Opening Up

Sunday Service, 3 August 2025

Led by Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall and Roy Clark

Musical Prelude: Meditation - Massanet (performed by Sophia Kannathasan and Andrew Robinson)  

Opening Words: ‘Being Human’ by Erika Hewitt 

Welcome to this morning, this day,

this opportunity to be together in community—

which is a time of joy, comfort, and sometimes challenge.

This congregation is a place where we come to learn more about being human.

We’re not here because we’ve figured out life’s questions,

or because we think we’ve got it right.

We come here to learn more about being in relationship together:

how to listen, how to forgive, how to be vulnerable,

and how to create trust and compassion in one another.

Let us move into worship, willing to be authentic with each other,

honest within ourselves, and opening up to connection in all its forms. (pause)   

Words of Welcome and Introduction: 

These words from Erika Hewitt 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 the podcast.  For anyone who doesn’t know me, I’m Jane Blackall, and I’m minister with Kensington Unitarians.

Our service today is on the theme of ‘Opening Up’. That’s opening up in the sense of personal sharing, risking some degree of vulnerability, in order to connect with others and build good relationships. In the words of Brene Brown, which are on the front of today’s order of service, ‘We have to be able to talk about how we feel, what we need and desire, and we have to be able to listen with an open heart and an open mind. There is no intimacy without vulnerability.’ That’s what we’re reflecting on today.

Most of you are probably aware that a large part of what we do as a congregation is to try and create spaces in which that sort of opening up feels safe and well-contained – that’s a large part of the purpose and intention behind our ‘Heart and Soul’ gatherings and other engagement groups – but later in the service we’re going to hear from our own Roy Clark who’s going to share his first-hand experience in the context of setting up a Coffee Group for service users at a local Mental Health Unit.

Chalice Lighting: ‘Let the Chalice Connect Us’ by Catherine Callahan (adapted)

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) 

As the chalice is lit let us settle, together,

into the sacred space we have co-created.

Let the cares of the day fall away, for a while,

and know that here is a place for quiet reflection,

for a pause in our lives, for breathing into our true selves.

Let what is said and felt here add richness to our lives

and call us back to living by the values we share.

We are stronger together, held in community.

We share the experience of being human.

Let the symbol of the chalice connect us,

to each other and to our common purpose,

so we may carry its light and warmth into the world.

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

Our first hymn this morning is on your hymn sheet, ‘Who is My Neighbour’. For those on zoom the words will be up on screen for all our hymns. Feel free to stand or sit as you prefer.

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.

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 Maureen Killoran

Let’s take those joys and concerns into an extended time of prayer. This prayer is based on some words by Maureen Killoran. 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)

Here we are gathered – called perhaps by our sense of sacred purpose,

   or duty, or the longing for community; called to be together on this day

      to worship; to lift up that which is of highest worth and which directs our lives.

Here we are gathered – called to hold ourselves to our highest values –

   to remind ourselves of those hopes and dreams and possibilities which,

      sometimes, in the rough-and-tumble of this world, it can be hard to hold on to.

Here we are gathered – called to do our part in weaving a web of human community.

Here, now, some of us have come in pain, bearing sufferings both physical and emotional.

   For those who are dealing with health concerns, we pray for courage and healing.

   For those who are feeling lonely and isolated, we pray for comfort and connection.

   For those who are feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, we pray for rest and solace.

May we pause for a moment now, and hold gently all the concerns,

   named and unnamed, that are present in our gathering. (pause)

And here, now, some of us have come with joy bubbling in our hearts – despite everything.

   May we give ourselves permission to feel those joyful moments even in the midst of struggle.

   May we rejoice together, recalling that our joys are multiplied when they are shared.

   May we remember and return to gratitude for the simple pleasures of our days.

May we pause for a moment, and in our silence, may we give thanks for

   any blessings, no matter how small, that have touched our life this week. (pause)

And in a good few moments of shared silence and stillness now,

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

reaching out in faith and hope to the One Who Holds All.

Let us each lift up whatever is on our heart this day,

and ask for what we most need. (long 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 204 (purple): ‘When I Am Frightened’

Let’s sing again – our second hymn is number 204 in the purple books – ‘When I Am Frightened’. We don’t sing this one too often so let’s hear it through once before we sing.  

When I am frightened, will you reassure me?

When I am uncertain, will you hold my hand?

Will you be strong for me? sing to me quietly?

Will you share some of your stories with me?

If you will show me compassion,

then I may learn to care as you do,

then I may learn to care.

When I am angry, will you embrace me?

When I am thoughtless, will you understand?

Will you believe in me, stand by me willingly?

Will you share some of your questions with me?

