Issu 8076

THE

INQUIRER £1 | Issue 8076 | 3 February 2024

Inside this issue…

Ant Howe on anxiety and faith Danny Crosby on ‘freudenfreude’ Jenny Miller on Florence Nightingale’s faith

www.inquirer.org.uk

The voice of British and Irish Unitarians and Free Christians

Angels among us

Laura Dobson on those heavenly messengers, enforcers, guardians

THE

INQUIRER The Unitarian and Free Christian Paper Established in 1842, The Inquirer is the oldest nonconformist religious newspaper.

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www.unitarian.org.uk Page 2 | Issue 8076 – 3 February 2024

Inquiring Words…

To Be the Angel Paul Oakley North, South, East, and West, Angel, visible, ahead of me, Angels hidden by forests around me, And everywhere God. Angels created by our ingenuity, desire, and prayers, Angels imagined in concrete absence, And a deep, stirring call to me, to us, to be the Angel, to be the Angels the world needs, to be the Angel the person near us needs to give the message of hope, to stay the hand of carelessness or evil.

God, when the hill we are climbing in the snow at the end of a long day shows us no angel towering over forest and road, embolden us, grant strength of resolve, teach us to be messengers of peace, bearers of good tidings, protectors of those unable to protect themselves, people who create a path of security and sufficiency.

God, teach us to be the Angel.

Laura Dobson looks at angels from the Old Testament to today

Angels through the ages When I say the word ‘angel’ I wonder what images are conjured up for you? Perhaps your angels are beautiful, white, feminine creatures with wings and haloes, or little chubby babies with wings and haloes! So would it surprise you to learn that these are relatively recent images in religious art, and that in earliest books of the Bible, such as Judges and Genesis, angels appear as men?

Angels visit Gideon and Samson’s the New Testament. parents in Judges, and Abraham, In the Gospels, angels continue Sarah and Hagar, in Genesis, their role as messengers of God, anwhere we also have the story of nouncing Mary’s pregnancy. When “They bring good Jacob’s ladder and of him wrestling Jesus fasts for 40 days in the desert tidings, such as news with an angel in the night. These anand is tempted by Satan before begels are generally described as lookginning his ministry, we are told that of pregnancy, and they ing like men, and they have a simple the angels minister to him. In Matwarn people of function: they are messengers of thew, Jesus speaks of children havGod. They bring good tidings, such ing guardian angels, whose role it is impending disasters.” as news of pregnancy, and they to care for and protect them. And, warn people of impending disasters. in the Book of Acts, Peter is reThe role and appearance of angels leased from prison by the actions of becomes more elaborate over time. his guardian angel.

In the Book of Ezekiel, written Angels feature in Jewish and Chrisabout the time of the Babylonian exile in 590 BC, angels tian liturgies, singing a continuous song of praise to God, are described as fantastic creatures, who have human in which we humans join. In the Catholic and Orthodox figures, calves’ hooves, four wings, and four faces – one churches there is a belief that the angels perform the lithuman, one of a lion, one of an ox and one of an eagle. urgy with the priests. At the Feast of St Michael and All The appearance of these creatures was likely influenced by Angels, as we enter the dark half of the year, Michael the the demi-gods of the Zoroastrian culture in the midst of Archangel and his angelic companions are invoked, as prowhich the Jewish people found themselves. tectors against the forces of darkness.

In the 5th century, a Syrian monk known as Dionysius the Areopagite wrote about the heavenly hierarchy of angels.

Avenging Angels He said there were nine levels, arranged in three sets of In post-exilic times, messianic Judaism developed, seeing three, in concentric circles around God. The highest set God’s chosen people in opposition to the ruling powers – Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones – are closest to God of the occupying empire, and looking to the resurrection and engaged in constant contemplation of God. The Serof the dead and the final times. Angels in this context aphim are ablaze with the love of God, the Cherubim with become the Avenging Angels of God, the Lord of Hosts, divine knowledge, and the Thrones with divine justice. who fights the forces of evil with his armies of angels. This The next set are the Dominions, Virtues, and Powers – vision of angels is taken up by the Book of Revelation in Continued on page 4 > www.inquirer.org.uk | Page 3

“When I look at my life, I see angels everywhere.”

Shown above: A French 16th-century plaque with four angels from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Open Access

Continued from page 3 >

Dominions are concerned with teaching self-control, Virtues work miracles and help those who are overburdened with troubles, and Powers help with resisting temptations.

