chorlton unitarians christmas 🎄 2015...
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Chorlton Unitarians
Christmas 🎄 2015
Newsletter
Minister’s Musings Happy Festive season
everyone!
We have, as usual, had a
very busy Autumn season.
In September I had the
opportunity to hear Rex
Hunt, an Australian
Minister, speaking under the
auspices of the Progressive
Christian Network. Besides
meeting a few faces I
recognised from Luther King
House and Chorlton Clergy,
I was amused that we were
taught a ‘new’ hymn “For
everyone born”…. pretty
familiar to Chorlton
Unitarians. I think we are
already embracing the
concept of alternative
worship quite well.
I had the pleasure of
attending the Induction of
Rev Anna Jarvis as she took
up her position as Minister
at Monton, a welcome
addition to our group of
Ministers in the Manchester
District where we have 16
churches and chapels!
The Build Your Own
Theology Group has just
completed and the
participants have drawn up
their personal credos which
they will be sharing with us
on Sunday 13th December.
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I am continuing my Healthy
Leadership Course online
and finding it beneficial to
get together for video
conferencing and discussion.
I am pleased that the
committee is determined to
take care of me and my
spiritual and emotional
needs and supports my
ministerial retreats and
counselling.
Our new members service
was a great highlight which
tied in with our Anniversary
Sunday service.
In October I went along to
support Derby Unity at the
launch of their new
Unitarian congregation
based at the Multi-faith
centre at Derby University.
A very positive occasion!
And at the beginning of
December Rev Danny
Crosby very kindly came
along to Chorlton and led a
singing meditation which
was greatly enjoyed by all
who attended.
A baby naming, foodbank
training and a funeral
included the circle of life.
And just in the last week I
had an enlightening day at
The Faith Network for
Manchester interfaith event
on education followed by
our own movement’s day of
Vision into Action in
Sheffield.
Many Blessings as we move
through the Christmas
season and into the sparkling
New Year!
Nicky Jenkins
I am available for Pastoral
matters and Weddings, Baby
Namings and Funerals and can
be contacted on 0161 224 5289
or by e-mail on
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New Members
At our Anniversary Service
this year we welcomed eight
people into membership of
the Church.
The new members are welcomed by Mary
Crumpton, Chairperson and Rev Nicky
Jenkins
Mark Hutchinson writes:
When I joined Chorlton
Unitarians the average
attendance struggled into
double figures. This year we
welcomed eight new
members.
In their off-the-cuff
expressions we received
comments on the warmth of
the reception, the
comfortable nature of the
sacred space: we had an
expression of gratitude for
gaining their own
understanding of spirit/god.
We had gratitude and an
admission that they still
wouldn't tell their friends
they went to church.
We had an evocatively
expressed acknowledgment
that after a lifetime of
religious community and
personal hypocrisy it was
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very satisfying to be in a
community and able to ditch
the hypocrisy.
Those choosing not to speak
spoke volumes as they help
set up, attend and
contribute. Eight new
members and eight more
contributions to the Spirit of
Chorlton!
We had a treasurer almost
with a tear in his eye; long
standing members smiling
and wow what an
atmosphere! Our Minister
always welcomes and holds
us with her words: Truth,
meaning, love and deep
connection. It was all there
and we look forward to the
next eight new members.
Flowers
We love nature and rejoice in
fresh flowers adorning our
church during Sunday
services. These are kindly
arranged for us each week
by Miriam Dewhurst. We
support this by contributing
to the flower fund. Please see
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Miriam and choose two or
three dates which are
important to you to
remember when you would
like to donate the flowers.
Miriam collects the money
and buys the flowers each
week and arranges them
beautifully for us.
Haikus of Meaning
Our Build Your Own
Theology Group looked at
what gave their lives
meaning and wrote a haiku
to express it. A haiku is a
poem of 17 syllables
arranged in a 5, 7, 5 on three
lines. For many of us it was
the first attempt at the form.
Soft petalled rose bloom
Raindrop on spikey pine tip
Beech leaves burnishing
Nicky
Challenging myself Is a creativity Which I find useful.
Sheila
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I sit in stillness
my mind settles, grows quiet
clear water from mud
Rachel
Leaves dance, kiss the air
Roots reach deep down in the
earth
Trunk holds us steady
Laura
To understand all -
- Explain it to everyone -
This is my true quest.
Mike
Transylvania:
Holiday or
Pilgrimage
I was lucky enough to go
this year at the end of
September to Transylvania.
Strange to say I have always
wanted to go, but I haven't
always been Unitarian.
Arriving on the overnight
sleeper from Budapest at 9
am on a Sunday (the things
you do to save money!)
Brasov train station is the
kind of station it's important
you leave to the city, as
opposed to never seeing the
city. A drab, almost 1980s
station is modernised as the
bus approaches the centre,
but even as we walked
nothing prepared us for the
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang feel
of beautifully painted houses
nestled amongst hills just tall
enough and very green
enough.
