A message from our Minister, Rev Kate Dean
The monthly theme for June’s services is ‘The Gift of Renewal’ and I will be spending the month getting ready for a period of renewal for the Chapel community as well as for myself. Having been the minister here for nearly eight years, I am about to embark on a three-month sabbatical from 1 July to 30 September. With a plethora of guest speakers and worship leaders lined up, I’m sure the Chapel community will enjoy the variety of contributions. Treasured Unitarian leaders Rev Sarah Tinker and Rev Feargus O’Connor/Stephen Crowther will offer operational and pastoral support respectively, so I feel the Chapel is in safe hands during my absence.
My chosen area of study during part of my sabbatical will be ‘spiritual resilience’; what are the tools we can put into place to weather the storms which inevitably come into our lives. I look forward to sharing with you what I discover!
The author Greg Anderson writes:
‘The single overriding objective in wellness is creating constant personal renewal where we recognise and act on the truth that each day is a miraculous gift, and our job is to untie the ribbons.’ I would hope that the goal of ‘living life with joy’ is more than an unobtainable aspiration, despite the grim news of world events. I think we have to start from where we are and recognise what we can change and what we cannot.
So perhaps as are minds turn to planning summer holidays or simple making more space in our lives for renewal, I reflect on the words of Maya Angelou:
‘Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.’ Maya Angelou
During Rev Kate's absence, Chapel Members can request pastoral care from the pastoral ministers by contacting Adam Slate. Any questions related to the Chapel building or booking should be emailed to the Chapel Administrator, Angela Dobson.
Comments