The lowest set, closest to humankind, are the Principalities, Archangels, and Angels. Principalities are concerned with the management of the world and the beneficent use of power, Archangels are the heralds of good news, revealing prophecies, and Angels announce God’s intentions, teach people to live rightly, and guard us.

Angels expunged In the medieval world view, the communion of saints and angels were viewed as forming concentric circles of intercessors around God, much as the political hierarchies of the time formed concentric circles around the King.

With the Reformation, Protestantism expunged much of the old church system and its world of concentric rings, and focused on the personal relationship of the individual soul with God, without the need for any beings, heavenly or earthly, to intercede. The guardian angel, however, was retained, because, as a personal guiding force, it appeals to the Protestant idea of the individual soul finding its way back to God. Today, there has been a huge revival in interest in angels and they have escaped, as it were, from the church and entered the realm of popular belief. There are angel therapies, angel meditations, angel oracle cards. In some New Age systems, angels represent universal forces, similar to archetypes, or qualities that we can embody. I can’t say I engage much with angels as supernatural beings, but I do like the idea that angels represent archetypal good qualities, or virtues, that can inspire us to embody them in our daily lives.

Angels have entered popular language in this way. We may refer to people who are especially kind to us as an-

gels. Who are the angels that are and have been in your life? Who are your messengers of divine love? Who has helped you to make sense of the world and pointed you towards a deeper meaning? Are there people you feel have been sent to you for a particular purpose, whom you met at just the right time?

Who are those who protect and comfort you? Who are those who guide you on your path in life? Who has restored your faith in human nature? Who has given you the confidence to meet the strange and unfamiliar? Who has helped you to see when you have taken a wrong turn and guided you gently back towards the path?

Angels give encouragement, opportunity When I look at my life, I see angels everywhere: the schoolteacher who took the time to get to know my strengths and to encourage me in my research and project work, which have stood me in good stead through my different careers; the counsellor who helped me to understand that I am not responsible for other people’s issues; the colleague who provided a shoulder to cry on when I was being bullied at work; the Rastafarian who showed me the way through the woods one day when I was a student and gave me my first opportunity to really listen to someone of a different culture to mine; the two strangers at a bus stop whose conversation about God giving and taking away has remained with me ever since; my dog, who daily teaches me about unconditional love and acceptance and being fully present to life.

I am grateful to the reformers of the Reformation who placed a personal relationship with God at the centre of their faith. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be a Unitarian minister. But I do appreciate that image of concentric circles from the medieval world-view – not in the hierarchical sense, but in the sense of the radiating concentric Continued on page 5 >

Page 4 | Issue 8076 – 3 February 2024

Angels in our community Continued from page 4 >

circles of community that surround us. There is an inner circle – our partners, close friends and family, and our animal companions, then there are our friends and colleagues and acquaintances, then all the other people who we do not know, but whose lives intertwine with ours – the people who grow our food, make our clothes, build our houses, maintain our roads, etc., and then all the other beings we share our precious planet with.

Unitarian angels Sadly, there are some people who do not experience community in this way – who feel isolated and alone, who are vulnerable and marginalised. I think particularly at this time of the people who arrive in this country with nothing, seeking to rebuild their lives, having had to flee from situations of conflict, starvation, persecution, and environmental disasters. I am grateful for all those people within and beyond our Unitarian communities who welcome them with hospitality, from those who foster refugee children in their homes, to those who give time and money to charities working to provide support for refugees and asylum seekers, and those who join demonstrations and sign petitions to put pressure on the government to

change policies from hostility to hospitality.

There are many ways we can embody the qualities of angels in our daily lives. There are many ways that we can welcome the stranger. We can be protectors of the vulnerable, defenders against the dark and bearers of the light for our fellow humans. We can be messengers of love, peace and hope.

‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’ Hebrews 13:2. Amen.

Laura Dobson The Rev Laura Dobson is minister with Chorlton Unitarians, King Edward Street Unitarian Chapel, Macclesfield, and the Unitarian Transformers project.

MINISTERIAL VACANCY Applications are invited for the position of full-time minister at Chowbent Unitarian Chapel, Atherton, Greater Manchester. A part-time appointment could be considered for a suitable candidate. Remuneration would be as recommended by the GA with housing allowance.

