WEEKLY GREETINGS & NEWS ABOUT THIS WEEK’S PODCAST, WEDNESDAY CONVERSATION, SUNDAY MORNING MINDFUL MEDITATION SERVICE & A FEW OTHER THINGS — 13th DECEMBER 2020
Greetings to you all,
I hope this finds you as well as can be expected.
As in previous weeks here’s a quick email to send you the link to this week’s “Making Footprints Not Blueprints” podcast and Wednesday Evening Conversation and to remind you if you would like to speak with me during the week please to be in touch by replying to this and we can arrange a suitable time to talk properly either by telephone, Zoom or by taking a socially distanced walk somewhere in and around town.
“Steps, not-steps, promises and the art of metaphysical hitchhiking”
Some thoughts on how and why one might commit to a religious/philosophical/political project that doesn’t start, or even finish, with a blueprint.
You can hear a podcast/recording of this piece at the following link:<https://footprints.buzzsprout.com>
The full text of this podcast can be found at the following link:<https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/2020/12/steps-not-steps-promises-and-art-of.html>
Please feel free to post any comments you have about this episode there.
If you would like to join a conversation about this, or any other edition, of the podcast then please note that our next Wednesday Evening Zoom meeting will take place on 16th December at 19.30 GMT. You can find the Zoom link below this timetable for the meeting:
19.15-19.30: Arrivals/login
19.30 – approx. 20.00: Streaming of the latest edition of “Making Footprints Not Blueprints”
20.00 – 21.00: Questions to, and conversations with, Andrew James Brown moderated by Courtney Whalen Van de Weyer
21:00: Event ends
Those of you who have already listened to the podcast and who only wish to join in the conversation are invited to login to the meeting at about 19.50.
Topic: Cambridge Unitarian Church Wednesday Evening ConversationTime: Dec 16, 2020 19:00 London
Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/88153425976?pwd=VDRVeHpwK2pPTWh3OWFaSEhKc1VmZz09
Meeting ID: 881 5342 5976
Passcode: 022849
Advent/Christmas Appeal
This year we have chosen to support a local Cambridge Charity, Rowan Humberstone http://www.rowanhumberstone.co.uk/
Rowan Humberstone is an art centre and charity supporting people with learning difficulties, and we chose Rowan this year because one of our church members is a student there.
The charity has a strong social enterprise ethos. They produce work for commissions and for sale at exhibitions and events.
Creative working in small groups with tutors enables Rowan’s students to develop social and communication skills, offering a rounded and stimulating group experience to each individual participant. The active participation in community events and arts activities is also important as a means of connecting directly with their local community and cultural heritage. Meeting people in new and different environments stimulates ideas and discussion as well as being a platform for enabling greater social inclusion.
Rowan is committed to:
- Approaching life as an adventure, with humour, passion, optimism and fun
- Sharing our passion for bringing art and people together
- Fairness and equal opportunities based on respect for all people
- Doing good for the whole – our students, staff, community and society
- Providing a safe, caring, nurturing, inspiring and creative environment
- Championing personal development, innovation and excellence
- Encouraging friendship and a sense of belonging
- Sustainability and acting in an environmentally friendly and ethical way
- A social enterprise model that produces financial returns and social impact
If you’d like to make a donation, please send it to the church bank account 40-52-40Account number 800060218 labelling your payment ‘Advent/Christmas Appeal 2020’. We’ll pass on any Gift Aid to Rowan. Please ask Stephen if you haven’t yet filled in a Gift Aid declaration.
Sunday Zoom – Mindful Meditation and Time for Conversation
And, lastly, as always if, on reading this you decide you would like to join us on Sunday morning for the service of mindful meditation and time of conversation following and do not have the necessary Zoom link then please contact our Church Secretary, Brendan Boyle, via the contact page of our website. Just look through the dropdown tabs to find “Secretary”:
Please log in between 9.45 and 10am. The meditation starts at 10am sharp, and finishes about 10.50. There will then be a short break to allow you to stretch your legs, compose your thoughts, or put the kettle on. The ‘Time for Conversation’ will start about 11am, and if you aren’t taking part in the meditation, feel free to sign in during the break for the conversation.
To get the most from the meditation, you will find it helpful to either print out the order of service, or display it in a second window. Here is the link:
Order of Service for the Mindful Meditation
https://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Evening-Service.pdf
You might also wish to have a small candle or tea-light to hand to light at a certain point during the meditation.
Life of the Church Meeting
Over 20 people took part in last Wednesday’s Life of the Church Meeting by Zoom, where we brainstormed for ideas about the future pattern of our church life and activity. Many thanks to all of you for taking the time to participate. We have also had a few written contributions, and it’s not too late to add your comments. As a reminder, here are the questions we discussed:
1 What are we currently trying to do?
2 How do you think the external world and our community’s needs and views are changing?
3 Do you know of any other communities or organisations that are trying to do what Cambridge Unitarians Church ius doing?
4 What makes Cambridge Unitarian Church distinctive to both our existing members and to any potential members?
5 What are our resources?
You should be able to submit your comments ahttps://forms.gle/ALXe1kyvKnGSMksnor email them to Stephen Watson treasurer@cambridgeunitarian.org
There will be a follow up Life of the Church Meeting in January or February.
Inquirer
The church has a subscription to 20 copies of The Inquirer, the UK Unitarian movement’s fortnightly magazine. Many of you are already receiving copies of The Inquirer by post, direct from the publisher. If you aren’t, I’m happy to post the current issue to you, and arrange for future issues to come to you direct.
With love and best wishes,
Andrew
Andrew James Brown
http://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/caute (@caute)https://footprints.buzzsprout.com (Making Footprints Not Blueprints Podcast)
Minister
Memorial Church (Unitarian)
Emmanuel Road
Cambridge
CB1 1JW
01223 576952
07477 462 110
http://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/