Upcoming Speakers
‘How Do We Deal with Our Errors?’, with Tana McElhinney & Rev. Bill Breeden
Tana and Bill will discuss how our programming impacts how we live in the world. Bill will share stories of two death row inmates and how they have dealt with their errors, as well as share his insights into what we might learn from them. Rev. Bill Breeden has years of experience ministering to the incarcerated and marginalized.
'The Joy of Chaos', with Rev. Stephanie Seigh
Rev. Stephanie Moyer Seigh, ACE, PCC, is a twice-ordained Minister (Unity and Interfaith) and a Professional Certified Coach. Before coming to Unity of Palmyra, she served several Unity and Interfaith communities, in Gettysburg, Harrisburg, and Allentown, PA; New York City, NY; and Atlanta, Georgia.
Rev. Stephanie was the national Director of Peacemaking and Transitional Services for Unity Worldwide Ministries. She was an adjunct faculty member at One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York City, and a mentor coach for The Academy for Coaching Excellence. She specializes in personal, organizational, and leadership coaching and consulting, and teaching classes and workshops on a variety of life-affirming topics.
Rev. Stephanie lives in Londonderry Township with her husband, Ken, and enjoys making her home beautiful, gardening, hosting friends and family, and spending time with her amazing granddaughters. She loves all things Star Trek and Star Wars and believes in the future Gene Roddenberry predicted decades ago: “Star Trek was an attempt to say that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins to not just tolerate, but take a special delight in differences in ideas and differences in lifeforms.”
![Rev. Katherine Breau [weekend workshop/service/FUN]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b92ca9670e8029b12f64c19/f78f04a2-bf96-4ac8-9db7-c343102303cd/Untitled+design%281%29.jpg)
Rev. Katherine Breau [weekend workshop/service/FUN]
Our commUnity has decided to bring some of our minister candidates to Bloomington in person during the month of June, to provide a full Sunday service, teach a workshop/class and meet-and-greet our commUnity members, so that we can make a decision as to who to hire as our new minister.
![Rev. Minnassa Gabon [weekend workshop/service/FUN]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b92ca9670e8029b12f64c19/1715534462712-17VULFIRKS4VSDPW4MSI/Minnassa-headshot.jpg)
Rev. Minnassa Gabon [weekend workshop/service/FUN]
Our commUnity has decided to bring some of our minister candidates to Bloomington in person during the month of June, to provide a full Sunday service, teach a workshop/class and meet-and-greet our commUnity members, so that we can make a decision as to who to hire as our new minister.
‘Unity’s M&Ms: Metaphysical Bible Interpretation and Metaphysics’ with Rev. Paul Hasselbeck, via Zoom
People have commented on how Paul makes the [Unity] teachings more understandable and practical in daily life.
Our leading Metaphysics authority, Paul has had a major role in bringing Unity’s Metaphysics into the 21st century.
With a genuine passion for clarity and precision, Paul guides his students to awaken awareness and deepen understanding.
You can learn more about Rev. Hasselbeck on his website: www.paulhasselbeck.com
'A Recipe for Community', with Rev. David LeBeau (via Zoom)
Ordained Unity Minister
(Rev. David LeBeau will be joining us via Zoom from his home in California. You will see him projected on the stage screen if you attend in person!)
The benefits of a Spiritual Community are real and unique. More than a book club or a civic organization, such a Community can lift us up and change the course of our lives. However, it can only do so if it is healthy, with an equal emphasis on both Spirituality and Community. Explore with Rev. David LeBeau the dynamics of living in Unity.
In addition to the morning talk, Rev. LeBeau will lead a workshop titled Putting the Five Unity Principles to Work for Us. We will take the time to get behind the words to the real meaning. We’ll explore the notions of “being one with God,” “creating our own reality,” and “using prayer effectively.” January is a good time to look at how we are using the tools available and whether we are really moving forward or just going in circles.
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In 1989, Reverend David LeBeau completed the Ministerial Education Program at the Unity School of Christianity and served as a minister at Unity of Bloomington for 20 years between 1989 and 2012. In addition to teaching Stress Reduction Through Meditation at the IU School of Public Health and leading Senior Yoga practice for many years, he has attended Buddhist retreats, sangha meetings and read widely on the topic of human spirituality. He and his wife Natalie live in Richmond California near their two sons, Robert and Richard, daughter-in-law Jennifer and grandson, Oliver.
'How to Keep the New Year', with Machai St. Rain
Peace Activist / Mentor / Sound Healer
The New Year is a great time to tap into the energy of possibility! We can sometimes get locked into old habits and begin to feel stuck, bored or dissatisfied. Machai St. Rain will be sharing fun, practical tools to connect with the spirit of creativity and newness in even the most mundane moments. Machai’s friend, Angela Gabriel, a performer, teacher, and musician will be joining her in presenting special music and meditation in this most engaging service.
