The S.U.F. can be considered to be an organisation which seeks to provide a service to those who for whatever reason cannot, or who do not wish to, attend a particular church. Scotland is a large country and many are those who are far distant from any of the four Scottish Unitarian churches. And of course, each of the four churches are quite different, in a number of ways, from each other. So that even if a person lives within walking distance of a church, he/she may not wish to attend that particular church! And again, there are many who feel that ,church' is not for them! The Unitarian Movement allows for freedom of individual belief and respects the beliefs of others. So attendance at church services is an option open to all, but not a necessary requirement for membership!

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THE RELIGION OF THE HEART 

The nature of religion is so far from consisting in forms of worship, or rites or ceremonies, that it does not properly consist in any outward actions. A man may both abstain from outward evil, and do good, and still have no religion.

 Two persons may do the same outward work; feeding the hungry, or clothing the naked; and one of these may be truly religious and ardent churchgoer, and the other have no religion at all; for the one may act out of love of God, and the other from love of praise, or even from love of his fellow men and women.

Although true religion naturally leads to every good word and work, yet the real nature thereof lies deeper still, even in the hidden man of the heart.

(Adapted from John Wesley, Sermon VII)

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Many years ago I was Chairman of the Tayside branch of the Chilean Human Rights Association. 

It was reported that the Roman Catholic Church of Latin America had just spent millions of dollars in the construction of a lavish cathedral. This was built just alongside of a shanty town where thousands of local people existed in tents etc., scraping a living from the rubbish heaps of the cities. 

The local Chileans felt very bitter about this, saying that this money would have better used in helping the shanty town dwellers to make a better life for themselves and their children.

What is religion, they asked. Is it the Sunday service played out in a gold encrusted house of worshiper is it the aid given out to those in need? 

What is your answer to this question??? 

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WHERE GOD IS TO BE FOUND

We apprehend Him in the voids and fellnesses of a cathedral; in the space that separates the salient features of a picture; in the living geometry of a flower, a seashell, an animal; in the pauses and intervals between the notes of music, in their differences and sonority; and, finally, on the plane of conduct, in the love and gentleness, the confidence and humility, which give beauty to the relationships between we human beings.

(Aldous Huxley      Ends and Means)

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In the world of today, are our children being taught to respect their neighbours?
And who is 'their neighbour'? Is it the person next door, or is it the street on which they throw their used chewing gum, their paper etc??

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"While I cannot be regarded as a pillar, I must be regarded as a buttress of the church, because I support it from the outside!

Lord Melbourne

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PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

It is with deep and sincere regret that I have to advise all members of our Fellowship that due to health problems ( I am troubled with angina!) I have been advised to give up some of the work with which I have been involved since I officially retired. This copy of the LINK will therefore be the last one compiled by me, and I will have to release myself from the post of Secretary/Correspondent/Editor of the Scottish Unitarian Fellowship.

I have to ask therefore, for a volunteer, preferably from amongst our members, to take over these duties. I, of course, have been responsible for all these duties, but they could easily be divided amongst two or more individuals if necessary.

These tasks are performed on a purely voluntary basis, but necessary expenses are covered from the funds of the S.U.F.

If no volunteer is forthcoming, then I shall have to pass all the responsibility over to the S.U.A. to decide what to do about the S.U.F. I have no idea what their decision would be, but it could be fatal to the S.U.F as we presently know it! I need to know your decision by the end of July, 2002, so please give it your urgent consideration.

Colin

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FROM THE MINISTER

Dear Friends, 

I have 'moved'! They say that moving house is top of the list of the most stressful things you can do in life, and I can certainly testify to that! Solicitors, deadlines, packing boxes, selling furniture, saying goodbye to friends and neighbours ... unpacking boxes, chaos, will the furniture fit, is there enough storage space, where IS the bus stop for the bus home from town (that's a story by itself!). All this, and of course, much more, has contributed to my having to colour my hair the other day!!!!

However, I am now settling down quite well in Dundee, so here is my new address: 

6GL, Craigowan Road
DUNDEE
DD2 4NA
Tel: 01382 622179
 e-mail :

Please do not hesitate to get in touch. I intend to give many of you a phone call over the next few weeks, and' I look forward to getting to know you all.