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!
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Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft
Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK

There is much to be said for living alone,
I have control of the remote, the TV, and the phone.
I can do what I want, whenever I please,
And change my mind instantly, with consummate ease.
 
But there are drawbacks, of course, to this idyllic state,
Packing and stowing the shopping is something I hate.
Then there’s changing a lightbulb, mending a fuse,
Having no-one to talk to, and enthuse at my news.
 
Sharing jokes, tasty meals, and countryside drives.
Taking the rubbish out when bin-day arrives.
But above all there’s one thing I’d be delighted to say,
“I love you, and I’ll love you always, come what may”.
 
Then I thought, ‘there is someone I know, and who’s near,
Who is waiting silently, patiently, longing to hear
Those words, said with feeling, with tenderness and care.
I’ll just go to my mirror, and get ready to share’.
 
As she looked into my eyes, and started to smile,
I felt my heart melting more and more, all the while.
We gazed and gazed, getting used to the sight
Of features relaxing, and eyes shining bright.
 
“I love you” I told her, and was so happy to find
She said “I love you” right back, she’s so open and kind.
Oh how my heart sang, as we both laughed with glee.
What a find to discover that my best friend is me!
 
                                                         Patricia Rosser

To celebrate world meditation day receive a free meditation when you join our newsletter list. 

“Today is World Meditation Day, and meditation is something we do all the time here at Unity. And you can join us live on zoom for our meditations we lead every day, including a midday prayer service which we lead Monday to Friday. This is a time of silent reflection where we celebrate our life, energy and vitality in our connection with the Spirit within us all. 

You can join us for prayer and meditation every day on zoom including:  
Monday to Friday at 12 noon Midday Meditation
Thursdays at 8pm - Weekly Meditation 
Monday to Saturday 9am ( Sundays at 10am) - Daily Word Prayer Meeting.
​For more details see our calendar 

In the April Sunday Service Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft  shared a talk inspired by the film The Man from La Mancha. Watch the full talk here followed by a guided meditation. 

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What does this very familiar and beautiful Gospel verse really mean for us today as we practise living an authentic, spiritual way of life in our rapidly transforming world?

This statement in the Gospel of John, known to many as the mystical Gospel, takes us deeper into truth, and the qualities that Jesus taught, through the ‘I am’ statements, that apply to all of us.
For in Unity, we understand that the early followers of Jesus would have heard and read this statement as, do what I do, love as I love, and you will know God. Certainly, his disciples heard this powerful message, for they followed with healings, teachings and miracles. It would be amazing if we could all pick up this message and do the same. Some have.

History shows that the dominant Christian message became the idea that we must follow Jesus as the only Son of God, making him the exception, instead of the example. Yet, when we claim the idea that we can do as Jesus did, we can love as Jesus loved, for we are all one with God, then we, too, will know God, here as the good for us all. Making this turn-around is dramatic and life changing.

For suddenly we realise the power is within us – we are all divine – we are all children of God. We too have the same qualities as Jesus; can know God is here, with and for everyone, as healing love and truth. These ideas reflect two of our basic Unity principles: There is only one presence and power in the Universe, God, as good, and we are one with God.

A powerful affirmation to repeat daily is, “I am one with God. God is one with me.” Then rest in the silence to receive what this means for you.
​
The powerful message to add to this is humility. Jesus was humble of mind and heart. He never sought to glorify himself, only his Father, working through him.
When we take time to surrender our own personal will and desires for just our own good, and instead desire good for everyone equally because we recognise that we are all divine, all beloved of God, our life experiences will change – perhaps even dramatically.

I believe that when we make this message our own, we will respond with greater love and respect in all our relationships; with ourselves, each other, our planet earth and all life upon it.
Through the current pandemic, we have been shown that the old way no longer works. We cannot live just for our own good. Indeed, it is time to stop abusing ourselves, each other and life on our planet. We only do this because we feel so isolated, cut off and alone, that we act out of fear, lack and greed. Instead, as we connect with the divinity within us, we come to realise we are all here together to live, love, honour and respect the many ways God is expressing here, in and through all forms.

Yes, there are times we all struggle; we all experience pain and loss. Yet as we make the decision to let Jesus be our example, our guide, when we do as Jesus did and let in the deeper experience of our oneness with God, which is always here beneath the pain, we will discover the love and divinity within us all: God expressing through us. In this way, we are changed, our lives will change and we will experience greater harmony, peace and joy on earth.

Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft
Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK
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P.S. With our forthcoming retreat and education classes starting, plus our ongoing prayer groups, study groups, Sunday services, Daily Word booklet and prayer ministry, there are many ways you can connect with us to discover the power that lies within us all – to honour and know wholeness and oneness as our truth of being.
 

Daniel Nahmod  is an inspirational singer/songwriter, producing his own profound, heart-opening music. His music is enjoyed all over the world and his media appearences include The Super Bowl, The Voice, Saturday Night Live and The Today Show. 
​
Daniel's  CD's include Sacred Love 1 and 2 and he has sold over 110,000 CDs ( and 10,000 printed songbooks) . His messages of peace, love and compassion reach across all faiths and he has worked with inspirational speakers such as Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra and Neal Donald Walsh.

Here at Unity in the Uk we love playing Daniel's music at our events and are delighted to have the opportunity to hear him sing live!

Those joining us for our May home retreat have free entry to the concert.

​Plus anyone else can book for the concert with a suggested donation of £5- £10.

​Lent is a contemplative time for many of us, as we read and meditate on our daily readings in our Lent booklet and Daily Word.  This time of reflection is always an important and vital part of life. It reflects the necessary waiting time before we can receive new life, energy, direction and ideas, which lead us forward in our development and growth.

The season of spring reflects this so well.  The plants have been dormant for the winter, resting, taking their nutrients from the ground and gathering in the energy they need to burst forth with new life, which they then share with us through their beauty. For those of us who are lucky enough to go outside for walks, or can enjoy our gardens or balconies, we are witnessing the joy of spring bursting forth (just like the song goes!)
As I reflect on this with you, two aspects come to my mind.

This time of year, as a part-time gardener, I have been pruning back the shrubs, taking out the dead wood where necessary, and cutting back the long extended limbs from last year’s growth, so that the plants take their energy back into their centre and bring forth new, strong life from here.

This is something we can do for ourselves as well. We cut out, or eliminate, that which does not serve us – the old ways of responding or being, which we now intrinsically recognise do not help us. We do this kindly, compassionately, with respect for ourselves just as we respect our plants. I tell my shrubs when I am going to cut them back and thank them for their life and beauty this coming year. In the same way with us, it does not work to punish or berate ourselves when we cut out old ways of responding. It does work to say, “Thank you, but I do not need to do this anymore.” The more we release these old ways and centre inward, the more strongly new growth and energy can literally burst forth through us.

The other very important aspect is the joy that fills us as we witness new life springing forth in nature. Sometimes we need triggers to help remind us that God is here in the midst; that even though times have been challenging this past year, spring is here and God is here.
Let us take time to just stop and open our hearts to nature. Let us witness the beautiful flowers in all their glory; celebrate the catkins and green buds on the trees; smell the amazing scent of narcissus and hyacinths; hear the birds sing their glorious songs at dawn. When we open our hearts to let in and receive this spring beauty, we open to receive God’s Grace.

For all of nature is God’s love revealing itself – here blessing all of us equally and without condition.

The invitation is that we take time this month to appreciate, deeply, nature’s gift – the sharing of Divine Love and Grace – that uplifts our souls, reminds us we are connected to all of life; one with all life. Out of this natural wellspring of energy, we experience life manifesting through us as new ideas, expression and desires. As we connect and take in love and Grace, we are reminded that we, too, are love and we are truly living when we share this love with the world.
In whatever way you experience spring this year, let it open your heart. Use the gift of nature to let in Divine Love as Grace, and then let it out and share this gift, to bless you, each other and our world.
 
Rev Kimerie Mapletoft
Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK
April 2021

"I was thinking about my own home, and whether I could look at it through metaphysical eyes. How could I use the material aspects of my home to enhance my spiritual journey?
​
I live in what is called a studio flat. I have 3 rooms - a bathroom, a kitchen and a combination of lounge and bedroom, which I call a bed-sitting room. So if I go through each of these rooms, what do they remind me about my connection with the Divine?

Entrance hallway - brings to mind the book by Unity minister Ellen Debenport called Hell in the Hallway - Light at the Door. Its theme, as I understand it, is about the time in-between decisions, when we are uncertain about what will come next. So I see my hallway as the entrance to the interior of my home, and until I make the decision as to which door to go through, I am in a moment of uncertainty. But I am still home, and we are still home with God during those moments of indecision.
 
