Fall 2009

In This Issue… Journey To Turkey An Educational Vision Quest The Significance of Pluto and Capricorn A Look at Celiac Disease Welcome To New Ministers President’s Message 7 Inspirational Ways to Celebrate Fall & the Halloween Season

Website:

www.u-c-m.org

2

UCM Magazine Volume 1, Issue 2 Fall 2009

3 President’s Message Reverend Sandy Clark

4 My Journey to Turkey Reverend Sandy Clark

6 A Brief Synopsis of Pluto in Capricorn Elizabeth A. Barton

8 An Educational Vision Quest Reverend Angela DeBry

12 U.C.M. Announcements Welcome to New Reverends, Ministers and Healers

14 7 Tradition Filled Ways to Celebrate Fall & the Halloween Season Reverend Kala Ambrose

16 Everyone Seems to be Coming Down w/ It Jane Elizabeth (Unland)

18 Communicate with U.C.M. Blog, Twitter, Facebook and more…

6 16

4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

UCM was founded in 1908 as a church in which members are encouraged to develop and exercise their spiritual powers. We discourage adherence to rigid dogmas and tenets, believing that each person must find and travel his/her own path in the Light, and that no single set of fixed rules is applicable to everyone in their spiritual quest.

8

3

I took the Girl Scout motto “Be Prepared” to heart laying the foundation so to speak of how to live my life. To me it has always meant being organized, knowing how to do something, for example; cooking, sewing, etc. I think there were even instructions for washing dishes for earning a badge! As I recall it was all about earning those badges to learn the basics of being a homemaker. I grew up on Rock Hudson and Doris Day movies, light hearted romantic comedies: boy and girl get married, live in a house with a white picket fence, and the movie ends before any negative emotional conflicts began. Not to say that my life has not been happy but there have been some unexpected bumps along the road that were not positive experiences at the time. My concept of what was to come after school was by today’s standards quite naive. In my sheltered upbringing becoming a wife and mother were the goals. Not that it has changed but becoming the wife, the mother has a whole new definition for me from my own now expanded perspective. For some strange reason I did not realize how to make it work, I thought it just happened, like in the movies. I did not have the script writers and I made a few moves not considered to have been in my best interests at the time, now maybe they were as they have helped mold me in the person I am today. The people who have been a part of my life have given me a totally different perspective and education in life since those days in school. In fact I now believe life is the school and we are always learning. I also believe we may not always be prepared, we just think we are. In my case some situation will occur in which I will react before thinking clearly; in hindsight I will think I was not very open to what was being presented to me at the time and I could have said or done something differently to have either helped the situation or myself. The goal is to learn from the new insights and apply them in future experiences. There is a lot of material out about upcoming changes affecting us in 2012. However in my thinking we are all experiencing change now. We change in some way everyday and have since the day we were born... The energies we are all experiencing at this time are bringing change. to us in our everyday lives. I handle change much better when I am centered, not tired, and it does not disrupt my routine. Meaning it’s a change I want rather than the ones that rattle my emotions and push me in area’s that are scary because I do not know or control the outcome. My Girl scout years are paying off, the motto “Be Prepared” is in my heart beating its song and now I hear it singing to me “Be Prepared for Change Today”. With Light and Love,

Sandy

Reverend Sandy Clark

4

MY JOURNEY TO TURKEY Reverend Sandy Clark

President Universal Church of the Master

I had the opportunity to take a trip to Turkey as the guest of Pacifica Institute this past June. Pacifica Institute’s mission is to promote cross-cultural awareness, in order to attain peace and diversity with our neighbors and help establish a better society where individuals love, respect and accept each other as they are. Their website is www.pacificainstitute.org I have been a guest at four of their annual interfaith dinners held yearly in the fall. Last year at the dinner they spoke about their trips to Turkey. I expressed an interest to learn more as I believed their mission to promote cross cultural awareness fit in with our belief of each person finding and traveling his/her own path in the Light. This year I was extended an invitation to travel with them to Turkey. The purpose of the trip was to develop a better understanding of cultures and establish friendships among diverse members of our society by visiting one of the most diverse and history-rich countries in the world, Turkey. I have never been across the Atlantic Ocean before. I have traveled throughout the states, been up into Canada, down into Mexico and one trip to Hawaii, but never across the Atlantic. In fact if you had asked me to list where in Europe I would like to visit, it would have been Italy, Paris, England, Sweden (I have some Swedish ancestors). Turkey was not even on the list! Plus Turkey is part of Asia, not Europe. Well that’s not true as part of Istanbul is in Europe. It’s a long plane ride, as any of you who have traveled in that direction know. I was excited about the trip and that helped pass the time for me, as I did not sleep much in the plane. We (there were 16 of us in the group) flew from San Francisco to New York, and then on to Istanbul arriving late in the afternoon of the next day! After getting our visas at the Istanbul Airport and picking up our luggage, we headed to our hotel, freshened up, and went off to dinner and our tour began. Over our first two days in Istanbul we toured the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, The Bazalica Cistern, the Topkapi Palace Museum along with the Dolmabahce Palace. Visited MiniaTurk, which is a miniature reproduction of sites all over Turkey, and toured the Karakoy Jewish Museum! We were also treated to a boat ride on the Bosporus. Istanbul surrounds the waters of the Bosporus, as we were on the water it reminded me of being on the San Francisco Bay. There is a bridge crossing the water that is a span bridge like the Golden Gate Bridge, only painted gray. At night it lights up all in one color and then fades into another. There were no sail boats on the water, but lots of cruise ships. I have since learned that because of the strong currents, it is not advisable to sail on the Bosporus! Of course we ate. Two dinners were with local families who welcomed us into their homes. I found these dinners to be special, as the women spent several days preparing the food. It appeared that extended members of the family, friends and neighbors contributed to these fantastic dinners. Berna, one of the Pacifica Institute guides who accompanied us took us to her parent’s home, giving us an inside look at how they live. And the food just kept coming: soup, salad, main dishes, with chi and dessert. As we left, we each received a small dish with a piece of candy in it. They even had international phone cards for us to use to call our families at home. We visited Dolmabahce Palace which was built between 1848 to 1856. There is a 4 ½ ton Baccarat Crystal