If you will show me acceptance,

then I may learn to give as you do,

then I may learn to give.

When I am troubled will you listen to me?

When I am lonely, will you be my friend?

Will you be there for me, comfort me tenderly?

Will you share some of your feelings with me?

If you will show me commitment,

then I may learn to love as you do,

then I may learn to love.

In-Person Reading: ‘Held: Showing Up for Each Other’s Mental Health’ by Barbara F. Meyers (excerpts, adapted)  

This reading is made of excerpts from a very valuable little book by the UU minister Barbara Meyers called ‘Held: Showing Up for Each Other’s Mental Health’. She writes on how, within congregations, we can make spaces to support each other, by living out our Unitarian values. She writes:

A safe place is one where a person can be honest and authentic about what they are going through, including mental health issues, without facing judgement, harassment, bias, or violence. Although no place can promise absolutely safety from the negative attitudes of society, a congregation may be one of the safest places for a person with mental health challenges. In a faith community, they can be accepted and valued. Since every church will include many people affected by mental health problems, either their own or a loved one’s, each person who is honest and authentic about their own struggles eases the collective pain of the congregation, even though they may never know it.

The most powerful thing we can do to help someone with mental health issues is the easiest thing. Just be present. Just listen. Sometimes that’s all it takes to make a difference. In my own theology, I find the holy to exist between people. A holy space is opened up when there is authentic communication between someone whose mind is troubled and someone who is truly present with them, supporting them. It is not only people who are seriously mentally ill who will be touched by this holiness, will respond to this authenticity. I think most of us will. But those who have suffered a blow to their self-image, such as a major mental health crisis, are likely to have greater need of it.

Dr Mark Ragins, staff psychiatrist at The Village, an integrated service agency in California, says this:

‘When I ask patients who have done well what I did that was helpful to them… they almost always recount some moment of human connectedness. “It was when you hugged me and I could tell you knew how much it pained me to have my child taken away.” “It was when you believed in me, when I couldn’t believe in myself.” “It was when you drove me home from the hospital even though I was smelly.” “It was when I knew you really cared and wouldn’t give up on me.”’

Barbara Meyers continues: In other words, it was when they were the recipient of an act of human kindness, or when someone believed in them. These moments are what help in healing.

Here is where the faith community comes in. People of faith are experts in human kindness. We can believe in people. We can see something inside them that they aren’t able to see themselves. We can give acceptance and love even when a person feels hopeless. And these may be central factors in recovery.  I know this to be true for me. When I started attending a UU church in California, shortly after being released from a psychiatric hospital, I didn’t tell anyone but the minister about my hospitalisation. The people showed me many kindnesses: they involved me in church projects like a group quilt, they complimented me for what I baked for coffee hour, they comforted me when my mother-in-law died, they were interested in my ideas. They treated me as a person with inherent worth and dignity; they treated me with compassion; and they offered me ways to search for truth and meaning. Which is to say: they treated me in accordance with our Unitarian principles.

The congregation taught me to believe that each person is inherently worthy. Learning this, I came to understand that even people who have been hospitalised for psychiatric illnesses are all God’s children. Even me. Even me. That lesson changed the course of my life, and I am eternally grateful.

Words for Meditation: ‘Sewing Quilts’ by John Roedel

We’re moving into a time of meditation now. To take us into stillness I’m going to invite Roy to read a poem by John Roedel, a poem which speaks of what happens when we open up and share our story vulnerably with others. The poem will take us into a few minutes of shared 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 – maybe adjust your position – put your feet flat on the floor to ground yourself – close your eyes. As we always say, the words are just an offering, so feel free to use this time to meditate in your own way.

vulnerability doesn’t mean telling others what happened to us

from across a cafe table or from behind a microphone

and then going home from the experience

feeling just as alone as you did before

vulnerability means allowing your human heart blanket

to get sewn to other heart blankets

it’s about connection

we don’t share for status

we do it for synergy

we don’t confess for clout

we do it to build community

we tell our tale

to invite others

to tell theirs

it’s the sacred cycle

of storytelling

we gather in a circle of trust and

say “here is my journey”

then we listen to

the other journeys

that are shared

we take space

then we give space

we pour

then we absorb

we speak

then we listen

we are storytellers

then we are witnesses

vulnerability isn’t just about

grave digging in our past

to expose our skeletons

it’s about sewing quilts

here is my patch

here is your patch

here is their patch

here is us

here is our story

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

Interlude: Adoration - Florence Price (performed by Sophia Kannathasan and Andrew Robinson) 

In-Person Reading: ‘On Courage and Vulnerability’ by Douglas Taylor (Brian to read)

I am learning to let down my guard. We all know about the deep instinct to respond to difficulty and stress with either fight or flight, with force or swift retreat, with decisive attack or prompt withdrawal. When faced with stress or difficulty or challenge, I am learning to let down my guard. I am learning to be vulnerable. I am seeking the courage to be open.

