Rev. Vicky's Message November 13, 2025

As noted above, coming into our Thanksgiving Celebration, we will begin a two-part series this Sunday on Deepening Our Gratitude Practice. It is often a challenge to come up with a new twist on Gratitude – but I believe you will be inspired, as I have been, by the two Gratitude Practices that these lessons will illuminate. I look forward to exploring them with you over the next two weeks – culminating with our Thanksgiving Communion Service and PotLuck Luncheon on November 23. 

On a “practical” note (“putting our faith and words into action”), I want to share the wonderful news that we raised $2600 last Sunday – due to all of your heart-felt generosity – and have sent a check to CPY (Community Partnership for Youth) who will distribute the funds to families impacted by the SNAP delays. The Director, Shari Hastey, shared with me their plan to purchase “Visa Cards” (rather than grocery gift cards) in order to also support all of the small “mom and pop” local businesses that have also been hit by shutdown’s effects on spending. 

And though it appears that the government shut-down is slowly grinding to an end – I know these gifts will be a true blessing to the families and small businesses in our county.

When MaryAnn first suggested this idea to me, we had no idea how much money we would raise. But as usual, the heart of UMB exploded in generosity. The following is MaryAnn’s response to the outpouring of love.

Dear Unity Community:

Sometimes we need to just to sit back and consider how blessed we truly are; including how we come together at UMB to be blessed by BEING A BLESSING to the world. 

In church on Sunday, we asked for you to consider making a small donation towards the purchasing of gift cards to distribute to the folks in our larger community who are not receiving their SNAP benefits due to the government shut-down. 

We were blown away by the response—even though one should say,  how “usual” for Unity of Monterey! There are no words to adequately express the love and caring that poured out from you! 

One might think, in these times, and at this time of year, with the uncertainty of it all, that you might hold tight to purse strings! BUT NOPE! Not our Unity community!  As of Monday morning (after a couple of on-line donations from folks who were watching our Sunday Service live-stream) we had collected $2,600! Wow! Double and triple WOW!!!

So we just want to say, with heartfelt gratitude and joy, a HUGE thank you to all! In these times of seeming darkness – UMB continues to shine our light!   ––MaryAnn & Sue 

And I am blessed to know that generosity like this is “status quo” for our Unity of Monterey Bay community. So I say:

UMB – I love you, I bless you, I appreciate you,

and I behold the Christ AS you.

Blessings, Rev. Vicky