5

chandelier in the salon, along with crystal lamp posts. One of the staircases has magnificent crystal balustrades. As we walked down a long hallway our guide told us that this was where the eunuch stood guard keeping men from going any further into the harem area, and he showed us windows where the women could observe what was going on in the grand salon below. I remember reading as a child about harems and eunuchs but it always seemed somewhat unreal to me and a bit of fantasy; being in this palace, I finally realized that people actually lived that way and it was real.

I took some pictures of the traffic as we crossed the Bosporus Bridge. 15 million people live in Turkey; the traffic is unbelievable, and our bus driver was amazing. We flew from Istanbul to Ismur and drove to Ephesus. This was one of the famous cities of Asia Minor. Legend says the Hilt was the last place of stay of Maiden Maria and Apostle John. When we left here we went to a ceramic store where we were treated to a tour and demonstration of how the ceramics were made. The clay they used was from the area, not as heavy as pottery, nor as light as porcelain, but beautiful work was done. I found a small goblet that had a very distinct pattern hand painted on it, and was told that it represented protection. I purchased the goblet to use as a blessing vessel and used it for the first time when I ordained four new ministers this July after returning home. We were taken to the House of the Virgin Mary, which is believed to be where Mary spent the last of her days. The house has been rebuilt but the footprint remains the same. I lit a candle for peace on the patio area and I was able to fill my water bottle with water from the spring and bring it home inside my suitcase to use for blessings. We flew on another plane to Antalya and then drove to Alanya where our hotel room overlooked the Mediterranean. Surrounded by palm trees and fountains, this area reminded me of the southern California area with weather to match. Dinner here was at the home of a family who shared their experiences with us, and again gave us more food than we could eat. Now we are off to Konya and the Mausoleum of Mevlana which is where the tomb of Rumi is located. This was one of the places I had been looking forward to visiting. It was one place I had a small bit of knowledge about; however, as we approached the place on our bus, I began to get a headache and my stomach was feeling a bit unsettled. On our tour of the outer buildings and exhibits I had trouble breathing and heard nothing of what our tour director was saying. Once we entered the mosque I immediately heard a very distressed voice in my head saying, “Look what they have done, he will not be pleased, this was not what he wanted.” I who also was distressed and not at all happy about what was happening to me, said, “And you expect me to do what”? I could hardly wait to get out of the building into fresh air and be able to breathe again. As I sat outside I was trying to figure out exactly what had happened to me and was looking forward to some time to center myself; our tour guide came over and asked me if he had done something wrong because I had not really been a part of the group. Feeling he might not understand my experience I assured him that he had not done anything wrong, that I was just not feeling well. Once we returned home and I had time to sort out my experience I asked for assistance during a meditation, for anyone in the Mosque who had not completed their transition. I asked that someone they knew, an angel or other familiar figure would present themselves to them and assist them in whatever way they needed. Continued on Page 10…

6

A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF PLUTO IN CAPRICORN Elizabeth A. Barton

Before I go into the effect of Pluto in Capricorn going direct on September 11, 2009…yipes! I want to briefly touch on some of the astronomical and mythological origins of this (now categorized) “dwarf planet”. In 1905, Percival Lowell found a gravitational anomaly affecting the orbits of Neptune and Uranus, and in 1915, he publicly theorized that a planet should exist where Pluto was eventually found. Lowell died in 1916, leaving Pluto to be discovered by another man on February 18, 1930. This man was 24 year old,

Clyde W. Tombaugh. In 1929, Clyde was an assistant at the Lowell Observatory; using predictions made by Lowell and other astronomers, he photographed the sky with a more powerful, wide-angle telescope. In 1930, Tombaugh found Pluto's image on three of these photographs. There was a contest to name the new planet, and on March 14th 1930, eleven year old Venetia Burney suggested the name and was announced the winner in May of 1930. To listen to the interview of Venetia with Edward Goldstein of the NASA Public Affairs office, click on the (MP3) link Listen Now (MP3) (I wonder who channeled that info to her?) Astronomical info In 1978, astronomers at the U. S. Naval Observatory substation in Flagstaff detected a satellite of Pluto. They named it Charon. This satellite has a diameter of about 750 miles (1,210 kilometers). In 1996, astronomers published the first detailed images of Pluto's surface. The images, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, show about 12 large bright or dark areas. The bright regions, which include polar caps, are probably frozen nitrogen. The dark areas may be methane frost that has been broken down chemically by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. In 2005, a team of astronomers studying images from the Hubble Space Telescope discovered two previously unknown moons of Pluto. The satellites, later named Hydra and Nix, had diameters of up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) and lay well outside the orbit of Charon. In 2006, this debate led the International Astronomical Union, the recognized authority in naming heavenly objects, to formally classify Pluto as a dwarf planet. Pluto cannot be seen without a telescope. Pluto is so far from Earth that even powerful telescopes reveal little detail of its surface. The Hubble Space Telescope gathered the light for the pictures of Pluto shown here. Image credit: NASA Pluto is about 39 times as far from the sun as Earth is. Its average distance from the sun is about 3,647,240,000 miles (5,869,660,000 kilometers). Pluto travels around the sun in an elliptical (oval-shaped) orbit. At some point in its orbit, it comes closer to the sun than Neptune, the outermost planet. It stays inside Neptune's orbit for about 20 Earth years. This event occurs every 248 Earth years, which is about the same number of Earth years it takes Pluto to travel once around the sun. Pluto entered Neptune's orbit on Jan. 23, 1979, and remained there until Feb. 11, 1999. As it orbits the sun, Pluto spins on its axis, an imaginary line through its center. It spins around once in about six Earth days. In 2006, the U. S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the New Horizons probe. The probe was expected to fly by Pluto in 2015.

