May 2022 bring new hope to this world and to all its people
“There is no set of circumstances that cannot be turned about by ordinary human beings and their natural capacity for love of the deepest sort” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Reflection
One of the many things I like about Unitarianism is that we listen to children with respect. At our Christmas meeting we asked our young people what presents they would take to the stable in Bethlehem. Ignoring the expensive and symbolic gifts of the Magi, they spoke of blankets for warmth, a mattress because hay is prickly to lie on, and food. In other words, anything that would bring comfort to a refugee family and their new baby.
Although I have long agreed with the aphorism that “religion is not only there to comfort the disturbed but also to disturb the comfortable,” there seems to be all too little comfort around in the world right now, so more of it would be welcome. And perhaps we all need what children need, because there is a child inside all of us: the security of a safe place to call home; shelter from the elements and potential danger; familiar food that tastes of being looked after; someone to turn to when life goes wrong; a quiet space where we can think and rest.
All those things speak of being cherished and protected and loved – loved in the sense of caritas, the caring love that sometimes needs to be tough but always says “I’m here for you.” It is the golden rule expressed in all the major faiths, to love our neighbour as ourselves. As we hand the stable back to the animals for another year, let us heed our younger members, and take with us into 2022 a resolution to offer the comfort of love to those who need it.
Kay Millard
Reflection
One of the many things I like about Unitarianism is that we listen to children with respect. At our Christmas meeting we asked our young people what presents they would take to the stable in Bethlehem. Ignoring the expensive and symbolic gifts of the Magi, they spoke of blankets for warmth, a mattress because hay is prickly to lie on, and food. In other words, anything that would bring comfort to a refugee family and their new baby.
Although I have long agreed with the aphorism that “religion is not only there to comfort the disturbed but also to disturb the comfortable,” there seems to be all too little comfort around in the world right now, so more of it would be welcome. And perhaps we all need what children need, because there is a child inside all of us: the security of a safe place to call home; shelter from the elements and potential danger; familiar food that tastes of being looked after; someone to turn to when life goes wrong; a quiet space where we can think and rest.
All those things speak of being cherished and protected and loved – loved in the sense of caritas, the caring love that sometimes needs to be tough but always says “I’m here for you.” It is the golden rule expressed in all the major faiths, to love our neighbour as ourselves. As we hand the stable back to the animals for another year, let us heed our younger members, and take with us into 2022 a resolution to offer the comfort of love to those who need it.
Kay Millard
Time XXI by Khalil Gibran
And an astronomer said, "Master, what of Time?"
And he answered:
You would measure time the measureless and the immeasurable.
You would adjust your conduct and even direct the course of your spirit according to hours and seasons.
Of time you would make a stream upon whose bank you would sit and watch its flowing.
Yet the timeless in you is aware of life's timelessness,
And knows that yesterday is but today's memory and tomorrow is today's dream.
And that that which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space.
Who among you does not feel that his power to love is boundless?
And yet who does not feel that very love, though boundless, encompassed within the centre of his being, and moving not from love thought to love thought, nor from love deeds to other love deeds?
And is not time even as love is, undivided and paceless?
But if in your thought you must measure time into seasons, let each season encircle all the other seasons,
And let today embrace the past with remembrance and the future with longing.
And an astronomer said, "Master, what of Time?"
And he answered:
You would measure time the measureless and the immeasurable.
You would adjust your conduct and even direct the course of your spirit according to hours and seasons.
Of time you would make a stream upon whose bank you would sit and watch its flowing.
Yet the timeless in you is aware of life's timelessness,
And knows that yesterday is but today's memory and tomorrow is today's dream.
And that that which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space.
Who among you does not feel that his power to love is boundless?
And yet who does not feel that very love, though boundless, encompassed within the centre of his being, and moving not from love thought to love thought, nor from love deeds to other love deeds?
And is not time even as love is, undivided and paceless?
