March 2020
April 2020
May 2020
June 2020
Writing as a Spiritual Practice: The Healing Power of Telling Your Story
March 12–15, 2020
This transformational weekend workshop for writers of all levels uses personal storytelling as a path of self-discovery, authenticity, and spiritual growth. When you learn to express the whole truth about your experience and to discern your own soul’s journey, you come to understand the mythic dimension of personal struggles, triumphs, confusions, longings, digressions, and so-called mistakes. The realization that you are the storyteller—not the story—frees you to examine beliefs, expectations, and biases that have limited your sense of self. As Mark teaches:
“When you tell the truth, your story changes.
When your story changes, your life is transformed.”
Scientific studies have shown that a consistent writing practice has the ability to improve physical, mental, and emotional health. Using targeted writing prompts, small-group sharing, and inspirational lessons and readings, Mark guides you through a process of self-inquiry designed to deepen insight, heal obsolete narratives, and hone your writer’s craft. Writing as a Spiritual Practice has helped thousands of people around the world to achieve their creative and spiritual goals. Known for his intuitive work with students, Mark creates an atmosphere of warmth, wisdom, and safety in which to do this powerful practice.
In this workshop, you will learn to:
- Use writing as a path of healing and insight
- Cultivate witness consciousness in personal storytelling
- What it means to tell your “untold story”
- Recognize the importance of exploring the psychological shadow as a part of spiritual awakening
- Enrich personal narrative with spiritual wisdom
- Practice the five essential elements of effective storytelling
- Develop an ongoing, transformative writing practice
Presenter: Mark Matousek, a best-selling author, teacher, and speaker whose work focuses on personal awakening and creative excellence through transformational writing and self-inquiry.
Price: $475 early registration/$525 full tuition
Learn More: www.markmatousek.com/writing-workshops/writing-to-awaken-at-unity-village/
Travel With Unity Presents Rome and the Amalfi Coast
March 26–April 4, 2020
Join Travel With Unity, March 26–April 4, 2020, for a 10-day tour of Rome and the Amalfi Coast. Visit the “Eternal City” and the Italian countryside to connect and immerse yourself in the Divine, everywhere, and in everyone.
Walk in the footsteps of the apostle Paul in Rome. Explore the culture, the myths, the religious impacts, and spiritual significance of southern Italy. Local guides unravel the beauty and history of some of the ancient world’s most spectacular sites.
Highlights of the itinerary include:
- The Vatican museums and St. Peter’s Basilica (optional excursion)
- The Roman Forum
- The Colosseum
- Ancient ruins of Pompeii
- The beautiful Amalfi Coast and seaside town of Sorrento
- National Archaeological Museum in Naples
Hosts: Rev. Mark Fuss and Cheri Jamison, Unity Outreach. Travel organized by Collette.
Price: Starting at $4,499 (Double Occupancy)
Registration info: Register online by September 15, 2019, at unity.org/rome2020
2020 Silent Unity Retreat: Affirm Your Way to a Better Life
April 16–19, 2020
Deepen your prayer practice with Silent Unity! A Silent Unity retreat offers you a deeply engaging experience of affirmative prayer in the glorious setting of Unity Village. The Silent Unity leadership team, along with returning musicians Marcy Baruch and Lisa Firestone, will be your guides to experiences for reflection, prayer, meditation, and celebration in many of the historic gathering spaces throughout the campus, indoors and out. A special feature of the retreat will be your opportunity to join Silent Unity prayer associates for a half-hour in our 24-hour prayer vigil, where you will uphold with us the many thousands of prayer requests that arrive in Silent Unity each month.
- An affirmation is a positive statement of Truth for us to claim and use as an anchor for our thoughts, words, and actions.
- We quicken our life by affirming that we are alive with the life of Spirit; our intelligence by affirming our oneness with divine intelligence; and we quicken the indwelling, interpenetrating substance by recognizing and claiming it as our own (Charles Fillmore, Prosperity, p. 35).
- Affirmation is more than positive or hopeful thinking. It is a declaration of a Truth we need to know right now.
- Affirmation is often preceded by release, denial, or elimination—letting go of the false so that we can realize the Truth. Affirmative prayer switches our focus from false belief in lack to the Truth of plenty; from false belief in sickness to the Truth of wholeness.
Presenter: The Silent Unity leadership will guide this retreat: Rev. Linda Martella-Whitsett, Trayce Riley, and Matthew Kent.
Musicians: Marcy Baruch, Lisa Firestone.
Price: $499 through February 29, 2020, or $549 thereafter. Includes retreat registration and meals but does not include lodging.
