APRIL 2019
Ministerial Musings
A little matter of foolishness
Appropriately enough, this month starts with All Fools` Day. As children
or adults this is the perfect time to play tricks on each other, to play
the fool or to be made a fool of. It is the time for pranks, for practical
jokes, for fake news, not that they are the prerogative of this day only.
There is a sense of liberation, of joy in being able to do harmless
mischief, to let free the little imp which resides in all of us, and to be a
“legitimate” fool for a day, recognizing it for what it is; even more so
when you harbour a strong suspicion that you are not spared
deception and foolishness on all the other days of the year, though you
may be blind to see it.
Fools play an important part in the history of humankind, as they put
things in perspective through humour. They are the safety valves in
most societies, as they would tell uncomfortable truths, especially to
those in power, which others do not dare, or do not wish, to express.
This custom of fooling around on the 1st accompanies us and turns
into another kind of foolishness by the second part of the month, as we
celebrate Easter. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, puts it
strongly: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing…”
Now Easter is a stumbling block for many as it faces us with existential
questions and the explanations on offer may be uncomfortable. As
Unitarians, we are wary of neat and pat answers as we feel more at
home in a scientifically minded world, where our love of questioning,
reasoning, experimenting is the norm.
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But just dealing with questions and never arriving to an answer or a
satisfactory conclusion can get tiresome or down heartening after a
while. We stick out like a sore thumb in a world which thrives on ready-
made things, fast solutions and instant answers. Yet, there are some
questions which defy our ability to a prompt and reasonable answer.
These are the questions that in the long run really matter as they are
essential in understanding our human destiny, calling and role in the
Universe: Who am I? What is the purpose of my life? How can I find
happiness? Why do I have to suffer? Is there something beyond death?
These are some inevitable questions all of us faced or face.
Philosophers would tell us, that these questions have no solutions, so
they should not be asked at all. Others think that they could be
legitimate, but they cannot be answered according to the rigours and
argumentations of any scientific discipline.
Perhaps these are questions that have no answer in the ordinary sense.
Perhaps their power derives from their interrogational substance and
not from our ability, or inability, to answer them; nevertheless they
need to be articulated.
There are many ways we can deal with the “fundamental” questions of
our life: we can ignore them altogether, we could try to give them an
answer as close to our reasoning and experience as possible and thus
”laying them to rest” once for all, or again we can struggle with them
throughout our life. As for most of us they do not yield to a straight
answer, we turn to famous teachers, prophets, sages and their dealings
with the problem. What is common for all of them is the fact that they
use symbolic acts, analogy, metaphor, a parable or a story to convey a
meaning beyond the ordinary logic and give pointers to possible
interpretations.
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In the holy week this is what we will try to do every evening, following
the pattern of Jesus`s last week in reflecting on his acts and stories. The
passion of Christ reflects the passion story of humankind swinging
between high ideals and grinding realities, between power and
oppression, war and peace, love and hate, betrayal and sacrifice,
failure and redemption.
I invite us this month to reflect on our own story – whether we
accompany Jesus or whether we choose to do it in the light of our own
beacons or of the happenings around us. Oppression, greed, injustice,
hunger, war remain our companions and we have to face our
responsibility, our failures, our betrayals and misunderstandings to
make place for hope, for redemption. We are just an interlude in the
flow of human history and right now Virgil`s advice of “endure and save
yourself for happier times” seems not to be an option. The younger
generation is showing the way in trying to salvage what we have not
yet squandered of our heritage and making their presence felt and
their voice heard in our common story. The message of salvation
continues to be articulated, if not by us, then by others. It is up to our
faith and dedication whether we add our voice or decide on silence. It
may be a message of foolishness for many, a vision of a world of peace,
justice, fellowship, sustainable economy, but in it are the seeds of hope
for tomorrow, for the world and humankind.
May we tend to these seeds and be not afraid to participate in the hard
and sometimes foolish looking work of salvation.
See you at the OMH.
Mária
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams,
live the Life you have imagined.
