IT WAS CHRISTMAS 1986 AND SANTA BROUGHT ALLEN A NEW VIDEO CAMERA FOR CHRISTMAS. Allen spent a lot time with our families from behind the camera.

There is one video that I will always treasure; Allen was inspired to interview my mother. Probably because he was recording their conversation and capturing her image, she was suddenly very shy and careful with her words. He asked great questions about how she and my father had met, where he was born, where she was born, etc., and these open- ended questions allowed her to remember and share some really juicy details.

One of my favorite stories provided the answer to a question I'd had all my life. Why did my mother stop driving? I knew she drove her father's cars, yet in my memory she did not drive. I had always assumed it was due to the automobile accident my father, mother, my three siblings, and my maternal grandmother were in before I was born. My grandmother died and my mother was in serious condition as a result of that accident. Even though my father was driving at the time of the accident, I had assumed my mother gave up driving at that time.

I was certainly surprised to discover she gave up driving due to what I considered to be a very funny misunderstanding. It seems she and one of her sisters were driving not too far from their home when my mother spotted a couple of guys she thought they knew. My mother, the driver, decided to stop and give them a ride. The guys were in the car before she realized they were not who she thought they were, and the guys wanted her to drive them to Atlanta. Being the properly raised Southern Belle that she was, she stopped the car and invited them to continue their journey on foot. This simple case of mistaken identity caused my mother to give up the keys and she never drove again.

Well, the mystery was solved and I learned something really important about my mother. I consider this video, now on DVD, to be absolutely priceless. Allen did an excellent job of asking the right, open- ended questions, which allowed her to share stories that none of us had ever heard before.

People often miss opportunities to learn about their parents' childhood because they are afraid or don't know the right questions to ask. It has been my experience that seniors love to talk about their childhood, and we can learn so much by asking them to talk about their happy memories and their sad memories. Giving them the opportunity to share their stories, and especially the painful stories, can be both interesting and helpful. Too many times people carry their guilt and sadness to the end and never have the opportunity to speak from their hearts. I truly believe the kindest, most compassionate thing we can ever do for another person is to listen to their stories, to give them an opportunity to talk about their joyful and sad experiences.

Try asking your elders open-ended questions and see what you discover. Their stories are your stories and reside in your DNA as well. It can be helpful to uncover family secrets and stories. Often there is shame and guilt and the feeling something terrible happened that could have only happened to them or in their family. Trust me we all have experiences both happy and sad in our families, and it is very healing to share these.

Sadly, I never watched the interview with my mother until after she made her transition. I regret that I did not speak with her about why she stopped driving; I may have heard more stories. Yet, I am delighted to have this time with her recorded forever and grateful that Allen was divinely inspired to create this memory. I encourage everyone to seek opportunities to learn more about your family members. You will find your conversations to be treasured moments.

Love & blessings,
Rev. Debbie

AFTER THE SERVICE ON AUGUST 3RD, our beloved Tanya will no longer be the staff pianist/song leader at Tampa Unity. She will still be with us, of course, as a member of the congregation. She has also agreed to sing an occasional solo and to play the choral pieces requiring a high level of piano expertise, including pieces by her favorite composer, me.

When I met Tanya on the USF campus in 1992, she was double majoring in Computer Science and Piano Performance, working 30+ hours per week at a job in Brooksville (50 minutes each way), and spending late nights watching my band as we played the bar scene from Sarasota to Spring Hill.

If I may brag about her just a little, as one of only four women in a class of about 70 graduating from the College of Engineering's Computer Science department, Tanya received an award for having earned the highest grade average in the class. Shortly afterward, she played a flawless senior recital, an hour's worth of classical music with a very high degree of difficulty. This is the pace at which Tanya has lived her life, and I have always admired her capability and determination.

She still lives her life to the fullest, but she has decided to focus more on the things that matter most to her (see photo again). When she retires from Tampa Unity, she will be down to her day job working in the City of Tampa Information Technology department (for non-geeks, computers), a spot in the racquetball league at the YMCA, and a book club. What a contrast. But then, she has been talking about going back to school for her master's degree. Sigh.

John McEwen

SUMMER IS HERE and so are the Tampa Bay Area's usual thunderstorms with their world-record lightening strikes.

