Several of us from both Frenchay and Brunswick Square Unitarians have recently returned from the Annual General Assembly meetings at Swansea University. We were blessed with beautiful weather and a delightful environment, the campus being very close to the sea.
These meetings give so many of us an opportunity to share, learn, listen, network and worship together in an atmosphere of both encouragement and challenge.
There are three words that mainly stand out and capture for me the spirit of the meetings.
Companionship,
Compassion and
Celebration.
We are a small movement, and many of our meeting places are isolated. Getting together in
companionship with others is at the heart of what we are about. Loving
communities supporting each other on life's journey and spreading that love and warmth where we can. This year our meetings gave us an opportunity be inspired with new enthusiasm as we agreed to support the work of the
Charter for Compassion.
Two of the aims of this charter are to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion and to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings – even those regarded as enemies. It is my intention to share more of these ideas with you, both in our services, and by organising regular gatherings to learn more and understand further how we can all be part of developing a more compassionate world.
Yet none of this enthusiasm and excitement would have been possible without the work of all the volunteers who contributed to much of planning behind the scenes and the friendly atmosphere at the meetings.
And that is what we were
celebrating. Volunteers who work so tirelessly for others. This almost certainly means
you, too! Without you, our volunteers in Bristol, we would not be able to thrive and grow.
Thank you all...
Love and peace....... Lindy
