About Us | Unity in the Gold County Spiritual Center

Unity in the Gold Country
Unity in the Gold Country was founded by Rev. Joe Sloan and his wife, Lyn, and held its first worship service in March of 2000. The response from the community was so immediate that we were able, in less than a year, to meet all the requirements to qualify as an Association of Unity church. We have continued to grow in love from that time and we have helped many people live their lives more joyfully and successfully. We have an active youth education program that truly honors young people and we respect and utilize the wisdom of our seniors. Our music program vibrates to the heart and soul of our grateful community. Our minister speaks from the heart of one who has experienced the world and sees himself as one with our spiritual community. Our congregation lovingly receives into its midst all who come to us. Rev. Joe Sloan served as Senior Minister until his retirement in June of 2011, while Lyn Sloan Continues to be part of the ministry to children. Rev. Jerry Farrell, who served as Associate minister from March 2005 until June 2011, became the lead Minister in July 2011.

Unity in the Gold Country Spiritual Center is affiliated with the Unity School of Christianity, publishers of the Daily Word. The World Headquarters of Unity, which began in 1889, is located on the 1400 acre Unity Village, south and east of Kansas City Missouri. Unity was founded by Myrtle & Charles Fillmore. (For more information, go to www.unity.org on the web.) Myrtle's healing through prayer was the beginning of a movement that now includes close to a thousand Unity ministries around the World. Charles followed Myrtle's lead and achieved a healing of his own. He was an untiring student of spiritual practices of many people the world over and incorporated these universal truths into his teachings. The wisdom of Charles and Myrtle is captured in the many books published by Unity and other agencies. Unity Village is an education center and retreat for thousands of people the year around. It is home to Silent Unity, a 24-hour phone and prayer service to almost two million people every year. The Daily Word's world-wide subscription is two million monthly. Additionally, Unity has an online radio presence at unity.fm which broadcasts metaphysical music, interviews, meditations and classes. Fully 85% of the recipients of both of these healing instruments are other than Unity people. Charles Fillmore said that he always was open to daily guidance from Spirit, but when asked to describe Unity, many years ago, he said this:

"Unity is a link in the great educational movement inaugurated by Jesus Christ; our objective is to discern the truth in Christianity and prove it. The truth that we teach is not new, neither do we claim special revelations or discovery of new religious principles. Our purpose is to help and teach (humankind) to use and prove the eternal Truth taught by the Master."

As an introduction to "The Revealing Word", Unity's metaphysical dictionary states:

"Truth is changeless. Those who knew Charles Fillmore best believe that he would like to be able to rephrase some of his observation for today's reader, thus giving them the added effectiveness of contemporary thought. But the ideas themselves -- the core of Charles Fillmore's writing -- are as timeless now (and will be tomorrow) as when they were first published."

And, many Unity writers have brought the teachings of the Fillmore into contemporary light. We bless our Sunday lessons and many classes with a generous supply of love, laughter and music.

But that's enough "About Us". What about you? We would love to get to know you. We already know you're wonderful. We got that from a good Source.

Rev. Jerry Farrell

The Rev. Jerry Farrell is Lead Minister at UGC. Originally from Ireland, Rev. Jerry studied for the Roman Catholic priesthood and was ordained for the diocese of Honolulu where he ministered as a Pastor from 1985-1994. He served as the Associate Director of the Vatican II International Sabbatical Program for Priests in Menlo Park, California from 1994-2000. During that time he trained as a Spiritual Director at the Mercy Center in Burlingame, completed a Master's in Divinity from St. Patrick's Seminary, Menlo Park and got a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University. He moved to Grass Valley in December 2000 to become the Hospice Chaplain with Hospice of the Foothills and worked there as an Interfaith Minister until taking up his current post with UGC in March 2005. July 1, 2011, Jerry assumed the Lead Minister position at Unity in the Gold Country Spiritual Center after Rev. Joe Sloan retired June 30, 2011. Jerry graduated from the Ministerial Education Program at Unity Village and was ordained 2010. He lives in Grass Valley with his partner.

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