http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article? id=ar435500 and

http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/pluto_worldbook.html MYTH One of the better websites I have found on the origins of Pluto comes from this website, Here are some excerpts from that site:

Pluto is so far from Earth that even powerful telescopes reveal little detail of its surface. The Hubble Space Telescope gathered the light for the pictures of Pluto shown here. Image credit: NASA

7

“Pluto was esteemed the god of wealth; for it must be here observed, that the poets confound Pluto, god of hell, with Plutus, god of riches, though they were distinct deities, and always so considered by the ancients. Pluto's regions being supposed to lie under ground; and as he was the first who taught men to bury their dead, it was thence inferred that he was king of the infernal regions, whence sprung a belief, that as all souls descended to him, so when they were in his possession, he bound them with inevitable chains, and delivered them to be tried by judges, after which he dispensed rewards and punishments according to their several desserts. Pluto was therefore called the infernal Jupiter, and oblations were made to him by the living, for the souls of their friends departed. Pluto was extremely revered both by the Greeks and Romans. He had a magnificent temple at Pylos. Near the river Corellus, in Boeotia, he had also an altar, for some mystical reason, in common with Pallas. His chief festival was in February, and called Charistia, because their oblations were made for the dead. Black bulls were the victims offered up, and the ceremonies were performed in the night, it not being lawful to sacrifice to him in the daytime, on account of his aversion to the light. The cypress tree was sacred to Pluto, boughs of which were carried at funerals. He is usually represented in an ebony chariot, drawn by his four black horses, Orphnaeus, Aethon, Nycteus, and Alastor. As god of the dead, keys were the ensigns of his authority, because there is no possibility of returning when the gates of his palace are locked. Sometimes he holds a scepter, to denote his power; at other times a wand, with which he directs the movements of his subject ghosts. Homer speaks of his helmet as having the quality of rendering the wearer invisible; and tells us that Minerva borrowed it when she fought against the Trojans, that she might not be discovered by Mars. Perseus also used this helmet when he cut off Medusa's head.” Commentary And now Pluto is in Capricorn; November 26th 2008 until March 24 2023. Capricorn holds the zenith of the Zodiacal wheel, in the 10th house. Together they represent nations, governments, societal structures, corporate dealings, financial structures, Earth sciences, career, ambition, and the business side of agriculture. Whilst in the northern hemisphere, Capricorns’ home manifests at the Nadir of the seasons, the winter solstice. This is a time of reflection and contemplation of what has occurred during the last year and the imaginings of what the new, yet unborn year will bring. Capricorns’ time is one of structure, the time of when skeletons of the dead become the fertilizer of spring and the vision of new dreams. So here we have the God of the underworld (Pluto) in the time of death and rebirth (winter solstice). Capricorn is ruled by the planet Saturn. It is a cardinal (action), its element is earth, and what most people forget, is that it is a receptive female sign. A lot of the rules that society comes up with are based on the “Fear” aspect of the overprotective mother. We need to stay alert to the removal of our civil rights! Pluto in Capricorn will say, “I love you, but I will have to put you in jail to keep you safe. I will have to control all borders; I must keep you safe from yourself! ” On the other hand, the Divine Feminine will be back. It is a time when Mother Earth – Ceres - Gaia – Demeter – Hecate will make her thoughts known to us. Many of you have already felt the shifting of the Earth’s Energetic grid, which is a precursor of physical shift. The Ceres myth will be very strong in the upcoming years. Currently, the planet Saturn is in the sign of Virgo; we know harvests will be challenged this year. Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn is the Lord of Karma, the tester. He is the ruler of structures, time, bones, foundations, austerity, truth telling, self-discipline, thriftiness, suppression, humility, respect and patience, and many other aspects. Capricorn is a sign of caution, so Pluto didn’t blast his way into this sign, he dipped his toes gingerly into the Sea Goat’s realm on January 26th 2008, then pulled them out and went back into Sagittarius on June 15 2008. Then on November 26th 2008, he started to wade into the Capricornian waters and like a drag racer, punched the gas for a trial run, came to a stop on April 5th 2009, went retrograde and started backing up for his grand entrance on September 11, 2009. Continued on Page 15…

8

An Educational Vision Quest By Reverend Angela DeBry, H.H.D, D.D.