I would have my vulnerability be a choice made from my courage rather than my fear.  I would have my vulnerability be my strength. May my strength be not found as a hard shell of defence or a sharp weapon of attack. May my strength, instead, be found in an open stance of kindness and empathy, like a tree bending gracefully in the wind storm. May my strength be found in a willingness to join in the suffering of others, like a forest of trees together in a storm. May I choose to be receptive rather than protected, sharing rather than shielded.

In this way, may I face my own suffering and the suffering of others with a nimble capacity to respond with compassion. In this way, may my vulnerability be an invitation for others to meet me in the open field with a yearning for understanding and peace. I know this is a risk, I know I may be hurt, I know things may not go well. But still, I will seek the courage to set aside the closed fist, the stinging retort, the barbed judgment of others. I will seek within myself the strength to stand exposed and unguarded before the world, in the wind, open to difficulty; not because I cannot be any other way but because I have chosen this better way.

I am still learning to be vulnerable. I seek the courage to be so vulnerable. May I have others who can help me to be so courageous. May my example serve others as well as myself. And may my strength be our strength in sharing this life openly with others.

Reflection: ‘Opening Up’ by Roy Clark 

I want to talk about something that touches all of us, no matter who we are or where we come from: it's the theme of this mornings service; the power of opening up.

A few months ago as part of another service, l spoke about the mental health struggles l experienced after going through a crisis in my own life over a decade ago now. At my lowest ebb l realised that l needed to be part of a supportive community. That is in fact in part what led me here to Essex Church. But it was also apparent to me that l needed to be able to share what l was going through with people who were going down or had gone down the same road with depressive illness. This led me along with a nurse from the Mental Health Unit at Charing Cross Hospital to start a morning coffee group for service users. 

We set a few ground rules around confidentiality and respect to make it feel safe.  Other than that, we had very little structure. In truth we didn't really know what we wanted to do in terms of format or structure or how to go about doing it. We simply recognised there was a yawning gap locally in spaces that provided community mental health support. So, we formed a group that would facilitate emotional safety, allowing individuals to share experiences and reduce feelings of isolation, which can alleviate stress and promote mental health. As we hoped and soon discovered to be true, opening up in a safe environment can play a vital role in healing by fostering connection, support, and shared purpose.

Countless studies show social support can lower cortisol levels and improve recovery from trauma or grief. Physically, community engagement can boost immune function and reduce chronic disease risk. Shared activities, like group exercise or volunteering, increase oxytocin and endorphin release, enhancing mood and resilience.

Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or local support circles demonstrate this, with reliable data indicating 50-60% of participants in structured peer groups maintain sobriety or improve well-being after a year. For our group this has been measurable in terms of a significant reduction in ward re-admission rates.  More on this later.

Over time, as our weekly meetings developed, and we were also able to provide practical resources, knowledge sharing, skill-building, and information on and access to other services, which empowered individuals to manage their challenges.

It became apparent early on that the effectiveness of the meetings would depend on group dynamics. Toxic or judgmental groups can harm rather than heal. So from the outset we determined to be an inclusive, empathetic community offering kindness, understanding and hope, key factors in psychological recovery.

Kensington Unitarians is a good example of such a community. Groups with clear goals tend to yield the best outcomes and as a faith community of course we have our role to play in fostering mutual understanding and healing.

So... to return to Coffee Group...actually we have rather unimaginatively never given it another more specific name!  After Coffee Group had been running about a year, the chair of the NHS West London Trust Tom Hayhoe paid us a visit. He loved it! Tom asked me if l would go and talk to the Board the following week. What l told them that day was a succinct version of what l am telling you, but also included more of a case study with examples. I finished up with the Mental Health Unit ward re-admittance rates. Of the 49 group attendees in the previous 12 months only 4 had been admitted...or re-admitted for in-patient treatment. Consequently the Board agreed to fund the project from the Trust's charity arm.

Today Coffee Group is thriving.  We have 15 to 20 attendees weekly and around 30 on our books. We have guest speakers, regular outings to galleries, museums and other places of interest as well as attending relevant events on wellbeing. We also provide a weekly lunch.

Creating spaces for opening up doesn’t require a grand gesture. It starts small, with intentional choices. Yes, my example concerns a group...but you don't need a group...you don't need coffee... although that helps!

