From
the Desk
Dear All,
Although I do not follow sport, I
often hear this said. Weather stops play, and in cricket the term 15 not out.
Though , I have given this some thought – how out are we, well we’re probably
not, but the weather is, I would now usually like many be thinking about the
first top – off the lawn, to start the cutting season. And then rain stops
play, we all have these intentions, to do what we can when we can. And when we
do it pays off in the end, when we hear how much an event raised, how many
people came, enjoyed it and of course want to come back for what maybe in the
future.
There is of course something that
the rain does not stop play, or not out,
and is the weather of the divine within us all, and there we of course have our
personal struggles, for us all I hope we can turn to one another and say help,
we as community within and out all have something to share. So it leaves me to
say, Brother Sister let me serve you. These are the words of a hymn worth
reflecting on, we are as not only Christ to one another but a uniting spirit
among us all. And just maybe topping it off allows us to see what we need to do
underneath.
Yours with warm wishes. Karl
Stewart.
Peter Wildman, will be producing the next newsletter - a cut off date e-mail will follow in due
course.
From your minister… Buttons!
Dear Friends
-
“Be perfect
therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5 v.
48 Before you start to get
worried, no, I am not making even more demands on you!
But where do
the buttons fit in?
In the
novel: “Music and Silence” by Rose Tremain she tells the story of the King of
Denmark, Christian IV. When he was a child, his father had drummed into him the
importance of perfection – shoddiness in any form would not be tolerated. Denmark
One day, the
young Prince was given a large bag of buttons from a famous button maker.
Christian loved these buttons, and played with them for hours.
However, he
soon remembered his father's words about perfection, and to his dismay
discovered that most of the buttons had flaws in them and being true to his
father they were discarded and the button maker lost his business.
But the
pleasure the young Prince had once received from the bag of buttons was now
gone and he could not understand why.......
Yes,
imperfections make life interesting, real, human and they call for compassion–
but there is also this: in context of the Bible quote, the word “perfect” means
full grown, adult, spiritually mature.. qualities which are surely worthwhile
to work towards, and which will accept with understanding and love
imperfections in ourselves and others.
Blessings........... Lindy
Services
at Frenchay in May
MAY 6th Lindy
Latham – the Minister
MAY 13th Bernard
Omar
MAY 20th Lindy
Latham – the Minister
MAY 27th Karl
Stewart
Services
at UMB in May
MAY 6th Flowers - Susan
(as in April newsletter)
Teas - Susan will do these
Music
Marie Eastman
MAY 20th Flowers –Glen Williamson
Teas
- Peter Wildman
Music.
Bob Cook.
MAY
27th 'Bright Lights'. No need to include
anything about flowers/teas for 'Bright Lights'.
Meditation
at Frenchay
YES!! Am
holding a Kundalini meditation on Thursday May 10 the from 7pm -9pm.At Frenchay Chapel, Beckspool Rd.
This is
half an hour of activity followed by a wonderful half hour of still ness. Hope
you can come !
£5 for
chapel window funds.
Hope this finds you well Andrea
Please Mr. Postman.....
…..............
was the song we valiantly tried to sing at Bright Lights at our April meeting.
However we
had more success writing meaningful messages, by hand to family and friends..
The
inspiration for this activity came from Andrea and our guest visitor, Renee. We
shared stories of the importance of those personal letters that pop through the
door, that mean so much more than the text or E mail.
Thank you to
Charlie for coming early and setting out tables – to Archie and Eric for their
creative and youthful spirits – and to all of you who come to share and
contribute.
We hope to
see you and your friends on May 27th
PS. A member
of a local Methodist church told me that they have a similar style group called
“Messy Church
University of the Third
Age [U3A]
It was a
great pleasure to welcome a local group of U3A to Frenchay Chapel on April 24th.
In a relaxed
and friendly atmosphere, I gave a little background about the Unitarians. Many
of our visitors came from other local churches so we were able to share much of
what we have in common – we learnt from each other.
Thank you to
those who came to contribute and make the all important coffee and tea! Lindy
Get Well Soon
Our best
wishes and love go to Carla [Contractor] as she recovers from her recent
operation. We look forward to seeing you with us again soon, Carla, after your
convalescence.
Monday Group at Brunswick
Square
“Forgiveness
and other acts of love.....”
At our first
meeting twelve of us discussed the meaning of courage including looking at
various life scenarios where important courageous choices would have to be
made.
We welcomed
folk from both our chapels, and friends from the local community. Please feel
free to join us when you can on Mondays at UMB from 7-9pm . Please phone/ e mail me 1st just in case we are having a bank
holiday/half term break. Our last meeting will be in early June.
Themes for
our next three meetings are “Fidelity” [April 30th] , “Restraint”
[May 7th], “Generosity” [May 14th]
Hope to see
you there! Lindy
Frenchay Chapel News
Frenchay Chapel would like to announce shared lunches after the
services on the first Sunday in the month in July, October, January and April. Look forward to seeing you there.
Frenchay Chapel A.G.M. after the service on Sunday 20th May.
News about Amy Hart
Dear Friends
– I was deeply saddened to receive the news last week that Amy had died.
She had been
coming to Unitarian Meeting in Brunswick Square
Recently Amy
told me of her wish to become more involved with the life of our Meeting House.
