Unity of Raleigh

What did Jesus really mean when he said, “You are the light of the world”? This week, we invite you to a special service that is both interactive and meditative. Instead of just talking about the Light, we will have the chance to experience it within ourselves. Through reflection, meditation, and a candle-lighting ceremony, we will recognize the Divine Light in each of us, let it shine, and come together to realize that, as individuals and as a community, we are the Light.
Scripture: John 1:5, "God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all."
Affirmation: I let my light shine.

Why did Jesus so often teach with a simple statement, a story, a question, or even something that sounded a bit like a riddle? Why didn’t he just tell people what they needed to know? Maybe it’s because Jesus wasn’t just giving us information. He was inviting us to be transformed. With powerful sayings like “The kingdom of God is among you” and stories like the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the Mustard Seed, Jesus encouraged people to look deeper and find spiritual truth for themselves. This Sunday, we’ll look at how Jesus used sayings and stories to awaken something within us. We’ll see how teachings from over 2,000 years ago can still help us look past the surface, find the Divine within, and see our lives in a new way.
Scripture: Proverbs 19:21, "The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established."
Affirmation: I am here to fully express the Spirit within me.

Regardless of personal belief systems or spiritual backgrounds, there is a fundamental truth deeply encoded in the human experience: the innate need to connect with something greater than the ego. Even when life feels uncertain or overwhelming, this inherent impulse remains constant.

Rev. Ellen Barron and Rev. Maggie Alderman delve into the fascinating concept that humans are hardwired to reach beyond themselves. This conversation moves past the traditional idea of petitionary prayer, instead exploring prayer as a tool for personal transformation and an awakening to a Divine Presence that is already within. It’s an invitation to shift perspectives, find inner strength, and recognize that we are never truly walking through life alone.

What if Jesus’ teaching on prayer was far more radical than we realize? At a time when religious life was often centered on outward practices, Jesus pointed people inward—to a personal, intimate relationship with God that could transform the way they lived. And perhaps that invitation is just as radical for us today. Through the Beatitudes, his invitation to enter the “inner room,” and the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus calls us beyond simply asking God to change our circumstances and toward discovering who we are in relationship with God. What if prayer is not only about What do I need? or What should I do? but the deeper question, Who am I here to be? Join us as we explore Jesus’ path of prayer as an invitation to awaken, to deepen our connection with God, and to live from that awareness in the world.

Scripture: Philippians 1:9-10, "And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you determine what really matters."
Affirmation: I pray for you from my heart.

What if the most powerful response to our world right now is love? In a time of uncertainty, division, struggle, and change, we are called to remember that Divine Love is more than an emotion—it is a transforming spiritual power that heals, harmonizes, unites, and reminds us that we are one. Join us for a special World Day of Prayer experience of meditation, reflection, prayer, and sacred ritual as we release what keeps us from fully expressing love, listen for what Love is calling forth within us, and commit to carrying that Love into our lives and our world. Together, let us be the love our world needs. Love is Alive.
This is also 12 Power Sunday, and Rev. Annie will be offering the Deeper Dive Discussion from 12-1:00 pm on Sunday. Join her after the service live or via Zoom; see our website for the Zoom link.

Join us Sunday, September 6, for guest speaker Rev. Wally White's message, "Somebody Loves You." It is really only when we learn to love ourselves that we can truly appreciate and use the full power of love.

Open yourself to your highest and best good. Trust the divine urges within you and be at peace. When you align with what feels right and serves the highest good of all, good will naturally flow to you.

In a time filled with messages of division, we intentionally set our intention each Sunday. It's a reminder that despite differing viewpoints, we are all interconnected expressions of the divine. 'Why struggle to open a door between us when the whole wall is an illusion?'

We have divine attributes within us. Prayer shifts focus from problems to the divine idea behind challenges. When facing fear, anchor in your divine self to dissipate blocking energies and access possibilities that already exist within the invisible space of your being.