IMPULSE WELCOME Promoting Unitarianism in London and the South East - SUMMER edition 2021 Come to our Musical Summer Quarterly! - LDPA Unitarians
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WELCOME
IMPULSE
Promoting Unitarianism in London and the South East
SUMMER edition 2021 Come to our Musical Summer Quarterly!
DM in Ditchling Students Valediction PRIDE in Surrey
In this edition Coming together at Horsham!
Our Musical Summer Quarterly 3 We are hoping for a good turnout (and good weather!) for our Summer
Quarterly gathering at Horsham Unitarian Church on Saturday 28th
8 District Minister’s message 4
August, as we enjoy each other’s company in the District once again.
FUSE 2022 6 It’s been a while!
LDPA students’ valedictory service at Oxford 8
A
n exciting programme of music
PRIDE in Godalming 9 and song is planned, both for
Red Cross Appeal 10 the service and afterwards.
LDPA Autumn Quarterly 12 Composers from Vivaldi to Gershwin,
9 Gustav Holst to Vaughan Williams will
Stratford launch their first exhibtion 12 help us celebrate ‘Summertime’ – with
Masters in Theology grants offered 13 solos and duets by some of our
Unitarian stars!
Council News 14
Poem by Bert Clough 16 The service will be led by the District
Minister, Rev’d Jim Corrigall, and entitled
‘To see a world in a grain of sand …’. beforehand, mindful that we are
10 inspired by the famed words of William emerging from a pandemic. Please let us
Blake, Jim will explore links between know if you are planning to attend and
poetry, music and spirituality. Afterwards, whether you intend to stay for tea.
the plan is to sit outside and enjoy Email: Horsham.unitarians@gmail.com
musical performances and a choir –
before tea. Timetable:
LDPA District Minister From 12 noon – Lunch in the garden
Rev’d Jim Corrigall Many thanks to Horsham for agreeing to Please bring your own sandwiches
EMAIL district.minister@ldpaunitarians.org be our hosts. Their church has ample 1.30pm – Service of worship
District Administrator and Designer space within, as well as beautiful 2.45pm – Concert and choir singing
Helen White EMAIL administrator@ldpaunitarians.org gardens for outdoor seating. Careful 3.30pm – Tea + departures
Website www.LDPAUnitarians.org thought will be given to safety
Facebook @LDPAUnitarians
@FUSE: Festival of Unitarians in the South East
“We Unitarians value the freedom of thought, to explore and understand faith from
each individual’s perspective. Therefore every word spoken and written ultimately
reflects the thoughts and beliefs of the person speaking or writing.
We welcome your responses in the spirit of mindful discussion and debate.”
Published by the District Minister of the London District and South Eastern Provincial
Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches (incorporated No. 649091) Registered
Address: Essex Hall, 1-6 Essex Street, London WC2R 3HY Registered charity no. 233390
2 IMPULSE 3
Message from the
District Minister
F
irstly, as the new District Minister Our advice from the District is that each
for London and the South East, congregation should itself decide as we
let me begin by sending greetings go forward, but based on available
to you all! It’s less than two months (at guidance. And it is important that
time of writing), since I started this job, decisions by congregations are made
but I’m settling in, helped by the warm through consultation.
welcome I’ve had from congregations.
I’ve only visited a small number so far, Cause to feel optimism
but look forward to meeting many more I’ve enjoyed getting ‘out and about’ in
of you in coming months. the District over these past weeks, as
worship spaces have been re-opening
As England emerges from Covid more fully. So far, I’ve visited two London
restrictions, it’s sadly true the future congregations where ‘live’ services were
remains uncertain. A few weeks ago, our being held (with both ‘in-person’ and
District issued guidance for this coming online attenders), and I’ve led services
period (sent to all congregations, at Ditchling and Horsham. It was
ministers and worship leaders), in which encouraging to see good numbers in our
we recommended a cautious approach. chapels at these services. Of course,
Almost all official restrictions have now I’ve also been viewing impressive online
been lifted for communal worship, services from all over the District. We do
weddings and other ‘life events’, have cause to feel optimism.
including the limits on numbers and the
restrictions on singing and dancing. But Let me end by saying that it’s an honour
the government is still urging caution. and privilege to follow Rev’d Martin
Whitell in this post. My warm thanks to
We are all advised to limit close contact Martin for all his help over this transition,
with those we do not normally live with, and for his work during the past five years
particularly when indoors – including in creating a healthy District with healthy
wearing face-masks on crowded public congregations. We are in his debt.
transport (while London has made
masks compulsory). For our chapels and Journey well, and safely!
meeting houses, the size of our indoor Jim
spaces will be a key factor in deciding
how many we can safely accommodate RIGHT Jim leading the Ditchling service
at worship and other gatherings. then admiring this lovely Sussex village.