From 1908 until 1992 UCM taught its’ ministers through what some call the Socratic method. This was our Life Path Program; which continues to this date. An individual would find a UCM Minister who shared their theological philosophy and study with them for a minimum of one year to become a Licentiate Minister and a minimum of another year to become an Ordained Minister. We really do embrace and practice our belief that each person must find and travel his or her own path to the Light, and that no single set of fixed rules is applicable to everyone in their spiritual quest. The Life Path model seemed to fit the requirements of this time and allow a truly personal theological path. In 1992 we realized, through a lot of requests, that we needed a more formalized program for individuals who required degrees and from students who didn’t have a UCM minister in their area to study with. This need became our vision quest, “to create a formal theological degree program for an individual.” We worked on this program, first completing the undergraduate Associate and Bachelor of Theology Programs. We applied for and received the California Postsecondary and Vocational Religious Exemption #7472210. We then were able to complete our accreditation through The Accrediting Commission International, the largest non-governmental seminary accrediting organization. The next big step was a graduate program and we wanted to complete this no later that 2008 as a part of our 100 year celebration. Happily we were able to roll out the Master of Theology Degree by our 2007 annual meeting and yes, we completed the Doctor of Divinity by May of 2008, fully accredited at our 100-year celebration.

The creation of this program represented a community vision quest for UCM. It is the intent of this program to facilitate individuals in their personal spiritual growth, by designing a comprehensive ministerial degree program that includes components of comparative religion, spiritual and holistic healing models, spiritual counseling techniques, and techniques for ongoing spiritual growth. We want you to walk your own Vision Quest and discover through the Degree Program your spiritual journey. You may take the program to become a Healer Practitioner, Licentiate Minister or Ordained Minister. You may also take the program for personal growth and a better understanding of spiritual teachings from around the world. We actually had a businessman who travels extensively for his corporate job take the program to better understand the different cultures he encountered. Your degree is what you make of it and how it works for you in your day-to-day life. We have graduates that work as drug and alcohol pastoral counselors, in hospice organizations, in the public school system to fight violence with special programs, as counselors and healers (holistically, and spiritually). We have graduates that became ministers and founded their own charters or who quietly work as solitary ministers however their heart calls to them. We have Christians, Wiccans, Hindus Buddhists, those that follow a Goddess path and those that just want to embrace the best of all paths. This diversity is the strength of who and what UCM is. Below you will find a basic overview of the requirements of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs. These programs allow you to work at your own pace. We have ministers that work with you via computer, phone or regular mail. We will tailor our communication to fit your needs in most cases. For additional information we invite you to visit the website http://www.u-c-m.org and click on the Education tab and then Degree Program. You may also learn more about our community in the Read Our Blog portion.

8

9

U.C.M. Remote Degree Program

“Within this gathering of friends, we learn to listen to the voice within, the voice that asks. What’s next? Where is the meaning? What is my purpose? We are seekers learning to discover and share

our visions, our purpose, and ourselves.” [Danetta]

Undergraduate Program Associate of Theology Degree Program 147 hours of study. Total class hours of study: 117 9 - modules of study with testing after each module, 13 hours each. Tests include essay and true and false. All essay tests will be pass or fail 30 - Hour Thesis - Pass or Fail Speech Course

Bachelor of Theology Degree Program 313 hours of study 9 - Modules of study with testing after each module, 25 hours each. Tests include essay and true or false questions. All essay tests will be pass or fail. Total class hours of study: 225 60 - Hour Thesis - Pass or Fail 20 - Hour Counseling Course 8 - Hour CPR certification

Graduate Program Master of Theology Degree Program 615 hours of study. Total class hours of study: 315 9 - modules of study with testing after each module, 35 hours each. Tests include essay and true and false. All essay tests will be pass/fail 300 - Hour Thesis - Pass or Fail OR 1200 hours Practicum. Combinations hours are considered.

Doctor of Divinity Program 615 hours of study. Total class hours of study: 315 9 - modules of study with testing after each module, 35 hours each. Tests include essay and true and false. All essay tests will be pass/fail 300 - Hour Thesis - Pass or Fail OR 1200 hours Practicum. Combinations hours are considered.

9

Reverend DeBry has been a member of UCM since 1988. She chartered Solar Cross “A New Beginning” Postsecondary School and Wellness Center along with a California Board of Registered Nursing continuing education program. Currently she is the Vice President of the UCM Board of Trustees and Dean of Seminary. You may reach her for questions at reverenddebry@u-c-m.org.

10

Continued from Page 5 (My Journey to Turkey)… In an instant the energy in my body changed, a calmness came over me, and I could breathe again when recalling this experience. Dinner in Konya was at the home of another one of our Pacifica Institute’s guides, Seda. Her parents opened their home to us with more wonderful food than we could eat. Along with a marvelous dinner they gave the men prayer beads, and each of the ladies silk scarves. We went to The Aspendos Amphitheatre which was built in the 2nd century and is still used today as a theatre. As I moved down a walkway I thought gladiators might have been there. The seating looks a bit uncomfortable on those stone seats.

Our bus then took us to Nigde, where we went to the Sungurbey Primary School and were entertained by the children who folk danced for us. Again there was plentiful food made by the women, and a demonstration of water painting: the water is treated with additives, then paint is dropped on the water and with different metal tongs flowers are drawn. At the end of the evening we were all presented with water flower paintings and fireworks were set off inside (!) along with confetti. Then we were taken by car to homes to stay for the evening. I was at the home of a family whose daughter attends the school. We were given tea and dessert, and learned about how they lived. We were in what they called their summer home; it was built on property that was owned by his grandfather, who had planted the grape vines that surrounded the garden. I was gifted with an ornate Turkish coffee set and a beautiful silk scarf that had small flowers crocheted all around the edges.