Register Online: Unity.org/SilentUnityRetreat
Nehemiah Service Retreats
April 19–24, 2020
May 10–15, 2020
October 11–16, 2020
May 9–14, 2021
October 17–22, 2021
Nehemiah Retreat volunteers come together from across the country in sacred service for restoration projects around Unity Village for a week in the spring and fall. Unity provides each guest with complimentary room and board. As one of the most popular Unity retreats, it's first come, first served. Retreats typically fill up a year in advance. Apply today for your spot!
Learn more and apply: unityvillage.org/retreats-events/nehemiah
emPower Music Festival
April 29–May 3, 2020
The 15th Annual emPower Music Festival returns to Unity Village in 2020.
Experience the most awesome gathering of Posi Music artists on the planet!
- Nightly concerts
- The wildly popular pajama jam acoustic music showcases
- Workshops and keynotes
- Song circles
- Namaste Café
- Conference ensembles
The Totally Cool Song School
Get up close and personal coaching on songwriting, vocal technique, performance, and guitar. Seating is limited to eight participants and is an additional $50 per class.
VIP Concert
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Top of the Unity Tower
The 2020 Grace Note recipient, Rickie Byars, will kick off the emPower Music Festival with a pre-event concert on the seventh floor of the iconic Unity Tower. Proceeds from this event will benefit emPower Music and Arts’ continued support of Unity, New Thought ministries, and the archives at Unity Village, which has agreed to include the contemporary music of the past 15 years of Posi Music!
Musicians: Rickie Byars, Jana Stanfield, Denise Rosier, Faith Rivera, Karen Drucker, Daniel Nahmod, Eddie Watkins Jr., Harold Payne, David Roth, Freebo, Jan Garrett and JD Martin, Greg Tamblyn, and Bob Sima.
Price:
Early Bird: $396.95 until December 31, 2019
Full Price: $431.95 from January 1–March 28, 2020
Late Registration: $456.95 starting March 29, 2020
On-site: $499.95
Registration information: empowerma.com/festival
NOTE: The Unity Village Hotel and Conference Center is sold out. Please reserve a room at an area hotel and take advantage of door-to-door shuttle service.
Holiday Inn Express: 816-600-2405
Hampton Inn Lee's Summit: 816-347-8600
Bold and Beautiful You! An LGBTQ+ Retreat
May 14–17, 2020
Living a joy-filled life is not selfish—it is necessary.
- What keeps you from living from joy?
- Do you value the unique expression that you are and the gifts that only you can give to the world?
- Do you live with an awareness of your wholeness?
- Are you ready to expand your capacity for more joy in your life?
Once we love and value our authentic selves, recognize our birthright for happiness, and cultivate an awareness of the Divine within, then what we release into the world will result in harmony in relationships, peace and joy in our daily lives, and a world that honors and celebrates diversity. Join us and be a conscious collaborator for a world that leaves no one out and celebrates the uniqueness of every soul. Create more joy in the world—it starts with you!
Presenters: Revs. Dale Worley and Christy Snow share years of experience facilitating retreats. As ordained ministers and professional musicians, they bring a unique blend of skills that leave retreat participants engaged, empowered, and living from joy. Joy is a priority for both of our facilitators. Rev. Dale says, “Life is supposed to be fun.” Rev. Christy constantly reminds others, “We are here to be love and to live a life of joy.”
Price: $450
Register online: awaken.lgbt
Creative Renewal Retreat
May 29–31, 2020
Join Unity Arts Ministry for a weekend of creative expression at beautiful Unity Village, Missouri. Nourish your creative spirit through a variety of media in a safe and supportive environment. Program offerings such as mixed media, process painting, meditation, and chanting will gently guide you within to uncover blocks and move you into the full expression of your creative nature.
- Relax and unwind as you enjoy the beautiful grounds at Unity Village.
- Develop friendships with others on a path of spiritual living and creative expression.
- Learn take-home creative practices to deepen your spiritual growth.
Presenters: Unity Arts Ministry
Registration info: Register online at unityartsministry.org/creative-renewal-retreat/
Cost: Early bird registration through December 31, 2019: $295. Registration after January 1, 2020: $325
Learn more: unityartsministry.org/creative-renewal-retreat/
Life Over Loss: Finding the Gifts within Grief
June 9–13, 2020
This life-changing retreat is for women who are grieving the loss of their life partner due to death or divorce, and/or the death of a parent, child, or sibling. Our mission is to provide a safe forum where women can learn tools and strategies to find the gifts within grief and move forward in their life with purpose and joy.
We will have breakout sessions for these groups: widows, divorcees, loss of child, loss of parent/sibling, so that we can provide more in-depth support.
For widows, we don’t use the traditional definition of the word “widow.” Our definition is any woman who has lost her life partner; whether by marriage (husband or wife), domestic partnership, or fiancé, and regardless of their age and the length of their lost relationship.