Chowbent is the oldest place of worship in the town. It is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. The Chapel was granted Grade II* Listed status in 1966. Further information is available on the Chapel’s website. www.chowbent-unitarian-chapel.org.uk The congregation is loyal and hardworking and members are active in Atherton Churches Together.

A minister is needed to provide leadership, pastoral care and development of community involvement. The appointee would be supported by the congregation and the North East Lancashire Unitarian Mission.

To express an interest please contact Simon Bland at the GA sbland@unitarian.org.uk www.inquirer.org.uk | Page 5

Ant Howe writes that spiritual practices can help tame anxiety

Healing anxiety Anxiety is something I’ve been personally acquainted with from time to time. When I use the word anxiety I’m talking everything from ‘a nagging feeling that things aren’t quite right’, to that ‘panic feeling which makes you feel like you’re in fight or flight mode’, right through to the feeling of ‘a 10-ton weight on your chest that feels totally debilitating’.

Those are just some the symptoms I have felt when I’m anxious.

Maybe yours have been different. calm. I also get anxious about What makes me anxious might not getting lost as my sense of direction bother you, and vice versa. Some is so bad.

“What’s there to be folk tell me ‘I could never get up When I get stressed I have recurring and speak in front of people the way dreams about being swept along worried about?’ The you do’, yet I love leading people in by a big crowd, and not being able answer is: I don’t know. worship. Put me in front of people to get where I need to be, and not and ask me to lead them in worship being able to find my way back.

Fears, phobias, and or lead a wedding or a funeral, or I also know that I need to keep an anxieties aren’t always a training session and I am in my eye on these things as I have found element. It’s when I feel most that worries and anxieties can easily rational.” happy and free and alive. snowball. Once I start worrying Yet I can understand why the about one thing, something else thought of doing what I do would will come along to keep it company make some people nervous. before long. It can feel like a magnet My anxieties come out in different ways. For instance, in my mind: If I get anxious about one thing, pretty soon when I am part of a crowd is when I get anxious.

I’ll start getting anxious about other things too.

I just cannot do crowded supermarkets. If a supermarket is Of course, people say well-meaning things like ‘There’s no crowded and trolleys are coming at me from all directions, point worrying about it!’. Even Jesus said ‘do not worry’ – I feel a sense of panic. My heart begins to race, I feel a but it’s easier said than done. sense of dread. I know it’s not rational, but on more than a few occasions – I’ve just left my trolley where it was and Biblical wisdom headed for the exit.

Over the years, I have turned to the Bible for wisdom and So, I either go to the supermarket late in the evening help. One of the Bible passages I come back to again and when I know it’s going to be quiet, or I do my food shop again are words from Philippians chapter 4: online. We all find ways to cope, don’t we?

Let your moderation be known to all. The Lord is at hand.

Some might say ‘well, why on earth would a busy Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer, with supermarket make you so nervous?’. What’s there to thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and be worried about?’ The answer is: I don’t know. Fears, the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will phobias, and anxieties aren’t always rational. I don’t like guard your hearts and minds… crowded train stations or busy streets, either. When ‘Let your moderation be known to all.’ What’s everyone is pushing against each other I find I can begin moderation? Well, another word for moderation is to panic if I don’t consciously do things to keep myself balance. At one time, if someone used a swear word in Page 6 | Issue 8076 – 3 February 2024

“Stress is our response to a threat. Anxiety is our response to stress.”

Shown left: Photo by Stormseeker on Unsplash

polite company, they would be asked to ‘kindly moderate their language’.

So when the text says ‘Let your moderation be known” perhaps it is inviting us to try to keep a sense of balance and perspective. I find that I have to be quite careful and consciously disciplined in my mind, otherwise things get out of balance. That can be hard work – but the writer of Philippians suggests we don’t have to do it alone: ‘The Lord is at hand,’ he says.

And if you don’t like the word ‘Lord’ then substitute it for whatever is your conception of the Highest and Best: God, Love, Life, Spirit … whatever it might be. Hold that image in your mind. Keep it close. Keep it ‘at hand’ Something ‘at hand’ is one you can grab when you need it – without having to go searching. It’s nearby, easily accessible.

Keep spiritual practice handy On my desk, there are certain things I keep at hand, because I use them so much: hymnbooks, my diary, books of readings, my phone, all within easy reach. And I would be wise to keep my spirituality and my spiritual practice close at hand also, because I need those things to help me maintain my sense of balance. But when I do begin to feel anxiety rising, what do I do?