4 IMPULSE
Fuse festival 2022 19th-20th
FEBRUARY
We’re delighted to have secured two renowned speakers for our 2022
Festival of Unitarians in the South East (FUSE) in February 2022.
F E S T I VA L O F U N I TA R I A N S +
IN THE SOUTH EAST
T
he theme of the festival is ‘The Both our theme speakers are Quakers,
Pilgrimage of Life’, and the first and Jennifer Kavanagh is no stranger to
presenter will be the ecologist FUSE – she is well-remembered for her
and spiritual writer Alastair McIntosh.
He aims to lead us on ‘a pilgrimage of
the mind’, reflecting on our lives as
role three years ago as speaker and
workshop leader. The Pilgrimage of Life
‘journeys of spiritual unfolding’ in three FUSE 2022 online
classic stages: Departure, from where
we start; the Initiation, where we
We’ve decided with some regret to host
FUSE 2022 online, via Zoom, on the
Journeys of spiritual unfolding
struggle with life’s deepest challenges, weekend of February 19th and 20th. It
and finally the Return, where we bring will follow the slimmed-down format of
our experience and spiritual grounding FUSE earlier this year, with fewer
to be elders in our communities. sessions and space in-between. There’ll
be morning prayer, worship service and
Our other speaker is the writer, teacher a workshop (and fun too!).
and social activist Jennifer Kavanagh.
Her latest book, Let Me Why online? We needed to take an
Take You by the Hand, early decision for forward-planning
explores the lives of 200 reasons, and there’s always commercial
people who live and work risk when booking hotels. The future
on London’s streets – the seemed too uncertain to risk a big two- Alastair McIntosh Jennifer Kavanagh
homeless, casual day indoor conference early in 2022.
workers, buskers, traders,
Ecologist and spiritual writer Writer and social activitist
sex workers. Her talk will This autumn we’ll launch FUSE on our
richly complement our website LDPAUnitarians.org/fuse
2022 festival theme. where you can sign up. Look out for our
Jennifer's motivation for writing Let Me
promotional video. Once again we’ll
make the whole of FUSE 2022 available
Programme: Online Zoom Gathering + Themed Talks
Take You by the Hand was to give a to individuals for a single charge of £25. Morning Devotions + Worship + Workshops + Epilogue
voice ‘to those ignored or unseen’, and With no travel involved, we hope
to spur radical change. The author spent Unitarian friends and seekers from
15 months tramping the streets around the country will once again join From November, bookings and further details:
interviewing people in order to gather us for this weekend.
the material for her widely acclaimed
book.
www.ldpaunitarians.org/fuse2022
We hope Unitarian friends and seekers will join us, at a cost of only £25
6
LDPA students valediction PRIDE in Surrey
Pride in Surrey Parade will be taking place on
Saturday 25 September in Godalming Town Centre.
G
odalming Unitarians are If you are interested in joining us please
delighted that Pride in Surrey contact Christine Martin of Godalming
will be held in Godalming Town Unitarians before 31 August on
Centre on Saturday 25 September. The csmartin24@gmail.com.
event will run from 10am till 8.30pm.
Both the parade and park are within The organisers website is
easy walking distance (approx 10 www.prideinsurrey.org/pride2021
minutes) of Godalming Station.
There will be a parade (gathering at
10am) and registration is needed by
31 August to join the parade (free for
individuals). The total parade will cover
750m and finish in the park. People on
the parade will have free entry to the
park with their wristbands
At 11am the park will be open where
Godalming Unitarians will have a stall.
People on the parade will have free entry
to the park with their wristbands. Others
O
ur LDPA District is proud of our PICTURED ABOVE Michael (left) and Robin
two new Unitarian ministers (right) seen after the ceremony with will need to book tickets (minimum
who’ve formally ‘passed out’ of their ministerial studies tutor, Rev’d Alex donation is £1) for entry.
Harris Manchester College, Oxford, after Bradley.
successfully completing their ministerial The park event will have music, stalls,
studies there. Unfortunately, Covid again affected the food outlets etc and is family friendly.
service this year, and only close family Well behaved dogs on leads allowed.