She had made friends with several of our members who I know will miss her
honesty and affection.
She had a
gentle and friendly manner which could belie the struggles she was so bravely
facing in her life.
Our love and
prayers are with her family and friends.
We will miss
you Amy.
Rest in
peace.
Lindy
Frenchay Windows – What a Pane!
Fundraising Party
Ways of
fundraising to pay for the restoration and replacement of the windows for the
Frenchay Chapel was discussed at the meeting held on the 7th March
last. Thirteen people attended and there was lively debate and many
interesting ideas presented, the first of which was the Easter Egg Hunt and
Table Top Sale organized by Charlotte Bryant. Thank you Charlotte
Our
appreciation and thanks go to Bill Vallis, Lindy’s son-in-law, for his
invaluable help and professional advice with the Friends of Frenchay Chapel and
Sponsor a Pane leaflet which is being finalized and will be distributed when
printed.
The next Fundraising meeting has been
organized for
Wednesday 16th May
at 7pm in the Chapel
and if you are interested please come
along and lend your support. Volunteers are always needed to help in
practical ways to ensure the success of future planned events.
WE WANT YOUR IDEAS, TALENTS, SKILLS AND SUPPORT.
Lively debates
at the GA Annual Meetings
at the GA Annual Meetings
My time at
the General Assembly Annual Meetings was interesting and informative. There
were lively debates on internal Unitarian denominational issues and wider
social and moral issues.
Under the
first of these, motions were carried: requesting the GA’s Executive Committee
urgently to prioritise and formalise a policy which will enhance its
communications to and from District associations and congregations;
and asking the Constitutional Reform Group to prepare proposals to allow proxy
voting at GA Annual Meetings.
Under the
second heading, motions were carried: calling on the UK and Scottish
Governments to ensure that legislation is passed so that both mixed sex and
same sex couples have equal access to civil marriages, religious marriages and
civil partnerships, without compelling any religious tradition that opposes
same sex marriage to carry out religious marriage of a same sex couple; and
calling out Unitarians to actively oppose the UK Government’s proposals for
State snooping into all internet, e-mail, ‘phone and text usage and
communication.
Speeches
regarding a motion supporting assisted dying generally backed its tenor, but
there was concern about some aspects of its wording. Following my proposal, there was
majority support for the motion being referred back to its proposer - Fulwood
Old Chapel, Sheffield
to consult across the Unitarian movement, with a view to putting a revised motion
forward in 2013.
I was
inspired by the lecture which opened the Annual Meetings given by Peter
Owen-Jones. He called us to
a creation-centred spirituality. Drawing
on the observations of Prof. David Tacey in his book The Spiritual Revolution,
he pointed to a new emerging spirituality where a sense of the sacred is
informed through personal experience, there is a realisation that sacredness is
not mediated through humanity alone but experienced in all sentient life, and
spirituality is pluralistic and generous to all religious journeying. There are plenty of connections there
with Unitarian thinking, which can give us encouragement as we seek to show
those around us what our approach to spirituality has to offer.
Paul Wheeler
UMB Delegate
to the GA Annual Meetings
Building
Report for UMB
1 The user handbook will be
updated to include mobile phone numbers of 4 chapel members who can be
alerted between 5.30 pm and 9.00 pm and at weekends should there be
problems at the chapel. The handbook will be stored at the chapel.
2 Bristol City Council has
acknowledged receipt of an application to re- arrange extractor fans in the
ground floor WC's and the addition of terne coated stainless steel capping to
the existing parapets.
3 Bristol City Council has informed
the trustees that a lime tree in the cemetery has been felled due to the
presence of Kretzschmaria, which causes root decay.
4 For problems and bookings at
the chapel please contact Emily at The Ethical Property Company on 0117 916
6488.
Susan Wildman
Photos from Frenchay Chapel Quiz Night
The
Quiz Night raised £100 for the Windows Appeal.
Frenchay Chapel Windows
Lindy, Diane, Marie and Pauline accepted an invitation to visit the workshops of Hawker Joinery the Bath Company who are responsible for repairing and making the replacement windows at the Frenchay Chapel.
Whilst we were in Bath
The Frenchay Chapel
CASH IN THE CHAPEL
A talk by
Philip Taubenheim
(The Wotton Auction Rooms)
Auctioneer and BBC TV Antique Roadshow presenter
will share his experiences as
an Auctioneer and Valuer
Bring an item to be valued (one maximum)
Tickets £6.00 each in advance
In aid of
The Frenchay Chapel Windows Appeal
Details and tickets contact: Fundraising Secretary,
Pauline Furnivall
Celebrate Father's Day
with a 40's style Vintage Tea
on Sunday 17th June from 2pm onwards.
Vintage china, bunting and nostalgia.
Liz Ferguson's cakes and scones
Big Band sound, Ginger Beer,
Billy Bunter eat your heart out!
In aid of
The Frenchay Chapel Windows Appeal
Details contact Liz Ferguson
email: lizferg@btinternet.com or for any other Frenchay Chapel fundraising events
contact Fundraising Secretary Pauline Furnivall Email:
frenchayfund@gmail.com
Details and tickets contact: Fundraising Secretary,
Pauline Furnivall
