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Welcome to the February issue of the Unity newsletter.
This issue’s contents are listed below. Thank-you all for your contributions.
Front page:
I cheated this month and included a picture from News of Monty Don – with the wish of Brightening a cold grey day
If you have any pictures relevant to the time of year or some other event, please let me have them. Ideally a .jpg file.
Thanks, Lee
The energy used to build an average Victorian terrace house would be enough to send a car round the Earth five times, says English Heritage.
From Sue
Dear Friends
It is saying something when I know that I am writing a letter for the February Unity and Messenger and see fit to wish you all a “Happy New Year!” However, in my defence I am only writing it on January 10th so not as late with my wishes as you might think!… and I have not yet visited my parents for our Christmas get together, although by the time you read this, I hope I will have remedied that!
So, if I am wishing you a good New Year, I can also talk about New Year’s Resolutions. We in fact did so at a recent bible Study meeting, Some of those present, and this has also been the case when I have talked with congregations, felt quite anti New Year’s resolutions –concerned that they might make them but never keep them. It probably did not help matters that I then piously announced that I had kept mine last year – first time ever! I resolved to read – or listen –to the Bible from cover to cover during the year. I did this in my ordination year, then 7 years later during the year of my first sabbatical, and so felt that I should do it again, 7 years later, in another sabbatical year. Each time through has felt very different and my understanding has grown and continues to grow. Guess when I will do it again!
Another issue seemed to be the contrived nature of the New Year Resolution tradition – I am not going to commit to doing something just because someone tells me to”. True … but the whole of life is about our reactions to external stimuli and influences. The decision to respond to them makes them real and valuable to us. The reminder to reflect, to challenge ourselves, and to consider what might help us to grow must be a useful annual reminder. Indeed we may have other times of the year where we have personal reminders – birthdays, anniversaries, summer holidays etc. when we consider what we might do next in our lives or in our relationships … or indeed in response to memories of loved ones who are no longer with us. What good thing would they have wanted for us in our lives now, in the situation we find ourselves?
The church year is full of these kinds of prompts to reflect and to allow ourselves to grow – as people, in prayer, to be more like Christ. We touch on this in Lent and Advent, on church anniversaries, on Easter Day, Christmas Day … and Covenant Sunday. That is what makes me
strong on “New Years Resolutions”. We tend to think of them frivolously, but what is the Covenant if it is not a promise at the beginning of every year to give ourselves to God in that year, and to allow him to grow us in whatever way he likes?
We live in a world which finds commitment difficult. Marriages and other relationships don’t always work out as we might have hoped, and of course society has also grown to realise the importance of not staying committed to a relationship or a situation that damages us –or somebody else. People break commitments to us in our daily living, and we – probably – all sometimes break commitments to other people. This all leaves scars for all of us.
How well do you think God knows you? I know that he knows my public image, my personal hopes and hurts, my broken parts, my vulnerability, what will make me break a commitment, and what will make me close my eyes to everything else in order not to, however daft. He knows what I do right, and what I do wrong. In all of this He encourages me, asking me … “what are you going to do next for me, for yourself, for others?” He doesn’t expect me to commit to the same things that he expects you to commit to, or vice versa, but he does expect a commitment however strong, or faltering to accept his influence … and love … in my life … and to grow in some way every year … or month… or day.
We often behave as if God does not expect a commitment from us … but is that really true? Doesn’t the Bible say that he expects us to give everything we are to him?
What does it mean to you to do that?
To come to church more regularly? This helps everyone. We all prefer it when there are lots of us at church. It also encourages others to stay when they visit.
To volunteer in church or for a charity?
To read the Bible, or join our Monday Bible group? – or ask for another one? – or create another one?
To participate in leading part of our worship services … as a lay person, or a worship leader or a preacher?
Now you might have expected me to state those as possible “New Year’s Resolutions” but I cannot really tell you what God wants to say to you as an individual, only you know that. All I can do is urge you to
tell Him that you want to grow and develop and live and love in the way that He wants you to, and to reflect with him on how you can best do this in your life at present … or from next month or next year … at whatever time works for you.
