"Religion can have a lasting benefit to humankind. I know that you will be thinking that is crazy, look at how many wars have been fought in the name of religion! I don't believe that to be true. Religion does not start war .... the need for power starts war ... and power can manifest itself within religion just as it can within business, and politics, even within families." 

We all seek power in one sense or another during our lifetime-.... BUT  "If you woke up this morning with more health than sickness you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week. If you have not experienced -the danger of battle; the loneliness of imprisonment; the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation you are ahead of 500,000,0000 people in the world. If you can walk the street without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world. If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace you are among the 8% of the world's wealthy. And if you can read this, you are more blessed than over 2 billion people in the world who cannot read at all!"

So you already have power to excerise with the love you exhibit to the most lowly in this our world!

(With thanks to the Unitarian Peace Fellowship Newsetter - as adapted) 
Colin - ex-chair of the U.P.F.

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I have received a letter from Mrs deSoria, a member who now lives in Cochabamba, BOLIVIA, South America.

She tells me that she found the LINK very interesting and that she truly appreciated being able to receive it.

She reports that the Evangelical Church is a thriving establishment in South America. Apparently three cinemas in her locality, which closed their doors, have now been taken over by the Evangelical Church to be used as a place of worship. So many people seek to attend that the buildings cannot accommodate them all. A notice is attached to the entrance saying that the 'church' is full to overflowing, and suggesting that they return for a later service!

She also mentions that she met a number of folk in Orkney whom we also knew. She tells us that she was at meetings during 1968, so we are certain that we must have met her on those occasions!

Thanks very much for the letter you sent, Mrs deSoria.

Perhaps some other member would write me with comments either relating to the LINK, the S.U.F., or to the social circumstances within which they live!

Colin

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The horrific events of the 11h.Septernber have remained with us all and affected the whole of society. There is a great fear that similar events will take place not just in America but anywhere in the world ... even including Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow or even Fort William Air travel has been affected, suspicions have been aroused, and concern about even nail-files carried by travellers has been revealed.

There is very little that we as individuals can do about this international, political situation. Even the world's greatest 'super-power' was powerless to protect itself from those individuals with a mind bent on both self-destruction and general destruction.

HOWEVER, what we, as individuals of whatever age or social position, can do is make the world we live in just that little bit better. We don't get much snow these days - but when we do we seem to depend upon others to clear the paths! In my childhood, it was customary for each and every householder to clear the path in front of their house! When I hold a door open to allow someone to pass through, some people say, "Thank you"...others just walk through without even a glance! And I'm speaking not just of young folk, but folk of all ages. These are just two examples of our impolite society. Just because everyone else seems to throw waste paper down on the pavement doesn't mean that we should also! This is what I mean when I say that each and every one of us can make our world just that teeny-weeny bit better!

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MINISTER'S LETTER

Dear Members and Friends,

As well as being your minister, I am also President of the Scottish Unitarian Association. I am relatively new to this job also, having been appointed at the A.G.M. in Dunblane last June. As President, I have to chair the meetings of the Executive Committee which meets regularly and which consists of the four church ministers and representatives of churches and affiliated societies.

During my two year term of office, I intend to do my best to raise the profile of both the S.U.F. and the S.U.A. among the grass roots of Scottish Unitarianism. The S.U.A. is the body which links Scottish Unitarians together and works to promote and to publicise Unitarian principles throughout Scotland. But it is my suspicion that, at the moment, its work is under-valued and even misunderstood by many Scottish Unitarians.

I do hope that you realise as a S.U.F.1er you are also an important and most welcome addition to the family which is the S.U.A. An important way of showing your support for the District Association is to attend the Annual Meeting which will be held in Dunblane during the weekend of June8th/9th. I would love to meet some of you there, especially as the S.U.F. will be having an informal meeting/get-together during the Sunday afternoon.

As an affiliated society of the S.U.A., the S.U.F. is, entitled to appoint a representative to the S.U.A. Executive Committee. If you are interested in knowing more about this position, please let us know!

Finally, on the subject of A.G.M.'s, the A.G.M. of our Fellowship will take place in Dundee on Sunday, 4th.August  My father, Colin, will need to know whether you will be coming to this meeting. Obviously he will need to know the number attending in order to book the accommodation! So would you please let him know as soon as possible if you intend to come along to this meeting. There is no obligation to attend, but it is a way of meeting others!

Being a Unitarian in Scotland can sometimes be a very lonely experience. We can all feel isolated from time to time. While the business affairs have an importance, these meetings are also vital in providing an opportunity to talk, to share thoughts and ideas, to socialise and to make friends with like-minded people.

