Weekly Update 25th – 31st October

Greetings to you all. 

This update contains:

  • A link for the Morning Service of Mindful Meditation, Music & Conversation
  • A note about, and links for, the Thursday morning/evening Zoom “Kiitsu Kyōkai” Seiza Meditation & Conversation Meeting
  • A reminder that the third and final session of Aysha Madha’s course on “Self-compassion” is taking place this coming Thursday, October 24th, 5.30pm-7.15pm
  • A note from Marianna Michell about the next meetings of the church’s poetry and music groups
  • A reminder that the new iteration of the church’s website, which has been prepared by the Future Directions group of church members, is now live.
  • The reminder of the inaugural Cambridge Social Mentoring Community Group event at the church on Sunday 17 November, from 4 pm 
  • Links to the minister’s address/podcast
  • 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 note about the Thursday morning/evening Zoom “Kiitsu Kyōkai” Seiza Meditation & Conversation Meeting

A reminder that next Thursday is a fifth Thursday, so there’ll be no Kiitsu Kyōkai meeting on that day. The next meeting is in two weeks time on Thursday, 7th November, which starts at 19:30 and finishes at 21:00. 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 course on “Self-compassion” led by Aysha Madha
Next session (2 of 3), Thursday, October 24th
5.30pm – 7.15pm in the Common Room

Aysha writes:

“We will explore the foundations of self-compassion, through practical exercises and discussion. There are now thousands of research papers showing the benefits of self-compassion. I personally found it made me more resilient, happier and improved my relationships with others as well as myself.

Self-compassion is a skill like riding a bicycle. At first, some people will find it easy, whilst others find it very difficult. But once you have the basics it becomes enjoyable and people can become more skilled, learning to use it in stressful moments. The course is delivered with awareness of the challenges and dangers when learning a new skill. And the aim is for the process to be fun and interesting.

The course will run from 5.30-7.15pm on Thursday 17th, 24th, 31st October. The course is offered free of charge, but participants are encouraged to provide a donation, which will go to the church. I am very happy to talk with anyone who is feeling uncertain whether to come along or not.”

A note from Marianna Michell about the next meetings of the church’s poetry and music groups

Marianna writes:

“The MUSIC GROUP will not meet this Sunday for a practice. Instead, on Sunday 3rd November, we shall run through the song ‘All of us need all of us…’ between 9.50 and 10.10. We did very well with it when introduced some weeks ago. It would be great to sing this at the end of that service. I shall ensure we all have copies in the meantime. See you then!”

“The POETRY GROUP plans to meet on Wednesday 30th, at 2pm for 2.15. Venue: Common Room. Theme: ‘Words without music? Music without words?’ All welcome to this group.”

A reminder that the new iteration of the church’s website, which has been prepared by the Future Directions group, is now live

A reminder of the Cambridge Social Mentoring Community Group: An inaugural event on Sunday 17 November, from 4pm onwards

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 to facilitate the building of the Cambridge Social Mentoring Community for Adults (over 25) who are experiencing Asperger and Mental Health issues. It would seek support and mutual collaboration and complement the well-being work of Cambridge Community Groups in areas such as peer support and peer advocacy, befriending/mentoring, family support and information serviced. The main purpose of this initiative is to support and walk with adults living with mental health and Asperger to move from welfare/medical situations to social-life and to work-life environments. Building upon the Cambridge Asperger Support Network, this social mentoring strategy seeks to promote the socialisation of mentoring support process, emotional well-being, social interaction, peer communication, community engagement and adaptation throughout the well-being chain: medication-healthcare-therapy-mentoring-life skills-voluntary-learning training. Cambridge Unitarian Church has already agreed in principle to host the social mentoring network meetings on a weekly basis. This event brings together Cambridge Asperger Support Group, Cambridge Community, Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Social entrepreneurs; Art, Music and Theatre Groups; Hospitals, Universities, Museums and local enterprises. The event will provide an 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).

If you are interested in supporting this initiative in some fashion, or simply want to know more details, then please be in touch with me by replying to this email.

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

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...