Community Outreach

* Back-to-school back-packs for children being served by the Network Against Domestic  Abuse

* Annual Teddy Bear Round-up for the CT Children’s Medical Center in Hartford

* Care packages for a young member’s husband and his brigade serving in Afghanistan

In addition, the church tithes 10% of all income to non-profit organizations that exemplify our spiritual principles in the world. 

We’re “Adopting a Social Worker” for a Year!
By Georgene Leavitt and Stu McKenna
Co-chairs of the Welcome & Caring Team 

We’re excited to announce that Unity Church of Greater Hartford is extending our caring energy to a wonderful program that will make a direct difference in the lives of 17 foster children. It’s called the Adopt-a-Social Worker program, sponsored by the not-for-profit organization Covenant to Care for Children.

Catherine Hough, who manages the project for Covenant to Care, has connected our church with social worker Sophia Genus. Sophia is based in the Manchester office of the CT Dept of Children and Family Services and is responsible for 17 foster children, ages from about 11 to 16. We are “adopting” Sophia and the foster children for a year.

We gathered back-to-school backpacks for the children, we will also provide Christmas gifts for the holidays, and recognize each child's birthday. And the social worker may contact the church if a special need arises (for a bed or clothing, for example). There are other possibilities for the church and the children to develop a relationship through mentoring, inviting them to church events, and so on.

We had our Unity Church Family Picnic on Sunday, August 22, after the service. Backpacks were presented to the children & their foster families also on that day.
 
A big thank you to everyone who joined in to purchase all the supplies necessary to fill these bulging backpacks with light & love for these foster children and their enthusiastic social worker. You may contact us at careteam@unityhartford.com.

 

World Day of Prayer - Living in the Flow

 Thursday, September  9th
 Our Sanctuary will be open all day so feel free to come    and feel the peace and serenity for your prayer time.  

Did you know that there is an everlasting Source within all of us? It is the only place from which lasting love, peace, harmony and joy can emerge, and when we unite in prayer, we become expressions of God flowing forth into the world.

Seventeen years ago, Unity created World Day of Prayer—held the second Thursday in September—as a global effort to uplift ourselves … our loved ones … our world in a shared prayer consciousness. Since that time , more than 15 million people have received prayer support through this sacred initiative.

This year’s event is Thursday, September 9, and the theme, “Living in the Flow,” reminds us that the Divine is within us, ever-present and active.

Will you join us? You can be a part of this sacred day—from wherever you are.
 

 

 

Saturday, April 24th in Manchester

About 25 Unity volunteers lent a helping hand to a much needed garden/lawn clean up.  The hard work certainly paid off.  Previously beautiful gardens were uncovered with tender loving care showing the beauty that is still there.  The gracious elderly homeowner was very grateful and pleased with the results & so were we!!!    

Ways to Volunteer & Help Our Community:

On Feb 28 Rev. Ed Townley guided us in looking at the 7 areas of ministry in our church, where to grow them, and the support they require.  Our visioning helped set the direction for the future of Unity of Greater Hartford. 
........AND THEN ON   

Sunday, March 7 we held a Volunteer Team Fair, so that each of the many teams that are such an essential part of our energy had an opporunity to celebrate who they are, define their specific goals for the year, and enlist new members to join and participate.  This fair was not only highly successful but also a lot of fun....So be prepared for some high-energy Sundays in every week to come.

Welcome & Care Team 

IF YOU KNOW of someone in our congregation who could use a special outreach -- a card, a phone call, a visit, a CD of our service -- please make the Welcome & Care Team aware.  Just call the church office at 860-289-8963.  We want to support, and stay connected to, all those who may be unable to be physically present for our services and events.

 

 

  

  F O O D   P A N T R Y 

We continuously distribute food to those in need in our community.  Donations of non-perishable food in non-breakable containers are gratefully received and delivered to the South Windsor Food Bank.  A basket for donations sits in the community room.  Thank you for your generosity.

 

Unity Members Support 16th MP Brigade in Afghanistan

Members of Unity Church generously donated items for care packages to send to Shannon Dep-tula Serrano's husband (and little Aidan’s dad)Armando. He is currently serving 1 year in Af-ghanistan with the 16th Military Police Brigade.

Twenty-five boxes were packed with games, sports equipment, DVDs, snacks, power bars, powdered sport drinks, candy, razors, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes, body wash and many other items. Our Youth Ministry made Christmas decorations to include in the packages.

Terrie and John Waitt brought the boxes to Andi Grant, founder of Give2TheTroops®. She gener-ously covered most of the shipping expense, pro-vided larger boxes, and added many Christmas items to Armando's packages. Please look at Andi's website at www.Give2TheTroops.org and help support her efforts to spread love through these wonderful care packages.

 

Spiritual Social Action in Youth and Family Ministry

You can make a difference. Join the Unity Social Action Team at 1:00 pm on the first Sunday of each month. Our volunteers gather at St. Johns Church Soup Kitchen, 12 Rector St., East Hartford, CT 06108. Bring prepared food or help prepare food on site, then serve a luncheon for the 25 - 40 neighborhood attendees. Contact Jorge Alvarez, Unity Social Action Team Member, at jalvarezz@sbcglobal.net for info and to participate.

REIKI -- The Unity Reiki Team: Offering Free Weekly Long Distance Reiki Sessions.

They are held every Sunday Evening between 9 and 9:30 pm.  To receive Reiki on any given Sunday, please email your request to this email address reikiteam@unityhartford.com  In the request, please list only the first name of the recipient, their location-city or state or country- and if you wish you may list a specific reason for the request.  Please email your request each week by 9 P.M. Saturday evening.  For more specifics please click here:  Learn About Unity's Free Weekly Long Distance REIKI Sessions

Look for the Reiki Team members with the Purple Name Tags on Sundays to also learn more about this wonderful healing opportunity available to you, friends and family members. 

 

 

 

Unity Church of Greater Hartford is a member of --

Association of Unity Churches International

Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice