Charlotte Shelton, president and CEO of Unity's World Headquarters at Unity Village, recently gave the invocation at Kansas City's World AIDS Day Luncheon, which brought together health, business and political leaders to recognize the ongoing AIDS crisis. The following is a transcript of her invocation:

"I am honored to be a part of this year's World's AIDS Day and pledge to do my part in helping bring more attention and resources to help in the fight and treatment of the AIDS epidemic.

As the United Nation's proclamation reminds us, HIV/AIDS is not only a health issue, it is a human rights issue. We at Unity Village, the world headquarters of the Unity movement, want to do our part. The editor of our daily devotional magazine, Laura Harvey, will be reading the Daily Word® message for World AIDS Day at the Hope Care Center, an HIV/AIDS nursing center in Kansas City, Missouri.
 

December 1 is World AIDS Day, and the theme of the December 1 Daily Word message is Healing. I would like to share part of that message with you today.
 
I am infused with life-giving energy.

The healing power of Spirit works in and through me. Illness is not who I am, and I am not defined by a diagnosis. I am one with Spirit, and the life force of God is at work, both inside and outside of me.

Now I invite you to close your eyes, clear your minds and open your hearts to the healing power of the Divine. Whatever your individual need for healing, know that the miracle of wholeness can be yours—regardless of any diagnosis.

Know with me for others that God's Divine Love and Infinite Wisdom are guiding them at this very moment, infusing every cell and every organ of their bodies with healing light.

Imagine with me a world that is committed to health and justice for all and see with me a world where every heart is filled with compassion and every mind is open to the life-giving energy of Spirit.

And from this place of hope and compassion we give thanks for the Kansas City AIDS Service Foundation's commitment to health and to justice, for researchers around the world who are working to eradicate the AIDS virus. We honor those already infected and those who have already passed for their courage. We send love and blessings to them today!

… With grateful and compassionate hearts, we go forth to do that which is ours to do—to create a world that works for all. Amen.