Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Double Issue!: Newsletter
Double Issue!: Newsletter
2 Ed’s Errata
NEWSLETTER 5 President’s Piece
6 Worship: Sunny Side Up or Easy Over?
8 Storytime – The Silent Monks
Spring/Summer 9
9
Three Beautiful Things – Mary Oliver
Quick Quiz
2011 10
11
It’s a Student’s Life – Part 1
Lay Lines 1
12 From Sheffield to Somerset…
15 Tribute to David Monk
16 The Great Anon
17 It’s a Student’s Life – Part 2
DOUBLE ISSUE! 19
19
Lay Lines 2
Thoughts for our Community…
20 Did You Know…?
20 Only on a church poster…
21 R’n’R…’n’R
22 A Marriage Made in Heaven?
23 Yoof Done Good
26 Dates for Your Diary
27 UALM Committee
27 Quick Quiz Answers
28 ‘The True Poem is The Poet’s Mind’
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Ed’s Errata
Well, hello there! I’m Joanne, your new UALM Newsletter Editor.
Welcome to the fourth edition of this publication. I do hope that you will
A Presidential Sandwich or Malcolm (Sadler) in the Middle, plus Sue Woolley, all find something here that is of interest, or, more importantly, helps you
UALM Secretary, and Joanne McGeehan, News Ed, left and right respectively.
on your journey in lay worship. It’s a bit bigger than usual, to make up for
my being unable to put something out before Christmas. Having only
Issue 4 taken up the reins in November and being a very seasonal muppet, I’m
www.ualm.org.uk afraid there was rather little chance of that.
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My sincere thanks go to Kath Forder for producing three superb issues Ed’s Errata continued…
over the past couple of years. You have given me a great template to
work with, which, as a newsletter novice is greatly appreciated. I would UALM Objects:
very much like, and I’m sure UALM members will join with me, to send
you the very best for your continuing studies at UCM. (See p19 for more.) 1. to support all those involved in delivering worship in Unitarian
It was with sadness that I learned that one of UALM’S original members churches and chapels
has died, David Monk. I have heard much good about his involvement 2. to support all those involved in lay leadership of a Unitarian
with Unitarianism. Of all the excellent pages of the MUA’s, ‘ABCs of Lay congregation, whatever form this might take
Preaching’, his section on meditation is my favourite. Malcolm Sadler 3. to promote and share best practice in Unitarian worship and lay
has written a tribute to David on p15. ministry
UALM membership is now 50, which shows positive growth on last year. 4. to support the General Assembly of Unitarian & Free Christian
A very warm welcome to all those of you who have joined, or rejoined, Churches
UALM over the past year. Including myself actually: how did I end up on
the committee and in place as Editor in such a short space of time? Well After the earnest, the lighthearted: please do bear with me as I get
now, there’s a story. It involves the ‘Saatchi & Saatchi’like skills of Sue settled in: I really am a novitiate, you know. I’m afraid I’m neither Sue The
Woolley and Anna Jarvis. For more details of this, and all the other fun ‘[I]ndefatigable’, nor a ‘[D]ynamo’ Kath (all Malcolm’s epithets). Writing
that happened at the 2010 UALM Conference at Great Hucklow, see p6. and especially editing, as it’s so new to me, come very hard, but I have
some confidence that I may serve you well, as I have completed my
Walt Whitman, 1819 – 1892, left us a large library of wonder and second newsletter for Northampton Unitarians, (of which I’m a member),
wisdom. The excerpt from the 1855 edition of ‘Leaves of Grass’ on the and both it, and my first submission, have been very kindly received. And,
back cover is, perhaps, rather didactic, maybe a lot, but I’m rather fond as I said to them, ‘…it’s your newsletter for you to write about your
of it. I like its Unitarian leanings. Of course, ‘argue not concerning God’ journey, where you are, how you see it and anything else really, for that
doesn’t fit quite so seamlessly with some Unitarian demeanours. But I matter.’ And, as I also said to the NUers, ‘I’ve had the confidence
think Humanist Whitman would have enjoyed Unitarian dialogue, /temerity to do some tweaking to this issue. Let me know what you
probably discussion and debate too. I like Stephen Lingwoood’s think, and, what you would like to see, and/or, how you would like to
(Minister at Bolton), distinction between these two types of see it….’ Please do send me your submissions by September 30th. See
communication, in his book, ‘The Unitarian Life’, although the former is p27 for details. Spring blessings to you all until we meet again.
far harder to achieve.
