Holocaust Memorial Day Wednesday 27 January 2016

http://hmd.org.uk/genocides/nazi-persecution

We have started the early planning work to hold a witness event in Ringwood to mark International Holocaust Memorial Day on Wednesday 27th January 2016.  The Assistant Priest at the parish church has agreed to be involved and we hope other churches and the Quakers will, too.  But this will not be a religious event and there are many more groups of people, and individuals, who would want to show their commitment to this event so we will be seeking other participants from all sectors of Ringwood.

July meeting

On Sunday 12 July the theme of the day was religious freedom.  Two hundred and two years ago, in July 1813, the Unitarian Relief Act was passed, which meant that it was no longer punishable to deny the Church's doctrine of the Holy Trinity.  This is an important commemoration for anyone who thinks that in the 21st century freedom of religion is as important as other human freedoms.

We listened to how Jesus had asserted that some of the religious rules of his day restricted people’s freedom – and hence he rejected them.  We heard about a chain of heroes throughout the ages who stood witness to freedom to religion by rejecting certain restrictions of their own day, and how they suffered for it.  Included were heroes local to Ringwood, such as Dame Alice Lisle, buried at Ellingham church.   And we heard how some Unitarians today feel that the word “tolerance” is outdated because it sounds grudging; and how they prefer the word “respect.”  Tolerance avoids engagement with others; respect welcomes it.

Included in our service were our usual ritual of sharing flame (light), bread, water, and smoke (air), all with due deference to participants’ respective needs; a couple of hymns from the green hymn book; and our seven minutes’ silence in which we had the chance to bring it all together.  Not that it was very silent with the busy footpath outside and the beautiful sounds of the bells ringing out from the parish church – and goodness knows how silent we were able to be within our own selves !

It was lovely to be able to welcome two new people to our service and we enjoyed our conversation afterwards.

Bourne Free - Bournemouth's Pride and how we were there

Only one of us was able to make the date for the Bourne Free parade, but it was really good to be able to take part in this, only our second year.
Bourne Free
has been building up over the past thirteen years and it felt like a really exuberant event.  They have placed a video of the parade on the Bourne Free Facebook page 

https://www.facebook.com/playwivjay/posts/868638186524888

 

 The Bourne Free Parade organisers had arranged for Ringwood Unitarians to walk alongside the only other faith group taking part, the Metropolitan Community Church  from Pokesdown (Dorset Humanists, some of whom might also want to be mentioned at this point, were also there in strength).  This was wonderful.  What a welcome MCC gave!  And also all eyes were on them – so as a by-product, also on Ringwood Unitarians – because the MCC had co-opted their friends from Liberty Church  in Blackpool who brought their huge mannequin of Jesus.  The children in particular were mesmerized.  “Big Jesus” certainly captured everyone’s imagination, and there were many smiles at “Big Jesus” and about him, too.  Sadly there were also some jeers and boos when the parade passed one place so it just shows that not everyone is content with the idea that Jesus is there for, and welcomes, everyone. “Big Jesus” was carried on the shoulders of one person continuously from 10.30 a.m. to after 1 p.m., and he danced from one part of the crowd to the next, shaking hands, blowing kisses, and waving his rainbow balloons.  Up till now no photos of the Ringwood Unitarian rep have been sent in but here is a picture of MCC, Liberty Church and “Big Jesus”.

It was great fun and wonderful to make some new friends at MCC who, being in Pokesdown, are almost next door neighbours for Ringwood Unitarians.  We hope to build on this by meeting with them again very soon.