From the Desk

As usual I have been thwarted by the illusion of time, or at least thinking there is plenty of it. We seem to have covered a lot already this year, several fundraising events and all the usual meetings, and all the usual things we do as a group in our chapels.

I would like to give thanks to all, as you work not only in the Chapels but behind the scenes in your homes, for all the duties you uphold, and deliver with sincerity.

A Poem

Hold as you wish to be held.

Listen as you wish to be heard.

Think as you would like to be thought of.

See as you wish to be seen.

Love as you wish to be loved.

And forgive as you wish to be forgiven.

Anon

Kind regards and thoughts to all our members who are unwell, and unable to meet with us.

Yours sincerely with regards.

Karl Stewart, Group President.

                                                   Peter Wildman will be producing the next Newsletter – cut-off to be confirmed.

From the Minister

Imagine this......

Dear Friends -

In both June and July this year we may have been very caught up with both celebrating the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympic Games not to mention the football!

I imagine [though I may be wrong] that within our Bristol Unitarian Communities we hold many different feelings around these events.

We may be anti-royalist – we may not be interested in sport.

However – perhaps it is important for all of us to use the humane values of acceptance and tolerance …..........to understand the others point of view.

I know that in my head I am not happy with people who have a privileged life not earned. I also question the morality which leaves many with an unfair financial advantage....

But with my heart I know that it is possible for those free from monetary and other practical life issues to give in so many ways that are not feasible for most of us.

Let us hope and pray that through this jubilee year the spirit of generosity may flower in all our communities.

Blessings...............

 Lindy

 Something to think about...........

“Living with Dying”

“When faced with death we face our beliefs and fears. Yet it is an inevitable truth for us all – this life, as we know it, will end. To deny our impermanence will not decrease our fear. The awareness that we will cease to exist in our present form can help us to appreciate and be more open to our life as it is” *

A few weeks ago I was privileged to attend a four day residential workshop organised by the Sufi Way about death and dying.

During this time we focussed on our relationship with our own impermanence and death as well as looking at how we can offer presence and support to others who are dying.

This is not easy to think about. Death and loss can be painful areas to explore and share with others.

One very practical area which can be a starting point in this journey, is to think about how you would like YOUR life to be celebrated when you die.

I have received requests and ideas for funeral arrangements over the years, and now invite any of you who wish to, to meet and talk about this with me. It can be a real gift to your family and friends to have this information which can be left in either my care, or with your family.

I am also intending to organise a one day workshop on: “ Being with Dying” sometime in October, to be co-facilitated with Judy Ryde, a member of the Bath Unitarian Fellowship who also attended the course.

Blessings – Lindy

*Quoted from “Living with Dying” literature.

Bright Lights Celebrates..............

                                                        ................The Spirit of the Olympics!

On June 24^th around 24 of us gathered for a unique style Olympics at Unitarian Meeting in Brunswick Square.

We threw javelins – walked relays with our Olympic torches – wrestled with each other on an orange duvet – as well having an amazing tea.

We remembered the true spirit of the Olympics – the original torch being the bearer of peace. This was a signal which allowed folk to travel to Olympia without fear of local warfare which had to cease one month before the games began.

Today of course, beyond the competitive spirit – the games give an opportunity for a gathering of diverse cultures, hopefully to increase understanding of difference through the Olympic values of:

friendship, excellence and respect

To finish we shared a dancing/musical meditation , moving gradually to sitting and lying which brought us all to a calm and reflective close, grateful for the fellowship and values we share.

Our Sally [Pugh] will be working as a volunteer at the London games in July – we had a sneak preview of her uniform, and look forward to hearing all about it in September when she will be allowed to wear her splendid outfit!

Our best wishes to you Sally.

No Bright Lights in July or August. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, September 23^rd, 3-5 pm. Brunswick Square. Thank you to all who come to participate and work with us.

Diary – July

• Sun 1^st, 10.30 am, Frenchay, The Minister
• Sun 1^st, 6pm, UMB, The Minister (flowers and teas tbc)
• Fri 6^th, 6-8pm, UMB, American supper, ‘Sponsored’ by the Women’s League - All welcome!
• Bring and Buy stall, in aid of Send a Child to Hucklow', this year's Women's League project. Please ring Susan on 01454 412993 if you are able to come, Susan Wildman
• Sun 8^th, 10.30am, Frenchay, Bernard Omar
• Sat 14^th, Frenchay Flower Show, from 1pm, Frenchay Common - chapel will be open for sales and refreshments
• Sun 15^th, 10.30am, Frenchay, The Minister
• Sun 15^th Western Union picnic and service in Taunton. Travel to Taunton after Frenchay morning service. No service at UMB
• Fri 20^th, 7pm, ‘An Evening of Summer Music’, with Bob Cook and Delydd McAdam, Frenchay Chapel
• Sun 22^nd, 10.30am, Frenchay, Karl Stewart
• Sun 29th UMB Congregational meeting at 4pm followed by service at 6pm, the Minister.

Diary – August

Sun 5^th, 10:30, Frenchay, the Minister,

Sun 5^th, 6pm, UMB, the Minister

Sun 12^th, 10:30, Frenchay, Mark Gartside

Sun 19^th, 10:30, Frenchay, tbc

Sun 19^th UMB, 6.00 pm, Mrs S Wildman, Flowers - Susan Wildman, Teas - Peter Wildman, Music - Bob Cook

Sun 26^th, 10:30, Frenchay, Bernard Omar

No Brightlights at UMB

September Dates in Advance

Sun 2^nd, Frenchay, 10.30am, the Minister

Sat 8^th, UMB, 11am-4pm Heritage Open days

Thu 13^th, UMB, 7pm - UMB Trustees meeting

Pulling the Threads Together

A worship workshop for everyone who is interested in the quality and variety of our services.