The next morning we all gathered for breakfast and what a feast that was. Across from me was a woman who had a beautiful ring on her hand. I had not noticed any of the women wearing jewelry and this ring had really caught my eye. Through our interpreter I commented that it was quite beautiful; she thanked me and also commented on my ring, which I then took off and handed to her. When she started to give it back to me, I told her to keep it, as by giving it to her a part of me would remain in Turkey. A short time later, she presented me with a turquoise ring that the women make as a fundraiser. The wording on the stone translates to “Don’t Gossip, Don’t Lose”. As I

understand the translation and the belief behind it is, when you gossip you lose face. Cappadocia, the Nome Valley, underground cities, and fairy chimneys - I have to say I believed that the fairies lived in Gardens, but it is said they live in these naturally formed stones. As a believer in Fairies, I will not disagree.

11

We went back to Istanbul before we headed home, and made it to the Grand Bazaar. As a shopper I was in heaven! It’s a huge place and just as magical as I believed it would be. I did purchase a ring to remind me of where I had been. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to travel to Turkey. I left a part of my heart there. I have such wonderful memories of the people I met. The children have lights in their eyes, they are just beautiful. I have also been asked what do I miss now that I am home, and I have answered: hearing the daily call to prayer. Every time I heard it throughout the day I would vibrate and feel a calmness come over me. I got to thinking that as a child we lived in Berkeley and I would hear the campanile ring during the day, and often on Sunday would hear the church bells ring. I do not hear that where I am anymore, and I

realized that I miss it. It was like a toning for me, a centering that I had been missing. This trip broadened my understanding of the culture and religious practices of the Turkish people. In addition I also learned about the pathways of those who were in our group: Paula, a rabbi; her husband Richard who is a therapist; Philip (who’s nickname is Boo), a university professor teaching theology; Jim, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies and also an Ordained Minister in the Presbyterian Church; Amy, Jim’s wife, a Human Resources Consultant; Catherine, who works in the communication field; her husband Anthony, an artist; Joey, a Presbyterian Minister; Irene his wife who works in real estate; Myra, a school teacher; myself and Joanne, also a UCM minister. Along with our guides Mehmet Sen, Mehmet, Seda, and Berna from Pacifica Institute these were my companions for ten glorious days in Turkey. I had been told before I left on this trip I would not come back the same person, and that is true. I believe I have a much better personal understanding of some of the many pathways to the Light. We each travel at our own speed along these paths, and all of us have the support we need wherever we are in the world. It may not always be the same as here at home, but it is there. I was continually given the opportunity to center myself and to know that Spirit was with me. The people I came in contact with constantly reminded me how much we all have in common.

12

Online Magazine Editor Wanted! The UCM Board of Directors would like to first take time to express our undying thanks to Reverend Bea Baechle. Reverend Baechle served as editor for the UCM Journal from 2001 through 2007. Bea then had the fight of her life with breast cancer and still returned to complete 2008 after her chemo had

been completed. During the time that Reverend Baechle worked on her own healing Heather Ochoa our office manager at the time was editor of the magazine. Without these two amazing women we would have truly been lost. At this time Bea needs to pass the torch to another. Thanks to Reverend Kala Ambrose, who has created our amazing online magazine as well as our blog we are live and on line! Reverend Ambrose has committed to complete the Fall/Winter and Spring Issues of the online magazine, but after that we need a new editor. The new editor would need to start working with the staff by February 1, 2010 so the exchange of data will be fluid. Please contact reverenddebry@u-c-m.org if you are interested. This is a wonderful opportunity to volunteer your imagination, editing skills, and love for UCM. Sincerely, UCM Board of Trustees.

CERTIFICATIONS:

Reverend’s Reverend Patricia Johnston Patricia Johnston of Folsom, CA, was Ordained as a Reverend in June 2009, sponsored by Reverend Ollie Keck. Patricia is an accomplished medium, healer, and teacher with over 30 years of spiritual training and service and holds a Masters Degree in Metaphysical Sciences. Reverend Colleen Cameron B.S. Colleen Cameron of Folsom, CA was Ordained as a Reverend in July 2009, sponsored by Reverend Ollie Keck. Colleen is a Reiki Master and healer. She is a very accomplished medium, teacher and lecturer with many years of spiritual training and service. Reverend Gregory Mitchell Gregory Mitchell of Sacrament, CA, was Ordained as a Reverend in June 2009, sponsored by Reverend Ollie Keck. Gregory is a dedicated spiritualist, a medium, teacher, speaker and healer. Reverend John Johnston John Johnston of Folsom, CA, was Ordained as a Reverend in June 2009, sponsored by Reverend Ollie Keck. John is an accomplished medium and reader, and has taught classes and worked in many phases of the spiritualist movement. Reverend Lionel Silva Ph.D. Lionel Silva of Las Vegas, NV was Ordained as a Reverend

12

13

in June 2009 sponsored by Reverend Arlene Phelan. Lionel is a Hypnotherapist, teacher, natural healer, intuitive and empathic counselor. He has demonstrated ministerial skills in his personal and professional endeavors his entire adult life. Lionel makes a great contribution to the UCM vision that promotes the individual expression of God.