Well, it’s helped to learn a bit about what anxiety is. I read something in a journal a while ago and it really helped me.

This is what it says: ‘Stress is our response to a threat. Anxiety is our response to stress.’

If that’s true, I get anxious because I feel like I am threatened in some way, whether that threat is real or perceived. So I try to take a few moments to breathe calmly, and pray, and ask myself ‘what’s really threatening me here?’.

I can calm myself down, it helps me keep that sense of balance and perspective. Without that balance, I know my worries and anxieties can blow out of all proportion if I let them.

In Unitarian churches you don’t tend to hear the devil mentioned a lot. The idea of there being this powerful evil force doesn’t really sit well in Unitarian theology. But I

find it interesting: at the beginning of the Bible the devil is depicted as tiny, little snake-like creature who tricks people. But by the end of the Bible, the devil is depicted as a huge murderous fire breathing dragon.

How did the devil manage to grow so much, and become so scary? Because people fed it. If you feed something, it grows. So I try to pay attention to which things in my life I am feeding. I can’t really believe in the devil, but I find it interesting that Jesus of Nazareth said, ‘the devil is a liar’.

The biggest problems in my life come when I start believing the lies: That I’m not good enough.

That I don’t look right or sound right.

That I am not capable.

That I’m not enough.

But none of those things is true about me, or about you.

We are enough. You are enough.

And I think there is wisdom in just trying to take one day at a time. As Jesus said, ‘don’t worry about tomorrow.

Tomorrow will have worries of its own.’

As for today – well, today might have some worries, but there are also some good things.

I don’t know what situations you are facing. I’m not walking in your shoes. But our Unitarian communities should, I think, be places where people can feel safe to come with their joys, sorrows, hopes and anxieties.

Knowing that I have a religious community that loves and accepts me has made all the difference in my life.

Anxieties still come, but my Unitarian faith helps me stay balanced and connected to the sacred. For that, I give thanks!

Ant Howe Rev Ant Howe is senior tutor with Unitarian College. Read his personal blog here: http://tinyurl.com/AntHowe

www.inquirer.org.uk | Page 7

Jenny Miller on her research into the Nightingale family’s ‘Unitarian’ Chapel in Lea

Nightingale and Unitarianism Nestled in the Derbyshire dales is the childhood home of Florence Nightingale, Lea Hurst, which is now owned by and in the loving care of Peter and Jenny Kay. They run a B&B in some of the former Nightingale suites.

During the course of my MA research, I had the privilege of staying there with my three daughters in Florence Nightingale’s childhood bedroom which remains a beautiful poignant memory.

A short drive from Lea Hurst is that Mrs V Marchant is cited in Lea Chapel, and I was delighted Lea Parish Guide, Chapter 6, sayThere is a tendency for to discover its Unitarian history, ing that, ‘Nightingale’s father was heritage and significance. Lea a staunch Unitarian and she must various denominations Chapel was founded in 1671 as a certainly have worshipped here in to claim Florence Protestant Dissenters’ Meeting her younger days.’ So, it is interestHouse. It was described in the ing to Unitarian history to be able Nightingale as their Derbyshire Historic Environmental to pinpoint more accurately where own, whilst often Record (Listed Building Record) Florence Nightingale may have as having been ‘maintained by worshipped with her family during denying her Unitarian the Nightingale family as their her childhood in Derbyshire. influences. “private” chapel as they practised As there is a tendency for Christhe Unitarian creed’ until 1735, tians of various denominations when it was bequeathed by Thomas to claim Florence Nightingale as Nightingale to local trustees, their own, whilst often denying her becoming in 1845, ‘part of the Matlock United Methodist Unitarian non-conformist, anti-Trinitarian influences, I Free Church circuit’, as a United Methodist Free Church. think that it would be misleading if scholars of Florence However, the reference to the Nightingale family of Nightingale (which vary from theological, historical and that era practising ‘the Unitarian creed’ appears to be nursing-history scholarship) continue to align her childtechnically incorrect because, as modern Unitarians are hood religious affiliation and education solely within the acutely aware, the Unitarian and Free Christian Church confines of the Anglican Church, without appropriate is known for ‘deeds not creeds’. I suspect that the writer recognition of her Unitarian upbringing and religious and was loosely using a more familiar conformist Anglican educational influences. Nightingale was both baptised into terminology regarding ‘creeds’, unaware of Unitarian non the Church of England and entered in the births register creedal values. of Protestant Dissenters. Although many scholars argue Specifically, The Lea Parish Guide describes Lea Chapel that Florence was raised as Anglican, her 2008 biograas ‘the oldest Non-conforming Chapel in the Parish’ and pher Mark Bostridge regards the truth ‘less clear-cut’. states that ‘for many years it was used by the Unitarians Bostridge, in the book Florence Nightingale: The Woman but was acquired by the Methodists in 1874,’ which was, and Her Legend, highlights that although Fanny and Wilsignificantly, the year of Florence Nightingale’s father liam were married in the Church of England, which some William’s death. An interesting fact of my research was biographers argue represented a ‘change of allegiance for Continued on page 9 > Page 8 | Issue 8076 – 3 February 2024

