A Thousand Lives

Sunday Service, 18 January 2026

Led by Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall and the Better World Book Club

Musical Prelude: Allemande by Joseph Bodin de Boismortier (performed by Abby Lorimier and Andrew Robinson)   

Opening Words: ‘A Place of Belonging and Caring’ by Kimberlee Anne Tomczak Carlson

It is not by chance that you arrived here today.

You have been looking for something larger than yourself.

Inside of you there is a yearning, a calling, a hope for more,

a desire for a place of belonging and caring.

Through your struggles, someone nurtured you into being,

instilling a belief in a shared purpose,

a common yet precious resource

that belongs to all of us when we share.

And so, you began seeking a beloved community:

A people that does not put fences around love.

A community that holds its arms open to possibilities of love.

A heart-home to nourish your soul and share your gifts.

Welcome home; welcome to this hour of worship. (pause)

Words of Welcome and Introduction: 

These words from Kimberlee Carlson welcome all who have gathered this morning for our Sunday service. Welcome to those who have gathered in-person at Essex Church, to all who are joining us via Zoom, and anyone tuning in at a later date via YouTube or listening to the podcast stream.  For anyone who doesn’t know me, I’m Jane Blackall, and I’m minister with Kensington Unitarians.

Our service today is titled ‘A Thousand Lives’. This slightly-enigmatic title was inspired by the quote from George R. R. Martin which I’ve put on the front of the order of service (excuse the gendering): ‘A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.’ Today I’ve asked four regulars from our Better World Book Club – Patricia, Marianne, Lochlann and Rajan – to speak about their experience of participating in that group and to share something about one of the books we’ve read together over the last two years.

One of the key features of the Better World Book Club is that we only read non-fiction, and I aim to choose books which allow us to hear the first-person lived experience of people with a great variety of life circumstances, people whose lives are often very different to our own in all sorts of ways. Hopefully by reading these books, and listening to these diverse voices, we will be opened up to new ways of seeing the world, and gain new insights and inspiration. But also by the way we share our own responses as readers – specifically by sharing from our centre to the centre of the circle – not treating the Book Club as a space for heady discussion and debate so much as a space for our own personal resonances and tender offerings, speaking of what the book evoked for us, and appreciating what we’ve learned from the testimony in it – meeting like this offers another opportunity to get a deeper insight into each other’s lives and concerns too. So today the Better World Book Club will be sharing some of what we’ve learned and extending an invitation to join us.

Chalice Lighting: ‘A Safe and Sacred Space’ by Jane Blackall  

Let’s light our chalice flame now, as we do each week. It’s a moment for us to stop and take a breath, settle ourselves down, put aside any preoccupations we came in carrying. This simple ritual connects us in solidarity with Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists the world over, and reminds us of the proud and historic progressive religious tradition of which this gathering is part.

(light chalice) 

The lighting of this chalice calls us to attention –

as we focus on its flickering light for a moment

let us recall the shared intention that it represents –

to make this a safe and sacred space for prayer and sharing

in which we can re-connect with life’s depths and our highest aspirations –

a community of solidarity and trust to nurture and strengthen us for the days of our lives.

May this little candle be a beacon that lights the way,

guiding us through these troubling and uncertain times,

and inspiring each of us to follow the path of liberating love.

Hymn 202 (green): ‘Children of a Bright Tomorrow’

Our first hymn is number 202 in your green books: ‘Children of a Bright Tomorrow’. For those joining on zoom the words will be up on screen. Feel free to stand or sit as you prefer.

Now we gather here to worship,

Each with but one life to live;

Each with gifts and each with failings,

Each with but one heart to give.

In our longing, here we gather,

With warm voices for a friend;

Two or three, or tens or thousands,

Heart and hand to all extend.

May our circle grow still wider;

May we see as others see:

Standing in the others' sandals

Shows us they, too, would be free.

Children of a bright tomorrow,

Every race and every creed;

Men and women of all nations,

Each a glory, each in need.

Small are we, and small our planet,

Hidden here among the stars:

May we know our timeless mission -

Universal avatars.

Candles of Joy and Concern:

Each week when we gather together, we share a simple ritual of candles of joy and concern, an opportunity to light a candle and share something that is in our heart with the community. So we’ve an opportunity now, for anyone who would like to do so, to light a candle and say a few words about what it represents. We’ll go to the people in the building first, then to Zoom.