Minister’s Minister David Dupree David Dupree of San Francisco, CA received his Licentiate

Certification in May 2009, sponsored by Reverend Michael Genzmer. He has great knowledge of the Buddhist-Christian teachings and studied with The Dalia Lama in India. David has been instrumental in helping to keep “The Corless”,the Roger Corless Foundation alive when UCM Reverend Roger Corless made his transition. Minister Sabara Diane Watson Sabara Diane Watson of Fair Oaks, CA received her Licentiate certification in May 2009, sponsored by Reverend John Watson. She is a gifted intuitive and healer, and well versed in the philosophy of spiritualism. She currently works with her husband, Reverend John Watson, teaching classes, and holding ceremonies and church services.

Healer’s Healer Brenda Schornak Brenda Schornak of Bellevue, WA, received her Healer Practitioner Certificate in May 2009. Working with her sponsor, Eve Wilson, she completed her Healer Practitioner, as well as an advanced Earth Healing training. She is a gifted intuitive healer. Healer Natalie Madej B.A. Natalie Madej of Birmingham, MI received her Healer Practitioner Certificate in March 2009. Working with her sponsor, Reverend Eve Wilson, she completed the Healer Development Program, as well as advance class work. Natalie is a Certified Yoga Instructor, Reiki Practitioner, and a gifted intuitive.

Transitions

Reverend Fran Brown On Sunday, April 12, 2009 Reverend Fran Brown, UCM Charter Holder and Reiki Master, made her transition while celebrating Easter with her husband Ferdinand. She was one of Mrs. Takata’s Masters, who committed to Reiki as her life’s work for over 30 years. She taught her Reiki classes and shared her stories all over the world. Retiring for Fran wasn’t an option. She was a young-at-heart 85 year old who was teaching and sharing her Reiki on Thursday evenings until three days before her passing. Fran, we love you, we appreciate you, and we behold the eternal glow of your Reiki Being. Thank you for your generosity of spirit, unconditional Love and dedication to the gift of Reiki. We will miss you.

13

14

7 Tradition-Filled Ways to Celebrate Fall and the Halloween Season Kala Ambrose

The spirit of Halloween offers a variety of traditions and rituals. Perhaps one of these tradition-filled ideas will inspire you to celebrate and embrace the magic of the season. 1. Find love with a magic apple. If you’re single, select a juicy red apple and peel the skin in one long piece. Hold the peel of the apple in your hand and say aloud, ‘As I fling this apple peel, my true love’s name will be revealed’. Fling the apple peel over your head and turn around to look at the shape that the peel forms on the ground. It is said that the apple peel

will form into the first initial of your true love’s name. 2. Dance in the moonlight. It’s not quite a full moon this Halloween, but Lady Luna will be shining bright. Let your hair down, light a candle, put on some music and dance in the moonlight. Need I say more? Let your inner wild child come out and play! 3. Celebrate the 'Day of the Dead' – Mexico style. Honor friends and family who have passed on to the other side. Host a special dinner and set a place for departed loved ones at the table. Light a candle at their seated place of honor and include framed photos. During dinner, share stories about all of the wonderful memories of your deceased loved ones. 4. Have a ‘Come As You Were’ costume party. Take a step back in time and explore your past lives. Invite guests to come to your party dressed in a costume representing who they were in a past life. The conversations will be endless as each person shares who they were in a past life and how they lived. 5. Reach out as a volunteer to help others enjoy the holiday. Nursing homes appreciate volunteers to help out with holiday festivities, as do charities with fund raising events. Spend Halloween spreading the spirit of the season with others and make a difference in your community. 6. Have a seed planting celebration. Many cultures celebrate Halloween as the end of the year and November 1st as the New Year. Invite friends to celebrate New Year’s Eve on Halloween and make resolutions for the new year. Hand out packages of seeds to each of your guests and invite them to plant new seeds of thought this Fall which will manifest and bloom with new dreams in the Spring. Don’t forget to plant your carved pumpkins in the ground with your seeds, they make great compost. 7. Enlighten others on the history of Halloween and help end harmful and baseless superstitions. Help debunk a superstition that is based on fear, like the one that says black cats are bad luck. In Ancient Egypt, black cats were revered in honor of the goddess Bast. Many cultures find black cats to be the luckiest color of all. Read WikiAnswers for more information on how black cats have been revered throughout the ages by many cultures. Share how Halloween is celebrated in various customs around the world. This website has some beautiful photos showcasing how the holiday is celebrated in different countries.

Kala Ambrose is an award winning author, intuitive and talk show host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show. Described by her guests and listeners as discerning, empowering and inspiring, she speaks with world renowned authors, artists, teachers and researchers delving into metaphysical, holistic and paranormal topics. Kala's book, 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled delves into the mysteries of ancient Egyptian mystery schools and explains their wisdom teachings. Kala lectures on Esoteric Teachings, Developing Business Intuition, Working with Auras, Chakras and Energy Fields, and Wise Woman Wisdom (also known as the Divine Feminine). Kala's Guided Meditations CD's have just been released with Spirit of Hawaii and Egyptian Mystery Temple and Tibetan Mountain Journey. More info: www.ExploreYourSpirit.com

