1. FUSE (Festival of Unitarians in the South East), 15th - 17th February 2019, Chatsworth Hotel, Worthing
Registration for the FUSE Festival is now open: www.fusefest.org.uk
Join us for a weekend of Unitarian fun and fulfilment by the seaside. We will be returning to the cosy family-run Chatsworth Hotel in Worthing next year with guest speaker Jennifer Kavanagh. Jennifer will be leading a fascinating afternoon seminar on Friday and the Festival begins on Friday evening with an opening ceremony.
For more information about the wide variety of workshops and other activities, please visit www.fusefest.org.uk where you can find a video which gives a taste of what to expect.
2. Book Now for Inter/Senior Weekend (11-17 years olds)
"Into The Woods" is a fun weekend for 11-17 year olds. Come and explore our relationship with nature at the Nightingale Centre, Great Hucklow, Derbyshire. 16-18th November 2018. More information here: https://www.unitarian.org.uk/get-involved/events.
PLEASE NOTE THE CLOSING DATE FOR BOOKINGS IS 2nd NOVEMBER 2018.
2. Youth Sunday – Save the Date
Youth Sunday will take place on Sunday 3rd February 2019 and the theme will be ‘Unitarians Promoting Equality: Past – Present – Future’. For more information, contact Youth Officer Gavin Howell.
3. Supplementary Subject Index to ‘Sing Your Faith’
Rev Sue Woolley, who was a professional Librarian before entering the ministry, has produced a Supplementary Subject Index to ‘Sing Your Faith’, using many of the terms from the Thematic Index in ‘Hymns for Living’. The new index is available from her free of charge by e-mail only, but a donation to Send a Child to Hucklow would be welcomed (please send donations to SACH, not Sue).
Contact Sue by email.
You can donate to the Send a Child to Hucklow fund here:
http://sendachildtohucklow.org.uk/make-a-donation.htm
4. Follow-up research on the Solemnisation of Same-Sex Marriages in Places of Worship in England and Wales
The researchers behind the ‘Religious Marriage of Same-Sex Couples’ report (2018) at the University of York are now extending their research to examine the experiences of same-sex couples that have had their marriages solemnised in registered places of worship. They want to understand why same-sex couples get married in a registered place of worship, how they go about it, and what their experience was like.
Please consider passing this request on to same-sex couples who have married in your Unitarian place of worship.
5. Malcolm Sadler
We are sad to report that Malcolm Sadler, former Lay Leader of both Warwick Unitarian Chapel and Banbury Unitarian Fellowship, died on 17th October in Warwick Hospital, at the age of 83.
A life-long Unitarian, he was active in the UYPL in his youth. He was associated with Warwick for more than 50 years, both as organist and latterly, from 1982 – 1986 as Lay Person in Charge, then from 1996 – 2006 as Lay Leader. He was also Lay Leader and pianist for Banbury Unitarian Fellowship from 2001 – 2011, having been a founder member in 1994. He was President of the Midland Unitarian Association from 1987 – 1989. He was also Secretary of the Unitarian Association of Lay Leaders for many years, then President of the reconstituted Unitarian Association for Lay Ministry for several more.
He was a gentle, loving man, who gave of himself unstintingly, and was instrumental in the survival of both Warwick and Banbury congregations. He will be greatly missed.
The funeral will be held on Friday 2nd November. There will be a brief ceremony of Committal at Oakley Wood Crematorium at 11.30am (a short service for those closer friends who wish to attend). The main Funeral Service will take place at Warwick Unitarian Chapel, High Street, Warwick at 12:30pm and will be conducted by Rev Ant Howe.
There will be refreshments afterwards and it would assist with arrangements if you could let Malcolm Burns know if you will be attending (by email).
6. Gift Aid, coffee mornings and bake sales
For information from the Churches Legislative Advisory Service (CLAS)
A press release from HM Treasury highlights steps that charities should take to ensure that fundraising at coffee mornings and bake sales can be eligible for Gift Aid. Gift Aid can be claimed on charitable donations from taxpayers, but not when the money is given in exchange for goods. It is feared that many charity bake sales could be missing the opportunity to claim Gift Aid because they charge directly for the items they are selling.
On the day of Macmillan’s Coffee Morning, which last year raised over £27 million to help support people living with cancer, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Robert Jenrick, said that he was clarifying the Gift Aid rules for anyone running a coffee morning: “If you ask people to make a donation and offer them a coffee or cake, you could be making 25 per cent more on the funds you raise.” [Source: HM Treasury – 1 October]
7. Trust and Integrity in Business - which questions do we ask? And of whom? Wednesday, 5th December 2018 (9:30 to 16:30) - Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ
A one day interactive event organised by Quakers in Business discussing the issues of trust and integrity in businesses of different sizes, e.g. what does trustworthiness look like?
Three parallel streams – lessons from the past and actions for today; one sponsored by The Centre for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics. Sessions include debates, roundtable discussions, and workshops.
Who is this for?
Anybody in the world of business, owners, managers, employees, public and third sector, students of the world of business and work, anyone who wishes to apply the principles of trust and integrity to their organisation.
What will you take away?
A fresh breath of insight into what you can do individually and collectively to create a better world, one where fear and concern is replaced with inspiration and verve to find out much we can do for the good of all.
A vegetarian buffet lunch will be served. Special diets will be catered for but must be requested in advance.
Tickets available from: http://qandb.org/qbc18
8. In the News
‘Augusta Unitarian Universalist minister taking exchange trip across the pond’ (Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel) (28.9.2018)
‘Taro’r Post’ (BBC Radio Cymru) (2.10.2018) [Welsh language]
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000ljj
‘Internet trolls urged gay Llandysul minister to kill himself’ (BBC News) (3.10.2018)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45725523
‘Gay minister defies trolls’ death threats by kissing his husband’ (Pink News) (3.10.2018)
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/10/03/gay-minister-trolls-kiss-husband/
‘Y Byd yn ei Le’ (S4C) (9.10.2018) [Welsh language, with English subtitles]
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p06m5d0s/y-byd-yn-ei-le-gyda-guto-harri-cyfres-2018-pennod-10
‘Music group to perform at Grade I listed building to aid restoration project’ (Ipswich Star) (12.10.2018)
http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/trianon-music-group-unitarian-meeting-house-concert-1-5734284
‘Blasphemy, Stephen Fry and referendum in Ireland’ (BBC News Northern Ireland) (20.10.2018)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-45903094
‘Review: The Curious About Ipswich Walk is great for all ages’ (East Anglian Daily Times) (21.10.2018)
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/curious-about-ipswich-walking-tour-review-1-5745644
‘Brighton church frontage unveiled after restoration’ (Brighton and Hove Independent) (22.10.2018)