Old Meeting House – November 2023

Founded 1662 Built in 1702

OLD MEETING HOUSE YARD MANSFIELD NG18 1QR

UNITARIAN AND FREE CHRISTIAN

Service each Sunday
11.00 am (in the Chapel and via Zoom)

Minister Secretary Lettings & Caretaker

Rev Mária Pap Correspondence Mr Michael Higgins
24 St John St 24 St John St 170 Abbey Road
Mansfield NG18 1QJ Mansfield NG18 1QJ Kirkby in Ashfield
Phone 07486 062320 email to: NG17 7NX
papmaria70@gmail.com David Brown at: 01623460776
164daviv@gmail.com
Chairperson omhmansfield@gmail.com Committee Members
Mr Paul Frost Mrs Ann Binch,
07967006861 Treasurer Mr David Brown
paulfrost64@hotmail.co.uk Miss Christine Wright Mr Peter Faulkner,
20 Forest Avenue Mrs Edwina Higgins,
Deputy Chairperson Mansfield NG18 4BX Mr Michael Higgins,
Mr Neil Fisher 01623486243 Mrs Pauline Smith
01623462833 Mrs Catherine
Wycherley
SUNDAY SERVICES STEWARDS FLOWERS

Nov 5th Rev Mária Pap Mr N Fisher Mrs W Neville

Nov 12th Rev Mária Pap Mr P Frost In memory of

Mrs. E Packard

Nov 19th Rev Mária Pap Mrs A Binch Mrs J Hacking

Nov 26th Congregational Miss C Wright Mr P Randall

Service

CHAPEL OPENING - SATURDAYS

Nov 11 & 25 10:30 am –12 noon Mr N Fisher

COFFEE MORNINGS - Saturdays

4th November - 10 am-noon Coffee Morning with Children Space

25th November – 10 am – noon - SACH Coffee Morning

Advanced Dates for your Diary

Saturday, 2nd December –EMU Quarterly Meeting (time and place –
Leicester or virtual meeting TBC)
Saturday, 2nd December, 12 noon - 4pm – we are hosting the Butterfly
Domestic Violence Charity`s Christmas Jumble and Bake Sale
 Waiting for Miracles – Ministerial musing

November is a melancholy month for many as we remember loved ones

and we remember so many lives lost in two world conflagrations even
as we face the reality of a world swept by violence once again. If you
look up the British Red Cross map of the world red dots are pulsating
everywhere – countries hit by natural disasters, wars, displaced
populations in need – all waiting for a miracle whether it`s food, water,
safety, peace, a better life.
Yet, this dark and sad image is not the whole picture – there is an
enduring quality, a resilience both in the natural world, in the universe
and in human life which comes to the fore in extreme conditions. Those
of you who bear to watch the news might get from time to time a
glimpse not just of this resilience but of the compassion, of the care, of
the practical help, of the little acts of kindness and of hopeful outcomes,
which are all short of miraculous.
As minister of the OMH my phone is on all our printed materials and on
the virtual media. This means that I get phone calls from complete
strangers – some crank ones, but some genuine ones too, with people
who are curious about us, or they want help; sometimes they ask for
money or for a prayer and reassurance or they just simply want to talk to
someone.
A couple of weeks ago a lady phoned and asked me about miracles. She
was in difficult circumstances health wise and in a difficult place
mentally and she was desperate for a miracle. If the Bible is full of
God`s miracles, if Jesus is presented as performing them, why can`t she
have them now? Where are they when you need them and most of all
what can I do about it as a minister? She seemed to think that I was an
“intercessor” and all it was needed was a word from me to God and a
divine intervention will solve everything.
With all the compassion I felt for her predicament I had to disabuse her
about my role and about the nature of miracles. The conversation ended
acrimoniously on her part and with sadness on mine.
It is not that I do not believe in miracles – I do; it is just that they are not
the ones she wanted and not in the manner she was expecting them.
Holding on to the light in times of darkness is a miracle.
Holding on to love in the face of violence and hatred is a miracle.
Holding on to dear life when all around is death and destruction is a
miracle.
Holding on to hope when everything seems lost is a miracle.
Holding on to the shreds of our humanity, to our sanity, to our values
and ideals in face of the immense suffering of the world is a miracle.
“Don`t curse the darkness – light a candle” an old Chinese proverb
teaches us and this is what we do in November. We light the candles of
remembrance, of memories, of love, of gratitude and we try to feed our
inner light to see us through the dark times. It might be a small light
when there is so much darkness and despair, but it is a little pool of light
to guide us and perhaps those around us to see Life`s small miracles and
keep them alive through our love, dedication and service.
November is a consoling month as we acknowledge the triumph of life,
of compassion, of hope in times of darkness and we resolve to continue
to be “miracle workers”, as generations before us, whom we remember
this month, tried to do.
Our November memories make us more aware that all moments of great
joy and all moments of great distress and fear in the history of
humankind show again and again how intertwined our lives are with all
who have been before, with all who walk beside us and with all who
will come in our wake. We are in the middle of it all and this is our time
and our responsibility to act.
It is our turn now to bring about the “miracles” we wish for: peace,
economic stability, healing, and justice – and no matter how impossible
and unattainable the task looks we have to keep on trying.
I do believe in miracles and I do believe in the divine spark working in
all of us even though my faith is sorely tried right now and I think I am
not the only one.
But waiting for miracles is not the answer – it never was. We can hope
for it, pray for it but to bring it about we have to work for it now more
than ever, when the light of reason, of justice, of peace, of responsibility
is getting dimmed.
This is why we need to share our “light” which each other: in
reassurance, in support, in love and prayer and in the work we can do
together – here at the OMH and out in the world.
We are just a small pool of light – but we have to keep it alive and who
knows, miracles might happen!
See you at the OMH and/or in zoom!
Maria

