Sunday Service, 23 June 2024
Led by Jeannene Powell
Musical Prelude: Harold Craxton: A Shepherdess in Porcelain (Minuet) (played by Andrew Robinson)
Opening Words: ‘Seasons of Our Lives’ by Richard M. Fewkes
Creator of all times and seasons, and of all the seasons of our lives,
we gather in this place, thankful for the days that have been,
even those that have tried our souls; and hopeful for the days that shall be,
even those that shall demand of us the best that we have of faith and hope and courage;
till we have become one with ourselves and you in all the seasons to come –
from the glad renewal of spring, to the summer days of green and gold and yellow, and the shining colours of fruition and harvest; to the dark earth and white wisdom days of winter
where all things wait in patience for the change that shall bring transformation.
Words of Welcome and Introduction:
These opening words by Richard M. Fewkes welcome all who have gathered this morning, for our Sunday service. Welcome to those of you who have gathered in-person at Essex Church, to all who are joining us via Zoom from far and wide, and all who are viewing on YouTube or listening to the podcast at a later date. For anyone who doesn’t know me, my name is Jeannene Powell, I’m a member of this community, and I’ll be leading our congregational service today.
This morning’s service is on the theme of ‘Life’s Seasons and Milestones’. With help from members of the congregation – Sonya Leite, Liz Tuckwell, and Jennifer Young – we’ll be reflecting on the changing seasons of our lives and those significant moments when we can pause and take stock.
But let’s take a moment to pause before we go any further. Let’s make sure we’ve really arrived – that our soul has caught up with our body – that we’re grounded and present here and now. Let’s remember why we’re here, together. We make this hour sacred with our presence and intention. We are co-creating this community of the spirit; making time and space for what really matters in life.
Chalice Lighting: ‘Remembering Our Unity’ by Katie Romano Griffin (adapted)
Let’s light our chalice flame now, as we do each week. This simple ritual connects us with Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists the world over, and reminds us of the proudly progressive religious tradition of which this gathering is part.
(light chalice)
May the flame of this chalice, the symbol of our faith,
connect us to all who have come before us,
all who are part of our community today,
and all who are yet to come into being.
May it serve as a reminder of our unity
and connection across all time and space.
Hymn 43 (purple): ‘Gather the Spirit’
Let’s sing together now. Our first hymn is number 43 in the purple book, ‘Gather the Spirit’. For those joining via Zoom the words will be up on screen. Feel free to stand or sit as you prefer.
Gather the spirit, harvest the power.
Our separate fires will kindle one flame.
Witness the mystery of this hour.
Our trials in this light appear all the same.
Gather in peace, gather in thanks.
Gather in sympathy now and then.
Gather in hope, compassion and strength.
Gather to celebrate once again.
Gather the spirit of heart and mind.
Seeds for the sowing are laid in store.
Nurtured in love and conscience refined,
with body and spirit united once more.
Gather in peace, gather in thanks.
Gather in sympathy now and then.
Gather in hope, compassion and strength.
Gather to celebrate once again.
Gather the spirit growing in all,
drawn by the moon and fed by the sun.
Winter to spring, and summer to fall,
the chorus of life resounding as one.
Gather in peace, gather in thanks.
Gather in sympathy now and then.
Gather in hope, compassion and strength.
Gather to celebrate once again.
Candles of Joy and Concern:
Each week when we gather together, we share a simple ritual of candles of joy and concern, an opportunity to light a candle and share something that is in our heart with the community. So we’ve an opportunity now, for anyone who would like to do so, to light a candle and say a few words about what it represents. This time we’re going to go to the people in the building first, and take all of those in one go, and then I’ll call on the people on Zoom to come forward.
So I invite some of you here in person to come and light a candle and then if you wish to tell us briefly who or what you light your candle for. Please do get up close to the microphone as that will help everyone hear (including the people at home). You can take the microphone out of the stand if it’s not at a good height and have it microphone pointing right at your mouth. And if you can’t get to the microphone give me a wave and I’ll bring it over to you. Thank you.
(in person candles)
And if that’s everyone in the room we’ll go over to the people on Zoom next – you might like to switch to gallery view at this stage – just unmute yourselves when you are ready and speak out – and we should be able to hear you and see you up on the big screen here in the church.
