Sunday service 5th May 2024, 11am
All are welcome at this Sunday's service (5th May, 11am) which will be led by Interfaith Minister and BUC member Interfaith Minister and BUC Member Rev Susie Courtault, who writes:
"Beltane blessings to you all as we celebrate the height of spring and the entering of summer, when the earth is full of energy and life. On Sunday we will celebrate the emergence of wildlife and in particular the beautiful butterflies of which we have many in our county - beloved of all faiths, they symbolise hope, renewal and transformation. What can we learn from their exquisite beauty, fragility and life struggle as we navigate our own challenges on this earth. Come and celebrate with us, their magical presence in our lives."
The service will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel if you are unable to come to the church. To access the live-stream, please go to our website or the Brighton Unitarian YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@brightonunitarian5709/streams Transmission will start at 10.55am and a recording will be made available on the BUC website for seven days.
There will be tea/coffee and biscuits and chance to chat after the service.
Springboard Showcase Concerts at Brighton Unitarian Church - Friday lunchtimes throughout May
In May we are delighted to present a series of Showcase Concerts featuring some of the most accomplished musicians to have performed at Springboard – Brighton & Hove Performing Arts Festival.
3rd May - in a change to the previously published programme/performers:
Pianists Nelly Zhang, winner of the Springboard 2024 Senior Championship, and Peter Ostrovsky, winner of the Senior Recital, will be performing a programme of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt and Kapustin.
10th May
Award-winning Brighton-born siblings Berniya and Riya Hamie delighted audiences at Springboard from an early age with their musicality and skill. Today they present an exciting programme of cello and piano music.
No concert on 17th May when BUC hosts The Great Escape Music Festival
24th May
Gigi Casey (soprano) won the Springboard Dame Felicity Lott Recital competition in 2023. She currently studies at the Royal Northern College of Music and has won a scholarship to the Master’s programme at the Royal College of Music. She will be joined by this year’s winner, her sister Kitty Casey, a student at the same institution. They will be performing a variety of opera classics by Mozart, Massanet, Dvorak and Gilbert & Sullivan.
31st May
Flautist Leah Hallinon performed in Springboard for many years. She is now at the Royal College of Music and will be playing pieces by CPE Bach, Dutilleux and Ganne. Classical guitarist Zoe Barnett is also studying at the RCM, where she is kindly supported by The Derek Butler Trust. She will be playing a programme featuring works by JS Bach and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco.
Springboard takes place during weekends in March and provides a friendly and supportive platform for musicians of all ages. This year the festival celebrated its 100th anniversary. Please visit their website for further information : www.springboardfestival.co.uk
What's on at Brighton Unitarian Church in May and June
We are delighted to be hosting a wide variety of events and concerts at the church over the next couple of months, including some as part of Brighton Fringe, Brighton Festival and The Great Escape music festival. With theatre, jazz, classical music, Tango, circus, artisan makers market, yoga, dance and events influenced by India and the East, there really is something for everyone!
For more details please go to:https://www.brightonunitarian.org.uk/brighton-fringe
'Back to Life' by Christine Clark-Lowes
This interesting and well-researched book by Christine Clark-Lowes, a BUC member, tells the stories of the people named on plaques in our beautiful Grade II listed church.
There is a reference copy in the church, and copies are available in the church office in return for a donation to the church.
How to support Brighton Unitarian Church from the comfort of your sofa
Just a reminder that the church is partnered with Easy Fundraising if our members and friends would like to sign up in order to generate donations for the church as they shop online. This works a bit like the Amazon Smile scheme which recently closed but with many more choices as to where you shop. In fact Easy Fundraising is the UK’s biggest charity shopping site.
Launched in 2005, their community of over 2 million supporters have raised over £42 million for thousands of causes across the UK. Easy Fundraising partners with over 7,000 brands who will donate part of what you spend to a cause of your choice. It won’t cost you any extra. The cost is covered by the brand.
Once you’ve set up your account, you’ll have the option to install the EF browser extension which is called the Donation Reminder. It will pop up on every retailer site where a donation is available - which means you don’t have to remember to go via the EF website to do your shopping, just shop online as normal!
To find out more, visit our Easy Fundraising page: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/brightonunitarianchurch/
or use the QR code below:
WEEKLY SPIRITUAL EVENTS
Wednesday lunchtime
Music and Silence 12.15-2pm
Every Wednesday lunchtime our doors are open for spiritual nourishment.
12.15 - 1pm - Live piano music
1-1.15pm - Free cuppa and chat
1.15-2pm - Quiet reflection, prayers and sharing
All are welcome.
Wednesday evening
Heart & Soul
Heart and Soul is an evening gathering of reflection, contemplation and sharing.
Meetings are held online on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month starting at 7.30pm and lasting an hour. All are very welcome. For an invitation please email us.
Sunday
morning
Sunday Service at 11am
Held in the church every Sunday followed by tea/coffee and conversation. Most are live-streamed so you can watch at home if you are unable to come to the church.
For more information about services and recordings of recent services:
WELCOMING YOU
We welcome all who seek a better life through spiritual and intellectual exploration. We welcome all who believe that religion is wider than any one sect and deeper than any one set of opinions.
ABOUT OUR CHURCH
We welcome all who seek a better life through spiritual and intellectual exploration. We have respect for all faiths, coupled with a modern religious outlook that encourages freedom of individual thought and conscience. We welcome all who believe that religion is wider than any one sect and deeper than any one set of opinions.
SERVICES
Our services draw their inspiration from diverse sources and the spiritual content depends on the service leader. Service leaders include members of the congregation, visiting ministers, and members of other Unitarian churches. Most services include an address, music, prayer or meditation and a quiet time for personal reflection. Readings come from the scriptures of the world faiths and wisdom traditions, philosophy and from contemporary literature and science.
EVENTS
This wonderful, creative and sacred space right in the heart of Brighton has been opening its doors to worshippers and musicians for 200 years.
Many well known local musical groups practise and perform here including Good Vibe Choir, Wham Jam Community Choir, Slavic Voices (Brighton) Choir. We also host the Sussex Musicians' Club's monthly concerts (now in its 100th year), African drumming workshops, monthly Tango Milonga Sábados, Soulful Singing workshops and our own Friday lunchtime fund-raising concerts.