And I will close with the confession. I have not yet even considered my New Year’s Resolution for 2025. I have been MUCH too busy to stop and reflect upon it. Yet I know I need that conversation with God and will prioritise it in the coming days (now that I have written this). Do you need that conversation with God too?
Happy New Year and happy time with God
With my prayers for you to be fruitful in yours. (Please pray the same for me)
Sue News of the Church Family
We pray for John Axbey who has returned home after almost two months in hospital. Also for his wife, Margaret, who will be looking after him, alongside carers.
We pray for Colleen Hicks who is recovering in hospital following a fall.
We continue to pray for Jean Rose and Barbara Hawkins both housebound.
We give thanks that Lee Horwich had an encouraging report from the hospital and is now allowed to be more active.
Ela Trail continues to have a great deal of knee pain. She is awaiting surgery in the next few weeks. We pray that this will take place soon
Charles Kenny had another short emergency stay in hospital recently which sadly forced him to cancel his 80th birthday plans. We pray that now he is recovering he will be able to look forward to belated celebrations!
We welcome Amanda Mun Wong back to Ealing after celebrating Christmas with her husband Sydney and her family.
I now have a date for my hip replacement...Saturday 15th Feb at Charing Cross at 7am (no lie-in that day!). So I will be out of action for a while. Prayers welcomed!!
We also pray for anyone else in our Church Family who may struggling at the moment for any reason. We pray that they will be aware of God's presence with them and receive His comfort and strength for the days ahead.
Gill Hatherall
Letters, Emails and Texts.
FromGillHatherall Blisterpacks.
Thank you for saving your blister packs and bringing them to Church.
For the last few years I have then been taking them to Superdrug, where they are recycled and the proceeds go to Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Super drug now do not like to receive a large bag full but are happy to take small individual bags. Partly because of this and partly because I will be out of action for a few months, I will not be taking any more blister packs.
I note on Superdrug website it does not say that any donation goes to Marie Curie now. They still do recycle them as do Boots who also have a collection box. So please continue to save them but take them yourselves in future.
Thank you.
Gill To summarize: It is a well known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it.
Douglas Adams
We had a few days of real cold, and may have some more yet. As I write this at the latter end of January, we still have February, historically the colder month, to get through before we can start to think of warmer days to come. That said there are many signs of life returning to the world around us. I had passed on to me some pictures, allegedly from the South Ealing Cemetary, of some daffodils in full bloom. I haven’t included them in the picture on the front of the newsletter as I couldn’t verify them. But there are a lot of green shoots pushing up through the soil – to my mind earlier than they used to.
It’s all part of the life cycle and the beauty of nature and something we can all appreciate. It can lift our hearts even though it might be, as they say ‘a bit previous’. I remember last year when a warm spell got my bees buzzing. Unfortunately the plants weren’t quite in synch with them and although the bees were out foraging, there wasn’t much food around for them. And then we had all the rain that kept the bees in their hives unable to fly, so unless they were being fed, many starved as their winter stores were exhausted. I am making sure that they have plenty of food through until the weather has really turned, in case we have the same weather this year.
The Night Shelter started on the 2nd of January and will run every Thursday night/Friday morning until and including 13th/14th February. We have many volunteers both from within the church and those who don’t belong/come to Ealing Green, which is very heartening. The wish to serve the community and especially those whose needs are greatest is, hopefully, pretty near universal and one we can feel glad to be part of. You can see some pictures on page 13 of this newsletter.
I’ve been ‘doing’ this newsletter for a few years now and stumbled, if that’s the term for inadvertently opening an old file, on to a list of things we ‘learned’ a few years ago. I have reproduced some of them that might tickle your fancy in the newsletter and on the back page – but don’t go straight there, there’s other ‘stuff’ to read on the way.
God bless you
The Baptist Union of Great Britain
The Methodist Church
The United Reformed Church
Joint statement on the announcement of a ceasefire
agreement between Israel and Hamas
The commencement of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel will come as an enormous relief for all living in Gaza and for those waiting for the release of hostages held by Hamas. The UN reports that 70% of those killed in Gaza are women and children and, even in the last few days, schools and hospitals sheltering those displaced have been bombed. Our churches deeply mourn the loss of life. Each person lost is uniquely and equally precious in the eyes of God.
