A Thought or two … from David
As the calendar begins to leave August behind we shall soon become aware that we are entering that time of the year when the first feel of dampness in the air heralds autumn. If the sun does manage to shine through branches of turning leaves we might find ourselves tempted to try and hang on to brighter Images but all too soon we shall have to admit that, yet again, another year has turned from spring and summer and is heading straight for autumn and winter.
However, let us not dwell too much upon the inconveniences that may lie ahead and instead enjoy that ‘gathering together once more‘ feel that permeates the air. There is something to enjoy in every season and as we encounter autumn may we be reminded of the opening words of George Matheson’s hymn, “Gather us in, thou Love that fillest all …” for indeed we enter that time of the year for ‘gathering in’.
There is much ‘gathering in’ to do as we (or rather they) will be gathering in the harvest to ensure that ‘all is safely gathered in’ to prepare for the coming months. We of the supermarket generation live so far from the reality of the task of harvest and even those who do gather some produce from the garden, I am sure, are still heavily reliant upon what is done for us rather than what we do for ourselves. Yet however much we sit back and wait for the food to arrive we should never distance ourselves too far from the awe and wonder of it all and the readiness to give thanks.
It is the season of more gathering than crops. Prompted by the occasions of All Souls, Remembrance Day, the Road Peace Service and Christmas itself we are reminded of those of dear memory whose lives have ended yet we are filled with gratitude for the legacy that they left for us. A legacy upon which our lives are built. For each of us may the forthcoming autumn be a fruitful season of all types of gathering and all types of remembering. May the season reach out to comfort us all in mind, body and spirit.
David
There will be a Service of Welcome and Celebration for our new Minister, the Rev. David Shaw, who will be sharing our journey of commitment, worship, caring and growing together.
The service will take place on Saturday 30th October at 3pm, and will be followed by refreshments upstairs in Channing Hall from 4.15pm onwards.
For catering purposes, please let me the Trustees secretary, Diane Malaure, know if you will be attending, and how many there will be in your party. This can be done by leaving a note in the pigeonhole at Chapel,
emailing diandrea1921@hotmail.com or by telephoning 0771 5005110.
TABLE-TOP SALE AND COFFEE MORNING
The Table- top sale and Coffee morning on July 17th was very successful raising £285 for Chapel funds.
We were lucky with the weather, as it had rained during the week before, but on the day it stayed dry for us right until closing time!
Thank you to everyone who donated goods to sell and to those who donated their own personally made products.
Thank you also to everyone who gave their time on the day and to those who came to shop!
The things that were left over were taken to the Help the Aged shop on Norfolk Row and some things have been saved for the Great Hucklow Christmas Fayre. All the remaining books have been donated to the Childrens’ Hospital.
Apart from raising Chapel funds, the Sale helped to raise much interest in the Chapel with many people looking around and asking questions.
Rita Fletcher
| SERVICES SEPTEMBER | |
|---|---|
| Sun 5th | 6.30pm only Rev David Shaw |
| NO MORNING SERVICE | |
| Merchant Navy Sunday | |
| Flowers: Bill & Patricia Emmingham Wedding Anniversary | |
| Sun 12th | 11.00am & 6.30pm Rev David Shaw |
| A celebration of the life of Elizabeth Gaskell | |
| Flowers: Elsie Davis In memory of Frank | |
| Sun 19th | 6.30pm only Rev David Shaw |
| NO MORNING SERVICE | |
| Rededication of the Statues of George Fullard | |
| Flowers: Joanne Leach In memory of Douglas Moore | |
| Sun 26th | 11.00am only Rev David Shaw |
| NO EVENING SERVICE | |
| Membership Service | |
| Flowers: Joan Norton | |
Monday 6th September everyone welcome to the Women’s League meeting in the Hollis Room at 11.30am when Alan Walker will be giving another of his cookery demonstrations.
DISTRICT WOMEN’S LEAGUE
Advance Notice of the District Women’s League Meeting to be held in the Hollis Rom at Upper Chapel on 14th October at 11.30am.
The speaker is yet to be confirmed.
Everyone welcome.
MUSIC TOGETHER
Remember, remember the 8th of September – CHOOSING THE CAROLS FOR THE NEW CAROL BOOK. David Dickson is going to play the organ for us so please come and bring your ideas and your singing voice. If you can’t make it but have a special favourite carol you would like to be included, give details to Margaret Slater or Joan or John Norton.
On 22nd September we will be having a dvd of ‘The Jolson Story’ which Bill is kindly bringing along.
On October 6th John is playing his cd of some of the hymns in the new hymn book and everyone is invited to join in and sing. It will give us a chance to get used to them as there are some lovely ones.