So I invite some of you here in person to come and light a candle and then if you wish to tell us who or what you light your candle for – please keep it brief – be considerate of others. I’m going to ask you to come to the lectern to speak, as we want people to be able to hear you. 

(in person candles)

And if that’s everyone in the room we’ll go over to the people on Zoom next – you might like to switch to gallery view at this stage – just unmute yourselves when you are ready and speak out – and we should be able to hear you and see you up on the big screen here in the church.

(zoom candles)

And I’m going to light one more candle, as we often do, to represent all those joys and concerns that we hold in our hearts this day, but which we don’t feel able to speak out loud. (light candle)

Time of Prayer & Reflection: based on words by Bruce Southworth

Let’s take those joys and concerns into an extended time of prayer. This prayer is based on some words by Bruce Southworth. You might want to adjust your position for comfort, close your eyes, or soften your gaze. There might be a posture that helps you feel more prayerful. Whatever works for you. Do whatever you need to do to get into the right state of body and mind for us to pray together – to be fully present here and now, in this sacred time and space – with ourselves, with each other, and with that which is both within us and beyond us. (pause)

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, in whom we live and move and have our being,

   we turn our full attention to you, the light within and without,

      as we tune in to the depths of this life, and the greater wisdom

         to which – and through which – we are all intimately connected.

      Be with us now as we allow ourselves to drop into the

         silence and stillness at the very centre of our being. (pause)

As we gather together in prayer this morning let us be aware of the

   varied human experience embodied in this community;

      we each go through such a mix of ups and downs.

Sometimes, life is tough, and the world bears heavily upon us;

   we struggle alone, search the depths, and long for healing,

     for renewed hope, for strength, which give their grace and peace.

Each of us here gathered carries our own private griefs and burdens.

   Sometimes we can share these, and for the open hearts

      which respond with tender care, we are grateful.

Each of us here gathered knows something of life’s blessing too.

This morning, let us give thanks for all those joys that break through.

Let us give thanks for the care and compassion of friends, family, neighbours.

Let us give thanks for the communion of all those who seek to serve others. (pause)

May we be strengthened in our efforts to be of service,

   and may we always be mindful of all the good in our lives;

      whatever privilege, success, and happiness we have been blessed with.

May our prayer be that we always see clearly

   and keep before us the commandment to care;

      striving always to be generous, inclusive, and open.

On this day and every day, may we give thanks,

   but let us also be dissatisfied with the world as it is,

      for a new world, a realm of love, is still waiting to be realised.

May our spirits and bodies be nourished and nurtured

   as we give thanks in praise of all that sustains,

     heals, and holds – all that is holy and Good. (pause) 

And in a few moments of shared silence and stillness,

may we speak inwardly some of those deepest prayers of our hearts —

the joys and sorrows we came in carrying – in our own lives and the lives of the wider world.

Let us each lift up whatever is on our heart, give thanks for what’s good, and ask for what we need. (pause)

Spirit of Life – God of all Love – as this time of prayer comes to a close, we offer up

   our joys and concerns, our hopes and fears, our beauty and brokenness,

      and we call on you for insight, healing, and renewal.

As we look forward now to the coming week,

     help us to live well each day and be our best selves;

     using our unique gifts in the service of love, justice and peace. Amen.

Hymn (on sheet): ‘Who Is My Neighbour?’

Let’s sing again – our second hymn is on your hymn sheet – ‘Who is My Neighbour?’

Who is my neighbour? Every soul who lives upon the earth.

I have been called to treat each one with dignity and worth,

Working for justice, seeking peace and cultivating care,

Offering hope to those whose lives are laden with despair.

When I can ease another’s pain, I know I’ll do my part.

When I can bring another joy, I’ll open up my heart.

When I have more than someone else, I’ll share the things I can.

When I am tempted to be cruel, I’ll strive to understand.

Who is my neighbour? Earth itself and all the beings there:

Flora and fauna, fish and fowl, the trees that graze the air.

River and prairie, sea and sky I honour and respect.

These are my neighbours. These I vow to cherish and protect.

Oh, may we build a world where all have everything they need.

May we be free from hate and fear, from violence and from greed.

May our lives be tributes to compassion, love, and trust

Till we are kin to all the world and all are kin to us.

Mini-Reflection by Jane Blackall: The Better World Book Club

The Better World Book club has been running for two years now – meeting once a month on Zoom since January 2024 – and from the off my intention was that it would be a bit different from your average book club. We’d only read non-fiction. And I would pick the curriculum of books to serve a very particular educational purpose.

