Ministries
Music Ministry
Sherry Hursey
Director of Music & A/V Production
Passionate about music, her spiritual journey and sharing her passions with young people, Sherry built upon her career as an actress, vocalist, voice over artist, writer and producer, by creating the one-hour family musical special, Lilly’s Light, and it’s companion foundation, “Lilly’s Fostering Hearts” a non-profit organization advocating for children in foster care. She is now the lighthouse at the center of Turning On the Light Entertainment which creates positive media and music to brighten the world.
Paula Lurvey, Tommy Reeves, Tom Hollow and Rick Cowling are part of making our music team a beautiful attribute of Unity Of The Oaks.
Youth and Family
Program for All Ages (Babies to High School)
Sundays at 10:00 AM
Youth Ministry is very important to us at Unity of the Oaks. We see our youth – the now generation – as congregants, not solely as children of congregants. All of our teachers have an established history with Unity of the Oaks, and are required to have background checks in order to teach. During the year we have fun activities outside of church planned for all ages and families. Our middle school and high school groups attend regional events and camps throughout the school year. We also help send our youth in 3rd through 5th grades to the regional Unity Kid’s Camp in Wrightwood, CA, a Southwest Unity summer tradition for generations!
Questions about Our Youth Ministry?
Youth & Family Ministry Mission Statement
"Unity of the Oaks’ Youth & Family Ministry is spirit-centered, loving and purposeful. We support families, encourage children to embrace who they are, and hold space for self-expression while they discover their God-Selves."
Our Teachers
Reverend Stacy Macris Ros, Licensed Unity Teacher and Certified Spiritual Leader
Stacy has been attending Unity since she was 5 years old, and has been active within the Unity movement ever since! She is married and has two sons, Julian and Graham. She loves to hike, read, and eat chocolate!
After serving as the Director of Youth & Family Ministry from 2010 – 2013, she received her Certified Spiritual Educator credential and went on to serve as the Regional Teen Consultant for the Southwest Region of Unity Worldwide Ministries, which encompasses Unity centers in Southern California, Arizona, Southern Nevada, and parts of Western New Mexico and Southern Utah. She recently obtained her Licensed Unity Teacher teacher credential, and is one of the hosts of the weekly Unity Online Radio show, Pop Conscious. She also serves as Co-Chair for our Unity Southwest Region.
Juan Ros
Juan was first introduced to Unity in 1995 by his then-girlfriend, Stacy Macris, whom he wisely married two years later. As a Certified Financial Planner professional, Juan is deeply interested in helping others find abundance and prosperity in their lives. His own abundance comes from his family – Stacy and his two sons, Julian and Graham. He has recently taken up running and enjoys movies, music, and all things technology.
Interested in volunteering for the Youth & Family Ministry?
We welcome volunteers to engage in positively principled play with the little ones, lead a class session using Unity’s curriculum, share a talent or craft project, help with a fundraiser, or just assist by providing a loving, supportive presence.
(Please note that all adults who work with our children complete a background check.)
FAQ’s
What ages do you teach? Is there childcare?
We have two Sunday programs each week, in addition to childcare for children under the age of 5, known as UniTots. Our Unikids program is for children in Kindergarten to 5th grade. Our teen program includes Uniteens, for middle school aged “tweens” and Y.O.U (Youth of Unity), for the High School crowd.
What do you do during the hour? What do you teach?
Each Youth program has a similar order-of-service. We have an opening prayer, a time of sharing, the Daily Word, and offering, a lesson & creative expression, meditation, and closing circle and prayer. The lessons are age-appropriate and come from Unity Worldwide Ministries or, occasionally, from another Unity church. The 5 Basic Unity Principles are woven throughout the material and our time together. A couple of times during the year we have special services in which we hold church outside our building, such as in a park, indoor rock climbing, or mini golf with a Unity lesson woven in. We also have special Youth Sundays in which our youth provide the entire Sunday service for the congregation. Find out more about the curriculum from Unity Worldwide Ministries. We have been fortunate enough to have volunteers with high levels of education and expertise as teachers for the teens. Examples include a financial planner with an MBA teaching a class on prosperity principles, or a university professor teaching about confident public speaking. Real-life lessons with positive spiritual principles!
What do you teach about Jesus?
We believe that Jesus expressed his divine potential and sought to show humankind how to express ours as well. We see Jesus as the Master Teacher of Universal Truths and as our Way Shower. In Unity, we use the term Christ to mean the divinity in humankind. Jesus is the great example of the Christ in expression.
What happens if my child is upset or cries?
For many children it takes time to feel comfortable in a new environment. Our primary goal is for your child to feel safe. If they should become upset at any time we will attend to their needs immediately. If they continue to be upset, we will come into the sanctuary to get you, so you can be reunited with your child. You are more than welcome to stay with your child in the classroom until they feel comfortable again.
Who do I talk to if I have a question, concern, or comment?
Any of our teachers are more than happy to answer your questions and make you feel at home at Unity of the Oaks. In addition to our teacher volunteers, we have our Youth and Family Ministry Director, Janet Jaso. We are here to work with you and your family in partnership!
Prayer Ministry
Prayer is the foundation of unity.
A Prayer Chaplain is someone who can hold spiritual space with you. Each Sunday following services, our Prayer Chaplains listen and pray with you and hold what is heard in confidence. They also contact members monthly to offer prayer support. Our prayer chaplains are trained volunteers.
Would you like to learn more or become a Prayer Chaplain volunteer?