Let me ask you a question: When was the last time you felt truly seen? Not just noticed, but seen where someone listened to your fears, your dreams, your messy, unfiltered thoughts, and met you with understanding instead of judgement? For some of us, those moments are rare. Maybe it was a late-night talk with a friend, a quiet moment with a family member, or even a stranger who surprised you with their kindness. Those moments stick with us because they remind us what it means to be human, to connect in a way that’s raw and real. So then, that being the case, why is opening up so hard? Why do we hesitate to share what’s really going on inside? Well... showing our vulnerability is risky isn’t it. 

When we open up, we’re exposing parts of ourselves that might be judged, misunderstood, or rejected. Opening up isn’t always easy or safe for everyone. Some of us come from backgrounds or have had experiences where sharing feels dangerous, where trust has been broken before. If that’s you, know that it’s okay to move at your own pace. Opening up doesn’t mean baring your soul to everyone, it means finding the right people, the right moments, and the right spaces where you feel safe to be you.

It's all about creating a space where folk can be real, vulnerable, and truly connect with one another. Our world often feels fast-paced, polished, and filtered, opening up is a radical act of courage and in these tumultuous times we are living through it’s more important than ever.

We live in a culture that often rewards perfection... or at least the appearance of it. Social media, work environments, even casual conversations can feel like we’re supposed to have it all together. But the truth is, none of us do. Pretending we do only builds walls between us. That’s why we need spaces where opening up is not just safe, but celebrated. These are the places whether it’s a kitchen table, a community group, a therapy session, or even an online forum where we can drop the mask and say, “This is me. This is what I’m carrying.”

These spaces don’t just happen by accident. They’re created intentionally, with trust, empathy, and a willingness to listen, it's about unloading your burdens and realizing you’re not the only one carrying them. So, why is this so important? First, opening up is good for us mentally, emotionally, even physically. As l have already said, clinical research shows that expressing our emotions and feeling heard can reduce stress, lower anxiety, and even improve our immune systems.

When we bottle things up, hold everything inside it’s like carrying a heavy backpack everywhere we go. Sharing lightens the load. Second, opening up builds stronger relationships. Right now, think about the people you feel closest to. Chances are, they’re the ones you’ve shared something real with maybe a fear, a dream, or a moment of doubt. Vulnerability is the glue that binds us. It’s what turns acquaintances into friends and friends into family. Maybe most importantly, opening up changes the world around us. When we create spaces where people feel safe to be themselves, we’re building a culture of empathy. We’re saying it’s okay to be imperfect, to struggle, to need help. That’s a powerful antidote to the isolation and division we see so often today.

I have another example of the power of opening up l would like to briefly share with you. For the last few months l have been regularly meeting up informally with members of the local Ukrainian community, nominally for English conversation practice. Inevitably in order to increase vocabulary and improve grammar we talk about a variety of subjects. Over time as people feel safe and supported they have felt able to talk about their experiences and fears. A former soldier who suffers from PTSD opened up about his struggles. Another lady has a 21-year-old son in the army and is desperately worried. Many have elderly parents living near the front line. When we share our vulnerabilities, we give others permission to do the same. It’s like a ripple effect: one person’s courage to be real inspires another, and suddenly, a room full of strangers becomes a community.

To finish, here are a few things l have learned:

Firstly, the foundation of any safe space is listening—really listening, without interrupting or trying to fix things. Coffee Group brings together people with a specific shared experience but you might be part of a more general group or just speaking one to one with someone you don't share the same life experience with. When someone shares something vulnerable, resist the urge to jump in with advice. As Barbara Meyers suggested in the reading we heard, just be present. A simple “I hear you” or “That sounds really tough” can mean the world. Sometimes just being attentive but saying nothing at all might be all that is needed. Furthermore, it’s not one way traffic, the listener has an opportunity to learn... to grow. Open heart, open mind, that's the way.

Increasingly these days many people identify with their own group...their tribe, which can be divisive for society and isolating for the individual, but one of the gifts of opening up is that we come to realise what we have in common rather than focus on our differences.

This certainly happened with coffee group. We have, and have had, many different members. We have had an elderly rather aristocratic lady, a Wall Street Banker, a marketing executive but also many more people struggling to pay bills, raise kids, people living in temporary accommodation, people of many different cultural, linguistic and educational backgrounds people of all faiths and none. One of the remarkable things about Coffee Group is that through deep listening all these barriers to true communication fall away and we recognise our shared humanity.

Secondly, lead with your own vulnerability. You don’t have to reveal your deepest secrets, but sharing something real about yourself like a challenge you’re facing, or a lesson you’ve learned shows others it’s okay to open up too.