Each time the Better World Book Club meets I remind everyone of that purpose: we are reading for education, transformation, and liberation. The books tackle a range of social justice issues we care about, and which we want to explore in greater depth than we could do in a Sunday service; or they touch on the spiritual roots of activism, how we form and inform our conscience, and sustain ourselves for the work at hand; or (and this is mostly what we’re focusing on today) they allow us a window into other people’s lives, as we read first-hand accounts of the lived experiences of a wide range of voices, and get an insight into what life looks like from where other people stand. You’ll hear a few examples of the perspectives we’ve encountered later in the service.  

But the Better World Book Club is not just about encountering the lives of the authors. It’s about enabling genuine encounter at a deeper level between group participants. The very first book we read together was ‘A Hidden Wholeness’ by Parker J Palmer and I chose that intentionally to offer up a picture of what I was hoping we’d create together in this group (and every group we offer here at church really). And so I want to offer just a short excerpt from that book about his idea of “third things”. He writes:

‘In Western culture, we often seek truth through confrontation. But our headstrong ways of charging at truth scare the shy soul away. If soul truth is to be spoken and heard, it must be approached 'on the slant.' I do not mean we should be coy, speaking evasively about subjects that make us uncomfortable, which weakens us and our relationships. But soul truth is so powerful that we must allow ourselves to approach it, and it to approach us, indirectly. We must invite, not command, the soul to speak. We must allow, not force, ourselves to listen.

We achieve intentionality… by focusing on an important topic. We achieve indirection by exploring that topic metaphorically, via a poem, a story, a piece of music, or a work of art that embodies it. I call these embodiments 'third things' because they represent neither the voice of the facilitator nor the voice of a participant. They have voices of their own, voices that tell the truth about a topic but… tell it on the slant. Mediated by a third thing, truth can emerge from, and return to, our awareness at whatever pace and depth we are able to handle — sometimes inwardly in silence, sometimes aloud in community — giving the shy soul the protective cover it needs. Rightly used, a third thing functions a bit like the old inkblot test, evoking from us whatever the soul wants us to attend to.’

Words from Parker J Palmer. Now, when he talks about ‘third things’, he’s thinking more about a poem, artwork, or piece of music, that you share in a group and respond to (much more like we do in Heart and Soul, for those who are familiar with that), but I think we’re doing something similar here with the books in the book club. Once we’ve all read the book and taken in at least some of what it has to say then it doesn’t really matter that much if we talk directly about the content when we get together. We aren’t there to critique the book, or argue about it, or show off our clever insights. Instead, the invitation is to talk about our responses – what the book evokes in us, what resonances it has, what questions it has stirred up – and so, in the group, we tentatively start to share bits of our own life stories and experience with each other.

Through the rest of today’s service we’ll hear from Patricia, Marianne, Lochlann and Rajan, all sharing aspects of how particular books (and the process of being together and sharing in this way) have spoken to them.

Mini-Reflection by Patricia Brewerton: On ‘The Transgender Issue’ by Shon Faye

I don’t remember learning to read – I just remember as a child annoying my mother because I read so much. “You’ve always got your nose stuck in a book”!  I just loved stories – they took me away to another world, a more exciting one where children had adventures.

These days I read mostly to learn and understand – I especially want to learn more about issues I am drawn to support – and if these are controversial it seems even more important to know what I am talking about.  So, I was really pleased that Jane had selected Shon Faye’s book on The Transgender Issue for the book club.  I had seen an interview with Shon when the book was first published and had bought and read it then, but it covers a lot of ground and was worth reading a second time and listening to what others had to say about it.

So much around issues of sexuality and gender have changed during my lifetime, as people became aware that their lived experience was not shared by everyone.  And now we can join in celebrating love wherever and however it is expressed.

Unfortunately, the recent debate around transgender has become very toxic and a challenge to our Unitarian trans positive beliefs.   So, it seemed important to me to learn from someone with life experience of the issue. Shon Faye writes about the discrimination trans people face in every walk of life and she writes very movingly about the problems transgender teenagers experience as they enter puberty, and their bodies start to change in ways that are disturbing to them.

At Better World Book Club, we do not debate or critique the books we read instead we listen to how others experienced them.  This adds something extra to our understanding.  The first book we read together was A Hidden Wholeness, by Parker J. Palmer – whom we heard about last week!   I found it somewhat self-reflective.  Reading it I kept thinking – do people really spend so much time thinking about themselves in these ways?  I waited until last before speaking and was amazed at how open people were when talking about how the book had affected them.  Perhaps, I thought, I should spend a bit of time examining myself more closely.

