Click HERE to view Rev. Stacy’s guided meditation during the service.
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
Unity’s story is one of the most inspiring spiritual stories because it began with two ordinary people who refused to accept that life had to remain the way it was. Myrtle and Charles Fillmore did not set out to start a church. They were simply willing to question old beliefs, explore new ideas and discover a different understanding of God, prayer, healing and their own divine nature.
Myrtle had spent her life being told she was weak, sickly and destined to remain an invalid. But after hearing, “You are a child of God; therefore you do not inherit sickness,” she chose to embrace a new thought. She daily sat in the Silence and prayed, forgave herself and spoke words of strength, wholeness and Truth to every part of her body. After two years, she was completely healed, and her entire life was transformed.
Charles, initially skeptical, wanted to understand the science behind healing, so he studied spirituality, world religions and the Mind-Body connection. As he witnessed Myrtle’s transformation and practiced these principles himself, he discovered that changing consciousness actually changes life; our minds, connected to Divine Mind, help create our experience; and affirmative prayer can transform us at the deepest level.
From their lived experience came Unity: a positive, practical approach to Christianity that honors the teachings of Jesus, the power of prayer and universal truth in all faith traditions. It teaches that God is not separate from us, but is Love, Presence and Spirit expressing in us, through us and around us. We are not born flawed, but are expressions of original goodness, each one uniquely beautiful.
The Fillmores’ greatest legacy may be their invitation to keep evolving and spiritually growing. They remind us that spiritual maturity means continuing to learn, expand and let go of beliefs that no longer serve us; to grow and change over time as our consciousness and spiritual understanding expands and changes over time; and always to remember our divine identity.
And that’s still our invitation today: to trust the Presence within and around us; remember our divine nature and inherent goodness; always keep growing; and dedicating our lives to expressing more harmony, peace, spiritual truth and love.