Words of Wisdom

Sunday Service, 26 July 2026

Led by Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall and Congregation Members

https://youtu.be/6OEwC0Uq2N8?si=6B5gBPm5ckRwJlkf

Musical Prelude: Reverie - Ruth Gipps (performed by Holly Redshaw and George Ireland)      

Opening Words: ‘Our Own Way of Being Religious’ by Alex Brianson (adapted)

We gather this morning to share a particular kind of community –

a community of faith in which each of us is free to quest

for our own way of being religious and faithful.

We gather this morning to turn our attention to our spiritual journey;

the path we have travelled until now, and the road leading onward.

We are none of us the same as we were twenty years ago or even last week;

we are none of us the same as we shall be in five weeks or ten years.

As the paths of our lives cover new terrain,

may we find helpful new concepts, insights,

and understandings of Spirit, or of the highest good in life,

and new ways to interpret those ways we have loved long and hard.

And may we be open to the voice of wisdom, wherever – and however – we may find it,

as we create, imagine, and embody religious community here, together.  (pause)

Words of Welcome and Introduction: 

These words from our own Alex Brianson 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 via Zoom, and anyone tuning in at a later date via YouTube or the podcast stream.  For anyone who doesn’t know me, I’m Jane Blackall, and I’m minister with Kensington Unitarians.  

This morning’s service is titled ‘Words of Wisdom’. This is something we do from time to time! I’ve invited some members of the congregation – Lochlann, David, Pat, and John – to share their reflections on some wise words (a quote, a proverb, or a saying) that has helped to guide them – something that has given them insight or helped them find a new perspective on how to live. Arguably that’s what we’re always doing here at church – reflecting together on how we should live well and serve the greater good – and sharing whatever hard-won wisdom we have gleaned. So this morning we can look forward to hearing some new perspectives and considering our own.

Chalice Lighting: ‘Journeying Together’ by Adam Slate (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 we travel the paths that our lives reveal to us,

We are often not sure of the way, the distance, or destination.

Nevertheless, we have each other.

Let us look to one another for wisdom,

grateful for each other’s companionship,

And seeking support when we have lost hope.

We light our chalice this morning to signify that we are willing to take the journey together honouring the inner light within each of us.

Hymn (on sheet): ‘When We Gather Here to Worship’

Let us sing together now. Our first hymn is on your hymn sheet: ‘When We Gather Here to Worship’. For those joining on zoom the words will be up on screen. Feel free to stand or sit as you prefer.

When we gather here to worship,

Though we may be two or three,

In the name of what is holy,

We are touched by mystery.

When we sit in gentle silence

Reaching deep within our hearts,

We find hidden threads within us,

To bind up our broken parts.

When we speak our pain and sorrow

And confess where we fall short,

We find solace in the sharing,

Wisdom gained and lessons taught.

When we listen to the music,

Whether instrument or song,

We are touched by deep emotion

And our spirits sing along.

We find cause for celebration,

Ev’n amid the cold world’s strife,

When we sing our joyful praises,

For the glory that is life.

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 Miklós Székely

Let’s take those joys and concerns into an extended time of prayer. The prayer is based on words by Miklós Székely. You might want to adjust your position, close your eyes, or soften your gaze. There might be a posture that helps you feel more prayerful. Whatever helps you get into the right state of body and mind for us to pray together – be fully present – 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)

And be with us each new day as we wake.

     Let us know the comfort of your presence

       and the revitalising power of your calling.

Whatever we have to face, be it joy or sorrow,

   give us strength to carry through the new day.

Give us to know that when we arise in the morning

   we must give thanks for the morning light,

      for life and strength, for we are still here.

We must give thanks for the gifts of living;

    our food and our friends and so many small joys,

      which might go unappreciated in the struggle of our days.

Give us hope – in doing your will – in aligning ourselves

   with the promptings of peace, justice, and love.

May the warmth of the fellowship we share here

   stay with us through this coming week and all it brings.

May we draw strength from the faith we hold and this

   beloved community we are an indispensable part of.

May we show our faith by extending our compassion and care

   to those we find challenging and those we struggle to understand.

May we find strength in humility, courage in adversity,

   joy in diversity, and a true sense of purpose in our prayers.