Do you take services for a Unitarian congregation? Are you involved in Joanne McGeehan N.B. All unsigned articles are, by convention, by
Unitarian lay leadership? If the answer is yes, then please join UALM! the editor. All views expressed in this newsletter represent those of
There is a newsletter twice a year (quite passable, I think), a conference their author, and not necessarily those of UALM.
in November at Great Hucklow (really good fun and educational on top),
and, of course, the opportunity to network with other members via e *********************
mail or phone (sooo useful!). Please see p27 for membership details.
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Three Beautiful Things It’s a Student’s Life – Part 1 by Sue Woolley
Not an aping of a gratitude blog as such, (please see Clare Grant’s My ministry training has continued apace: I’m now in the second term of
original 3BT at threebeautifulthings.com) but three poems from one my second year – it has gone so quickly!
author. For this issue I have chosen the American poet, Mary Oliver. As Since I last wrote, we have covered many useful topics at Harris
she is a living poet, I am unable to bring you the poems themselves, but I Manchester College Oxford, mostly delivered by Rev. Dr. Arthur Stewart,
hope you will look them up if you feel they may have something for you. but also by some very interesting guest speakers, including Alan Ruston,
In third place, ‘What I have learned so far’. Rev. Andrew Brown of who covered Unitarian history of the last 200 years, and David Wykes,
Cambridge Unitarians has some interesting views on this poem in his 31st who covered Reformation history on one day, and the development of
January 2011 entry in his blog Caute… just travelling hopefully…. See Unitarianism in the UK on another. We also spent a very interesting day
andrewjbrown.blogspot.com at Essex Hall, learning about how the GA and its associated commissions
and panels all work together.
Secondly, ‘The Journey’. This sits alongside Rumi’s ‘Zero Circle’, which
appears on the back cover of this issue, in Roger Housden’s book, ‘Ten Topics covered by Arthur Stewart have included: candidating, homiletics
Poems That Could Change Your Life’. Well worth a look or ten. (theologyspeak for the elements of a service), rites of passage,
And for my personal top spot, ‘Wild Geese’. I understand that this poem leadership and participation in worship, outreach & public relations,
provoked great interest at a recent Summer School, so some of you may world religions (including atheism & humanism!), Coleridge’s journey
already be familiar with this one. I used this as a reading for a service I into and out of Unitarianism, concepts of ministry and Unitarian
did some time ago, ‘Being HumanKind’. Very much a newbie then, I theology in relation to good and evil, death and immortality, and the
have since realised that poems are often simply too dense to be relationship between Unitarianism and Christianity. We have to do three
effective aurally. But the apparent simplicity of this still worked, I think. 2,500 word essays each term.
I like its sense of tender mercy towards the self. At Regent’s Park College Oxford, where I am doing my theology training,
I’ve done a variety of modules, including St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans,
Quick Quiz the Reformation, Pastoral Theology, The Atonement (which as you can
imagine, I found extremely challenging!), Christian Ethics, Covenant in
the Old Testament, Sacraments, St Paul’s Letters to the Corinthians, the
1. Where did Noah keep the bees?
Social Context of Theology and The Psalms. Next term we will be doing
The Church and the Kingdom, and the Early Church, which will complete
2. When were motorbikes first mentioned in the Bible?
the Diploma. We have to do two 2,500 word essays a term, one for each
module, and this year I also have to do a 5,000 word dissertation. I think
3. Why don’t Buddhists vacuum the stairs?
I have learned as much from the other students (who are training for
Baptist ministry) as I have from the tutors, if not more.