One thing I have noticed about the way people react to what we read is that there is a different approach from those I think of as the IT Crowd – who grew up using technology which did not enter my life until I was middle-aged - another reflection of the fact that we all have different life experiences and that it is something that’s always worth keeping in mind.

Words for Meditation: ‘Your Life as a Book’

We’re moving into a time of meditation now. To take us into stillness I’m simply going to offer an invitation for you to reflect on your own life as a book. In the Better World Book Club we’ve been reading all these accounts of different people’s life experience and learning what we can from them. But I wonder about all the stories you – and I – could tell. We’ll hold a few minutes of silence which will end with the sound of a bell. Then we’ll hear music for meditation. So let’s do what we need to do to get comfortable – adjust your position – put your feet flat on the floor to ground yourself – close your eyes. This is an offering, an invitation, you can use this time to meditate in your own way.

So as we enter into this time of stillness I simply invite you to consider, imagine, the book of your life.

How does life look from where you are situated? What is your unique perspective?

What is it about your experience that you want others to understand?

What story could you tell the world?

Period of Silence and Stillness (~3 minutes) – end with a bell  

Interlude: The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns (performed by Abby Lorimier and Andrew Robinson) 

Mini-Reflection by Marianne Harvey: on ‘Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal’ by Robin Ince

You might know Robin Ince as a comedian, actor and writer. He is the author of several well-known books, including “The Importance of Being Interested” and “I’m a Joke and So Are You”.  Many people will also recognise him from the BBC Radio 4 programme “The Infinite Monkey Cage” which he created and presented with Professor Brian Cox until recently.  Some of you may remember that he performed at FUSE (the Festival of Unitarians in the South East) and then a second time at the Unitarian's GA Annual Meetings.

Robin was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at the age of fifty-two and he describes how suddenly many things in his life started to make sense.  ADHD, as he explains, isn’t just about struggling to concentrate. It is a neurological condition which can also involve disorganisation, emotional dysregulation, self-doubt, anxiety, sleep problems and learning difficulties.  

What makes the book so accessible is his humour.  He uses it to soften something much more painful underneath. He can make you smile with images of everyday chaos, like a desk that looks as though “the entropy fairy has fired a leaf blower at it”; these moments feel comforting, as they describe things people often feel quietly embarrassed about.

But then, what starts as a joke about everyday disorganisation slowly reveals the quiet shame of always feeling one step behind, the exhaustion of trying to look “together,” and the sadness of not understanding why things that seem easy for others feel so hard. One line that really stayed with me is when he says that, for many people, “keep calm and carry on” actually means “conceal your despair and stumble on.”

I found the sections on emotional overload, meltdowns, constant masking, and a strong sensitivity to injustice especially moving. I could clearly see people I care about in these descriptions.  Even though I don’t consider myself neurodivergent, I could recognise milder versions of these experiences in myself.

Robin also reflects on how his ADHD diagnosis helped him understand himself better, while recognising that diagnosis is not right or necessary for everyone. There is no cure for ADHD, but therapy and coping strategies can be very helpful.

I think that this book is particularly valuable for neurotypical readers. I now better understand why neurodivergent people may behave or react in ways that otherwise are often misunderstood. I finished the book feeling more informed, more empathetic, and a little more forgiving of others and of myself.

It is a warm, funny, and thoughtful book that reassures you that being different is not something that needs fixing.

I’ll finish with a quote from Robin that captures this beautifully:

“I began to realise that the propaganda of normality, sold so relentlessly, did not have to be a necessity, and the idea began to build for me, that rather than suppress what lies beneath so I could be someone else, I should fertilize my peculiarities and grow into what I truly was, and that it may well be something rather wonderful”.

Hymn 33 (green): ‘Do You Hear?’

Let’s sing again – a bonus hymn this week and an old favourite – number 33: ‘Do You Hear?’

Do you hear, O my friend, in the place where you stand,

Through the sky, through the land, do you hear, do you hear,

In the heights, on the plain, in the vale, on the main,

In the sun, in the rain, do you hear, do you hear? 

Through the roar, through the rush, through the throng, through the crush,

Do you hear in the hush of your soul, of your soul,

Hear the cry fear won’t still, hear the heart’s call to will,

Hear a sigh’s startling trill, in your soul, in your soul?

