March 10 Th 2008
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The The Unitarian Church in NSW PO Box 355, Darlinghurst NSW 1300 15 Francis Street, East Sydney (near Museum Station) Tel: (02) 9360 2038 SUN www.sydneyunitarianchurch.org Sydney Unitarian News Editor: M.R. McPhee February/March 2008 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PLANET EARTH At the behest of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), the UN General Assembly has declared 2008 to be the International Year of Planet Earth. Unusually, this year constitutes the middle of a triennium (2007-2009) dedicated to the promotion of earth sciences and their importance in achieving sustainable development. In addition to the IUGS, the IYPE Project has 12 Founding Partners and 26 Associate Partners, all of which are international, regional or major national organisations with areas of expertise ranging from geology through soil science to meteorology. The Project’s ten research themes have been chosen for their societal relevance, multidisciplinary nature and ‘outreach’ potential. These are: Groundwater: reservoir for a thirsty planet?; Hazards: minimizing risk, maximizing awareness; Earth and Health: building a safer environment; Climate Change: the ‘stone tape’; Resource Issues: towards sustainable use; Megacities: going deeper, building safer; Deep Earth: from crust to core; Ocean: abyss of time; Soil: Earth’s living skin; and Earth and Life: origins of diversity. (The ‘stone tape’ refers to an ongoing study of ancient sedimentary rocks to determine how the Earth’s climate has changed over geological time.) The ‘outreach’ aspect is an essential feature of the IYPE, in that it will target decision makers, the voting public and the 400,000 geoscientists around the globe ‘who need help in using their knowledge for the benefit of the world’s population’. The international project seeks to raise the surprisingly modest sum of $US 20 m., to be divided equally between its Science and Outreach Committees. In addition to attracting the attention of the target groups, the various publications and activities have the objective of doubling the number of people who are currently seeking qualifications in the geosciences. 1 The Global Launch will take place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 12/13 February, which promises to be a major event. The IYPE website (www.yearofplanetearth.org) contains a wealth of information, including booklets developed for each of the ten research themes and a Mission Statement entitled: Planet Earth in our Hands. As is the case with all International Years, the bulk of the work will be financed and carried out by the National Committees of the UN’s member states, over 90 of which are already ‘up-and- running. In this country, that endeavour will be headed jointly by the Geological Society of Australia and Geoscience Australia, an agency of the federal Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. In keeping with last year’s coverage of the International Year of the Dolphin, we mean to provide periodic updates throughout 2008, so ‘watch this space’. [The IYPE logo was originally that of the German Ministry of Education and Research’s Jahr der Geo- wissenschaften (Year of the Geosciences) in 2002. The inner circle is red and represents the solid Earth, outside of which are the hydrosphere in dark blue (above) and the biosphere in green (below), surrounded in turn by the pale blue atmosphere.] SERVICE DIARY Meetings every Sunday from 10.30 –11.30am (followed by coffee, tea and biscuits) Date Presenter Topic 3rd February John August Christian Apologetics 10th February Ian Ellis-Jones ‘God is Dead’ Theology 17th February Peter Crawford The Impact of the Church of Ireland 24th February Stephen Whale Music Service 2nd March Ian Ellis-Jones Mystery Religions and Christianity 9th March Sharon Diacos Think Like an Elephant 16th March Mike McPhee The Irish War of Independence 23rd March Peter Crawford Can Free Churches Survive? 30th March Stephen Whale Music Service [Please check the church website (www.sydneyunitarianchurch.org) for updates. The program for April will be available from the beginning of March.] РУССКАЯ ПАСХАЛЬНАЯ ВЕЧЕРНИКА RUSSIAN EASTER PARTY SATURDAY, 03 MAY 2008 Our first social/cultural event of the year will be an authentic and very lively Russian Easter party. As was done on the first occasion, two years ago, it will feature such culinary delights as borsht and piroshkis, also entertainment in the forms of music and song. You are also encouraged to wear Russian attire or even costumes, as that was a most memorable feature of the previous event. The party will take place in the church hall, starting at 7 pm, so be sure to attend and bring a bottle or two of your favourite beverage with you. A donation of $20 per person will be needed to help with our expenses (to be collected on the night). To assist with our catering, please confirm your attendance and any guests you are bringing either to the Committee at the church or ring Michael Spicer on 0423 393 364. 