“In a moment of nostalgic reverie, I imagined Florence Nightingale as a young child worshipping in this simple chapel as the daughter of one of the most prominent families in the area.”

Continued from page 8 >

reasons of social prestige’, Fanny ‘states straightforwardly that she is not of the Church of England’, in a letter written in the 1820s, detailing her objections and ‘went to some lengths, unsuccessfully ... to employ a Unitarian governess’. Having two residences in Hampshire and Derbyshire, Bostridge records that ‘although whilst at Embley the family would go to St Margaret’s at East Wellow, at Lea Hurst they attended the local Dissenting Chapel.’

In reality, generations of her family and relatives were committed Unitarians. Florence Nightingale’s grandfather, William Smith MP, was personally successful in helping to secure the passing of the 1813 Doctrine of the Trinity Act with a Private Member’s Bill, which finally lifted longstanding penalties on Unitarians, allowing them to hold public office or attend University for their dissenting religious views because Unitarian Non-conformist theologies of the day rejected the orthodox Christian doctrine of the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus. Indeed, Bostridge points out that Sydney Smith ‘only half-jokingly’, called William Smith ‘the head of the Unitarian Church’, and ‘the dissenting king’.

An unparalleled education Nightingale was given an unparalleled education, for a woman of her day, by her Unitarian father, which Bostridge regards as ‘advanced by the standards set for women in the first half of the 19th century’. Nightingale was educated in Greek, Latin, Hebrew, German, French, Italian, History, Grammar, Composition, Philosophy as well as Mathematics, to her mother’s disapproval. William’s ‘insistence on equal education for women’ was inspired by progressive Unitarian views regarding the education and rôle of women.

Therefore, Nightingale’s education by her Unitarian father was certainly a huge influence on her and Val Webb, theologian and author of Florence Nightingale: the making of a radical theologian, considers that Florence Nightingale certainly ‘acquired her father’s Unitarian ideas’. Unitarian-influenced advanced female education was crucial to

Shown left: Lea Chapel photo by Jenny Miller

and inseparable from the development of Nightingale’s religious and spiritual thinking. In her book, Florence Nightingale: Discernment as Trusting Experience, Theologian and author Susan Rakoczy summarises Nightingale’s religious background being ‘a mix of Unitarianism (which was focused on deeds not creeds) and the established Church of England’, remaining ‘nominally Anglican’, although she ‘ceased to attend church services’ after her return from the Crimea. Though Bostridge records that Nightingale did attend a church service ‘with the royal family’, but ceased to attend ‘regularly.’

During my research, I visited Lea Chapel and took some of the walks around the area. The current owners kindly allowed me to look inside, whilst it was being renovated and, in a moment of nostalgic reverie, I imagined Florence Nightingale as a young child worshipping in this simple chapel as the daughter of one of the most prominent families in the area. Florence Nightingale’s Unitarian influence in childhood and where she ‘must certainly’ have worshipped in a Unitarian context near her home in Derbyshire as a young girl is an important key to understanding her later theologies and especially her mystical theology, which has Unitarian as well as Interreligious influences.

Certainly, Florence Nightingale’s Unitarian influences from childhood cannot continue to be denied and her ensuing social action and liberating theologies must be honoured and celebrated.

Jenny Miller The Rev Jenny Miller is an interfaith minister and a friend of Godalming Unitarians. She visited Lea Chapel while working on her recent MA on Florence Nightingale’s mystical theology. www.inquirer.org.uk | Page 9

Danny Crosby wants to take joy in others’ triumphs

Let’s try some ‘freudenfreude’ I generally take a positive view of social media, as I do with most aspects of human interaction. When things are used in a positive way they enhance our lives. That said, there are downsides. They can be misused. The one I have perhaps struggled with the most is what was once called Twitter (now X). I have never really got it. In fact, beyond posting my blog and videos, I rarely interact.