And so, in the coming week, may our ears and eyes be open to

   tidings of joy and gladness, to hints of new possibility.

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, bless and prosper the work of our hands,

   for our life, and for the larger life, as you would see it,

      the realm of love that is yet to come. (pause)

In a few moments of shared stillness now, let us call to mind those people and situations who

are on our hearts this morning, thinking of all those issues that concern us close to home, and

those troubled places the world over, and let us hold them gently in loving-kindness. (pause)

And let us hold ourselves in loving-kindness too. Each of us carries our own private burdens.

Life is tough for so many right now; we are all too aware of life’s struggles and hardships.

So let us rest in self-compassion now as we ask silently for what we need this day. (pause)

And let us take a moment to reflect on the week just gone in a spirit of gratitude; let us notice

and give thanks for all those blessings, large or small, that have helped to lift our spirits. Maybe we can prepare our hearts to recognise and receive life’s goodness in the week ahead. (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.

In-Person Reading: from The Book of Proverbs (1:1-6 and 2:1-15, 20-22)

(from ‘The Message’ Bible, freely translated by Eugene Peterson) (read by Chloë)

Our first reading today is taken from one of the wisdom texts in the Bible – it’s from the opening chapters of the Book of Proverbs – traditionally attributed to King Solomon but apparently a collection of a hotch-potch of words of wisdom gathered from various sources over many years. And, as a result, it’s full of contradiction and paradox! Which seems about right. Life is like that – the wise thing to do in one circumstance might not be the wise thing in other conditions – and so there are words of wisdom which appear to pull us in different directions (perhaps) in order to steer us to a middle way). So this reading, which is taken from ‘The Message’ translation, and uses contemporary language to make it more accessible – though it’s still fairly dramatic imagery and slightly unhelpfully gendered – this reading lifts up the importance of learning from the wisdom of those who are more experienced.

These are the wise sayings of Solomon,

    David’s son, Israel’s king—

Written down so we’ll know how to live well and right,

    to understand what life means and where it’s going;

A manual for living,

    for learning what’s right and just and fair;

To teach the inexperienced the ropes

    and give our young people a grasp on reality.

There’s something here also for seasoned men and women,

    still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—

Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate,

    the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

…

Good friend, take to heart what I’m telling you;

    collect my counsels and guard them with your life.

Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;

    set your heart on a life of Understanding.

That’s right—if you make Insight your priority,

    and won’t take no for an answer,

Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,

    like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,

Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;

    you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.

And here’s why: God gives out Wisdom free,

    is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding.

He’s a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well,

    a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere.

He keeps his eye on all who live honestly,

    and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones.

So now you can pick out what’s true and fair,

    find all the good trails!

Lady Wisdom will be your close friend,

    and Brother Knowledge your pleasant companion.

Good Sense will scout ahead for danger,

    Insight will keep an eye out for you.

They’ll keep you from making wrong turns,

    or following the bad directions

Of those who are lost themselves

    and can’t tell a trail from a tumbleweed,

These losers who make a game of evil

    and throw parties to celebrate perversity,

Traveling paths that go nowhere,

    wandering in a maze of detours and dead ends.

…

So—join the company of good men and women,

    keep your feet on the tried-and-true paths.

It’s the men who walk straight who will settle this land,

    the women with integrity who will last here.

The corrupt will lose their lives;

    the dishonest will be gone for good.

Hymn 151 (green): ‘Be Thou My Vision’

Let’s sing again now – our second hymn is number 151 in your green book – ‘Be Thou My Vision’.

Be thou my vision, O God of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that thou art

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom and thou my true word,

I ever with thee, and thou with me God;

Thou my soul’s shelter, thou my high tower,

Raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I need not, nor world’s empty praise,

Thou my inheritance, now and always;

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art.

Sovereign of heaven, my victory won,

May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s un.