(zoom candles)
And I’m going to light one more candle, as we often do, to represent all those joys and concerns that we hold in our hearts this day, but which we don’t feel able to speak out loud. (light candle)
Time of Prayer & Reflection: based on words by Lyn Cox
Let’s take those joys and concerns into an extended time of prayer. This prayer is based on some words by Lyn Cox. You might first want to adjust your position for comfort, close your eyes, or soften your gaze. There might be a posture that helps you feel more prayerful. Whatever works for you. Do whatever you need to do to get into the right state of body and mind for us to pray together – to be fully present here and now, in this sacred time and space – with ourselves, with each other, and with that which is both within us and beyond us. (pause)
Spirit of Life, God of All Love, in whom we live and move and have our being,
we turn our full attention to you, the light within and without,
as we tune in to the depths of this life, and the greater wisdom
to which – and through which – we are all intimately connected.
Be with us now as we allow ourselves to drop into the
silence and stillness at the very centre of our being. (short pause)
Spirit of Life, God of All Love, ancestor of the stars and the sun,
you who embrace the vastness of space and us along with it, be with us today.
Hold us in our daily trials; our worry, our weariness, our grief.
Keep us close as we sit with our truth, whatever that may be.
Lead us to rest in the quiet, to find solace and renewal,
this day as we reflect on the changing seasons of our lives.
You whose arms open with the spinning galaxies,
help us to make room, as you do, for all that is.
Open our hearts to our loved ones, our neighbours,
the beings with whom we share this planet.
Lead us to reach out to others in compassion.
Turn us toward one another in mercy,
right relationship, and reconciliation.
You who have seen the rising and setting of suns,
of seasons, of civilizations, remind us of all that we have learned
from the history of the world and from our own histories.
Give us the courage to face our mistakes, and to repair them whenever possible.
Help us understand our interdependence, our relatedness
with all of the other spinning lives around us,
and lead us to treat those relationships with care.
In this space, filled with the people among us who shine like stars,
this space filled with the sparkle of love and care,
we give thanks for this moment we have to be together.
May our senses be open to the beauty of this day, this season, this world.
The beauty that endures and which may lift our hearts,
if only we are able to notice it, to give it our attention. (short pause)
And in a quiet moment now, let us look back over the week just gone, to take stock of it all –
the many everyday cares and concerns of our own lives – and concentric circles of concern
rippling outwards – ‘til they enfold the entire world and all those lives which touch our own.
Let’s take a while to sit quietly in prayer with that which weighs heavy on our hearts this day.
(longer pause)
And let us also take a moment to notice all the good that has happened in the past week –
moments of uplift and delight; beauty and pleasure; all those acts of generosity and kindness.
The hopes and dreams and possibilities that are bubbling up and reminding us that we’re alive.
There’s lots to be grateful for. So let’s take a little while to sit quietly in prayer and give thanks. (longer pause)
Spirit of Life – God of all Love – as this time of prayer comes to a close, we offer up
our joys and concerns, our hopes and fears, our beauty and brokenness,
and we call on you for insight, healing, and renewal.
As we look forward now to the coming week,
help us to live well each day and be our best selves;
using our unique gifts in the service of love, justice and peace. Amen
Hymn 63 (purple): ‘Hope is Born in Springtime’
Let’s sing together again now. Our next hymn is number 63 in the purple book, it’s called ‘Hope is Born in Springtime’, but the words take us through all of the seasons and the lessons they contain. The words will be up on screen. Feel free to stand or sit as you prefer.
Hope is born in springtime though the cold wind chills;
hope as strong as snowdrops, gold as daffodils.
Hope be in our planting, hope be in our prayer,
be the key that opens hearts to greet the year.
Summer bids us welcome, strong and brave and bright;
warms us with her sunshine, cheers us with her light.
Sudden storm, then silence; feel the pulse of power;
everywhere around her, springtime buds in flower.
Autumn’s golden glory seems to hold the sun;
singing through the cornfields “Look what God has done –
ripened field and fruit trees, filled your barns with grain,
seeds for next year’s sowing harvested again.”
Patient winter teaches we must sometimes pause;
listen to the silence, learn the living laws.
Gather strength in quietness, ponder nature’s ways;
still our souls with praying, lift our hearts with praise.
Though the years may bring us sadness, gladness, strife;
birth and growth and living make the joys of life.
Count the many blessings of our daily lives;
then, through joy and sorrow, all that’s good survives.
Reflection: ‘A Milestone: Changing My Perspective on Disappointment’ by Sonya Leite
When Jane asked me for a mini reflection, it occurred to me to consider MILESTONEs as markers of success in my DAILY life. The milestone for me is with the Nature of Disappointments and how I’ve built a new relationship to small and big disappointments.