We long for a halt to the violence in Gaza and for the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The ceasefire announced today is only a first phase lasting six weeks. As church leaders we call for the ceasefire to be permanent and unconditional so that humanitarian aid can be rolled out unimpeded in Gaza. The UN agency, UNRWA, has unparalleled capacity to deliver desperately needed support. Israel’s ban of UNRWA jeopardises vital life-saving assistance. We ask the UK government to make clear that the restriction of humanitarian aid in this way would have consequences for bilateral relations. We urge the UK government to uphold standards of International Humanitarian Law. Our government and the international community must fully support the International Criminal Court in its investigations regarding grave breaches of international law.
While a ceasefire is being negotiated in Gaza, there are escalations elsewhere in Palestine, as evidenced by the Israeli drone attack this week on the refugee camp in Jenin, killing at least six people. This takes place against the backdrop of a continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank and the destruction of the homes and
property of Palestinians. Our churches will continue to pray for a redoubling of efforts to bring an end to Israel’s occupation in order that all Israelis and Palestinians might live in peace, harmony, and friendship.
We pray for a just, equitable, and lasting peace in the region that goes beyond simply the absence of violence. Our churches will continue to work closely with Israeli and Palestinian partners, agonising with them in their current sufferings yet confident that God’s grace and deliverance offers hope for the future for all.
Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, the Baptist Union of Great Britain
Revd Helen Cameron, President of the Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain
Carolyn Godfrey, Vice-President of the Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain
Revd Philip Brooks, Deputy General Secretary (Mission), the United Reformed Church
Meanwhile, from the
World Council of Churches: .
. . you may have been overwhelmed (or avoided turning on the radio/TV because you didn’t want to be overwhelmed) by the wallto-wall reporting of the inauguration of President Trump,
During an interfaith service in Memphis, Tennessee, on 20th January at the Healing Cathedral Christian Church, hundreds of people gathered inperson and online to commemorate Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy and to respond to deep injustices plaguing the United States. The service, entitled “For Such a Time as This: A Prophetic Response to America’s Defining Moment,” was held on the same day as the inauguration of president Donald J. Trump’s second term.
The gathering united faith leaders, community advocates, and people of goodwill, committed to amplifying justice, equity, and love in the face of divisive and regressive forces.
After greetings from leaders of many faith traditions and lively music, Bishop William J. Barber II, president and senior lecturer, Repairers of the Breach, and professor of Public Theology for Yale Divinity, issued a “Moral Call to Action.”
He began by warning the congregants that he might ask some strange questions. “Don’t get mad—just think about them,” he said. “What if Trump is just a footman and not the horses, and what if we make him the reason we organize—and we actually commit idolatry because America had problems before this inauguration?”
After all—that’s how Trump got there, said Barber. “Trump is a symptom, only a symptom—and what if we already have vision?” Barber asked. “Maybe it’s time to work the vision.”
He recalled in history the times when Dr Martin Luther King Jr was certainly weary—particularly one evening in Memphis.
That night, King said: “The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land. Confusion all around.”
But King also concluded that sermon by saying: “We’ve got to give ourselves to the struggle until the end, and nothing would be more tragic than to stop at this point.”
Barber reminded those gathered of their calling not just from Dr King but from God. “We’ve got to give ourselves to the struggle until the end,” said Barber. “We cannot claim to love the message of Dr King while we support policies that contradict his vision.”
Currently, the USA is suffering from a terrible form of social schizophrenia, Barber continued.
“Jesus told us that whatever our evangelicalism was, it had to start with the poor,” he said. “We have to tell the truth in this moment.”
Barber noted that we are in a crisis of civilization not just a crisis of the individual. “We’re built for this,” he said. “When you face your giants, the glory will come. I feel the glory.”
Rev. Nathan Day Wilson, WCC liaison with specialized ministries, brought greetings from the World Council of Churches and shared a scriptural reading. The Memphis service also occurred during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which extended from 18-25 January.
And now, as they say, for something different
I saw this which made me laugh. I hope it brings a smile:
Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter
The first night of the shelter on the 2nd of January and took place before some of our usual volunteers had returned from their New Year resolutions, so it took us a bit of time to get ourselves all set up for our guests.