Sunday Services – zoom

The meeting ID for our Sunday Services remains the same and the
Passcode for all activities on zoom is still OMH.
Meeting ID: 865 4929 7618

Pastoral News
Thank you for all your donations to our Harvest Service, which went to
Sherwood Forest Food bank on the following Monday. The fruits and
vegetables were taken to our housebound members, Ann and Christine
visited Jo Hacking, Bill Brown and Janet Ryder. They found them all in
good spirits, coping with patience and humour with the frailties of the
body. It is great to see Jo and Janet on zoom and hopefully one of these
Sundays Bill will be able to join us in chapel.
Rev Derek Smith had a spell at the hospital but there was nothing the
doctors could pinpoint. He was discharged and right now is a little under
the weather, presumably from his Covid jab. We wish him a speedy
recovery!
Ken Booth is currently at KMH as he was feeling unwell. It turns out he
has Covid and will be kept in because of his other health issues. He
assured me that he feels fine and is grateful for Wendy, her family and
friends for being by his side.
Alistair Hamilton has been in hospital since 5th October. He is currently
at MCH and hopefully will be discharged soon!
Janet Wormall dropped by at the OMH and we were glad to see her. She
lost quite a lot of weight due to her illness which tends to flare up from
time to time, but she remains in good spirits. She is looking forward to
our Panto visit.
Congratulations to Neil Fisher who was made an Honorary Life
Member of the OMH in the presence of the congregation on Sunday, 8
October. This award is a recognition and appreciation of all his many
years of loyal and devoted service to our chapel, to the district and to the
values of our spiritual community.
Congratulations to Michael Bowler, a good friend of our chapel, who
became Master Elect of the Elliott Lodge this autumn. We wish him all
the best in this responsible position and we are grateful for his kindness
and support together with his wife Margaret for many of our
programmes and events.
At their meeting in autumn the Lodge decided to donate £750 to SACH
and £250 to our Stay and Play Group! Thank you!

Birthdays in November: 1st – Joshua Brown (David and Vivienne`s

grandson); 7th – Noah (Janet Ryder’s great-grandson); 11th – Joan
Tedds; 13th – Ian Ryder; 14th – Maisie Rachel Jane (David Burton’s
granddaughter); 15th- Edwina Higgins; 18th – Oscar Wycherley; 25th –
Stephen Wycherley. We wish them all a very happy birthday!
Weekdays @ OMH - New attendees are very welcome!
Stay and Play for under 5`s, Tuesdays - 9:30-11:30 am (term time) –
will resume on Tuesday, 7 November.
Yoga Group – meets every Tuesday at 2 pm in the big schoolroom.

Arts and Crafts Group – meets on Fridays, 2-4 pm in the JH White

room. You are most welcome to drop by for a chat and a cup of
tea/coffee and we promise not to “force” you to do any artsy-craftsy
thing!

Women`s League – Wednesday, 8th November at 2 pm

Topic: Remembrance – we hope to have a surprise guest with sharing
of memories followed by discussion and tea.
Meeting ID: 849 3294 9104

Words, Music, Silence –Thursday, 16 November at 11 am on the

theme of Waiting led by Ann Binch. We invite you for a time of quiet,
of serenity in the JH White Room or you are welcome to join us on
zoom.
Meeting ID: 861 3693 7774

Interfaith Group Meeting - The Interfaith Group will meet in person at

the OMH on Wednesday, 29 November at 5:00 pm. If you wish to
attend or would like additional info, please get in touch with Lynn.
November 12 – Remembrance Sunday
Our remembrance this year will focus on war letters. Kath and Peter
Faulkner will provide interesting insights and links with our own
members and others from the town of Mansfield. We hope to have a
surprise “speaker” with us on this Sunday.

