristin Powell offers an uplifting message celebrating the spirit of service during the pandemic, sharing inspiring stories of everyday people making a difference - from a 13-year-old boy 3D-printing ear guards for healthcare workers to restaurant owners lifting up their new competitors and strangers building trust in grocery store parking lots. She reframes service not as sacrifice but as honor, encouraging us to keep our own buckets full so that giving flows from an overflowing heart. Drawing on the image of the phoenix rising with powerful wings yet a light footprint, Rev. Kristin Powell reminds us that when we serve genuinely, we grow our capacity to love and build trust across the human family.

2020-04-19 Earth Day FINAL Rev. Kristin Powell offers a powerful Earth Day message honoring the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, weaving together indigenous wisdom shared by guest speaker Chief Phillip (Black Horse) with Unity teachings to invite a deeper remembering of our original instructions as stewards of the Earth. Rev. Kristin Powell explores how this time of collective pause presents a profound opportunity for spiritual awakening - to reconnect with nature, reconsider what is truly essential, and resist the forces that would lull us back to sleep. Drawing on the words of Unity co-founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore alongside indigenous prophecy, Rev. Kristin Powell encourages us to plant seeds of conscious living, stay grounded in our values, and carry forward the clarity gained during this transformative season.

2020-04-12 Easter (STREAMING ONLY) Rev. Kristin Powell delivers a deeply resonant Easter message during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing a powerful parallel between the risen Jesus telling Mary Magdalene "don't touch me" and our own collective experience of physical distancing and spiritual transformation. She explores Michael Beckwith's four stages of consciousness - from victim to manifester to vessel to oneness - suggesting that this unprecedented time is calling humanity to shift from forcing life to happen by us toward allowing life to happen through us. Rev. Kristin Powell invites us to embrace patience and presence as the tools of resurrection, trusting that when a critical mass awakens, the whole world can transform into something kinder, more compassionate, and more connected.

2020-04-05 Palm Sunday (STREAMING ONLY) Rev. Kristin Powell delivers a powerful Palm Sunday message exploring our relationship with death - both physical and ego death - during what she calls "the Lentiest Lent ever." Drawing from the symbolism of Jesus riding humbly into Jerusalem, her own transformative experiences facing death in Peru and Death Valley, and the graceful passing of her friend Royda, Rev. Kristin Powell invites us to stop resisting death and instead let it teach us to savor life more fully. She encourages us to embrace the ancient cry of "Hosanna" - save now - as a call back to presence, reminding us that when the ego takes its rightful place as servant to the divine, we cross the threshold into true aliveness.

2020-03-29 Lent: "Empty Your Cup" STREAMING ONLY Rev. Kristin Powell offers a beautiful Lenten reflection on the spiritual gift of emptiness, drawing from the Hawaiian children's story of the "bowl of light" to illustrate how releasing false beliefs and limited thinking allows our true radiance to shine through. She invites us to embrace this season of stripping away - much like the desert that produces stunning flowers from barren ground - trusting that the resurrection and joy of Easter will come in its own time. Through the prayer "empty my cup," Rev. Kristin Powell encourages us to find openness, receptivity, and freedom as we release what is non-essential and return to what truly matters.

2020-03-22 Series Part 10 "Let Go & Let God Flow" STREAMING ONLY Rev. Kristin Powell explores the ancient wisdom of Taoism and its profound relevance during times of global pause, drawing on the concept of Wu Wei - the art of effortless action that springs from being rather than forcing. Using the charming metaphor of Winnie the Pooh as the perfect embodiment of the Tao, along with the imagery of water as both flexible and powerful, Rev. Kristin Powell invites us to consider what life might look like if we stopped pushing against the current and instead allowed ourselves to flow. She encourages us to embrace this sacred opportunity to let go and let God flow, trusting that when we release control and listen deeply, transformation naturally unfolds.

2020-03-15 Series Part 9 "Prophets of Justice and Mercy" FINAL Rev. Kristin Powell hosts an illuminating interfaith dialogue with Jewish musician and leader Joel as part of the Many Paths to the One series. Together they explore the rich physical and spiritual practices of Judaism - from the prayer shawl and tefillin to the joyous harvest festival of Sukkot and the restorative weekly practice of Shabbat. Joel shares how Judaism weaves holiness and justice together through embodied ritual, mindful eating, communal prayer, and a deep commitment to joy even amid historical sorrow. Rev. Kristin draws out the universal wisdom in these practices, inviting all to consider how intentional rest and sacred rhythm might nourish their own spiritual lives.

2020-03-08 Series Part 8 "Five Pillars of Islam" FINAL In this warm and illuminating interfaith dialogue, Rev. Kristin welcomes Imam Fatih Ateş of the Pacifica Institute to explore the Five Pillars of Islam and the deeper meaning behind this ancient faith tradition. Together they discuss how Islam - rooted in the word for peace and surrender to God - calls its followers toward spiritual perfection through faith, good deeds, and good character. Imam Fatih addresses common misconceptions about jihad and Islamophobia while emphasizing that personal connection and friendship across traditions is the most powerful antidote to fear and misunderstanding. This beautiful conversation models the interfaith bridge-building both leaders champion as essential for our shared humanity.

