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ABERDEEN UNITARIANS A CHURCH OF THE OPEN MIND

“And then my heart

with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.”

CALENDAR May 2020

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TERRACE VIEW

We hoped that the photos on our front cover of these two wonderful dogs in Spring daffodils would be uplifting for us all at what continues to be a challenging time. The springer spaniel, Harry, belonged to Bill and Sue and was an enthusiastic member of the Felix Club, enlivening its walks with his sheer vitality and madcap antics. In this photo he is clearly enjoying playing in the Spring sunshine. The border collie, Lassie, belongs to John Robinson’s brother, James, who is a sheep farmer in Northern Ireland. Lassie is therefore kept busy with duties on the farm and took over from ‘Old Lassie’ her loyal predecessor who helped revive her owner when he was taken ill one day and who always sat proudly next to him in the front seat of his car, seeing herself as his co-worker! So both dogs much loved and cherished by their owners despite having very different roles. For those of us who are dog lovers, we associate these wonderful animals with companionship, loyalty and deep affection. There have always been stories of dogs saving their owners’ lives and helping humans in seemingly heroic ways. Earlier this year, Greyfriars Kirk celebrated its 400th anniversary and some Skye terriers were brought along to the gravestone of Greyfriars Bobby, the amazingly loyal dog who guarded his deceased owner’s grave for fourteen years after his death. Another loyal dog was Peggy, the bull terrier who was posthumously awarded the PDSA Commendation at a special ceremony earlier this year at the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen. During the Second World War, Peggy joined Gordon Highlanders as Prisoners of War in Thailand after they adopted her when she was abandoned as a puppy in Malaya. Peggy would try to intervene if any of the soldiers were attacked, often being wounded in her aim to protect them. Maybe even more importantly she provided vital comfort and solace to them during their years of imprisonment and they brought her back to Scotland to live with them at the Aberdeen barracks until she died in 1947. Stories such as these show that the bonds between dogs and humans are incredibly strong and ardently felt. The poet, Byron, described his dog as “the firmest friend” and made no secret of his enormous love for his canine companion. In these difficult times I have spoken to several people who say that having a dog has greatly helped them cope with Lockdown. Walking the dog has provided them with essential exercise and fresh air, and especially for those who live alone, having a dog for company has been a lifeline. During the week before lockdown, Battersea Dogs Home noticed that more than double the usual number of cats and dogs had been adopted so one of the effects of the coronavirus crisis has happily been a huge rise in unwanted pets being rehomed. I am sure they will have provided solace to their new owners as well as receiving time and attention from those who cannot work at the moment and we can only hope that they will continue to be cherished when things settle back to some sort of ‘normal’. There has been much in the media about what that normal will look like and indeed much conflicting news about when it might be and how it will happen. Whilst the virus itself, and its development and prevention, is central to how our lives will be shaped, there are different areas of life which need to be considered when we think about our future. As Unitarians we may feel concerned about how people will be affected economically, socially and spiritually. The economic future in the UK and globally is very uncertain and many people will already be suffering from this. Whilst some financial aid will help, many people will be worse off and this will include large numbers who had assumed they were materially comfortable for the rest of their lives. Economic forecasters are very concerned about those least well off especially in developing countries.

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Social and relationship issues have been greatly affected by the coronavirus and the lockdown. Whilst some people have coped well with social isolation, others have struggled with increased mental health problems and loneliness. This has been particularly poignant for those in care homes or hospital who can no longer have their loved ones by their side. We can be grateful for the wonderful health workers and care staff who have been able to provide love and spiritual care to those not able to be with their families during illness. This crisis does seem to have focused us very sharply on what is at the heart of spiritual life. Love, compassion, care, gratitude for the simple things in life. Which brings us back to our faithful canine companions. I have learnt so much from my dogs about living in the moment and being grateful for the little things. One of my Scottish terriers, Bonnie, has spent much of this week lying in the sun in our garden. She looks so fully relaxed, overjoyed when anyone comes to stroke her, but equally happy just to bask in the warmth of our current spell of fair weather. She is delighted that we are all at home with her at the moment and doesn’t worry about the future, accepting how things are at this moment. May we all learn from this attitude of acceptance, being relaxed in the moment yet ready to jump up with love and comfort for others when needed. May we find joy in the daffodils and fresh air of Spring, just like Harry and Lassie!