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

ONLINE Reflection: ‘We Shall Not Turn Back Here…’ by Lochlann Binney

My words of wisdom are about hope, but maybe not in the way that you'd expect. In February, Jane spoke to us about the temptation of despair, "in the face of the world’s troubles, or [our] own personal struggles", and the need to resist it, to at least wrestle with it. What people often say in the face of despair at the rising tides of fascism and racism and everything else is that you have to have hope for a better, fairer world, that you need to believe that the arc of the universe bends towards justice - even if recent evidence doesn't bear this out. Personally, I find this advice difficult and even counterproductive. The idea that we should always be striving to feel that buoyancy and optimism that things can get better is exhausting to me: it feels like a lot of pressure to put my energy into feeling the right thing, rather than in actually doing something, and it usually ends with a lot of self-recrimination for not feeling hopeful enough instead of with action. When I'm despairing at the state of the world, it doesn't help me to be told I just have to hope, even less to be told that hope is a moral imperative.

Instead, I think about J R R Tolkien. His epic The Lord of the Rings is full of characters who give in to the temptation of despair and as a result, make choices that make everything worse. There is also a lot about finding hope in the darkness, about trusting that a higher power will come through for you despite the dire straits you find yourself in. Neither of those touch me as deeply as the thread running through the book of, let's just keep going, regardless of how you feel, or of how much hope you can muster. When one character despairs at a serious setback, saying, 'This is a bitter end to our hope and to all our toil', his friend doesn't say, keep up your spirits, we can still have hope! Instead he says: 'An end to hope, maybe, but not to toil. We shall not turn back here.' I find this very comforting, and galvanising, too. It makes me feel that it doesn't matter if my feelings are 'correctly' hopeful or not, or if I really believe a positive outcome can be achieved, because there's still a way forward, regardless or what the ultimate outcome will be. There's still a next right thing to be done. As that same character says a little later: 'Come! With hope or without hope we will follow the trail.' Even when we've lost hope we can still find the next right thing to do, we can still follow the paths our conscience sets us, and keep going. I find this a much deeper consolation than exhortations to hope, and much more likely to spur me on to useful action, which is the only thing that really counts in the face of despair.

Words for Meditation: ‘Wise Words We Carry With Us’

Thanks Lochlann. We’re moving into a time of meditation now. To take us into stillness, I’m simply going to invite you to meditate on your own ‘words of wisdom’, that is, those wise words that have made a lasting impression on you, which you’ve internalised, which help to guide you as you make your way through life.  These reflections 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 – adjust your position – feet flat on the floor to ground yourself – close your eyes. As ever, this suggestion is just an offering, feel free to use the time to meditate in your own way.

So I encourage you to think about the wise people you know or have known.

Perhaps they are family members or friends. Perhaps spiritual teachers or guides.

Or maybe the wise voices that have influenced you aren’t people you know personally.

Perhaps they are authors, or artists, or activists, who have inspired you, and challenged you.

And allow their words of wisdom to bubble up in your mind. The ones you carry with you.

Maybe a saying or proverb that you associate with them. Maybe a teaching.

Perhaps some guidance that they offered when you most needed it.

Let’s sit with those words of wisdom as we enter into the silence.

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

Interlude: Summer Song - Katharine Lovell (performed by Holly Redshaw and George Ireland)     

In-Person Reflection: ‘Always Leave Something….’ by David Brewerton

Wise words. Words of wisdom. There have been so many. From parents, teachers, friends, blokes leaning out of the windows of their vans advising me how to ride my bike.

Now. One of the many beats I had as a journalist was covering the commercial property, real estate, scene during the boom of the early 1970’s and the bust that inevitably followed. A highly successful property developer, worth millions, said to me one day, “I always leave something for the next person”. What he meant was, if he was selling a building he reckoned was worth a million pounds, he’d be happy to accept nine hundred and fifty thousand. That way, he gets a quick deal and the buyer believes he’s got a bargain. Smiles all round.

I’ve thought about this from time to time. Although simple it is a piece of advice that, like bread dough, can be expanded in all directions. In one of the books of the Old Testament, Leviticus, we have  God telling Moses: ’when you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest”

Patricia and I frequently holiday on a little French island, the Ile de Re, where this seems to be followed, well, religiously. One of the island’s products, alongside wine and salt, are potatoes deemed to be so special that in the early spring you can pay ten euros or more for a one kilo box in one of the smartest food halls in Paris. The famous “pommes de terre de ile de re” grow in the earth just like any other potatoes. And despite the spuds’ significant value in the posh shops, the farmers do not bother picking up the ones that remain on the ground when the harvesting machine has passed through. Those gleanings are for anyone who wants to pick them up.