But if in your thought you must measure time into seasons, let each season encircle all the other seasons,
And let today embrace the past with remembrance and the future with longing.
National Events
Online, 19-20 Feb 2022
Registration is now open for FUSE 2022: ‘The Pilgrimage of Life – Journeys of Spiritual Unfolding’ with theme speakers Alastair McIntosh and Jennifer Kavanagh.
Birmingham, 19-21 April 2022
General Assembly Annual Meetings: A time to be together in person – reconnecting with spiritual friends and making new connections for the journey ahead.
More information at https://www.unitarian.org.uk/
Online, 19-20 Feb 2022
Registration is now open for FUSE 2022: ‘The Pilgrimage of Life – Journeys of Spiritual Unfolding’ with theme speakers Alastair McIntosh and Jennifer Kavanagh.
Birmingham, 19-21 April 2022
General Assembly Annual Meetings: A time to be together in person – reconnecting with spiritual friends and making new connections for the journey ahead.
More information at https://www.unitarian.org.uk/
A New Year Hymn
As we don’t sing hymns at our meetings (although Spirit of Life has become a traditional ending to our worship) I thought I would include one instead of a poem this month. Then I turned the pages of Hymns for Living and found a poem. It is as relevant now as when Tennyson wrote it as part of In Memoriam.
Ring out wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night,
Ring out, wild bells, and let it die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let it go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Alfred Lord Tennyson, 1809-92
As we don’t sing hymns at our meetings (although Spirit of Life has become a traditional ending to our worship) I thought I would include one instead of a poem this month. Then I turned the pages of Hymns for Living and found a poem. It is as relevant now as when Tennyson wrote it as part of In Memoriam.
Ring out wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night,
Ring out, wild bells, and let it die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let it go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Alfred Lord Tennyson, 1809-92
For Younger Members of all ages
The month of January is named after the Roman god Janus, the guardian of gateways who is depicted with two heads, looking both forward and back. The 1st of January was an important day in ancient Rome, marking a big change in the calendar, so although it is only recently that we moderns have made so much of New Year’s Eve and Day, it is in fact a very old custom. In Rome gifts of sweets would be handed out, in the hope that the coming year would be a pleasant one, and coins like the one on the left were exchanged as a wish for prosperity. I saved a Christmas gift of my favourite chocolates to eat on New Year’s Day, and they were delicious, but I don’t think that will have any influence on 2022, do you?
The month of January is named after the Roman god Janus, the guardian of gateways who is depicted with two heads, looking both forward and back. The 1st of January was an important day in ancient Rome, marking a big change in the calendar, so although it is only recently that we moderns have made so much of New Year’s Eve and Day, it is in fact a very old custom. In Rome gifts of sweets would be handed out, in the hope that the coming year would be a pleasant one, and coins like the one on the left were exchanged as a wish for prosperity. I saved a Christmas gift of my favourite chocolates to eat on New Year’s Day, and they were delicious, but I don’t think that will have any influence on 2022, do you?
An Epiphany Prayer
What was invisible we behold,
What was unknown is known.
Open our eyes to the light of grace,
Unloose our hearts from fear,
Be with us in the strength of love,
Lead us in the hope of courage
Along the path of tribulation,
Till the overcoming is attained.
Evelyn Francis Capel
What was invisible we behold,
What was unknown is known.
Open our eyes to the light of grace,
Unloose our hearts from fear,
Be with us in the strength of love,
Lead us in the hope of courage
Along the path of tribulation,
Till the overcoming is attained.
Evelyn Francis Capel
BUF NEWS ©2022
is published by the Bath Unitarian Fellowship, c/o 26 Fountain Court, Westbury BA13 3JY. Contributions to [email protected] by the first Sunday of the month, please.
is published by the Bath Unitarian Fellowship, c/o 26 Fountain Court, Westbury BA13 3JY. Contributions to [email protected] by the first Sunday of the month, please.
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