15

Continued from Page 7 (Pluto in Capricorn)… One of the reasons I wanted to review the origins of “Pluto” in our culture was to show that when this Energy manifested into the collective consciousness of our species, in the 1930’s, he did it during a time of deep economic crisis, the rise of fascism and as we started to delve into the essence of matter itself…nuclear weapons and particle accelerators. This is not a lightweight Energy! Whatever zodiacal sign Pluto touches, it utterly transforms the sign and what it stands for, and by the time he exits its boundaries, all has been transformed. Anything that was hidden will bubble up from the depths and be exposed to the harsh light of justice. Pluto goes direct in Capricorn for good on September 11th, 2009. I believe that information that was suppressed concerning the twin tower attack will start to be revealed and that the general population will start to realize that they are witnessing the first corporate world war. Another example of Pluto dredging up heinous crimes was during Pluto’s stay in Scorpio and Sagittarius. Sagittarius/9th house, rules Religion. Pluto being the co-ruler of Scorpio is acquainted with abuse and sex in modern astrology. The scandals that many churches had been covering up came to light. The priests that violated their sacred trust were brought forward to account for their atrocious actions perpetrated on the young of their congregations. Pluto is the cauldron of transformation. If something is broken, decaying, corrupt or not functioning in a higher purpose, Pluto will arrive with a sledgehammer and destroy. After he is done, a new path will be forged and if one can let go of that which is not working, enlightenment and untold enrichment is possible. Both Saturn and Pluto reward those who walk in integrity while going through their gauntlet of tests and change. The excess and overextension of resources and finances of the late 1990’s occurred under Jupiter’s ruling of Pluto in Sagittarius. The time of Jupiter is over until Pluto leaves Aquarius, March 9 2043. Now is a time of reckoning, of reconnecting with the earth and walking with respect and reverence on her body. Be aware that the ultraconservatives will be getting stronger, and when Uranus goes into Aries on May 28, 2010, the people will start demanding their rights be given back. Also financial structures, like the Swiss banks, that have hidden money of questionable origins, will be caught like a bass fish and grilled. It is a time for regrouping with like-minded people and making your city and county your primary focus. Think Local! Help your city be self-sufficient, grow a neighborhood garden, recycle, plant trees and be kind to the other beings that share our planet. It is a time of establishing new infrastructures for cities, nations and societies. But most of all….. it is time for our species to grow up! And the last note is to Light and Energy workers. There has been a call to the other side for many of our loved ones. For the last nine years, we have been jostled, poked and prodded by the Divine. The trial by fire, death, divorce, and loss of what we thought was important is finally slowing down. Get your foundation and network in place; because on September 11th 2009, the portal is open, lightworker bootcamp is over. The Games begin! See you on the Grid!

Elizabeth A. Barton I am a former Police Officer and Intelligence Analyst. Astrology has been part of my life since childhood. In 2002, I became a professional Astrologer. I am a member of AFAN, ISAR and the NCGR. I am Ethics certified by ISAR, and am currently the vice president of the San Francisco Astrological Society. Consultations by phone, e-mail or in person. I have also been a Reiki Master since August 8,2002 and a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) since August 8,1988. The massages I give range from Energy to Swedish. I have developed a clothes on massage focused on maximum stress relief. This transformational massage combines shamanic touch, creative visualization, aromatherapy, crystals, and Reiki. Owner of and Practitioner at The Transformative Therapy Center * "Your Chrysalis for Healing." 2555 Flores Street, Suite #300, San Mateo, CA 94403 * (650) 572-8850 * CMT since 1988 Energy and Body worker & Professional Astrologer VP of the San Francisco Astrological Society * Astrology of the Bay Area Meet up Group Website: www.elizabethabarton.com or www.transformativetherapycenter.com

16

“Everyone Seems to Be Coming Down With It” Jane Elizabeth (Unland)

That was the statement a 17 year old waitress in a tiny pub in an even tinier town on the Ring of Kerry, Ireland, told us when we asked how she knew that I, (a Celiac Disease person) wouldn’t be able to eat the French fries that came with the bunless hamburger I’d ordered. She knew the fries might contain cross contamination because they weren’t fried in a dedicated fryer. AMAZING. This was a completely different experience to the one in my own hometown in the San Francisco Bay Area, California at a local hamburger chain. You know the one, named after a bird with a red breast or R2 as my husband calls it. “Ma’am, that’s the burger you ordered, ” the manager patiently explained when I objected to the fried egg and bacon on my lettuce wrapped burger. “How would

I know that? ” I asked. “The Gluten Free menu I was given without an accompanying regular menu simply lists the amendments to the regular menu items. I had no way of knowing what the regular menu said about the items on the Royal Burger, because I was not given a regular menu, with which to compare my GF menu. Your GF menu does not say the items listed are simply the changes you made to the regular items. According to the menu I received, the Royal Burger looks like a plain lettuce wrapped burger, doesn’t it? ” I asked as I showed him the menu I was given. “Humph! ” He finally grunted after looking at the GF menu. “You may have a point. We need to notify Corporate about this. ” “Do you think? ” I say to myself. My husband and I had just pulled an all-nighter taking care of his 3 year-old acting mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. I was too exhausted to cook. My husband, being as tired as I, suggested we grab a quick bite at R2 because we knew it had a gluten free menu. It would be less of a hassle for me to get a quick burger than in restaurants without a GF menu. WRONG! The frustration mounted as the manager continued, “We’ll get you that plain lettuce wrapped burger in five minutes. I promise. ” We had already waited one hour and five minutes to get this far, which was nowhere. “We don’t actually have a plain burger on the menu, so I’ll order a cheese burger with no bun, lettuce wrapped, of course, and the side salad you ordered instead of the fries. (I didn’t want to even try the fries, because I did not trust they would know what a dedicated fryer was. Better to not open that door.) After a restless 45 minutes of further waiting, where my husband had eaten half of the meal he was served, reserving the other half to eat with me, a cheery young waitress bounces over with the red basket of food. As she lowers the basket to the table, I get a glimpse of the cheeseless hamburger in a regular wheat-bread bun with a full load of French fries beside it. “A cheeseless burger, right? ” she chirps. I just groan, put my hands over my face and slump over the table. I had already waited so long to eat that my blood sugar was in the toilet…way passed the dizziness and starved feeling…and into the I’m-not-even-hungry-anymore stage. “That’s it - I am out of here. I am not waiting to see if they can get the order right a third time. Please, just get us the check, ” I tell the girl (who knows something is wrong, but can’t figure out what, because she is new to the situation.) I felt sorry for her. It was as if she had been innocently sent over to deal with the “difficult people. ” That made me mad on her behalf, thinking the manager was too spineless to come back to follow through with the situation. (I digress, sorry.) We have now been at the restaurant for over two hours, and I still have not had any food.