On October 20th We are having a musical quiz prepared by Patrick Smith so that should be a great evening.
| DIARY DATES SEPTEMBER | |
|---|---|
| Saturday 4th | Strollers outing to Padley led by Steve Attwood & Rita Fletcher |
| Monday 6th | 11.30am Women’s League Cookery demonstration with Alan Walker |
| Wednesday 8th | 7.00pm: Music Together - Choosing Carols for the new Carol Sheet |
| Wednesday 22nd | 7.00pm: Music Together - DVD The Jolson Story |
Dear All,
Here is the link to our new publicity tool which will be updated as often as possible. It presently contains two features, one on David's appointment and the other on the
Fullard-Statues. Photo's need to be relatively low-resolution but I'll try and improve them if possible.
If you have anything in particular suitable for publication to the outside world, please let me know.
Patrick Smith
http://www.blogstoday.co.uk/upperchapelsheffield.blog
A Thought or two … from David
In our service that marked the height of the year we sang some of the beautiful words by Rev Sydney Knight. It was with some of those words ringing in my mind that I took a stroll around the chapel. Indeed when, “…the summer sun is shining …” the city takes on a different air and it is lovely to see people taking a rest in the area at the front of the Chapel, much admiring the statues that have now returned and sitting where the sun is, “Casting shadows of tree-branches, Living patterns on the floor.”
By the Town Hall and Peace Gardens the city takes on the feel of a carefree atmosphere especially with the young and daring running through the fountains.
Then my open heart is glowing,
Full of warmth for everyone,
And I feel an inner beauty
Which reflects the summer sun.
I turned to look at the ‘Big Wheel’, which for a year now has been turning in the city as all four seasons have turned about it. We all have seats on the biggest wheel of all. We have travelled from the grip of winter to the height and light of summer and when we sense the gathering in of crops we shall be reminded that we turn to encounter the shorter days once more. Fifty years ago Pete Seeger wrote, “To everything (turn, turn, turn) there is a season (turn, turn, turn)…”. It was made popular by the singing group The Byrds and brought into the popular world, words from the third book of Ecclesiastes. The words do indeed remind us how our lives and all around us ‘turn and turn again’. As we travel each ‘height’ in life may we gain the energy and strength that will help us to travel through its ‘depths’. As Sydney Knight wrote:
“When my heart is full of yearning,
Hopes and memories flood the whole
Of my being, reaching inwards
To the corners of my soul.”
In Friendship,
David
| SERVICES JULY | |
|---|---|
| Sun 4th | 11.00am & 6.30pm Rev David Shaw |
| 'Be Independent but not too Independent’ | |
| Flowers: For Barbara | |
| Sun 11th | 11.00am & 6.30pm Rev David Shaw |
| “What leads us is more important than who leads us” | |
| A service reflecting upon this quote from Gene Hoffman | |
| Flowers: In Memory of Dick & Rosa France | |
| Sun 18th | 11.00am & 6.30pm Rev David Shaw |
| ‘In God We Trust’ | |
| Flowers: Laycock In Memoriam | |
| Sun 25th | 11.00am & 6.30pm Rev David Shaw |
| ‘The Theology of Hard Knocks’ | |
| Flowers: Sheila & Peter Godfrey Wedding Anniversary | |
| SERVICES AUGUST | |
|---|---|
| Sun 1st | 11.00am Rev David Shaw 'Yorkshire Day' |
| 6.30pm NO SERVICE | |
| Flowers: Christine Baker Wedding Anniversary | |
| Sun 8th | 11.00am NO SERVICE |
| 6.30pm Rev David Shaw | |
| Flowers: Nellie Hill | |
| Sun 15th | 11.00am Peter Rowson |
| 6.30pm NO SERVICE | |
| Flowers: : Marie & Chris Rosling Wedding Anniversary | |
| Sun 22nd | 11.00am NO SERVICE |
| 6.30pm Rev Patrick Timperley | |
| Flowers: Sarah & Paul Benfield Wedding Anniversary | |
| Sun 29th | 11.00am Stephanie Cage |
| 6.30pm NO SERVICE | |
| Flowers: Pamela & Brian Jenkinson Wedding Anniversary | |
| DIARY DATES JULY | |
|---|---|
| Saturday 3rd | Upper Chapel Strollers |
| Monday 5th | 11.30am Women’s League meeting in Hollis Room |
| Thursday 15th | 7.00pm: Chapel Committee Meeting in Hollis Room |
| Saturday 17th | Coffee morning and Table Top Sale in Chapel Forecourt |
| Sunday 18th | 11.45am: Lunch in Chapel Garden |
| Wednesday 21st | 7.00pm: Music Together in Hollis Room |
| DIARY DATES AUGUST | |
|---|---|
| Saturday 7th | Upper Chapel Strollers |
| Monday 13th | Women’s League Visit to Great Hucklow Well Dressing |
TABLE TOP SALE & COFFEE MORNING
A table top sale and coffee morning in aid of Chapel Funds will be held on Saturday 17 July 11am - 2pm in the Chapel forecourt.
