Blessings and Bits

 

Do You Believe in Divine Order?

In 2002, 15 of us, ventured out to east L.A, to the River Boat Bingo Hall’s little yellow house to pioneer Unity of Surprise. Those 15, prayed and envisioned, held an open house that 300 people attended, and began services with an attendance of be-tween 15-30 people each week. At the end of the first year, we outgrew the little yellow house and were able to rent the garage next to the bingo hall complete with foil ceilings and an A.C. that would cease to function every July. We stayed in this location, grew in numbers, used the huge outdoor pavilion for fellowship and stared a 2nd service each Sunday. The original yellow house was used for offices and class rooms and the garage for church services until 2 years ago when we were evicted. We were evicted because our space did not have a sprinkler system. In my heart I knew the eviction came about because Spirit had been urg-ing us to move for over a year prior and we kept resisting. Another space was found for Unity of Sur-prise to move to and then that building went into foreclosure just when we were to sign the lease. An angel who was in church the day I announced that where we thought we were moving was no more, told us about the Sun City West Foundation and I contacted them the next day. The Board of Trustees looked at the Webb and Powell rooms and the membership agreed to move. We’ve had our office at the Foundation Complex and have been using rooms at this location for services and classes for these past two years. The space has served us well, we’ve grown in numbers and con-sciousness here. We continued to give thanks for our relationship with the Foundation and this space but we still longed for our own permanent church home and our comfortable purple chairs.

Before I left for Italy in September, Patti, the Foun-dation’s Executive Director, called me to look at the space being vacated by the adult day care center and the coffee shop. I knew, the moment I stepped into the rooms that it was an answer to the prayers for our own 24/7 space.

Now that brings me to the bequest. (more Divine Order) Shirley Colbath who named us in her will came to church one time back in the very beginning of Unity of Surprise. Each December she would stop by the office and give us a check for $1,000.00. She’d wish me a Merry Christmas and then she’d say, “Honey, keep up the good work you’re doing here!” Last December 2010, she didn’t come into the office but mailed the check and I could tell by her writing that she wasn’t doing well. I called her, asked her how she was doing and if she wanted me to come by to see her. She said, “No honey, you just keep doing that great work you’re doing.” She passed from this earthly life in January 2011 and we were notified in March that we were to receive an 8th of her estate but that the distribution would not be made till May of 2012. We didn’t tell anyone because it’s our policy not to announce gifts like this until we have the money in hand, because they usually take so long to be distrib-uted. Then, when I was in Italy, I called Kathryn to see if all was well here. Things were better than well, we had gotten a check from Shirley’s estate for $62,500.

I don’t believe there are any coincidences, I believe in Divine Order. Here was an opportunity to move and the money to help make it possible. Divine Order was happening to us and had been all along.

The members of Unity of Surprise voted in November to support a move and to rent the new space. The lease was signed on December 15, the remodeling and cleaning are almost completed as I write this, thanks to a terrific contractor and the most hard working staff and volunteers ever. I’m moving to my new office this week. The movers will bring the beautiful purple chairs over from storage on January 24th, and our first service at the new Unity of Surprise facility will be held on February 5, 2012.

Yes, I believe in Divine Order. God’s will has been done, in, through, and as us from the very beginning. We have been guided and directed by Spirit all through our 9 ½ years and will continue to be forever. Divine Order is real and working all the time. Thank you God!