The College chapel provided the setting were able to be present. It was, Godalming Unitarians at PRIDE in 2019
for the Valedictory Service on 22 June however, a happy occasion, and our
for the two new Unitarian Ministers, Rev’d District wishes the two new Ministers
Michael Allured and Robin Hanford. both success and fulfillment as they go Update: Pride in London Parade is cancelled. The organisers
Michael in fact qualified in 2020, but forward to serve. say that current government Covid restrictions for large scale
lockdown forced the cancellation of the
events have made it impossible to go ahead.
Valedictory Service that year.
8 IMPULSE 9
Red Cross Appeal
Please act now to save lives!
A
n emergency national appeal This appeal surely embodies our core
for the Red Cross Global Unitarian religious values. It is in the
Coronavirus Appeal has been spirit of, and builds upon, previous GA
launched by our General Assembly, in resolutions. These include the 2011
response to unprecedented global crises. resolution affirming the Charter for
Supported by our GA President, Chief Compassion, the 2014 resolution in
Officer, Executive Committee and the support of Red Cross lifesaving
Unitarian Peace Fellowship, it honours emergency appeals, and our 2016
and implements our 2021 GA resolution resolution calling for urgent humanitarian
in support of the Red Cross Memorial aid to millions of victims of war and to
Peace Appeal, which funds life-saving destitute refugees whose lives remain in
Red Cross appeals. acute and immediate danger.
Two million children are suffering acute
malnutrition in war-torn Yemen, which Donation
faces the threat of the most devastating
famine in decades. In Syria, over 5 If you wish to make a donation,
million people have fled the country please make it payable to the
since 2011, and another 6 million have British Red Cross and send it to
been internally displaced. According to the charity’s offices at
UNICEF, 90 per cent of Syrian children 44 Moorfields, London EC2Y 9AL
are in need of food, medical and other and kindly specify the appeal to
humanitarian aid. In both countries, which you wish to donate.
millions of children suffer acute
psychological distress resulting from Or phone 0300 023 0811
exposure to violence, shock and trauma. Or donate online at
A surge in coronavirus infections has www.redcross.org.uk or at
been devastating India, and has reached https://donate.redcross.org.uk/
more than 18 million. Hospital beds are appeal/global-coronavirus-appeal
full and essential medical supplies and
treatment facilities are desperately
needed.
The British Red Cross warmly thanks all committed and generous Unitarian donors
who have contributed to the Red Cross Memorial Peace Appeal. The latter is an
umbrella appeal which sends donations to the Red Cross emergency appeal of the
donor's choice. No money is kept in any fund and there are no administrative
charges of any kind, as all donations go directly to the British Red Cross.
10 11
LDPA Autumn Quarterly Masters in Theology grants
C
roydon Unitarian Church has
agreed to host our Autumn
Quarterly Meeting – it is to be
held on Saturday 16th October. The
main service, entitled ‘Still Here!’, will be
led by the Croydon minister, Rev’d Art
Lester. A warm thanks to Croydon
Unitarians for their generosity here.
The service will include an Induction
ceremony to welcome the new LDPA
T
he Dr Williams’s Trust and the The statement continues: Preference
District Minister, Rev’d Jim Corrigall, and University of Glasgow are may be given to candidates belonging to
there will also be a special welcome for seeking applicants for a Masters one of the three Qualifying
new ministers in the District. Those in Theology degree – in Ministry, Denominations (this includes
attending are invited to gather at the Theology and Practice. This is a part- Unitarians). An undertaking is required
Croydon Church from 2pm for the 2.30 time Masters (over two years) “intended that it is the intention of the candidate to
service and ceremonies – which will be for pastoral professionals to develop and remain in the Protestant Dissenting
followed by tea and social time. enhance their abilities, and help open up Ministry in the United Kingdom.
Please note this date. new directions for faith and mission”.
