�Ka Leo O Le‘ahi • Unity Church of Hawai‘i • Spring 2006–

Rev. Sky St. John – Our New Permanent Senior Minister!

Gregg Zylstra Joins Unity as Church Administratorby Mindy Tucker, President, Board of Trustees

Unity BasicsUnity, founded in the U.S. in the late �800’s, believes spiritual understanding is enhanced through reflective prayer and meditation. The five basic ideas that make up the Unity belief system are:

�. God is the source and creator of all. There is no other enduring power. God is good and present everywhere.

2. We are spiritual beings, created in God’s image. The spirit of God lives within each person; therefore, all people are inherently good.

3. We create our life experiences through our way of thinking.

4. There is power in affirmative prayer, which we believe increases our connection to God.

5. Knowledge of these spiritual principles is not enough. We must live them.

Charles Fillmore, co-founder of the Unity movement.

Myrtle Fillmore, co-founder of the Unity movement.

Unity Church of Hawai‘i

–Ka Leo O Le‘ahiGuided by an overwhelm-

ingly positive response from the congregation in

a vote of confidence at our annual membership meeting, the Board of Trustees has hired Reverend Sky St. John as the new, permanent Senior Minister of Unity Church of Hawai‘i. This action came as the church was released from all restrictions placed on it by the MMRT (Minister-Ministry Review Team). Tremendous work was done by many Board members, especially Board President Mindy Tucker, in bringing about the reso-lution of the review process and our release from the restrictions. The hiring of a new minister is a momentous occasion in the life of any church, and we are grateful and filled with hope at all the possibili-ties this new leadership will bring. Already we have seen a revival of interest and commitment in many areas of church activities. In the past seven months, with Rev. Sky as our Minister, many wonderful changes have taken place:

• Our bookstore has moved and been renamed, Namasté Books and Gifts.

• Our children’s classroom has been moved, renamed as the Kula Room, and is in a much more functional space.

• Major improvements are being made to our sanctuary.

• New key staff has been hired.• Monthly Town Hall meetings are

held to inform and communicate with the congregation.

• On-going CEP credit classes are being taught.

• The Unity Wellness Center has been reopened with two new treatment rooms.

• The Chaplaincy program has been revived to greater activity.

• A Wednesday Prayer and Healing Service has been instituted.

• Weekly volunteer staff meetings are held to facilitate better com-munication with ministry teams.

• A new beneficial contract has been signed with UI Production, Inc. and Japanese wedding com-panies to ensure a steady income from outreach weddings.

• Sunday attendance and offerings have increased dramatically.

All these, and many more im-provements have been made in just the past seven months—imagine what the next few years will hold for us!

So congratulations to the Board of Trustees and the congregation, on moving through a dramatic time in our church’s history with grace, integrity and steadfastness. The results of such great patience and commitment is the beginning of a new era in our church history, filled with God’s abundant blessing.

Although a new resident of Hawai‘i, Gregg un-derstands “island life” as

he grew up on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound. Since 1980, Gregg has been to Hawaii 16 times on va-cation. Some would say it’s about time he came to stay. Gregg loves animals, but is leaving his Pomeranian with his parents for now. His tabby of 15 years passed late last year. Gregg considered this cat a great guru in his life and still feels his presence as an angel. Gregg’s other passions include gardening and music. Boy, is our campus ever ready for his green thumb! Gregg grew up sing-ing and has performed in Europe and the United States. He even sung in his former Unity Church in Tacoma.

Gregg has been a Truth student since 1991 and has been involved in many aspects of church volun-tarism. He served a three-year term on his Board of Trustees, including one year as Vice Chairman. Gregg said he experienced a profound shift when he was in his mid-twenties, an epiphany if you will. He found that he was called by a higher power to give to people and to enable others to give as well. That call led him to Unity. That call is what attracted Gregg to his fifteen-year career with United Way. Highlights of Gregg’s qualifications include:• Fifteen years successful fund-

raising and resource develop-ment experience.

• Strong interpersonal, communi-cation and organizational skills.

• Extensive experience training, facilitating, and coordinating a variety of partnership groups, committees, boards, staff and volunteers.

What philosophy is important to him? “Honoring Diversity and Respecting Differences.” What a perfect match for our church! Welcome, Gregg, to our Unity Ohana!

