“… in the human spirit, December is a time of lights, rising over the depths of darkness are the lights of human ideals.” – Carl J. Nelson We are now into the season of Advent, a season of ‘preparation.’ Traditionally, this would have been preparation for the second coming of Jesus – advent was a …
Exploring our Divine World
“Each window tells a story about the creation of the world, the meaning of history, the purpose of life, the nature of humankind, the mystery of death. The windows of the cathedral are where the light shines through.” – Forrest Church, Cathedral of the World Last week I used a story about Tom’s early days …
What Children Can Teach Us
“When all is quiet and we are small and the night is dark, may we hear the tender breathing of all who lie awake with us” Jane Rzepka When my son Thomas was about two months old, I recall one evening (amongst many) without sleep. I think there must be a biological event where new …
Neither Belief nor Ritual but Spirit and Love
I hold this most sacred duty – the gathering together of a number of people who shall so agree to live by the best they know, that they shall be free to live by the best they know. – DH Lawrence Lawrence finishes his reading by saying that the “religion … must be practised.” For …
Building towards, building on, building with Peace
“Peace is not the absence of war; it is virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.”’ – Baruch Spinoza The suggestion that peace is about presence rather than merely an absence is found in many forms: a presence of justice, of Christ, of God, creativity. Perhaps the most well-known is Martin …
Drawing from Our Well
‘What need is there for profundity; everything I need is here.’ – Kenneth Collier, Garden Zen I spent last week in Derbyshire attending Hucklow Summer School. This is a retreat and programme for Unitarians (and others). The days begin with a talk and lead on to engagement groups, singing, walking, writing, dancing, eating, chatting, communing. …
Job Opportunity! – Chapel Administrator
Might you be just the person we are looking for? We wish to recruit a CHAPEL ADMINISTRATOR for Cross Street Unitarian Chapel in the centre of Manchester This is non-residential, 16 hrs a week contract Working variable hours across any 4 days/evenings out of 7 £10,816 p.a. For Job description, Person specification and Application form …
Seeing Through the Darkness
Because we are imperfect and love so Deeply we will never have enough days, We need the gift of starting over, beginning Again: just this constant good, this Saving hope. – Nancy Shaffer, “Because We spill not only milk” Forrest Church, an eminent Unitarian minister, spoke of Nancy Shaffer as embodying a world “riddled with …
Expressing a moment of the eternal
“Art is like beginning a sentence before you know its ending. The risks are obvious: you may never get to the end … or having gotten there, you may not have said anything. This is probably not a good idea in public speaking, but it’s an excellent idea in making art.” – David Bayles and …
Who are our kindred?
True kindness presupposes the faculty of imagining as one’s own the suffering and joy of others. Without imagination, there can be weakness, theoretical or practical philanthropy, but not true kindness. – Andre Gide, Pretexts, Reflections on Literature and Morality There are times when I miss something that’s plainly in front of me; we have a …