Sermon Notes April 19, 2026

Then a Miracle Occurs… Rev. Sheryl Padgett. DDIv

• Theme: Miracles are not violations of divine law, but moments when we begin to see divine law more clearly.

• Big idea: What looks ordinary may actually be extraordinary when viewed through the lens of trust, gratitude, and spiritual awareness.

• Core question: Are we living as though nothing is a miracle, or as if everything is?

• The opening joke sets up the sermon’s central tension: what looks impossible may be happening within a larger order we do not fully understand.

• The science cartoon and rocket launch illustrate that explanation and awe can coexist.

• The moon mission shows that careful planning, intelligence, and human cooperation can still inspire wonder.

• Einstein’s quote invites us to choose a way of seeing that recognizes miracle in daily life.

• Charles Fillmore’s teaching frames all true action as governed by law, not randomness.

• The rock field in Apache Sitgreaves becomes a living example of beauty produced through lawful processes.

• The story of Elisha and the widow’s oil shows that transformation begins when attention shifts from lack to possibility.

Practical application

• Fear sees shortage.

• Faith sees possibility.

• Scarcity consciousness limits experience.

• Miracle consciousness opens us to grace.

• The widow’s oil reminds us that what we already have may be enough to begin.

Closing emphasis

• We do not need to force miracles.

• We need to notice them.

• Stay open, stay trusting, and stay willing.

• Grace may already be working in ways we have not yet recognized.

Final line

• “When you live as though everything is a miracle, then a miracle occurs.”

Sermon Notes April 12, 2026

Sermon Notes Rev. Sheryl Padgett

Inner Strength for Changing Times

This sermon explores the spiritual power of strength as one of the 12 powers in Unity and shows how inner strength helps us stay centered in uncertain times. Using humor, scripture, personal illustration, and practical wisdom, the message reminds us that true strength is not force or bravado, but the divine energy that helps us endure, remain balanced, and keep our peace when life gets noisy.

Key Themes

• Spiritual strength is deeper than physical strength.

• Strength works with faith to help us move through difficult times.

• The twelve powers include strength, which is associated with light green, the loins, and Andrew.

• Inner strength is revealed through patience, tolerance, steadfastness, and balance.

• Keeping peace is a spiritual practice, not just a personality trait.

Main Scripture Ideas

• David and Goliath as a symbol of facing overwhelming challenges.

• The call to “gird up the loins” as readiness and inner core strength.

Practical Application

• Pause before reacting.

• Breathe and return to center.

• Notice your thoughts and feelings.

• Affirm spiritual truth.

• Ask, “What is mine to do right now?”

Takeaway

You do not have to be ruled by fear, noise, or chaos. The strength of Spirit is already within you, and it can carry you through changing times with courage, peace, and faith.

Sermon Notes April 4, 2026

The Strength to Rise - Rev. Sheryl Padgett DDiv
Easter reminds us that the light was never gone — it was only hidden from sight. Through the empty tomb, we see that life rises, love rises, truth rises, and the Christ in us rises. This message invites us to release fear, move beyond limitation, and trust the divine life already at work within us.

Key Themes

• Resurrection is not only a past event, but a present spiritual awakening.

• The Christ within us is alive, active, and able to raise what has felt buried.

• Fear, hopelessness, resentment, and limitation do not have the final word.

• Spirit reveals life, wholeness, and possibility where the world expects endings.

• Each of us is called to rise in faith, peace, love, and spiritual strength.

Main Idea

What in you is ready to rise? Easter calls us to trust that divine life is moving in us now and that new life is possible in every area of our being.

Takeaway

You are not finished. Your story is not over. The light of God is alive in you, and something in you is ready to rise.

Sermon Notes March 29, 2026

Sermon Notes: March 29, 2026 Rev. Sheryl Padgett

Palm Sunday is more than a parade — it is a powerful spiritual contrast between two ways of being in the world. While Rome entered Jerusalem with military force and intimidation, Jesus entered in humility and peace, revealing a radically different kind of power: the power of love, truth, courage, and spiritual strength.

In a world shaped by division, fear, and reactivity, Palm Sunday asks us a personal question: Which way do I choose? Will we mirror the chaos around us, or will we carry the consciousness of Christ? Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem reminds us that true peace is not enforced from the outside — it is embodied from within.