Gregg Zylstra

Rev. Sky St. John

2 Ka Leo O Le‘ahi • Unity Church of Hawai‘i • Spring 2006–

Our staff and Church contact informationChurch Growth Leads to New Staffingby Rev. Sky St. John

Unity of Hawaii’s Website Enhances Communicationby Steve Okino, Board of Trustees

With weekly Sunday service atten-dance approaching five hundred, our organizational needs have grown

tremendously. To meet the rising requirements of our church body, we are hiring two new individuals to fill long-awaited positions. In accordance with our commitment to honor our fiscal vision for 2006, both these positions are part-time, though we already know that these new employees give over and above what is expected of them. Alan Lemieux (pronounced “lay-mew”) is now our Volunteer Coordinator. Alan was already functioning in this position as a volun-teer and we quickly realized that more attention was needed in this critical arena. “The church ministry hinges on the success of the volunteer ministry,” says Rev. Sky St. John. “It’s the manifestation of the Hawaiian principle of Lau-lima—many hands working together.” Already, those who have interacted with Alan are impressed with his attention to detail, his rapid response to individual needs and his genuinely caring and nurturing spirit. Alan will work with Gregg Zylstra, our new Church Administrator, to make sure that anyone who

wants to serve will find a meaningful place in our ministry. Diana Nakagawa is one of those quiet, ef-ficient and dedicated workers who prefers to remain in the background. Diana was hired as a temporary assistant to Carolyn Smith, our Ac-countant, to help prepare for our audits. During that time, we were impressed with her intel-ligence and quick grasp of Church procedures and policies, and came to rely on her quiet but powerful support. Officially titled, “Office Support,” Diana will continue to work with Carolyn to help pro-cess our growing bookkeeping needs during the week, and at the same time will be cross-trained to cover other office and program positions.

Church administrative staff will each get to share some “Diana Time,” and whenever anyone of us goes on vacation or has sick leave, she will be able to step in and provide coverage. This aspect of Diana’s job will be a huge blessing for us all. We welcome these two new “gifts’ to our ministry and give thanks to God for sending them to us.

AlanLemieux

From podcasts and video to the latest on church finances—we’ve made it all avail-able to you at the click of a mouse. Our

website at http://www.unityhawaii.org is both our window to the world, and your best tool to stay up-to-date on developments and progress at your spiritual ohana. With our web content growing weekly, the best place to start is our home page. Right up front you’ll find a listing of what’s new, topics of interest, and coming events. Every item offers a link to additional information–and remember, if you get lost, just click on the Unity Church of Hawai‘i banner at the top of any page to take you back “home!” Newcomers have their own special space on our web, with information on where we’re located, how to contact us, the Unity movement, and our Sunday celebrations. And if you’re look-ing for a quick refresher on Unity beliefs, you can listen to Rev. Sky explain it in one word: OOMPA <http://unityhawaii.org/OOMPA.html>. Over the past year, we’ve tracked the progress we’ve made in the Ministry/Minister Review process with the Association of Unity Churches. Take a look at our Transition page <http://unityhawaii.org/transition.html>, follow the links on the left to the various documents and reports on the MMRT, and rejoice in how far we’ve come! Our latest web fea-tures take full advantage of the popularity of pod-casting. At our Podcasts page <http://unityhawaii.org/podcasts.html>, you can download selected lessons from Rev. Sky, and learn how to sub-

scribe to our podcasts so they’re automatically downloaded to your computer through the iTunes Music Store, Podcast.net, or other services. We’re also adding video excerpts; the first is Sky’s explanation of how he decided to re-turn to Hawai‘i and the lessons of that decision <http://unityhawaii.org/video/1-15-06.html>. You might recall it from his talk entitled, “God’s Will,” and it’s a fascinatingly human story of release and surrender–a perfect Unity lesson. Have a prayer need? A message for your Board of Trustees? Send it through the web-site. We’ve made it easy to communicate with us, and we’re committed to responding to you quickly. And we’re also sending out updates and announcements through our e-mail list, so make sure you’re subscribed; you can do that at the website, too. We’ll be adding new features and constant updates throughout the coming months, so please visit our site often. We know many are finding it helpful, as the number of site visitors has more than doubled to over 900 a month. Of course, we welcome your comments and sug-gestions for improving the site–please send them to mailto:webmaster@unityhawaii.org.

Unity Church of Hawai‘i3608 Diamond Head CircleHonolulu, HI 968�5Phone: 808-735-4436 Fax: 808-737-0890Website: www.unityhawaii.org

Rev. Sky St. JohnMinisterGregg ZylstraChurch AdministerRandi RobertsDirector of School & Infant Toddler CenterFae RuizOffice ManagerCarolyn SmithAccountantAlan LemieuxVolunteer CoordinatorAnthony JacksonMaintenance WorkerDiana NakagawaOffice SupportAlethea TrainDirector of MusicAnna RoseVolunteer Manager, Namasté Gifts & BooksLynn MorganUnity Wellness Center CoordinatorGreg WillsSound Technician

3Ka Leo O Le‘ahi • Unity Church of Hawai‘i • Spring 2006–

Upcoming events

Mission: To allow singles in the church congregation and the community at large to come together for fel-lowship and learning in a safe and inspirational setting. We believe that all people are created with sacred worth. It is imperitive that our ministries and outreaches are free of discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, physical disability, and sexual orientation. It is with love and in celebration of our unity, in the midst of wonderful diversity, that we affirm this position.