4. Why did God create man before woman?
Answers to be found, amidst considerable groaning, on p27.
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Since October 2010, I’ve been doing a Student Pastorate at Friargate From Sheffield to Somerset…
Unitarian Chapel, Derby, which has consisted of leading one service a
The Worship Studies Course (WSC): Foundation Step is the lay training
month, and also leading an Engagement Group (which I put together)
that is currently offered in alternate years by the Midland Unitarian
entitled Building Beloved Community. I think it is going reasonably well –
Association (MUA) and the NorthWest Provincial Assembly. In 2010, it
they are a lovely group of people.
was the MUA’s turn to deliver, and with Sue Woolley, your UALM
By the time the next newsletter comes out, I will have completed my secretary, in charge, all was well: WSC: Foundation Step – done!
training at Harris Manchester College, and will have also completed the In the last issue, Dawn Buckle took the hard work out of some of
Diploma in Biblical & Theological Studies at Regent’s Park College. Unitarianism’s many acronyms, including WSC, and did a great job of
I hope to see many of you at the GA meetings at Swansea in April. explaining the fundamentals of the course. I hope I can do her justice
with a piece about the MUA 2010 WSC Foundation Step.
We were a dazed dozen that showed up on a sunny Saturday in May, the
Lay Lines 1 first of three, a month apart. ‘“Six innies and six outies”’, six of one
batch of MUAers and a half dozen of others from as far north as
A Unitarian Jesus’ Prayer Sheffield and as far south as Somerset. In the warm surroundings of
Kingswood Meeting House’s School Room, all travel agitation was soon
Begetter of life in every creature, forgotten as we explored the meaning, purpose, and various forms of
In Thy dimensionless domain, worship.
Be our revered and blessed teacher: I should confess that this was my second attendance at the MUA’s WSC.
May Thy harmonious peace obtain, I remain a rather unconfident service leader, although with all Sue’s
Right actions shape a better future training, (plus the MUA’s excellent book, ‘ABCs of Lay Preaching’ (free
And our daily needs sustain. on the MUA delivered course) as well as UALM’s ‘Conduct of Worship’
From the poison of guilt may we be free booklet), I know I can conceal most, if not all, of the evidence. Still,
Through the power of mutual charity. there is much to be said for the support of meeting others on the same
Guide us safely along Thy ways, path as you. As with the UALM conference, I found this to be the most
Renew us, today and all our days. invaluable aspect, which was why I found myself at Kingswood once
Spirit of Life, while our hearts unlearn again. And neither Sue, nor my fellow delegates disappointed. Soon
All the creeds that wrong Thy name enough, the schoolroom was singing with the sharing of ideas, the
Still let our hallowed chalice burn development of lines of thought, and especially, the generous
With our faith's undying flame. Amen recommendations of resources that others might find helpful.
Jim Stearn Yvonne Aburrow, from Bristol Frenchay Unitarians, suggested that we
search for the ‘Nadder Valley Inclusive Worship Service’ as a good
(Last four lines inspired by the words of Eliza Scudder, the 19th century example of how to do inclusive worship well. As inclusivity is one of the
American hymn writer). aspects that sets Unitarianism apart, we were all given a great head start
with this offering from Yvonne, although, due in part to my scrawl, I did
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waste some time looking around the Napa Valley. User error, red wine From Sheffield to Somerset continued…
on the brain… And this excellent document was written by none other
than UALM member, Lucy Harris. that, and I think we were all amazed at the virtuosity of those who did.