Henry David Thoreau
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SUNDAY SERVICES FLOWERS
April 7th 6-30 pm Rev Mária Pap Mrs J Wormall
April 14th 10- 45 am Rev Mária Pap Sunday School
April 21st 10- 45 am Rev Mária Pap Mr D Wright
EASTER
April 28th 10-45 am Congregational Service Mrs A Binch
Dr William Brown
STEWARDS
April 7th 6-30 pm Mr R Wain
April 14th 10-45 am Mrs J Tedds
April 21st 10-45 am Mr N Fisher
April 28th 10-45 am Mr P Frost
SATURDAY COFFEE MORNING ROTA CHAPEL OPENING ROTA
April 6th Mrs A Binch Mrs J Tedds Mrs L Walton
April 13th Miss C Wright Mrs C Wycherley Mr N Fisher
April 20th Ms A Perry Rev M Pap Mr T Williams
April 27th Mrs A Binch Mrs J Tedds Mr N Fisher
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DIARY DATES FOR APRIL
Tue April 2nd Derek Taylor Yoga Group 6-30 pm
Wed April 3rd EMU –Visit of GA Chief Officer 1-30 until
Designate 3-30 pm
Fri April 5th Words, Music and Silence 11-45 am
Mon April 8th Arts and Crafts 7-00 pm
Tue April 9th Derek Taylor Yoga Group 6-30 pm
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Wed April 10th Women’s League 2.30 pm
Meditation 7-15 pm
Sat April 13th Music at OMH 12-15pm
Easter Crafts 6-00 pm
Mon April 15th Holy Week Reflective Hour 7-00 pm
Tue April 16th Derek Taylor Yoga Group 6-30 pm
Holy Week Reflective Hour 7-00 pm
Wed April 17th Holy Week Reflective Hour 7-00 pm
Thur April 18th Holy Week Reflective Hour 7-00 pm
Fri April 19th Hot Cross Bun Distribution 10-30 am
Communion Service 11-30 am
Sat April 20th Holy Week Reflective Hour 7-00 pm
Mon April 22nd Trip to Southwell Minster TBA
Tue April 23rd Derek Taylor Yoga Group 6-30 pm
Wed April 24th Poetry Group 7-15 pm
Fri April 26th Movie Night 7-00 pm
Tue April 30th Derek Taylor Yoga Group 6-30 pm
Holy Week Reflective Hour
In Holy Week, with the exception of Good Friday, we will gather in the
chapel daily at 7:00 pm for an hour of reflection. Using events from
Jesus’s last week of life, we will meditate and discuss topics like:
authority, responsibility, betrayal, death, prayer, redemption, faith.
Everyone welcome.
Visit of GA New Chief Officer
On Wednesday, April 3rd , between 1:30 and 3:30 pm, we will host an
informal meeting of East Midland Unitarians with Elizabeth Slade, the
new Chief Officer Designate of the GA. Elizabeth will be accompanied
by Marion Baker, Convenor for the EC. Meeting open to all interested.
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CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE
This month’s Congregational Service will be at 10-45 am on Sunday,
28th April, led by Bill Brown. The theme of the service will be “Music
and Poetry for Springtime” with offers of music, songs, hymns and
poems most welcome by Sunday, 21st April, please.
POETRY GROUP
The poetry Group will meet on Wednesday, 24th April, at 7-15 pm. The
theme for the evening will be “Resurrection and resurrection”. The
theme acknowledges Easter, but also looks for wider examples of
resurrection. As usual all are welcome with, or without, a poem to
share
JARS OF GRACE
Members and friends are reminded that our Jars of Grace should be
returned to the Old Meeting House on the morning of Easter Sunday,
21st April. This year the proceeds will go to the Unitarian Charity Send
a Child to Hucklow.
SPONSORED WALK
The annual Sponsored Walk in aid of the John Eastwood Hospice will
take place on Monday, 6th May. There will be two walks, the longer
walk (approximately 5 miles) will begin at Vicar Water Car Park at
12-00 noon, the shorter walk (approximately 1 mile) will leave Vicar
Water Car Park at 2-00pm. All walkers will meet at Vicar Water cafe at
3-00 pm. Full details, and sponsor forms, are available from Lynn
Walton.
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HOT CROSS BUN DISTRIBUTION 1
We are trying to complete our collection of photos of our traditional
Hot Cross Bun Distribution on Good Friday, both for ourselves and the
website “Our Mansfield and Area”. Please have a look in your albums,
on your ‘phones or cameras, when you have a few moments to spare,
and let Mária or Vivienne have them.
HOT CROSS BUN DISTRIBUTION 2
Just before we moved to Nottinghamshire we attended the funeral of a
neighbour in Sheffield. After the service we met our family doctor of
many years, now retired. We mentioned our imminent move and he
asked whether there was a Unitarian chapel available and we told him
of OMH. He smiled “Of course, we used to cycle from Ollerton on
Good Friday for the Hot Cross Buns!”
(Submitted by request! RW)
OUTREACH
Derek Smith will be giving the second in his series of talks titled
“Women’s Firsts” at the Ladybrook Lane Public Library’s “Coffee
Morning” on Tuesday, 2nd April, starting at 10-30 am. You will be
welcome.
DEADLINE for May newsletter is Sunday, 24th April 2019
The only person you are destined to become
is the person you decide to be.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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When April Comes Along
When April comes along,
Say goodbye to May and June,
And singing at the Moon.
When April comes along.
It may be foggy in November,
Snowy in December,
But there’s one month I’ll remember
When April comes along.
The air will be much sweeter,
The day that I meet her,
And she’ll be a world beater,
When April comes along.
The stars will shine so bright,
Each and every night
I will hold her so tight,
When April comes along.
Her eyes will greet with mine,
Her lips will taste like wine,
There’ll be honey on the vine
When April comes along.
Alistair Hamilton