Caroline Cormack

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN

It is with deep sadness that we inform our readers of Bill Good’s death on 27th April. As our church secretary until a few months ago when ill-health and hospital treatments began to zap his energy and also as secretary of the SUA, Bill was an influential force in promoting our Unitarian faith. His infectious enthusiasm and foresight in introducing and seeing to fruition new activities amplified our contribution to society and enriched all our lives socially and spiritually. Always keen to make our Unitarian Centre in Skene Terrace a more user-friendly venue for all we were truly blessed to have Bill as an inspirational colleague for whom no task was too onerous when viewed alongside his fun-loving

personality and burning desire to enrich life for others. Our deepest sympathy goes to Sue and all the family. There will be a full tribute to Bill in our June calendar.

John Robinson

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TAKE NOTE: APRIL 2020

During the current situation, we will not be holding Sunday services at Skene Terrace. If you would like to follow an online service, there are many being held all over the UK and Ireland, so this is a great chance to “attend” a different church and derive new inspiration and fellowship on various days and times. From Altrincham to Cork, from Derby to Ipswich, from Kensington to Sevenoaks, there is something there for everyone. For a definitive list, see https://www.unitarian.org.uk/online-services Our church is keeping in regular phone contact with all those we have contact details for. There are a group of us who are happy to be contacted if anyone just wants a chat or needs some vital medicines or groceries delivered. Unfortunately, we can no longer physically visit peoples’ homes but at this time a few of us can still deliver to peoples’ doorsteps or find someone who can. See the list of contact phone numbers below. Some of us have also decided to spend a few minutes sitting in prayer/meditation/reflection each day at around 11am to send out loving thoughts to those who are struggling with this pandemic and its effects. CONTACT LIST Caroline Cormack – 01224 865799/07743959540 Judith and Noel McCullough – 01224 790093 Moira Macleod – 01224 790840 Brenda Rafferty – 01224 747777 Arthur Bruce – 01224 789777 Jess McCulloch – 01224 321706

Throughout Bill’s illness and since his death, so many people have given me their support, their thoughts and their prayers and I am very grateful for this. If we use this explanation of prayer, it does make everything even more comforting. Bill obviously touched many lives in many ways and I know that many people will want to remember him. His funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 6th at 11.30 am. Can I suggest that all who wish to, would think of him then and all that he meant to them? I think that would really be quite some prayer. Some may wish to light a candle as well. Many thanks. Sue

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Pearls of Wisdom

Can you identify the source of the following quotes? Choose from:

a) Voltaire b) The Qu’ran c) John Denver d) Mother Teresa

e) Marie Curie f) Ghandi g) Ralph Waldo Emerson h) Terry Pratchett

i) Albert Schweitzer j) Martin Luther King Jnr.

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Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to

be understood. Now is the time to

understand more and to fear less.

2

An eye for an eye only ends up making the

whole world blind.

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No one is finally dead until the ripples

they cause in the world die away.

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It is not the length of life but the depth of

life.

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Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is not yet

come. We have only today. Let us begin.

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Any religion or philosophy which is not

based on a respect for life is not a true

religion or philosophy.

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The future of life on earth depends on our

ability to see the sacred where others

only see the common.

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Only in the darkness can you see the stars.

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Show Forgiveness

Enjoin Kindness

Avoid Ignorance

10

Superstition is to religion what astrology is

to astronomy; the mad daughter of a wise

mother.

Answers: 1e, 2f, 3d, 4g, 5h, 6j 7c, 8i, 9b, 10a

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RAISING A SMILE In keeping with the current regulations, I’m staying local. This is the ever-inventive Inversnecky Café, working from home.

