Unity Basic Principles

7 messages, oldest first

2025-06-29 “Permeating Presence” Rev. Kristin In this opening message of Unity's Basic Principles Series, Rev. Kristin explores the profound truth of God's permeating presence, challenging the age-old myth that divinity exists somewhere "out there" beyond our reach. Using Michelangelo's famous "Creation of Adam" as a powerful metaphor, she reveals how centuries of religious imagery have reinforced the false belief in separation between humans and the Divine. Through Susan's moving testimony about finding God's presence during her cancer journey and the biblical story of Elijah discovering the Divine in "sheer silence," Rev. Kristin demonstrates that the sacred presence already dwells within and around us at every moment. She invites the congregation to practice recognizing this ever-present love through simple awareness, breathing, and opening to the Divine that cannot be escaped because it is our very essence.
2025-07-06 “Freedom to Become: Awakening the Creator Within” Guest: Edna Castillo In this powerful message, Rev. Kristin shares her deeply personal journey from Guatemala to the United States, illustrating how true freedom extends far beyond external circumstances to encompass our inner spiritual liberation. Drawing from her experience overcoming cancer through conscious thought and gratitude, she demonstrates how we can transform any challenge by recognizing our divine co-creative power within. Rev. Kristin invites us to embrace our role as spiritual beings living a human experience, using our freedom not just for personal growth but as "love agents" who raise the vibration of our communities and world through peace, compassion, and conscious choice.
2025-07-13 “Divine I AM” Rev. Kristin In this powerful exploration of Unity's second principle, Rev. Kristin shares the ancient parable of gods hiding divinity within humans, knowing we'd never think to look inside ourselves for what we seek. She guides the community through the transformative journey from initial resistance to embracing our inherent divine nature, drawing connections between Unity teachings and ancient Hindu wisdom about the Atman and Brahman. Through practical tools like conscious breathing, stillness, and joyful movement (including a delightful community bouncing session), Rev. Kristin demonstrates how simple practices can return us to the land of our soul and help us embody the Christ consciousness that Jesus modeled, reminding us that we are the light of the world.
2025-07-20 “Humbled By My Heart” Guest: Rev. Christie Hardwick Rev. Kristin shares deeply personal stories of heart expansion and contraction, from magical encounters with dragonflies and butterflies to a recent heart episode in Italy that served as a wake-up call. Through vulnerable storytelling, she explores how our hearts guide us toward both deep love within our personal constellations and wide love that embraces all humanity, even those who may oppose us. Drawing inspiration from civil rights leader John Lewis and poet Andrea Gibson, she reminds us that we can choose our lane of service while staying open to love, transforming our heartbreaks into places where music and healing flow through us to touch the world.
2025-07-27 “Co-Creative Fun!” Rev. Kristin
2025-08-03 “Release and Affirm” Rev. Kristin In this enlightening exploration of Unity's fourth principle, Rev. Kristin guides us through the transformative practice of prayer and meditation as tools for aligning our hearts and minds with Spirit. She reveals how these practices aren't about perfection or complex techniques, but rather the simple yet profound rhythm of release and affirmation - letting go of what blocks us and claiming the divine truth of who we are. Through personal stories and gentle wisdom, she demonstrates how we can shift from "have to" to "get to," transforming burdens into opportunities for deeper spiritual connection. This message reminds us that we don't need mountaintop retreats to access the sacred; we can practice this release and affirmation anywhere, showing up as the light the world needs right now.
2025-08-10 “Take Right Action” Rev. Kristin In this inspiring message from Unity of Walnut Creek's Unity Basics Series, Rev. Kristin explores the transformative power of taking divinely aligned action as the fifth Unity principle. Using the beloved parable of the man saving starfish one by one, she illustrates how individual actions create meaningful ripples of change, even when we cannot see the full impact. Rev. Kristin emphasizes that right action flows naturally from spiritual consciousness rather than obligation, encouraging listeners to move beyond thoughts and prayers into embodied service that brings our deepest spiritual principles to life in practical, everyday ways.