There were such different styles and variations on the basic content, and
The practicalities session was full of keen ears, with so many things to
yet retaining the essence of the original story. Much talent lies here….
learn of that might catch you out or trip you over, including the more
obvious one of getting from a pulpit to a reading lectern without mishap, Next up, the “thoughts to ponder” section, as Linda informed us that the
to the more obscure, such as to always remember to have a box of Rev. Ann Latham, Minister Emeritus to Kidderminster Unitarians, calls it.
matches with you! Some pulpits are a pitfall in themselves, not to A good call too, as didacticism rarely produces real results, especially
mention the vertigo potential. Have you seen the eggcup one at from freethinkers! So, the address, very often the meat of a Unitarian
Hinckley? Oooh, feeling queasy…. Beautiful chapel though, grade 2 service: Linda suggested we think about it as porridge, something you
listed, dating from 1722, with said pulpit predating this, and the don’t actually remember having, but you know you were wellfed by it.
incumbent, Rev. Chris Goacher, postdating it considerably. She emphasised the need for authenticity: as for the storytelling, we
need to speak with our own voices and those voices need to be coming
Our voices were then taken in hand by Dr. Jane Russell, a speech from the heart. Not that the head shouldn’t be in the mix too, it should,
therapist, from the home of the aforementioned head spinning pulpit, but perhaps not in a dominant position. The gut needs to be heard too:
Hinckley Great Meeting, who gave us some good tips on the projection we must tell our own truths, from our own experience. With this
and protection of the voice. We all performed a short piece of our approach, we stand a chance of reaching those dusty parts that are
choice and received feedback from both Jane and each other, which parched and withered from a lack of light and air: we can reach, and we
sounds nervy, but, actually was really helpful. We were all good friends can move, the hearts and minds of people’s deep selves.
to each other I think, in that we gave both praise and constructive July arrived, and the Rev. Ant Howe of Kingswood Chapel delivered two
criticism too. excellent sessions. Firstly, prayer and meditation and secondly hymns
June brought us the Rev. Linda Hart, of Richmond and Putney Unitarian and music. Both these elements brought us into a much less verbose
Church, with “two barnstorming sessions”, in the words of Kristian head space. Some of us managed to write really powerful prayers in the
Wilkes of Unitarian New Meeting, Birmingham: one on the address and moment, showing real potential to cope with a congregation’s need for
the other on storytelling. The latter began with Linda demonstrating extemporaneous prayer should the occasion arise. It was also good to
her skill with a rendition of a story about a Rabbi living in a village struck get out of our heads and into our hearts with our movement into the
by several calamities. I particularly liked her summing up, “God created chapel itself. And get stuck into the delights of perhaps the best
humanity because he likes a good story”. She exhorted us to focus on breathing exercise there is: singing! Hymns from the purple book were
communication rather than slip into any default performance explored and devoured, as was Ant’s guidance with regard to
orientation: it’s not a recital, it’s an interaction. Therefore, although introducing new tunes to a congregation and much more besides.
you’re the one who’s speaking, the teller, you also need to listen: it’s a Phew! Just two services to put together, have assessed and, all being
relationship, not a lecture. well, the WSC: Foundation Step Certificate would be on its way. It was
And then it was our turn! We were given ten minutes to come up with really good fun, so much to learn, not just from the facilitators, but from
our own way of retelling the story of the Three Little Pigs, and then the fellow attendees too. Do jump in, if you haven’t already: see p26 for
invited to come up to the front and “storytell”. Several of us did just details of the next available course.
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Tribute to David Monk by Malcolm Sadler
Way back in the mists of time, a group of folk who were regularly
leading worship at their churches, got together to form UALL, the
Unitarian Association of Lay Leaders, now renamed UALM, the Unitarian
Association for Lay Ministry. About 12 or 14 of us got together at the
Bilberry Hill Centre just outside Birmingham (then owned by Birmingham
Scouts), a sort of urban miniHucklow, under the guidance of Rev. John
Midgley. The idea was to form a group that could offer support and
spiritual assistance to Lay Ministers.