When: Friday, March 24, 2006Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pmWhere: Unity Church of Hawaii, in the Chapel 3608 Diamond Head Circle Cost: Love Offering Info: 735-4436Website: www.unityhawaii.org

Unity Singles Presents: (everyone welcome)

A special movie night featuring:The Story of A Course In Miracles

“The Story of A Course in Miracles”A remarkable 1-hour documentary film - “The Forgotten Song” is the inspiring story of how the Course came to be. It features Dr. William Thetford, and spans a 70-year period in the life of Dr. Helen Schucman, “scribe” of the Course. Dr. Schuc-man “scribed” the Course through a process of inner dictation she identified as coming from Jesus. A clinical and research psychologist and Professor of Medical Psychology, she was assisted by Dr. William Thetford, her department head, at Columbia Univer-sity School of Medicine in New York City.

Life is a StretchNew Yoga Class!

Jade Young will be conducting a new, gentle Yoga class, beginning the first Saturday in March, at 10:00 am at Unity Church at Diamond Head. The class will offer gentle yoga stretches that will relax the mind, strengthen the body and refresh the spirit. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Students at all levels of Yoga are welcome. Donations will be received. Call Jade at 808.734.5548 with questions.

Saturdays 10:00 amKula Room (formerly the “Heartuary”)

UNITY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Like writing, editing?An awesome opportunity awaits you on our “NEW” Newsletter Team! For more information call 735-4436. Leave a message for Alan Lemieux. Or e-mail volunteer@unityhawaii.org.

Matthew Fox at Unity Saturday, April 22nd!

Are sin and evil born in the flesh – or is it possible that there is original blessing in God’s sacred cosmos instead of original sin? Visionary theologian and best-selling author Matthew Fox is coming to Honolulu and will be doing a workshop at Unity Church of Hawaiʻi on Saturday, April 22nd, 10 AM – 2:30 PM. Creation Spirituality founder Matthew Fox challenges us to distinguish between spiritual fad and divine wisdom while walking a modern-day spiritual path. Creation Spirituality calls for a fresh infu-sion of joy and awe, of delight and enchantment into the practice of Christian-ity. Matthew challenges us to choose appreciation over information, and to recover our reverence for the earth as essential for a healthy spirituality. Calling for a “new reformation,” Fox says: “At this critical time in human and planetary history, when the earth is ravaged by fundamentalist religions operating from a punitive father theology the world over as well as by the violence of war, poverty, sexism, homophobia and eco-destruction, we need to gather those who offer a future that is one of compassion, creativity, joy and justice to stand up and speak our conscience together as never before. Religion ought to be part of the solution, not the problem.” Join Matthew Fox for this uplifting day of insights and wisdom. Cost for the workshop is $45 pre-registration or $50 at the door; checks payable to Unity Church of Hawaiʻi.

Contact persons for information and registration: Pat Blair 808.262.1120Jo An Gaines 808.988.3020 or 808.778.3020

4 Ka Leo O Le‘ahi • Unity Church of Hawai‘i • Spring 2006–

more events and thanks!

Judy Brooks is the cheerful face you have seen behind the Power Point station in the front of church every Sunday for the past 5 months. She moved to Hawai‘i in 1994 from Aus-tin, Texas where she has spent most of her adult life. Judy is a part time tutor for dyslexic children and also works on various projects at Tripler Hospital. She is single and enjoys bridge, swimming and various sew-ing hobbies. Please take a moment to thank her for her wonderful Power Point work every Sunday! Mahalo, Judy!

Star Volunteer! Halau Hula ‘O KaiwiBradford Lum’s hula classes are being consolidated into one, wonderful class, now scheduled to meet on Sunday afternoons at 1:00 pm, in Room 201. Dancers at all levels are welcome, and a love offering will be received.

Hula Classes (all levels)Sundays, 1:00 pm, Unity Church of Hawai‘i

Room 201

UNITY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Want to be of service to church?We honor your commitment to serve! Do you have a bit of free time and want to keep busy and active? Opportunities exist for individuals or couples available on a “as needed” basis. For more information call 735-4436. Leave a message for Alan Lemieux. Or e-mail volunteer@unityhawaii.org

Light dim?Wednesday Prayer and Meditation Service

7:00 pm @ Unity of Hawai‘i

Come and be brightened...

5Ka Leo O Le‘ahi • Unity Church of Hawai‘i • Spring 2006–

Kid kine stuffHere is a little treat for the little ones. These are from a publication, Wee Wisdom, which was started in 1898. The copyright has lapsed so we can freely share them with our keiki.

