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Have you been watching the Olympics? Personally, I am not sporty or active at all - unless you count walking, gardening and yoga! However, I have found it inspirational watching the individual men and women put their all into their chosen sport and I have often joined them in their tears of ‘success’ or ‘failure’. Somehow, it is the personal stories that touch me the most – their background, their relationships, how they see themselves as ordinary people yet we see them doing extra-ordinary things. Which, simply by being qualified to be there, they are. It has made me reflect … What inspires me? What inspires you? Is there something that you put your heart and soul into, like these Olympians? Is there something you are so dedicated to, that nothing else gets in the way? I once went to a talk by Gerald Jampolsky and his wife Diane, where they described our desire to know God as being at its most powerful and effective when we are driven to focus on God to the same degree as when we need a toilet if we have diarrhoea! We all laughed rather nervously at the time – but this talk was over 20 years ago and I have never forgotten those words. The Olympians remind me of this focus and drive. It asks of me, do I have the same focus and desire to know ‘God and I are indeed one’ as Jesus taught? Honestly, sometimes it is yes and sometimes it is no. I think that is a very human and normal response – even as a minister in Unity. What helps inspire me to know our oneness with God? The human stories, the interactions, the struggles and amazing actions so many take, even though life feels so hard at times. This along with my desire to invite people into the experience that they are loved no matter what. Plus, the knowledge that we all have within us limitless potential, because all of God is always flowing in, through and as us. As Unity Minister Eric Butterworth taught, we can discover and use the power within. Of course, we only experience this to the degree that we recognise, claim it and allow it. Like the Olympians. So let us allow ourselves to experience this with all our heart, mind and body. One of the real-life stories that touched me was watching Tom Daley win gold in the 10m synchronised dive with Matty Lee. The BBC spoke to Tom’s husband afterwards. Lance described how he told Tom, when he did not get gold at the Rio Olympics and Tom felt devastated by this, that it would enable him to get gold in Tokyo and that his son would watch him do this. Their son did and at three years old, he kept saying, so proud of daddy, so proud of daddy. It was beautiful. So what is my message here today? Do not give up. Whatever you are striving to know and do, do it with all your heart, mind and soul, like the Olympians. When it feels like we fail, we don’t really. It is simply a step on the journey to success. Moreover, as Daily Word reminded us recently, we are on a journey back to God, from a place we never left. We have already won. 
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This month we are preparing to meet together in person – finally! It has felt like such a long time since we at Unity Maidenhead have done this. Zoom has been, and continues to be, an amazing tool to help us connect through lockdown. To those of you who join us online, please be assured that our Zoom meetings will continue and indeed go from strength to strength. Yet there is nothing quite like being together in person. Therefore, we are excited, as we get ready to do this through two events coming up:
It has been of utmost importance to stay safe through the pandemic – to do what is right for us physically and yet, at the same time, support ourselves spiritually. Indeed, truthfully, we become better at the former by doing the latter. Being together in person enables us to connect more deeply with the love and support we give and receive with each other, through the deepening awareness of God as Grace here with us always. Being together enables us to really look each other in the eye and recognise the light and love that is present within us all. Being together deepens our friendships and relationships as we learn the little and big things about each other that endear us to each other. Seeing the perfect and imperfect in another, with loving acceptance, helps us accept and love our own imperfection and perfection, as human and spiritual beings. As we embrace our imperfections, rather like the oyster embraces the grit in its shell that becomes a pearl, our imperfections become the tool through which we grow and remember who we are – beloved of God and the presence of love in form. So if you are feeling the call to join us, either in person or on Zoom, please do so. We continue to be here to support everyone in all the ways we do. Whenever we meet, we encourage all involved to share the love and wisdom that we all have and are. For each one of us has more than enough love and wisdom to give and receive. Through this giving and receiving, we are all blessed. We look forward to sharing the adventure of living with you. Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK 
It is written in Matthew 5:5 that Jesus said "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
As taught by Neil Douglas Klotz in his book, Prayers of the Cosmos", the Aramaic language that Jesus and the Jews of his day spoke had many definitions, to be interpreted in several ways and at different levels of experience. Another definition could be: "Blessed are the gentle, those who have softened the rigidity within them." We are then invited to ask what the words rigid and soft have to do with our experience of life? Where am I too rigid in my thinking? As I soften, open and allow other ideas and experiences into my mind and heart, I will experience the abundance of nature, enjoy everything that appears in form. Including those who seem to persecute us. The key for me is the deep, abiding experience that God is love. As I open, soften and allow God as love to heal the wounds in my heart and mind, I am changed - I am healed - mind, heart and body. Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK ..."Let's take a moment to turn within and get centred and still..." A short two minute meditation based on Silent Unity's Healing Prayer. For more prayer support visit Silent Unity our prayer ministry   At a recent service, I illustrated my talk with the story of Dumbo and was subsequently asked if I would write a thought for the week about it. So, here goes….