The Great Anon
At that inaugural meeting were the late Beverley Littlepage, Betty Smith,
Judith Crompton, Tom Poole and several well known faces, some of Tears are the words our hearts can’t express.
whom are still with us. Amongst this gathering was one of the most
important stalwarts of the denomination, David Monk, of Hindley,
The ministry of kindness is a ministry which may be achieved
Greater Manchester, who died a few weeks ago, in February.
by all, rich and poor, learned and illiterate. Brilliance of mind
David ministered to the Hindley congregation from 1976 right up until a and capacity for deep thinking have rendered great service to
few days before his death. He was a muchloved, very gentle person humanity, but by themselves, they are impotent to dry a tear
who could always be relied on to give calm, sensible advice. He was or mend a broken heart.
devoted to his congregation as they were to him, and he found time in
all his work to found and run the Meditation Fellowship, which meets Rainbows are soul kisses, hugged from heaven.
regularly at Great Hucklow and elsewhere. He will be always
remembered for his thoughtful and contemplative worship sessions
which he conducted at many of UALL’s Annual Conferences.
He quite rightly qualified as a professional Minister in 1995 after a short
period of study at Unitarian College Manchester. His kindly, calm and
very knowledgeable presence, along with his everpresent pipe of
tobacco, will be very much missed by all his many friends in all walks of
life; he was, surely, an example to us all.
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It’s a Student’s Life – Part 2 by Kath Forder It’s a Student’s Life – Part 2 continued…
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Lay Lines 2 Did you know…?
A Morning Prayer For Wholeness � In 2011 the King James Bible celebrates its 400th anniversary?
This lyrical text bequeathed the English language many pithy
Divine Spirit, help us to remember ourselves… Help us to remember images, including, ‘salt of the earth’ and ‘fly in the ointment’, as
that deep core of being: our truest self, yours and mine, well as the rather charmingly Chaucerian simile, ‘bald as a coot’.
A place of serene stillness, which, like the balm of a sweet spring breeze,
calms and contents us. � The works of Rabindranath Tagore come out of copyright in
2011? Perhaps you would consider telling me what, if any, is
We are, all of us, whole and perfect, just as we are.
your favourite Tagore piece, plus a line or so about what it means
Let us accept ourselves, and one another, as we wake into this new day. to you and those could feature in the next issue? I like, ‘Clouds
Though we may rise from the dark of slumber feeling chipped or broken, come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm,
with our cups halfempty, yet, this new day, may we restore ourselves, but to add colour to my sunset sky.’ What about you?
through acceptance, to the ground and heart of our truest being.
� The story of the first flower of spring, the snowdrop? It is said
We are, all of us, whole and perfect, just as we are. Blessed Be. that these milkywhite bells first appeared when Adam and Eve
were driven from the Garden of Eden into a cold, dark and alien
Joanne McGeehan land. To comfort them in their distress, an angel appeared to
them and promised them that even here, spring would come
eventually. To seal the promise, the angel flew over the many
Thoughts for our Community… snowdrifts that surrounded Adam and Eve, turning them into
Let us pause to think of those in our community who are suffering losses beautiful banks of snowdrops and then blew gently on the falling
or trials of some kind, whatever they may be…. And also for those who flakes, turning each one of them into sublime snowdrops as they
are ill, physically or emotionally or both…. lightly touched the earth.
Some of us have the good fortune to possess the wealth of health, a
great anchor through the vicissitudes of life. Let us be thankful for it. Only on a church poster…
Some of us have had this great blessing in the past and it is painful to At the service tonight, the sermon will be, “What is Hell?”. Come early
acknowledge its loss and know that it may never come again. Let us and listen to our choir practice.
tenderly hold each other whilst the pain lasts.
On the other hand…
Some of us have never known this great blessing and struggle for life in a
world that rewards efficiency. In the spirit of acceptance, let us allow There were three little owls in a wood,
ourselves, and each other, to just be the human beings that we are. Who sang hymns whenever they could,
Let us now pause in silence for one minute, to cherish each other in What the words were about,
thought before we return to our day’s journey…. You could never make out,
But you were sure it was doing them good.
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R’n’R…’n’R A Marriage Made In Heaven?