Last month our church systems sustained storm damage through the Verizon phone line. Thanks to the higher powers that be, the damage was fairly minimal, involving the air conditioner, phone system, alarm system, and credit card machine in the book store.

Our great church staff and volunteers rushed to respond and we are back up and running, business as usual. I guess the Universe decided it didn't like Clara's old credit card machine and felt it was time to replace it, along with the 10 year-old-plus phone system. The good news is that the new systems are more economical to run and will save the church money on a monthly basis.

As many of you know, our Vision Team Meeting last month was a total success. We had a record number of participants and accomplished more than ever before. We are grateful to Nancy Mercurio, everyone who attended, and everyone involved with managing the church. Without all of our volunteers, Tampa Unity would not be what it is today. If you have not been a part of the Visioning process or have not had the honor of working on one of our committees, now is the perfect time.  I know personally that I get back so much more than I give, and it is a good feeling to be a part of something as great as our church.

Many of us take vacations during this summer season but just like in our own homes, the church expenses continue. If you would consider creating an automatic debit, which allows your love offerings to continue while you are away, you can help meet the financial needs of the church.

We are grateful for the abundance of our church and we know and affirm that each and every one of you do your part to keep our community moving forward. Please always remember that the board of trustees represents you, our members. If you have suggestions or input, please let a board member know. We are here to serve our church, represent you, and be your voice, because each of you is an important part of our church. You are the church and we always appreciate hearing from you.

Scott Barry
President, Board of Trustees

WE WELCOME BACK OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS AT THE SUNDAY SERVICE ON AUGUST 24TH: Pam Butler, Sharon Webber, Ann Marie Huggins, Carolyn Deese, Denise Vangelder, and Jon Close are returning for another fun-filled year.

The Fall will be exciting and fun with new curriculum and friends, as well as familiar faces. Maureen McCarthy is back to teach the pre-K class after a year off. And Wendy Leigh will join us for the first time co- teaching our Uniteens with Jon Close.

We have two teachers leaving us this year after dedicating their time to our children. Alex Boyer has taught the pre-K class for three years. We are so grateful for the creativity she inspired in this group. Jamie Cook started as a Youth Ed Angel for the Uniteens and they won her over, convincing her to become a teacher last year.

To these two wonderful teachers we say, "We Love You, We Appreciate You, and We behold the Christ within You." Thank you for your true dedication to our children. They will miss you.

We had a great Summer Vacation Bible School this year with 34 children "Surfing through the Scriptures" in a beach- and water-themed program. Many thanks to a great bunch of volunteers who banded together to teach lessons, play games, and make crafts and snacks.

Our Youth Education program would not be the same without our dedicated volunteers. Over the past two years, we have doubled the number of children we serve. In order for them to have a spiritual experience to take with them each Sunday, we need our Youth Ed Angels (Y.E.A.). Please consider signing up a few Sundays to assist our Sunday School Teachers. Try it - you'll love it!

Blessings,
Jean and the Teachers

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, we've gotten serious here at Tampa Unity about doing our part to help the environment, reduce our "carbon footprint," and save a lot of money, effort, and time. We couldn't do it without everyone's cooperation!

WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW

No more Styrofoam cups: We've already started using ceramic mugs and cups, thanks to everyone who has brought them in so far. And we have an energy-efficient dishwasher to clean them, thanks to Jeff and Nancy.

No more plastic water bottles: We're testing a new water filtration system, thanks to Bill McCullough. Try it out - the water's great!

Fewer energy-consuming light bulbs: Last year, thanks to the proceeds of the great Energy Fair that Judi McKown organized, we replaced most of the light bulbs at Tampa Unity with compact fluorescent bulbs, and we saw an immediate energy savings.

Less paper: Office Manager Janet Stanley has redesigned our Sunday bulletin, using fewer pages and cutting down on the amount of paper we use each week.

WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON

We mail our bi-monthly newsletter out to over 600 people. That's a lot of paper! So we are culling through our mailing list to make sure that those who receive the newsletter actually want it.

If you receive the mailed newsletter but would prefer a digital version, you can easily go online and sign up. You'll receive your copy by email, and you can keep it on your virtual desktop instead of having it take up space on your real desk top.

Think about it: If we can take even just a third of the 600+ recipients off our mailing list, we can seriously cut down on the huge amount of paper needed, as well as the mailing costs and the time it takes to print, fold, and label each newsletter.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you have any more ideas about how Tampa Unity can be more environmentally conscious, let us know! And if you feel a calling to be part of a Tampa Unity Green Team, email Carol at UnityVolunteers@aol.com today!

by Carol Ferguson

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! IT IS TIME FOR A NEW YEAR OF SUPPER CLUB FUN! The Tampa Unity Supper Club will meet September 13, 2008, at 6:30 pm in Fellowship Hall, for its annual Kick-Off Dinner. It's pot luck, so bring your favorite dish to share!

The Supper Club is an adult social activity, providing an opportunity for singles and couples from the church to get to know each other. Come make new friends here at Tampa Unity!

We will form our Supper Club Circles at the kick-off dinner. There are usually 10-12 people in each Circle, and the Circles stay together for one year. As a Circle member, you agree to host a dinner and simple activity for your group once during the 12-month period (couples host twice), so the obligation to host rotates throughout the group until everyone has had a turn. At the end of the year, the Circles disband and we form new circles at the next kick-off dinner!

At the monthly dinners, the host provides the entrée and each group member brings something to share. The dinners can be held in your home or a restaurant. One of my favorite get-togethers was a sunset picnic on the beach at Treasure Island.

Meeting together on a monthly basis allows us to get to know one another on a deeper level than we would just seeing each other for a few minutes on Sunday mornings. A successful Supper Club experience requires a commitment on the part of Circle members to attend regularly. But don't let the "commitment" part scare you, because Supper Club is lots of fun and the food is always great!

If you have any questions or need more information, see Kathryn Matras or Sherry Keller on Sunday morning. Look for the sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall next Sunday. See you in September!

by Sherry Keller

AFTER THE RAIN, MUSHROOMS SPROUTED (like mushrooms!) FROM HIDDEN SPORES, capped with fairy dormers. Flowers bloomed large, overflowing from their pots, vibrant purple, red and orange. Butterflies came to call. There were zebras, queens and swallowtails and tiny blue ones and small dark ones with brown wings like moths amid the marigolds that had never been a brighter yellow.

After the rain, as evening fell, hop-toads filled the drive, jumping through headlight and flashlight beam. In the garden, we left tiny cups and saucers - fairy sized - filled with cake crumbs and tea.

Life was large the morning after the rain. The mushrooms had bloomed overnight into gnome-sized umbrellas. The grass had grown taller, greener, blades thick with moisture. Philodendron vines scaled the towering oaks, their variegated leaves glossy and impossibly wide. Every plant tested the boundaries of container and bed. Squadrons of dragonflies glistened in the air, gossamer wings glinting purple and green and blue. Conventions of squirrels filled every yard.

As the afternoon wore on, thick clouds began to fill the sky, dark clouds that filtered out the sun. Another round of storms was on the way. We found the tiny cups and saucers in the garden, emptied now of their contents and carried them back to the house as the rain began to fall.

by Janet Stanley

THE DICTIONARY'S DEFINITION OF CELEBRATE IS "to commemorate, honor, and remember" and "to have a good time, have a party, have a ball." We're going to do all that! Please mark November 8 and 9 on your calendars, and plan to join us for a fantastically fun time!

Calling Tampa Unity alumni everywhere! Send us a greeting! We truly wish we could gather all our past and present members for this celebration. Many of those most dear to us have moved far away, but no matter where you are now you can still send us a greeting. Back in 1928, people sent handwritten notes. Now they're just as likely to send an email. We'll be happy to receive your greetings in any form. We're creating a special place on our webpage where you can send us a simple greeting, photos, and even video clips.

Honoring History! Who was Clarabelle Williams? Why are areas named after Margaret Giles, Ross and Joan Goodman, and William Bellis? Do you remember Ruby Wagner or where services were held before we moved to West Horatio? Did you discover us recently and want to know more about "before"? No matter the length of your association with our church, we want to hear your stories and experiences.

Tampa Unity has grown and thrived throughout 80 challenging years. Our History Committee is eagerly awaiting your stories and memorabilia. We hope to create a mini-documentary. So dust off those photo albums and search your memories because we need your help to bring our history alive!

It's time to party! In fact we've planned two! Join us for our Saturday Soiree on November 8th and our Old Fashioned Church Social on November 9th. Saturday night we'll transform Fellowship Hall and the Courtyard into a magical place where adults will mix with old friends and meet new ones, eat fabulous food, and enjoy great music and dancing. Choose your favorite decade and come in costume! You might learn to Charleston or do the Twist. If you missed the Disco era, this could be your chance to experience some Saturday Night Fever!

On Sunday, be with us to enjoy an "Old Fashioned Church Social" immediately after the morning service. We'll have plenty of food, games, awards, balloons, singing, and a wonderful family-oriented fun time.

Watch for more information in our Newsletters, Website, Sunday Bulletins, and Constant Contacts. If you would like to volunteer your time, talent, or treasure to any of these events, please contact Leslie Atkins at 813-948-3438 or by email at LJeanneAtkins@aol.com.

By Leslie Atkins

WE ARE REALLY EXCITED about this year's Fall Program because we are partnering with First Unity Church of St. Pete and Clearwater Unity. Imagine that: Unity within Unity! All three churches will be offering the same program based on the same book, A Quest for Wholeness by Robert Brument.

HOME-STUDY GROUPS - The Quest for Wholeness is a great book for delving into deeply with other Unity friends. Open your home as a host to a study group of no more than 10 people, and facilitate great discussions about healing ourselves and our worlds. Facilitator training will be offered by Rev. Debbie at two different times for your convenience: Sunday afternoon, August 17, at 2:00 pm, , and Tuesday, August 19, at 7:00 pm. Training is a requirement for all facilitators, ensuring a sense of confidence and safety for all home-study participants. Participation in a study group creates opportunities for spiritual growth and great friendships with fellow Unity students. If you are unable to open your home for a home- study group, then be sure to join one in your area so that you can have the opportunity for a high- quality spiritual experience during these seven weeks. Sign up in Fellowship Hall.

ARTISTS & CREATIVE PEOPLE - Become a member of a creative team to help design art or other creative decorations for our Spirit Expressing Fall Program. Let your creativity and ideas flow and come up with ways we can visually enhance the experience of our Spirit Expressing Fall Program. See Rev. Debbie or sign up in Fellowship Hall.

BANQUET - All three churches will celebrate completion of Spirit Expressing on October 19th with a big gala banquet at the Mateo's Hall, just across the Causeway in Clearwater. There will be great food, great music, dancing, and a lot of Unity-in-Unity sharing with our fellow truth students from First Unity & Clearwater Unity. Parents, you can leave your children at Tampa Unity in the loving care of our Youth Education Director, Jeanne Wynne, while you enjoy the festivities. Tickets for this big event are $27.95, or $55.00 for two, which includes food and festivities.

SILENT AUCTION - In addition to the food, music, dancing, and (adult) beverages, each church will sponsor a silent auction. We're looking for those of you who wish to donate items or events for the auction: your time, talents, second homes, dinners at your home - anything that others would be happy to bid on! Use your imagination! All of the auction proceeds will benefit Tampa Unity. For example, Leslie Atkins has already offered an hour of professional interior design consultation. Scott Barry and Vinnie Zeoli have offered their beautiful new Ashville cabin for a North Carolina mountain get-away weekend, and Mark Scaglione will guide a fishing trip. Get creative, open yourself to divine ideas, and let's make this silent auction fund- and fun-raising! Please contact Rev. Debbie with your silent auction items. (And we need a talented, experienced silent auction chairperson to manage this very important aspect of our big event! See Debbie!)

YES, IT'S TRUE! THERE IS YET ANOTHER WAY FOR YOU TO HAVE SOME FUN AT TAMPA UNITY! 

Thanks to the brainstorming of our Volunteer Visioning Team, a new group - Unity Social Activities (USA) - will kickoff its first activity on Sunday, August 10th, in Fellowship Hall beginning at 1:00 p.m.  

Our planned Pot Luck will give us the opportunity to have lunch, socialize, and discuss plans for future activities. The ad hoc Chairperson of this mission is Fern Kinion, who (true to form!) has spent countless hours working on a number of ideas to build a stronger community here at Tampa Unity.

This is not a structured group or a club, but rather a mission for the people and by the people, which means EVERYONE participates in helping to ensure this is FUN for ALL!! 

For our Pot Luck, we'll need five people to help with set-up and five for clean-up, so please sign up in advance in Fellowship Hall.

Singles, couples, people of all ages are invited to attend and our goal is simple: More fun with like- minded people!