The first three pictures show the set up in the hall and some of the volunteers before the time for the guests to come in.
We are especially grateful for the unsung volunteers who help to put up the beds, and/or clean up after the guests have departed in the morning. The volunteers who transfer the beds and bags to the next venue and those who wash the sheets and towels each week are often overlooked, but are irreplaceable members of the overall team. The guests have said how much they appreciate the work of the volunteers
The picture over page shows our very special kitchen crew, who have produced some meals worthy of special mention. The guests have been able to enjoy some special meals, which included things like artichoke starters or chestnut soup which was part of the menu last week, that have their origins in a Michelin listed restaurant. We are blessed with the quality and dedication of all of our volunteers and hope that they are able to stay with us through until February 13th ,
when we hand over Thursday evenings to one of the other churches in Ealing to carry the torch through to the end of March.
Somethingswelearnedin2006-Part1
So if you would like to join us, we would welcome someone else to help out with the sheet washing. Please let us know if you have any comments or would like to help.
Lee & Jane Horwich
Until the 1940s rhubarb was considered a vegetable. It became a fruit when US customs officials, baffled by the foreign food, decided it should be classified according to the way it was eaten.
It's possible for a human to blow up balloons via the ear. A 55year-old factory worker from China reportedly discovered 20 years ago that air leaked from his ears, and he can now inflate balloons and blow out candles.
Lionesses like their males to be deep brunettes.
The London borough of Westminster has an average of 20 pieces of chewing gum for every square metre of pavement.
If all the Smarties eaten in one year were laid end to end it would equal almost 63,380 miles, more than two-and-a-half times around the Earth's equator.
The = sign was invented by 16th Century Welsh mathematician Robert Recorde, who was fed up with writing "is equal to" in his equations. He chose the two lines because "noe 2 thynges can be moare equalle".
Do we rush too quickly through life?
He’s one of the finest talents in the classical music world, and in 2007 violinist Joshua Bell went busking as an experiment. Would the public realise just what was happening, alongside their daily bustle?
He is the music director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, a worldwide star soloist, and former child prodigy. His instrument is a Stradivarius from 1713.
In 2007 he did some anonymous busking, as a social experiment to see what might happen. The Washington Post joined Bell in his tuneful test. Ahead of the experiment, the newspaper quizzed American conductor Leonard Slatkin about his predictions. Slatkin said, “Out of 1,000 people, my guess is there might be 35 or 40 who will recognise the quality for what it is. Maybe 75 to 100 will stop and spend some time listening.” Slatkin thought Bell might make $150 (£121) from his musical metro endeavours.
So, at 7.51am on Friday 12th January 2007, in the middle of the morning rush hour, baseball-capped Bell opened his violin case and started playing, just inside L’Enfant Plaza Metro entrance in the busy centre of Washington DC. Over a period of 43 minutes, the violinist performed six classical pieces, two from Bach, one Massenet, and one each from Schubert and Ponce. Out of 1,097 people that passed by Bell, 27 gave money, but only seven actually stopped and listened for any length of time. In total, Bell made $52.17 (£42.18). And this included a $20 note from someone who recognised him.
$32.17 for Joshua Bell? It’s not exactly what we – or indeed Slatkin –might have expected. The surprising result of the experiment went viral, and was shared around the world.
Some people see it as a sorrowful tale of all the people who just walked by – of a world too busy, too preoccupied, too uncurious, or even simply disinterested in the best that classical music has to offer. We’re not so sure. Perhaps, it just is what it is. For those precious 40something minutes there was music being made among us and for us; as it is every day – whether it be from a Joshua Bell, a future Joshua Bell, or a not-quite Joshua Bell (but who loves music just the same).
Many at the time also thought it a valuable reminder about the musical talent of buskers and informal performers, who are around us most days.
Thelegacyofoneofclassicalmusic’smostviralstories:
The informal and spontaneous theme has continued for Bell ever since. In 2014 he surprised a young busker live on television and played a duet with him. And seven years after his L’Enfant Plaza busking experience, the virtuoso returned to the Washington DC Metro. All was very different the second time around.