Key Takeaways:

• Divine power is different from worldly power.

• Humility is strength, not weakness.

• How we show up in the world matters.

• We are called not just to admire peace, but to embody it.

Affirmation:

I choose the higher way. The Christ within me guides my thoughts, my words, and my actions. I carry peace into every place I enter.

Sermon Notes March 22, 2025

Sermon Notes: March 22, 2026 Rev. Sheryl Padgett

Core Theme

• Wisdom is not something outside of us; it is a spiritual power within that we can develop and learn to trust.

• Being guided by wisdom = listening to the Christ within and acting from that inner clarity rather than fear or appearances.

Unity & the Power of Wisdom

SLIDE – Twelve Powers / Wisdom

• Unity’s Twelve Powers = innate spiritual capacities through which God expresses.

• Wisdom (judgment/discernment) is one of these powers.

• Not about being judgmental; about seeing clearly and choosing well.

SLIDE – Symbols of Wisdom

• Disciple: James, son of Zebedee

• Color: Yellow

• Body Center: Solar plexus / “gut” (pit of the stomach)

• We say, “I had a gut feeling,” because wisdom often shows up as subtle inner knowing, a deep “yes” or “no.”

SLIDE – Definition

• Spiritual wisdom: “The ability to evaluate, discern, and rightly apply what you know.”

• Fillmore: this faculty carefully weighs a question and draws a conclusion.

• When driven by fear/criticism → harsh, condemning, small.

• When rooted in Spirit → guidance, clarity, blessing.

Judging with Right Judgment

SLIDE – John 7:24

• Jesus: “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

• Judging by appearances:

• Influenced by what looks strong, successful, popular.

• Leads us to react quickly and superficially.

SLIDE – When We Judge by Appearances

• We:

• Label people and lock them into those labels.

• Call events “good” or “bad” before the story is finished.

• Make decisions from anxiety and scarcity → no peace.

• Right judgment asks:

• What is really going on beneath the surface?

• What is loving, just, and life‑giving here?

• What is mine to do that aligns with God’s character?

• Practically:

• Pause, breathe, invite Christ within to expand our view.

• Wisdom is not just “right answers,” but spiritual sight + courage to act.

Biblical Image of Wisdom

SLIDE – Proverbs 3:13–17 (key lines)

• Happy are those who find wisdom.

• She is more precious than jewels; nothing compares with her.

• Her ways are pleasantness; all her paths are peace.

• Takeaway:

• True wisdom leads to peace and aligns us with our deepest spiritual nature.

How Wisdom Shows Up in Daily Life

• Examples of inner “yes” that didn’t make sense on paper:

• Ending a relationship that blocked growth.

• Taking a less impressive job that felt more alive.

• Giving when logic said “Don’t,” but Spirit said “Do.”

• Often, we see the full wisdom only later.

Explorer / Water Pump Story (Short Version)

• Temperature gauge reading high; inner nudge: “Don’t ignore this.”

• Took the car in before a planned trip; they replaced the water pump.

• Mechanic showed the fan blade removed in the process: ceramic, full of tiny cracks, about to shatter.

• Estimated life: “Maybe a day or two” – right when the trip would have been.

• What seemed like bad timing and expense was actually protection and guidance.

Chinese Farmer Story (Very Brief)

• Events called “good” or “bad” by neighbors; farmer always says, “Maybe.”

• Outcomes keep shifting; what looked terrible becomes blessing, and vice versa.

• Point: We rarely see the whole picture. Wisdom says, “Maybe… God, show me how to see this.”

Wisdom vs. Being Judgmental

• Judgmentalism:

• Quick, rigid, fueled by fear and insecurity.

• Focused on labeling and condemning.

SLIDE – Divine Wisdom (Fillmore)

• Divine wisdom:

• “Intuitive knowing; the voice of God within… mental action based on the Christ Truth within.”

• Transcends intellectual knowledge.

• Characteristics:

• Not willful, but willing – to yield to the highest good.

• Impartial – not driven by prejudice or favoritism.

• Comes from heart as well as head.

• Leads to actions that are compassionate, just, and life‑enhancing.

Adoption Story (Short)

• After all info and expert opinions, still uncertain.

• Son: “She is my sister.”

• When asked how he knew: “I know that I know—and you know too.”

• “I know that I know” = language of wisdom: deep inner clarity, often followed by relief and alignment.