6 Ka Leo O Le‘ahi • Unity Church of Hawai‘i • Spring 2006–

Unity Wellness CenterMeet the professionals at our Wellness Center!Call the practitioners directly to set up your appointments.

Judith Bowman, L.Ac., RN, MPH, Diplomate of Acupuncture(808) 783-3�38(808) 735-2789• Acupuncture

Lynn Morgan, MA(808) 722-358�(808) 732-2�36• Energy Healing:

Healing Touch, Reiki• Holographic

Repatterning

Elmy Brown, MAFounding Member(808) 728-6060(808) 946-�0�4• Brain Gym• Energy Healing:

Reiki, Signature Cell Healing

Maryann Gianantoni, L.M.T., P.T.(808) 566-64�8(808) 429-64�8• Massage

Linda Friedman, MA, L.M.T.(808) 457-866�(808) 944-4588• Energy Healing:

Reconnective Healing, Reiki

• Hypnotherapy

Judy Vierck, B.E.O.(808) 277-0604• Aesthetician: Holistic

Facials• Energy Healing:

Reiki

Connie L. Moore, L.Ac., L.M.T., Diplomate of Acupuncture & Chinese Herbology(808) 735-7�07• Acupuncture• Energy Healing: Bowen• Herbology• Massage & Lomilomi

Got a Habit You’d Like to Change?Free Habit Changing Clinic

in the Aloha Courtyard with Unity Wellness

Center Practitioners

YSunday, March 19: 10 -11 a.m. & 12 :15 - 1:15 p.m.

YSunday, March 26: 10 - 11 a.m. onlyYSunday, April 2: 10 -11 a.m. &

12 :15 - 1:15 p.m.YSun, April 9 10 -11 a.m. &

12 :15 - 1:15 p.m.

The Unity Wellness Center recently kicked off a free habit changing clinic with a well attended group session covering the “Five Stages of Change” as described by James Prochaska. This session was led by Life and Business Coach, Richard “Shunya” Barton, a Wellness Center practitioner. Shunya described how a person “dances” forwards (and sometimes backwards) through the behavioral stages of precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. Practitioners will be offering their ser-vices for four Sundays (see schedule above). Self-healing support techniques including acupuncture, brain gym, energy healing, holographic repatterning, hypnotherapy, life coaching, massage, and play therapy will be offered. If you want to quit smok-ing and breathe the fullness of life, achieve your ideal weight, or let go of any negative habit(s), this clinic is your first step toward making that change a reality! Energy healing is offered weekly by Unity Wellness Center practitioners as part of the 7 p.m. Wednesday Prayer and Heal-ing Service. For additional information about available services and how to make appointments, please call the individual practitioners or go to our website at http://www.unityhawaii.org and click on Unity Wellness Center link.

Choose to Change Now!!

Jan FitzGerald, Psy.D.(808) 386-8630• Psychology and Play

Therapy

Richard “Shunya” Barton, L.M.T.(808) 222-8542• Energy Healing:

Sai Shakti• Massage & Lomilomi

Pat Bilyk, RN, IBCLC(808) 22�-2229• Energy Healing:

Healing Touch• Lactation Consultant

Heddy King, B.E.O.(808) 223-7�77(808) 536-8308• Aesthetician: Holistic

Facials• Energy Healing:

Cranial Sacral Therapy, Reiki, Signature Cell Healing

• Hypnotherapy

Chris Brown, L.M.T.(808) 392-0495• Massage & Lomilomi

Benita LauFounding Member(808) 94�-8724• Energy Healing:

Touch for Health

7Ka Leo O Le‘ahi • Unity Church of Hawai‘i • Spring 2006–

Community business support

One hour: Deep steam cleanse, exfoliation, mas-sage of shoulders/neck/face, hydration balancing, essential oil spritz and centering meditation. $50 (2 for $90).

8 Ka Leo O Le‘ahi • Unity Church of Hawai‘i • Spring 2006–

Volunteer opportunities, etc.

Metamorphosis Art Gallery at Unity

UNITY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

An opportunity for a creative innovative person is needed to create the Power Point Presentations for Sunday morning Services. Let the artist in you shine!For more information call 735-4436. Leave a message for Alan Lemieux. Or e-mail volunteer@unityhawaii.org

We love you all! Thank you!Tammy, Alyse, Alan, Danny

Attention Artists! Unity Church of Hawai‘i will be opening an art gallery in its courtyard to display the works of local artists. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in submitting work for consideration please contact Jay Anshutz at metamorphosisunity@yahoo.com.

