South Whidbey churches plan Sunday services

Unity talk is ‘Life at the Power Point’

For all who live and strive for some power and mastery over their environment, this is a natural condition of life. Yet real power and mastery is always conditional and elusive — none of us win every game.

Join speaker and songwriter Doug Benecke, and violinist Talia Toni Marcus, at Unity of Whidbey on May 2 for an exploration of real power — the power of Spirit, acceptance and love.

Unity meets at 10 a.m. Sunday at 5671 Crawford Road, Langley. All are welcome.

Rabbi is guest speaker at next adult forum

Rabbi James Mirel will be the speaker at Trinity Lutheran Church’s adult forum at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

Mirel is senior rabbi of Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue, where he has served for 25 years. He has been a rabbi for 36 years, all in the state of Washington.

He is a graduate of Reed College and the Hebrew Union College, and the co-author of “Stepping Stones to Jewish Spirituality” (Jewish Lights) and a frequent contributor to various newspapers and journals.

Beach Watchers give tips at adult forum

“Puget Sound Starts Here — On Whidbey Island” will be the topic on May 16 and May 23 at the adult forum at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Members of the 2009 Island County Beach Watchers class, under the auspices of Puget Sound Partnership, will explain how to live responsibly with a few simple changes. They will offer solutions on taking care of cars and lawns, cleaning products, septic tanks, dog waste, etc. to stop polluting our waters.

Each session will give attendees different and valuable information, so plan to attend both classes.

The adult forum is held at 9:30 a.m. Sundays.

Perspectives from Islam at UUCWI

Jamal Rahman, a Muslim Sufi minister originally from Bangladesh, will be the speaker at the Sunday service for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island.

Rahman’s passion lies in interfaith community- building. He is cofounder and co-minister at Interfaith Community Church in Seattle, co-host of Interfaith Talk Radio and adjunct faculty at Seattle University.

All are welcome. Values-based children’s religious exploration classes and childcare will be provided. The service is at 10 a.m. at 20103 Highway 525, just north of Freeland. Check www.whidbey.com/uucwi for more information.

Practice of prayer is the message at SWCC

Sunday at South Whidbey Community Church, Pastor Darrell Wenzek will speak on the topic, “The Practice of Persistent Prayer,” based on Matthew 7:7-11.

South Whidbey Community Church provides a smaller church experience in a historic setting, yet with traditional worship and hymns in a friendly, informal atmosphere.

Morning worship begins at 10 and is preceded by an adult learning forum at 9 a.m., with Stan Walker leading an inductive study into Paul’s Letter to the Philippians and Art Angst leading a study into the Gospel of Luke. These are open classes where everyone is invited.

At 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 8 at the Deer Lagoon Grange, Dr. Tom Johnson will speak at the church’s monthly men’s breakfast. Due to his extensive credentials and his popularity as an informative speaker, women are also invited, and guests are always welcome.

Johnson is a retired university president and widely recognized New Testament scholar. He will be speaking on “Marks of the Authentic Church,” from Acts 1-3.

SWCC gathers for worship each Sunday at the Deer Lagoon Grange, 5142 Bayview Road, Langley.

For more information, call 221-1220.

Bible stories inform the Sunday service

The Bible stories of the prodigal son and of Zacchaeus both teach that love and reform work together to demonstrate that Divine Love “corrects and governs” us, but not through punishment.

“Fear of punishment never made man truly honest.” (“Science and Health.”) We learn and grow through being receptive of the blessings that Divine Love bestows on us today.

On May 2, the Christian Science Sunday service explores the reformation that allows us to be receptive to the goodness that surrounds us today with a new look at the concept of “everlasting punishment.”

The service is 10:30 a.m. at 15910 Highway 525 (just north of Bayview and across from Useless Bay Road). Everyone is welcome.

The church also will hold a testimony meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, which will include a few correlated readings from the Bible and “Science and Health,” followed by individual’ testimonies of healing and remarks on Christian Science. All are welcome.

Greenbank church hosts youth event

Whidbey Evangelical Free Church will host a National Day of Prayer youth event from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 7.

All youths in grades six through 12 are invited to share in a night of prayer, worship, fun and food.

The church is at 840 Plantation Drive, Greenbank. For more information, e-mail Alycia Jones at alyjones@sprintblackberry.net.