If you have any items that can be sold please bring them in to the chapel during the preceding week.
Any enquiries please phone
Rita Fletcher 0114 2664 708
Patricia Emmingham 0114 2394 693
On Sunday 18th July after mass finishes at St. Marie’s members of the congregation will make their way to the front of Upper Chapel to have a ‘picnic’. How lovely to take this opportunity (on what is the day of ‘The Big Lunch’) to meet our neighbours.
Bring your sandwiches!
MUSIC TOGETHER
The Music Together dates for the rest of the year are as follows:
July 21st, September 8th, September 22nd, October 6th, October 20th (all Wednesdays) and November 25th (Thursday). We may be able to arrange another one in November later.
On 21st July the subject for the evening is a video about ‘Shanties and Sea Songs’.
On 8th September we are planning to choose Christmas Carols for a new carol book to be printed before Christmas. David Dickson has kindly agreed to play the organ for us so please can as many people come as possible to sing and help choose.
25th November (Thursday) has now been fixed for the party with Phil and Patrick, so please put in your diaries.
Thanks to Norman and Freda for bringing ‘The Glen Miller Story’ in June and to Steve and Rita for the loan of ‘Tim’ in April.
CHANCE TO DANCE SATURDAY 12 JUNE 2010
What a fantastic day we had
The garden full of people old and young dancing to all kinds of music.
A refreshments marquee always busy.
People sitting in the Chapel garden enjoying the sunshine.
The Chapel open and welcoming for the many visitors who came inside to look around.
Anyone who missed it would be well advised to be here next year.
The Stroller’s next planned visit is to Lathkill Dale on Saturday 3rd July.
Please meet at Upper Chapel at 10am or alternatively at the
starting point at 11am at the car park close to the Lathkil Hotel in Over Haddon
The August Strollers will be to Totley Environs led by Mike Pettitt on Saturday August 7th.
IMPORTANT NOTE
After each of the two services on Sunday, 25th July there will be an opportunity to hear, share and talk about future ideas at Upper Chapel. So do plan to stay that little while longer and bring your ideas – bring a sandwich too if you wish.
AND FINALLY
Beth Norton sends best wishes to Patrick Smith and hopes his finger is now feeling better..
dangerous job cleaning the shower!!!
A Thought or two … from David
During May we had the pleasure of welcoming two visiting preachers. John Hewerdine spoke about the Unitarians in the Khasi Hills of North East India and then the following week Bob Pounder, a Ministerial Student, whose reflections centred much on a the quote, ‘It’s a poor day when you learn nowt.’
Learning, of course, need not be of the studious academic kind. It can, and often is, from the many ‘incidentals’ that occur during a life-time. This caused me to think about just how many life-changing moments come from the incidental – often unplanned and unmarked and yet so important in the moulding and the unfolding of our lives.
May we love and learn together through all that we do and especially in our worship. The services for the coming month can be seen on page 3 and include ‘Dancing Through Life’ on the day following ‘Chance to Dance’ a day of dance throughout Sheffield including Upper Chapel. Looking ahead, the First of August heralds ‘Yorkshire Day’ which falls on a Sunday this year and that will be the theme of our service. Do let me know if you have any ideas or anything you wish to contribute to these services. If you would like to have a copy of the whole or any part of a service then let me know and I will send a copy to you. To contact me for any reason my details are: at the chapel 0114 272 5338 (I can access messages remotely and will return your call as soon as I can); mobile 07581 583972
or you can email me on davidw.shaw@btinternet.com
Looking ahead to the future – do let me know if you have in mind a subject that you would like to be the theme of a service or if you would be willing to contribute to our worship in any way. There is much to do and much to learn from our ‘doings’ and if you see someone who might be gazing into the distance or nodding peacefully, then do be gentle – for there might be a lot of learning going on!
I am managing to make a good number of visits to people. Someone had to be first and someone will inevitably be last! I am aware that it will take quite a while to contact you all and so if you prefer a time to chat sooner than later – please do let me know.
Finally, I do want to ‘thank you’ for making my wife, Liz, and me so
welcome at Upper Chapel – we are learning a lot too!