Hope to see you there! The course focuses on the practice and The programme is intended to support
ADDRESS Croydon Unitarian and Free Christian Church, No 1 The Croydon Flyover, theory of church life, and will be taught those in ministry and to enhance their
Croydon CR0 1ER. one day a month in central London. expertise and capacity in key areas of
ministerial practice. This is reflected in
A statement says the programme has the four core courses:
been developed as part of a long- Resourcing Congregational Ministry
Sacred Spaces standing collaboration between the Dr
Williams’s Trust, London and the
Homiletics and Biblical Hermeneutics
University of Glasgow, in supporting the Bible, Doctrine and Freedom of Inquiry
development of Christian ministry. The Creative Ministry
Stratford Unitarians launch their first exhibition Trust dates back to the early eighteenth
on 4 September from 2-6 pm: Sacred Spaces, century. Dr Williams (1643-1716) was For further information about the
architectural etchings and drawings by Alison himself awarded an honorary doctorate programme and details about the
Neville. Our policy is to showcase new and of the University of Glasgow. individual courses, please contact:
established artists, and to involve the local Mark.Elliott@glasgow.ac.uk
community and the wider art world. The Dr Williams’s Trust is offering
Contact Julian Meek email: sugallery@yahoo.com bursaries to cover the part-time tuition For information on funding provision
Visit Stratford Unitarian Church, West Ham Lane fees to candidates from England, Wales through the Dr Williams’s Trust, please
(corner of Mark Street) Stratford E15 4PH or Northern Ireland who are accredited contact: Dr Hugh Maguire at
www.stratforduniteriangallery.co.uk Ministers among Protestant Dissenters. director@dwl.ac.uk
12 13
News from the Council District Council
O
ur August meeting was a LDPA new website relaunch package
special occasion for two One such project involves Helen
reasons: welcoming Rev’d Jim White’s working with six congregations
Corrigall to his first Council as our new that have expressed interest in being
District Minister and having the pleasure part of the LDPA new website relaunch
of Robert Ince join us as the General package. Council has agreed to fund
Assembly Executive Committee link with the annual additional running costs for
the LDPA. each congregation using the LDPA Bruce Bebington Rev’d Michael Allured Professor Jacqueline
website platform to promote themselves. Secretary Chair Woodman Vice Chair
It was good to hear Jim had already The designer we are working with has 29 Salterford Road, E: alluredm@aol.com E: jwoodman2@googlemail.com
been enjoying visits to congregations created a generic template that would Tooting, London SW17 9TE
E: bsbebington@msn.com
across the District. Plans for FUSE be duplicated for each congregation. So T: 07710 415 922
2022 online are underway. Although it’s far he has created three of our
disappointing not to meet up in person congregations’ websites.
we understand the reasons. The
uncertainty around Covid-19 also means Helen has designed some welcome
we also shan’t have the opportunity to posters for three churches and is also
carry our Unitarian Pride banner and updating our LDPA Directory. Please
wave rainbow flags at this year’s London look out for that and note that she will
Pride parade, which has been cancelled. resume pre-lockdown arrangements for
sending copies of IMPULSE to
Our LDPA finance officer, Bruno Martin, congregations. Eleanor Chiari Carol Chambers Robin Hanford Shana Begum
presented his report and will be asking E: echiarihinds@gmail.com E: carolmchambers17@gmail.com E: rhanford3@gmail.com E: shanapbegum@gmail.com
Council to agree a budget for our new Our next regular Coucnil meetings are
financial year. This agenda item is a on 7 October and 13 January. In
good reminder to Council that looking November we look forward to meeting in
after our money and spending it to person for a team building away day.
ensure Unitarian communities in London
and the South East are supported to Warmest wishes
grow and flourish is one of the most MICHAEL ALLURED
important aspects of our work. Chair LDPA District Council
“Looking after our money and spending it to Bruno Martin Wade Miller-Knight Rev’d Jim Corrigall
Finance officer President District Minister
ensure Unitarian communities in London and the E: finance.officer@ldpaunitarians.org Email: pachiaammos@yahoo.com E: district.minister@ldpaunitarians.org
South East are supported to grow and flourish is
one of the most important aspects of our work”
14 IMPULSE 15
Poem: Ever Increasing Circles
Walk around the frozen lake Walk around the thawing lake
Companionless. Egoless.
Then stop Search for your selfless self.
To etch your name
On the hard-blue ice. There is no destination.
You find your new self
Walk around the frozen lake. In the journey.
Then stop
To watch the sun
Melt your name away. Bert Clough
December 2020
Now you are the Nameless One
Whose selfish past has melted
Whose future craving has vanished.
Forthcoming events
August 28th Summer Quarterly at Horsham
September 25th Pride Parade in Godalming
October 7th LDPA Council meeting
October 16th Autumn Quarterly at Croydon
October 23rd Brighton Bicentenary service
November Launch of FUSE online
Contributions are welcome
Please submit articles and photos for inclusion in the autumn edition
of IMPULSE by 1st September to district.minister@ldpaunitarians.org
Previous editions of newsletter visit www.ldpaunitarians.org/newsletters
Facebook @LDPAUnitarians @FUSE: Festival of Unitarians in the SouthEast
IMPULSE
Promoting Unitarianism in London and the South East
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