Phyllis Gotshall’s Story

Phyllis grew up in Eastern Pennsylvania where her family attended Trinity Lutheran Church located in an area of a large German influence. Phyllis enjoyed the music, attending Sunday school, the ceremony and rituals. As a young person it was difficult to resonate with the dogma preached in a heavy authoritative way. For whatever she could come away with, she liked being in the community of church. 

Phyllis started attending The Unity Center (TUC) about 22 years ago at a time when she wasn't in any spiritual community. She was part of several metaphysical groups and was looking for a broader dimensional group. As a holistic practitioner, she did Shiatsu, Colon hydrotherapy and other hands on healing. This work most always lead her into the spiritual realm with the clients as they were ready for their next right step. 

On the first Sunday she attended she was a bit hesitant when she saw the industrial area but once she got inside she could feel the care and the integrity. On her first Sunday she saw Father Leo Booth who was filling in for Wendy. She was very intrigued by what he said and how he delivered it—he has a great sense of humor. She attended his workshop that afternoon and took a lot of notes. She thought that was a good start.  

Since Phyllis loved Leo she figured Wendy had to be similar in her spirituality. When she heard her she liked that she brought in her talks information from different places, people, and speakers as it expanded her awareness and knowledge. Wendy is so refreshing and what she brings to her messages from the Association for Global New Thought (AGNT,) other organizations, her travels, and all of the speakers that have attended is very meaningful and enlightening to Phyllis. She appreciates the principles of Unity and as a lesbian, its inclusivity and the Universality of it.

When asked about a particular memory that was very impactful and changed her views, she chose to share a lot of what she has learned. The basic truths—Phyllis states “I’ve always known it but then I didn’t.” She believes we are born in bliss, TUC is about lifting us to feel our best so that we can be the best in the world for ourselves and others. Through prayer and community support we can heal. Our thoughts create our reality—the responsibility is back on us, we don’t need anyone to fix us or make us whole. We are not victims, we always need to look inside and ask what was my part in it? Manifestation happens when setting clear intentions. It’s dissecting the situation and it makes life more fun and richer.  

Phyllis appreciates the principles of Unity, the Universality of it—how Wendy chooses different books, different spiritual teachers, past and current teachers. Wendy brings teachings from other spiritual traditions and pulls on and brings in the metaphysical. She loves the way she condenses books and gets a totally different view than Phyllis does. She’s a great story-teller—storytelling is really powerful. That’s how Phyllis remembers things. She remembers stories and can share them. Phyllis appreciates the visionary in Wendy and how she is always changing things up.

When describing Unity to a new person, Phyllis shares that Unity is a New Thought church, very open and inclusive, come with an open mind and heart, listen and feel for what you’re looking for at this time in your life.  Talk to people after the service in the Café—it’s a very comfortable place to talk to people. Come back and get involved! Find out what calls you, what are your interests, how can you contribute. You create deeper connections with people when contributing and it helps you become part of the community. We all have to put the energy into it—where and how can you do that? If you are being called to come back, then it might create a desire to become a member.

In becoming a member she felt like she was making a commitment to herself to become a part of this community. Phyllis wanted to be nurtured and grow in her spiritual practice—she loves the ongoing connection with this spiritual community. She knows that she can always support others and receive support in return.

She has done a lot of study around money—giving and receiving. It’s not a question of should I give, how much am I going to give. She sees it as a flow—what she gives, she receives. She never does it out of guilt—money is what we assign to it, how we see it, it is a form of energy exchange. She has come to value her relationship with money and has a solidity in her giving and receiving.

Volunteering is very important to her. Do something! She is a self-appointed greeter and loves to welcome people. She used to clean up the section of Interstate 15 assigned to TUC once a week. She was very involved in the Wellness Ministry—she had a lot of fun with it. They did some massage in the lobby after service, made home visits—read Daily Word and prayed with people. She worked out at Stallion Oaks Ranch helping clean up and putting up the Yurts. She was involved in the Sunday Youth program as she loved working with children as a helper. She is now a Prayer Partner and she led a Life Group.

Phyllis truly appreciates Unity and all its teachings have given her. Her main message to others is to support Unity, get involved, and welcome how you will blossom in unimaginable areas of your life.