Greetings to you all.
This update contains:
- A link for the Morning Service of Mindful Meditation, Music & Conversation and a reminder that, this Sunday, our service will be led by Lizzie Kingston who is currently training for the Unitarian ministry with our congregation being her first placement
- A reminder of the inaugural Cambridge Social Mentoring Community Group event in the church on Sunday 17 November, from 4 pm
- A note to say that the funeral of Michael Thomas, who was the church’s chairman a number of years ago, will take place in the church on Thursday 28th November at 15:00
- A note about our annual pre-Christmas service of music and readings, this year entitled “Christmas in the Present Tense.” Date: 22nd December, in the Hall
- A note about, and links for, the Thursday Zoom “Kiitsu Kyōkai” Seiza Meditation & Conversation Meeting which, this week, starts at 19:30 and finishes at 21:00
- A note from Marianna about the Unitarian Music Society (UMS)
- Links to the minister’s address/podcast
- A link to the video of last Saturday’s Zoom introduction to Imaoka Shin’ichirō for the North American Unitarian Association (NAUA)
- A link to and note about the International Association for Religious Freedom’s (IARF) new Free Religion Institute
- A link to denominational news (Uni-News)
A link for the Morning Service of Mindful Meditation, Music & Conversation
Our regular Sunday Morning Service of Mindful Meditation, Music and Conversation starts in the church on Emmanuel Road at 10:30 and finishes at 11:30/11:40.
Should you wish to join this by Zoom, please use the following permanent link:
Join Sunday Morning Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86882949446?pwd=kliXbdABEfbU8FjDMtNRNJ4Lr2lb5z.1
Meeting ID: 868 8294 9446
Passcode: 612407
If you would like to download a pdf of the service, please click this link.
A reminder of the Cambridge Social Mentoring Community Group: An inaugural event this Sunday, 17 November, from 4pm onwards in the church
Recently, I’ve been working with Professor Karamjit Gill to get this community project started (supporting document attached). Stephen Lawrence, another member of the congregation, is also involved in the planning of this project.
Karamjit writes:
A Social Mentoring Inauguration Event will be held at the Cambridge Unitarian Church. The aim is to build Cambridge Social Mentoring Community for Adults (over 25) who are experiencing Autism (Asperger) and Mental Health issues. The event will provide opportunity to share life experiences of carers and those living with Asperger and Mental Health and those who are concerned with well-being issues. The event will host a Community Kitchen (Indian vegetarian food). Cambridge Unitarian Church has already agreed in principle to host the social mentoring meetings on a weekly basis on Fridays (10 AM-4PM) with a peer-lead community kitchen.
Background of the Proposed Social Mentoring Initiative
Many of the adults living with mental health have life skills and creative skills, but have lost confidence as their lives have been derailed due to life circumstances, including competitive learning environments, pressured adult life patterns and work life pressures. As a result, they have lost opportunities to go back to living a normal social life, benefiting from well-being services, and making effective use of work-oriented learning and training schemes. There is an urgent need to rethink well-being strategies, and formulate a holistic network strategy which integrates various well-being chains in a way that they complement each other and act to bridge the gaps for moving along the medication-healthcare-therapy-mentoring-socialisation-voluntary activities-learning/training-workplace environments chains.
A note to say that the funeral of Michael Thomas, who was the church’s chairman a number of years ago, will take place in the church on Thursday 28th November at 15:00
If you intend to come, please let me know, as it will help Helen, Michael’s wife, organise the refreshments. We send Helen our love and best wishes.
A note about our annual pre-Christmas service of music and readings, this year entitled “Christmas in the Present Tense.” Date: 22nd December, in the Hall
Andrew Bethune and Marianna Michell are beginning to prepare our annual pre-Christmas service of music and readings, this year entitled “Christmas in the Present Tense.” As ever, we invite readers and singers to take part. The monthly singers’ rehearsal on 24th November, after the service, will include an item or two anticipating 22nd December. We shall rehearse again on Sunday 15th December, time to be announced. Please contact:
For singers: Marianna Michell <ringofvoices@gmail.com>
For readers: Andrew Bethune <andrew.bethune@btinternet.com>
A note about the Thursday morning/evening Zoom “Kiitsu Kyōkai” Seiza Meditation & Conversation Meeting
A reminder that the next Kiitsu Kyōkai meeting is on Thursday, 21st November, starting at 19:30 am and finishing at 21:00 midday. For more information and the Zoom link, please click on either of the following links:
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/p/kiitsu-kyokai.html
https://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/evening-service/
A note from Marianna about the Unitarian Music Society (UMS)
The Unitarian Music Society (UMS) aims to support musical activity and education within Unitarian congregations and gatherings. The survey form linked below provides an opportunity for congregations and individuals to generate ideas and report musical needs. Let us know areas where you feel support is needed, or indeed, where you feel able to offer support. Please share this document with others! Here is the link:
<https://forms.gle/sha2AsAHhUk1A3tf7>
Thank-you.
Links to the minister’s address/podcast:
The minister’s blog and podcast (which contain his weekly, Sunday “thought for the day” as well as other, occasional, pieces) can be found at the following links:
CAUTE — MAKING FOOTPRINTS NOT BLUEPRINTS
A link to a video of last Saturday’s Zoom introduction to Imaoka Shin’ichirō for the North American Unitarian Association (NAUA)
A link to and note about the International Association for Religious Freedom’s (IARF) new Free Religion Institute for which I have become one of the tutors
<https://iarf.net/free-religion-institute-first-course/>
The Free Religion Institute represents IARF’s commitment to fostering liberal religious thought and education. Taking inspiration from Rev. Dr. Imaoka’s wisdom, we recognize that learning is a lifelong journey – one that transcends formal education and embraces the continuous pursuit of understanding across religious traditions, cultures, and philosophies. As we embark on this ambitious journey, we begin with humble steps but clear vision. Our mission is to create an accessible platform where IARF members and all those interested in liberal religion can explore, learn, and grow together. We don’t aim to replace formal education but rather to provide resources and opportunities for continuous learning and development throughout life’s journey.
Since last Congress in September 2023, over a year ago, Prof. George Williams, our team of volunteers from the Institute Working Group, as well as our first instructors, Rev. Andrew Brown and Rev. Michinori Maruta, have been working to create an ambitious educational platform that will serve the IARF community and beyond.
We envision the Institute as a vibrant hub of liberal religious education and inspiration, offering a diverse range of learning and sharing opportunities.
For additional national Unitarian news, please click on the following link:
Uni-news
https://us20.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=1590ea5f53cdc6fb8a17c311c&id=7bce4a21b7
All the best, as always,
Andrew
Andrew James Brown
Minister
Cambridge Unitarian Church
Emmanuel Road
Cambridge
CB1 1JW
07477 462 110 (Mobile)
http://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/
Blog—Caute
http://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com
Podcast—Making Footprints Not Blueprints
https://footprints.buzzsprout.com
Jiyū Shūkyō / Free Religion
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/p/free-religion.html
Kiitsu Kyōkai
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/p/kiitsu-kyokai.html
Seiza Meditation (Quiet Sitting)
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/p/seiza-meditation.html