Meet the Minister and Staff

Online Service at 10:30 AM.   Why?  It began with COVID-19 and led to our hybrid community

Thank you for joining us!       To access Virtual Sunday Service                                                         .

   Unity in the Heart (bottom of home page)     Click on  https://UnityintheHeart.org/video-gallery/                   

 --   OR   --

   Facebook: Unity in the Heart of St Paul          Click on  https://fb.me/UnityStPaul

>>> NEW Join us at 11:30 am for an after service Zoom Fellowship gathering 

     By computer or smartphone:  Click on  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81468455101?pwd=cytSTHlkazFKWklnM0ZzR0VyM2FrZz09

     By phone (audio only)   Dial  +1 312 626 6799  (You will be prompted to enter)   Meeting ID: 814 6845 5101 #  Participant ID: # Password: 057050 #
 
  Tithes gratefully accepted:  Use "Donate" button in upper right corner.  Thank-you again for joining us!
      You have 2 electronic payment methods available. Both can be one-time or recurring -  weekly or monthly. 
            1.   Credit/Debit card 
            2.   ACH/Bank transfer (echeck)  (Note: Some credit unions are not available for ACH/Bank transfers.) 
 
       or Mail a check to:   Unity in the Heart, 1898 Iglehart Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104
 
We are a community of spirit, whether in-person or virtual, join with one another in worship and spiritual growth
 
 
Rev. Raymond Nelson, Minister/Spiritual Leader
 
Rev. Raymond Nelson joined us on November 1, 2020, as our new Minister/Spiritual Leader after our three year search.  Rev. Ray comes to us with a wealth of training and experience. He received a Master of Divinity from Unity Spiritual Institute (USI) in 2011 and holds a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, completed in 2008. Before pursuing religious education, he had earned a BS in Political Science and Urban Economics from Northern Illinois University in 1979. Rev. Ray has completed additional trainings in Personal Coaching, Non-violent Communication, Integrated Leadership, and Inclusion & Diversity, to name a few. He has served many years as a Volunteer on the Unity Worldwide Advisory Team, the Unity Great Lakes Region Board of Trustees, and in 12-step and recovery programs. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Online Ministerial Education for USI as well as the Internship Coordinator and Academic Advisor for the USI Master of Divinity Program. Rev. Ray is a sought-after speaker within the Unity movement and has a particular passion for small group and interpersonal interaction, empowerment of individuals, and pastoral care. Rev. Ray’s most recent position was with Unity of Louisville, KT. Last fall, he and his wife, Robin, returned to the Twin Cities to be closer to family.
 
Daniel Abdon, Music Director (Relocated July 1, 2021 to Charleston, South Carolina)

It is with deep affection and appreciation that we  bid “adieu” to Daniel Abdon, our Music Director.  He has taken a teaching position in Charleston, South Carolina at a new Waldorf School, and will be re-locating there by July 1, 2021. His last official service with us will be June 6, when we will say a formal “farewell" during the service. Daniel has been our Music Director since 2014 and has served our community with openness and grace.  We will miss Daniel’s beautiful voice, his radiant smile, his leadership, and his kind and generous heart.  We wish him the very best and send with him our most sincere prayers for a grand adventure!

Daniel Abdon, our Music Director previously was associated with Unity in the Heart for over ten years as a regular guest musician. Before that, Daniel booked guest music and directed the choir at Unity in the Valley, in Savage, MN. Daniel freelances as a private piano and voice teacher all over the greater Metro area, and works in the Early Childhood Music department at MacPhail Center for Music. Over the past twelve years, Daniel has also worked as a classroom teacher at all three Waldorf schools in the Twin Cities.  In addition to his teaching roles, Daniel sings with an international music ministry vocal ensemble called S.T.A.R.S. (Singers Taking Action Reaching Souls.) Daniel holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Webster University in St. Louis. Daniel can be contacted at danabdon@yahoo.com.

Dennis Curley, Pianist / Musician

At Unity in the Heart, we count ourselves blessed to have Dennis Curley as our regular Sunday accompanist and frequent soloist.  Dennis is a native of Syracuse, NY, and a graduate of Northwestern University (Evanston, IL).  A major player in the Twin City music scene, he is a gifted pianist and vocalist.  He has composed, directed and performed in a wide variety of musical and theatrical productions ranging from the spiritual to the secular.  Dennis has also taught musical improv classes for the Brave New Workshop and is co-founder and executive producer of Table Salt Productions. You can find the details of his musical and theatrical accomplishments at DennisCurley.com.

Stazi (Anderson) Godin, Youth Education Director & Sunday School Teacher

No Sunday school because of COVID-19 until further notice. (Our Sunday School program is offered each Sunday at 10:30 am.)

We are delighted to have as Youth Ed Director and Sunday School Teacher Stazi Godin. She teaches Sunday lessons. The classes are small assuring each child of one-on-one attention as they learn Unity ideas at a level appropriate for their age.

To access Past & Present Sunday Service Videos and Podcasts:
Our History Milestones:
  • On June 13, 2021,          we welcomed back people for In-person and Live Stream Sunday Service.
  • On June 6, 2021,            we started Live Stream Sunday Services & said good-bye with deep affection and appreciation to Music Director Daniel Abdon after 7 years.
  • On November 1, 2020,  we welcomed Rev. Raymond Nelson as our new permanent minister after a 3-year search.
  • On March 22, 2020,       we began online virtual Sunday Services began as the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine began.
  • Before March 22, 2020, we only met in person and posted Sunday Service talks as podcasts.
  • On January 2020,           we were blessed with several inspiring Guest Speakers, while we called our new minister,
  • Jan. 2018 to Dec. 2019, Rev. Sher McNeal was our Interim Minister - Thank-you for two great years. 
  • 2005-2017,                    Rev. Laurie Brandt served as our Permanent Minister. Thank-you for many years of great service.