In Friendship,
David
| SERVICES JUNE | |
|---|---|
| Sun 6th | 11.00am 'Women of Steel' |
| Conducted by members of the Women's League | |
| Flowers: In memory of George & Ada Cartwright | |
| Sun 13th | 11.00am & 6.30pm 'Dancing Through Life' |
| Conducted by Rev David Shaw | |
| Flowers: Rachael Gill | |
| Sun 20th | 11.00am & 6.30pm 'The 'sun' is as High as an Elephant's Eye' |
| Conducted by Rev David Shaw | |
| Flowers: Chancel Table In memory of Olive Halksworth | |
| Flowers: Memorial Window In memory of Kit Charles | |
| Sun 27th | 11.00am & 6.30pm 'General Assembly Sunday' |
| An opportunity to celebrate togetherness through being affiliated members of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. |
|
| Conducted by Rev David Shaw | |
| Flowers: Martin & Sheila Barret in memory of Elsie | |
| Diary Dates June | |
|---|---|
| Saturday 5th | Strollers walk to Baslow via Chatsworth led by Jean & Pawel Nowak |
| Monday 7th | 11.30am Women’s League Meet at Upper Chapel for visit to Weston Park Museum |
| Thursday 10th | 12noon: Sheffield District Women’s League Lunch and visit by National President |
| Saturday 12th | Chance to Dance in Chapel Garden |
| Wednesday 16th | 7.00pm: Music Together in Hollis Room ‘The Glenn Miller Story’ |
Dear Friends
I want to say Thank You. Many of you were at the party in Channing Hall on Friday evening 23 April, when I said some words of thanks, but I want to record my deep appreciation to many people, including those who were not able to attend.
Thanks to the congregation and the Trustees for the decision nearly twenty years ago to take the risk of inviting me to become minister.
Thanks to my family – Ann, Andrew and Elizabeth – for supporting my acceptance of that invitation.
Thanks to all the people whose work in a great variety of ways made my time at Upper Chapel so enjoyable: the Chapel Keeper and his team (and his family); the organists, musicians and singers; the Sunday School and Acorn Club Leaders; the organisations and groups such as Music Together, Strollers and Women’s League; the colleagues, visiting preachers and our own members who led or took part in worship services; those who attend regularly and faithfully; The Record team; the dish-washers and the coffee-makers and cake-makers and so and so on.
Thanks to Alan Walker and the Trustees who were responsible for organising the party on the 23 April, and for preparing the splendid buffet supper, especially Marion Baker, Jennifer Laister, Patricia Emmingham and Diane Malaure.
Thanks to Phil Croft and Patrick Smith for their music and entertainment which was quite a surprise!
Thanks to Barbara Laycock and the others who spoke.
Thanks to everyone who attended.
Thanks for the many cards and letters I have received, by hand and by post (but not email!).
Thanks for the gifts, including the generous cheque and the Sheffield steel paper knife. Some have said how sad they were that I was leaving, but for me the party was a happy occasion to celebrate the nineteen years that I had enjoyed being at Upper Chapel, and to celebrate preparing for the next phase in my life. A party isn’t a party without friends, and it was good to be there in the company of so many friends.
Thanks to everyone who attended my farewell service on the evening of Sunday 25 April, and particularly to those who took part in it in different ways. Both the party and the service were great occasions, and I feel well sent off.
I vacated the vestry on 29 April. Thanks to those who helped on the day, loading everything into the van. Since then I have spent several days in my garage at home, continuing to cull lots of papers and other stuff. One thing I shall not cull:the store of good memories- of Sheffield and of Upper Chapel and it’s people-which I will carry with me wherever I go in future.
Blessings be with you all.
With love and all good
Geoffrey R Usher
Welcome to our chapel community to Liz Shaw who became our newest member at the chapel AGM.
MUSIC TOGETHER
There is only one Music Together in June. This will be on Wednesday the 16th and will be the film, ‘THE GLEN MILLER STORY’, starring James Stewart and June Allyson.
Everyone welcome.
SPITI and INDIA FUND
Many thanks for the support that I have received with contributions to the two projects. As the year of 2009 ends I have been able to send to the G. A. India Fund a cheque for £155 and to Graham Woodhouse for Spiti a cheque for £430. A special thank you to Margaret Slater, Phil Croft & Patrick Smith who at a special Music Together evening organised for Spiti, raised £73- 65p also a big thank you to Joan Norton who prepared a feast of a super afterwards. I have placed a Christmas Greetings card & Newsletter of thanks from Spiti on the notice board in the Hollis Room. Please remember to pick up the little jars in the Hollis Room for your small change, your contribution no matter how small really do make a big difference and is much appreciated.
Patricia Emmingham
India & Spiti fund Coordinator
The Chapel AGM which took place in May was quite well attended by members and friends of the congregation and it was a good meeting. Full minutes will be available in a short time. Thanks to those who were able to be there and be a part of the decision making.