Are You a Unitarian without knowing it?
Unitarians believe that RELIGION IS A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY and EACH OF US IS AN EXPLORER. REASON IS OUR MAP AND CONSCIENCE OUR GUIDE.
The purpose of a Unitarian congregation is to meet the spiritual needs of individuals in the context of a loving community; to share joy and offer comfort in times of distress; to extend a welcome to all regardless of belief or lack of belief, and regardless of race, creed, gender or sexual orientation.
We offer special services to celebrate births, weddings, same sex blessings and funerals. These are tailored to the needs and wants of those involved. We are active nationally in the field of interfaith. This year a group of us marched with Gay Pride in London. We offer mid-week Discussion Groups and often Meditation sessions.
In spite of our distinguished past we are not well known in this country and, because Unitarianism locally and nationally has brought us much joy in our lives, we want people to know about us and see if it is a place they can feel at home.
Local services are held at The Edmund Kell Church, Bellevue Road off London Road, Southampton (SO15 2AY) at 1O.3O am each Sunday.
At present, a variety of Ministers and Lay Leaders are taking our services as we are between Ministers.
Worship Calendar, May-June 2009
03 May Colin Turnage
10 May Tony Rees
17 May Colin Turnage (short service followed by congregational meeting)
24 May Brian Anderson
31 May Colin Turnage
07 June Martin Whitell
14 June Brenda Knopf
21 June Colin Turnage
28 June to be announced
Ring me (Brenda Knopf) on O238O 555333 for any enquiries.
e-mails: tonymrees@aol.com
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Letter from Brenda, the Secretary
Unitarians have long ago “ditched the dogma” disliked by some folk (recent letter to the Echo). On the other hand, they do respect the rights of Christians, Muslims, Sikhs or any other faith.
Most Unitarians would also accord the right to be heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual. We have gay and lesbian ministers.
Many would say that we have the right to end our lives when life is too grim.
Many claim belief in God; some struggle with the idea. Others declare themselves Humanist, though they are unlikely to be anti-religion.
Our services vary even inside one church – often we sing beautiful hymns – offer prayers – listen to poetry, words from other faiths, the bible or indeed wise words from any source. We love music, which may vary from Beethoven to the popular songs. Sometimes we have discussions.
Some of us meditate. You may like to join us in Salisbury for a day of meditation at St George’s Church Hall, starting at 10 a.m. for 10:30 on March 14th . (For more details call Jo or Malcolm on 01722 335199 or e-mail josimmons@waitrose.com or malcolm@jomalc.co.uk )
Find out more about us by coming to a regular service any Sunday 10:30 at Edmund Kell Church (or call Brenda, 02380 555333).
We don’t go in for conversion – we only want folk to know about us, as they may find, as I did, a ‘Home from Home’.
Brenda Knopf (secretary of Edmund Kell Church)
PS, a most exciting and rewarding holiday will be held in Hucklow, Derbyshire from July 25th to August 1st. This is known as Unitarian Experience Week and is a magic time, full of ideas, activities and fun. For more information call Kathy Beckett on 02380 273420 or e-mail kathy@kpb.gotadsl.co.uk.
You can also contact our Headquarters in London on
O2O 724O 2384 or through this web-site: www.unitarian.org.uk.
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