Years ago, I explored a system called Human Design. They create a birth chart integrating principles from multiple disciplines from Astrology to Physics. They focus on your personality traits revealing themes in your life and how to navigate them harmoniously. To my surprise, the chart revealed a recurring theme: Disappointment. I actually felt liberated because as this theme was a given in my life, I could learn to befriend it.
I started my working life as an actor, a career riddled with disappointments. Auditioning and not getting the job or getting down to the last two and still not getting the job or jobs that started and were then cancelled. This theme also showed up in my family life and being disappointed with the world and people, in general, being let down. At that point, my motto was to trust everyone until they let me down, not a very effective way of being discerning to each moment or situation.
In retrospect, I realize how endemic disappointment was in all areas of my life. And it was a set up. My negative self – talk was filled with unrealistic expectations stopping me from living in the present. I was assuming the past was going to keep repeating itself and I was not participating fully in my life. However, disappointment taught me I cared. These moments were helping me to release a hidden aspect of myself to speak up or give myself a break and some empathy.
Now when disappointment comes, it’s my little red flag that gives me a choice to either course correct or laugh or both. A spiritual teacher once said to me; if you are going to laugh about this situation later, you might as well laugh about it now. In Hindu theology, there is a term called Leela. It is seen as a playful way the Gods set us up for little challenges in our lives. A test if you like, to have fun with us and to show us how we react or respond.
I’d like to give you two examples of big and little disappointments for me this month. I signed up to do a 6 month programme in songwriting mostly online and recording a song in person in California at the end of this year. The course covers deep themes: Awakening to oneself, to your truth and to use your voice to tell your story in song and then have it produced into a recording!! We all have the desire to express our authentic selves. I loved the idea that the course would provide support for the inner process and the outer results. I signed up and paid. A week before the course was due to start they changed the dates. There’s an unscheduled break – a big gap of two more months turning it into an 8-month commitment ending next year. Disappointment and shock hit me hard! I prayed about it and then wrote an email to the Course Administrator. I had mixed reactions. I know life throws curve balls but I also know I wanted to be authentic and share my feelings. I wrote to them about my disappointment and what my expectations were. I did not make them wrong or turn myself into a disappointed victim. They responded by thanking me for bringing my points to their attention and they course corrected and are going to honour the original months for the recording dates in California – just for me! I didn’t repress my feelings, I didn’t course correct or laugh. I spoke about my disappointment with the unsatisfactory changes and how it would impact my life. I expressed my truth in the moment directly and clearly. I got results that I didn’t even expect. A miracle for me really. Was this Leela and the Gods PLAYING and testing me?
And lastly, yesterday, after a confirmation email I turned up for an infrared sauna appointment. I was greeted by a confused receptionist telling me they sent an email saying the sauna was broken, I had not received the cancellation email. Another Leela moment testing me? This time I laughed and left with a smile on my face. My new self-talk now is: why choose disappointment? Just laugh because life is full of unexpected situations and who knows where it will lead. That’s my milestone, I feel I’ve learned to appreciate and conquer disappointments and I notice when the Gods are having a laugh with me.
Meditation: ‘Stages’ by Hermann Hesse
Thanks Sonya. We’re moving into a time of meditation now. In a moment I’m going to share a short poem by Herman Hesse (the words will be on the back of your hymnsheet if you want to re-read it). This will take us into 3 minutes of silence which will end with the sound of a bell. Then we’ll hear some music from Andrew. So let’s each do what we need to do to get comfortable – adjust your position if you need to – put your feet flat on the floor to ground yourself – close your eyes. As we always say, the words are an offering, feel free to use this time to meditate in your own way.
‘Stages’ by Hermann Hesse
As every flower fades and as all youth
Departs, so life at every stage,
So every virtue, so our grasp of truth,
Blooms in its day and may not last forever.
Since life may summon us at every age
Be ready, heart, for parting, new endeavour,
Be ready bravely and without remorse
To find new light that old ties cannot give.
In all beginnings dwells a magic force
For guarding us and helping us to live.
Serenely let us move to distant places
And let no sentiments of home detain us.
The Cosmic Spirit seeks not to restrain us
But lifts us stage by stage to wider spaces.
If we accept a home of our own making,
Familiar habit makes for indolence.
We must prepare for parting and leave-taking
Or else remain the slave of permanence.
Even the hour of our death may send
Us speeding on to fresh and newer spaces,
And life may summon us to newer races.
