Please note the time changes for our Sunday services:

Meditation will begin in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. Our joint service will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. and last for 1-1.5 hours. 

Social Hour will take place for our unified community immediately after service in the Social Hall. 

Change is constant. The world can feel like a sea of constant changing tides. How can we navigate these tides and stay true to our divinity?

Rev. Deb O’Connor is an ordained Unity minister as well as an ordained interfaith minister and has served Unity of Albuquerque and Rio Rancho as its senior minister since 2005. Her passion is bringing people together and supporting them as they explore their own spirituality. Rev. Deb is a certified interspiritual counselor and maintains a counseling practice working with people from a variety of faiths and traditions.

Watch Service on YouTube Live

Watch Service Live on Facebook

Monthly Theme: The flow of coming and going

Affirmation: As an expression of the One, I navigate life with ease and grace

A Letter/Update from Rev. Gil

Living Into the Vision of This Beloved Community

WOW!

Thank you for the incredible financial support shared with the Community recently! Over $8000.00 has been received in this last week alone!

Over the 2 years and 8 months that I have had the opportunity to be the Spiritual Director of this Community I have witnessed incredible and life-altering growth and change. Did you know that our weekly reach has increased at least 3x over that period so that now over 150 lives are touched each week? Did you know that pledged giving has more than doubled during that same period?

What stands out to me is that it has only happened as a result of the willingness of all of us to partner together and to seek, listen to, and follow a beautiful vision. This vision is one of collaboration, cooperation, courage, and commitment. How else could we begin to transform our world with the power of love in action?

Each congregant, Practitioner, Licensed Unity Teacher, Chaplain and minister has demonstrated powerful cooperation and collaboration as we have adjusted service times, continued previous ministries and added new ministries that have touched the community beyond our walls, and as we have worked to collaborate with others.

We have walked in powerful courage and commitment to a vision of Oneness and Inclusion while becoming an integrated CSL and Unity Community. This is a step that chips away at all that is comfortable and yet expands what is possible beyond what we can see. We can celebrate both our Unity and our CSL heritage and teachings as we continue to grow as a beacon of Love and a space of absolute inclusion and refuge for Albuquerque and beyond. We can do and be this as we partner together!

You should have recently received a letter from our Board of Trustees outlining what the immediate needs for finances are in order to sustain this ministry. Please carefully evaluate how important the manifestation of our community vision is for you. Do you see the possibility for us to touch more lives, offer more teaching, support more individuals, bless more with prayer and music and encouragement in a safe and welcoming space where the truth of each one's wholeness is honored and respected?

I do! And I am excited about it! I am clear that this community’s role is bigger than we think. So, following the lead of Assistant Minister Debbie O'Connor, here is what Robyn and I are committing to support our community’s continued abundance.

Last November, my salary was approved to include a 5 hour per week boost in pay for 2025. We have asked the Board to rescind that increase from this point forward in the 2025 budget, rolling my paid hours back to 30 as in 2024. With 21 pay periods, this results in an approximate budget reduction of $8,222.00 for the remainder of 2025, or $783.00 per month.

In addition, we will continue our regular giving.

May we continue in partnership with each other and Spirit as we bring love in action to all we are and all that we do!

Live Inspired,

Rev GO

The board is committed to transparency and keeping our community apprised of our fiscal health. Therefore, each week we will be publishing our attendance and income in the newsletter and on our website.

Our revised/reduced annual budget is $253,155.41 which computes a needed weekly income of $4868.37. Thus far this year, through the end of week eight (February 19– 25), we have collected a total of $35,050.26, which works out to $4381.29 weekly, which leaves us a shortfall of $487.08 per week (thus the special appeal last week). While the generosity of our community has narrowed the gap (thank you!!!!), this still leaves us with a shortfall of $3896.70 thus far this year according to the revised annual budget.

We have been so in awe of the beautiful way in which our community continues to demonstrate love and there are many exciting plans in the works for increasing our sustainability. We will keep you posted.

Here is the breakdown of weekly income thus far this year:

Week 1, 1/1/25 - 1/7/25 - $4812

Week 2, 1/8/25 - 1/14/25 - $2025.38

Week 3, 1/15/25 - 1/21/25 - $2359.10

Week 4, 1/22/25 - 1/28/25 - $4556.28

Week 5, 1/29/25 - 2/4/25 - $4329.81

Week 6, 2/5/25 - 2/11/25 - $4411.72

Week 7, 2/12/25 - 2/18/25 - $4111.55

Week 8, 2/19/25 - 2/25/25 - $8444.42

Total for all weeks thus far: $35,050.26

Here is the breakdown of our attendance:

Week 1, In person - 78, Online - 32

Week 2, In person - 72, Online - 46

Week 3, In person - 58, Online - 28

Week 4, In person - 57, Online - 29

Week 5, In person - 61, Online - 18

Week 6, In person - 65, Online - 27

Week 7, In person - 67, Online - 24

Week 8, In person - 68, Online - 27

We will post the income and attendance weekly.