Presenters: Sunny Dawn Johnston and Denise Dielwart
Price: $747 Early Bird Rate through April 1, 2020; $797 starting April 2, 2020
Registration info: http://bit.ly/LifeOverLoss
Deep Dive to Awesome: The Art of Overcoming
June 25–28, 2020
Join us at beautiful Unity Village for a spirit-filled weekend of soul-sharing, singing, and laughter. We’ll share our personal stories of overcoming, bask in the musical healing of StoweGood, and together explore spiritual tools and practices that reveal the awesome within us!
As part of this amazing experience:
Temple will lead us through several shamanic experiential rituals such as a vision quest, retrieving your natural energy keeping you healthy and young, and the discovery of your power animals and sacred archetypes.
StoweGood will reconnect us with our soul’s intention through the power and magic of heart-opening songs and mind-expanding exercises.
Mark will take us on a journey of A.W.E. (Authentic Worship Experience) as together we create an evening experience filled with art, prayer, and intention.
There will be labyrinth and God walks, Jolly Wagon and walking tours, group time and free time, and time to rest and rejuvenate your soul. We hope you can join us for an awesome weekend of overcoming!
Presenters: Temple Hayes, StoweGood, and Mark Fuss
Price: $349 through April 1, 2020; $399 after April 1
Registration info: Call 816-251-3540
Learn more: unity.org/deepdive
2020 Fillmore Festival: Celebrating 100 Years of Unity Village
August 13–16, 2020
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime event that culminates the yearlong celebration of 100 years of Unity Village.
Enjoy stories from beloved speakers and longtime Unity employees, rare location tours on the campus, and great music!
Price: $349 early bird through June 1, 2020; $399 after June 1. Cost includes retreat experience and five meals.
Registration Information: Call 816-251-3540.
Learn more: unity.org/fillmore-festival
2020 Vision: A World That Works for All
Vegan Spirituality Forum & Retreat
September 10–13, 2020
Calling all spiritually minded vegans, vegetarians, and curious omnivores! Enjoy three days of inspiration, learning, renewal, and collaboration as we cocreate a world that works for all beings on the planet. Experience the sacredness of the Unity Village grounds, home of the Unity movement where cofounders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore pioneered and advocated for ethical vegetarianism in the early 1900s. Participate in the awakening of consciousness in the heart of our nation.
Of note: our forum/retreat begins right after the Unity annual World Day of Prayer. Come a day early and participate in this moving, global 24-hour Prayer Vigil.
Programming includes:
- Spiritually centered vegan speakers and leaders
- Inspirational talks on the connection between our relationship with animals and spiritual living, human social justice issues, world peace, sustainability, and feminism
- Workshops and dialogue on how to effectively bring the message of universal love and kindness to your communities and rely on infinite supply to support your advocacy and/or ministry work
- Yoga, meditation, labyrinth, walking trails for renewal, restoration, and self-care
- Rituals and Sunday service to heal planetary consciousness, awaken humanity, and honor our animal brothers and sisters
- Fantastic plant-based meals curated by acclaimed vegan chef Sandra Sellani and more
Registration info: Register online at thespiritualforum.org/vegan-retreat
Cost: Early bird $299 before December 31, 2019; $335 from January 1 through June 1, 2020; $375 after June 1, 2020. The retreat fee includes a meal plan—two specially prepared vegan dinners and three lunches at the Unity Ballroom (meal plan is $128). Breakfast is included at the Unity Village Hotel and most area hotels. Lodging must be booked separately. Full refund is available before June 1, 2020; 50 percent refund thereafter.
Learn more: thespiritualforum.org/vegan-retreat
Divine Wisdom for Daily Living: Transform Your Life with Intuition and Messages from Spirit
September 17–19, 2020
Join Unity Online Radio host Lisa Williams live and in-person for this deeply transformational experience, where you'll discover intuition, guidance, and healing on a whole new level. Lisa's unique combination of teaching and mediumship demonstrations will connect you with your higher self and your loved ones on the other side—and it will illuminate a pathway to the best version of you.
Presenter: Lisa Williams is a renowned psychic medium, best-selling author, television personality, and spiritual teacher. Her mission is to bring healing, hope, and guidance to anyone and everyone seeking the answers to life's greatest questions.
Price: Early Bird Pricing through March 1, 2020: $544 for General Admission and $944 for Platinum. Registration after March 1: $744 for General Admission and $1,144 for Platinum.
Registration Information: Tickets include three-day access, meditations, activities, and discounts on products.
Your workshop ticket includes three dinners, two buffet lunches, a selection of desserts, and tea and coffee service. Vegan and vegetarian options will be available.
Platinum tickets include a private meet and greet, a photo opportunity, and Q and A session with presenter Lisa Williams.
Bonus: Receive access to three guided meditations with Lisa Williams.
Learn more: lisawilliamsschool.com/unity-2020
