Minister’s Musings April 15, 2026
Minister's Musings Rev. Sheryl Padgett
There are moments in life when it’s easy to feel pulled by headlines, conversations, and the rapid pace of change around us. Yet our spiritual practice gently reminds us that we are not here to be carried away by outer conditions, but to anchor ourselves in a deeper awareness.
We are invited to return, again and again, to the still point within—the place where clarity, wisdom, and peace reside. From that centered place, we are better able to respond rather than react, to listen more deeply, and to bring a steady, grounded presence into the world. As we move through these times, we are also reminded of the quiet but powerful role our consciousness plays in the collective experience.
The thoughts we choose, the beliefs we nurture, and the vision we hold all contribute to the larger whole. When we intentionally cultivate hope, compassion, and trust in the unfolding good, we become part of the healing and uplifting energy that our communities—and our nation—so deeply need.
Affirmation: II hold the highest vision for our country. I affirm wisdom, unity, and compassion guiding every heart and every decision. I trust that divine order is unfolding for the highest good of all.
Love and Light Rev. Sheryl
Minister’s Musings April 2, 2026
Minister's Musings, Rev. Sheryl Padgett
One of the things I love most about Easter is that it arrives in the season of spring. Everywhere we look, life is pushing upward. Flowers bloom from bulbs that seemed buried and forgotten. Trees begin to bud again after months of stillness. The earth itself becomes a living sermon, reminding us that what appears dormant is often quietly preparing for new life. I have always loved spring because it speaks so clearly of resurrection. It reminds us that darkness never has the final word. The light was never truly gone — it was simply waiting to break through again.
That is the message of Easter for all of us. We all go through seasons when life feels heavy, uncertain, or hidden in shadow. But Easter reminds us that the Christ life within us can never be buried for long. There is a strength in us greater than sorrow, greater than fear, greater even than what seems lost. New life is always trying to emerge. Hope is always trying to rise. And just as the dawn follows the longest night, Spirit is always calling us forward into something more beautiful, more alive, and more whole. This Easter, may we trust the divine life stirring within us and remember: what is real in us is always ready to rise.
Affirmation:
The light of Christ is alive in me. I rise with new strength, new hope, and new life.
Minister’s Musings March 27, 2026
Minister’s Musing: Rev. Sheryl
As we enter Holy Week, we are invited into more than the remembrance of a sacred story—we are invited into our own sacred journey. Palm Sunday begins with celebration, but we know the road ahead will ask for courage, surrender, faith, and trust. Metaphysically, the journey into Jerusalem represents our movement into a higher state of consciousness—a willingness to enter more deeply into peace, truth, and spiritual purpose. Jesus did not simply travel to a city; he chose the higher way, even knowing it would require everything of him. Holy Week gently asks each of us: Where am I being called to choose the higher way in my own life?
This week is a tender and powerful invitation to let go of what no longer serves us and to make room for the Christ presence to rise more fully within. There may be parts of us ready to release fear, resentment, old stories, or ways of being that no longer fit who we are becoming. And there is always something new waiting to be born. Holy Week reminds us that even when the path is not easy, it is holy—and it leads us toward resurrection, renewal, and deeper life. May you walk this week with an open heart, trusting that Spirit is guiding you every step of the way.
Affirmation
I choose the higher way with courage and grace.
I release what no longer serves my soul.
The Christ within me leads me into peace, renewal, and new life.
And so it is.
Minister’s Musing March 12, 2026
Minister’s Musing: Rev. Sheryl
As the days grow a little longer and the first signs of spring begin to appear, nature quietly reminds us that life is always renewing itself. Beneath the surface of the soil, seeds that seemed dormant are stirring with new life. In much the same way, the Lenten season invites us into a sacred period of inner renewal. Lent is not about sacrifice for its own sake; it is about reflection, release, and awakening. Just as the earth softens to make room for new growth, we are invited to soften our hearts, let go of old patterns, and make space for the new life of Spirit to emerge within us.
Spring and Lent together become a powerful spiritual metaphor. They remind us that transformation often begins in stillness and unseen places. The light is returning to the world, and it is returning within us as well. Each moment of prayer, each act of forgiveness, each quiet decision to choose love over fear is like sunlight touching the soil of our soul. Something beautiful is always trying to grow through us.
Affirmation:
As new life awakens in the earth, new life awakens in me. I release the old, welcome the new, and allow the divine life within me to flourish.
Minister’s Musing: March 5, 2026
After being away on vacation, there is something deeply comforting about coming home. The familiar sights, the rhythm of daily life, and the simple joy of being in one’s own space remind us that home is more than a place—it is a feeling of belonging. Traveling can refresh and inspire us, but returning home often brings a quiet awareness of how grateful we are for the life and community that hold us. It also offers a gentle moment to reflect, integrate the experiences we’ve had, and step back into our lives with renewed appreciation.
Spiritually, coming home is something we do again and again. Whenever life pulls us outward into busyness, worry, or distraction, we can pause, breathe, and return to the sacred center within us. In that stillness we remember that the presence of God has never left us. Home is always within, waiting to welcome us back with peace, wisdom, and love.
Affirmation:
I return to the quiet center within me.
I am grounded, grateful, and at home in Spirit.
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