2020-03-01 Series Part 7 "Bodhisattvas Among Us" FINAL In this concluding talk of the series, the speaker explores the heart of Buddhism - compassion - revealing how the practice of meditation opens us to a tender, connected way of being with ourselves and others. Through the stories of the Buddha's awakening, Quan Yin's bodhisattva vow, and the touching tale of Kissa Gotami, the message illuminates how recognizing our shared human experience of pain dissolves the ego's grip and opens the door to genuine compassion. The speaker reminds us that self-compassion is essential to sustaining our capacity to give, and invites each of us to become a refuge of compassion for all sentient beings.

2020-02-23 Series, Part 6 "Enduring Love of the Christ" FINAL In this heartfelt conclusion to the Many Paths to the One series, Rev. Kristin explores Christianity through the lens of healing and reclamation, sharing her personal journey from the exclusions she experienced in her Missouri Synod Lutheran upbringing to finding wholeness in Unity's inclusive community. She invites listeners to separate the institutional church from the radical love and inclusivity that Jesus actually taught, encouraging those with religious wounds to move toward healing rather than avoidance. Drawing on contemplative Christian practices like centering prayer and Lectio Divina, she reminds us that beneath all the complexity, our true religion is simply love - patient, kind, and enduring.

2020-02-16 Series, Part 5 "The Four Yogi Paths" FINAL In this rich exploration of Hinduism as part of the "Many Paths to the One" series, community members Steve and Mirabai (Krishnadas) share their journey through Hindu practice and how it led them to Unity of Walnut Creek, while Kausi illuminates the path of jnana yoga and self-inquiry. The message highlights the four yogic paths - bhakti (devotion), karma (action), raja (meditation), and jnana (knowledge) - revealing how each offers a unique doorway to self-realization and oneness with God. Through personal stories, breathing practices, and heartfelt dialogue, the congregation discovers the beautiful parallels between Hindu teachings and Unity principles, especially the shared belief in innate divinity.

2020-02-09 Series, Part 4 "Our Better Angels" FINAL In this powerful fourth and final installment of the "Our Better Angels" series, musicians JD and Lynne Martin share their music and wisdom with the Unity of Walnut Creek community. Drawing from Einstein's question about whether this is a friendly universe and Lincoln's call to the "better angels of our nature," they invite listeners into a higher vision of love and connection. Through original songs honoring Native American ancestors, celebrating our shared humanity, and standing with immigrants and refugees, they weave together themes of compassion, courage, and sacred belonging - reminding us that we are the ones we've been waiting for.

2020-02-02 Series Part 3: "Overcoming Through Soulforce" FINAL

2020-01-26 Series, Part 2 "Holy Ground of Earth" FINAL In this heartfelt message from the "Many Paths to the One" series, Rev. Kristin explores earth-based spiritual traditions and their profound relevance to our times, highlighting how primal faiths share oral storytelling, cyclical time, and sacred sense of place. She invites the community to expand their understanding of paganism and nature-based spirituality, debunking myths and revealing shared values of reverence, healing, and environmental stewardship. Guest speaker Michelle Ciccala shares her journey as both a proud witch in the Reclaiming tradition and Unity Youth Director, offering practical ways to infuse daily life with sacred intention and demonstrating how earth-honoring spirituality and inclusive community beautifully complement one another.

2020-01-19 Many Paths to The One, Part 1 FINAL In this inspiring message launching the "Many Paths to the One" series, Rev. Kristin explores the transformative power of interfaith understanding as a pathway to peace during the Season for Non-Violence. She traces the legacy of Gandhi's ahimsa through Martin Luther King Jr.'s interfaith friendships - with Rabbi Heschel, Thich Nhat Hanh, and others - showing how direct experience of diverse spiritual practices builds bridges and heals division. Drawing from her own pilgrimage to the source of the Ganges River and encounters with various faith traditions, Rev. Kristin invites us to ask one another "What is the heart of your faith?" - a question that roots us in the shared values of love, compassion, and peace that unite every spiritual path.

2020-01-12 "Mission Possible" FINAL In this inspiring message, Rev. Kristin invites the community to craft personal mission statements that align with their spiritual purpose, building on the White Stone Ceremony from the previous week. She guides the congregation through Unity of Walnut Creek's mission statement - "We are a loving, inclusive community expanding and living our divinity in sacred service for all" - exploring what it means to genuinely love, practice radical inclusivity, deepen into divine truth, and serve all life. Drawing on examples from the Care Network to migrating monarch butterflies to compassionate rats, Rev. Kristin illustrates how sacred service is wired into our very nature, encouraging everyone to let their mission become as instinctive as a butterfly following its ancestral path.

Unity of Walnut Creek - Messages