Or recommendations and resources… and reviews, maybe. So, no actual On their way to get married, a couple were involved in a fatal car crash.
rest and relaxation here, I’m afraid, but hopefully something that you They swiftly found themselves waiting in line outside the Pearly Gates.
can use, or to stimulate, well, curiosity at the very least. Whilst slowly moving forward, they began to wonder whether it would
I treated myself to a new book over Christmas, then only available in be possible to get married whilst they were in heaven, and they decided
hardback, so a rare extravagance. It was the author who first caught my to ask St. Peter if he could arrange it. Soon enough, they got to the front
eye, Mark Vernon, some of whose previous offerings I’ve really enjoyed, of the queue, where St. Peter was waiting to process them into Heaven.
including, ‘The Philosophy of Friendship’, plus a very readable Before St. Peter could begin all the paperwork, they told him about their
introduction to Humanism from the ‘Teach Yourself’ series. This situation, and asked if he could help them. “I don’t know,” he said,
Christmas red tome was called ‘the good life – 30 steps to perfecting somewhat puzzled, “Noone’s ever asked me that. But, let me go and
the art of living’, priced at £12.99. The introduction questions the try to find out.” And with that, he locked up the Gates and left.
growth and ethos of selfhelp, which is an industry that I, too, The couple waited patiently for St. Peter to return. After a few weeks
sometimes find questionable. This perspective also chimed in well with had passed, their hopes began to wane. As the time went by, they even
some words of Leslie Harris of Evesham Unitarians, on this subject. She began to wonder if it was just a silly idea, so they discussed the pros and
suggested that rather than all this relentless positivity/therapy culture, cons together. If they were allowed to get married in heaven, should
what people could really use was some good, practical advice and they do so, what with the eternal aspect? After all, what if didn’t work?
encouragement, which a weekly Unitarian service was very wellplaced Would they be stuck in Heaven together forever?
to deliver. (Please correct me Leslie if this is poor paraphrase.) Vernon They decided that when St. Peter returned that they would ask him
suggests that it is wisdom that is missing, and I feel his meaning is close about this. More weeks passed and no St. Peter. It was an anxious wait
to what Leslie getting at, if I have understood her correctly. for the couple and tested their devotion to each other well. At last, St.
He presents thirty short chapters ranging from ‘Community – or the ties Peter’s silhouette appeared over the horizon, and soon he arrived at the
that free us’ through ‘Humour – its humanity and humility’, ‘Me – being Gates, slightly out of breath and looking rather bedraggled.
true to yourself’ to ‘Stories – and your moral imagination’. All the “Yes,” he informed the couple, “You can get married in heaven.” “Oh
other chapters look like good starting points for services too! For each my God! That’s fantastic news! Thankyou so much!” cried the couple.
one he introduces a key figure whose perspective underpins the “But, although we are still in love and committed to each other, we were
exploration of each theme. For the four chapters mentioned, those are: just wondering: what if things go wrong and it doesn’t work out? Would
Saint Benedict, Arthur Schopenhauer, Carl Jung and Leo Tolstoy it be possible for us to get a divorce in Heaven?”
respectively. With the selfcontained chapter format you can dip in and St. Peter, redfaced with anger, threw his clipboard and keys down to
out or just chomp straight through. Its literary style is quite digestible the ground. “What’s wrong?” asked the bewildered, and now rather
too, so plenty of scope to crop accessible readings from it too, I think. frightened couple. “What’s wrong?” St. Peter snorted. “What’s wrong??
To finish, go find Karen Armstrong’s latest book, ‘Twelve Steps to A It took me three months to find a priest up here!! Do you have any idea
Compassionate Life’. Please see charterforcompassion.org for more how long it will take to find a lawyer???”
information. This could be making its presence heartily felt at this year’s
GA, so if it’s new to you, check it out, maybe even sign up. Go for it!
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Yoof Done Good Yoof Done Good continued…
Joyful, joyful, GA Meetings,/Here we meet with all our friends;/ all her words a pleasure. I do wish I had heard her at Northampton.
Much to do and time is fleeting,/But the fervour never ends./ Edinburgh, her new congregation, is far away indeed.
