Weekly Update 20th December – 29th December

Greetings to you all. 

This update contains:

  • Links for all the services for the remainder of 2024 and a reminder that our pre-Christmas service of music and readings entitled “Christmas in the Present Tense” is this Sunday 22nd December at 10:30 in the hall
  • A note about, and links for, the Thursday Zoom “Kiitsu Kyōkai” Seiza Meditation & Conversation Meeting which takes a break until January 9th
  • A link to the completed, first-draft translation of the 1939 edition of Norbert Fabián Čapek’s “To the Sunny Shore: A Guide to Living Joyfully” (K slunnému brehu: Prúvodce do radostného Zivota). Čapek was the founder of the Religious Society of Czech Unitarians 
  • A note about the Cambridge Social Mentoring Community group in the church hall, on Fridays between 12:00 and 16:00
  • Links to the minister’s address/podcast
  • A link to a short Radio Cambridgeshire piece about the Kite Area, the part of the city where our church is located
  • 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)

Links for all the services for the remainder of 2024

Sunday 22nd December 10.30—11.30 “Christmas in the Present Tense”

This Sunday, in place of our service of Mindful Meditation, Music and Conversation Andrew Bethune and Marianna Michell will lead our regular pre-Christmas service of music and readings, this year entitled, “Christmas in the Present Tense” “ This year, there will be a time and space for children, entitled, “Starlight!” All welcome. 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86882949446?pwd=kliXbdABEfbU8FjDMtNRNJ4Lr2lb5z.1

Meeting ID: 868 8294 9446
Passcode: 612407

Christmas Eve Communion Service: 18:00-19:00, in the church and on Zoom. Mulled wine and mince pies following

The order of service for this can be downloaded at the following link: 

https://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Christmas-Eve-Communion-Service-2022.pdf

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89702078669?pwd=h5E5ugkgQCDjZH0EVFxDAVUFGYXbUo.1

Meeting ID: 897 0207 8669
Passcode: 944100

Christmas Day: There is no face-to-face service on Christmas Day. However, as last year, there will be a short service of meditation and reflection on Zoom between 10:30 and 11:15

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87259001228?pwd=cmbIK9wp96JAiCi6YNguYeaek9m5MH.1

Meeting ID: 872 5900 1228
Passcode: 271472

Sunday 29th December: The normal service of Mindful Meditation, Music and Conversation will be held in the hall and via the usual Sunday Service Zoom link:

Join 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 note about the Thursday morning/evening Zoom “Kiitsu Kyōkai” Seiza Meditation & Conversation Meeting

We’ll be taking a break over Christmas and the New Year and will resume meetings on the 9th January starting at 10:30 and finishing at 12:00. For more information, please click on the following links:

https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/p/kiitsu-kyokai.html
https://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/evening-service/

A link to the completed, first draft translation of the 1939 edition of Norbert Fabián Čapek’s “To the Sunny Shore: A Guide to Living Joyfully” (K slunnému brehu: Prúvodce do radostného Zivota). Čapek was the founder of the Religious Society of Czech Unitarians. 

A few weeks ago I introduced you to Norbert Fabián Čapek’s “Ten Principles of Living” and noted that I was currently working to finish a translation of his most important book, “To the Sunny Shore: A Guide to Living Joyfully”. Well, I’m pleased to say that a first draft has been completed and, should you be interested, you can read it at the following link:

https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/2024/12/blog-post.html

A note about the Cambridge Social Mentoring Community Group in the church hall, on Fridays between 12:00 and 16:00.

This is a volunteer run and peer-supported group involving a number of people from the Cambridge Unitarian Church  engaged in building Cambridge Social Mentoring Community for Adults (over 25) who are experiencing Autism (Asperger) and Mental Health issues. The group provides an opportunity to share life experiences of carers and those living with Asperger’s and Mental Health and those who are concerned with well-being issues. We meet on Fridays (12 Noon-4PM) at Cambridge Unitarian Church, and host a peer-led free Community Kitchen (vegetarian food). The sharing of cooking, eating and managing the kitchen together is part of the socialisation of the mentoring and peer-mentoring process.

To all church members and attenders, please do consider volunteering to help out now and then. Just be in touch with me for more details or, or course, just drop in . . .

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 short Radio Cambridgeshire piece about the Kite Area, the part of the city where our church is located:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0k9drx9

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

What's on this week...