Services in January
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SUNDAY 29 JANUARY AT 11AM
Where Home Is
Our church grounds have been home to a rough sleeper for a few years, and our back garden and secluded patio are sometimes the site of gatherings of people who have no sitting room or bedroom or kitchen into which they can welcome friends. On Homeless Sunday, we’ll welcome Stuart Neville, director of SPEAR, a local group working with the homeless in Richmond. There will be a potluck lunch after the service. If you are able to, please bring some food to share.
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SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY AT 11AM
Service led by Rev Ashley Hills
Rev Ashley Hills, a longtime friend of RPUC, will be in the pulpit this morning.
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SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY AT 11AM
Fair Living
A rabbi I know once described being kosher as learning to live in a mindful way, and to live with greater justice. In defining what that meant, he suggested that people should be paid a reasonable wage for work they do, that what we eat and use should be sustainably produced and produced with a minimum of pain and violence. This service offers an opportunity to reflect upon our own practices, and celebrates the progress of Fairtrade goods.
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SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY AT 11AM
Outside the Box
I suspect that we’ve all seen the puzzles that require us to think differently in order to solve them. We find solutions when we are able to apply different skills or are able to take a new perspective on the problem. Is there such a thing as spiritual problem solving that we might use?
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SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY
Caring for a Soul
Thomas Moore says ‘“Soul” is not a thing, but a quality or a dimension of experiencing life and ourselves.’ This service, held in the round, will include time for reflecting upon the soul dimension of life and ways to encourage and enhance our attention to it.
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SUNDAY 23 APRIL
Soul Music!
Is there music that lifts you when the world seems completely lost? Or something that speaks deeply to your heart? It can be instrumental or vocal, pop tunes or ancient melodies, written by you or by a famous composer. Whatever it is, you are invited to share your music for Soul Music Sunday. Contact Linda to take part!
Services in February
Coming Up
What to Expect at a Sunday Service
Who will be there?
There are usually around 25-30 people attending a Sunday Service. Children stay for the first 10 minutes or so and then join their own programme in a separate room on the premises. If they prefer to stay with you, that is fine. Likewise, babies and very small children are welcome to stay with you through the service.
Who leads the service and what style is it?
The service is usually led by our minister, Rev Linda Hart, known for her engaging storytelling and love of poetry. From time to time, there may be a visiting preacher or occasionally a member or friend of the congregation might lead a service. In format and content, the services tend to be an interesting mix of traditional and more creative elements.
How do you begin?
In common with Unitarians worldwide, we start by lighting a candle - our chalice lighting. The flaming chalice is a symbol of our Unitarian faith.
Tell me more about the service
We continue with hymns, a story, readings, times for prayer/meditation/reflection and a sermon of ten minutes or so. The readings are often prose or poetry from contemporary spiritual writers.
Linda sometimes invites participation from the congregation, for example by making time for anyone who wishes to offer a brief prayer for a concern or joy they have; or she might invite brief responses to a question. If you want to join in, that's fine but there is no pressure and if silent participation is your preferred way, then you should feel quite comfortable here.
The service lasts about an hour in all and is followed by time for tea, coffee and fellowship to which everyone is welcome and invited to attend.
About every 6 weeks, we change the orientation of our worship space into more of a circle. In general, this coincides with a service that has more congregational sharing or some element of ritual included. This is to offer the opportunity to experience our worship and our space in a different way. The Sundays when the chairs will be in the round will be noted in the service descriptions.
Do you have any special services?
We have some special services which recur annually, for example: a Christingle service at Christmas, Remembrance Sunday in November, a Flower Service in May or June, a Gathering of the Waters Service in September and celebrations of the Celtic Wheel of the Year.
What about music?
Margaret, our Music Director, invites vocal and instrumental soloists to participate in services, usually several times a month. We are also very lucky to have a talented harpist as one of our members.