May you live in interesting times - a #Unitarian lightbulb moment leads to a resolution to read The Arian Christian Bible

The topics of our gatherings in Ringwood range across a broad canvas of influences, as you would expect for a Unitarian group.  We have strengths in the areas of classical philosophy and living according to the Christian monastic traditions, both in community and in secular life; as well as an interest in natural religion, Buddhism, Earth Spirit and Pagan traditions, and Hinduism.  But funnily enough, we rarely talk very much about Jesus the rabbi and wisdom teacher.

Nonetheless, one of our number has volunteered the following little piece that broke in on her while she was attending and participating in a Church of England service for Palm Sunday.  It seems particularly relevant given the turbulent times we are currently living in, and the demands that are now surfacing for reform of the British political environment.  “May you live in interesting times,” goes the old Chinese saying, and it is meant as a curse!

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“I am not a traditional, trinitarian Christian but I do find some meaning, in an unconventional way, in a Communion service.  So I participate in Church of England services in my own way, and if asked I am always honest and say I am there in an interfaith capacity.  Being asked why I am there, I have to say, is a very rare event.  Like most churches, I think they are glad to get the numbers up and they are also sensitive to the fact that no one expects to talk very much about their own personal faith after services.

“Many of the assumptions in the prayers and usually some of the sermonised explanations I have to set aside; but there is always something for me there, if nothing more than a safe space in which to worship God in my own way.

“At the Palm Sunday service I went to, the preacher developed some queries about the fig tree cursed by Jesus, and how it was that a colt could possibly have been made available for him without his disciples being involved. (Mark, Chapter 11).  At the point where the preacher started talking about the very stones crying out if the people were silenced, I was suddenly apart from the rest of the congregation as a thought broke in on me, like a lamp being switched on.  And it was this:

Jesus taught how to live compassionately and all inclusively, in the service of an intimate relationship with God, in a religious and political framework that was unjust and which needed reform.

And he was obedient to his way of life, no matter the shame threatened upon him, and the pain, torture and death done to him.

That seems highly relevant today.

And I would do well to think about Jesus more often.

"So I have come back from that service with the clear intent of making the next book I read The Arian Christian Bible published in 2010 by the Institute of Metaphysical Studies, USA. In the foreword to that book, Charles D Levy says: “It is the Arian contention that the only place the spirit of Jesus exists is in his words and in the hearts of people who read those words.”  

"Who do I say I am?" - #Unitarians and friends gather again in Ringwood for a contemplative time together in May 2019

The gathering in May was the second time we used the ‘Heart and Soul’ style format, and this time the topic was “Who do I say I am?”

The gathering included the simple “circle” ritual long adopted by our group, as well as spaces for giving thanks, reflecting gently on our own day so far, a period for silent meditation, and offering prayers for others.  There was also some music.

The theme was introduced by our president for the day.  The thrust was that we worry so much about what others may intuit, or interpret about us, and what their judgements might be; when we could just save ourselves and others a lot of trouble by owning our own ‘names’ right from the start.

So we must begin with some soul searching.  After that we need some self-honesty in how we communicate the ‘who’ of ourselves through our words and actions.  Ridding ourselves of self-deceit, if we ourselves are clear who we are and then ‘speak’ it truly, then it makes for a happier us.

Our ‘name’ or ‘names’ don’t need to be a secret for fear they give people power over us: for it is only our fear making them a secret that does that.  For our ‘name’ is our power and our presence in the world.

Ringwood #Unitarians experiment in April with the “heart & soul” service using some key movements identified by @revwik

At our April gathering we for the first time took advantage of a new format of service.  We had experienced the format first hand at the Festival of Unitarians in the South East (FUSE) in Worthing, Sussex UK, in February.

We have chosen to try the new “heart and soul” format so that we are one of several UK Unitarian congregations now experimenting with it. Knowing that others are also trying it connects us a little bit more; on social media we can have conversations with others who are familiar with it; and it also means that visitors from other congregations may more readily recognise what is happening in our gatherings. In a widely scattered community like the Unitarian movement, even tenuous links like that can help to glue us all together.

The “heart and soul” format is more about experience than words or knowledge, and it was easy to fit our traditional, simple, experiential ritual into it.  The overall topic was “What is church?”, and no prescriptive answer was given.  As with all things Unitarian, it was anticipated that participants would place their own interpretation on what was offered.

We framed our time together using hymns, contemplative words from Unitarian leaders sourced from the www, a children’s story from the Brothers Grimm, and an extract from Plato ALCIBIADES I.  There was an exercise in selecting at random a line of poetry or a question, so that these could be explored together.

At the very heart of the “heart and soul” service there are four aspects: 

• Naming: an opportunity to give thanks 
• Knowing: a gentle reflection on our own day  
• Listening: a time of silent meditation
• Loving: offering prayers for others 

We first came across these aspects around 1999 when they were first set out by Rev Erik Walker Wikstrom @revwik, in an essay published in Everyday Spiritual Practice - Simple Pathways for Enriching Your Life, editor Scott W. Alexander  https://www.bookdepository.com/Everyday-Spiritual-Practice-Scott-W-Alexander/9781558963757. A wonderful book, highly recommended, which we hold in our library for anyone to borrow.

The people who took place in our first “heart and soul” gathering are now reflecting on how they feel about the new format, and it will be tried again in May.

“Heart and soul” has the benefit that there is more of a group collaboration in curating the safe space for reverence, and less pressure on the ‘president for the day’ to craft a coherent and intellectually satisfying gathering.  We always look for meaningful ideas, but we know it can feel daunting to be asked to lead, if leading requires a homily to be prepared.  Small groups without trained ministers can - and must - minister to each other, and as many people as possible must be given the chance to try.  A group that does not rely on one or two strong leaders will be more resilient in the long term.