Practices: Living “Guided by Wisdom”

SLIDE – Practices for Guided Wisdom

1. Pause Before You Decide

• Delay knee‑jerk reactions.

• Ask: “Am I reacting from fear/appearances, or responding from faith/inner knowing?”

2. Ask Spirit to Reveal the Truth

• Bring decisions into prayer and silence.

• Simple prayer: “Spirit, show me what I need to see. Reveal the highest good.”

3. Hold Off on Labels

• Resist instant “good/bad,” “success/failure” verdicts.

• Use: “I don’t yet know how this will unfold, but I trust God is present.”

4. Listen to Your Body and Gut

• Notice your felt sense with each option: tight vs. spacious, anxious vs. quietly peaceful.

• Honor the body’s wisdom as part of Spirit’s guidance.

5. Seek Wise Counsel, Then Return Within

• Ask spiritually grounded people for input.

• Then pray: “What resonates with the Christ in me? What aligns with love and integrity?”

6. Affirm Your Connection to Wisdom

• Daily affirmation:

• “I am guided by divine wisdom in every thought, word, and action.”

• Not forcing wisdom, but acknowledging its presence within.

How Wisdom Grows

• Wisdom grows not just by what we consume, but by how we commune with God:

• When we pause and pray before acting.

• When we listen inwardly and follow through.

• When we practice seeing beyond appearances.

• When we seek counsel and then do a spiritual gut check.

• When we affirm and walk in spiritual truth.

• The “secret” is not an external technique; it is Christ in you, the inner Teacher and Guide.

Closing Affirmation

SLIDE – Affirmation

I am guided by divine wisdom in every thought, word, and action. I trust the light within me. I walk my path with clarity, peace, and courage.

Sermon Notes March 14, 2026

Listen for the Still Small Voice - Rev. Sheryl Padgett

Key Idea

The spiritual journey is not just about listening — it is about learning what to listen to.

Not every inner voice is the voice of wisdom. The voice of Spirit is gentle, loving, and always present within us.

The Inner Voices We Hear

Many of us experience a “committee” of voices in our minds:

• The voice of worry

• The voice of fear

• The voice of criticism

• The voice of old conditioning

• The voice of “what if?”

• The voice of “you should have”

• The voice of “you’re not enough”

The spiritual path invites us to become discerning listeners — learning to listen beneath the noise for divine guidance.

Scripture Insight

1 Kings 19:11–12

After Elijah’s great victory over the prophets of Baal, he flees into the wilderness exhausted and discouraged. While seeking God on the mountain, he experiences powerful natural events:

• A mighty wind

• An earthquake

• A fire

But God is not found in any of these dramatic events.

Instead, Elijah encounters God in “a still small voice,” sometimes translated as “a gentle whisper” or “the sound of sheer silence.”

Metaphysical Meaning

• Wind – chaotic thoughts

• Earthquake – emotional upheaval

• Fire – conflict and reaction

• Silence – the place where divine wisdom is heard

Unity Teaching

Charles Fillmore wrote:

“Spirit is the ‘still small voice’ in every person that hears and blesses and uplifts… It comes from within as spiritual knowing.”

The divine voice is not something distant or rare.

It is the wisdom of God already present within each of us.

Our spiritual practice is not about making God speak — it is about becoming still enough to listen.

The Lenten Invitation

Lent is a season of intentional listening.

It invites us to:

• Simplify our lives

• Slow down

• Release distractions

• Create inner room for Spirit

Rather than focusing only on giving something up, Lent encourages us to make space for spiritual awareness.

A Modern Challenge

Research shows that many people feel uncomfortable sitting quietly with their own thoughts for even a few minutes.

Instead, we often fill silence by:

• Reaching for our phones

• Turning on the TV

• Scrolling social media

• Staying constantly busy

But stillness is where clarity and guidance often emerge.

Practices for Listening to the Still Small Voice

Daily Prayer

Set aside intentional time to connect with God within.

Daily Meditation

Even five minutes of quiet meditation can help you become more receptive to divine wisdom.

Allow Quiet Moments

Activities like walking, folding laundry, or washing dishes can become opportunities for reflection and insight.

Use “In-Between” Spaces

While waiting in line, sitting at a stoplight, or pausing between tasks:

• Take three deep breaths

• Repeat an affirmation

• Return to the present moment

Limit Technology

Create tech-free moments in your day to reconnect with your inner life.