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Machai St. Rain, “The Peace Pedaler”, is a mother of two and a grandmother of seven, a peace activist, mentor, and a sound healer. She performs peace concerts, leads online communities and facilitates experiences intended to uplift, connect and inspire personal connections and global unity. In 1995, Machai opened “Watersong Sanctuary for Peace and Healing”, a 10-acre retreat center which hosted many indigenous healers, ceremonies and educational events. Then, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of travel and service by crossing eleven African countries and Turkey by bicycle, a distance of approximately 8,000 miles! For her 50th birthday in 2015, she created the “Peace is Possible Bike Tour” to dedicate her life to creating a “Palpable Presence of Peace on Earth”. She also joined the crew of “The Golden Rule Peace Boat”, an historic vessel sailing for World Peace and Nuclear Abolition. Since that time, Machai has traveled to 26 countries by bicycle and sailboat. At Unity Center of Peace in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Machai spent two years as the Youth Education Director, was on the Board, and also was a member of the Lay Ministry Team and the Prayer Team. Here at Unity of Bloomington, she heads up our Sunday morning childcare program. Currently, Machai is building a world-wide community of people dedicated to taking action toward a peaceful, sustainable world.——
'Homecoming', with Rev. Greg Coles
Regional Ministry Consultant, Unity Great Lakes Region
More Info Soon!
'Who Are We?', with Jonna Capio
CommUnity Member
Right now, our world is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. How are we humans to be with all of this chaos? How do we not sink into over-whelming fear, depression, or anxiety with all of this turmoil? How are we to live? Who are we?
The Unity movement, based on living like Christ, offers us practical tools, wisdom, and community. When we work our beliefs and live the principles, we can be the change we want to see in the world, offering a beacon of light in all the current darkness. As we radiate, and encourage others to shine with us, we can tip the balance of collective consciousness from fear to love. Love is our power, just as Jesus taught.
Join us on Sunday, November 5, when Jonna Marie Capio shares her research and realizations on how we can BE in this chaotic world, but not be tethered to it – how we can live with Hope, as Love and Joy.
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Jonna Marie Capio has been a member of Unity for 25 years. She credits the Unity principles and practices as being both ground and inspiration for her life and for her life’s work as a mental health therapist. Jonna is the Transition Team Leader for Unity of Bloomington during our “time in-between” search for our new spiritual leadership.
Jonna believes that every human is a seeker, but few people openly understand, acknowledge or embrace this, which is why she loves and supports Unity of Bloomington. Here, she can count on being able to seek freely and talk openly about all things “freaky and geeky” about Jesus and Spirit. Feeling both safe and connected are two basic human needs, and Jonna finds both here at Unity of Bloomington, the most welcoming community she has ever been a part of. Here, we all have permission “to BE” and to strive, with the best of our abilities, to be curious and not judgmental in relationships with one another. Which, she believes, is what life is all about.
'Journeying into Heartfulness: Reflections (& Confessions)', with Kimberly Hughes
Professor / Ph.D. / M.S. / M.A.
Drawing upon personal stories and experiences from over 20 years in Asia, Kimberly will introduce the global Heartfulness movement and her personal journey into spirituality. Cleaning and transmission are unique aspects of this daily practice, with ongoing support in place locally and globally. Kimberly will share aspects of her journey within, touching upon critical concepts that link well to Unity of Bloomington … including constant remembrance, surrender, abundance, and spirituality as the real goal of human life. Enjoy glimpses into the spring, summer, Indian summer, and autumn of Kimberly’s journey as we travel from Indiana to Asia…and beyond…
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Kimberly Hughes (Huz) holds four degrees from IU Bloomington, including a Ph.D. in Language Education. From 1989-1992 she was with the ITM/MUCIA program in Malaysia, operated by I.U. International Affairs. Her first son was born in Bloomington and her second in Shah Alam, Malaysia. The family returned to the U.S.A. in 1992 with Kimberly achieving tenure at SIUC in 1999 and awarded a Fulbright Senior Scholar award to Indonesia 1999-2000. In 2002, Kimberly went to the University of Macau on a leave of absence which ended up extending for three years before she hired on permanently, leaving the USA behind. Her two sons went to Portuguese school and then to the University of Macau. One now lives in Macau and the other in Bali, Indonesia. After 18 years in Macau, life changes took Kimberly on a healing journey through Asia, ending in Florida to be with her mother, then age 90. At this point in her now mostly solitary journey, Kimberly has returned to her heart home, Bloomington, where she plans to live at least 6 months of the year.
