Kensington Unitarians

Sermon by Rev. Sarah Tinker: "Nonconformists have been drinking a toast to 'civil and religious liberty the world over' ever since the so called Glorious Revolution of 1689. Such liberties are still threatened today. What are the threats and what can we do about them?" Featuring a reading from Harold Lorenzelli. From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 24th June 2012.

Sermon by Rev. Sarah Tinker: "First established by Czech Unitarian Minister Norbert Čapek, the flower communion is a simple yet evocative ritual. Bring a flower and take a different flower home with you (and we will have a few spares just in case...). Together let us celebrate the unique, the beautiful and the transient in human life." From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 17th June 2012.

Sermon by Rev. Sarah Tinker: "As the country celebrates the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this year, in our service we will consider the Judaic and Christian meaning of Jubilee as a time of resting and restoring." From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 10th June 2012. Please note: due to a technical problem the introduction to this service was not recorded, so it begins quite suddenly with the first reading, given by Tristan Jovanović.

Reflections by members of the congregation: "This summer, Londoners will be called upon to offer a welcome to visitors from all over the world, as we host the 2012 Olympic Games in our home city. In this service members of the congregation including Jo Ridgers, Jim Blair, and Juliet Edwards will offer reflections on different aspects of 'hospitality'." Introduced by Jane Blackall with a reading given by Caroline Blair. From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 3rd June 2012. Please Note: Juliet had a tickly cough during the service so Annie Fowler kindly volunteered as a stand-in and we re-recorded her contribution for the podcast.

Sermon by Rev. Dr. Jeanne Foster: "This title comes from T. S. Eliot's Four Quartets: 'Between melting and freezing / The soul's sap quivers.' In this service, we will explore the 'in-between times' in human experience. Jeanne has served as a UUA minister and now works as a professor of literature and creative writing. Whilst visiting London she is working on her own poetry." Introduced by Rev. Sarah Tinker and featuring a reading given by Harold Lorenzelli. From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 27th May 2012.

Sermon by Rev. Sarah Tinker: "'Love is the pain of being alive' writes Joseph Campbell. In this service we will consider the challenge and possibility of loving unconditionally and of allowing ourselves to be so loved in a 21st century spiritual community." Featuring a reading given by Caroline Thorpe. From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 20th May 2012.

Sermon by Rev. Sarah Tinker: "In a monastic community in the 8th century AD a monk made a translation of the Bible into Latin, still highly regarded today, and wrote what is often considered to be the first history of the English people. What does the life of the Venerable Bede tell us of monastic life in the so called 'Dark Ages' and of the development of Christianity in these lands?" Featuring a reading given by Antony Bunsee. From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 13th May 2012.

Sermon by Jef Jones: "We were very pleased to welcome Jef Jones, lay leader with Brighton Unitarians, to lead this service for us. This service explores the idea of The Way in the Chinese teaching known as the Tao." Featuring a reading given by Caroline Blair. From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 6th May 2012.

Sermon by Rev. Sarah Tinker: "We Unitarians owe gratitude to the brave and faith filled clergy, who in 1662 lost their livings because they could not conform to the beliefs insisted upon by the Church of England. The 350th anniversary of this important event is being marked this year and today's service will consider the strength of faith that led to this development of new congregations and forms of worship." From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 29th April 2012.

Sermon by Rev. Sarah Tinker: "Rabindranath Tagore wrote that 'trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven'. As new leaves unfurl and blossom abounds, join us for this celebration of trees and their contribution to our physical and spiritual well being." Featuring a reading given by Harold Lorenzelli and some contributions from members of the congregation. From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 22nd April 2012.

Sermon by Jane Blackall: "Religious liberals can be rather hesitant, even squeamish, when it comes to giving and receiving blessings and affirmations. In this service, we will consider what it means to bless, and explore the ways in which we might be able to offer a blessing to others. As Henri Nouwen said 'I am increasingly aware of how much we fearful, anxious, insecure human beings are in need of a blessing.'" Featuring readings given by David Francis Darling and Jeannene Powell. From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 15th April 2012.

Sermon by Rev. Sarah Tinker: "From ancient fertility rituals to modern cookery programmes, eggs play a crucial part in human life. Join us for this celebration of all that is egg-shaped, alongside deep reflection on Easter's themes of redemption and resurrection." Featuring a reading given by Tristan Jovanović. From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 8th April 2012.

Sermon by Caroline Blair: "This service was led by long-standing member of the committee, Caroline Blair, who considered Aesop's fable of the ant and the grasshopper." From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 1st April 2012.

Sermon by Rev. Sarah Tinker: "The highly regarded exhibition on the Islamic Hajj continues at the British Museum and this service will consider the message that such a spiritual discipline can hold for Unitarians." From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 25th March 2012.

Sermon by Rev. Sarah Tinker: "As we mark Mothering Sunday and also International Women's Day (which was earlier in March), this service will honour the role of women in our world and recognise the importance of pursuing equality of opportunity for all." Featuring a reading given by Alice Lambert. From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 18th March 2012.

Sermon by Rev. Sarah Tinker: "We humans have always had an apocalyptic tendency of fearing the worst so that they we can be fully prepared. Much is being made of the Mayan prophecy of changes to come in December 2012; how might religious liberals respond to 'doom and gloom'?" Featuring a reading given by Harold Lorenzelli. From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 11th March 2012.

Sermon by Rev. Sarah Tinker: "As a Fair Trade Church we'll be marking Fair Trade fortnight and invite you to bring in any unusual fair trade items for display in this service. How to live an ethical life is just one of the big questions we'll consider as a lead in to our conversation group in the afternoon." Featuring a reading given by Tristan Jovanović. From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 4th March 2012.

Sermon by David Francis Darling: "This service grew out of seeing the musical 'Pippin', that tells the tale of a young man looking for his purpose in life, only to discover that the extraordinary is to be found in ordinary everyday events and relationships." From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 19th February 2012.

Reflections by Rev. Sarah Tinker: "With life so often filled with yearnings and dissatisfactions, where shall we find contentment? This service will help us to explore some sources of peace and satisfaction, whatever our circumstances." From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 12th February 2012.

Sermon by Harold Lorenzelli: "Our very own Harold, church trustee and long-standing stalwart of the choir, will be leading the first service in February. Harold promises a look at why it's important to make the most of today." From a service at Essex Church, Home of Kensington Unitarians, on 5th February 2012.