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Loneliness, and how it is affecting every generation, is being discussed much more openly. This is a good thing, as it is important we meet and compassionately address whatever we are experiencing, whether it is easy or difficult; whether we feel happy or sad; with love and wisdom. The more mature of us often find ourselves alone in our homes, not able to get out and meet people or engage with life. The younger generation are often caught up with AI and social media yet also experience loneliness; as they are not engaging with people in person, either. It is described as one of the big problems in the UK today. So, what can we do in Unity to help? Are you struggling with loneliness? Do you feel isolated from life? Do you have loved ones, friends or neighbours who might also be caught up in a lonely pattern of living? Well, we have come up with a ‘Community’ page on the website to engage you lovely people. And perhaps even share with those around you. Rosie Coulton, one of our regular online participants, is offering to create a place where people can share their artwork, around a different theme each month. It can be drawing, painting, even sculpting or knitting! So often creative expression can bring us together in new and exciting ways. Would you like to get creative with Rosie? Check out the link below. We are also planning to re-start our Unity pen-pal network (by letter or email), to enable more personal conversations and build friendships within our Unity fellowship. Finally, we are also hoping to see the development of a WhatsApp group within our Unity community, which would be an amazing way to forge new friendships and creative connections, share Unity thoughts and how our Unity practices have blessed you. Do you have any more ideas? Are there any other ways that we can meet and exchange ideas and stories that are fun and creative and help beat loneliness? What would you like best to experience with us? Of course we have our existing online events, using Zoom, which have built up so excitingly over the past years. And we have found that the more people engage regularly with us, even on Zoom, the more we are building friendships and feel connected with each other. If you feel nervous about using Zoom, reach out and we can help you. In the meantime, do explore our new Community page on the website. And take part in all we offer to build community in Unity. Rev Kimerie Mapletoft Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK
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“God doesn’t love us if we change, God loves us so that we can change.” (Richard Rohr; Breathing Under Water.) This quote really struck me. The change that has happened in me, and continues to happen, is being able to receive God’s love and to feel it. To know that I’m not separate, and to hear inwardly: “I love you as you are, for who you are.” That has been life-changing for me. It has been a movement from fear to trust, from darkness to faith. Before, it felt like I had to live with my barriers up, always defending who I was, looking out at the world through scared eyes. But I continued to ask God, “Show me the world You want me to see. Let me see the world through Your eyes.” What started to happen when I finally surrendered to that love was joy, kindness, and an inner feeling that I can’t manufacture for myself, something I’ve never been able to orchestrate on my own. I started to feel able to accept and love who I am for who God wants me to be, not who I thought I had to be. I remember hearing lyrics from a song: “You say I am loved when I don’t feel a thing. You say I’m strong when I feel weak.” That resonates deeply with me. It’s like having a presence within yourself that can see perspectives I sometimes cannot see on my own. When I continue to turn towards God and ask for help, I’m shown different perspectives on things I was blind to before. “I was blind and now I can see. I was lost and now I’m found.” The changes that have happened within me are not things I’ve been able to do by myself. I sought support in many different ways, and I was met with kindness, but until I could feel that love inwardly, there was still a hole in my soul. It was in turning to God, and finally being broken enough to admit, “I can’t do this on my own,” that something began to change. I realised I was never meant to be on my own. Slowly, the biggest and most incredible change has happened within me, and it continues to amaze me that when I am calm, when I am still, when I am able to hear, I get to see and feel God’s glory in multicolours. Alice Deacon Unity Reader In a guided meditation during our recent meditation class, we met a spiritual being, whom we gave and received a gift from. That evening, Josephine shared her experiences, here for you as well …
I realised that what I received went far beyond the (physical- identified) gift. As we spent time together, there was a quiet presence that began to form between us. When it came time to give and receive, I became aware not just of the object itself, but of the intention and care behind it—the time taken to choose it, the gentleness in the offering. In that moment, it felt as though she wasn’t simply giving me something, but sharing something of herself—her presence, her awareness, her attention. And I noticed what that awakened in me. I felt deeply cherished. I felt loved. I felt a sense of belonging. It made me reflect on how presence transforms even the simplest exchange into something sacred. The gift became more than an object—it became an expression of connection. This experience reminded me that when we are truly present, we are not just giving things—we are giving ourselves. And perhaps that is where the real meaning of giving and receiving lives. Pause. Breathe. Return. Because in presence, even a small moment can become an experience of love. Josephine Powell Unity Student A while ago, (Feb 2026) I wrote about the metaphysical interpretation of the trinity, Mind, Idea and Expression, as the creative flow or movement that is God being God in us. This flow is always happening, for we are here to be the creative expression of the divine: lovingly, wisely, creatively, joyfully, beautifully. I build on this idea here, once more inspired by Matthew Fox’s book, Original Blessing. He writes in Theme 18, “Just as God is in the continual process of birthing God – the Spirit flows from the Father and the Son – so too are we humans to be in the process of birthing ourselves, our lives, our society, our cosmos.” Rather than a dualistic consciousness, (God and me) we can live in this mystical understanding of the trinity. The perfect creative flow that is God, expresses through us as wonderful ideas which, when lived, serve all of life, not just us or humanity. Of course, they must be expressed – we are to live them. That is why we are here, after all. The outcome? Living a happy, fulfilled and meaningful, that brings more to this world than we take. This speaks to me a lot. Does it to you? What I also love about this chapter is the emphasis on play and fun. We can take ourselves so seriously, get bogged down thinking our effort and hard work creates all the results. I certainly witness this in me, for I was brought up this way. It was early programming for me. How about we look at the trinity in a new way: God extends as a divine idea, we create through our unique expression and then we play! Through art, singing, dancing, writing laughing, loving; whatever way frees the spirit and lifts us in joy. Let us bring play back into our lives. Let us have fun – perhaps this is what the Sabbath energy could be – yes to rest and yes to play. So, how do you play in your life? To encourage the artistic nature in us, one of our wonderful Unity ladies will be offering an art gathering of work, encouraging us to get creative. Look out for more details in the June newsletter! Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK I had a lovely conversation with a prayer volunteer recently, who said how Unity’s message, that God is with and within us always; that we can never be separate from God and are forever one within God, has deeply supported and uplifted her on her life journey.
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