Dumbo, as I’m sure you all know, was an elephant that was born with very large ears. So large, in fact, that he kept tripping over them! Sadly, folks from the circus where he lived started taking the mickey out of him and his mum, Jumbo, tried to protect him, got very angry and was locked up as a ‘mad elephant’. Dumbo’s best friend and mentor was Timothy, a mouse. Disney clearly had a sense of humour in choosing a mouse as elephants are supposed to be afraid of them – maybe a message for another day. Timothy and Dumbo went to see Jumbo but managed to drink water that a bottle of champagne had fallen into – inevitably they got drunk. When they awoke, they found themselves perching on telegraph wires (I love that scene with the wires bending down to almost breaking point). Timothy quickly realised that they must have flown there. However, Dumbo did not believe he could fly so, some rather bemused crows gave him a ‘magic feather’; then, Dumbo could fly. The scene changes to the big top with Dumbo launching off a high platform but, you’ve guessed it, Dumbo drops the feather and starts plummeting earthward to certain death. Imagine the scene as Timothy cries out to Dumbo that the feather is not magic, and that Dumbo can fly. Dumbo hears Timothy, flaps his ears and swoops back up to soar around the tent – Dumbo really can fly. The point here is that Dumbo doubted himself and needed a prop for his confidence. However, when the prop disappeared (do you remember learning to ride a bike and then your parent letting go?) so did the confidence. But, for Dumbo, the still small voice of Timothy rang out – this is the voice and power of Love. Dumbo had Faith, he trusted his friend and followed what that still small voice told him. Then, together with his innate Strength, the Love and Faith combined to give Dumbo courage – The Courage to Be! The courage to be himself, to live his Truth and he soared…he soared into the sky of belief that is always there for us all. The very same Courage to Be that Jesus had when he rode on that donkey into Jerusalem. Have the Courage to Be and we can all soar to ever greater spiritual heights. Paul Mapletoft Licensed Unity Teacher If you are new to Unity Princples you may be wondering where to start and what to read. Here is a list of some good books and resources for beginners and those who would just like to know more.
Rev. Kimerie reads 'There is nothing to fear' by Mary Kupferle
There are two fundamental sides to the Unity experience. The first is prayer, used to deepen our awareness of our connection to God and thereby experience our wholeness, abundance and well-being. The second is to learn and grow through study. Myrtle Fillmore led the way in prayer and her husband, Charles Fillmore, led the way in education. Both approaches continue to be key elements within Unity and we invite you to take part in them with us. For as we pray, study and serve together, we change; we grow. This has always been my experience in Unity. Paul and I first arrived at Unity Maidenhead when we moved to Maidenhead in 2002. A friend told us we would really enjoy Unity – and he was right! The minute I walked through the door, it felt like coming home. I connected with the teachings, learnt about the power of affirmative prayer, started to get involved and help out, which led to me being employed in the prayer letter-writing department. For no other reason than wanting to do my job better, I decided to take Unity classes. I felt blessed to be able to study through Maidenhead and at Unity Village, our US headquarters. Gradually I worked my way through the Unity study programme, which brought me to where I am today. I did not set out to be a leader and I believe this is true for many people. However, as I studied and applied myself, I grew. Over time, vacancies arose within Unity, which I stepped into, even though it felt like the scariest thing to do at the time. Yet I discovered that as I served, I was served in return. My joy and fulfilment through working in Unity and making so many wonderful friends, has known no bounds. Why am I writing this? Because we are starting up our Unity classes again! This newsletter has details about an introduction evening we are hosting this month and you can visit our website: www.unityuk.org/calendar for more details. Paul and I are putting together a 2-hour programme, which, we pray, will excite and encourage you to join us in study and prayer. As we come out of lockdown, let this be a time of new opportunities, new study and new growth. If not now, when; If not you, who? For who knows where this may take you! Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK   Heart to Heart |
AuthorUnity in the UK Archives
July 2021
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I loved to-days message, "I connect into the power within." it really resonated with me, thank you..
It also highlights why it is important for me to join as often as is possible, to the morning Daily Word, prayer and quiet time, which starts my day off with peace and resilience to meet whatever it has to offer.
We have become a wonderful connected group of like minded souls, supporting ourselves, the ones on our prayer lists and the wider community too.
I am so grateful
C.S, Daily Word Reader
World Day of Prayer gives us an opportunity to come together in celebration of our oneness with God, each other and our world. Through prayer we foster peace and wholeness in our community, our individual lives and our planet.
Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft, Director of Silent Unity in the UK