From the place where you stand, to the outermost strand,

Do you hear, O my friend, do you hear, do you hear,

All the dreams, all the dares, all the sighs, all the prayers –

They are yours, mine, and theirs: do you hear, do you hear?

ONLINE Mini-Reflection by Lochlann Binney: On ‘Loving Our Own Bones’ by Julia Watts Belser

I read a lot of books, including for work, but I’ve never read the Bible. I have quite a visceral reaction against the idea of doing so, too. When I was a teenager some of my schoolfriends found Jesus in a homophobic, ‘hate the sin, love the sinner’ kind of way, and it’s stuck with me: the idea that I could never find true love and acceptance under a Christian God. So despite generally having a love of reading and stories and textual analysis (because I’m a big nerd), a book about Bible stories wouldn’t usually be my first choice to read, let alone talk about many months later. But when Loving Our Own Bones by Julia Watts Belser came up at book club, I gamely gave it a try.

Belser is a rabbi, and the book is very much in the Jewish textual tradition: she takes specific stories and verses from the Bible and reads them in the context of disability, bringing in commentary from other scholars and rabbis over the centuries as she presents her own analysis. What she’s trying to do is to find disability in God, in much the same way I would like to, maybe, find queerness in God. She does it through sustained, recursive engagement with text, and it’s made me think that I might be able to do that, too.

Her book showed me a way to read alongside: to dip my toe into something Bible-adjacent, rather than having to read it myself as my still-homophobic Christian friends do and feel that slammed door again. It braids together close reading of text, which I’m very comfortable with, and the Bible, which I’m very uncomfortable with, and it does so through a subject close to my heart: disability, and disability justice – although to be honest, I remember very little of the disability-specific wisdom the book shares. It’s the lesson of exegesis which has stuck with me: the work of going into a place of discomfort with a text, and finding meaning that resonates with me there anyway. Like all the books we read at book club, it allowed me a kind of walking beside, a companionability in difference, which in turn expanded the possibility space could live in.

Surprisingly to me, that possibility space for me includes re-examining some aspects of traditional Christianity, and asking whether there might be something in there for me, despite the homophobic version of the faith I’ve encountered most often. Books like Belser’s help with this: they come along and nudge a door open, so we know there’s a path there, if we want to follow – but, unlike those dogmatic versions of religion, it’s up to us to take the first steps along it.

Mini-Reflection by Rajan Rasaiah: On ‘Laziness Does Not Exist’ by Devon Price

The book that I have chosen to share an extract from is ‘Laziness Does Not Exist’, by Devon Price. The section comes from the Chapter: ‘You Don’t Have To Be An Expert in Everything’, and follows the sub-heading: ‘Consume Less Information More Meaningfully’.

To set the context, Devon encourages readers when confronted with new information to consider utilising a process described by researchers as ‘Elaboration’.  Taking the time and care to engage more deeply with a smaller amount of material, rather than skim through and simply accept the information on face value, or make a rapid judgement as to its validity or relevance to us. To pause, meaningfully, before moving on.

I wonder if you might ponder - as I did - how elements of this ‘Active Reading’ approach might be adapted, adopted, and applied when getting to know unfamiliar people. Elaboration in person. As we listen to them sharing their interests, preoccupations and concerns.  Over post-Service coffee and cake? During the course of a Crafternoon?  Or online. In a monthly Book Club, perhaps, or a weekly Heart and Soul Engagement Group. Elaboration by means of structured, sustained connection over a period of years. Decades, in some cases. When considering this, however, I hold in mind Jane’s underlying intent: to encourage us through our active participation to create softer, kinder, gentler spaces. To hold curiosity in service to caring. Elaboration, not interrogation, or abnegation.

Here’s the extract from Devon Price’s book:

Active Reading sometimes involves using the following six skills:

1.            Visualise what the text is describing. After reading a paragraph, sit back and try and create a mental picture of what you’ve just read. For complex or scientific topics consider looking up videos or charts to help you visualise the phenomenon being described, or try drawing a chart yourself.

2.            Clarify confusing passages and unfamiliar terms. Slow down to re-read something if it’s unclear. Write down words or terms that you don’t know, and then take a moment at the end of each page to look up their definitions.

3.            Question the author’s assumptions and point of view. Consider why the writer chose to use the examples they are using. Look at the writer’s sources and see if they seem trustworthy. Ponder what the author’s goal is for a piece of writing.

4.            Predict what will come next. At the end of each section, jot down a few thoughts about what you hope the piece will touch on next. What lingering questions do you have? See if you can anticipate where the author is going.

