https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86882949446?pwd=kliXbdABEfbU8FjDMtNRNJ4Lr2lb5z.1
Meeting ID: 868 8294 9446
Passcode: 612407
A note about the Music Group singing this Sunday, 17th May
Marianna writes: MUSIC GROUP will meet for a run-through of our current song on Sunday at 10:00, please. The song is the result of a collaboration between members of this Church. Are there more poets or secret musicians in our midst?”
A note about the Zoom Life of the Church Meeting this Wednesday 20th, 17:00-18:00
This Wednesday we’ll continue our conversation about our meditations. Below you will find the notes take at the last meeting to remind you of where we currently are in this conversation. Do please read through them before coming to the meeting. They are not long, and are even quite interesting!
Here’s the Zoom link:
Meeting chat link
https://us06web.zoom.us/launch/jc/83972967530
Meeting ID: 839 7296 7530
Passcode: 214070
Minutes from the “Life of the Church” Meeting that followed the morning service on Sunday 19th April in which we shared some ideas about meditations we feel might be appropriate to use on various occasions during our Sunday Morning Service of Mindful Mediation, Music and Conversation
LIFE OF THE CHURCH MEETING: 19 APRIL 2026
Cambridge Unitarian Church CIO
PRESENT: Andrew Brown (Minister), Sue Tombs (Trustee), Elden Horner (Trustee), Aysha Madha, Richard Rathbone, Jerry Carr-Brion, Tony Burns, Celia James (Trustee).
A. Meditations and Liturgies
The group met for 45 minutes following coffee to continue a congregational discussion regarding the expansion of our range of meditations and liturgies. We feel it is important to have at least one option available for use during local, national, or world events—whether they be painful or celebratory.
Andrew explained that while the emphasis and intonation of a meditation can be subtly varied by the leader, this is difficult to do “off the cuff” for those less experienced in leading services. Expanding our collection will, therefore, be a helpful resource for everyone.
Jerry Carr-Brion shared a harvest-themed meditation that could be added to our current Mindfulness Meditation.
Marianna Michell submitted a piece guiding participants through their physical experience, beginning: “As we begin, we note that though we sit alone, others are present by our side, in front, or behind us…”
Ruth Gilman provided a piece from the Othona Community, with which she has a long-standing association.
Aysha Madha has offered to source or write a “Loving-kindness” meditation along the lines of the one we used on the weekend of her Self-Compassion course last year. This would be used at specific times of the year or when we face situations demanding an attitude of compassion, such as the outbreak of conflict at home or abroad.
Andrew Brown introduced a “Returning-to-One” (Kiitsu) meditation he has written. This draws together the concepts of Self, Other, Cooperative Community, and Cosmic Cooperative Community found in our “Principles of Living.”
Click here to read a PDF containing these five contributions: <https://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Meditation-texts-contributed-to-the-LoC-meeting-19th-April-2026.pdf>
Richard Rathbone also highlighted the importance of breathing and posture, noting the practice of Seiza (Quiet Sitting) used in our weekly Kiitsu Kyōkai meetings. Andrew has been translating various texts on this practice with the help of his own teacher, Miki Nakura-sensei. While the group felt an unled Seiza meditation might not yet be suitable for Sunday morning services, its techniques could benefit many. Andrew will look for future opportunities to introduce this style (extensively used by Japanese Unitarians) to interested attenders. Links to Andrew’s blog and Seiza demonstration videos can be found here: <https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/p/seiza-meditation.html>
We considered using short, seasonal additions (such as Jerry’s Harvest text) either between the hymn and the liturgy or at the start of the Mindfulness Meditation itself. This would help ground the service in the season (Easter, Christmas, etc.).
We also suggested:
Providing brief introductions so the congregation knows what to expect if a meditation differs from the norm.
Including a quarterly reminder of the mindful process itself to assist those unfamiliar with meditation.
Posting these updates on the website and in the Weekly Update.
Regardless of the variations used, we agreed it is vital to maintain the inclusive, quieting spirit we have fostered in our services since 2020.
B. All members of the group contributed ideas and reflections on the importance and methods of Meditation, both Guided and Silent. We discussed the way we attend to our breathing and how our whole stance is involved: how it is a Practice, not a ‘test’ of how ‘well’ we do it.
C. As a practical experiment, the group decided that each member will take the current basic mindful meditation and attempt to present it using their own words. The goal is to see how we might use our own authentic voices to guide people from mindfulness of breath to sensations, thoughts, and sounds, before returning to the breath.
Link to our original Mindful Meditation the basic form of which is now being gently varied in an improvisational way on a Sunday Morning : <https://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Current-Short-Mindful-Meditation-Text.pdf>
The link for this coming Thursday’s Zoom “Kiitsu Kyōkai” Seiza Meditation & Conversation Meeting, this week, 21st May at 19:30-21:00
For more information, please visit:
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/p/kiitsu-kyokai.html
https://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/evening-service/
Join Thursday Zooms at the same link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85775868333?pwd=LEuyKnfbRJORbqsuzkhsonHui4ttwA.1
Meeting ID: 857 7586 8333
Passcode: 970614
Links to the minister’s address/podcast:
In written form at:
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com
Or as podcast episodes at:
A couple of photos of the church taken during the Kite and Christ’s Pieces Residents’ Association Open Gardens Event
Thanks, particularly to Susanna Brown for setting up the church as a café for this very enjoyable community event.
