In the midst of so much change in our country and in our world, I’d like to share with you an article written by my wife and fellow Unity minister, Kathryn, in the year 1975, when we and our ministry were in the midst of change. I think you might find it particularly meaningful for yourself in this present climate of change and uncertainty.

 

We had sold our little home in order to move into a large old Dutch Colonial house which was big enough to house our Unity of Roanoke Valley church office, with a classroom and kitchen, and to create an apartment for us upstairs.

 

Prior to this we had conducted our ministry out of our home, meeting in different places for our Sunday services and weekly classes, but we knew we needed to create a Unity church home if we were to grow our ministry. So we prevailed upon our board of trustees to lease the large house and then used our own money from the sale of our home, plus special gifts from church members, to purchase items with which to furnish the church office. And we made the move.

 

 

Here’s the article which was printed in the monthly newsletter in February, 1975:

 

LOVE NEVER CHANGES          Rev. Kathryn

 

In the midst of change, one thing we can always depend upon is the unchanging love of God. The words of the Bible, “Underneath are the everlasting arms,” are a reminder to us that the principle of Truth underlies all conditions, all circumstances, and all relationships, and is the foundation upon which we can place our trust at all times.

 

Unity of Roanoke Valley is in the midst of change right now – and change means growth! Alan and I are also going through a change in our personal life with the sale of our beloved little cottage and the move into our new Unity home at 1830 Grandin Road.

 

As I pondered upon these changes, praying for guidance and divine order, the following Daily Word message was a comfort to me. Perhaps you, too, are facing a change or need to make a decision and will find comfort in these words:

 

“I meet change fearlessly. I press on to greater good.”

 

When we are facing some new situation, some change in our lives, we may have conflicting emotions. We may have looked forward to change, but when the time comes to make it, we may feel reluctant to leave the old behind, to take on the new.

 

This kind of reaction is not unusual, but it is on the surface only. In the deeper part of us we know there is nothing to fear. We feel the urge to go ahead. This is the Spirit of God in us that is dauntless and fearless, the Spirit that has brought us through old situations and accompanies us into the new.

 

We may be changing our living patterns and leaving accustomed paths, but all the good that has been a part of our experiences never leaves us. It has, in fact, prepared us for the new path that lies before us. So we can meet changing circumstances, we can cope with new situations, successfully, fearlessly, lovingly.

 

Let us give thanks that God has prepared the way before us. Let us meet change fearlessly and press on toward our greater good.

 

Lovingly,

 

Rev. Kathryn A. Rowbotham

———————————————————–

Rev. Kathryn Rowbotham, previously Kathryn Doyle, founded the Unity church in Roanoke, Virginia, in 1971. She was the first woman minister in the Roanoke Valley. She and Rev. Alan Rowbotham developed the ministry together as co-ministers after their marriage in October 1971.

 

They served there for eight years, built a beautiful church on 28 acres, and were called to serve at the headquarters of the Association of Unity Churches. Rev. Kathryn was on the faculty of the ministerial school and Rev. Alan was director of

ministry services for the Association for three years.

 

After a short sabbatical, Revs. Alan and Kathryn returned as co-ministers to Unity of Roanoke Valley and served there a further twelve years before moving to St. Petersburg, Florida, in February of 1994, where Rev. Alan served as senior minister for another twelve years before his retirement from full-time church ministry.

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