Fall Book Study Guide & Dates

The Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting
by Holly W. Whitcomb
Fall Book Study Guide from Rev Ray

Two small group discussion opportunities on different platforms are available.
Starting:

       • Tuesday evenings         at  6 pm  via Zoom and every Tuesday through Nov 22
            Access Zoom link at https://www.unityintheheart.org under Calendar
       • Sundays after church  at 12 pm In-person and every Sunday through Nov 20 

Note:  You can mix and match platform attendance or attend all sessions.

Study Guide posted weekly below.

Sunday Oct. 9 starts Fall Book Study series: The Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting
Oct.   9 – Speaker -- Rev Lisa Herklotz             Talk Title: "The Gift of Patience” 
            Week #1:  Tuesday, Oct 11 (6–7 pm) via Zoom   /   Sunday, Oct 16 (12-1 pm) In-person
Oct. 16 – Speaker -- Rev Ray Nelson             Talk Title: "The Gift of Loss of Control”
            Week #2:  Tuesday, Oct 18 (6–7 pm) via Zoom   /   Sunday, Oct 23 (12-1 pm) In-person
Oct. 23 – Speaker -- Rev Ray Nelson             Talk Title: "The Gift of Living in the Present”
            Week #3:  Tuesday, Oct 25 (6–7 pm) via Zoom   /   Sunday, Oct 30 (12-1 pm) In-person
Oct. 30 – Speaker -- Rev Ray Nelson             Talk Title: "The Gift of Compassion”
            Week #4:  Tuesday, Nov 01 (6–7 pm) via Zoom   /   Sunday, Nov 06 (12-1 pm) In-person
Nov.  6 – Speaker -- Rev Ray Nelson              Talk Title: “The Gift of Gratitude”
            Week #5:  Tuesday, Nov 08 (6–7 pm) via Zoom   /   Sunday, Nov 13 (12-1 pm) In-person
Nov. 13 – Speaker -- Rev Ray Nelson            Talk Title: "The Gift of Humility”
             Week #6:  Tuesday, Nov 15 (6–7 pm) via Zoom   /   Sunday, Nov 20 (12-1 pm) In-person
Nov. 20 – Speaker -- Rev Ray Nelson            Talk Title: “The Gift of Trust in God”
             Week #7:  Tuesday, Nov 22 (6–7 pm) via Zoom

Free Will offerings are accepted to support Unity in the Heart.
       • Online at https://www.unityintheheart.org (Donate button in upper-right corner).
         ---   OR   ---
      • In-person - Cash or write a check to: Unity in the Heart, 1898 Iglehart Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104

Ways you could prepare for the small group discussions
   • View the seven Sunday service talks on the topics to be discuss (listed topics & dates above)
       o at https://www.unityintheheart.org under View (UITH Videos) or Events or Calendar or
       o on Facebook:  Click on   https://fb.me/UnityStPaul   (Unity in the Heart of St Paul page)
                                    then  Click on UITH Sunday Service (Sunday date) post.  
   • Ponder Rev. Ray’s weekly Study Guide questions which will be posted weekly on Sunday evening
       o at https://www.unityintheheart.org under Fall Book Study Dates & Study Guide Questions
       o emailed Sunday evenings to our newsletter mailing list 
       o posted on Unity in the Heart of St. Paul Facebook page
   • Choose to buy the book through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or your local bookseller

Nov 20 (Week 7) – “The Gift of Trust in God” from the book title The Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting
(for discussion on Tue, Nov. 22 at 6 PM on Zoom) 

Rev Ray’s Study Guide questions for Week 7: – “The Gift of Trust in God”
1. Questions to ponder
     a. If you are currently waiting what fears do you have?
     b. What might you do to release your fears?
     c. Where is God in your waiting and fear
2. Questions for discussion
     a. After a period of happiness, peace or harmony do you “wait for the other shoe to drop.”
         Is this your pattern?
     b. When this happens where is your Faith and where is your trust to be found?
     c. What is your reaction to thy will be done or thy love be done?
3. Describe
     a. What is your prayer life now?
     b. How has it changed
     c. What is your reaction to not my will but thy will?
     d. When have you let go and trusted in God?

Nov 13 (Week 6) – “The Gift of Humility” from the book title The Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting

(for discussion on Tue, Nov. 15 at 6 PM on Zoom and Sun, Nov. 21 at 12 PM, In-person after Sunday Service)

Rev Ray’s Study Guide questions for Week 6: – “The Gift of Humility”
1. Questions to ponder
     a. Think of a time you had to wait and had to rely upon a power greater than yourself.
         How did you feel and react?
     b. Name a time in the recent past where you were conscious of Grace
2. Questions to reflect
     a. Have you ever during a time of waiting come to reevaluate what is most important in your life?
     b. What does it mean to live from a consciousness of love rather than achievement?
     c. Reflect on the idea of how waiting can help us become conscious of our common humanity
3. Judgement and humility
     a. How quick are you to judge?
     b. How can you use your time waiting to practice nonjudgment?
4. Authenticity
    a. What does it mean to live an authentic life?
    b. How can waiting humbly help us to live a more authentic life?

