Unity of Chautauqua
Opening Minds, Touching Hearts, Transforming Lives
Unity of Chautauqua
A positive path for spiritual living
Unity is a positive, practical, progressive approach to Christianity based on the teachings of Jesus and the power of prayer. Unity honors the universal truths in all religions and respects each individual’s right to choose a spiritual path.
Donations (Love Offerings) are welcome!
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Unity of Chautauqua is a vibrant, open, and affirming community that includes people of all races, religious backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities.
Spiritual seekers often say that finding Unity is like coming home.
Unity of Chautauqua summer program brings Unity ministers from many locations to bless us and for them to be blessed by the programs of Chautauqua Institution.
Come join us this summer!
UNITY SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES
Sunday Service 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Hall of Missions
Daily Word Meditation 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Monday – Friday Hall of Missions
(Please note that for this summer only we will not have Wednesday evening workshops)
2025 SUMMER PROGRAM
Chautauqua Institution
WEEK ONE: June 21st – June 28th
REV. ROBIN FERGUSON, Kansas City, MO
Rev. Robin Ferguson is a Unity minister who has previously served as both a Sr. Minister, as well as a Leadership and Organizational Consultant for Unity Worldwide Ministries. In addition, Robin is a Master Certified Coach, the highest ranking awarded to coaches by the International Coaching Federation, with a focus on leadership and executive development and personal transformation. Robin’s most recent work has included founding a leadership institute for a regional healthcare system, founding and leading their leadership and executive coaching program, and spearheading their annual leadership conference. She currently owns her own coaching business, partnering with individuals and leaders worldwide to elevate their lives and careers, leading to greater fulfillment and a more significant impact.
She is also the author of The Phoenix Effect: Transcend Limitation and Ignite the Power Within You. You can contact her at www.robin-ferguson.com.
SUNDAY SERVICE June 22nd: “What Is the Story I Want to Tell?”
9:30AM Hall of Missions
We are currently in the midst of a transformative process on this planet that is calling us to fully live into the paradox of our human and spiritual existence. While we must honor our human reaction to this process and understand the neuroscience behind it, at the same time we can also embrace a more expansive perspective that allows us to choose how we want to respond, and decide what story we want to tell as it continues to unfold. Join us as we dive into the exquisite depths of our complex experience as spiritual beings having a human experience!
WEEK TWO: June 28th – July 5th
and
WEEK THREE: July 5th – July 12th
REV. JAMES STACEY, Bloomington, MN
Reverend Stacey has served for nine years as minister of Unity South Twin Cities, Bloomington, Minnesota, located in the south Minneapolis—St Paul metro area. Before his current church he served ministries in Syracuse, NY, Sunrise Beach, MO, and the founding congregation of Unity in Kansas City.
James cherishes the history of Unity as a reminder of what is still valuable in our movement today. He presents Unity as both a wisdom teaching and a relevant daily practice. Making the classic Unity teachings relevant for today is James’ passion.
He considers himself to be a devoted Chautauquan since his first visit in 2004. He has returned to Chautauqua eighteen times.
SUNDAY SERVICE June 29th: “Faith Prescriptions”
9:30AM Hall of Missions
Paul advised the Romans: “Be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is good.” So, what is Unity’s response to this week’s Interfaith theme of sin and redemption? As we follow the teachings of Jesus, we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. This is a “faith prescription” you can take for the healing of human errors. We will explore some of Unity’s famous prescriptions for our redemption from sin. The religious wording may seem out-of-date, but the ideas still work because truth principles are timeless.
SUNDAY SERVICE July 6th: “Count It All Joy”
9:30AM Hall of Missions
The Mother of Unity, Myrtle Fillmore, often referred to her motto, “Count It All Joy,” adapted from the Letter of James. She used it in her approach to the spiritual path. She advised her readers to consider every experience in their lives as an opportunity for growth. Whether or not the circumstances one faces are pleasant, Spirit will always guide the soul into new and greater understanding. Let’s learn to acknowledge the mess and live into the potential for good.
WEEK FOUR: July 12th – July 19th
and
WEEK FIVE: July 19th – July 26th
REV. RUSSELL HEILAND, Oakton, VA
Rev. Russell Heiland is the Senior Minister at Unity of Fairfax in Oakton, VA. He is also the Second Vice Chair of the Unity Worldwide Ministries Board of Trustees. Prior to serving at Unity of Fairfax, he served at First Unity of St. Petersburg, FL and Unity of Wilmington, NC. His Master’s thesis (UNC-Wilmington) entitled Inner Vision and Synchronicity: Dream Work as Taught by Charles Fillmore and Carl Jung highlighted the role of dream interpretation in the Unity movement.