17

The waitress hurries back in five minutes, clearly not holding a bill in her hand. I am nearly crazy with frustration and just want to run out of the restaurant without paying just to escape the madness. (Can’t do it. Wasn’t raised that way.) My husband and I just gape at her. We can’t begin to fathom what she could say that would make this whole episode okay. We just want out of that place. FAST. “Where’s the check? ” my husband asks. “Well…. my manager wanted me to tell you that because we botched your wife’s dinner twice and you’ve had to sit here so long, he is going to comp everything. You are free to go. ” “Okay. Thank you, ” my husband tells her. I’m thinking, “That helps, but it is still not okay. ” Oh, after the ‘I am not hungry stage’ of low blood sugar, comes the complete inability to think rationally. ‘Free to go? That’s exactly what it feels like—a release from a gluten infested hellhole of chaos. ’ I think to myself. I can’t believe I am leaving this restaurant after being here over 2 hours and have still not had a thing to eat. What is wrong with that picture? Being the ‘big person’ I am, I promptly get up and stomp out of the restaurant. I feel the eyes of the other diners boring into my back as I go, but I really don’t care. I just want to get out the front door before the tears start. (Childish, I know.) But every once in a while I still face a situation concerning the limitations and frustrations a Gluten Intolerant person that levels me. What was carried in the tears that followed were the constant, 24/7, vigilance of weaving through obvious and hidden landmines of the wheat and grain based food culture in which we live. Every molecule that passes my lips has to be scrutinized, including lipstick and toothpaste, so I don’t ingest something that will make me sick. All products that touch my skin have to be monitored: lotions, night creams, shampoos, and sunscreens. There are even hidden glutens in some casks in which wine is made, in some disposable coffee cups and cardboard takeout containers, in the sticky-glue substance on envelop flaps, (my husband does a lot of envelop licking). Constantly staggering through the daily landmines in the environment overwhelms me at times. So when something like the R2 experience hits, I tend to go a bit nuts. Wouldn’t you? Really? Of course, what the ‘It’ the waitress in Ireland was talking about is Celiac Disease, a genetic inability to breakdown gluten, predominantly in wheat, barley, rye, and disguised in almost every processed food known to man. When gluten is ingested by Celiac patients, the immune system attacks the villi (the nutrient absorbers) lining the intestinal walls. When enough of the villi become damaged, symptoms appear: at first extreme bloating and intense abdominal cramping pain followed by irritable bowel symptoms. If the damage continues, the physical ailments go deep into immune system dysfunctions, which can manifest as other disease problems like lupus, MS, Mono, etc. I got to the point before I was diagnosed where I was eating food, but none of the nutrients were being absorbed into the blood stream. Yes, you guessed it. I was literally starving to death from the inside out. When I was trying to find out what was wrong with me, 11 years ago, the tests for Celiac were minimal and not always accurate. Now, thank goodness, new more accurate tests have been developed, which helps explain why “Everyone seems to be coming down with it. ” The medical community is better equipped to get to the bottom of otherwise hard to detect, nebulous symptomology and ailments. As yet, there is no treatment other than not allowing one molecule of gluten to be absorbed into the system. No small feat, as evidenced by my R2 experience. Even with today’s explosion of press, education, and public awareness of Celiac Disease and other forms of gluten intolerance, eating out can be a quagmire of danger and frustration.

What you have just read is an excerpt from the current book Jane Elizabeth is writing concerning her funky life experiences with Celiac Disease peppered with gluten-free wine-country living recipes, which she has created. She is a California native who loves to organic garden, to entertain, and to express her creativity and sense of fun through delicious, fresh, healthy food. Look for her book in 2010. Jane has always felt passionately about building vibrant health through natural means, using the fruits of the land, organic foods, herbs, and a healthy, balanced lifestyle to heal the body. She runs a successful natural healing energy-work practice at her dear friend’s acupuncture clinic and is a published author. Jane Elizabeth, pen name Reverend Jane Unland, a UCM minister – Doctor of Divinity, Master of Science in Natural Health, and Reiki Master Formerly, a California High School English Teacher, Fremont Union High School District.

18

The U.C.M. Blog Connect and Share

with Other Ministers Around the World

http://ucmblog.wordpress.com/

Communicate with U.C.M.

U.C.M. IS ON TWITTER

http://twitter.com/ourucm U.C.M IS ALSO ON FACEBOOK

http://www.facebook.com/ucm.church

YOUR AD COULD BE

HERE

Inquire at U.C.M.

Support UCM while shopping!

As part of our fundraising, UCM has partnered with Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

When shoppers connect to these sites through our website, UCM receives a percentage of their purchases. Only entering through

our website entitles us to this commission. If for some reason you need to save your items and go back later, be sure to start again

here.