Here are the notes taken at the two important Life of the Church Meetings following the services on Sunday 18th and 25th January 2026 along with a link to the slide presentation
CAMBRIDGE UNITARIAN CHURCH CIO TRUSTEE PRESENTATIONS TO THE CONGREGATION 18 AND 25 JANUARY 2026
On both occasions the presentation was held during the Morning Service time, instead of a Thought for the Day. The presentations and discussions were held within the atmosphere of the Service for Mindful Meditation. A printed copy of the full array of slides are attached to the printed minutes, filed at the church.
Introduction by Minister: Andrew Brown
Self compassion meditation by Aysha Madra
Trustees’ presentation: Elden Horner, Sue Tombs, Celia James, Jacqui Carnall
Slides 1 & 2 Background (CJ) https://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Life-of-the-Church-18-01-26-v2.pdf
Main presentation (JC)
Open Discussion points
Maintenance requirements: volunteers and money: how have we kept these going till now: can we make things easier to maintain?
The demographic change in the area and our ageing buildings
The Northampton Unitarians sold their church and moved to a Scout Hut, which feels a less spiritual environment: there is a loss of the sense of the history of the community, as well as of a spiritual building.
The needs of the community here has changed completely over time: two large halls are no longer needed: small spaces are needed.
The beauty of and the spiritual sense in the church is completely lacking in the Hall.
There are many other community spaces available locally, but no one else is doing what we do: there are high risks associated with doing nothing, rather than pursuing one of the options for change.
The quality of the atmosphere of the church might help attract groups with a compatible ethos to use the space: keeping the church feels vital.
We are incredibly fortunate to have the funds we do, so let’s use them: there is great value in paying experts rather than purely relying on volunteers.
Music groups renting the church value it and will benefit from it being better heated.
It would be disappointing if we left the site completely, because of the beauty of the church and its situation in the centre of town with the benefit such easy access to buses.
Several congregations are known who have lost their churches/chapels: whilst they are surviving, they are not thriving.
With refurbishment of the church, there is potential for new church hirers.
There is potential to sell the Hall to a community organisation, not just as commercial offices or housing: offices are not they way they used to be: the refurbished Hall could be a community enterprise or a flexible workspace.
Specific contribution about finance from David Burns, Chartered Accountant by original training, working in the domain of corporate governance and financial structures, acting as director and part owner of projects covering land assembly and planning uplifts. He has been more than happy to volunteer his support and guidance to the Trustees and his conclusions have been that the financial planning and change of use process (he calls this the regulatory procedures) have been conducted by the Trustees in a very cautions and professional manner. David believes that this is very much the mechanism via which Cambridge Unitarians can secure a sustainable future, which is the stated objective. This mechanism offers a continued concrete presence in the community almost irrespective of the decisions which the Trustees make hereafter, guided by the wishes of the Congregation. He also understands that there may be an understandable emotional attachment to the way things used to be. We need to strike balances between that sentiment and the stated objective for the sustainable future. It is his observation that the change of use procedure should be completed as the next 3-6 months proceed. The planning and filing costs involved so far (less than £20,000 in the last year), represent money very well spent . This has increased the valuation or latent valuation of the already significant assets which Cambridge Unitarians CIO are fortunate enough to hold in their balance sheet. Regardless of whether a planning consultant is used for this final step of the way, he recommends completing the planning submission (or re-submission). He notes there is progress in this regard as every week goes by. Once the Changes of Use are achieved, it is clear from the financial and letting projections that there will not only be more community space in, for instance, the scenario of relinquishing the Hall, but that all net cashflow and profit projections will improve as a result.
David is happy for any within the Congregation to ask him questions. The Trustees have his contact details and they can route an email or request a call from David when his time permits.
Celia James
A link to “Our Principles of Living” and “Ten Advices”
For additional national Unitarian news, please click on the following link:
Uni-news
https://us20.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=1590ea5f53cdc6fb8a17c311c&id=7bce4a21b7
Andrew James Brown
(Days off are generally Monday and Tuesday)
Minister
Cambridge Unitarian Church
Emmanuel Road
Cambridge
CB1 1JW
07477 462 110 (Mobile)
http://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/
Blog: Caute
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/
Podcast: Kiitsu—Returning-to-One
https://kiitsu.buzzsprout.com
Jiyū Shūkyō / Free-Religion
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/p/free-religion.html
Kiitsu Kyōkai (Returning-to-One Gathering)
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com
Seiza Meditation (Quiet Sitting)
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/p/seiza-meditation.html