Nov 6 (Week 5) – “The Gift of Gratitude” from the book title The Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting

(for discussion on Tue, Nov. 8 at 6 PM on Zoom and Sun, Nov. 13 at 12 PM, In-person after Sunday Service)

Rev Ray’s Study Guide questions for Week 5: – “The Gift of Gratitude”
1. Questions to ponder
      a. The Unity 3rd Principle states we are co-creators of the life we lived based on the beliefs, thoughts, and actions we take.
          What could you reframe (Change your mind about) right now?
          How would this make a difference?
      b. What are you learning about from waiting?
2. What circumstances or conditions interfere with your ability to be grateful?
3. Think of a time you were waiting and were comforted and grateful for the small things you noticed.
4. There are many ways to practice gratitude.
    What are some of the ways that have worked for you?

Oct 30 (Week 4) – “The Gift of Compassion” from the book title The Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting
(for discussion on Tue, Nov. 1 at 6 PM on Zoom and Sun, Nov. 6 at 12 PM, In-person after Sunday Service)

Rev Ray’s Study Guide questions for Week 4: – “The Gift of Compassion”

Questions to ponder

     1.   How would you define compassion?
     2.  Think of a time someone showed up for you when you were waiting.
     3.   How have you shown up for someone else?

Learning to receive
     1.   Do you struggle receiving? Be specific
     2.  Is there a time when you were able to receive help gracefully?What was that experience like?

Being seen

     1.  Who in your life sees you? Really get the real you?
     2.  How might waiting Help you to be seen and to be the authentic you?

You are not alone

     1.  Describe the experience of allowing others to wait with you? What was the experience?

Compassion offers hope

     1.  What are your sources of hope?
     2.  How might you offer hope to someone else?

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Oct 23 (Week 3) – “The Gift of Living in the Present” from the book title The Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting
(for discussion on Tue, Oct 25 at 6 PM on Zoom and Sun, Oct 30 at 12 PM, In-person after Sunday Service)

Rev Ray’s Study Guide for Week 3: – “The Gift of Living in the Present”

1. Questions to reflect and ponder
     a. “Be here now.”
         i. How do you react and feel when you say these words?
        ii. When you hear these words.
       iii. What do these words mean to you?
    b. Think of a place you have to be where you will have to wait
         i. How will you stay present?
        ii. Thinking about it how do you feel having to wait and staying present in the experience

2. Living in the present invites us to let go of worry.
    a. How has worry distracted you from the present?
    b. How do you let go and surrender worry?

3. Living in the present allows us to notice the small things
    a. How has being present allowed you to notice small things?
        Be specific on what you noticed that you may have missed in the past

4. What is something you can do in the coming weeks that allows you to stay present?

5. In Unity we teach we co-create our reality and live from our vision.
    a. How do we reconcile this with a living in the present focus?

Oct 16 (Week 2) – “The Gift of Loss of Control” from the book title The Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting

(for discussion on Tue, Oct 18 at 6 PM on Zoom and Sun, Oct 23 at 12 PM, In-person after Sunday Service)

Rev Ray’s Study Guide for Week 2: – “The Gift of Loss of Control” 

Reflect on the Poem for the Week:

What to do in the Darkness
         by Marilyn Chandler McEntyre

Go slowly
Consent to it
But don't wallow in it
Know it as a place of germination
And growth
Remember the light
Take an outstretched hand if you find one
Exercise unused senses
Find the path by walking it
Practice trust
Watch for dawn.

Reflection on grief and loss
Often times of loss or emergencies force us to relinquish control:
    Name a time where there was an unexpected loss or emergency
       that forced you into a time of waiting and relinquishing control.
    How was the experience and what, if anything, did you learn?

Rev Ray’s Study Guide questions for Week 2: – “The Gift of Loss of Control”
Reflection Questions
   1. Think of a time you surrender to circumstances you could not control.
       How did you respond and/react?
      What was the experience like for you?
   2. Is there an area of life where loss of control might have some lesson for you?
   3. Describe a situation where a forced wait had you let go of the need to control.
       How did you respond?
   4. How has waiting and releasing taught you to be resilient?

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Oct 9 (Week 1) – “The Gift of Patience” from the book title The Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting

(for discussion on Tue, Oct 11 at 6 PM on Zoom and Sun, Oct 16 at 12 PM, In-person after Sunday Service)

Rev Ray’s Study Guide for Week 1: – “The Gift of Patience”

Quote of the Week:
“Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear?
Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?”
       - Lao-Tzu

Rev Ray’s Study Guide questions for Week 1: – “The Gift of Patience”

Reflection Questions  (Chapter 3: pp. 26 - 27)

Patience means trusting there is no quick fix
   1.    What, if any, situation in your life is demanding you wait?
   2.    How is waiting teaching you patience?
   3.    What wisdom would you pass along about living with and having patience?
Patience opens us to active waiting.
   1.    What is active waiting?
   2.    How have you been empowered to practice active waiting?
   3.    Describe the situation.
   4.    What could you do to be more fully present and active in waiting?
Patience gives us time to be more available to others
   1.    Who is presently available to you in life in the midst of your waiting?
   2.    How available are you to others?
   3.    What obstacles create barriers for you to be available?
   4.    What steps could you take to be more present and available?
Patience invites us to trust in Divine Order
   1.    When and how have you experienced life unfolding in Divine Order?
   2.    Have you ever received a “no” followed by a “yes”?
   3.    Have you ever received a “no” “preceded” by a, yes?
   4.    How are you waiting for God?
   5.    How is God waiting for you?