Seattle Unity Church

I recently attended a couple of Sunday services and as a complete stranger received hugs or welcoming wishes as I entered the main door. I sat in a pew near the front of the church, and some very friendly ladies welcomed me and made conversation with me after service. The music was amazing, with professional singers and musicians belting out heartfelt tunes. Reverend Karen’s sermon was very inspiring about taking time to practice non-​doing. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly.

I can’t believe I waited so long to check out this church. It’s pretty much everything I’ve been looking for in a church. They spread a message of hope, love, and social awareness, with wonderful, engaging, modern worship music and activities for all ages (one of the few churches I’ve seen near downtown Seattle that actually had a large number of children and young adults). I went to the 11 AM service, and it was actually much more well attended than I had expected, with several hundred people filling the auditorium nicely, and they all looked happy to be there.
I think its important that we as inhabitants of this planet recognize the things among our various cultures and rituals that bring us together (as I feel we have more in common than we do differences), and I think this church does a great job of doing that. Some complain that its a bit too much of a Christian flavor, but I found the balance to be just about perfect.
I met a couple of great people just on my first visit, and I’m excited to go back and meet more people. Finally, a church with the sort of worship service I’ve missed since I was younger, but with a theology that is more focused on being positive and loving our neighbors, instead of a theology focused on judgement and spite.

The first time I went to a Unity Church, the minister said «Father, Son, and Holy Ghost» several times, and I never went back. I’ve also been to Unity Churches where they had distilled spiritual «wisdom» into one narrow category or two, oversimplifying everything. Their congregants also seemed to reflect this: a bit (or a lot) ungrounded, hopeful — — believing, rather than knowing.
This Unity Church is a breath of fresh air. Check out (among other worthy things!) the Oneness Blessing on Wednesday nights.

Yes I am biased because I’ve been coming here a few years now. more regularly the last year. I love Rev Karen and always appreciate her heart felt messages. They come across as passionate, personal and down to earth, without that preachy ‘God is judging you’ tone. While Unity describes their brand of spirituality as ‘practical Christianity’ I have never gotten the ‘accept Jesus Christ as your one and only savior or go to hell’ vibe here. In fact I haven’t heard much of hell or the devil at all. not that they completely ignore the darkness in the world, just not in the usual dogmatic way, being more focused on transforming it into light.
They embrace and teach most religious or spiritual practices, from Judaism to Buddhism, covering traditions from Hindus to Indigenous Shaman. Mostly it’s just a message of love and the Christ, Buddha or God within. I would encourage anyone to try it out for themselves at least a couple times as there can be off days when a guest speaker or the music might not hit home. Plus you have to get past that awkward holding hands and singing together at the end (this took me a while). For the most part the music is fantastic with just the house band and they continue to have amazingly talented guests from various spiritual traditions. Rafe Pearlman and Gina Sala are favorites among the members.
I prefer the 11am vs 9am service a) because I like to sleep in, and b) they parade the kids out in front at the end where you get to hear what they did downstairs (so cute) and offer them a blessing. Unity also has great classes on different books including a Course in Miracles, Kundalini Yoga taught by Sada Simran M/​Th/​Sat, and the Oneness Blessing (aka Deeksha) Wed nights. Their bookstore Serendipity at Unity is stocked w/​great spiritual cards/​music/​books/​candles/​jewelry/​gifts, run by a super sweet lady named Cindi who does a wonderful job.
This is a very welcoming, warm place with great energy and an open minded approach for guiding people into a new age, challenging us to look within, trust our inner truth and stay teachable. While not initially a joiner or church going type I keep coming back because I feel spiritually connected, empowered and uplifted here.

Having been turned off by modern Christianity, I found Unity church and felt like I had come home. Reverend Karen is a wise, powerful woman with beautiful stories and insight into spirit, religion, and being human.
The church is open and loving– you can feel it walking through the door.

Done with traditional Christianity, but still seeking God/​god/​Spirit? This is a great place to go to church if you are a seeker, and want to find a place to support your personal spiritual journey.
It was weird for me, after so many years, to try ANY church. The last time I’d attended church, I had to walk out because they were reading the Old Testament stories about killing men, women and children, and taking that as the «word o’ God»…NOT MY FAMILY VALUES, thanks!
Anyway, as part of my deepening my connection to the Spirit, it’s been a help here. Nice people too…
Yours,
James

This is a beautiful new-​age church, Christian and open-​minded. Books they have led workshops on: Four Agreements, Power of Now, Course in Miracles, Life of Water, New Earth, and much more.
I really like that the main minister, Richard Levy, is joined by a woman, his co-​minister Karen Lindvig. Expect musical guests (like Gina Sala, Rafe Pearlman, and others), mediation, readings from the Bible and «new-​thought» sermon, more music, children intro, and ending with the Peace Song.
Only drawback is Richard’s wife, Maureen, who is described by people at the church as a «bulldog», it’s her way or the highway. But that shouldn’t effect the layperson too much.
It’s a great church, check it out! Services 9 and 11am. Chaplains available to talk, children care, and more.