There is one person I love on describes a positive way of reTwitter, though: Susie Dent from sensing something.

Dictionary Corner on Countdown.

A German word in common usage, “It’s frustrating that She is informative, funny and warm but without an English equivalent hearted. I have learnt so much from is ‘schadenfreude’. (We had the there isn’t a word her as she has shared lost words, synonym ‘epicaricacy’ but it has for schadenfreude’s often as social commentary. It was largely disappeared.) Schadenfreude Susie who brought ‘respair’ back is the experience of pleasure, joy opposite, that is taking into public consciousness, a word or self-satisfaction in learning of joy in someone’s good that means a new or fresh hope. She or witnessing the troubles, failures, has also shared lost positive words, pain, or humiliation of another. fortune.” the opposites of negative versions An example would be when a rival that have remained in usage. Words football team loses, or the political like ‘gruntled’, meaning happy or party you are opposed to suffers contented, in good humour, the a humiliating loss. Or, closer to opposite of disgruntled; ‘gormful’, meaning sensible, not home, someone trips over. (Provided they don’t get hurt.) foolish or senseless, the opposite of gormless; ‘ruthful’, Schadenfreude seems to power social media when it’s at meaning feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for wrong its worst – particularly on Twitter or X. doing or causing offense, the opposite of ruthless; Schadenfreude is derived from ‘schaden’ meaning damage ‘feckful’, meaning efficient or effective, the opposite of or harm and ‘freude’, meaning joy. We think of it as joy feckless. It is interesting that only the negative versions of in someone’s misfortune. It’s frustrating that there isn’t these words have survived in common usage. a word for schadenfreude’s opposite, that is taking joy in someone’s good fortune.

We have all lived through difficult times in recent years.

Bring back ‘epicaricacy’ As a result there are folk about who are trying to find ways Another example, of the loss of positives, is the word to spread a little joy, to share good news as an antidote to ‘resentment’. I resent the word itself. Actually, what I all the negativity. As a result, people have begun using a resent is how I and others use the word. The word literally new word – a neologism – ‘freudenfreude’ – the opposite means to re-feel, to re-sense something. Yet, when we of schadenfreude. re-feel something wonderful or positive we do not say Freudenfreude is positive empathy. It is the ability to feel we resent it. There is no word in common usage that Continued on page 11 > Page 10 | Issue 8076 – 3 February 2024

“Barbara Thackray, a congregational member, was made a ‘Freeman’ of Altrincham in recognition of years of raising money for St Ann’s Hospice” Shown left: Barbara Thackray celebrated her 85th birthday by completing the Run North West Trafford 10k run with a personal best. Photo by St Ann’s Hospice

Continued from page 10 >

someone else’s positive emotions as if they were your own.

To tap into the power of freudenfreude, you just have to look for the good things happening to people around you, look for examples of good news – not the big bad news on X or printed and tv news. Look around you, celebrate other’s small successes. When you talk with the people in your life, ask them about their joys and share in them. Do not be afraid to share your good news too. Do not hide your light, let it shine. Be a bearer of the good news. It helps build community, something so needed in our ever more isolating and isolated lives. This is not to say that we avoid one another’s troubles. Freudenfreude is about developing empathy, and you can’t have positive without negative. To feel with another is to do so wholly. We must take in both positive and painful emotions. This is true empathy.

Good feelings in German, Sanskrit and Hebrew Angela Fowler, a member of one of the congregations I serve, comes straight to mind. She was someone who exemplified freudenfreude. She always encouraged and enjoyed the achievements of others. Sadly, Angela died on New Year’s Eve. She lived a life of gratitude and always made the most of every little thing life gave her. Angela would not have used the word freudenfreude. She was an expert in language, speaking perfect French and was also fluent in German. So, I don’t want to insult her by using incorrect language. (Though I don’t think she’d mind. She always encouraged me in my ministry and forgave all my terrible pronunciations).

Thankfully there is another word similar to freudenfreude.

‘Mudita’ is an ancient Sanskrit word which means vicarious or sympathetic joy. In Buddhism, mudita highlights the importance of feeling joy for others’ good fortune even if – or especially because – you do not directly benefit from

FROM NOTHING TO EVERYTHING

By Danny Crosby

it. There is a similar word in Hebrew too, ‘firgun’, which describes the ungrudging pleasure one takes in someone else’s good fortune.