Practice for the Week

Notice your “automatic reach” moments — when you instinctively grab your phone or fill silence.

Instead, pause and turn inward.

Ask yourself:

• “Speak, for I am listening.”

• “What would You have me do today?”

• “Guide me in every thought, word, and action.”

Takeaway

The still small voice is not far away.

It is the Christ within you, the divine wisdom that guides, blesses, and uplifts.

Like Elijah, we are invited to step out of the cave of fear and distraction and encounter God in the quiet.

Affirmation:

In the silence, I hear the wisdom of God within me.

I am still, receptive, and divinely guided.

Sermon Notes March 8. 2026

Refined by Reflection - Rev. Sheryl Padgett DDiv

Little Johnny and the Bumblebee

Little Johnny was sitting on a park bench in obvious agony. A man asked what was wrong.

Johnny said, “I’m sitting on a bumblebee.”

“Then why don’t you get up?”

“Because I figure that I am hurting him more than he is hurting me.”

There’s a bit of Johnny in all of us. We cling to resentment, pride, or old habits while thinking we are “winning.” Lent invites us to get off that bench—to reflect, release, and allow transformation. Resurrection is not stumbled into; we are refined into it.

The Refiner and the Silver

Malachi 3:3 says:

“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”

A woman visited a silversmith to learn the process. He held silver in the hottest part of the flame and watched it carefully.

“How do you know when it’s ready?” she asked.

“When I see my image in it,” he said.

This shows the spiritual process: God’s presence is always attentive, guiding us through life’s “fire” to reveal our true nature. The fire does not destroy—it purifies and illuminates.

Wisdom and Personality

Spiritual Wisdom sees beyond appearances and invites reflection:

• Why do I react this way?

• What beliefs run my life?

• Where am I “sitting on a bumblebee”?

Charles Fillmore wrote:

“Personality is a veil or mask worn by man that conceals the real, the spiritual I AM. Jesus shattered this mask and revealed Christ, the true man of God.”

Personality is not evil; it is incomplete. Reflection and wisdom help us see beyond it to the divine self within.

Jesus: Fully Human, Fully Divine

Bishop Shelby Spong said:

“To become divine is to become fully human.”

Jesus shows that holiness does not float above life—it works through it. His life demonstrates:

1. No tribal boundaries – Love crosses all divisions.

2. Wasteful love – Love extravagantly, without calculation.

3. Authenticity – Words and actions fully aligned; no mask.

Through reflection and the Lenten “wilderness,” we too can refine personality, reveal the Christ within, and embody divine love in daily life.

The Goal of Refinement

Charles Fillmore reminds us:

“When we awake in His likeness… then we shall see Him as He is. This… is accomplished by refining, spiritualizing, and raising both soul and body to higher degrees of power.”

Signs of refinement:

• Patience replaces reactivity

• Compassion replaces judgment

• Courage replaces fear

Resurrection happens each time the divine image shines through our choices. Reflection reveals it; the fire refines it.

Affirmation

Through reflection, divine wisdom awakens in me.

The masks fall away, and the Christ within shines clearly.

I am refined, renewed, and revealed as the image of God.

Sermon Notes February 22, 2026

Wisdom in the Wilderness - Rev. Sheryl Padgett DDiv

Key Scripture: Mark 1:9–13

• Theme: The wilderness is the inner place of uncertainty—between what we’ve released and what has not yet formed—where temptations and deep spiritual growth both arise.

• Sequence in Mark:

• Baptism by John = cleansing of consciousness.

• Spirit descending like a dove = illumination, awareness of divine identity.

• Voice: “You are my beloved…” = realization of our true nature.

• Then the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness = the same Spirit that blesses us also leads us into growth and testing.

• Wilderness symbolism:

• Not punishment, but revelation and preparation.

• The number 40 = “as long as it takes” for testing and transformation.

• Place where distractions fall away and we face our beliefs.

• Three temptations as metaphysical patterns:

1. Stones into bread – Using spiritual power only for material satisfaction.

• Illusion: “If I just get this one thing, I’ll finally be okay.”

• Truth: We must feed the soul with Truth; real nourishment is inner guidance, peace, and wisdom.