Zamar

Aloha Connections at UnityFormerly the Hospitality Committee, our team was renamed to better reflect what we do . . . and what do we do? Aloha Con-nection plans and executes celebrations within the church for all notable occasions. We do holidays, reunions, anniversaries, visitor receptions, and any other occasion that deserves a celebration. Celebrations usually involve a potluck which requires volunteers to help decorate, arrange tables, clean-up, etc. In addition to cel-ebrations, we organize Open Mike Nights. These events require the help of many volunteers. If you like FOOD and PEOPLE and want to get involved with Aloha Con-nections, please call Martha Schneringer at 808.949.�879 or leave a message in the Unity office.

9Ka Leo O Le‘ahi • Unity Church of Hawai‘i • Spring 2006–

CalabashSpiritual Support for Parentsby Dr. Jan FitzGerald, Psy.D.

Makana Gifting Program Beginsby Jim Hollyer, Makana Team member

The Board of Trustees has blessed our Church with the ability to share a portion of our abundance with others in Hawai‘i, the U.S. and the world through a new gifting program. (See Board Shorts for more info). Starting in March 2006, the “Makana” Team, Hawaiian for gift, will be accepting applications for minor assistance to individuals and non-profit and for profit organizations that reach out into our community without discrimination. Applications are due the first of each month and the team will make that months’ decisions by the 20th of the same month. The amount of money available each month for gifts will vary. For more information and the standard application form, visit our website at: http://www.unityhawaii.org/makana.html or stop by the office for an application. If you know of a worthy cause, please recommend that they send in a complete application.

Moving out of the “To Me” StageWe’ve been hearing on Sundays about the stages of spiritual development, and what it takes to move through them. As parents, we want to do this for our children as well as for ourselves. But sometimes–lots of times--it sure feels like the kids are doing things TO me. And sometimes they are, but that’s another whole story. MOST of the time, they are just doing their job, which is to learn and grow. One of my favorite examples is from the infant stage. Remember when your little one was learning to eat with a spoon? Remember when the spoon fell on the floor, and you picked it up and handed it back to your little darling, who took it from you, smiled in delight, and then the little so-and-so held it out over the floor, and dropped it again. And again. And again!? It sure looked intentional! Well, it was...and it wasn’t. The big difference between human brains and those of most other creatures is the cortex, which controls the intentional stuff we do. Un-derneath it is the midbrain, which contains the reflex programming. Like the clinging reflex, babies have to learn to control that reflex, so they can relax their grip and let go when they intend to. Most of the cortex is devoted to stopping our reflexes! When we have a reflex (impulse) to do something, we can stop ourselves. Frogs can’t do that. If a small object passes within reach of a frog, its tongue will dart out to grab it. Doesn’t matter whether it’s a pebble or a mosquito. No cortex, no control. As the human brain grows, new connections are made, various reflexes sort of “wake up,” and a new behavior occurs. Like grabbing anything within arms length. Don’t babies love to grab things! And then they learn to control that, so they can not grab things again. Once they get that under control, they start reaching and grabbing things that are just beyond arm’s length. And then they get that one under control and go on to something else. Maybe dropping a spoon to see it fall. “Thank you mom, dad, for picking it up, so I can see if it does that again the next time!” And when the concept of gravity has been fully established and that behavior is under control, it will stop, and another will follow. No, they’re not doing it TO us. They’re just doing it. It’s what they’re supposed to be doing. It’s their job. I find it helpful to remind myself of this when I’m irritated with my children’s behavior. When I stop taking it personally, I calm down. I can think more clearly. I can talk about what is happening or needs to happen, and what the consequences will be of the various options my children are likely to consider. Children respond well to this kind of clarity. I like the infant example because it is so clear, and so frustrating that everyone remembers it. The wonderful thing about children is how quickly they are growing and learning. They go through thousands of behaviors. The single reflexes and the controls on them combine and build into amazingly complex sequences–standing, walking, running, jumping, leaping, spinning, twisting, climbing, skateboarding–on sidewalks, curbs, benches, railings, stairs... “What are you doing!? You’re going to break your neck! How many times have I told you not to...!?” And then to your friend, “I swear he does it just to upset me!” Well, maybe. But probably not. “Is it always easy? No, it’s not so easy.But is it good? Yes, it’s good, it is good, it is good!”

Family Support ForumThis is a space that we will use for parents to share about what they learned about parenting “The Unity Way”. Parents can ask questions for others to offer - more long-range behaviors and thinking, rather than emergency situations. Jan is interested in hosting a collaborative parenting support group for parents where parents can share ideas with each other. Contact her at <drjan@hawaii.rr.com> with your interests.

UNITY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

We honor your commitment to serve!Volunteers always welcomed!For more information call 735-4436. Leave a message for Alan Lemieux. Or e-mail volunteer@unityhawaii.org

Infant-Toddler Facility to Open!by Rev. Sky St. John

Grief Support Group A monthly grief support group is forming at Unity Church in March 2006 for anyone experiencing a loss of a loved

one or friend. For more Information please contact: Karen Scharff at 808.599.5635 or <alohashoes@hawaii.rr.com>.

