Minister’s Musing: Feb 18, 2026

Today marks the first day of Lent, the beginning of a sacred inward journey. In the Unity tradition, we understand Lent not as a season of deprivation, but as a season of gentle release and conscious realignment. The 40 days symbolize a period of spiritual gestation - a time of preparation, purification, and awakening. Metaphysically, Lent represents the wilderness experience within us: the space where distractions fall away and we come face to face with our thoughts, beliefs, and habits. It is here that we are invited to surrender what no longer serves our spiritual growth and to strengthen our awareness of the indwelling Christ Presence. Rather than focusing on giving something up as sacrifice, we approach Lent as an opportunity to let go of fear, limitation, and false identity. It is a time to fast from negative thinking and feast on Truth. Just as Jesus emerged from the wilderness grounded in divine identity and purpose, we too can use these 40 days to remember who we truly are - expressions of Divine Love, guided and sustained from within. Lent becomes not a somber obligation, but a sacred unfolding. Affirmation: I release what no longer serves me and awaken to the Christ wisdom rising within.   

Minister’s Musings, Feb 10, 2026

In Unity, Valentine’s Day is more than romance and roses—it is a celebration of Divine Love as our very nature. Charles Fillmore taught that love is a spiritual power, centered in the heart, that harmonizes, unifies, and heals. This love is not limited to one person or one relationship. It is the Christ presence within us, expressing as compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and self-respect. When we understand love as a divine faculty, we move beyond seeking it from the outside and begin radiating it from within. Valentine’s Day becomes a sacred invitation: to practice loving thoughts, to speak words that bless, to forgive what has hardened the heart, and to honor ourselves as worthy expressions of God. Whether partnered or single, we are called to embody love in action —toward friends, family, community, and even those with whom we disagree. Love is not merely something we fall into; it is something we consciously live. 

Affirmation: Divine Love flows through me, uniting my heart with all creation. 
Love and Light , Rev. Sheryl

Minister's Musings, Feb 4, 2026

Healing is not something we have to earn or chase—it is inherent in us as an expression of God. In Unity teachings, healing is the natural activity of divine life restoring harmony in mind, body, and spirit. Charles Fillmore taught that life is always seeking to express wholeness, and when we align our thoughts with Truth, the body responds. Healing begins when we remember who we are: spiritual beings, animated by an intelligence that knows how to renew, repair, and restore. Even when symptoms appear, the healing presence has not left us; it is waiting to be acknowledged and allowed to work.

We activate healing through conscious cooperation with Spirit. Prayer, meditation, forgiveness, rest, right thinking, and loving self-care are not passive acts—they are powerful spiritual practices that open the way for healing to flow. As we release fear, judgment, and resistance, and replace them with faith, compassion, and trust in God’s indwelling presence, we create the inner conditions for healing to unfold in its perfect way and time. Healing is not forcing change; it is allowing divine order to reassert itself.

Affirmation:

The healing life of God is active within me now. I align my mind and heart with Truth, and I allow wholeness, harmony, and well-being to express in every area of my life. And so it is.

Love and Light , Rev. Sheryl

Minister’s Musings - Jan. 28, 2026

Minister's Musings: When events in the world feel horrifying, our nervous systems can easily move into fear, anger, or despair. Yet peace is not something we wait to experience once circumstances improve - it is a spiritual practice we choose, moment by moment. Being peaceful does not mean being indifferent or disengaged; it means anchoring ourselves in the Presence of God so that we are not overwhelmed by what we witness. From that inner stillness, we can respond with clarity, compassion, and wisdom rather than being swept away by reactivity. Peace becomes the ground from which meaningful, loving action arises.

In times like these, tending to our inner state is not selfish - it is essential. When we cultivate peace through prayer, meditation, and mindful awareness, we create space for divine guidance to move through us. We remember that even in the midst of chaos, God’s love is active, holding all of life. By choosing peace within, we become a stabilizing presence in our families, our communities, and the world. Our calm does not deny suffering; it offers healing. Our peace becomes a quiet testimony that love is still at work.

Affirmation:

I choose peace, even in the face of frightening events.

I anchor myself in the Presence of God, where love, wisdom, and compassion prevail.

From this inner peace, I respond to the world with courage and grace.

Minister’s Musings - Jan 21, 2026

January 21, 2026 Rev. Sheryl Padgett
January’s spiritual power is faith, the ability to trust and believe in the unseen. In Unity teachings, faith corresponds to the center of the brain, reminding us that faith is not developed by listening to the outer world’s noise, opinions, or fears, but by tuning in to the still, steady voice of Spirit within. Faith is not blind belief; it is an inner knowing that grows as we practice spiritual listening. Each morning, as I move through my Twelve Powers drill, when I say my faith affirmation, I gently place my hands over my ears. This simple gesture is a sacred reminder to quiet the world’s clamor and return my attention to the Presence of God within me, where Truth is always speaking.