November 19th – Interfaith Service

November 12-19 is Interfaith Week this year. We will mark this
opportunity with a special Service with contributions by the members of
the Interfaith Group meeting on our premises. We are grateful to our
Trustees for providing a warm and welcoming space!

November 25th, 10 am – noon – SACH Coffee Morning

It promises to be a grand event with milky coffees, hot buttered toast
and home-made cakes on sale as well as a Bring and Buy, a Christmas
raffle and a special raffle for a bike donated by Carol Wright. We hope
to raise an ambitious target of £350 – the cost of sending one child to
Great Hucklow for a week’s holiday in 2024.
Cakes and prizes for the raffle are very welcome as well as volunteers
on the day!

November 26th – Congregational Service

Our congregational service in November will be led by Vivienne Brown
under the title: “Treasured Things”. Vivienne welcomes readings,
hymns, poems or memories about treasured objects by 12th November,
please.

Lunchtime Concert Echoes

It was a delight to host Helen Martyniuk`s concert at the OMH on
Saturday, 21st October even tough storm Babet threw some spanners
into it. Sherwood Phoenix lent us a baby grand piano, which was
brought over in the midst of the heaviest rain on Friday. Those who
defied the weather and flood warnings on Saturday enjoyed an
exceptional hour of music and joy and sharing. This is what Helen wrote
on her Facebook:
“Thank you everyone for this incredible Lunchtime Concert at the
Mansfield Old Meeting House. It was such a great fun, we were
laughing and crying all together… I am so lucky to have so many
amazing people around me. Thank you Sherwood Phoenix for the
Steinway & Sons Boston Piano, it was amazing.”
A big thank you to Helen, to Sherwood Phoenix, to the ladies, who did
our coffee morning and to everyone who came and supported us!
The event raised £325 from donations for the British Red Cross Ukraine
Appeal. The full video from the concert will be ready soon and we hope
to share– in person and on zoom – at one of our Coffee Mornings.

Play-Reading – Call for Readers

Our play-reading in the past was a big success and we would like to
revive it in the near future – this time both in person and via zoom. The
in person meeting means an afternoon hour but we wish to give a
chance to those who do not do zoom. If you want to be a reader, please
let Maria know asap. Thank you!

Christmas at OMH Diary Dates – Advance Notice for December

17th – Family Service and Nativity Play
24th at 4 pm – Carol Service with organist Andrew Marples
25th - at 10 am – Christmas Day Service

A tale of two poppies – by Alistair Hamilton

The red poppy said, “I represent the blood
Of the people who died”.
The white poppy said, “I represent peace
We can grow side by side,
Let us both show
There can be a better way
To resolve human conflict at the end of the day
So we`ll walk together hand in hand and try
And make governments understand
Two wrongs never make a right
That`s why we dance together, red and white”.

Deadline for the December issue of the Newsletter: 24th November.

Please send your news, insights, and materials to Maria.
Life at the Old Meeting House
Each Sunday there is a Service of
Worship at 11.00am – in person and
via Zoom.
Meeting ID’s and Passcode will be
published previously on our
Facebook
and sent by email.
Women`s League –first Wednesday
of the month at 2pm – in person and
via zoom.
Words, Music, Silence –
second/third Thursday of the month
at 11 am –in person and via zoom.
A Yoga Group Meets every Tuesday
at 2.00 pm
A Stay and Play Group for under
5`s meets every Tuesday, 9-.30-
11.30 am (Term Time)
Coffee Mornings on previously
announced Saturdays at 10.00 am –
noon in person, with those on Zoom
joining at 11.00 am. Various
programmes and talks on offer.
Once a month the Coffee Morning
is offered with Stay and Play
activities for all the family from
10.00 am until 12.00 noon.
Interfaith Group – meets on the
last Wednesday of the month at 5pm.
The Meeting House itself is open for
Visitors and/or private prayer on the
second and fourth Saturday
mornings
from 10-30am until 12.00 noon.
For changes and updates consult our
Noticeboard at OMH or our
Facebook
Mansfield Old Meeting House
You can send us emails to
omhmansfield@gmail.com
Visit our website at:
www.ukunitarians.org.uk/mansfied
Who are the Unitarians?
A worldwide spiritual community
which encourages you to think for
yourself;
Unitarians affirm that:
Everyone has the right to seek for
truth and meaning for themselves.
The fundamental tools for doing this
Are your own life experiences, one’s
own Intuitive understanding, and the
promptings of one’s own conscience.
The best setting for doing this is in a
Community that welcomes you as
you
are – beliefs, doubts, questions and
all- but which also stimulates and
challenges you.
They are called ‘Unitarians’
Because of their traditional emphasis
on the unity or oneness of God.
Today Unitarians affirm the essential
unity of humanity and creation.