I experienced a great deal of freudenfreude, mudita and firgun in early January. On the Friday I was at a good friend, Ian Etto’s, album launch at Manchester Art Gallery. It was wonderful to share this with Ian and other friends. He has struggled in life, and it was good to see him shine his light so bright. The next morning I opened proceedings at Altrincham Court Leet, where Barbara Thackray, a congregational member, was made a ‘Freeman’ of Altrincham in recognition of years of raising money for St Ann’s Hospice, following the death of her sister. Barbara took up running about 10 years ago, in her mid 70’s. She runs 10k twice a week and competes in fund-raising events. She has become bit of a celebrity, appearing all over local news and even stars in an Adidas advert (http://tinyurl.com/BThackray) with Mo Salah, her smiling face being the last image as she runs along.

It was such a joy sharing in Barbara’s recognition. So wonderful sharing with these people who have known recent joys. Yes it is important to be with others in their struggles, but also their joys. This, to me, is what loving community is all about. I just wish we had a word in common usage to describe such a feeling and to shine that light bright for all to see. So, I am going to join in with those who are using the word freudenfreude, let us make it word of the year for 2024. www.inquirer.org.uk | Page 11

Foy and IRF celebrate 100th anniversaries

By Dot Hewerdine Foy Society and International Religious Fellowship members are looking forward to celebrating their organisations’ 100th anniversaries together at the Nightingale Unitarian Conference Centre at Great Hucklow over Easter weekend 28 March – 1 April. The celebration will incorporate the 2024 Foy Conference. Plans include a visit to the Flagg Barn, but most participants will be staying at the Nightingale Centre.

The programme begins with Dinner on Thursday, 28 March and ends with lunch on Monday. Accommodation is available at The Nightingale Centre, or at The Barn, Flagg, for the hardy! Day visit options include lunch and dinner with full use of the centre and participation in all the activities.

Friday, 29 March: Activities based at The Nightingale Centre ‘exploring the ripples’ with a separate programme for young children and intergenerational fun in the evening.

Saturday, 30 March: Coach trip to Flagg for celebrations and fun. Day visitors can join the coach trip and return to the centre for dinner and more intergenerational activities. Packed lunches will be provided.

Sunday, 31 March: The programme includes an Easter Egg hunt, a special service in the Old Chapel and a celebratory party at the centre in the afternoon with, of course, more intergenerational activities in the evening. Day visitors are welcome.

On that day only, there will be an option for anyone who wishes

to come just for the afternoon party from 2.30-4.30pm in the Peach Hall at the centre.

Monday, 1 April: Closing sessions, lunch and departures.

Worship will feature throughout and will be led by members of Foy, IRF along with other volunteers.

The Foy Society is grateful to the Flagg Trustees, the Nightingale centre staff and the leaders of the Old Chapel for working with us to make this conference a very special occasion. We are planning a varied programme with activities to suit all ages and plenty of time for simply relaxing together in the welcoming warmth of the beautiful Nightingale Centre.

All are welcome!

For more information on bookings please contact Foy Conference Secretary, Joan Partington at coljopartington@gmail. com Phone: 01228 670565 or 07729 142642.

If you have documents which throw light on the history of the celebrating groups and would be helpful for our display, or wish to volunteer lead or contribute to any activity, please contact: Dot Hewerdine, email preferred: dothewerdine@btinternet. com Or, mobile: 07710 627959.

Thank you to those who have already offered documents and support.

I look forward to receiving further ideas and more offers!

Dot Hewerdine is president of the Foy Society.

14th-16th JUNE 2024 The Friars Aylesford F E S T I VA L O F U N I TA R I A N S IN THE SOUTH EAST

The Power of Story+Song DEVELOP OUR COMMUNITY +

Theme Speaker Hanna Yaffe DEEPEN YOUR SPIRITUALITY +

INSPIRE YOUR CREATIVITY +

London District’s annual festival is returning to The Friars, Aylesford in Kent. We hope you will join us!

• Theme speaker: Hanna Yaffe • Workshops for Body, Mind + Spirit • Worship and Morning Devotions • Meditation and Nature Walks With an exciting children’s programme led by Jim Blair and Jenny Canfield

For our programme, further details and booking please visit:

www.LDPAunitarians. org/fuse2024