So I look forward to meeting you during the coming year, either at a meeting or at home(!).

 My very best wishes to you all,

                                                 Anne 

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"The reward of a thing well done is to have done it."

 Ralph Waldo Emerson

~~~~~~~

(Written by our son Paul, now the Editor of the Theatre Nurses Magazine, whilst a student in Dundee!)
I re-discovered this whilst clearing out some of the papers which seem to accumulate until they threaten to displace ourselves from our own home!!!

Colin

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Here am I christening Sheyenne Tara, the daughter of our member Sheena. This took place on the 12th.August, 2001.

Very recently she won a national competition as a truly 'Bonny Baby' and the 'Cutest Baby'! She actually beat 200 other contestants!

She is now to appear as a model in a leading clothes catalogue, and has won £5OO for her mother into the bargain! Not surprisingly, Sheena is overjoyed at her daughter's success, so every good wish to you both.

~~~~~~~

MEETINGS & CONFERENCES 2002

You read in the centre pages of the last LINK a report of the 2001 Unitarian Experience Week. Below you will find the details relating to the 2002 Experience Week! This week will be spent at the Unitarian Holiday Home at Great Hucklow which is a typical small English village nestling deep within the Derbyshire dales. Following our son's first visit to Great Hucklow his comment was: "That was the best holiday I've ever had!" You will find the week enables you to socialise with like-minded people, and if you enjoy a visit to a typical English village public house, then the local 'King Billy' will serve to provide a convivial atmosphere!

The Annual Meetings of the Scottish Unitarian Association will take place at the Scottish Churches Centre, Dunblane during the weekend of 8th./9th.June. There will be an informal meeting of the S.U.F. during the Sunday afternoon, and visitors may choose to attend for the whole weekend or for just one day. If you are interested, please contact me for application forms etc.

Our A.G.M. of the S.U.F. will take place in Dundee on Sunday 4th August. I do hope that as many as possible of our membership will feel able to attend! BUT, of course, as ours is a 'Church without Walls' there is no obligation whatsoever to attend any of these meetings - it's entirely up to you!

~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~

HUMOUR CORNER - THE GOLFING PREACHER! 

There was a golfing minister who was an avid golfer. Every chance he got, he could be found on the course swinging away. It was a real obsession. One Sunday was a perfect day for golfing ... the sun was out; no clouds in the sky; the temperature just right; a gentle breeze. The minister was in a right quandary as to what to do. The urge to play golf was overpowering. He called an assistant to tell him that he was sick and could not possibly attend church that day! He then packed up his clubs, then drove off to a course where he was sure that he wouldn't be recognised! Happy, he began to play his round.

An angel up above was watching the minister and was quite perturbed. He went to God and said: "Just look at that minister. He should be punished for what he's doing!" God nodded in agreement.

The minister teed up on the first hole. He swung his club, and the ball sailed through the air to land straight into that first bole. The minister was amazed, astounded and excited. The angel however was a little shocked. He turned to God, and said: "Begging Your pardon,. but I thought You were going to punish him." God smiled, and said: "Think about it. Who can he possibly tell?

 ~~~~~~~

As a Unitarian Minister, I say that every person and every living thing in this our world should live in peace and dignity with all the necessities which -their life requires. Agree?.

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TRUE LOVE

True love is a sacred fame
That burns eternally
And none can dim its special glow
Or change its destiny.

True love speaks in tender tones
And hears with gentle ear,
True love gives with open heart
And true love makes no harsh demands.

It neither rules nor binds,
And true love holds with gentle hands
The heart that it entwines. 

(Author unknown) 

The true love which the God of Love demands from us is to be found in the life that we lead.
It is not necessarily to be found in the church, nor in any of the religions established by 'man'!
It can be found in the life we lead from day to day!

~~~~~~~

The Scottish Unitarian Fellowship is a 'Church without walls' or using another term is the 'Church of the 21st.Century'

So many people are now deserting the church, yet still need a 'connection'. Jesus, for example, was not a churchgoer but spread his message by going out among the people. So perhaps we are the true followers of his message - "Love your neighbour as you love yourself!" So your neighbour can be white, black, brown, yellow or sky-blue pink with yellow dots on! What does it matter? They are PEOPLE! Your neighbour can believe that the moon is made of green cheese on which God in His Heaven feeds! That is, IF there is a God up there! What does it matter? Your neighbour is a PERSON!

FREEDOM TO BELIEVE IS OUR CREDO