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Hearing the bell tolling, we
walked to discover The Black
Church, the doorman
proudly informing us the
service was an hour long,
Lutheran, in German and
once we were in we couldn't
leave. Spotting a place to
stay, bags dumped and
quick Internet directions for
Brasov Unitarians. Unsure
on crossing at the park we
asked at the Orthodox
Church who, with no sense
of irony at all, sent us in the
wrong direction! If in doubt
ask a pharmacist and right
on time we arrived at the
Unitarian Church just as the
service began. 250 in
attendance. (Nicky Jenkins
take note.) It was
thanksgiving and a certain
discomfort for me: very
dressed up, communion, and
men and women sitting
separately.
The minister hunted us out
and over tea I asked about
the communion and
segregation.’ Tradition’ was
the response. Reflecting on
the Bible, he said we don't
know how much of the Bible
is true but we know what
parts mean to us and we
know our traditions. They
have great lodgings with a
kitchen too; we returned the
following weekend and
stayed at £10 for both of us.
What a start! Cluj Napoca
(Romanian) Kolozsvar
(Hungarian) was day three
and the birthplace of
Unitarianism. We called at
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the college late afternoon
and met the vice principal. A
tour of college and church
were arranged for the next
morning. A whistle-stop tour
of the churches of Cluj was
breath-taking. The college is
25% assisted places and the
rest paid, (step down
Manchester Grammar), and
about 30 per cent Unitarian
by faith. It costs about £500
per year per pupil so maybe
a fund-raising day for us to
help somebody from rural
Romania to an education?
Holder of the earliest science
school lab in Eastern Europe,
and with only one original
painted room left in original
condition, the building is a
testament to the journey of
communism also.
Lucky enough then to sit in
the church as the minister
gave us a 45 minute history.
Francis David in 20 years a
Catholic, a Calvinist and a
Unitarian Bishop. As the
myth goes, on his return
from the Diet the people
were so excited to hear from
him that he had to stand on a
stone. (Picture below)
It’s more likely he returned
to the then Catholic church
and pronounced. This
church became Unitarian
and is once again Catholic. I
learn more of the liberal
nature of a young king, of
how an Italian doctor and a
Greek free spirit influenced
him and Francis David. And
this was how religious
tolerance began and ended.
Once the king died Francis
David was imprisoned and
died, effectively executed. It
was a humbling experience.
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Travelling throughout
Transylvania we were struck
by the quality of the
Orthodox Church buildings
everywhere. A couple of
interesting facts: 97%
of Romanians consider
themselves religious. Such is
the sway of the Orthodox
Church, the state pays all
ministers’ salaries, of all
denominations. Perhaps we
should email George and see
what he thinks? No wonder
all the buildings were in
good nick and that in my
early rising I was always
able to find 7:30 am
worship.
As regards the rest. Yes, we
did some Dracula stuff. I
knew of Vlad the Impaler
but didn't know that meant
the ramming of a sharpened
tree trunk into the victim,
who is then upended
crucifixion-like until death.
We visited Viscri, of Prince
Charles fame, gorgeous and
ancient and breathing of a
life long gone.
And finally back to Brasov
and service number two, just
the 120 there this time. More
to tell including the
mountain drive to end all
mountain drives; green upon
green upon green.
It was wonderful to touch
the spirit of our origins, to
feel a less liberal tradition
than ours there now, yet still
modern. It was great to meet
and be welcomed. This is the
right home for my spirit and
thank you to all those who
came before giving love,
warmth and their own lives
to enable us to seek Truth,
Meaning, Love and Deep
Connections.
Mark Hutchinson
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What’s On
Nationally
For a wide listing of
Unitarian events around the
UK check out
https://www.unitarian.org.uk/get-involved/events
Feb 19, 2016 5:00pm- Sun,
Feb 21, 2016 3:00pm. FUSE
Festival of Unitarians in the
South East
http://fusefest.org.uk
Letting go Services
Letting Go celebrations have
been such a success that they
will carry on in the New
Year on the last Friday of the
month. They will start at
7pm
Life reveals to all of us many
things that constrain our
spiritual and physical
movement forward.
Bereavement, jobs, empty
nest or simply a tough day,
week or month; we all need
the calm and transcendence
to let difficult things go.
A participatory service led
by Mark Hutchinson, this is
aimed at all comers to meet
in community and seek the
comfort of letting go.
This is a personal journey to
be kept private, yet in the
warmth of a loving, spiritual
and supporting
environment.
7 pm Chalice lighting and
opening prayers.
7-7.40 Service with readings,
songs and music.
7.40 Letting go .
7.45 Closing Reflection .
Tea and close by 8.
Open to all our friends in the
wider community as a
means of spiritual support.
Mark Hutchinson
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Dates for your Diary
Sunday 29th November-
Café Church. We’re all going
a little potty! Raising funds
for hygienic toilets in Africa.
Friday 11th Dec – Festive
Quiz Night .Bring your
mates. Play in teams
Sunday 20th December –
Evening Carol Service -
6.30pm Mulled wine and
mince pies!
Friday 25th December –
Christmas day short service
10.30am
2016
Sunday 3rd January No
service. Church closed
28th December – 4th January
Church Closed for floor
sanding and varnishing
Where to find us
Facebook page: Chorlton
Unitarian Church
Website www.chorltonunitarians.org
Chorlton Unitarian Church
Rear of Regency Court Flats
Wilbraham Rd,
Chorlton-cum-Hardy,
M21 9LB
Chorlton Unitarian
Church is grateful to the
for the
contribution to their part-
time paid Ministry