 |
 |
Cirencester Unitarian Fellowship
Sunday 18th
December 2011
Members of the
Cirencester Unitarian Fellowship joined with other congregations
within the Cotswold Group for the Annual Christmas Carol Service
which this year was held at the Unitarian Oat Street Chapel in
Evesham. The service was conducted by the Revd. Donald Phillips.
The opening music was
'The Shepherds Farewell' by Berlioz and this was followed by the
traditional Chalice Lighting and 'Advent Opening Words' composed by
the Revd. Linda Hart.
The opening hymn was
'The Flame of Truth is Kindled' and then the Revd. Phillips welcomed
everyone with words of introduction.
'A Question of Carols'
adapted by Kath Forder brought several members of the congregation
together to explore the meaning and background of the traditional
Christmas Carol which led the congregation into the singing of the
first carol ' Joy to the World'.
Readings 'Christmas
Spirit' by Donna Morrison-Reed and 'Christmas' by W. H. Davis was
followed by the carol 'Ding Dong Merrily on High'. Penny Quest gave a
modern explanation of the Christmas Gifts of Gold, Frankincense and
Myrrh together with the possible reasons for their choice. Examples
were passed among the congregation to illustrate their look and
smell.
'The carol ' We Three
Kings of Orient are' brought the service to a period of Prayer,
Meditation and quiet Reflection. Handel's music from 'The Pastoral
Symphony' led to the address given by the Revd. Phillips.
The final carol was
'Hark the Herald Angles Sing' after which the Chalice was
extinguished with the closing words 'An Advent Benediction' by the
Revd. Ant Howe.
During the service a
collection was taken for the 'Send-a-Child-to-Hucklow' fund which
raised £150.
On Sunday 6th
November 13 Unitarians met at the Friends Meeting House in
Cirencester to hold their usual monthly service which was based upon
the worship pack produced by the General Assembly's Worship Panel
earlier this year.
Don led the service and
his opening words of welcome outlined the service theme which was
based on the life and works of the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore
who was born 150 years ago this year.
The service started
with opening sitar music by Ravi Shankar and Chalice lighting words
by Rabindranath Tagore adapted by J. S. Hoyland, this was followed by
an opening prayer also by Rabindranath Tagore and then the Lord's
Prayer in it's traditional form.
David played the piano
accompaniment during the service and the hymn 'All are Welcome Here'
was followed by the Readings ''The Joy of Unity' by Rabindranath
Tagore and 'Belief and Doubt' by Sophia Lyon Fahs.
A further Hymn 'The day
will come, must come, and soon' preceded two further readings which
led into the meditation, and then, following a quiet period of
reflection a sitar and violin duet by Ravi ShanKar and Yehudi
Menuhin.
Don then read a piece
by Swami Adiswarananda about Rabindranath Tagore and this was
followed by the third hymn 'The Larger View'.
Don's Address covered
Rabindranath Tagore, his life and works.
The final hymn 'One
Human Commonwealth' brought the service to a close with words again
by Rabindranath Tagore. The closing sitar music was played by Ravi
Shankar.
Our
October 2nd
service, lead by Richard Gaines, was unusual in that a short service
of payers and readings on the theme of compassion lead into one of
our ‘Conversations’ on the Charter for Compassion. The
discussion on empathy and mindfulness ranged widely from the value of
Greek Myths to the modern X factor celebrity culture, with practical
suggestions on how to develop within our own small community before
looking to affect wider society.
Visiting
us from Marlborough were Miles and Jane Howarth, who have just moved
to the area; and from Stroud Helen Royall, whom we haven’t seen
for a while. We hope to see them all again soon and in the meantime
we have an appointment with the Cotswold Group Harvest Festival at
Cheltenham on October 16th.
We meet again in Cirencester on Sunday November 6th,
just a week before Richard and Cath’s wedding celebrations here at
the Meeting House.
Kath Ryder
Don’s service on the 4th September was on the subject of ‘Making
bridges’. It made us examine our own bridge-building – how
many bridges do we build – or destroy – in our lives?
Heritage activities – from Ejection to Lock Out?
Heritage weekend was a little quieter this year but a number of
visitors came to the old Chapel building in spite of misprints over
timing in the official brochure. All the helpers, including Jenny
Buckland from Cheltenham, found it a useful day to make contact
both with visitors and each other.
The canal walk, which followed and which was sponsored by
the Cirencester Unitarians, was aspopular as ever,
with Syd’s well informed and entertaining
commentary central to the attraction.
Kath Forder’s talk on the following Sunday charted the non
conformist movement subsequent to the Great Ejection, which
was itself the catalyst for the formation of the Cirencester
Presbyterian (later Unitarian) congregation. The ‘Lock Out’
happened when the Fellowship’s planned and advertised service
at the old Chapel on September 18th had to be hurriedly re-routed
when we found the Chapel premises (now the Parish Rooms)
firmly locked, with no key-holder to be found. (We have since
received a full apology for the mix-up.) Fortunately the Quakers
came to our rescue and members and visitors from far and near
were able to walk round to the Friends’ Meeting House.
The talk and service were warmly received by a congregation of
more than 20, including the President of the Western Union,
Frank Butler, local Quaker friends, and Unitarians from our sister
Fellowship at Ross. Our thanks to all for their forbearance whilst
we made alternative arrangements with the Warden at the Friends
Meeting House.
On Saturday October 1st, Cirencester Fellowship is off to
Kidderminster!!! (for Kath’s induction). There will be short service
on Sunday October 2nd, as one component of another of our
‘Conversations’ on the topic of Karen Armstrong’s book “Twelve
steps to a Compassionate Life” and her Charter for Compassion.
Kath Ryder