Find our rooms, and in we settle,/Then it’s smiles and hugs all round /
After that we’re in good fettle/For the sessions that abound. And pleasures were many at these meetings. The sun shone a warm and
bright light upon us and our surroundings, Nottingham University,
By honorary GA member, Dr. June Bell, member of St. Mark’s, whose wellappointed rooms, wellexecuted meals, and well air
Edinburgh, who passed away March 2010, aged 91. conditioned lecture and seminar rooms brought out a far better
disposition in the delegates than the previous venue. The air inside
So, a second attendance at the General Assembly Annual meetings for these buildings was as sweet as that outside, although the proud and
Northampton Unitarians this year, 2010, in Nottingham, on the theme showy Heron Narcissus did not deign to join us inside, having no need to
of “Youth”: no longer a newbie, but a probie (probationer). And last solicit even more admiring looks.
year’s descriptors hold true for this, “inspiring, overwhelming but great
fun too.” As did the prophecy of exhaustion – on the night of the Not quite so sweet was my presentation within the choir, but, with no
entertainment I went to bed at 8pm! And still managed to miss pre auditions, I settled shyly amongst the altos. Sadly, my voice remained as
service breakfast and be slightly late to the next day’s morning service. timid as my initial demeanour, as I struggled to stay with the alto
This, despite all previous mornings being so early to breakfast that the harmony and vainly resisted being dragged into the familiar soprano
doors weren’t open. At least I gave the staff a chuckle after their first melody. More successful was my participation in the hymns that
frowns of dismay. dappled the services and workshops. The Worship Panel, who were
celebrating 40 years of existence, had alternative words to All Things
As last year, I wanted to taste as much as possible, but with hindsight Bright and Beautiful for their History Song which includes the verse,
gleaned from Chester ‘09, I knew rest had to come too. Having saved up
to give myself a rather more generous purchasing budget than last year, “At all the GA meetings/With tummies rumbling round/
my first stop had to be the bookshop where I knew early perusal would They worship in the morning/Will breakfast then be found?”
bring reward. And soon my book bag was groaning with Skinner House,
(the UU (Unitarian Universalist) publishing arm (without the pain of This year, as indicated earlier, we had the boon of finding breakfast
shipping)), and Lindsey Press. either before or after worship. And it is the Worship Panel I need to
thank for making these meetings as satisfying as they are, for it is they
The early morning services were also without pain as, although, never who have pushed for these early worship sessions, the business
having been a natural lark, for something as long deliciously anticipated devotions and so on. And, thankful I am, for it is these elements, which
as these few days, larkishness appeared without effort. Maud have made my experiences the joy they have been. And it is Joy (Croft)
Robinson’s Chocolate Communion I especially looked forward to, and company I thank now.
(despite being the instance of my tardiness), as she was a parttime
student Pastor to Northampton for 9 months, albeit before my time. More joy was to be had in the opening celebrations, where the ‘Youth’
She has a particularly beautiful voice, lilting, gentle and clear, that made led us all into reflection on their chosen theme of ‘Living in the Now’,
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with a storming drum meditation. The alternative Chalice was a bright Dates for Your Diary
wormery of glow sticks. We picked out ribbon for ourselves which we
were asked to tie around our wrists in order to remind us to
“remember” this moment, a call to live in the now. This was later General Assembly Annual Unitarian Meetings 2011
reinforced by a short mindfulness exercise with a pebble to the same
purpose (echoed the next morning by Chris Goacher’s morning service When: Friday April 15th to Monday April 18th
on Thich Nhat Hanh, which included The Prayer of LovingKindness or Where: Swansea University, Singleton Park, SWANSEA, SA2 8PP
