“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom, and if it costs all that you have, get understanding” Proverbs 4:7.
My Grandpa Charley would often say, “A still tongue makes a wise head.” He understood the power of silence to gain understanding. One of the things I remember most about our beloved founder, Rev. Dr. Ruth Mosley, is that she was a woman of wisdom and understanding who spoke softly and took everything into prayer. In her book, Prayer Celebration: A Practical Guide for Succeeding in Life Through Prayer, Rev. Ruth gently reminds us that by consciously turning to God in prayer, we renew our strength, grasp spiritual ideas, and energize our bodies for health and peace of mind. When we quiet our minds and listen to that “still small voice” within, we gain wisdom and understanding. Perhaps someone reading this is like me at times when I react suddenly to a situation without first turning to Spirit within for guidance. Scripture reminds us to “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). The power for the month of July is Understanding. As one of my favorite verses says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom, and if it costs all that you have, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). This month, let us all be reminded of the power of silence to gain understanding. Make a conscious effort when tempted to turn within for guidance before responding in any given situation. In the words of Albert Einstein, “I think 90 times and find nothing. I stop thinking, swim in silence, and the truth comes to me.” Read more about the month of July and the power of Understanding …
UUMS Class of 2025 Honors Faculty & Staff. After months of planning and fundraising, the UUMS Class of 2025 held a special recognition of UUMS faculty and staff on Sunday, June 15, at the Unity Village Banquet Hall. The cohorts provided a catered dinner, certificates of appreciation, gifts, and a special stole from Africa, courtesy of classmate Emotimi Nicky-Cleopas, who was unable to make the trip from Nigeria. The faculty and staff of UUMS extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Class of 2025 for this honor! See photos.
UWH & UUMS Hosted Juneteenth Celebration
On Monday, June 16, we witnessed the graduation and ordination of the UUMS, UWSI, and Field Program class of 2025. Following the ceremony, Unity Urban Ministerial School, in collaboration with Unity World Headquarters, hosted a reception to celebrate the graduates and Juneteenth. The event featured the delicious, plant-based cuisine by Gigi the Vegan, a longtime Unity member, with the theme: Honoring Heritage, Healing Through Food, and Celebrating Freedom. Each item on the menu represented the African-American heritage – Jubilee BBQ, Rhythm & Roots, Boots on the Ground Cowboy Caviar, Ancestral Greens, Golden Harvest, Freedom Peas, Motherland Cornbread, Emancipation Peach Cobbler, and Chocolate Revolution Cake. The celebration was topped off with African drummers and dancers from the Traditional Music Society of Kansas City, “boots on the ground” line dancing with music by DeeJay Shawn, and a 360 Photo Booth by Dominique Winters. See photos and videos at uums.org
Decorations by Rev. Bobby Kyser.
So what else is special about July? July is a month of boldness – of ripening fruit, blazing sun, and revolutionary spirit. Named for Julius Caesar who brought order to time itself, July now marks the height of summer when life expands, heat intensifies, and everything leans toward the light. These are the Dog Days, when Sirius, the Dog Star, rises with the sun, and the air grows thick with stillness and possibility. In this heat, we’re called not to retreat, but to radiate – to live and express ourselves with courage. From the fireworks of Independence Day to the fearless artistry of drag and ballroom culture, July teaches us that the most powerful act of freedom is to be fully, unapologetically ourselves. In every fierce step forward, Spirit shines. As July arrives, we stand at the height of the year’s brightness when the sun is bold, the days are long, and the earth shows off its ripest gifts. Just as Julius Caesar brought structure to time through the calendar that bears his name, we are invited to bring order, clarity, and intention to our own lives. Spiritually, July is a season of fullness and fruition – a reminder that what we’ve planted in faith is now ready to blossom. It’s a time to shine without apology, to share our gifts generously, and to live in the radiant rhythm of divine abundance. Source: SpiritualPassages.org.