After months of remodeling, repairs, staff training and departmental inspections, First Steps Infant-Toddler Center is about to open. Every inspection has been passed and the final paperwork is in process. First Steps represents an expansion of the ages served by Unity School and will be one of the few facilities in the State providing day care for infants and toddlers. Special staff have already been trained and employed for the new facility, and there is a waiting list of children to be registered in the program. The driving force in the creation of this new addition to our school has been Randi Roberts, the Director of Unity School. Randi has dealt with a seemingly never-ending series of inspections and repairs to what we call “the cottage.” An old building, it required massive renovations, additions, and environmental modifications, in order to be approved by the Department of Health. Ultimately, however, we know that this special kind of care will bless both the community and the Church as we work together to provide the highest and best care for the littlest of our beloved children. Our con-gratulations to Randi and all the staff of Unity School—we celebrate your love and dedication to Hawai‘i’s keiki.

Purpose and particularsA percentage of money from all sources coming to the Unity Church of Hawaii at

Diamond Head, Oahu, Hawaii is being made available for worthy projects, organizations, andindividuals in the community surrounding our church, and within Hawaii, the United States andthe world. The members of our church believe in sharing our prosperity. Makana, Hawaiianfor ‘gift’, is our way to contributing to the greater good of the world.

The amount of funds distributed on a monthly varies. Ask for what you need, and wewill decide if we can fund all, partial, or none of your request. Funds are distributed in theforms of checks, direct payments for goods or services, gift certificates, etc. Right now, wewant to give to as many different organizations or individuals as possible so successiverequests for funds, if you were already successful, will require a wait of 12 months from thetime you received the last makana.

The Unity Church of Hawaii believes strongly that EVERYONE has sacred worth andthus, we ONLY support efforts that are free of discrimination. Below you will be asked to stateyour non-discrimination policies with the clients you serve. If your organization excludespeople on the basis of race, color, gender, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity,physical disability, and/or sexual orientation, then this is not the right gifting program for yourneeds.

The Makana Gifting Review Committee will meet early each month to allocate funds tothe highest priority needs. Projects will be reviewed by a selection committee made up ofchurch members (not including the Reverend or Board chair) and objectively ranked onmeeting the following criteria (among others): the magnitude of impact of our investment,alignment with our church’s vision of inclusiveness, and what specifically you need funds for.We do not give money for any overhead costs. You will be notified by the 20th of each month,if not earlier, about the status of your request. If you do not get funded on the first application,keep trying unless we advise otherwise. We may also hold-over applications to the nextmonth if it is worthy, but we have just exhausted out funds for the month.

All funded individuals and entities will have their name (only initials in the case ofindividuals) and city posted publicly on the Unity Church of Hawaii’s website. However, theamount of funds will not be posted.

The Makana review committee will also accept ideas for support from Unity Church ofHawaii members. Please fill out the application form fully for requests on others behalf’s.

Questions can addressed to our contact information at the top of this document.Please mail/fax/email the completed application to the address above by the close of businessby the 1st day of the month to be considered for that months’ review process.

Unity Church of Hawaii - Makana Gifting Program – March 2006. V1.0

�0 Ka Leo O Le‘ahi • Unity Church of Hawai‘i • Spring 2006–

Unity Board Shortsby Mindy Tucker, President, Board of Trustees

Unity Board Information

Aloha! As always, your Unity Church is alive with the passion of its members. I am delighted to share with you some

of the wonderful things that are happening here on our campus.

Church Receives Clearance from the Unity Ministry Review Process! In a letter dated February 14, 2006 we were informed that the Ministry Review Team that was assigned to review Unity Church of Hawai‘i has concluded that the Church has accomplished the necessary “Required Plan of Action” items, and thereby declared qualified for clearance. The Team, comprised of Rev. Cindy Sickler, Rev. Margaret Mohit, and Rev. Ann Thomas, Case Manager, noted that the Church met the schedule and regularly kept them informed as to our progress. All but one aspect of the Required Plan of Action were accomplished within the allotted time frame. The following requirement was waived:

Have an in-depth evaluation by certified church/minister coach, Rev. Beth Ann Suggs and follow recommendations set forth in her report. Initial contact made with Rev. Suggs by November 1, 2005.

The Church did make contact with Rev. Suggs prior to November 1st. Due to busy schedules it was not possible to arrange for the in-depth evaluation. The Team was in agreement that the Board of Trustees sought other ways to as-sure board assessment and continuing training. Therefore, it was deemed that this requirement was fulfilled in spirit. Thank you to every congregant, every staff member, and to the Board of Trustees for this amazing demonstration of their commitment to healing and growing our Church home!

