Minister’s Musings June 3, 2026

Right thinking is more than positive thinking—it is aligning our minds with spiritual truth.

Charles Fillmore taught that our thoughts are formative, helping to shape our experience of

life. When we allow fear, limitation, or judgment to dominate our thinking, we often feel

disconnected from our divine potential. Right thinking invites us to consciously choose

thoughts that reflect the presence of God within us: thoughts of love, wisdom, abundance,

peace, and possibility.

Each day presents countless opportunities to direct our attention toward what is life-giving and

true. As we practice spiritual awareness, we learn to replace old patterns of doubt with faith

and trust in the Divine Presence that is always at work in our lives. Right thinking does not

deny challenges; it empowers us to meet them with a higher perspective, knowing that every

circumstance can become a pathway to greater understanding and growth.

Affirmation:

I align my thoughts with Divine Truth. Love, wisdom, and peace guide my mind, and I trust the

Spirit within me to direct my life in perfect ways.

Charles Fillmore taught that our thoughts are formative, helping to shape our experience of

life. When we allow fear, limitation, or judgment to dominate our thinking, we often feel

disconnected from our divine potential. Right thinking invites us to consciously choose

thoughts that reflect the presence of God within us: thoughts of love, wisdom, abundance,

peace, and possibility.

Each day presents countless opportunities to direct our attention toward what is life-giving and

true. As we practice spiritual awareness, we learn to replace old patterns of doubt with faith

and trust in the Divine Presence that is always at work in our lives. Right thinking does not

deny challenges; it empowers us to meet them with a higher perspective, knowing that every

circumstance can become a pathway to greater understanding and growth.

Affirmation:

I align my thoughts with Divine Truth. Love, wisdom, and peace guide my mind, and I trust the

Spirit within me to direct my life in perfect ways.

Minister’s Musings May 20, 2026

Minister’s Musing:

As the seasons change here in the mountains, there is a special kind of joy that begins to fill our hearts and our community. This time of year, many of our beloved friends and members make their way back up from the valley to spend the summer among the pines once again. There is something deeply comforting and uplifting about seeing familiar faces return—sharing hugs, stories, laughter, and the warmth of connection renewed.

Joy is often found in these simple sacred moments. It lives in reunion, in belonging, and in the quiet reminder that we are never walking this journey alone. In a world that can sometimes feel hurried and heavy, joy calls us back to gratitude for one another and for the gift of community. Each smile, each handshake, each shared conversation becomes a reminder that Spirit continues to move through our lives in beautiful and unexpected ways.

Affirmation:

Divine joy fills my heart and overflows into my life. I welcome each day with gratitude, connection, and love. I rejoice in the blessing of community, and I celebrate the sacred joy that surrounds us all.

Minister’s Musings May 17, 2026

Minister's Musings

There is a beautiful spiritual meaning behind the word Namaste. Often translated as “The divine in me honors the divine in you,” it reminds us that beneath our different personalities, opinions, struggles, and stories, we are all expressions of the same sacred Presence. When we greet one another with this awareness, we move beyond surface appearances and remember our shared humanity and divinity. In a world that can sometimes feel divided and hurried, Namaste calls us back to reverence, compassion, and connection.

What if we practiced Namaste not only as a greeting, but as a way of living? Imagine looking at each person - family member, stranger, coworker, even those who challenge us - and silently affirming: The light in me sees the light in you. This simple shift can soften judgment, deepen understanding, and open the heart. As we recognize the sacred worth within ourselves and others, we become instruments of peace in the world.

Minister’s Musings May 10, 2026

Minister’s Musing:

There are certain voices that echo through a lifetime - the gentle encouragement, the steady reassurance, the fierce love that refuses to give up on us. On this Mother’s Day, we pause to honor not only the women who gave us life, but also the mother figures who nurtured our becoming: those who held space for our growth, who saw something in us before we could see it in ourselves, and who loved us through every season. Whether present in body or memory, their influence continues to shape the way we show up in the world - with compassion, resilience, and grace.

Gratitude invites us to recognize that this love is not separate from the Divine - it is an expression of it. As we give thanks, we awaken that same nurturing presence within ourselves, becoming vessels of kindness, wisdom, and care for others. Today, may we honor the legacy of love we have received by living it forward, in our words, our actions, and our hearts. give up on us. On this Mother’s Day, we pause to honor not only the women who gave us life, but also the mother figures who nurtured our becoming: those who held space for our growth, who saw something in us before we could see it in ourselves, and who loved us through every

season. Whether present in body or memory, their influence continues

to shape the way we show up in the world - with compassion,

resilience, and grace.

Gratitude invites us to recognize that this love is not separate from

the Divine - it is an expression of it. As we give thanks, we awaken

that same nurturing presence within ourselves, becoming vessels of

kindness, wisdom, and care for others. Today, may we honor the legacy

of love we have received by living it forward, in our words, our

actions, and our hearts.

Ministers Musings April 29, 2026

Minister’s Musing: Rev. Sheryl Padgett
In Unity, we believe that prayer is not about changing another person, but about holding them in the light of Truth. When we pray for others, we are not sending out worry or trying to fix them - we are affirming their wholeness, their strength, and their divine nature. We gently release any appearance of lack or struggle and instead see them as God sees them: whole, guided, and supported. This kind of prayer becomes a sacred act of love, where we align our thoughts with spiritual truth and trust the unfolding of divine order in their life.

As we practice this way of praying, something within us shifts as well. Our hearts soften, our faith deepens, and we become vessels of peace rather than fear. We remember that the same Presence and Power at work in them is alive within us. In this shared awareness, prayer becomes a blessing for all.

Affirmation:
I hold all beings in the light of divine love. I affirm wholeness, peace, and right action for all, trusting the presence of God in every life.

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.