SATURDAY November 10th at UMB

Come and share your ideas with the Revs. Margaret Kirk and Lindy Latham

All welcome. Further details nearer the time.

Margaret will also be leading worship at Frenchay on Nov. 11th.

This event is for all members of the Western Union so come and make new friends too....

Lindy

An evening of Summer Music

Friday 20^th July 2012

7.00 p.m.

at the Frenchay Chapel,

Beckspool Road, Frenchay

with Bob Cook (Organist),

Delydd McAdam (Mezzo-Soprano),

and two of her former pupils,

Laura Curry (Soprano) and Alessia Lombardi (Soprano).

Music to include pieces by Glass, Caccini, Gershwin, Orff and Rutter.

Admission £5.00

In aid of the Frenchay Chapel windows appeal

For details contact Pauline Furnivall Telephone 0117 9568310

or email:  frenchayfund@gmail.com

Frenchay Chapel Windows Appeal

The windows appeal leaflets not only highlight the need for the much needed cash to pay for the restoration and repair of the Frenchay Chapel Windows but they also serve as an invitation to anyone interested in becoming Friends of Frenchay Chapel or to Sponsor a Pane. 

The leaflets (and some personally addressed letters) were hand distributed to 1,059 addresses in the Frenchay area and I am in the process of writing to businesses and other potentially interested parties. 

The response to date has been very gratifying and the details are as follows: 

Sponsor a Pane                              £2,348.61

Lifetime Friends                              £400.00

Individual and Couple Friends        £111.00

Making a grand total of                £2,859.61p. 

We are of course extremely grateful to all our Sponsors (12 of whom are members of the Frenchay Chapel) and our new ‘Friends’ but the invitation is open to everyone - please pick up a leaflet, complete the form and become a Friend or perhaps get together and Sponsor a Pane

as a group.  The dedications for the Panes so far have been varied but most heart-warming and will be a lasting memorial for future generations to see. 

Please contact me, Pauline Furnivall, if you wish to discuss any of this further – telephone 0117 9568310 or email frenchayfrund@gmail.com 

Further Frenchay Events

Thursday 26th July - Poetry morning at Pauline Maxted's 10.30am - 

12.30pm. Butterflies, moths and other creatures. Please phone Diane on 

01179566963 for more details.

Wednesday 8th August is the next windows meeting in chapel at 7pm.



Friday 10th August - Frenchay Chapel is holding a cinema evening 

with a showing of War Horse. There will be an interval with ice-cream 

and drinks. Suggested donation £5.



Thursday 23rd August - Poetry morning at 58 Old Gloucester Road 

10.30am - 12.30pm. The seaside.



Saturday 8th September - Coffee morning and Open Day at Frenchay 

Chapel. This is part of South Gloucestershire's Discover Festival. 

Bernard is giving two talks at 11am and 3pm on the history of chapel. 

Volunteers needed please for serving refreshments and making cakes.





Friday 21st September - Wine and Cheese tasting in chapel. Come and 

try six different wines and enjoy tasting various cheeses. £6 a ticket. Available soon.

Vintage Tea held 17th June 2012

at the Frenchay Chapel in aid of the Windows Appeal

The sun shone, copious quantities of tea were drunk and cake was eagerly eaten. It was an occasion for friends and neighbours to chat and passersby to marvel at this quaint and historic building. One gentleman came to seek out his ancestors in the pretty graveyard and to toast their memory with tea and freshly baked scones. Others basked in the sun watching little children play and listening to a little bit of Glenn Miller escaping from the chapel. There was a lot of reminiscing, appreciation of Victorian, Deco and 1950's crockery together with universal love of British home baking!

Thank you to all who attended and helped with the Vintage tea held this June. It raised a very welcome £230.66 for the restoration of the Chapel windows. Vintage china has been stowed away, embroidered tablecloths laundered, and bunting neatly folded in readiness of another pop up vintage event to be held sometime in the future.          Liz Ferguson.

Frenchay News

COOPER :We much regret to report that Grace Cooper was admitted to Frenchay Hospital on Thursday 21st June. It seems that she had been waiting for Audrey Cook to arrive for lunch and had gone shopping in order to prepare. Audrey arrived but Grace was out. Audrey and the Warden searched nearby roads but could not find Grace. It was revealed that Grace had fallen and been taken to A&E at Frenchay. An injured left elbow was diagnosed and treated and Grace was admitted to Ward 30.  She was still there on 25th June. Naturally we all wish this indomitable lady a very speedy recovery. As well as support from members of both Bristol congregations, Grace receives much help from her second cousin Sue as well as professionals who visit twice daily when she is at home. Grace expresses her gratitude for all the love and support.

BFO

OWEN/ORGAN. Andrew Plaster has done enormous work over thirty years to research his ancestors and has published three books about them. The Frenchay Chapel connection is that Enoch Owen was the Sexton of the Chapel, succeeded by his in-law James Owen.

The Chapel was open to share the Frenchay Village Diamond Jubilee celebrations when a handsome amount was raised by Liz and many of her family by her "VINTAGE TEA" afternoon fueled by the impressive-if dangerous- cakes cooked by Liz Ferguson.

Bernard Omar

Photos from
the Bright Light Olympics