THE RECORD NOVEMBER 2015

Mill Hill Unitarian Chapel City Square, Leeds

A PLACE OF SPIRITUAL SANCTUARY FOR ALL

Liberation: Inspiration: Compassion

Our ServicesSundays: morning Worship Service 10:45

evening Sacred Contemplation 6:00Wednesdays: midday Meditation 1:15Thursdays: evening Sacred Contemplation 6:15

First Sunday of the month: Bring and Share Lunch in the Priestley Hall

ContactsWebsite: www.millhillchapel.orgMinister Rev’d. Jo James email jojames.email@gmail.com tweet @jojames_ 0113 243 3845Facilities Manager/Lettings: c/o Chapel 0113 243 3845

Chairman of the Congregation Alan Hawkins: alan.c.hawkins@btinternet.com

Director of Music Anthony Norcliffe: anthony.norcliffe1@homecall.co.uk

The Record Editor Email millhillrecord@gmail.com @millhillchapel

charity number: 1081978

Unitarianism is an inclusive approach to a shared spiritual journey, a wisdom tradition which emphasises freedom of conscience,

affirms the inherent worth of all humans and acknowledges the validity of other religious and

spiritual traditions as well as science and secular culture.

From Our Editor

It is been almost a year since I took over editing The Record. I have received much positive feedback. It is nice to know that people appreciate the work that goes into a monthly newsletter. Jo and I are trying to make The Record as attractive and informative as possible. I am always open to suggestions and other submissions, such as poems, from our congregation. This month's poem was submitted by Doreen Coates. It depicts the doldrums that Autumn can bring in a lighthearted way. But for many folks, November is a busy month filled with school and the anticipation of Christmas.

It is my own busyness that has caused The Record to be published on the first Sunday of the publication month rather a week before. I know that delay is not ideal but I will be including information about events and notices for early December in this November issue. I will try to make sure that readers stay well informed even if there is a printing delay. Please be patient in this season of coughs and colds as well as Christmas.

— Rosemary G Frances

This month’s cover is showing one of the angels which flank our doors.

Chapel Flowers November

1st In memory of Mum & Dad, Al & Ernest Rose, from Jenny, Paul & Family

8th Flower Fund15th In memory of Rose Gamble22nd Flower Fund29th Flower Fund December

6th Birthday memories for Jim Cowling & In loving memory of Vera Cowling

If anyone would like to make a donation to provide flowers in memory of a loved one, to celebrate anniversaries or remember a birthday, then please contact me. Some dates are available. If you already have a subscription for flowers please check that this is kept up to date. Susan Coggan, Flower Secretary

International Men's Day, 19th November 2015

'Genius is the power of caring the feeling of childhood into the powers of manhood.'--Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Not all men are bad or violent. Worldwide rites of passage emphasise the importance of men sacrificing their needs on behalf of others. Every day men put families, communities and countries before themselves. International Men's Day celebrates men. It is a time to appreciate the contributions that men make to society. The theme for 2015 is making a difference for men and boys.

Prayer

The Path to Heavenly Birth

FEARLESSNESS, singleness of soul, The will always to strive for wisdom;Opened hand and governed appetites; And piety and love of lonely study;

Humbleness, uprightness, heed to injure nought which lives, Truthfulness, slowness unto wrath, A mind that lightly lettteth go what others prize, And equanimity and charity which spieth no man's faults; And tenderness towards all that suffer; A contented heart, fluttered by no desires; A bearing mild, modest and grave, With manhood nobly mixed,

With patience, fortitude and purity; An unrevengeful spirit, never given to rate itself too high--Such be the signs of him whose feet are set On that fair path which leads to heavenly birth!

--Bhagavad Gita

Chosen in conjunction with International Men’s Day.

Anthony Norcliffe is Distinguished for His Service

On 23rd of October Anthony Norcliffe, was honoured for his charity concerts by The Rotary Foundation. Anthony is now recognised as Paul Harris Fellow for the ‘significant assistance given to the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.’ He has been supporting Rotary International through his concerts for many years.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Music at Mill HillAnthems During November1st “Crossing the Bar” – C. Hubert H. Parry8th (Remembrance Sunday): “O valiant hearts” – Anthony

Norcliffe15th “Universal Spirit” – Norbert Capek, arr. Anthony Norcliffe22nd “Now we sing to praise love’s blessing” – Francis

Jackson29th (Advent Sunday): “Zion hears her watchmen’s

voices” (from Cantata No. 140) – J. S. Bach

Anthems During December4th “Creator of Starry Height”—Michael Praetorius,

arranged by A. Norrcliffe

Lunchtime Remembrance Organ Concert

10th November, Tuesday at 1pm Once again the time comes round when we focus on remembering, with a sense of heartfelt loss and profound sadness, all who have been and, indeed, those who continue to be the victims of wars. As in previous years, our Director of Music, Anthony Norcliffe, will give a Concert of Organ Music befitting the occasion. You will be most welcome to join us.

Events for the Advent Season

After the service on 29th of November, all are welcome to decorate the Chapel for Christmas. This is an event for the whole family.

Brian Rollinson will be singing with the Giving Voice Choir, an inclusive choir for adults with neurological conditions and their carers. They will be performing festive music on 8th of December for Arts@Trinity, Holy Trinity on Boar Lane.

All are requested to come to a Special Lunch on 6th December after the service. The Bring and Share Lunch promises to be a memorial event. So please plan to stay for conviviality and fellowship after the service.

Thanks to anyone who has served Tea and Coffee after the service. Please note that you only need to get the milk. Rosemary is ordering what we need from a Fair Trade supplier.