• Jesus’ response: “We do not live by bread alone…”

2. Throw yourself down from the temple – Spiritual ego and performance spirituality.

• Wanting dramatic proof, spectacle, or to use spiritual gifts for self‑importance.

• Unity caution: true healing awakens the God‑power in others; we don’t perform or claim special powers.

• In the wilderness there is no audience—only authenticity and awareness.

3. All the kingdoms of the world – Power, control, and recognition.

• Personal will trying to take the place of God.

• Illusion: Security and worth come from titles, possessions, approval.

• Jesus’ response: Worship and serve God alone; our true allegiance is to the Christ within.

• New Thought perspective:

• Temptation = old mental habits, not an outside devil.

• Life reflects our thinking; temptation invites us to keep thinking fear, lack, and separation.

• We always have the power to accept or reject suggested thoughts; the wilderness becomes a training ground.

• Buddhist parallels:

• Mara = fear, craving, delusion that tried to distract the Buddha.

• Response: “I see you, Mara” – recognition without identification.

• Mindful awareness (“Hello, my little fear…”) reduces temptation’s power; we meet thoughts with compassion, not shame.

• Our modern wildernesses:

• Health issues, grief, job or role changes, relationship shifts, or feeling the old life is too small.

• Common temptations there:

• Define ourselves by lack or fear.

• Demand dramatic rescues instead of consistent spiritual practice.

• Trade integrity for quick comfort or approval.

• Core message:

• The Christ within us meets temptation by standing in Truth, not arguing with it.

• Inner wisdom whispers: “You are more than your hunger; more than your fear; more than your success or failure.”

• Lent (and any spiritual season) is not about impressing God by giving things up, but about releasing illusions so we can remember who we are.

• The wilderness doesn’t diminish us; it strips away what’s false and reveals our true, beloved identity.

Sermon Notes February 15, 2025

Love as a Spiritual Practice - Rev. Sheryl Padgett, DDiv
We often search for the “perfect” partner, friend, or community — only to discover that perfection is a moving target. The real invitation of love is not perfection, but presence.

Love is not chemistry, fantasy, or destiny.

Love is a spiritual discipline.

Unity teaches that love is a divine power within us — the great harmonizer that unifies, heals, and restores wholeness. Modern neuroscience confirms what metaphysics has long taught: healthy, loving connection strengthens emotional resilience, calms the nervous system, and supports real healing in the brain.

If love is sacred, how do we practice it?

Five Spiritual Skills for Sacred Relationships

• Self-Resolution – Taking responsibility for your own triggers and healing your inner wounds before blaming others.

• Self-Regulation – Calming your nervous system so you respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively.

• Curiosity – Choosing understanding over judgment; asking, “Help me understand.”

• Boundaries – Loving with clarity about what is healthy, respectful, and sustainable.

• Repair – Returning after conflict with humility and a willingness to restore connection.

Sacred love is not about finding perfect people.

It is about practicing love as we grow.

When we cultivate peace within ourselves, regulate our emotions, remain curious, honor boundaries, and choose repair over pride, we become safe and steady partners in all our relationships.

Love is not waiting for perfection.

It is waiting for practice.

Sermon Notes February 8, 2026

Sacred Friendships: Choosing a Spiritual Circle - Rev. Sheryl Padgett DDiv

Key Teaching

Life is relational; joy and meaning are multiplied when shared.

Sacred friendships are a spiritual and health practice.

Unity Foundation

“Man is not a separate being… He is part of a great unity.” — Charles Fillmore

Consciousness is contagious; we become like the company we keep.

Research

Harvard Study of Adult Development: relationships predict happiness, health, and longevity.

Loneliness linked to heart disease, dementia, depression (CDC).

Fillmore Quote

“It is the law of Spirit that we must be that which we would draw to us…”

What Makes a Friendship Sacred

Shared commitment to spiritual growth

Mutual uplift

Honest, safe communication

Presence in joy and pain

Prayerful support

Set intention prayerfully

Pay attention to inner response

Look for shared values

Set loving boundaries

Core Insight

Sacred friendships support awakening, healing, and resilience.

We awaken together.

Affirmation

I choose sacred friendships rooted in love, truth, and spiritual alignment, truth, and spiritual alignment. I attract relationships that support my growth and honor my becoming. I walk with others in compassion, courage, and grace. I am divinely connected, and I belong. And so it is. Amen.