The violinist returned with players of National Young Arts Foundation, and a bit more fanfare. There was press attention and Instagram pictures galore.
Maybe the biggest lesson is just in the power of music, whether seen or unseen, noticed or unnoticed. And don’t you just wish that the next time you walked into a railway station, there was a Joshua Bell, or a Nicola Benedetti playing Bach’s Chaconne for solo violin?
Thanks to facebook and Classic fm for this.
Collection Point
ChangeforGood ABOUT
Change for Good
Community Chaplaincy is a prison resettlement charity that has been supporting prison leavers for over a decade. We work to ensure they have what they need to thrive in the community.
OURMISSION
Our mission is to empower those leaving prison and resettling in London to transform their lives through mentoring, advocacy, and peer support
ChangeforGoodCommunity ChaplaincyLimited(CfG) was established as a registered charity and Company Limited by Guarantee in 2012 under its original name of Wandsworth Community Chaplaincy Trust.
Now known as Change for Good, CfG is volunteer a mentoring charity that supports prisoners (our “members”) before and after release as they resettle in London. CfG is a faith-based charity that works with people of all faiths and none. We are an active member of the Community Chaplaincy Association (CCA), a wider network of organisations that share a similar ethos and aims.
Initially, the charity was set up by a resettlement chaplain as a small project to serve those leaving HMP Wandsworth. Since 2020 CfG has expanded to work as a pan-London charity, in 3 additional prisons:
HMP Wormwood Scrubs,
HMP Brixton and
HMP Ford (an open prison in Sussex that sends many men back to London).
Over the last decade CfG has developed a strong reputation across HM Prison service, Probation offices and third sector charities for going the extra mile with advocacy and support to secure
positive outcomes for our members. The strength of CfG’s work lies in the support provided by our volunteer mentors; peer support among our members; and our partnerships with charities and services across the criminal justice sector that enable our members to access the support they require to overcome diverse and complex barriers.
OurImpact
From January 2024 we launched a new database tracking actions and outcomes relevant to each of our specific services to help capture all the work we do in supporting prison leavers. The database covers ‘pathway’ assessments, reimprisonment rates, aspects of emotional wellbeing such as positive self-image and hope for the future, along with details of our activities and specialist services that members have accessed.
Mentoring
After receiving immediate postrelease support, members are paired with a trained volunteer who provides practical assistance, signposting and support in the months that follow. These one-onone relationships are tailored to the unique needs of each individual, with mentees meeting their mentor at least once a fortnight. They may also attend probation meetings or make referrals to appropriate services.
Mentors are supervised by staff throughout the mentoring relationship and encouraged to attend regular training to enhance their understanding of issues such as mental health, homelessness and substance misuse.
Many mentors have worked with us for several years, helping to build knowledge and expertise across the organisation.
NextChapter
This 10-week rolling programme aims to provide our members with peer support and equip them with the life skills, confidence and resilience to overcome their personal
An extension of the support offered through mentoring, Next Chapter is designed to encourage long term desistance. Each week, different organisations are invited to run a workshop or present a talk in relation to a theme chosen by our members.
We have collaborated with over 20 organisations and have held workshops on mental health, music, writing, budgeting and more. Next Chapter attendees have also been offered employment opportunities through group job trials. The programme encourages our members to create community and mutual support while providing attendees the space to gain new skills.
Here are some outcomes of a recent course:
AttendeeA – has been unemployed for over a decade. He has been supported by us through prison, rehab and now through our weekly group. Through this pilot he has now gained employment with Redemption Roasters as a barista.
AttendeeB - Also has been unemployed long term. His dream is to become a personal trainer. Through this pilot he is now on an accredited training programme with the 3 Pillars Project and has been offered employment in their gym.
AttendeeC – Has been homeless long term. In early sessions he was unable to speak due to anxiety issues. He was a trained musician when he was younger and during our music session with ‘2 Make It’ he came out of his shell and grew in confidence. He is now planning to record some songs with the programme.
Please give generously – they certainly need our help at the moment. Thank you and God bless you
. The least successful exhibition ever was held by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents at Harrogate in 1968. The entire display fell down.
