From the Desk
Dear All, my personal thanks and an observation:
Morning dew and changing colours of the leaves on the trees
as they start to fall, seeing ones breath on these fresh mornings, and the
fleecy clouds that change with time of the year. We see the sun just trying to
peer through. Now autumn is coming, a degree or two lower, but we still have
the warmth of the spirit that unites us all.
As we have seen this year the results of us all working
together, keeping our community of faith and fellowship buoyant, we do this in stewardship
to our movement. What a tapestry of gifts we bring, as all join in love and
compassion. I very much feel that there are a lot of thanks to be given.
I could forget to name someone alone, so as I say thank you
which is just enough, for all these things that belong to us, as we share the
great wealth of gifts. I hope that I can accurately say on behalf of many with
in our fellowship, and maybe for those that visit: thanks.
Thank you for your music, singing, the beauty of each person
as they smile in greeting to one another, thank you for what you bring in
admin, treasury, repairing, cooking, cleaning, laughing, press relations,
learning, teaching, preaching, welcoming, making a phone call to someone who
can’t make it to Chapel, talking on the phone to someone in grief, giving a
lift and giving money in our collections: thank you for wanting to help, thank
you for willing, fundraising, selling fair-trade, giving to the outside
communities; from a food bank, coming to a meeting, doing what we or you from
home. Thank you for brining a dimension of spirituality.
We have a great gift of believing, nurturing, fostering and
growing together, as a community, so thank you, you are a gift that gives a
gift.
I personally look forward to our services for the rest of
the year, that continue now and always, we share our common belief, I hope we
can share it with as many who, are still joined with us, and those who visit.
And thank you Lindy, for coming back to lead again with us,
always your true self as our treasured gift. Most of all thank you for the
greatest gift, listening.
Yours, in faith and fellowship Karl Stewart.
What’s through the square window today?
Or even ‘many small square windows’, we had a very well
attended service for another dedication of a fully sponsored window: not only
was it well attended, we were fortunate to have Lindy back to lead the service,
wonderful singing in solo by our accomplished Delydd Mcadam, an introit of the
Hymn from our purple book, Sprit of Earth, Root Stone and Tree; led by Marie,
sung by the Frenchay Choir, we were as usual pleased to have Bob Cook playing
well chosen Hymns and a selection of well placed music for the occasion. There
was a nice selection of home-made cakes and pastries which were well received
by all, thanks to Liz, lovely as always. And we would not be where we are
today, with the windows if it was not for all the team work that goes into
keeping everything running. Thank you Pauline.
And thank you for all who just come to sit and be, and that
is, as it some times said, the church is a wonderful thing, when it all works
together. There is a quiz for the windows fund, see further on in the
newsletter.
Yours, Karl Stewart. On behalf of Frenchay Chapel
A thought for our friends
We notice when you are not in chapel. We hope you are well.
We think of you after you have had an appointment, treatment and recovery. You
are not forgotten. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
There’s learning afoot
As learning is important in all aspects of our journey,
several of us from Bristol and the Western Union chapels have now completed the
Worship Studies course. This was well led and created so well by Sue Woolley,
Midland District Minister and Lindy Latham our retired Bristol Minister. Thank
you both for your time and experience. We
look forward to bettering our ministries on this pilgrim journey together.
Yours with thanks and blessings,
From all who were on the course.
Our visit to Dublin Unitarians
Mark Stewart
As one of our weddings presents from last year, Karl and I
received a couple of Ryanair vouchers. So on the 30th and 31st August we
decided to take ourselves off for a weekend in Dublin.
Having visited Trinity University, the Book of Kells and the
Guiness Factory on the Saturday, on the Sunday morning we decided to take
ourselves along to the Dublin Unitarians on the famous St Stephen’s Green.
The service was led by their minister Rev. Bridget Spain,
and was on the subject of Miracles, which was very interesting. There were at least
40 people in the congregation of a big mix of age ranges. The service followed
basically the same format as our own, but was perhaps a little more formal in
its structure, which reflected the stately, Victorian architecture of the building.
They invited us to go to lunch with them at a nearby hotel, but by that point we were down on our Euros, so we opted for sandwiches and a train trip down the Irish coast and back, before we got our plane back to Bristol.
One of the great things I’ve found about being part of a religious movement, is that wherever you go in the country, and to a great extent, the world, you’ve got ready made friends to welcome you. We just had to mention to the Dublin Unitarians that we were from Bristol Unitarians, and we were chatting like old friends.
Women's League
Members of the Women's League have started a scrapbook
project for UMB chapel photographs and are being helped by Julian Wood.
A slot has been booked at the Mansion House on Wednesday 3rd
December at 2.30 pm for the Lord Mayor's Christmas Tea. Please let Susan
Wildman know if you would like to attend. All are welcome.
Other news
Paul Wheeler has had two short spells in hospital, but is
now on the mend.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jean Bryant’s daughter,
Charlotte, whose partner, Jay, died on 29th August, after a brief spell in
hospital. I pray that his spirit is upheld and sheltered, and for comfort and
strength for Charlotte as she comes to terms with this devastating loss.
Our thoughts and prayers with our beloved Grace Cooper, who
has recently had a fall, but not a major one, by the sounds of it.
The Transylvania - Western Union Link Project
The booklet of her sermons and other material is under
preparation I hope to publish it shortly. I have received 25 orders for
it so far at the £2.50 price post free. I anticipate a few sales
nationally at the £5 price post free in due course. Maria was paid £45 for her
presentation at Sidmouth and for each of her 5 services. (This is
personal earnings which she is allowed to make on a self-employed basis) and
also she has been paid £120 for advance royalties on the booklet we are publishing.
If you have any
photos of Maria's visit that you would like to offer me for possible inclusion
in the booklet, please email them to me. I would like to include perhaps
4 to 8 photographs (in black and white) as part of the booklet. (Doing
them in colour puts up the cost by about 10p per colour side of an A4 sheet
(which is 2 pages of the A5 booklet) I hope that is a fairly concise report of
her visit. More detailed accounts will be prepared for the Western Union.
Martin Fieldhouse, Western Union President