The Board Welcomes Melissa FortThe Board of Trustees welcomes Melissa Fort who is looking forward to sharing her talents, experiences, gifts, and professional training to support the Church that has given her so much in years past. Melissa started the Adults of Unity in 1998, has facilitated book study groups, and assisted in Children’s Sunday school. Melissa is currently co-chairing the Spiritual Film Festival that is happening this summer. Previously, Me-lissa served on another church board and several condominium boards, has owned several small businesses, and has been in sales and market-ing for 20 years. Melissa considers it an honor to serve on the Unity Board and to be a part of supporting the mission of our church.

Chapel Renewal ProjectAt their November 2005 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved a plan to give the sanctuary a refreshing and functional renovation. Funding

in an amount up to $40,000 has been allocated from the Legacies of Aloha Special Projects Fund unless otherwise noted. Deana Davenport has taken the lead for initiating these 12 tasks:

1. Install lava rock wall on both sides of the stained glass.

2. Install Brazilian Koa wood flooring on the stage and steps. Extend stage so that the center projects out towards the congrega-tion (the opposite of the way it is inverted now.)

3. Install new carpet. This expenditure has been graciously funded by our Japanese wedding contactors UI Production and Glo-ria Bridal/Attend Services Inc.

4. Refurbish and recover pews (two at a time).

5. Install additional light bar and lights. Also, install a full-sized projection screen and permanently mounted projector all with remote controls. This part of the plan was funded with generous donations from the congregation last November. All equipment has already been installed.

6. Elevate the piano to the level of the second step.

7. Remove wall behind/beside organ to make room for the band and keep the stage area clear.

8. Install passive air vents in the ceiling for cooling.

9. Replace light fixtures with combination light/ceiling fan fixtures. This will enable us to remove existing fans and corresponding unsightly cables.

10. Build an elevated sound booth platform with a pony wall at the rear of the sanctu-ary including opening a window for better ventilation. Build a matching booth on the opposite side for the purposes of symmetry and potential use for additional cameras.

11. Install drapes along the back wall for acous-tic control. Consider matching panels at the front of the sanctuary beside the organ and on the wall with the A/C unit.

12. Install stained glass pieces along the top of the sanctuary above the sliding doors (cur-rently has only plain glass). Each panel, ten in total, will contain the symbol of the world’s major religions.

Monthly Tithes and Our Makana TeamAt the December 2005 Board meeting, the Trust-ees made a commitment to tithe 10 percent of what we receive to worthy causes. In September 2005 the Board also authorized the creation of the Makana Team whose express purpose is to research gifting “opportunities” in our commu-nity, the nation, and the world (see the link on our website for more information on the Makana Team and gifting applications). Wow! we’re putting our spiritual beliefs about wealth into practice! At the December 2005 Board meeting,

the Board decided to allocate the 10 percent tithe for 2006 as follows:• Unity Institute ........................................ 7%• Association of Unity Churches .............. 7%• Silent Unity ............................................ 7%• West Central Region for

Unity Churches ................................. 7%• Unity Preschool .................................... 15%• CEP Student Scholarship Fund ............ 15%• Board Discretionary Fund ...................... 5%• Makana Team ....................................... 37%

Branding/New LogoIn November 2005 the Board decided that our church needed a “brand.” Branding is the prac-tice of creating an identity and communication outcome that reflects the vision, culture, pur-pose, and personality of an organization. The first step being undertaken is the devel-opment of a church logo. After efforts to identify the essential components of the logo, a profes-sional logo company was selected to develop the logo concept we wanted. In all, thirteen concepts were offered for consideration, and the board, committee, and selected individuals helped narrow the selection down to a single concept for further development. Key concepts include depicting our unique church location, the diverse spiritual paths we support, and our connection and oneness with God. We are currently still in the refinement process for the final design. Following the final development of the logo design, we will work on incorporating the new logo and its message into all of our communi-cations media, including letterhead, web site, bulletins and flyers, media communications, and signage. Our intention is to create a synergy and consistency between what we convey in all of our outward church communications and what people experience in their participation and commitment to our church home.

Finance UpdateThe review of financial statements from 2003 and 2004 has been completed by our CPA firm, Kobayashi, Doi & Lum. In their management letter, they noted we needed to create a Personnel Policy Manual, develop a Capitalization Policy, send duplicate bank statements to the treasurer, conduct an Inventory of Fixed Assets, and re-view our Policy for Payment of General Excise Tax. The Finance Committee has created a plan of action to address those issues. The accoun-tant, Carolyn Smith, has prepared a preliminary financial statement for 2005. We expect that the full audit by our CPA firm will be completed in June. Copies of all financial statements may be perused in the Church office.