Birthday Sunday = Hat Sunday

This Sunday is the first Sunday of the month, so wear your favorite hat and let's make celebrating birthdays even more festive!

Healing Circle

We are pleased to have Kim Peabody with us this Sunday, offering therapeutic hugs and tantra meditation. Kim brings eight years practice of tantra, a self-awareness modality used for opening chakras and bringing forward emotional stagnations. “Being hugged by Kim feels so incredibly nurturing. It's like being in the arms of The Divine Mother.”

Exchange Table

Our Exchange Table continues to be a heartfelt way to share resources. If you have perfectly serviceable items that you are no longer using, pass them along. Donations are cheerfully accepted. Add an item or take an item.

Spirit Bound Bookstore & Gift Shop News

Our new hours of operation are Sundays, 10:00 to 12:30PM.

2. The March/April SOM Magazines was supposedly mailed out on February 10th, but we haven't received it yet.

Artist of the Month is our Director of Musical Inspiration, Susan Clark

Starting new week, we will have a Reverend's corner in the newsletter and on our website, featuring a book of the month and word of the month from each of our ministers.

Classes

You can register here

Fives Wishes

Five Wishes as an advance directive that goes beyond medical wishes and also addresses personal, emotional and spiritual needs. It allows individuals to express their preferences for care and designate a person to make health care decisions on their behalf it they are unable to do so. The form is designed to help people prepare for the possibility of illness and incapacity.

This is a series of weekly Zoom classes lasting 4 weeks starting April 22 and ending May 13. at 7 PM - 9 PM MDT (6-8 PM PDT, 8-10 PM CDT, & 9-11 PM EDT). NOTE: Registration closes 4-20-2025.

Solid Grounds Announcements

March 3rd, 2025

Paul Pino and The Tone Daddies

There is no genre of music that this eclectic band will shy away from. Authentic Country, Cumbia, Corrido, Ranchera, Rock, Novelty, Folk, Jam, Ballad, Blues and lots of original songs about the southwest are the norm for these guys. Influences include Al Hurricane, Eric Clapton, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Los Lobos, ZZ Top, Freddie Brown, Jackson Brown, Roberto Griego. Members include: Paul Pino - Singer/guitar slinger/song writer. Paul was raised like a free-range nighthawk on a ranch near Carrizozo, NM listening to Poetry, Rock, stillness, Spanish, Country, birds, coyotes and wind howling through barbed wire. Mike Layden - Lead guitar/keyboards/vocals. Smooth was raised in Santa Fe and has played with Jr. Brown and all the good bands in Santa Fe. Johnny Arater - Drums/vocals/DJ. Smiling Johnny Arater- Drums/vocals/DJ. Mike Campos - MC, Bass blaster and vocal master. Mike has won most of the New Mexico Spanish Music Awards and his songs are heard pretty much every day in New Mexico.

Check them out here.

Compassion Ministries

Prayer Support

We are blessed to have numerous Licensed Practitioners, and they are ready to respond to your prayer requests or to schedule a counseling/prayer session. You may also submit an online prayer request. May your strength of faith provide peace to your heart and to your mind.

For guidelines on respectful communication, please see: Respectful Communication | Rio Grande Center for Spiritual Living

Ongoing Events

Third Sunday of the month from 4:30-6:00 p.m. On Zoom

RGCSL Board Meeting: Please note that time and date may vary depending on Trustees' schedules and availability. 



Second Wednesday from 5:00-6:30 p.m. In Person

RGCSL Drumming Circle: Postponed until further notice, probably in the Spring.

Tuesdays, 9 a.m. In Person

QiGong: Join us for this moving meditation with YouTube videos in the sanctuary — a perfect way to begin your day! If you have questions, please contact Sherry Noone at

908-486-4442.

Thursdays, 6:00-7:30 p.m. In-person AND On Zoom

A Course in Miracles Group: Join Nancy Bowers at the Center or on Zoom. Everyone is welcome. No prior experience necessary. This class is done on a love-offering basis. Launch Meeting - Zoom Meeting ID: 849 8672 4452 Passcode: 536144

Fridays from 6:30 p.m..-9:00 p.m.

Solid Grounds Music Cafe Come and enjoy a wonderful evening of music and community this Friday! Doors open at 6:30, show is at 7 p.m. Solid Grounds welcomes all to enjoy snacks and music free of charge! Love donations are encouraged and gratefully accepted.

Do you Have News for Our Community?

If so, then please email your *short* article about RGCSL classes, group meetings and news that affects our community to announcements@rgcsl.org by Tuesday at 6 p.m. for inclusion in Thursday's bulletin. The newsletter team will respond to your request with a confirmation email or comments. Thanks!

The Rio Grande Center for Spiritual Living

Contact us at 505-224-9405 or office@rgcsl.org

Office Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Office and Spirit Bound Bookstore Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

www.rgcsl.org