The farmer has been generous, the gleaners are happy. Again, smiles all round. But the advice from that property developer can be applied equally to the philosophical. The recounting of journeys, for instance. It is more usual to want to boast of the best or the worst travel experience than to invite somebody else to “top” your story.

Most of us at some time want to command the moral high ground. “Oh, we don’t fly we take the train”. Yet a few weeks ago I took an aeroplane three times in the course of ten days. Do some of us want to be the most virtuous, to claim we go on more demos for Palestine or the environment? Never tell lies? Or give to charity, whatever.

When telling others what we do, why not leave a little space for them to do better? We’ll probably have more interesting conversations as a result.

Hymn (on sheet): ‘O the Beauty in a Life’

Time for another hymn now – it’s on your hymn sheet – ‘O the Beauty in a Life’. We haven’t sung this in ages and it’s got a slightly unusual rhythm that makes me want to bob around! The tune is apparently based on a folk tune from the Philippines. We’ll hear it through once before we sing.  

O, the beauty in a life that illumines honour anew,

That models wise and gracious ways to every seeker;

That every day shall serve in joy and do the right.

O, praise the life whose beauty shows a justice true.

Let not service of the good be confined to great saints alone,

But every hour be part of all our daily living.

Set not the hope of wisdom’s grace beyond our ken;

How wide the path, how close the goal, which love has shown.

O, the beauty of a life that illumines care of the soul,

That knows a love that is for self as well as others,

That every day embodies praise for every good,

This is the faith to which we turn, our God and goal.

In-Person Reflection: ‘The Finger Pointing at the Moon…’ by Pat Gregory

When I was asked for a contribution on this theme I agreed because I have heard numerous words of wisdom from many incredible teachers. I have attended countless workshops, sat for hours on retreats, read what seems like hundreds of books and every time I go online there are always more wise quotes or motivational kicks to show me the way. So I felt well equipped for this task.

So here are the wise words that brought me back to God:

“THE FINGER POINTING AT THE MOON IS NOT THE MOON”

When I heard this incredibly simple Zen Buddhist quote it felt like the most important message that I could receive. I saw that my external searching was disconnecting me from who I truly am, I had followed so many paths and in so doing had forgotten my own heart. My addictive thinking had kept me in the outward search mode and was never going to lead me within. Of course, I feel privileged to have been with so many wise teachers who helped me to realise that I do not need to do or be anything because I am already whole, but I still did not believe this was true. I needed to embody this truth, to be fully present in my body. I gave  myself space and learnt to stop thinking my feelings and started to really feel them in my body. I found myself naturally slowing down and lightening up. I began taking myself less seriously and I felt calm and open. There’s more ease and laughter. I don’t deny there are problems, sorrows and upsets but if I catch myself trying to “fix” them I now find that I can mostly surrender and wait for guidance from within. The more I can trust my heart the more I go direct to Source and learn to know myself as Love.

As time went on I felt guided to be part of a community where truth, justice and freedom were sacred, where shared experiences are encouraged and space is given to discuss different spiritual practices. So on a Sunday morning in 2018 I found myself attending this Unitarian Church where everyone is welcomed whatever their beliefs, their gender or race and in this Church I feel that together we can grow in Love.

In-Person Reflection: ‘The Universe is Much Bigger…’ by John Humphreys

When Jane asked me to contribute to this topic, I had been reading about the life and work of David Hockney who died on June 11th this year. I learnt that Hockney was not religious, but he held a personal, spiritual sense of wonder about the universe. He was also known to quote Billy Wilder’s take on Christianity “I have nothing against the pilot; my problem is with the ground crew”

In one part of his obituary, I was particularly taken by one of his drawings of a plinth in a desert landscape called “Carl Sagan Quote”. This carried an inscription from Sagan’s book The Pale Blue Dot. I thought initially that it was a tombstone, but the drawing was done the year before Sagan died. The inscription reads:

In some respects, science has far surpassed religion in delivering awe. How is it that hardly any major religion has looked at science and concluded “This is better than we thought! The universe is much bigger than our prophet said, grander, more subtle, more elegant, God must be even greater than we dreamed”. Instead, they say No, no, no! My God is a little God, and I want him to stay that way. A religion, old or new, that stressed the magnificence of the Universe as revealed by modern science might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by conventional faiths. Sooner or later, such a religion will emerge.

