Podcasts
We have started to produce podcasts which you are welcome to download and listen to.
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July 17th 2011 -
Be The Change You Want To See In The World.
by Clare Gately
An invitation to look at what we can do individually and collectively to bring balance and healing to our planet.
July 10th 2011 -
Narcotics Cannot Still the Tooth that Nibbles at the Soul
by Rev Maud Robinson
'This World is not Conclusion. A Species stands beyond - Invisible, as Music - But positive, as Sound.....
Narcotics Cannot Still the Tooth that Nibbles at the Soul'. Emily Dickinson
29th May 2011 -
Pushing A Wheelbarrow of Frogs
by Rev Maud Robinson
"It's been said that 'being a Unitarian minister is like pushing a wheelbarrow full of frogs.'
Come and dip a toe in the frog pond - it could be fun!"
5th May 2011 -
Hungering for Righteousness
by Rev Maud Robinson
Most of us hunger for righteousness, in a vague kind of way, from the comfort of our armchairs.
This is probably not what Jesus was calling for in the fourth beatitude.
17th April 2011 -
The Middle Way
by Julian Adkins
Is Nirvana a taste of heaven, or a gateway to living more fully in the here and now?
Exploring the integration of spiritual experience into the complexity of everyday life
10th April 2011 -
Beloved Community Across the Generations
by Rev Maud Robinson
As we continue to welcome new younger members, significantly changing the dynamic of our beloved community,
how can we strive towards caring for each other as lovingly as we are able?
6th February 2011 -
The Sermon on the Amount
by Rev Maud Robinson
What amount is the right amount of money, time, energy, commitment to give to your Beloved Community?
Should this amount change over the course of each individual's life?
30th January 2011 -
Blessed Are the Merciful... by Rev Maud Robinson
... for they will receive mercy. Mercy can mean the ability to get right inside other people,
to see with their eyes, think with their minds and feel with their feelings.
This is not something which we can do without a great effort of will.
23rd January 2011 -
Hugging Trees by Rev Maud Robinson
Tree-hugging is recommended by some as a means to heal a tattered soul. Maybe it's not as daft as it
may sound to some; getting in touch with growing things can bring us to a place of peace and thankfulness.
16th January 2011 -
Man's Search for Ultimate Meaning by Rev Maud Robinson
Having already explored Viktor Frankl's powerful book, Man's Search for Meaning, is there more he can teach us
with his book Man's Search for Ultimate Meaning?
9th January 2011 - Epiphany and Pilgrimage
by Rev Maud Robinson
With the story of the long journey of the Magi to visit the infant Jesus, let us consider what it is that prompts many to find meaning in journeying, whether or not we call it pilgrimage.
21st November 2010 - "May Your Prayer of Listening Deepen Enough....
by Rev Maud Robinson
....to hear in the depths the laughter of God." Using this blessing written by John O'Donohue, we will explore the important spiritual practices of listening and laughing.
14th November 2010 - On War
by Jim Millar, a member of the Glasgow Unitarian Church
Von Clauswitz described war as 'politics by other means.' Unitarian and religious naturalist, Jim Millar asks if warfare can ever be justified.
31st October 2010 -
Remembering Our Beloved Departed
by Rev Maud Robinson
Samhain or Halloween is a time to remember our loved ones who have died and to celebrate their
love that remains with us.
24th October 2010 - Gathering
Our Harvest
by Rev Maud Robinson
With our annual collection of goods for St Catherine's Homeless Project, we reflect on how important it is to share
the harvest of our lives, as important for ourselves as for those with whom we share.
10th October 2010 - Forgiveness and
Reconciliation
by Rev Maud Robinson
Forgiveness and reconciliation are necessary for the flourishing of relationships between people, between groups and
between nations, and a necessary precursor of forgiveness is admission of guilt and the asking of forgiveness.
Most of the reflections about Unitarian attitudes to sin were taken directly from Rev Cliff Reed's
book 'Unitarian: What's That?'
3rd October 2010 - Animal Crackers
by Rev Maud Robinson
Our second Annual Family Service in celebration of and thanksgiving for animals. This service was attended by six dogs,
a rabbit and a cat, as well as children and adults.
26th September 2010 - Cranford: A Distillation
of Unitarian Values
by Rev Maud Robinson
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Unitarian author Elizabeth Gaskell we will consider how her fiction
was informed by her values as a Unitarian.
19th September 2010 - Blessed are the Peacemakers....
by Rev Maud Robinson
For they will be called children of God. How can we be peacemakers, and what does it mean to be a child of God?
12th September 2010 -
Polonius Balonious
by Rev Bill Darlison - Minister Emeritus, Dublin Unitarian Church
'This above all, to thine own self be true,' says Polonius to his son Laertes as he is about to set sail for
foreign climes. Is is good advice? What should we be telling our young people as they go out into the world?
15th August 2010 -
Nothing is Set in Stone
by Rev Maud Robinson
How easily we trot out this aphorism; but how difficult it is to accept it, as we cling to our certainties,
and fear and resist change in so many areas of our lives.
1st August 2010 - A Time of Havest
by Clare Gately - a member of this community
An exploration of the Celtic festival of Lughnasa
25th July 2010 - Dharma Day
By Jon Bagust with help from Suzanne Dance.
A commemoration of the first teaching that the Buddha gave, the four noble truths. An opportunity to reflect
deeply on their content. "I teach suffering, its origin, cessation and path. That's all I teach." declared the
Buddha 2600 years ago.
7th July 2010 -
Thoughts on the Tree of Life
A sermon by Jane Williams, member of Rosslyn Chapel, London.
Thoughts on the tree of life, and some ideas about turning swords into ploughshares.
27th June 2010 -
Proud to be a Welcoming Community
Relections by community member, Jill Cunningham.
As a community we will have proudly marched in Edinburgh Gay Pride 2010 on 26th June. This morning we will reflect
on how we can make manifest our aspiration to be a Welcoming Congregation.
20th June 2010 -
The Height of Summer
Sermon by Rev Maud Robinson
The day before the Summer Solstice, with the ritual of a Flower Communion we will celebrate the longest day,
the zenith of the year which foreshadows the turning again towards winter.
30th May 2010 - A Very Strange Medley
Sermon by community member, Rob Whiteman
An exploration of the experience of Unitarian and Episcopalian worship viewed through the lens of Liberation Theology
14th Feb 2010 - Celebrating Love
Sermon by Rev Maud Robinson
On Valentine's Day let us celebrate love in all its forms. Love is not about sentimental hearts and roses,
but about being willing to walk with the beloved through shadow as well as sunlight.
7th Feb 2010 - Living
Our Principles
Sermon by Rev Maud Robinson
The fifth in a series of services taking an in-depth look at the religious principles which are outlined in
our constitution and which we aspire to live up to within our community and in the wider world. Our fifth
principle requires us to encourage individuals in their personal and spiritual growth and respect their freedom to
believe according to reason and conscience.
31st Jan 2010 -
Truth will set you free. (John 8:32)
Sermon by community member, Darren Canning.
The search for truth explored as a profound spirituality in and of the world. Socrates meets St John.
3rd Jan 2010 -
Striving for Imperfection
Sermon by Rev Maud Robinson
As the New Year ceases to be a novelty we will ask whether there is something not only self-defeating,
but also arrogant, about the New Year's resolutions which abound at this time of year.