'My Walk to Unity', with Chuck Thompson
CommUnity Member
I intend to speak about some of the highlights I've learned since reading my first Unity book at Christmastime in 1954. That book was used and given to me by a woman, named Rose, who was very involved in Unity at Pittsburgh. She was pushing Unity and thought it would be good for me. She had a gay son who was a Unity minister. This told me what I wanted to know--that Unity is an inclusive group.
My story is about one person's attempt to understand the "Great Mystery." My teacher would call this Mystery, God, Buddha, Krishna, etc., all the while insisting there is only one God! Being generous, I can say: I do not understand the "Great Mystery," nor do I believe any of us are meant to understand IT. I do believe you have to believe in It's intelligence and allow it into your life to reap the benefits. I will try to clarify what works for "me."
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Chuck was born in Butler, PA in 1934. He graduated from Evans City High School in 1952 and Central Michigan University in 1965. He started with very little church time or study of religion.
Chuck joined his first Unity Church in Bay City, Michigan during 1961. Mrs. James, the minister, and her husband, Freeburn, kind of adopted him. Chuck performed platform work, including the meditation, for over a decade. During this time he also served on the Board. =
After being transferred to Tulsa, Oklahoma, he joined a small group to start a Unity Church in 1981.
The church was successful and he served on the first Board of Unity. When he was transferred in 1983 to Houston, TX, the church was thriving with 250 members. He attended the Unity Church in Houston, and in 1984 moved to Indianapolis. There he attended the Unity Church in downtown Indy. Currently, and for some time, beginning in the late 1980s, he attended and joined Unity of Bloomington.
Chuck enjoys gardening and golfing.
'The Land of "I Don't Know"', with Rev. Ron Fritts
BA in Religion / Ordained Unity Minister
Whatever itDo you have questions about God, Christ, the Afterlife, the Bible? Have you questioned the answers you received or arrived at? The good news is that while you may not have all the answers, the mystery and joy can both be found by living in the question. is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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Rev. Ronald L. Fritts was ordained through the Field Licensing Program, while serving as the minister at Unity of Quincy, in Quincy, IL. His introduction to Unity was when he served as director of music for Unity Temple on the Plaza in Kansas City. Upon retirement from serving as a minister at a local church, he worked for several years as a certified Ministry Skills Consultant for Unity Worldwide Ministries since.
He served as President of the Great Lakes Unity Region and served on the Unity Worldwide Ministries Alternative Ordination and Credentialing Teams. Ron has a B.A. in Religion from Anderson University, and attended seminary there. He was ordained as a Church of God minister, and served congregations in Indiana, Colorado, Ohio and Nebraska, from 1969-1982. Before becoming a Unity minister he had a 19-year career as a YMCA Director.
Ron and wife, Cindy have been married 37 years and currently live in Cape Coral, FL. They have 2 children, a wonderful daughter-in-law and son-in-law, and 8 grandchildren. They have also been foster parents to 7 children.
His volunteer work has included being an assistant baseball coach for John Wood Community College, a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children, singing in the Kansas City Chorale, and directing the Monroe City Singers.
'Radical Unity and the Contemplative Path', with Michael May
Exploring the Unity Movement
Life is a deep place. Yet, we spend lots of energy escaping, denying, evading, avoiding, and pretending it is not.
The UNITY movement was initiated by a couple of contemplatives. But what is a contemplative? What is the UNITY a contemplative practitioner contemplates?
Michael will reflect on his journey of having been duped by the story of UNITY--the experience of bait and switch. There is no UNITY!
Once the Big Bang happened, UNITY went away. Stuff appeared. Matter appeared. Separation was everywhere. Boundaries were everywhere. Things were everywhere. UNITY, the child of the Universal and the Ultimate, became hidden.
How do we practice connecting with the Unity that is UNITY today? There is a path. Explore the journey!
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Michael May is the grandson of a Monroe County stonecutter; a fully pedigreed Hoosier local boy. Michael’s teenage years and global perspective were formed during work experiences in Sweden and Jamaica.
Upon graduation from Indiana University, Michael joined the teaching faculty of the international Ecumenical Institute based in Chicago. The Institute served as a consortium for the recovery of contemplative depth methods, practices, and exploration using contemporary and existential language. The Institute worked to recover the gifts of contemplative practice for a diverse, global, secular, digitally-enveloped, and quantum scientific world. The foundational curriculum of the Ecumenical Institute is re-presented today in the cinematic art forms of Interior Mythos Journeys on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Interiormythos.
Michael currently serves as curriculum editor for the program. Michael resides on a hill in the woods of eastern Monroe County with his wife Mary Sullivan Madore. Mary manages the dogs and horses while Michael is learning to be a hay farmer and lumberjack, personally engaging in regular chainsaw therapy.