5.            Connect the writing to things you already know. Does this piece of writing line up with what you already believed, or does it not? What are some other subjects or topics that it seems relevant to? Who else might find this writing interesting?

6.            Evaluate the qualities of the writing. Was the writing persuasive? Do you find it easy to follow? Did it seem to represent the facts fairly? Even if you disagree with the author’s conclusions, can you understand where they are coming from?

On receiving a draft of this contribution to her Service, Jane suggested that I conclude with some of my own words, rather than end on Devon’s. So, just to add, I’ll be very happy to elaborate later today during Crafternoon… or why not join us next week at the Better World Book Club?

Hymn (on sheet): ‘I Wish I Knew How’

Time for one last hymn and it’s on your hymn sheets: ‘I Wish I Knew How’. A rousing one to end!

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free.

I wish I could break all these chains holding me.

I wish I could say all the things I could say,

say 'em loud, say 'em clear for the whole world to hear.

Say 'em loud say 'em clear for the whole world to hear.

I wish I could share all the love in my heart,

remove all the bars that still keep us apart.

I wish you could know what it means to be me,

then you'd see and agree everyone should be free.

Then you'd see and agree everyone should be free.

I wish I could give all I'm longing to give.

I wish I could live like I'm longing to live.

I wish I could do all the things I can do,

though I'm way overdue I'd be starting anew.

Though I'm way overdue I'd be starting anew.

I wish I could be like a bird in the sky.

How sweet it would be if I found I could fly

I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea,

then I'd sing 'cause I'd know how it feels to be free.

Then I'd sing 'cause I'd know how it feels to be free.

Announcements:

Thanks to Ramona for hosting and Lochlann for co-hosting. Thanks to Abby and Andrew for lovely music and to Benjie for supporting our singing. Thanks to Patricia, Marianne, Lochlann and Rajan for your reflections. Thanks to Hannah for greeting and Julia for making coffee. If you are in-person do stay for cake (I’ve made Coffee and Walnut Cake, also Apple and Pear).   If you’re online hang around for a chat with Lochlann if you can.

Today we have the Crafternoon after the service, hopefully some of you have brought your own project, or do some colouring, or rummage in the craft boxes, and I’ll be doing a little bit of felt making this time which is something I haven’t done in ages, if that’s of interest.

Tonight and Friday at 7pm we’ve got our ‘Heart and Soul’ online contemplative spiritual gathering – this week it’s on the theme of ‘Knowing and Being Known’. Email me to join. On Wednesday we’ve got the in-person Heart and Soul. Please let me know if you’re coming to that so I know it’s viable.

On Tuesday ‘The Religious Life’ Study Group continues online – this is the second session but it’s not too late to join – we had a huge group last month from all over the country. Email me for the link.

Next Sunday we have the Better World Book Club when we’ll be talking about ‘Don’t Forget We’re Here Forever’ by Lamorna Ash – a very interesting reflection on how some younger people are returning to religion – and a slice of life in varied churches in the UK. Sign up with me for that.

We’ve got a late addition to the programme which is a Winter Walk on Thursday 5^th February. At the moment it’s me, Patricia, David, Pat and John but the more the merrier. We’re going to Rainham Marshes RSPB reserve – weather permitting – and meeting at Purfleet station at 11.21am. If you’re planning to come please tell me in advance so I can keep you posted if the weather looks dreadful.

Next Sunday we’ll be back here at 11am when our service will be on ‘Circles of Trust’.

Details of all our various activities are printed on the back of the order of service, for you to take away, and also in the Friday email.  The congregation very much has a life beyond Sunday mornings; we encourage you to keep in touch, look out for each other, and do what you can to nurture supportive connections. Just time for our closing words and closing music now.  

Benediction: based on words by Lizzie Kingston-Harrison

As we leave here today, we give thanks for the many stories of our lives,

and for all those who hold us gently while we tell them.

We leave grateful for the listeners (and the readers), for those who sit quietly

and give us the gift of a version of ourselves born in a moment of tender grace.

And we leave grateful for (the writers and) the storytellers, who,

with courage and love, give us the gift of their true selves.

So, in the days to come, may we share our stories,

and gain wisdom and insight from the sharing.

And may it be so for the greater good of all Amen.

Closing Music: Tarantella by William Henry Squire (performed by Abby Lorimier and Andrew Robinson)   

Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall and the Better World Book Club

18th January 2026