1. From Vision to Action: Next Steps
At the Annual Meetings the “From Vision to Action: Next steps” report was approved. A 16-minute video film has been produced to encourage congregations and individual Unitarians and Free Christians to consider how they might contribute to the achievement of the Vision for the future of our Movement. Fifty copies of the film on DVD have been circulated for use when wifi is not available so if you want to use the DVD format we can put you in touch with someone who has a copy locally. The report and the video is available on the General Assembly website.
Derek McAuley
Chief Officer
2. Fantastic Summer Events Announced by the Youth Programme
Please help spread the word about an amazing summer of activity and fun for young Unitarians:
• Bridging Weekend. From 24-26 June at Flagg Barn, near Buxton. Enjoy being in the heart of Derbyshire in this historic cottage. For 16-21 year olds and BUYAN folk. Fee £30.
• Unikids Holiday “Castles in the Clouds” from 1-4 August. 3 nights in Swanage Youth Hostel, Dorset. Sandcastle building, games and a trip to Corfe Castle. This is a holiday for 7-14 year olds with return train journey from London included. Fee £110.
• FDA (Five Days Away) from 8-12 August at The Nightingale Centre, Derbyshire. Creativity, outdoor pursuits and leadership workshops for 12-17 year olds. Fee £125.
These reasonable prices are kept low by generous grants. If any families or individuals need a discount please let John know. There is a travel grant available if travel expenses are an issue. Further information and booking information or email John Harley.
Do forward this information onto any families or young people who may be interested. The Youth Programme flourishes through word and mouth communication and personal recommendation.
GA Youth Coordinator
3. The Jane Barraclough Bursary
A travel and educational bursary of around £500 will be awarded from time to time by the Ministerial Old Students’ Association (MOSA) to Ministers trained firstly at Harris Manchester College, Oxford or secondly at the Unitarian College Manchester, and who are on the Roll of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. The award is for the recipient to travel within the United Kingdom or abroad, or to attend a course in furtherance of their education. The fund is handled by the Manchester Academy Trust. Recommendations for the bursary will be sought and proposed by the Trustees of the said Trust, endorsed by the committee of the Ministerial Old Students’ Association and a grant presented during the annual meetings of MOSA in June.
Application forms are available from the Reverend Peter Hewis, 1 Little Blenheim, Yarnton, Kidlington, OX5 1LX.
Rev Peter Hewis
4. The Samuel Jones Fund
The income of the fund is applied ‘in augmentation of the salaries of such conscientious and Dissenting Ministers as shall stand in most need of assistance as the Managers of the Fund shall approve, preference being given to those who have been students at Manchester (now Harris Manchester) College, Oxford’. New applicants are also invited and grants are considered annually. Applications should be in hand by 9 June 2016 and be on a form obtainable from the Secretary: Reverend Peter Hewis, 1 Little Blenheim, Yarnton, Kidlington, OX5 1LX, Tel: 01865 372 265
Rev Peter Hewis
5. The Rev Ann Latham
It is with sadness that we learned of the death of Rev Ann Latham on 21 April 2016. She served as Lay Pastor and then Minister at Todmorden, Oldham, Manchester Chorlton-cum-Hardy, the Manchester District, Manchester Dob Lane, Failsworth, and Kidderminster for a period of over thirty years.
A Funeral service will be held on Monday, 9th May 2016 at 1:45 pm at Kidderminster Unitarian New Meeting House, Church Street, Kidderminster, DY10 2AR. It will be followed by a Committal at the Wyre Forest Crematorium, and refreshments at The Land Oak Establishment on the A456.
For further information please contact Rev Winnie Gordon.
6. Recent UKunitarianTV Films
Below is a selection of some of the films we have created recently. If you are running an event and feel there are Unitarians who will enjoy watching it online, please do contact us and we will do what we can to film it for you. Please contact us on any issue about our work at support@ukunitarians.org.uk
Services
– Knutsford
– Styal
– Whitby
- Bolton
NUF Reflections
– April 2016 - Rev Danny Crosby
– March 2016 - Rev Danny Crosby
– Feb 2016 - Liz Shaw
– Jan 2016 - Rev David Shaw
Sunday Night Live
– Why we could be concerned about changes to The Human Rights Act?
– Why we should be concerned about our falling numbers
– How do we engage young adults?
– A guided meditation from Horsham
– Lizzie Hornby in concert
Talks
– TV session at the GA 2016
– Alan Ruston - The Unitarian attitude towards WW1
James Barry
UKunitarianTV
7. Media coverage
“Easter Rising and Troubles Dead Remembered in Dublin Church Commemoration” (BBC 25 March 2016)
“Fatalities of Easter 2016 remembered at Dublin Ceremony” (Irish Times, 25 March 2016)
Rev Tony McNeile contributed to the Patheos.com website in the US “Credo from across the pond” (5 April 2016)
I thought you might be interested in this forthcoming US documentary film “Defying the Nazis: The Sharps War” on two of the founders of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee; with Tom Hanks providing voice of Waistill Sharp and Marina Goldman, Martha. The trailer is amazing.
Derek McAuley
Chief Officer