2015-2016 Worship Themes November: TranscendenceDecember: WonderJanuary: HopeFebruary: Resilience March: Rebirth

Poem

No!

No sun – no moon!No mourn – no noon!No dawn – no dusk – no proper time of day –No sky – no earthly view –No distance looking blue –No road – no street – no 't'other side this way' -No end of any Row-No indications where the Crescents go-

No top to any steeple-No recognitions of familiar people-No courtesies for showing'em-No knowing'em!No traveling at all-no locomotion-No inkling of the way-no notion-'No go' by land or ocean-No mail-no post-No news from any foreign coast-No Park, no Ring, no afternoon gentility-No company-no nobility-No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,No comfortable feel in any member-No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds –November!

—Thomas Hood (1799-1845)

Submitted by Doreen Coates

Do you have an event that you would like to share with Mill Hill? Chapel members could come along if you give an announcement to The Record. We want to support you! So let us know!

Other Events at Mill Hill

Vegan Interfaith Alliance food sharing evening after the service on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7.00 pm in the Priestley Hall. Anyone is welcome to attend, either to help out with cooking, cleaning or washing up or simply to share food and fellowship.

The Spiritual Reading Group will on meet on the last Tuesday of the month, 24th of November. You will find a a copy of this month’s reading in the Priestley Hall. Please tell Jo or email: jojames.email@gmail.com if you have suggestions for reading material.

Would we like to go to a museum, a play or film? It would be nice to have a Congregational Outing of some sort. Please see Rosemary or write to millhillrecord@gmail.com. We can discuss various options for a fun social evening or afternoon.

The Leeds International Film Festival comes to Mill Hill Chapel on Thursday, 11th of November though Saturday the 14th from 11:00 – 17:00. This free short film programme provides food for thought, as it captures the fictional and factual voices of refugees, artists and everyday heroes on film. Sometimes we struggle to make sense of the world we live in. Change, confrontation and encounters all have the power to challenge our values and perceptions. Some of the films are funny, optimistic and hopeful, others alarming or sad.

Meet our General Assembly President on 16th January 2016. The Reverend John Clifford, the GA will be attending the Yorkshire Unitarian Union Quarterly Meeting. This is a special opportunity to learn more about our denomination and meet someone who is promoting Unitarianism throughout the UK. The meeting will be held at Mill Hill and include a morning Lay Preachers meeting to be followed by a lunch break and Union business in the afternoon.

Inside the Chapel

News from the AGM

Christmas cards

It will be Christmas again sand at the Chapel Annual General Meeting last month, I proposed a change to how we exchange Christmas cards. This proposal was accepted by the members present. Every year we give and receive a great many of cards between us. This year we will have one large communal card in which everyone conveys their greetings to everyone else. Then the Chapel can donate the money that we each would have spent on individual cards to a charity. This would be within the true spirit of Christmas and also be helpful to newer members who may not know all the names of the other people at Chapel. I will provide a card and collection tin in the Priestly Hal. If anyone has a strong preference where the money should be donated, let me know. I feel it should go to a local cause such as St. George's Crypt, a hostel for the homeless. Thank you, Doreen Coates

Rosemary G Frances was elected to the Church Management Committee while current members keep their positions.The Reverend Jo James spoke about the achievements in his first year of ministry. He would like to thank everyone who has helped renew Mill Hill. In his second year, we will support new initiatives, such as an English Conversation Club for immigrants, that bring more people into our chapel.

Introducing Ourselves: We Share Our Biographies Margaret and Brian Rollinson

I was born in June 1949 in Hunslet and attended the Hunslet Unitarian Chapel on Joseph Street where I was christened. I worked my way through the Sunday School and still have books I received for regular attendance. The Chapel had to close in 1966 due to redevelopment and that is when I came to Mill Hill at the age of 17. I went to the Jack Lane Primary School and later Hunslet Moor Secondary School. I left school at 15 and my first job was office junior at EJ Arnold's – educational suppliers, publishers and printers. Whilst there I took a short hand/typing course at Pitman College, which was in the city centre at that time. I became secretary to the sales manager for 15 years. I then left to have children and care for my family. After eight years at home I decided I wanted a change. So I applied for a job as a Christmas temporary worker at Boots, the chemist, to fit with the children's school hours. I never thought I would be there 25 years later! Whilst at Mill Hill I was introduced to the Dramatic Society by the late Hilda Warhurst. That is where I met Brian who was working the lights at that time in the old Priestly Hall. We used to stage of a pantomime before Christmas and a Spring play. When we moved into the new hall it was so much smaller we had to give more performances. We were both involved in attending and organising treasure hunts and dinners for all the members.

Brian was born in March 1946 and Harehills and went to Coldcotes School where he left at the age of 15.

His first job was as a taylor's cutter at Montague Burtons Tailors of Harehills. Later he worked at the Yorkshire Water in the meter-reading section. He actually was involved in the chapel before I was. He was a member of the scooter club that used to be part of the Youth Club. It was held in the old Priestly Hall. He was asked by the Reverend Brian Golland if he would work the spotlight for production, he then became a member. We married in September 1971 by the Reverend Maurice Bonner. We have two children, Sarah and Daniel. Our two granddaughters are named Hiamh and Grace. We are both members of the Chapel Management Committee and the Chapel Trustees. We also take a turn on the monthly coffee

rota to after service. We are both pleased to have a full-time minister. The Reverend Jo James, who has achieved so much in his first year and we will continue to give him as much support as we possibly can.