'Belonging, a creative process and my spiritual journey as an artist', with Joe LaMantia
Community Artist
Why do I create art? And what kind of art do I create? Beginning my career as an illustrator, becoming a dimensional illustrator, who then became a collaborative artist to finally evolving into a community artist, it is all in the process of awakening to a calling.
Joe LaMantia is a community artist who worked collaboratively with schools and community organizations creating public art for several decades. The projects he facilitated were inclusive, the process transparent and the environment of togetherness celebratory. LaMantia used art to build community by demystifying the creative process which allowed participants a sense of ownership and to develop long-lasting friendships.
With the onset of Covid however, Joe realized working with groups of people was no longer possible. The next several years he worked on projects centered around the home. His opportunity to work once again as an artist in the community occurred after having created handrails for Unity members Richard and Mary Ann. Shortly thereafter, a neighbor stopped by to inquire about Joe’s own handrail and to ask him to create a handrail for his home around the corner! It was after completing this third handrail, Joe understood his artwork was taking him in a new direction.
'Leadership, the Polycrisis, and Unity Principles', with Richard Torstrick
Our way of thinking is partially responsible for the multiple crises unfolding around us. Our idea of leadership has caused us to undervalue those who work. Although there is probably nothing we can do to avoid the worst, with clear thinking and a better way of thinking based on Unity principles, we have an opportunity to help alleviate the coming suffering.
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Richard grew up in Louisvillle, KY. He holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Louisville, A Master of Divinity from The Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and A Certificate in Organizational Development from the NTL Institute in Arlington, VA. In his consulting career, he specialized in high-performing work systems.
His musical career interest is violin/fiddle. Though his love of classical music led him to perform with a number of symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles, he notes with amusement that it was his pursuit of Bluegrass that led to his engagements at Lincoln Center in NYC. He also performed at Bill Monroe’s Bean Blossom Bluegrass festivals, and at Opryland in Nashville, TN.
Richard’s instrumental Bluegrass album, “The Wooded Shore,” was released in 1985. He hosted the WFHB radio show “Rural Routes.”
Richard served on the Unity of Bloomington Board of Trustees, as a member and president. He is father to two children and one grand-child. Married to Mary Ann Williams since 1979, he enjoys ideation, contemplation, and conversation.
'Unity is NOT Cotton Candy', with Rev. Dr. Paul Hasselbeck
B.S. in Biology, Doctor of Dental Surgery, Ordained Unity Minister
Some people have the perception and even the experience that Unity is like cotton candy – all soft and fluffy but no real substance. While it may be easy to see this maybe it is not so easy to see the depth of the work we can choose to do to truly upgrade our consciousness. It may not be easy but it is worth it.
'A Circle Back to Unity', with Peilin Chiu
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach/cookbook author/bioenergetic health practitioner.
She wasn’t spiritual and knew nothing about Unity when she moved to Bloomington from Taiwan in 1999. It took her almost 10 years to finally “discover” Unity after a very painful tragedy of losing a child. In the next decade of her healing journey, four members of Unity community have helped shape who she is and what she is doing today…
Peilin Chiu is a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, cookbook author, and bioenergetic health practitioner. She is a mother of a 15 year old boy, Ian. Her husband Arthur Liou is a faculty member/administrator at IU. She enjoys creating beautiful foods that nourish the body and mind. Her life mission is to help people reconnect with the best doctor within each one of us.
'When the Shift Hits the Fan', with Kim Belew
Rapper/songwriter/inspirational speaker
These are just a few of the experiences you will have in Kim’s presence. Whether it’s sitting with her one on one as she listens to you share your truths. Or are in the audience of a concert, speaking event or TedX talk, you feel the same captivating presence with Kim.
Kim has spent the last 20 years writing music and giving inspirational talks and workshops. Kim has had many profound, life altering moments. The most notable happened when she was faced with the choice of continuing to live her life in compartments, weighed down by the secrets of childhood abuse, unhealed trauma and living out patterns that left her with feeling no sense of purpose or meaning.
'According to Your Faith', with Rev. Robin Volker
Reverend/facilitator/speaker/life coach
Rev Robin Volker will share with us how to create a faith development plan. In order to build our faith muscles, we must get off the couch (get away from negative and limited thinking) and exercise our faith. She will recap how members can use the points within their lives and within their spiritual community.
Rev. Robin Volker is an ordained Unity minister, passionate facilitator, inspirational speaker, and certified life coach. Robin helps congregants and clients make fresh starts in all areas of their lives. Robin is talented at helping seekers apply spiritual principles to their real-life challenges.