CASTLES OF SCOTLAND ANSWERS

1 A bonnie place, with financial institutions and hills Doune 2 Sounds like an admirable castle Crichton 3 Emmy loses a thousand amid confusion Mey 4 GANFALING Finlaggan 5 Former M.P.? Yes, and former P.M. Blair 6 Mother and baby doing fine Bothwell 7 Almost murder the butter-maker Kilchurn 8 Onevie, twovie, need I go on? Fyvie 9 Edinburgh worthy – not so worthy! Brodie 10 Sounds more like a retreat than a castle Hermitage 11 UNCLEZA Culzean 12 This one’s a piece of cake! Balmoral 13 The raven is calling before the unfinished portal Cawdor 14 A much simpler way to request admission Knock 15 SHEILA Hailes 16 Stopped abstaining from meat, we hear Dunvegan 17 After the hill the tradesman, or perhaps a TV reporter Craigmillar 18 Not the walls, not the ceilings, but the Floors 19 Agitate the fish Stirling 20 Theatrical ringer Campbell 21 Killed going south Slains 22 NORTLIED Dirleton 23 Endless board game surrounds a rodent Crathes 24 Nessie’s haunt Urquhart 25 ANTROTUND Dunottar 26 Confused care precedes an old lark Caerlaverock 27 Drab personnel going north for a very long time Dunstaffnage 28 Beat it, or follow it Drum 29 ICARAVIGER Craigievar 30 Sounds like a route from gate to door is necessary Neidpath

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Journeying round my room again

Well, dear readers, you have only yourselves to blame for another thrilling instalment of journeying around my room, following the example of Xavier de Maistre, confined to his room in 1790 as punishment for fighting a duel. I hoped someone would send me some of their own journeyings for the Calendar, but in the absence of any (although many thanks to Judith for her quiz contribution), you will have to put up with my meanderings again. Too bad! Here we have part of my collection of books. They stretch all along one part of the downstairs living area, but overflow into a lot of other rooms as well. Books are just something I find it very hard to part with, as they speedily become friends and I love re-reading old favourites, particularly at times of crisis. That is some-thing that many people are admitting to right now and comfort reading is becoming almost as important as comfort food, judging by the comments on Facebook book groups.

My comfort reading is usually good old escapist fic-tion, but there are also “dip into” books that I can usually find something of interest in, without reading the whole book. I chose three at random to feature this month, all very different. The first is the biog-raphy of Enid Blyton, a very interesting insight into the life of a childhood icon, feet of clay and all. She was a close neighbour of mine for a time when I was a teenager, but I think her life was quite sad. Dorothy Hartley’s “Food in England” ( and for “England” read “Britain”) is an absolute classic reference book on the history of food. If you want to know about Chaucer’s “pressure cooker” or the traditional cuts of meat in various parts of the country, this is the place to go. Dorothy Hartley devoted her life to the study of our food and also to country crafts and her books always give a flavour of many bygone ages and their traditions. My last choice is written by an American journalist, brought up as an non-observant Jew, who decided to spend a whole year observing all the biblical commands literally. His struggles to comply with the weirder and more archaic instructions got him into a lot of trouble – just think of how one would reconcile stoning adulterers with the laws against causing grievous bodily harm for instance, or trying to buy clothes that did not contain any mixed fibres in ordinary shops. You will be amazed just how many rules there are. If we are still in lockdown, see you next month for some more journeys, preferably round someone else’s room.

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THE CONGREGATION OF ABERDEEN UNITARIAN CHURCH

“ABERDEEN UNITARIANS”

43A SKENE TERRACE, CITY CENTRE, ABERDEEN. AB10 1RN Current Committee Members / Trustees for 2019/2020 are: As Statutory Office Bearers – John Robinson (Chairman) Alan Prosser (Treasurer) As Members – Kathleen Bruce, Sue Good, Jess McCulloch, Judith McCullough, Kathleen McGregor, Dot Prosser, Anita Stephen, Rhona Stewart.

CONTACTS

MINISTER : Rev Caroline Cormack Tel 07743959540 / 01224865799 WEB-SITE: www.aberdeen-unitarians.org.uk

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/AberdeenUnitarians

CALENDAR EDITOR: Sue Good sue.good101@btopenworld.com