In a culture that constantly demands our attention, faith invites us to practice holy discernment - to choose what we listen to and what we release. When we stifle the outer noise, we make room for divine guidance, inner wisdom, and spiritual assurance. Faith grows stronger not through force, but through daily, intentional practices that turn us inward. As we contemplate January’s power of faith, we remember that every time we listen within, we are strengthening our trust in God, in life, and in the unfolding good that is already at work.

Affirmation:

Faith is awakened in me now and I trust in the Divine as the Source of all the good that is coming to me now.

Love and Light

Rev. Sheryl

Minister’s Musing - Jan. 14

Martin Luther King Jr. Day invites us to remember a life rooted in spiritual conviction and lived faith. From a Unity perspective, Dr. King exemplified the power of faith expressed through love, nonviolence, and justice. He understood that true change begins in consciousness—and that when we align our thoughts, words, and actions with divine truth, we become instruments of healing in the world.

Unity honors Dr. King not only for what he stood against, but for what he stood for: the sacred worth of every person, the oneness of humanity, and the transforming power of love in action. His legacy challenges us to move beyond belief alone and to embody our faith through compassion, courage, and a commitment to justice that uplifts all.

Affirmation:
I honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by living my faith in action. Guided by divine love, I stand for justice, dignity, and the sacred worth of every person. I choose nonviolence, compassion, and courage as I help create a world that reflects our spiritual oneness.

Minister’s Musings Dec. 17

In the biblical Christmas story, humility is the quiet thread that weaves together heaven and earth. The Christ—the Divine within—is not born in a palace, but in a stable; the announcement is not made first to kings, but to shepherds; the holy arrives not with fanfare, but in simplicity. This sacred story reminds us that the energy of Divine Love does not require grand displays to be present—it out pictures itself most powerfully through openness, trust, and a willingness to receive. Humility, then, is not thinking less of ourselves, but gently releasing the ego’s need to control so that Spirit may lead.

At Christmas, we are invited to practice this same humility in our own lives by softening our hearts, listening more deeply, and allowing love to be born anew within us. When we choose humility, we make room for peace, compassion, and joy to arise naturally, just as the timeless story of the manger teaches us.

Affirmation: “I humbly open my heart to the Christ within, allowing divine love to be born and expressed through me.” Love and Light , Rev. Sheryl

Minister’s Musings: Dec. 3

During the holiday season, when schedules fill and emotions run high, it’s easy to slip into stress, worry, or frustration without even noticing. True peace begins when we become aware of our inner state - when we can pause long enough to say, “Oh, my vibration is low right now.” That awareness alone is a spiritual victory. It invites us to step out of reactivity and back into our divine center, where peace is not something to chase but something we already are.

Raising our vibration is a practice of returning to Truth: taking a deep conscious breath, speaking a word of gratitude, choosing compassion, or simply sitting in stillness to remember God’s presence. Each mindful shift, no matter how small, lifts us into the peace that surpasses understanding. As we navigate this busy season, may we choose peace from the inside out, again and again.

Affirmation: I am a radiant center of peace. Wherever I go, I bring the calm presence of God.

Minister’s Musings: Nov. 30

As we move into this season of Thanksgiving, my heart is especially full. Charles Fillmore reminds us in The Revealing Word that gratitude is “a great magnifying power,” one that increases and expands the good already present in our lives. Gratitude isn’t just a polite response - it is a spiritual energy that lifts our consciousness into a higher awareness of God’s ever-unfolding good.

As I pause and reflect this year, I can feel that magnifying power at work. Every moment I stop and give thanks, something inside opens, softens, and expands. Gratitude turns the ordinary into the sacred and helps us see the Divine lovingly active in all things.

And truly, I am so grateful to be part of this beautiful spiritual family. Serving alongside you, praying with you, growing with you - these are blessings I cherish deeply.

Thank you for the love, the laughter, the willingness to show up authentically, and the way we model Truth.

As we gather with loved ones or keep the holiday quietly in our hearts, may we each feel the warmth of Spirit’s presence and the joy of knowing we are connected in a circle of love and acceptance.

Affirmation: “With every breath, I give thanks, and my gratitude magnifies the good in my life.” Love and Light , Rev. Sheryl

Minister’s Musings: Nov 19

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to gather with our Native brothers and sisters in the spirit of understanding, healing, and unity. This sacred time of sharing reminds us that gratitude is not just a feeling - it is a way of being. In Unity, we teach that gratitude opens the heart to the ever-present good of God. When we give thanks for all of life - its beauty, its diversity, and even its challenges - we awaken to the truth that we are one family in Spirit, each expression a vital part of the whole.

As we listen, learn, and break bread together, may our gratitude become a living prayer that blesses the world.

Affirmation: With an open heart and thankful spirit, I honor the divine in all people and celebrate our shared oneness in God.

Love and Light
Rev. Sheryl