SOUTHPORT UNITARIAN NEWS (SUN)
December to January 2010

Our Chapel built in days of old
Still serves its people, and stands bold,
In grounds so green, and now well kept,
Where souls of men for years have slept,
The men who dare the truth to seek
And those who dared the truth to speak
An atmosphere of love and care
Surrounds all those who enter there.
The dark oak pews of ancient wood
Creak with the years but still hold good,
The lighter oak of pews below
Reflect the light with golden glow
People all through the years have brought
Their children so that they be taught
No creeds to hamper open minds,
No binding laws to baulk mankind,
But love and friendship find them there
And hope and comfort in despair.

Words written of The Great Meeting, Hinckley
By Mary Musson
But surely echoing our thoughts in Southport.

 

Southport Unitarian Church, Portland Street, is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.

Our Object – to promote a free and inquiring religion through the worship of God and the celebration of life, the service of humanity and respect for all creation, and the upholding of the liberal Christian tradition.

DIRECTORY

District Minister:Rev Lynne Readettemail:

Chairperson:Rev Daphne M Robertsemail:
(Church Council)
Editor (Calendar)

Secretary :Mr L Crook

Treasurer :Mr David Ellis

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REPORT FROM THE SECRETARY

At the time of writing this report I feel very apprehensive about the agreed sale of the church, wondering if we are doing the right thing, but as I see it, we cannot afford to continue in a building which requires money we do not have spending on it. It is proposed that we wait until the recession has improved, together with the property market, in order to get the true value for the property. However we have built up a very loyal number of people who use the building and when the time comes we will have to ask them to leave, but we must look to the future with a positive attitude. All that is left for me to say is for you all to have a very

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A HEALTHY NEW YEAR.

Thank you all for your support to the Church.

Lindon Crook (Hon. Secretary)

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Since the last Calendar, the following words have been found, the very last thing written by Hilary, and very much appreciated by the two mentioned.

On Saturday 30th May friends and family of Mrs Patricia Birtles and the Reverend Daphne Roberts met at the Toby Carvery in Ainsdale and afterwards at the home of Hilary and David Ellis to celebrate the 80th birthdays of these two stalwart and much loved members of our Congregation. We all wish them well for the future.

Dear Friends, how things have changed since the last Calendar – which I hope gives you warning of what I, as Chair of Council, have to say.

Hilary left us on a high, we were expecting so much for the future of our church in Southport under her leadership, but as you know, it was not to be, and so we had to rethink from the bottom up, as it were. We no longer held Council Meetings as such, but invited every member to attend all meetings, which came to be held as and when needed as different stages moved on, and to cut a long story short, eventually after much soul searching it was agreed unanimously, in the words of the Minute of 14th October 2009 – "…that this meeting had taken a momentous decision after about 140 years to sell the property and also to look to the future and find a new purpose in Southport for the Unitarian Movement".

Whatever else, it had been agreed from the beginning that the most important thing was that we stayed together, and stay together we shall.

This decision has saddened many, as it will sadden many who read this for the first time, but eventually all agreed that it had to be, and believe me, it took a lot of soul-searching.

Nothing will change on the surface for at the very least one year because bookings are in hand until September 1910. But as you can imagine much work has now to be done, and there are still many questions to answer, such as where do we go from here, and how do we set about it. Fortunately we have good friends who have the knowledge of how to begin, as we also have ideas of what we might do in the future when the building itself is taken care of. So all I can say is – Watch this space!

We do know of other churches that have had to take this step, and it transpired that in this day and age it was definitely the right thing to do, so we look forward in anticipation that perhaps we may be able to go forward in a leap of faith.

Speaking for us all, we do hope that you, old and new friends, will be with us in the action we have taken on behalf of Unitarians in our area. I don't know where these words come from, but I read "Man's best monument is not a thing of stone but consists of living deeds and in the memory which survives in the minds of those he served". May our God be with us all.

Daphne Roberts

Services each Sunday at 11.00am

		Preachers	Flowers
December	6th	Mr G Pilborough	Flower Fund
	13th	Rev L. Readett	Flower Fund
	20th	Carol Service	Christmas Tree
	25th	Christmas Day – No Service
	27th	Rev G Murphy	Christmas Tree
January	3rd	Dr A Buchanan	Christmas Tree
	10th	Mr G Pilborough	Flower Fund
	17th	Rev D Roberts	Mrs P Armitt
	24th	Rev G Murphy	Mrs P Birtles
	31st	Rev L. Readett	Flower Fund
February	7th	Rev J Keggen	Mr L Crook
	14th	Mr G Pilborough	Flower Fund
	21st	Rev J Roberts	Mrs P Armitt
	28th	Rev G Murphy	Flower Fund

Dates for your Diaries

Dec	10th	Thurs	11.00am.	Dist WL Christmas Lunch, Ullet Road
Dec	20th	Sun	11.00am.	Carol Service – please let Daphne have your ideas asap.
Jan	9th	Sat	10.00am.	MDMA Council at Ullet Road
Jan	18th	Mon	4.30pm.	Congregational Meeting in the Vestry
Please save your used stamps for charity; give to Daphne! Take that as you like !!
New Merseyside Web address: www.ukunitarians.org.uk/merseyside

 

May all of you have the gladness of Christmas Which is HOPE;
the spirit of Christmas Which is PEACE,
and the heart of Christmas Which is LOVE