Prayer Chaplains

Sheila Cochren 

Prayer Chaplain  shylacreations@yahoo.com  619-540-0665

I was a member of the Alpine Church of Spiritual Living from 2007-2017 in San Diego and served as secretary on the board for 5 years. I also took a Science of Mind class. I moved to San Luis Obispo in March of 2017 to be closer to my daughters and my grand children. I attended SLO Unity for about a year before finding my home here at Unity 5 Cities in late 2018.  The Unity Principles all resonate with me and I am a firm believer in positive affirmations and the power of prayer.  I felt a calling to take the training to become a prayer chaplain and it has enriched my spiritual practice.  I am honored and blessed to serve our church in this capacity. 

Deborah Hall-Sandor

Prayer Chaplain  modeb22@yahoo.com  805-788-4777

I moved to Arroyo Grande 3 years ago from Coarsegold, a town in Southern Yosemite, 30 miles north of Fresno, California.  I have no formal religious background.  However, in 2015, a friend suggested I might enjoy attending services at the Positive Living Center in Oakhurst, CA.  The Positive Living Center supports personal growth and wholeness through prayer, meditation, and healing energy.  It is a community of people who join together to grow and expand spirituality in the conscious awareness and expression of the presence of God or Divine Spirit.  I was fortunate that the wonderful Rev. Dr. Angelo Pizelo, was the Senior Minister.  His pastoral care included stress reduction, grief counseling, affirmative prayer, and as founder of the Emerson Institute, New Thought Education.  I embraced his teachings and through the late Rev. Joann Burgess learned meditation.

The Unity Church has provided me with a path to continue that spiritual journey.  When I saw the request for Prayer Chaplains, I felt a calling to participate not only to support others but also to celebrate the God Divine Spirit in each of us and allow that experience to take us forward. I look forward to meeting and praying with you in moments of need as well as celebration or to just take time to share a mutual feeling of divinity.

Ruth Jackson

Prayer Chaplain   jxnruth@hotmail.com  805-451-1313

Many years ago I was born in Washington, D.C. and moved multiple times before settling in Santa Maria.  I have remained in Santa Maria for 24 years. 

I have two wonderful daughters and four grandchildren.  My daughters are Jill Roberts, who you know because she attends here at Unity Five Cities, and Jody Balian who lives in Arizona.

Growing up no matter where I lived my family always found a Baptist or Methodist Church to attend.   I was introduced to Religious Science in El Monte, California around 1965.  I have attended several different Religious Science Churches.  With no Religious Science Church in Santa Maria I attended Unity Santa Maria around ten years ago.  Just before my husband passed away I saw an ad for Unity Five Cities and has been attending for the past four or five years.

In my working years I worked for several not-for-profit organizations and then I was a Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of California.  I served mostly adults who were Deaf or Hard of Hearing and students who had a disability who were transitioning out of High School into College or seeking employment.  I retired 02/20/2020…and adapted quickly to retirement!

I’ve had three…soon to be four…articles published by Dynamic Aging Magazine.  You can read them at https://dynamicaging4lifemagazine.com

Ethel (Tink) Landers  

Prayer Chaplain  ethellanders@gmail.com  805-550-0348

Three years ago,  I rededicated my life to being a conduit of good. Since then I’ve been on a path of expanding my spiritual knowledge and understanding while dedicating specific time to twice- daily prayer and meditation.  I’ve witnessed miracles throughout my life but now I see and feel them even more. God definitely works in mysterious and miraculous ways. Becoming a prayer chaplain allows me to grow even more while helping facilitate God’s miracles for others.

Lisa Leonard

Prayer Chaplain – lisaleonard916@gmail.com 916-765-1846

I moved to the central coast from Roseville, CA in December of 2021 after a life changing event led to a spiritual awakening and a recommitment of my life to seek God and serve others.  Through prayer, meditation, study, and divine guidance, my life is now filled with joy and gratitude, as I experience the endless possibilities with letting go and letting God.  Dedicating myself as a prayer chaplain is a calling to put more affirmative prayer out into a world that so desperately needs it. It is a privilege and an honor to hold sacred space with others.

Jill Roberts

Prayer Chaplain  askmrs.roberts@gmail.com  (805) 451-2886

Jill Roberts is currently a chaplain lay person at Unity-Five Cities and a long-time volunteer and worker with teens and youth groups. She occasionally leads workshops involving both adults and youth in the use of guided meditation and collaborative writing, and involves herself in Inter-faith gatherings; she is accepted and accepting. She holds a B.A. in Media Communications , and is completing a Masters  to continue deepening work in Special Education.

Therese Solimeno

Licensed Unity Teacher   thesmartdame@gmail.com  805-440-9461

Therese attended her first Unity service in April 1991 and became a member of the board a year later.  In 1992 she started the program to become a Licensed Unity Teacher, gave her first Sunday lesson in 1995, and in 1998 was awarded her license.  In November 1999, she helped to co-found Unity 5 Cities and has acted in a spiritual leadership capacity by giving Sunday talks, performing weddings, teaching classes and providing counseling when needed.  Therese also serves as an advisor to the board of trustees, and assists with fundraising and marketing. Her favorite part of being a Licensed Unity Teacher is giving Sunday talks, which she does with humor and compassion, drawing inspiration from many modern sources such as movies, music, and Broadway musicals, as well as more traditional books and writings.