Financial StatementsFor the Month of January 2006 Actual BudgetOperating Income $58,526 $48,693Operating Expense <$40,783> <$44,068> Net Operating Income $�7,743 $4,625Net Investments/ Bequests/Depreciation $669 <$4,�67>Net Income $18,412 $458

��Ka Leo O Le‘ahi • Unity Church of Hawai‘i • Spring 2006–

. . . and moreBoard Briefs – November/December/January/FebruaryNovember 2005• Authorized financial audits for years 2003, 2004, and 2005• Approval of Sanctuary Renewal Plans and Funding• Extended Rev. Sky’s six-month employment contract through

2/28/06

December 2005• Superseded November’s decision for full financial audits for years

2003 and 2004 changing to financial review for those two years and only having a full financial audit for year 2005

• Allocated monthly tithes for 2006• Presented Rev. Sky’s Performance Review• Reviewed Proposed Bylaws

January 2006• Looked at two series of logos and provided prioritized feedback for

further development.• Authorized funding for First Annual Volunteer Appreciation Banquet.

February 2006• Accepted Letter of Clearance from our Ministry/Minster Review Team.• Hired Rev. Sky St. John as our Senior Minister and established his

manse allowance.• Elected 2006 Officers

Our Board of TrusteesWith the board election on Sunday, February 26, 2006, the current Board of Trustees for Unity Church of Hawai‘i is now comprised of the following people:

New Japanese Wedding Contract SignedThe Japanese wedding business has played an important part of our church history. For many years our building was buzzing with weddings that happened almost every hour on the hour. That changed several years ago, with the en-trance of many other churches into the arena, and the opening of privately owned and exclusive chapels—built just for weddings. The wedding business at our church decreased, and so did its accompanying income. But thanks to UI Production, Inc., our pri-mary wedding broker, a new exclusive contract has been signed with UI, Attend Service, Inc., and Gloria Bridal Japan, Inc., which will guar-antee us a minimum number of weddings per

month for the next three years. Both the num-ber of weddings per month and the fee charged increases over the three year contract period. In addition, the joint wedding companies are pledg-ing a minimum of $7,000 towards our sanctuary renovation. It is planned that Unity Church of Hawai‘i will begin to offer mid-level weddings to young couples. This is a niche that has not yet been tapped, and there is a positive outlook for in-creasing business in this area. The Board of Trustees feels that this new contract is a win-win situation for all the parties involved, and will open the way for our expansion into this highly competitive field.

Mindy TuckerPresident

Louise SamuelVice President

Melissa FortTreasurer

Jerry DentonSecretary

Rosie Kaiser

Steve Okino

Jack Randall

Ron Staton

Rev. Sky St. JohnSenior Minister

Fred Schneringer

�2 Ka Leo O Le‘ahi • Unity Church of Hawai‘i • Spring 2006–

Unity Church of Hawai‘i3608 Diamond Head CircleHonolulu, Hawai‘i 968�5 USAwww.unityhawaii.org

Unity Church of Hawai‘i

More about us!

Ka Leo O Le‘ahi

Unity Church of Hawai‘i3608 Diamond Head CircleHonolulu, HI 968�5Phone: 808-735-4436 Fax: 808-737-0890Website: www.unityhawaii.org

Administrative Office ................................735-4436Rev. Sky St. John ......................................revsky@unityhawaii.orgChaplain Visitation ....................................by appointmentMinisterial Spiritual Counseling ...............by appointmentUnity School and Infant Toddler Center ..735-7666Unity Bookstore .........................................735-4436 Ext. 3�0Unity Wellness Center (appointments) ....735-4436 Ext. 306 Unity Singles ..............................................94�-7549Dial-a-Prayer and Prayer Request............(24/7) 734-�977Silent Unity Dial-a-Prayer..........................(24/7) �-800-NOW-PRAY (�-800-669-7729)

In this issue ... Rev. Sky St. John permanent ...p. �New Church Administrator ........p. �New staffing ..............................p. 2Unity’s website..........................p. 2Wow! Hot events ......................p. 3 & 4Star volunteer ...........................p. 4Kid kine stuff .............................p. 5Unity Wellness Center ..............p. 6Habit changing workshops .......p. 6Community businesses ............p. 7Volunteer opportunities .............p. 8Spiritual support for parents .....p. 9First Steps Infant-Toddler Ctr....p. 9Grief support group...................p. 9Makana gifting program ............p. 9Unity Board Shorts ...................p. �0 & ��Board of Trustees .....................p. ��New Japanese Wedding Co. ....p. �2

Yes, Unity Church of Hawai‘i is a bit different – we forgive your past with-out question, love you unconditionally, and are excited about helping you along your unique path to Oneness.

–Nonprofit Organization

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