Bathroom toilet - if I open the door on my left I am in my bathroom/toilet, the place of cleanliness and release. Here I am reminded of the importance of releasing anything that is standing in the way of my good, anything that no longer serves me. Holding on to negative thoughts about ourselves keeps us down and when we do let go, we feel lighter, both physically and spiritually.
This is also the place of cleanliness. I use water to take a shower or cleanse my face or wash my hands. Water is a symbol of life, we talk about living water, and it reminds me of being in the flow, of life, of the consciousness of God, of being home with God.
 
Kitchen - standing outside my bathroom, turning to the left, I open the door to the kitchen. The kitchen is where we keep and prepare our food, the nourishment for our body. We decide what we are going to have and create a meal for ourselves. It reminds me to keep and use food that will nourish me physically and emotionally. If I get the balance off, there is the challenge of indigestion!
There is also food for the soul, which feeds our connection with God. I am reminded that there can be spiritual indigestion as well, if I take in too much, and not give myself time for absorption, and quiet times of reflection.
 
Bed-sitting room : standing outside my kitchen, the door to the left leads to my bed-sitting room. It's where I am engaged with reading, with music and with entertainment. It contains my television, books, records, computer. They are my windows to the world, particularly so during the pandemic and restrictions. I find inspiration and support here.

I also have my bed, which for me is where I can be rested, refreshed and renewed. That is where the balance is - to be inspired and motivated, to take that to a quiet place, and let it unfold for the highest and best. To take it home with God.
So that's how I use my physical home to symbolically connect with my spiritual home - my home with God.
 
I guess most people may live in houses or larger spaces that I have, with other rooms that might be reminders of spiritual aspects of our lives.
 
For example:
 Dining room  - a place to gain nourishment and share meals - to take what comes to us in inspiration and share it willingly with the world
Basement - this could be a place of storage, for things we don't use very often, for ideas that are not part of our everyday living but perhaps we are reluctant to totally release
Attic - another place of storage, but perhaps of treasured things. As a basement thought takes us below, so an attic thought takes us above.
Conservatory - a place mostly filled with light because of the windows - a place of resting and feeling the lightness of things, feeling our own lightness of being.
Garage - a place where motor vehicles can be kept; we use that for travelling, more storage of things needed from time to time, that help with renewal and repair
 
Looking at a home in a metaphysical way, that works on the principle of using our human experiences to take us to spiritual expression."
Nancy Sandoval - Unity Teacher 
 

When lockdown started, I made a commitment to myself that I would be a different person when it ended. Have you ever done something like this?

Having made this commitment, I recognised that part of me did not always want to change.  We get comfortable with where we are and who we think we are, even if we do not like it! Sometimes, when my energy is low, I recognise that it feels easier to react in the old way, even though I know it does not work and I may feel bad afterwards.

When this happens, compassion to ourselves is the best answer. Because, as human beings, we are always doing the best that we can in each moment.
What I have come to realise however, is that I want to do and feel better!

Part of this has been the realisation that when I react quickly without thinking, I am doing so because in the past I made my experiences mean something that may not be true.  For example, when I was about 8 months old, my parents had to leave me in hospital, as I was quite ill. Apparently, I held out my arms to them, but they had to walk away and leave me there. My interpretation of this was a feeling of rejection and being unlovable. Subsequently, when people seemed to turn away, the old feeling of rejection resurfaced. I would either then reject them as well and walk away, or do anything I could to get them to like me.  At the time, my parents were not rejecting me – they were trying to help me.  However, my feeling and interpretation of the event had unconsciously affected my life and was re-enacted, time and again.

Now, through wonderful release and healing work, instead of responding through the old feeling of rejection, I have found myself set free. This took wise and loving practice, which continues as an ongoing commitment to my Self to stay present and feel the Presence: my Source, God.
Albert Einstein famously said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again – expecting different results.”  I certainly experienced this without knowing why.
However, we can bring the new light of understanding on what is happening.  It takes conscious effort to do so and step up, as it were, to be our True Self. Yet we can say ‘Yes’ to who we truly are and want to be.
Jesus said in John 8:32, “… you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.” What is the truth? We discover this in ourselves and for ourselves. Perhaps this is our life journey and experience - to discover our truth and live it. For me, it is that we are each radiant beings, who have forgotten what we are, yet are seeking to remember.

