Sacred Ceremonies

Sacred Ceremonies & Life Celebrations

 

""Ceremonies We believe that all people are created with sacred worth.  Our ministries and outreaches   are inclusive and open-minded, free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, physical disability and sexual orientation.  We recognize and honor the Divine within as the one common denominator that we share on our human   journey.

 At Unity of Citrus, we are committed to providing members and friends with special services and ceremonies, designed to pause and observe the spiritual dimension of significant moments within your personal and family journeys. 

We provide a sacred spiritual setting for many ceremonies. As you enter the sanctuary through double doors, we offer a room filled with love and light. 

Unity of Citrus honors all faiths and paths to God and welcomes diversity of individuals. All ceremonies are created individually to honor the participants and provide a meaningful and memorable spiritual experience.

Weddings, Christenings, Memorial Services, Home Blessings and more... all are among the ways we can support you in your desire to recognize and celebrate the spiritual dimensions of the passages in your life and the lives of your loved ones. 

The Senior Minister is available to officiate at weddings, memorials, and other special occasions and sacred life passages.  Contact us at 352-746-1270.

Weddings, Holy Unions, and Renewal of Vows  white gold Zirconia Wedding Ring ...

Whether or not the couple is a member of Unity Church of CWeddingitrus County we can perform your Holy Union or Wedding. 

Because such events are as unique as the people getting married, we can hold the ceremony in our Sanctuary, our lovely outdoor wooded grounds, or at an offsite location of your choice. Let us help you make your special day a sacred one.

Our prayer is that your ceremony be beautiful and deeply meaningful for you and your loved ones and that your union be blessed in the Unity service that celebrates your spiritual commitment to one another. We believe that the joining of two souls is a union that takes place between two persons in the presence of the Holy Spirit in the midst of them. When such a true bond already exists, we are delighted to affirm, celebrate, and bless the union that only God can create.

Much thoughtful prayer goes into the consideration of the services presented through our ministry. Yet, we want to be open to honoring any special requests that you may have in the planning process. It may help you to know that we do not include “love, honor, and obey, nor do we ask, "if there be any reason why these two should not be joined,” etc., and we do not say, “in sickness and in health . . . ‘til death do us part,” etc. We believe that we are to “obey” inner guidance, rather than another person; that true marriage is between God and the two individuals concerned; and we do not suppose that “death” interrupts a true union.  The Unity service is very personal and always positive and uplifting. We are receptive to your suggestions of a favorite poem, prayer, or other idea for inclusion in your service. Prayer will always be integral in the Unity service, and we are open to honoring diverse religious traditions. 

Christenings and Spiritual Baptisms     Baptism GIFs | Tenor

Christening  Christening within the Unity tradition is a public act of welcoming a new life into the world and formally recognizing this beautiful soul   by name, on its human journey. Our tradition is grounded in and guided by the ministry of the Master Teacher, Jesus, who was known   to take children in his arms and bless them.  Mark 10:13-16

 A Christening ceremony is also created for the parents and others to express their dedication to raising the child in an awareness of   the Loving Presence we call Love, Source, Spirit, God.   The celebrating family can choose to have Godparents or sponsors   participate in the Christening Service.

 The Christening ceremony includes the elements of Holy water, rose petals and anointing with sacred oil. The blessed water   symbolizes the purity of Spirit within. In ancient times those in prayer often reported the scent of roses as a symbol of the Christ   presence; rose petals have long been representative of love. In ancient times, sacred oil was expensive and being anointed was a   gesture of honoring the anointed.  You may choose as many people as you wish, or have no Godparents. There is no legal obligation   or responsibility made through a Christening service. 

Individual Baptism ceremonies are available for infants and adults.  Many adults baptized as infants choose to be baptized again as adults to renew their spiritual expression of God in a conscious way. 

We do not baptize in the traditional Christian sense of washing away original sin.  Our baptism ceremony is not intended to wash away sin.  Rather, it is an acknowledgement and appreciation that you are a child of God joining us on this planet in human dimensions.   All of us experience our consciousness becoming clouded by the shadows and illusions of this human experience.  This keeps us from truly reflecting that part of us that is created in the image and likeness of God.  Nevertheless, the pure essence of who you are remains intact and radiates with pure loving energy.   Baptism is a ritual that symbolizes the cleansing of your consciousness so that you can truly reflect the loving Presence of Christ in you.

Memorial Services and Funerals

Compassionate and caring services are designed to meet the individual needs of the grieving family.   We are happy to help, and we will assist you in planning a ceremony at Unity of Citrus or location of your choice.  

Every life is unique from the beginning to the end.  We enter this world as an unknown to those who await us; and we depart having created our own story of being, a web of relationships, and a treasury of life experiences.

At Unity, we honor each human journey by memorializing your loved one with:

  • Prayers and reflections that are in harmony with your beliefs

  • Eulogies and memories by family and friends

  • Recorded music/video and/or live music, as desired

  • Meditation and silence for remembering and letting go

  • Warm, heart-centered, individualized memorial services

In Unity, we believe that the Presence of Love transforms our life experiences into that which is spiritual and thus sacred and transcendent.  Together we will create a memorial service to celebrate and affirm a life completed, a soul’s journey, as we evoke memories of your loved one with affection, with respect, and in that Presence of Love.