Unity Church for Creative Living, St. Johns, Florida

The Reverend Judith Elia is an ordained Unity Minister who has served congregations in FL, MD, CO, IN, and MO. She has organized conferences and events internationally for World Peace, Holistic Medicine, and the Spiritual Unity of the World’s Religions. Prior to Ministry she was a family therapist, Clinical Director of the Child Protection Team, a community college and business college Professor of Psychology, and Supervisor of the Fitness and Wellness Program at the Five Star Spa at Palm Aire. From a young age her fascination with the soul of psychology led her to train extensively with both Erik Erikson and Virginia Satir. She graduated from Ithaca College (B.A.) with honors in Psychology in 1978, and the University of Rhode Island (M.S.) in Human Development, Counseling and Family Studies in 1983. She completed her post-master’s degree supervision for licensure at the Center for Pastoral Counseling in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She did additional graduate work (2006-2007) in World Wisdom traditions at Naropa University in Boulder, CO. It has been her great good fortune to study with and serve spiritual masters of great depth and understanding from India, Cambodia, and China for over thirty years. Rev. Elia is the co-producer of the “Heart of Peace: Music and Meditation” CD with NPR Jazz Artist Stefan Scaggiari and Megon McDonough. She has been the Spiritual Leader of Unity Church for Creative Living since March 1, 2007.

Dear Unity Members and Friends of Unity:

Can you feel the electricity in the air and the incredible potential for breakthrough our community is experiencing? The sparks are flying! Even amidst such differences in our backgrounds, opinions and preferences, there’s a growing desire for intimacy, compassion and understanding among us. I can feel the hope and enthusiasm bursting forth. This is not the time to contract inside our old wounds and patterns. This is not the time for comfort food and returning to “the way things were”. This is the time to reach out for something more and breakthrough those old habitual patterns that would hold us back from expansion. This is the time to see and do things differently than ever before. This is the time of OUR LIFE.

Do you have the audacity to sing, “I can see clearly now the rain is gone” even in the middle of a thunderstorm? Have you danced in the rain and whistled your way to your new line of work yet? Enlightenment is our progressive capacity to see life from the highest perspective. Waking up and becoming aware of our choice to see things differently, brings us one step closer to the enlightenment that we are seeking. Join the SOULutionaries in being passionately committed to Daily Acts of kindness, courtesy, care and concern that encourage people to RISE and SHINE and GIVE GOD AND NATURE THE GLORY. Go to www.daily-acts.org and in the words of Trathen Heckman, “Step up and bask in the astounding possibilities in and amongst us”.

The Unity way to clarity of mind begins through daily prayer and meditation. With just fifteen minutes in the morning and in the evening we can make a significant change in the way we interact with those around us. Read the Daily Word and feel the worldwide community of Unity join with you to strengthen these spiritual thoughts and ideals in your daily life.

Use your denials and affirmations throughout the day. Silently deny all talk of lack. Mentally “cancel” what is not the whole truth and deny the power of negativity to shift your focus. That is a form of prayer. Affirm the REAL truth you seek.

Affirm the highest and the best that you can think of. Do not just repeat what you hear on the news. Especially, do not repeat that which you know is not going to bring health, happiness and goodness into the world. That is also a form of prayer.

“Be still and know”. Be very still and listen to the sounds of nature. Our co-founder Myrtle Fillmore sat in her swing on her front porch and meditated every day as she basked in the beauty of Unity Farm. Learn to still your mind. Practice silence in the midst of idle conversation. You will notice the impact of your own stillness on every endeavor.

Learn to tell jokes and make others laugh. Your words have the power to heal. Laughter is great medicine. Comedians have always known that we can give deep insight and relief through the power of humor. Your ability to take things lightly is a measure of your spiritual maturity. Suspend your judgment. Pray for noble thoughts and right speech. Pray for the courage not to join the bandwagon of those who have no Faith in God or Humanity. Hold a vision of Humanity and Nature in Cooperation with God’s Divine Plan for the Earth. The sages of old taught that persistence of vision is an attainment in and of itself.

Qi (energy) is visible to my Tai Ji teacher Chungliang Al Huang. One negative thought and he can see the Qi diminish. One frustration and he can notice the visible negative effect it has on his student. It has informed the way he teaches. He teaches in a way, through humor, relaxation and group collaboration, to keep the Qi flowing. Think deeply about this: one negative thought and your energy is lost. One thought and your body and spirit can be harmed or transformed.

I have been watching a PBS Series on the brain recently. Did you know that your brain looks like Swiss cheese when you are stressed, scared or suffer trauma? There are large gaps in the brain mass where nothing can be stimulated and synaptic connection cannot be made after extreme stress. A brain under self-imposed worry and stress actually looks like a brain of an Alzheimer’s patient. The good news is that meditation restores your anxious brain. In just a few weeks after mindfulness meditation the photos of the same brain look reborn. It is true that you can train your mind to be still and physically re-build and re-store your brain.

I am holding a vision for UCCL as Community of Hope, Faith, Creativity, Compassion, Love and Laughter. I envision our spiritual center as a place where anyone can turn to the person next to them and they are able to lift them up with words of Prayer and Inspiration. I see UCCL doing what our Co-founders, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore did years ago: praying for anyone, anytime for anything. Will you join me in this manifesting this vision? Prayer classes begin on Wednesday Evening July 8^th at 7:00pm. Mark your calendar now for “The Foundational Prayer Training” August 7-9 with LeiLanni and Jerry Burt. Make a commitment to Let your Light Shine and live a Life of Prayer and Joy. Get connected and live the meaning of Unity. Be part of the SOULution with a FUN, LOVING, POSITIVE-FOCUSED FULL ESTEEM AHEAD APPROACH TO REALLY LIVING through building the capacity of our community to pray and hold sacred space. This message is engraved on the cornerstone of the new Silent Unity building: Faith is our Foundation. Christ is our inspiration. Prayer is our work.

With Great Respect and Love,

Rev. Judi ♥

Unity Church for Creative Living *2777 Race Track Road * St. Johns, FL 32259 * (904) 287-1505