This was what was calling me. Further, I knew that my effort, attention and energy was needed to stay the path. I really wanted to be free and be the happiest and healthiest Self I could possibly be.
The journey is still ongoing; will probably always be ongoing as we awaken to our beautiful, luminous, creative Selves. Below I share some of my realisations that may support you:

• My ‘work’ or joy is to release the emotional pain and suffering I have put in the way of my experience of God and my Self.
• I do this by becoming aware of my old beliefs that keep the emotions in place.
• I recognise that I put these in place to protect me and keep me safe from the world, but this also keeps me separate from my Self and God.
• God is unconditional love, far greater and more joyful than I can possibly imagine.
• God is the Ground of my Being, and I am one with God. Like the Prodigal Son story, God is here waiting with open arms to receive me back to my Self.
• Having released the old way, I connect with a new way, a new understanding, which is revealed through me.
• My thoughts, words and actions become my practice to keep this connection alive and real.
• I need and want the support of spiritual community to keep me on track.
• For, as we share who and what we are, we experience our truth more fully.
• I stay on this journey with curiosity, courage and compassion.

​In the Gospel of John, Jesus as the Christ energy spoke about being the way, the truth and the life. This powerful revelation became the guidance and inspiration that changed Saul to Paul, leading him to create and support communities around the Mediterranean Sea to encourage others to know the same.
Building spiritual community is becoming very important to me now. We are all on this journey of remembering and awakening to who and what we are. Charles Fillmore (Unity co-founder with his wife Myrtle) spoke of us all searching for God, even if we do not know it. For me, this is the search for Love, which is ‘who and what we already are’.
So let us come together to encourage, support and recognise the radiant, beautiful, creative beings that we are. To bring our vulnerability and doubts yes, knowing we can release them, to truly shine, love, create and share the joy we are here to live and experience together.  Let us set ourselves free.

After a few teething problems with the website (thank you for your patience and understanding) it is now successfully launched and being received with some great comments. Do get excited with us and check it out: www.unityuk.org.

We would also love your comments and feedback. As part of our service to you, we update our website regularly, with new events, videos and free resources to support you and our Unity family. In addition, if there were something you would like to see, do let us know.

This has been a big change for us in Unity.  Have you noticed that change is the one constant in the universe? We can almost guarantee that, just as we think our lives are sorted out and going in the right direction, they change again! This is something I have experienced repeatedly.

Sometimes it is exciting and something we want. However sometimes it feels like it is the last thing we want. We may resist what is happening and may even rile against our fate! We may cry, ‘Why did this happen?’ or ‘Why did God not stop this from happening?’ We may even pray for the old situation to return, perhaps feeling frightened and overwhelmed. If this is your experience, it is important to acknowledge your feelings without believing the thoughts that go with them.

However, just as seasons change to keep the natural world healthy, in balance, so our lives must change to keep us healthy, and in balance, even though it may not feel like it at the time. Continuous growth in ourselves as human and spiritual beings is part of our soul desire. This growth often involves challenges and change – yet it is the call higher.
For in each event that we experience, we are being invited to go deeper into our True, Christ self. This to release the inner splendour that has always been within us, yet sometimes only really experienced when life seems to throw us a curve ball!

If something is happening in our lives, like Covid-19 and its consequences, that we cannot control, we can go within, to our deeper self, and ask to see how we can respond in a way that loves, empowers and connects us with each other and our world in a more positive, graceful way.

We can practice releasing our old ways of responding; loving and letting go of the part of us that wants life to be a certain way; opening instead to the limitless possibilities that are inherent in each moment in time and point in space, this to reveal our inner beauty and depth of being. Suddenly, we can be present to ourselves and each other in ways never experienced before. From this viewpoint, we can now see the change as an opportunity to know ourselves as the next best version of who we came here to be.

If you are going through change and uncertainty, we warmly invite you to join our first Unity home retreat. Its focus is to help us move from uncertainty to faith through the experience of being always at home with God.

Further, with Lent starting this month, our Unity Lent booklet is designed to support us in releasing the old responses we wish to let go of, to reveal our true, beautiful and graceful self. So join us through Lent with our daily readings, and let the inner change in ourselves bless our world and all we experience together.

Rev Kimerie Mapletoft
Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK