How does suffering affect our faith?
Plus news about our membership service and going full-time.
Saturday Chatterday
We all know what it’s like to go through hard times, emotionally and psychologically as well as with finances and our health. Perhaps bereavement is the hardest one of all, especially when we have lost someone whose life has been cut short.
Some of us have been through extreme suffering in this regard. And yet here we are, all part of a faith community. So, suffering does not automatically destroy faith, (though it does for some) but it never leaves us the same. Has suffering dented your faith? Changed it? Or maybe our faith has grown stronger after suffering? Maybe faith has helped us to cope with suffering, but still our faith may have changed somewhat during that experience.
These are important questions for us to reflect on and they’re the subject of our next Saturday Chatterday discussion on June 7th. I’m really looking forward to this because we will have so much to share and learn from each other. And I’m delighted that the discussion will be led by Adie, who has been coming to discussions and talks for a while, but has only just started attending worship and has now become a member. I attended a discussion he led in Altrincham and it was excellent. I hope to see you there, here are the details:
Saturday Chatterday: Discussion for June 7th led by Adie Tindall
Faith: to what end?'.
Through the trials, tribulations and suffering of the world, what do we hold onto?
A lot of us would say Faith.
We will be hearing people's experience of their faith working in their lives.
Also we will ask how Faith works with reason.
With input from the Bible, literature from Alcoholics Anonymous and the Stoic Philosopher Seneca.
Saturday 7th June, 10.30-12.00 in the chapel.
June 8th - Celebrating our New Members!
It’s become our tradition to celebrate those who have recently joined the congregation officially on Whit Sunday, or Pentecost Sunday (it means the same thing). This day is sometimes thought of as the birthday of the church, when the spirit descended on all those gathered, leading to a remarkable period of growth and development.
It’s also an opportunity to reflect on what being a member of a chapel entails and the different way that we all contribute to our shared mission.
Going Full-Time!
More positive news, the committee have now confirmed that my ministry will soon become full-time, probably from September. It’s a bold move but a necessary one. Over the next few years we need to do everything we can to attract a new generation.
The committee believe (and I agree) that the best use of my time will be to stick to leading worship three times a month and use the extra time to work on initatives aimed at growth. In the first place this will be about developing the website and other online materials. Then it will be about making better (and bolder) use of signage outside the chapel. I have many other ideas about extending our offer and developing relationships but for now, the website, then signage, will be the priority.
Our predecessors, from whom we inherited our chapel, go all the way back to 1687 and we’re desparate to pass it on in good condition to the next generation. But to do this we need to attract more people of current working age who will then play a role in sustaining the chapel and shaping its future. To do this we must be clearer and bolder about letting people know who and what we are, and being equally clear about what we are not. Our mixture of faith and freedom, reason and tolerance, is popular with people once they know about it. Unlike many Unitarian chapels we are still a religious body, and a Christian body at that. And we’re more interested in worship, fellowship and helping and caring for each other than giving speeches about politics. Or to put it in today’s language, we’re tolerant, forward thinking and open minded but we’re not woke!
Holiday!
I’m taking a few days leave in June, as Susan and I go for a week’s holiday in the Peak District. It’s a dog friendly cottage, so Norman will be coming with us. I’ll be off from the 15th to the 18th but we’re going for seven days which includes some days that I’m normally off work.
My revised working timetable will, as usual, be on the chapel noticeboard in the kitchen area!
Hymns!
Finally, thank you to everyone who has written down their five favourite hymns.
Forthcoming Events for June
Services every Sunday, 11am in the chapel
Coffee morning every Tuesday, 10.15 in the hall
Saturday Chatterday, 7th from 10.30-12.00 in the chapel
Chronic Pain and Illness Circle on Saturday 7th from 2-3.30pm in the chapel
Committee Meeting with Aoife Middlemass from Cheshire Voluntary Services Cheshire East, 17th, 12.30pm in the hall
Friendship Group, 18th 2pm, Trip to Booths for afternoon tea. (See you there!)