Next, create the space. Whether it’s a weekly coffee meetup, a book club, or spending time with a friend. Carve out time and space where people can connect without judgment.

Also... be patient. Not everyone is ready to open up right away. Some people need time to trust. Keep showing up, keep inviting, and keep holding space. Like Douglas Taylor in this morning’s reading often people have to learn to lower their guard and that's okay.

And last but not least, celebrate authenticity. When someone shares something real, acknowledge their courage. A simple “Thank you for sharing that” can reinforce that vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.

As I close, I want to leave you with this thought: Every time you open up, or create a space for someone else to do so, you’re doing something revolutionary. You really are. You’re saying, “We don’t have to pretend. We don’t have to be perfect. We just have to be human.” And in that shared humanity, we find connection, we find healing, and hope, whether it’s with a friend, a colleague, or a stranger. Let’s be the ones who listen, because when we open up, we don’t just connect with each other, we rediscover ourselves. 

Hymn 193 (purple): ‘We Laugh, We Cry’

Thanks Roy. Let’s sing one last time. Our final hymn is number 193 in the purple book, ‘We Laugh, We Cry’, it’s rather a long one but the sentiments are lovely so let’s sing up as best we can.

We laugh, we cry, we live, we die; we dance, we sing our song.

We need to feel there's something here to which we all belong.

We need to feel the freedom just to have some time alone.

But most of all we need close friends we can call our very own.

And we believe in life, and in the strength of love;

and we have found a need to be together.

We have our hearts to give

we have our thoughts to receive;

and we believe that sharing is an answer.

A child is born among us and we feel a special glow.

We see time's endless journey as we watch the baby grow.

We thrill to hear imagination freely running wild.

We dedicate our minds and hearts to the spirit of this child.

And we believe in life, and in the strength of love;

and we have found a time to be together.

And with the grace of age,

we share the wonder of youth,

and we believe that growing is an answer.

Our lives are full of wonder and our time is very brief.

The death of one among us fills  us all with pain and grief.

But as we live, so shall we die, and when our lives are done

the memories we shared with friends, they will linger on and on.

And we believe in life, and in the strength of love;

and we have found a place to be together.

We have the right to grow, we have the gift to believe

that peace within our living is an answer.

We seek elusive answers to the questions of this life.

We seek to put an end to all the waste of human strife.

We search for truth, equality, and blessed peace of mind.

And then we come together here, to make sense of what we find.

And we believe in life, and in the strength of love;

and we have found a joy to be together.

And in our search for peace, maybe we'll finally see:

even to question truly is an answer.

Announcements:

Thanks again to Roy for offering our reflection this morning. Thanks to Ramona for hosting and Jeannene for co-hosting. Thanks to Sophia and Andrew for lovely music today. Thanks to Brian for reading. Thanks to Hannah for greeting and Marianne for making coffee. If you are here in-person – we’ve got strawberry cake today – plus vegan treats.

Tonight and Friday at 7pm we’ve got our ‘Heart and Soul’ online contemplative spiritual gathering – this week we’re considering ‘Gentleness’ – email me if you want to join us and I’ll share the link.

Wednesday night – apologies this fell off this week’s order of service – you can come along to the Poetry Group with Brian. Let him know if you’re coming and send him the poem you want to bring.

Next month’s Better World Book Club is on ‘The Other Significant Others’ and I have one last copy of that to lend out if you want to come along on the 31^st August (please note irregular date). 

Next Sunday my good friend Rev. Sheena Gabriel will co-lead a service on ‘The Power of Small’.

Looking much further ahead I want to remind you that we have our next tea dance coming up on Sunday 7^th September – these events are so fun – and the more the merrier so do save the date. Our good friend Rachel Sparks will be back to lead us in a few fun group dances and there’ll be cake!

And I also want to let you know that we’ll be having our ‘Gathering the Waters’ service and a congregational lunch on 14^th September – if you haven’t been to that before all you need to know for now is that if you travel anywhere interesting over the summer we invite you to collect some water (tap water is fine!) from wherever you go – and save it to bring along to that service.

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.  Or if you haven’t already got one why not take home a copy of our summer newsletter? Or you could take a copy for a friend – please help us spread the word.

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.

Time for our closing words and closing music now.  

Benediction: based on words by Ant Howe

Our meeting draws to a close –

But the love and friendship remain:

The joy of having met together,

The connections we have made and renewed,

And the spiritual nourishment we have received will stay with us,

And will continue to bless us, this day and in the days to come. Amen.

Closing Music: Violin Concerto no. 3 - Mozart (performed by Sophia Kannathasan and Andrew Robinson) 

Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall and Roy Clark

3rd August 2025