So be it, heart: bid farewell without end.
Period of Silence and Stillness (~3 minutes) – end with a bell
Interlude: Richard Rodney Bennett: Siesta (from Summer Music) (played by Andrew Robinson)
Reflection: ‘Leaving Home and Finding My Feet’ by Liz Tuckwell
For me, a real milestone was leaving home. When I left school, I went to a technical college for a year and then got a job as a secretary. After six months of that, I decided that I did, after all, want to go to university. Because I wanted to go as soon as possible, I didn’t go through the clearing house for university but instead went to a polytechnic.
I went to Manchester Polytechnic mainly because I needed to go to one outside of London to get a full grant (you could get student grants in those days). I already had my A’ Level results so didn’t need to attend an interview. No one else in my family had been to university and it didn’t occur to me to visit the place before accepting the offer. I did live in a Hall of Residence for the first year which was a half way house to independence in my opinion.
It was an eye opener moving to Manchester. For the first time, people would turn around and look at me when they heard me speak. I was the outsider. I also learnt that for many people, London wasn’t the centre of the universe. Being at polytechnic, introduced me to many different people, new ideas and experiences. I also met my future husband there.
After the first year, I chose independent accommodation. My friend and I moved to Whalley Range. Neither of us coming from the Manchester area, we didn’t realise that it was a red-light area. The Student Accommodation Service didn’t bother to warn us, and this was the time of the Yorkshire Ripper. I’ll never forget, getting off the bus after a day at college, to walk the short distance to our house and seeing the car headlights passing slowly up and down the road. After a few months of never going out alone after dark, we quickly found alternative accommodation in a council flat in Hulme.
Hulme was a pretty rough area in Manchester, but it felt safer to us than Whalley Range. Manchester Council had a policy of renting out flats to students as so few people wanted to live there at that time. Two friends and I lived in a spacious 3-bedroom flat and enjoyed being there apart from when we got burgled. Oh, and the cockroaches.
It was my first experience of having to deal with all the bills and all the chores that come with having your own place. I think it was a useful experience and taught me to be more reliant. And I realised that for me and my friends, this was only a temporary experience but for most of our neighbours, this was their permanent reality.
After Manchester, I went back to London and lived with my parents for a few months which I think none of us really enjoyed. I’d become far more independent and used to doing things my way. Then I moved out to live with my then boyfriend in Kensal Rise. And in fact, I’m still there although not in the same flat. I never lived with my parents again.
Moving out of my family home, into my own accommodation, and not relying on my parents to take care of bills etc. were important milestones for me on the way to becoming a “proper” adult. This was a season of my life in which I was finding my feet in the world and having my eyes opened to how other people live.
Reflection: ‘A Season of Togetherness’ by Jennifer Young
When I was in my 20s, my aunt would once a month attend what she called her ‘Thursday Night Group’. They were a group of women who once a month gathered at the Saugres – a Portuguese restaurant in the city where most of them lived and worked. They would have dinner and enjoy each other’s company. I loved hearing stories about the women of the Thursday night group, what they were doing, they just seemed so cool and ‘grown up’. Occasionally, my Aunt (who like Madonna and Cher has always gone by just the one name: ‘Auntie’) would invite me to come along – I felt privy to a special circle. A circle of friends, colleagues, conspirators.
It only occurred to me recently that I now have my own ‘Thursday Night group’. About 4-5 years ago, a couple of friends thought it would be cool to get together and read books about issues we felt we should know more about. Like many people at the time, we were looking at the aftermath of Trump being elected and Brexit we wanted to know more about the things that were important to us and to learn about things we felt we should know more about. We called ourselves ‘Read Against the Machine’ which is a play on ‘Rage Against the Machine’ the name of an American rock band from the 1990s. There were 5 of us to start and now there are 8. We range in age from women in our early 30s to me the old Gen Xer and we’re from 6 different countries! We’ve read books about feminism of course, but also the experiences of trans people, women’s body issues, the lives of sex workers around the world, rage, sexism in a variety of systems including healthcare and the memoirs of Gloria Steinem.
