Unity of Bellevue sits on the corner of NE 4th Street in Bellevue, Washington, where its single-level center, outdoor labyrinth, and 124-stall parking lot anchor a hybrid spiritual community known for affirmative prayer, eclectic Sunday music, and a written welcome that names inclusion across race, gender, sexual orientation, and ability. The congregation is part of the Unity movement founded in the late nineteenth century by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, and the church itself is affiliated with Unity Worldwide Ministries.

Sunday Mornings: Meditation, Music, and a 25-Minute Message

The Sunday rhythm at Unity of Bellevue begins before the lights come up in the sanctuary. At 10 a.m., a facilitated meditation service followed by an optional prayer circle gathers in the Zen Room and on Zoom. Twenty minutes later, the doors open for the 10:30 a.m. Celebration Service, which runs on-site and online simultaneously and lasts roughly 75 minutes. Music runs through both halves of the morning: the house band, the Spirit of Unity Choir, and visiting music artists such as Linda Fahlgren-Moe lead congregants in chants, songs, and the occasional dance. After the spoken message, which the I Am New page clocks at twenty-five to thirty minutes, prayer chaplains are available at the front of the sanctuary for one-on-one prayer. On the third Sunday of each month, the morning closes with a ten-minute Reiki Circle in the Library and on Zoom at 11:45 a.m.

What "Unity" Means Here: The Five Basic Principles

Unity of Bellevue roots everything it does in the teachings of founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, and the What We Believe page lays out five basic principles. God is absolute good, everywhere present. Every human being carries a spark of divinity within; as a wave has its being in the ocean, so we have our being in God-ness. Human beings create their experiences by the activity of their thinking, and we create not just as individuals but as groups. Affirmative prayer and meditation deepen our connection with God-Mind and bring forth wisdom, healing, prosperity, and everything good. And knowing the truth is not enough; one must live the Truth that one knows, in work, play, family, and community.

Jesus is honored as the great example and Way Shower, and Unity uses the word Christ to mean the divinity in humankind rather than a title exclusive to Jesus. Sin, in Unity's framing, is simply missing the mark of spiritual perfection. "We are punished by our sins, not for them." The Bible is treated as history, allegory, and metaphysical representation as well as scripture, and the church honors many paths to God while rooting its own teaching in the Fillmore tradition. The signature practice is affirmative prayer - holding a spiritual truth in mind rather than asking God to intervene - and prayer chaplains carry that practice into the sanctuary each Sunday. Visitors may submit prayer requests through an online form on the Prayer page.

A Welcome That Names Itself: Four Inclusion Statements

Few churches post their values as prominently as Unity of Bellevue. The Inclusion page spells out four statements that the congregation returns to again and again. The first, simply titled Inclusion, says the church "welcomes all people in every form as Divine creation" and recognizes the perfection represented in the mosaic of humans across race, culture, gender, sexual identity, sexual orientation, body type, disability, economic status, neurodiversity, life experience, belief, ideas, and perspective. The second extends a specific invitation to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, noting Unity's long history of performing commitment ceremonies and ordaining LGBTQ+ ministers. The third stands against racial hatred, bias, systemic racism, and the oppression of people of color, aligning with Unity Worldwide Ministries' anti-racism stance. The fourth is a Coast Salish land acknowledgment that pledges annual support to Duwamish Rent. Together the four statements shape who the church calls itself to be.

Sacred Service: A Whole Congregation Built on Volunteers

The Sacred Service page makes a philosophical point before it lists anything: "Sacred Service ministry is more than asking people to perform needed tasks in the church out of sense of duty. It is a philosophy of service based upon knowing that each of us brings gifts and life experience into our spiritual communities." The Welcome Team ushers and greets; the Hospitality Team puts out food after Sunday service; the Platform Assistant Team supports the minister; the Floral Team handles altar arrangements; the Landscaping Committee cares for the grounds; the Bookstore Team runs the in-house shop; and the Fundraising Committee organizes concerts, community fairs, game nights, and Divine Dining. Two service ministries stand out. The Prayer Chaplain Ministry keeps a team of chaplains available after each service, and the Production (A/V) Team streams the Sunday celebration online and across social media. Every background-checked volunteer keeps the center running week to week.

Music Ministry: House Band, Choir, and a Wide Range of Styles

Music Director Tod Kimbro leads a roster that includes the UOB House Band - Tony Serzo, Brenda Neth, Eric Stevens, Becky & Matt, Rob Cook, and Linda Fahlgren-Moe - and the Spirit of Unity Choir. The Get Connected page notes, "We chant, we sing, and every once in a while we even dance." The music page celebrates the variety of styles that show up each Sunday, and the choir and band are always looking for new voices and instruments. Recent services are embedded on the Media page, where visitors can watch the last four Sunday messages and follow links to the full YouTube channel.

