Moving Day

The day I moved from the beach

I took a last walk along the spray-soaked pier.

The dawn came softly to Captain’s Hill,

and the birds overlooked my tears.

I felt other losses, which ones I cannot say; just memories,

blunted now, no longer drawing blood, but wrapped

like philo dough around the place I call my soul.

I need these times, though I’d just as soon avoid them.

I need them to teach me things about myself I’d rather never

know.

These are the growing times, when I push myself to loosen

the knots that tie to old agonies and bad habits,

to strengthen worn loyalties, and to find new paths to walk.

I took one last walk along the pier. The tide

was coming in. I’ll not forget the way it looked that day.

Elizabeth Tarbox (from Evening Tide, a 1998 UUA Meditation

Manual)

At the time of writing I am living between two worlds; one in

Derby and one in Hinckley; one in which I am having to break

the ties that bind and one where I seek to build new ties. It is a

strange feeling, perhaps a feeling others have shared when

moving house and home for a new career. It is a time when I am

constantly trying to find in which box the book that I need is

situated. Invariably, it (the book) is not where I am looking!

So too, for congregations, changes in ministry can be a strange

time; yearnings for the past, lack of surety about the future.

The above poem reminds us of how important transitions are in

our lives. Not even ministers can blithely roam the country

without looking after their souls, tending to the heartbreaks and

enthusiasms that are so much a part of our experience of life.

Transitions come in all shapes and sizes for each and every one

of us not just ministers, especially when ties are broken through

death, infirmity, broken relationships etc. Elizabeth’s poem

reminds me of the importance of our memories, even the painful

ones, and the need to revisit them occasionally.

Leave memories and experiences locked away and they exert a

strange and dangerous power, a fascination that can easily

defeat us. Treat them as friends along the path of life, revisit

them occasionally, remembering them as they looked on the day

they lived, and they can yet be our saviours.

Love and Peace

Chris

MARCH AT A GLANCE

All services conducted by Rev Chris Goacher

Sidesmen: am - Pat Oliver and Myra Marsh

pm - Christine and Mike Everton

Monday 1st

Craft Class are meeting elsewhere on this date

Wednesday 3rd

Garden and Social Club AGM at 7.30pm

Thursday 4th

Discussion Group meet at 7.30pm

Saturday 6th

Wedding of Jonathan Huddlestone & Tammy Brindley at 2.00pm

Sunday 7th

Sharing Lunch after Morning Service

Monday 8th

Craft Class meet at 10am

Wednesday 10th

Chapel Committee meet at 7.30pm

Saturday 13th

Coffee Morning at 10am - Wendy and Robert Hodges for Chapel

Funds

Quiz and Curry night at 7.30pm - Linda Payne for Chapel Funds

Monday 15th

Craft Class meet at 10am

Words and Music Group meet at 7.30pm

Monday 22nd

Craft Class meet at 10am

Friday 26th

Meditation at 1pm

Saturday 27th

Coffee Morning for Send a Child to Hucklow at 10am - Pat Oliver

Christine Everton & Margaret Horton

Monday 29th

Craft Class meet at 10am

CLEANING ROTA

Week Beginning Monday:-

8th: Pat Holbrook/Kay Oliver/Gordon Turner

22nd: Hugh Beavin/Tom Hydon/Eric Oliver

COFFEE HOSTS

March - Volunteers

April - Margaret and Harry Meigh