2 We light this chalice as a symbol of our faith. By its light, may our vision be illumined; By its warmth, may our fellowship be encouraged; And by its flame, may our yearnings for peace, justice, and the life of the spirit be enkindled. Submitted by the UK General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches; words written by Rev. David Usher, founding president of the ICUU. Ẹgbọ Eyin Ijọ Eniyan O ye dear brethren, Oluna Olorun wa, Olorun Ikan soso ni Our Lord God is one God. Ifẹ Ni Yio Bva Araiye La It is love that will guarantee Ẹjẹka Fẹ Arawa Salvation for all. Ki Aba Le Ri Igbala Let us love one another Fi Tọkan Tọkan Rẹ Fẹ Ottun Gbogbo That we may gain salvation. Ti Nse Re Re Sincerely love everything that Si Fẹ Ọmọ Ẹnikeji Rẹ Gẹgẹ Bi Is good with your heart, Ara Rẹ Also love your neighbour as yourself, Eyi Ni Akuja Ofin Ati Gbongbo Ẹsin For this is accomplishment of the Law and true rooted worship. Submitted by the First Unitarian Church of Nigeria; Yoruba and English words by Rev. Olufemi Olaniyi Matimoju, the church’s late founding minister. [These are the Chalice Lightings from the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists for the months of January and February.] The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches (www.unitarian.org.uk) has 6000 adult members in 186 congregations across England, Scotland and Wales. Despite the term, ‘Free Christian’, nearly all of its congregations are now Unitarian by name. However, past constituencies include English Presbyterians, General Baptists, Methodist Unitarians and Universalists. The British and Foreign Unitarian Association was formed by a merger of three such bodies in 1825 and initiated the National Conference of Unitarian, Liberal Christian and Other Non-Subscribing or Kindred Congregations in 1881. The GAUFCC came into being in 1928, when the Association and the National Conference combined. In addition to its British affiliates, the General Assembly has close relations with the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland, which has two congregations in Northern Ireland and two in the Republic. (‘Non-Subscribing’ refers to rejection of the dogmatic Westminster Confession.) Its national publications are The Inquirer (fortnightly), The Unitarian (monthly) and Faith and Freedom (half-yearly). Rev. David Usher is originally from Adelaide but became a minister in the UK before moving to the US, where he was instrumental in the foundation of the ICUU and served as its President for two terms in 1995– 1999. He is now back in England as minister in Sevenoaks, Kent. His brother, Rev. Geoffrey Usher, was minister of SUC in 1976–1991 and, since then, has been at the Upper Chapel in Sheffield. Ijo Isokan Gbogbo Eda (the Unitarian Brotherhood Church) was founded in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1919 by a multi-denominational group of religious liberals. Their hymns and services were conducted in the regional Yoruba language with the aid of native drums. Only the First Unitarian Church of Nigeria (founded in 1994) is mentioned on the ICUU website, though the first church in Lagos was built in 1936 and had its own school. The present leader of the Unitarian Brotherhood Church is His Grace Most Reverend Superintendent A. Soyombo-Abowaba. (The Yoruba language is spoken in much of Nigeria’s coastal south and the Romanised script uses dots under certain letters to vary the pronunciation. Why so many words are capitalised escapes us, however.) 3 HOW I MET MY WIFE By Jack Winter It had been a rough day, so when I walked into the party I was very chalant, despite my efforts to appear gruntled and consolate. I was furling my wieldy umbrella for the coat check when I saw her standing alone in a corner. She was a descript person, a woman in a state of total array. Her hair was kempt, her clothing shevelled, and she moved in a gainly way. I wanted desperately to meet her, but I knew I’d have to make bones about it, since I was travelling cognito. Beknownst to me, the hostess, whom I could see both hide and hair of, was very proper, so it would be skin off my nose if anything bad happened. And even though I had only swerving loyalty to her, my manners couldn’t be peccable. Only toward and heard-of behavior would do. Fortunately, the embarrassment that my maculate appearance might cause was evitable. There were two ways about it, but the chances that someone as flappable as I would be ept enough to become persona grata or a sung hero were slim. I was, after all, something to sneeze at, someone you could easily hold a candle to, someone who usually aroused bridled passion.