Metabhavna, a familiar one at Northampton). There was so much to Theme: Celebrating Volunteers
commend and admire here: deep feeling; originality; confidence. We UALM Slot: Saturday April 16th 7.45 pm – 8.25 pm
will be in safe hands for the future if these guys are part of it. Take a More details: thega.org/um
look at the words of a song they chose, ‘The Bridging Song’,
Take my hand/Fill my heart/Move my soul. Worship Studies Course – Foundation Step 2011
That’s GA. That’s Unitarians. When: May 21st, June 4th & 18th, July 2nd (All saturdays) 104.15pm
And that’s just what I can take back to Northampton: inspiration in Where: Cross Street Chapel, MANCHESTER, M2 1NL except June 4th at
service leading; trust that this onceayear energy can be built at home, Luther King House, Rusholme, MANCHESTER, M14 5JP
albeit on a small scale, plus ideas of what can make that happen. All the Cost: Registration £5; each session £10
other elements come back to this desire for inspiration: Stephen
Lunch: please bring your own
Lingwood’s God’s hat story/drama; Michael Dadson’s Anniversary
Terminal Baggage Address; Jeff Gould’s Taize Worship; Danielle Wilson’s More details: Dawn Buckle – dawnbuckle@ymail.com or 01457 763721
Labyrinth Walk. I discovered this desire was paralleled in the feedback
for the ‘Future Annual Meetings Discussions’. I look forward to the Taize UALM Conference 2011
evening worship being joined by others at Swansea GA 2011,
‘Celebrating Volunteers’. When: Friday November 25th – Sunday 27th November
Where: The Nightingale Unitarian Conference Centre, Great Hucklow,
My thanks go to Sue Woolley for looking out for me, driving me back BUXTON, SK17 8RH
home and being indefatigable but not infallible.
Cost: TBA
Theme: Learning and Sharing
More details: ualm.org.uk or sue.woolley@virgin.net
We hope that lots of ideas for worship will come out of this conference,
plus new resources through mutual sharing and the opportunity to
practice in small groups, in a space where people feel comfortable.
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UALM Committee
‘The True Poem is The Poet’s Mind’ Ralph Waldo Emerson
President: Mr. Malcolm Sadler
Secretary: Mrs. Sue Woolley, UALM, 5 Martins Road, Piddington, Zero Circle – Rumi
Northampton, NN7 2DN
sue.woolley@virgin.net 01604 870746 Be helpless, dumbfounded,
Please contact Sue for all general enquiries. Unable to say yes or no.
Then a stretcher will come from grace
to gather us up.
Treasurer: Mr. David Arthur, UALM, 27, Barnes Avenue,
Wakefield, WF1 2BJ We are too dulleyed to see that beauty.
Please contact David for all membership submissions. If we say we can, we're lying.
You may download an application form from If we say No, we don't see it,
ualm.org.uk/join.html, and send it, with a cheque for That No will behead us
£10, made payable to ‘UALM’, to David as above. And shut tight our window onto spirit.
WSC Adm Mrs. Winnie Gordon: gordonwinnie@yahoo.com So let us rather not be sure of anything,
inistrator Please contact Winnie for all course enquiries. Beside ourselves, and only that, so
Miraculous beings come running to help.
News Ed: Ms. Joanne McGeehan: joanne.mcgeehan@yahoo.com Crazed, lying in a zero circle, mute,
Please contact Joanne for all newsletter submissions. We shall be saying finally,
With tremendous eloquence, Lead us.
Member Mrs. Chrissie Wilkie When we have totally surrendered to that beauty,
We shall be a mighty kindness.
Member Ms. Mina Coalter
Excerpt from the Preface of ‘Leaves of Grass’ by Walt Whitman
Quick Quiz Answers
This is what you should do:
1. In the archives. 4. Because you’re always love the earth and sun and animals,
supposed to have a despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks,
2. When the roar of David’s rough draft before stand up for the stupid and crazy,
triumph was heard creating your devote your income and labour to others, hate tyrants,
throughout the land. masterpiece. argue not concerning God,
have patience and indulgence toward the people...
3. Because they don’t have (My apologies to reexamine all you have been told in school or church or in any book,
any attachments. MisandryWatch.) dismiss what insults your very soul,
and your flesh shall become a great poem.
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