“Singer-storyteller brings program to TrinityTed Hutchinson, storyteller and singer, brings his program, Spirituals and their Meanings, to the 9:30 a.m. worship service Jan. 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland. He will also sing one spiritual at the 8 a.m. service and one at 11 a.m. Hutchinson’s songs and stories are suitable for audiences of all ages.Born in Harlem, Hutchinson has a B.A. in behavioral science and an M.A. in distributive education. While in the United States Air Force, he taught black and ethnic studies at two California colleges. His spirituals are drawn from plantation slavery, through civil rights struggles and into today’s moral dilemmas, leading listeners to a place of equality and reconciliation for all. For more information about the program, call 331-5191. Unity talk is on abundanceRev. Robbie Fahnstock will be the guest speaker at Unity of Whidbey on Jan. 23, delivering a talk called Receiving: The Beginning of Abundance. Fahnstock is a frequent speaker at Unity of Whidbey and is the facilitator of the longest-running Course in Miracles study group in the country facilitated by the same person.Singers Doug and Sallie Spirit will provide the special music. Unity of Whidbey meets at 10 a.m. at Bayview Community Hall, with children’s worship at the same time.Noted singer is Unity Center guestUnity Center in Coupeville hosts inspirational singer and songwriter Shanti at its Sunday celebration Jan. 23. Shanti blends a classically trained voice with an accessible folk-style. She has been touring and sharing her healing music since 1977 around the United States and abroad, and has appeared with spiritual leaders such as Mary Ann Williamson, Jerry Jampolsky, Hugh Prather and Wayne Dyer. Rev. Lauren Burrei’ will join Shanti and Talia Marcus, resident violinist, with a talk centering around Shanti’s musical message: The great storm is over; lift up your wings and fly! Unity meets at 10 a.m. at 20 First Street NW in Coupeville, with a Youth Program at the same time. For more information call 331-1020.Unitarian Universalist earth-centered serviceWater and Air — The Essence of Life is the topic of Grey Eagle, an Ojibwe Elder and storyteller who will speak to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island at 4 p.m. Jan. 23, in the Trinity Lutheran Church first sanctuary. Grey Eagle will lead the gathering in an exploration of Native American views about water and air and how they are the essence of life.Childcare and children’s religious education are provided; call 321-8656 for more information. United Methodist Women hears health speaker Paula Pugh, health facilitator, will speak to the United Methodist Women at their first meeting of the new year, Jan. 27, at the church in Langley. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. with program at 11 and lunch at noon.Pugh will describe her work with women’s health classes and workshops on the holistic level: a combined approach toward the well-being of the mind, spirit and body, in which a sacred space is created to assist with change and discovery. Pugh’s goal is to help small groups recognize imbalances affecting their health and gain awareness of healing processes. Her work is based on the book, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, by Christiane Northrup, M.D. Alpha Course set to beginSouth Whidbey Assembly will begin The Alpha Course on Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m. The 10-week practical introduction to the Christian faith deals with questions such as: Who is Jesus? What happens when we die? Is the Bible relevant for today? Can God speak to us today? Is Christianity boring, untrue and irrelevant? What is the meaning of life? Each weekly session begins with an informal, home-cooked dinner, followed by a large-group teaching time, and ends with small-group discussions and interaction.Alpha began in London and is now held in thousands of churches around the world. For more information, call 221-1656 or email: swag@wag-online.org.”