These words spoke so coherently to the scientist in me, and yet it also described a religion emerging (or perhaps already existing) which would require me to trust that my not knowing could be the basis of my faith in God. This has been a major shift for me. Previously, I had sought refuge in the certainty of atheism, the cycle of birth, reproduction and death, together with a need to know what behaviour constituted a rational and ethical life.

But Carl Sagan’s description of how I might go beyond this secular humanist view requires me to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe. A lifetime of reading has given me access to much great teaching, but I find I must look beyond words to make progress along my spiritual path. The silence of meditation, and an increasing awareness of the interconnectedness of our existence on this tiny planet are essential ingredients but so is the power of art, especially music, in allowing me to transcend the limitations of language.

In conclusion, I said that I thought that the drawing was of a tombstone and I made an immediate connection to my mother’s grave on which are inscribed some further words of wisdom “God is Love”.

Hymn 284 (green): ‘Goodnight Hymn’

Time for one last hymn now, one of my favourites, number 284 in the green book: ‘Goodnight Hymn’. I always feel the need to acknowledge the absurdity of singing this in the morning but the sentiment is too good for us to let that get in the way. Hymn 284.

To you each, my friends, tonight

I give thanks for company;

We have shared the inner light:

May that light go forth with thee.

May we give each other power –

Live with courage every hour.

As we face the coming week,

With its worries and its strife,

Strength and wisdom let us seek

In this hour’s remembered life.

May we give each other power –

Live with courage every hour.

In our homes and in the street,

In a world with sadness rife,

May we show to all we meet

Glory that we find in life.

May we give each other power –

Live with courage every hour. 

To you each, my friends, tonight

I give thanks for company;

We have shared the inner light:

May that light go forth with thee.

May we give each other power –

Live with courage every hour.

Announcements:

Thanks to Ramona for hosting and Lochlann for co-hosting. Thanks to Holly and George for lovely music and Benjie for supporting our singing. Thanks to Lochlann, David, Pat and John for your reflections and thanks to Chloë for reading. Thanks to John for greeting and Pat and Anna for making coffee. If you’re online stay for a chat with Lochlann if you can. If you’re in-person please do stay for lunch! I’m sure there’ll be enough for everyone. Or you can just stay for tea and cake instead.  Many thanks to Liz for organising the lunch – she’ll be grateful of helpers I’m sure.

Tonight and Friday we’ve got our online ‘Heart and Soul’ online contemplative spiritual gathering – this week it’s on the theme of ‘Humility’ – sign up with me. This is a bonus H&S because we’ve called off this month’s Book Club as too many regulars are away. Our next book will now be ‘Upstream’ by Dan Heath, which we’ll be talking about on Sunday 30^th August, and I have a few copies of that to loan out.

Next Sunday, we’ll be back with a service on ‘Practical Mysticism’, featuring special music from our Quartet of Singers, that’ll be followed by Margaret’s singing class.

I also want to give a little plug for an online opportunity that is rapidly approaching. Hucklow Summer School will be happening towards the end of August and though all the in-person places have sold out there are still a few places available to participate online. This runs over six consecutive mornings from Saturday 22^nd August, you can access daily talks and engagement groups via Zoom, at the cost of £100. Get in touch with me ASAP if you want to know more about signing up for online summer school.

Details of all our various activities are printed on the order of service, and also in the Friday email, so sign up for our mailing list if you haven’t already done so, and the summer newsletter is out (if you know anyone who might be interested in what we do then take a copy to give them for free). 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 Gary Kowalski

May the blessings of life be upon us and upon this congregation.

May the memories we gather here give us hope for the future.

May the wisdom we receive prompt new growth and insight.

May the love that we share bring strength and joy to our hearts,

and the peace of this community be with us until we meet again. Amen.

Closing Music: Summertime' from Porgy and Bess - George Gershwin (performed by Holly Redshaw and George Ireland)     

Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall and Congregation Members

26th July 2026