SUNDAY SERVICE July 13th: “What’s Your Unity Language?”
9:30AM Hall of Missions
Individuals who are drawn to Unity come from a variety of different faith backgrounds and life experiences, and some come to Unity without any formal religious backgrounds. How is it that this collection of folks who often define themselves as the “spiritual but not religious” or “spiritual seekers” find common ground? In this engaging and informative presentation, Rev. Russell will highlight the many Unity languages and how they converge to create a dynamic spiritual community.
SUNDAY SERVICE July 20th: “How Much is Enough?”
9:30AM Hall of Missions
In a world in which citizens are more often identified as “consumers,” how often do we stop to consider “how much is enough?” Do we really want, let alone need, the new bright shiny thing? Maybe yes, maybe no. In this message, Rev. Russell will guide us in developing our inherent capacity to discern “how much is enough.”
WEEK SIX: July 26th — August 2nd
REV. TONI FISH, Burnsville, MN
Rev Toni Fish is committed to translating our Unity principles into the language of the emerging worldview in ways that support our evolving movement. In January 2025, she joined Unity of the Valley in Burnsville, MN as the Senior Minister. Prior to that, she served as Associate Minister at Unity Minneapolis for five years and at Unity in Frederick, Maryland, as Senior Minister for 18 years. She was a member of Unity Worldwide Ministries Board of Trustees from 2012 to 2020 and served as Chair of the Board in her last year. In Frederick and in Minneapolis, Toni was actively involved in Community Outreach and Interfaith activities and looks forward to connecting with the Burnsville community activities. In an earlier chapter of her life, Toni spent 22 years in the corporate arena as an international information security and business continuity consultant. She loves baseball, her two “puppies”, her family, and Cajun food!
SUNDAY SERVICE July 27th: “Nonduality in a Duality World”
9:30AM Hall of Missions
Living in a Dualistic world brings interesting opportunities for us to live as that unified expression of Oneness. Learning to see through the eyes of God calls us to recognize the illusion of separation, focus on the Presence in all things, and establish thoughts and actions that open us to integration and support with all life. What things need shifting in your life to gain that vision through God Eyes?
Affirmation: I am a unified expression of Oneness and connected with all that is.
WEEK SEVEN: August 2nd – August 9th
REV. DIANE SCRIBNER, Naples, FL
Diane is 100% Unity; and she calls Naples, Florida, her home.
Diane was ordained 28yrs ago; and she’s served New Thought centers all over the place; and is currently stewarding Unity of Bonita Springs in Florida. Diane’s been guiding her non-profit, Pray Attention Ministries, for 15 years, joyously serving individuals and humanitarian groups throughout our world. Diane is also the Keeper of The Flame for the Board of Unity Worldwide Ministries, holding and affirming Unity, as we reimagine our world evolving…
If you’d like to learn more about Diane, please go to her website – PrayAttentionMinistries.org, and of course, you can talk with her, today!
SUNDAY SERVICE August 3th: “Is Loving a Spiritual Practice?”
9:30AM Hall of Missions
Rev Diane will be with us, Sunday August 3rd to explore Loving as a spiritual practice. According to Charles Fillmore’s Revealing Word, Love is the great harmonizer and healer that binds us all together. If that feels like a sticky situation, you’ll want to be at Unity of Chautauqua, to help pull, rather than push, our selves together!
We invite you to worship and celebrate God with us, just as you are, God’s beloved. Come One, come all!
WEEK EIGHT: August 9th – August 16th
REV. SHARON J. KETCHUM, Lansing, MI
Rev. Sharon J. Ketchum is the senior minister of Unity Spiritual Center of Lansing since 2016. After serving for 16 years at Unity Kitchener, Canada. With a masters degree in Early Christianity, her paper “My Search for the Voice of Jesus”, is a rich study of historical comparisons and metaphysical insights from the Five Gospels.
Sharon has chaired the Unity Worldwide Ministries Board of Trustees, and has been active with UWM EarthCare, Education and Social Action teams. She lives in Lansing Michigan with her wife, social worker Maxine Thome and a houseful of dogs and cats.
SUNDAY SERVICE August 10th: “Created in the Image and Likeness”
9:30AM Hall of Missions
The Bible and the Torah tells us we are created in God’s image and likeness. This isn’t merely about physical resemblance but reflects a deeper spiritual truth: we share in the essence of God’s creative, loving, and relational nature. In turn, humanity has attributed to God characteristics born of our experiences—love, justice, jealousy, mercy, triumph and even anger. Through this mutual exchange, we both reveal and expand our understanding of the divine.
In the Bible and Torah, Moses asks God for a name at the burning bush. The answer was enigmatic yet profound: “I Am That I Am.” This self-identification defies limitations, encompassing all existence and transcending human categories. Every time we say “I am,” we echo the name and nature of God. This connection invites us to contemplate how our declarations shape not just our identity but also our reflection of the divine.
WEEK NINE: August 16th – August 23rd
REV. Kurt Condra, Evanston, IL
Rev. Kurt Condra is senior minister at Unity on the North Shore in Evanston, Illinois. He regularly leads classes and workshops on spiritual practices, authentic communication, and healing relationships. His writings have appeared in Unity Magazine, Daily Word, and various Unity devotional booklets. Rev. Kurt serves on the Nominating Team for the Great Lakes Unity Region and is an active member of the Evanston Interfaith Clergy and Leaders group. He has also trained with organizations focused on racial justice and LGBTQIA+ community service.
Before entering ministry, he spent two decades in the publishing industry. He began in the new media divisions of the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle, later becoming editor and then managing editor at Newport Communications, an award-winning trade magazine publisher.
SUNDAY SERVICE August 17th: “The Sacred Thread: How Our Past Is Calling Us Forward”
9:30AM Hall of Missions
What if our history isn’t just what happened—what if it also happens in us? This talk traces the sacred thread that runs through America’s cultural transformation, Unity’s spiritual evolution, and your own unfolding path. From the roots of spiritual healing to the reckoning of inclusion and the rise of collective consciousness, we’ll explore how honoring our shared past can reveal the shape of your becoming.
Our History
Unity of Chautauqua was founded in 1982 and since then we have sponsored 387 visits by Unity ministers to Chautauqua Institution (www.chq.org) Each of the nine weeks of Chautauqua’s summer program, a Unity minister will be the speaker at our Sunday Celebration service, provide weekday Daily Word morning meditations and a Wednesday evening workshop. You can view past summer guest speakers on our YouTube channel.
Unity’s Five Principles
1. God is absolute good, everywhere present.
2. Human beings have a spark of divinity within them, the Christ spirit within. Their very essence is of God, and therefore they are also inherently good.
3. Human beings create their experiences by the activity of their thinking. Everything in the manifest realm has its beginning in thought.
4. Prayer is creative thinking that heightens the connection with God-Mind and therefore brings forth wisdom, healing, prosperity, and everything good.
5. Knowing and understanding the laws of life, also called Truth, are not enough. A person must also live the truth that he or she knows.
Unity World Headquarters is located on a beautiful 1,200-acre campus at Unity Village, just outside of Kansas City, Missouri. www.unity.org
Rev. Barbara Williams
Rev. Barbara Williams coordinates Unity’s summer program at Chautauqua Institution since 2018. She retired as the senior minister of Unity of Port Richey, Florida in 2016. She also served as Director of Adult Education and Director of Youth and Family Ministry for First Unity Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. Prior to her ministry career, Barbara spent twenty-one years in the corporate world where she held positions of leadership in the Information Technology department of Duke Power.
Barbara has presented classes and workshops on Bible history and interpretation, compassionate communication and conflict resolution skills, self-discovery, world religions and parenting skills. Her passion is to support and empower others as they uncover their divine essence. She lives in Clearwater with her husband Dusty and their rescue puppy Sandra Dee.
Janine Chimera
Janine is our Unity of CHQ music director. She is a singer-song writer who was born and raised in Jamestown, but lived in Florida for 31 years. She has two married sons. With a master’s degree in Speech/Language Pathology, Janine worked in Florida school systems specializing in communication for non-verbal students. She provided music for Unity of Melbourne for 15 years, grateful for this community who grew her as a musician. Janine’s passion is for music and matters of spirit and of the heart. Combining these led her to dive into the worlds of therapeutic music, sound vibrational therapy, and group drumming. She also gives music lessons, and has used music to work with students with special needs. Janine plays guitar, piano, hand drums, and Native American flute. She recorded and published 2 CDs. Her greatest desire is for her music to be an instrument for peace and healing.
A favorite quote: “If you want to find the secrets of the Universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.” – Nikola Tesla
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Love Offering
Your faithful and generous support of our spiritual community is greatly appreciated.
You may use the PayPal link below or send your donations to:
Unity of Chautauqua
c/o Kelly Mareri
16 Emory Drive
Jamestown, NY 14701
About Us
Here you can find information about the upcoming program for Unity of Chautauqua.
For more information about Unity Worldwide, visit unity.org
For more information about the Chautauqua Institution, visit chq.org
UNITY OF CHAUTAUQUA
Minister, Rev. Barbara Williams
Music Director, Janine Chimera
Board of Trustees:
President & Treasurer, Kelly Mareri
Secretary, Virginia Richardson
Members at Large: Andy Jochum and Anna Jochum
Unity of Chautauqua 