Aletia is an incredible singer her stuff can be found here  and here (so as you see she's a doctor of archival performance really and not a cabaret singer. Or not only a cabaret singer). We met on sthe street at Mill Hill and she invited me up into a cardboard box. She later performed … Continue reading Shooting Star – a duet of this Bob Dylan song with Aletia Upstairs

Before re-posting this service on Prayer which reflects some of the things I was thinking about nearly ten years ago when it was first written, here's some recent research from May this year: A quarter of adults in the UK have watched or listened to a religious service since the coronavirus lockdown began, and one … Continue reading Revisiting a service on Prayer in a time of pandemic

As ministers, and students, on the Roll of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christians, (and aligning ourselves with statements made by other churches), we sign below to express our anger and dismay at the actions of Dominic Cummings and the response of the Prime Minister.This is a time when most members of the … Continue reading Unitarian Ministers ‘express our anger and dismay at the actions of Dominic Cummings’

Any text is capable of reinterpretation, and a rich text can admit of greater and greater interpretive perspectives. To be religious, and by that I mean to have any sort of association with religion, however so slight - so yes that means you - who are sitting in this chapel on a March morning in … Continue reading Jonah and me: to speak forward the conversational nature of reality.

Last month, as we considered resilience, I suggested that the strength implied by resilience; strength which is likely to be enduring, is a flexible strength. We considered that stories can demonstrate such flexibility while principles, doctrines and even values, howsoever 'strong', can seem brittle by comparison. You may remember that I spoke about parables and … Continue reading The kingdom of little things (after Dewi Sant)

  As I was writing I had Luke Concannon's "All around the world" as a companion ear-buzz : All around the world Luke Concannon I am indebted to Rev'd. Warick Turnbull for helping my thinking about this service. Opening words: Jeremiah 29 12-14 Jeremiah 33: Chalice Lighting: International Council of Unitarians and Universalists  Let this … Continue reading Harvest – All that we are, all that we bring (give it all)

    Everyday miracles and practical mysticism    “God invites you to the Home of Peace.” Quran; Jonah 10:25   Chalice: Welcome to Mill Hill Chapel. Our purpose here is to sustain the space in which individuals may participate in direct experience of the holy and the sacred. We are grateful inheritors of the rational … Continue reading Everyday miracles – September 23rd

“Love is the doctrine of this church…” So begins an affirmation familiar to many Unitarians both here and in America, it’s attributed to L Griswald Willliams, a 1930’s Universalist minister and is an a enduring signal of our shared understanding of what brings us together. Just about my favourite Unitarian affirmation is this one by the Sixteenth … Continue reading The Spirit of Love – 1: A Unitarian doctrine

Recently I was considering mysticism in our tradition, and the theology of the Spirit; 'that of God' which is between us rather than above us. In my opinion this understanding of God as Spirit, interfusing and immanent throughout all things,  is the theological idea which has defined and characterised our dissenting tradition more than any other - … Continue reading The Spirit of Love – 2 : Mutual Aid and the real story of evolution

Two weeks ago I identified the underlying principle which underpins human culture as the principle of co-operation and mutual aid, and suggested that a mystical description of this principle is the statement: 'God is Love'. Today I want to develop that idea a little further and ask if what we are really seeking to do … Continue reading The Spirit of Love – 3 : Towards a participatory spirituality