Small Groups, Spirit Groups, and Weekly Conversation

Sunday afternoons at Unity of Bellevue are not quiet. The Deeper Dive small group, sometimes called the Neidig Small Group or simply Spirit Group, meets from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Sundays to discuss that morning's message. Newcomers can simply drop in; regulars register online to receive the Zoom link and roster updates. The group shifts rooms occasionally - the Uniteen Room when available, the Friendship Room when there is a conflict, the Library for drop-in newcomers. Beyond the Sunday group, the small-groups roster includes a Golf Group that meets Tuesday mornings at Crossroads Par 3 during September and October, a Political Curiosity dialogue group on second Sundays, and a Games Group on fourth Thursdays. A separate Healing Hearts Grief and Loss Group meets on Tuesdays for those walking through loss. Each gathering is meant to extend Sunday's message into the rest of the week.

Women, Men, Youth, and Families

Three gender- and age-based communities keep the calendar busy. Sisters in Spirit, the women's spiritual group, gathers on the first Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., alternating between the Crossroads Mall food court and Zoom. The group invites woman-identified attendees and occasionally hosts speakers; recent sessions have included Joy Christiansen facilitating "Becoming a Compassionate Grief Companion." Women Connect meets on fourth Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon, starting with a potluck brunch - bring a dish - followed by a program covering arts, health, sustainability, social justice, and family support through partners like EISCC. The Men's Breakfast gathers on second Saturdays from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. for breakfast, meditation, and discussion. Youth & Family Ministry opens for children every Sunday at 10:20 a.m., using an adapted Living Curriculum rooted in Unity's five principles. Background checks are run on every volunteer; registration, parent handbook, and diaper-changing forms are all downloadable.

Reiki Ministry: A Hands-On Spiritual Practice

Reiki is one of the most distinctive offerings at Unity of Bellevue. The church describes it as a Japanese energy-healing modality for stress reduction and relaxation, channeled through the hands of trained practitioners. Three forms are available. A one-on-one Reiki Blessing happens at the front of the sanctuary following some Sunday services. A ten-minute Reiki Circle is held on the third Sunday of every month after the service in the Library and on Zoom - "in Oneness there is no distance," the page notes. And longer Reiki Treatments are offered on the third Saturday of most months from 11 a.m. to noon, with twenty-minute sessions given by love offering. Classes are held regularly, with the next round scheduled for 2026.

Walking the Labyrinth

On the northwest corner of the property, beside the parking lot, sits a new outdoor labyrinth. It is open to all, free of charge, between dawn and dusk, and listed on the worldwide labyrinth locator. Groups are invited to email or call to schedule a free walk.

Facilities and Rentals

The single-level center is fully wheelchair accessible, with ADA parking, accessible restrooms, and hearing-assistive devices in the sanctuary and atrium. Livestreams carry closed captioning on YouTube. For larger events, the church rents out five spaces. The Sanctuary seats up to 210 in cushioned chairs, with flexible staging and overflow seating in the atrium. The light-filled atrium works well for receptions and small musical gatherings. The Friendship Room seats up to 63 around nine round, tablecloth-covered tables, with a projector, screen, sound system, and a serving kitchen attached. The Library seats 30 in theatre style and can be set classroom-style. The newly restored parking lot has 124 stalls, including accessible spaces, and can be rented in part or in whole for overflow parking or rideshare staging. Weddings and commitment ceremonies are part of Unity's long history, and the center hosts them as well.

Community Partners and Giving

Eight local organizations are listed as Community Partners: Silver Oak Montessori (a preschool tenant in the building since fall 2024), Bellevue Youth Theatre, Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council (EISCC), Congregations for Kids, The Sophia Way (women moving out of homelessness), Renewal Food Bank, KidVantage, and Kindering (a nonprofit supporting children of diverse abilities). Sacred Service teams lend hands to these groups. Giving is offered online, by text to 425-336-7223, through PayPal, and by Sunday flower donations. The church's Tax ID is 91-0836979. A Welcome Packet with small gifts is available on request.

Classes and Workshops

Beyond the ongoing small groups, Unity of Bellevue runs short-term classes and workshops. Quantum Living, a six-week online series facilitated by Susan Neidig, runs on Thursday evenings and combines exercises, video presentations, and a 21-day practice designed to surface unconscious programming and build self-awareness and resilience. Crucial Influence: The Power to Change Anything, a six-week online class led by Rev. Charles Perry, runs on Wednesday evenings and uses the book Crucial Influence as its text. Unity Worldwide also lists additional online classes and in-person events on its calendar at Unity Village.

Practical Notes for a First Visit

Unity of Bellevue is at 16330 NE 4th St, Bellevue, WA 98008. The Sunday Celebration Service is at 10:30 a.m. in person and online, preceded by a 10 a.m. meditation and prayer circle. The I Am New page is blunt about the dress code: "We are more concerned with people's hearts than what they are wearing. Wear what you want, whether that's a suit or shorts, and it's OK to hide in the back row, too." Children are welcome in the Youth and Family program, which opens at 10:20 a.m. Coffee and food follow the service. Visitors can fill out a digital Connection Card to be reached or email info@unityofbellevue.org for a Welcome Packet. Phone hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 425-747-5950.