We have learned a lot over the years, and I can say that it has had a profound impact on how I see myself and the world around me. But just as important we created a community -a history together – through the pandemic when no one could focus on reading, we would still show up in our virtual squares just reading little fragments of articles or things we found interesting, some even starting writing and sharing poetry. We have seen each other through career and relationship changes, the aging and illness of our parents and even the odd baby (who now attends but doesn’t consistently do the reading). Always it has been a space where we could come as we are – cranky, grieving, elated, discouraged, triumphant – what a special blessing that is to have in this world. Last Saturday we gathered to celebrate my 50th birthday (wowho!), multiple times I had to stop and just marvel at this amazing group of people that in the course of my already lovely life I had managed to gather as my friends. I imagine we are in a season of life where this is possible – like my Auntie’s group there will come times in the future where we won’t meet anymore and some of us won’t be around, but I want to remember the congeniality and togetherness of my group in this season of togetherness, so I can hold it in my heart for the seasons to come.
Hymn (on sheet): ‘All of Life is Filled with Wonder’
Thanks Jennifer and Liz. Time for our last hymn now, it’s on your hymnsheet, ‘All of Life is Filled with Wonder’. It’s a well-known tune so let’s sing up as best we can for this our final hymn today.
All of life is filled with wonder,
so we thank you, God of love —
For the crash of evening thunder,
clearing clouds, then stars above;
For the night that turns to glowing
as we feel the morning mist,
God, we praise and thank you, knowing
every day we’re truly blessed.
For the joy of daily waking,
for the gift of each new day,
For the smell of fresh bread baking,
for the sound of children’s play,
For the ways we seek to serve you
as we work and volunteer,
God we humbly praise and thank you
for your presence with us here.
For the ways we’re blessed with plenty —
love and laughter, neighbours, friends,
Nature’s wonders, seasons’ bounty,
life in you that never ends,
For the ones who’ve gone before us,
giving witness to your way —
We rejoice in all you give us
every moment, every day.
For your love in times of trouble,
for your peace when things are tough,
For your help when hardships double,
for your grace that is enough,
For a stranger’s gentle kindness,
for a doctor’s healing skill —
God, we thank you that you bless us,
and you bless your world as well.
For your presence in our neighbours,
for your love that claims and frees.
For our talents and our labours,
for our faith communities.
For your daily great surprises —
poor ones lifted, lost ones found —
God, we thank you! Hope still rises,
as your gifts of grace abound.
Announcements:
Thanks to Ramona for tech-hosting. Thanks to Shari for co-hosting and welcoming everyone online. Thanks to Sonya, Liz, and Jennifer for their reflections. Thanks to Andrew for playing for us today. Thanks to ?Marianne for doing coffee and ?Liz for greeting. For those of you who are in-person – please do stay for a cuppa after the service – served in the hall next door. If you’re joining on zoom please do hang on after for a chat with Shari.
This month’s ‘Better World Book Club’ is tonight on Zoom at 7.30pm – if you’re expecting to go along to that and haven’t already got the link then get in touch with Jane ASAP – it’s probably a bit late to read that one if you haven’t started already but if you want to come along next time we’ll be reading ‘Loving Our Own Bones’ by Rabbi Julia Belser. We’ve got a few copies of that in the church library if you’d like to borrow one.
Tomorrow on Monday 24th June our very own Abby Lorimier is holding a teatime concert here at church with her new chamber music collective ‘Monday’s Child’. That’s from 5.30-6.30pm. It’s a pay-what-you-can event. There was a link to Eventbrite tickets in the Friday email.
We also have our regular online ‘Heart & Soul’ Contemplative Spiritual Gathering on Friday at 7pm when we’ll be exploring the theme of ‘Unknowing’. It is a great way to connect with others on a deeper level – sign up with Jane if you want to get the Zoom link for that.
Sonya will be here as usual for her Nia dance classes at lunchtime on Friday.
Next Sunday we’ll be back for our regular service with guest preacher Rev Michael Allured.
Details of all our various activities are printed on the back of the order of service, for you to take away, and also in the Friday email. Please do sign up for the mailing list if you haven’t already. The congregation very much has a life beyond Sunday mornings; we encourage you to keep in touch, look out for each other, and do what you can to nurture supportive connections.
I think that’s everything. Just time for our closing words and closing music now.
Benediction: based on words by James A. Hobart
Let our hearts be secure through every human season.
Let our hearts be as secure in seasons of anguish as in seasons of joy,
in seasons of failure as in seasons of success,
in seasons of uncertainty as in seasons of security,
remembering the seasons of our lives are ever-turning.
And, in the days to come, may we notice and appreciate
the gifts of the particular season we find ourselves in,
and know that there is still so much to be thankful for. Amen.
Closing Music: Pierre-Max Dubois: Tango (played by Andrew Robinson)
Jeannene Powell and Congregation Members
23rd July 2024