Mill Hill Chapel

Registered Charity No 1081978

www.millhillchapel.org.uk

City Square Leeds LS1 5EB

Letter from the Editor

After all the things which have happened in the first two months of 2013the snow, the discovery of the skeleton of Richard III in Leicester, the recent meteor strike in Russia, and the near miss by another meteor which would have done more than local damage had it hit the Earthit will be interesting to see what March and April bring! At this rate 2013 will be an interesting year. On the astronomical theme, the skeleton of another famous medieval name, Nicolaus Copernicus, was only discovered recently. His skeleton was found in 2005, under the floor of Frombork Cathedral in Poland, where apparently the vibrations caused by the sonorous low notes of the organ caused significant problems for the archaeologists as the ground kept shifting! Being a physicist by training, stargazing has always been an interest of mine, but unfortunately I missed seeing meteor which came so close to us in February. Had it been on a collision course, there would not have been much we could have done about itHollywoods versions of firing nuclear weapons at incoming meteors and destroying them are, naturally, fictitious. The aftermath of such a large collision would be catastrophic, as seen on a much smaller scale in Russia. I think Horaces phrase carpe diem, popularly translated as seize the day, sums it upyou never know whats around the corner!

Eleanor Dickenson

The Record Mailing Lists If anybody would like to receive their copy of The Record by email or by post, please pass your details on to the Editor, either in person at the Chapel, or by email to millhillrecord@gmail.com

ObituaryGeoff Hirst
Geoff was born on 22nd May, 1930. at his parents house in Hoyland, near Barnsley. As children, he and his sisters Marlene and Judith attended the parish church at Cowlesley, near Huddersfield, where Geoff sang in the choir. When at school, Geoff was commended by his teacher for his politeness - a hallmark of Geoffs personality we all recognise. His national Service was spent in the RAF, where he trained as a PE instructor. As a young man, his hobbies included learning to play the trombone, driving the whole family to despair trying to master the tune to Remember Me! - he was much better (they recall) on the piano! Geoff loved his motor bikes, and rode in many scramble races around the country, with a wealth of knowledge gained, regarding mechanics and necessary repairs eventually restoring a Triumph motorcycle to gleaming perfection in his garage. At the age of 34, Geoff met Barbara (then 26), at Foxs Select Dancing Academy (whilst she was teaching in Huddersfield). Geoff was a devoted husband for 48 years, and supported Barbara though thick and thin . Geoff loved countryside walks together with Barbara, and this prompted his artistic and photographic talents, which came into their own by way of creating personalised cards, beautiful montages created at home, on his computer. After a largely healthy life, Geoff fell victim to asthma attacks, to which he surrendered and fell asleep with a massive heart attack, on 31st January this year, attended to this end by the very capable and caring staff of the local Intensive Care Unit (Dewsbury). Geoff, was a man of few words, patient, kind, caring, loyal, dependable slow to anger and quick to forgive described by Barbaras brother as the rock, looking after Barbara and leaving a legacy of love, to sustain her in lifes continuing journey.

Organ Concerts
To mark the periods of Passiontide and Easter our Director of Music, Anthony Norcliffe, will give his annual Organ Concert to mark the events on Tuesday, April 2nd at 1pm. As usual admission to this will be free, with a retiring collection. Tuesday May 14th at 1pm sees the inaugural recital of our famed Grand Summer Series (the 19th season) of Organ Concerts which will, as is traditional, be given by our good friend, Dr Simon Lindley (Leeds City Organist & Master of the Music of Leeds Minster). In all, there will be 12 weekly concerts in the series and we shall be delighted to welcome 7 guest recitalists to play for us, the remaining 5 being performed by our own Director of Music. We can guarantee a veritable feast of music, superbly performed on our splendid Norman & Beard organ, one of the citys finest instruments. You will be warmly welcomed at each concert and be one of a host keenly faithful supporters. Full details of the series will be published in the next edition of The Record and we would be glad if you made a regular date with us.

Moveable Feast: Determining the date of Easter

In 725, Bede succinctly wrote, "The Sunday following the full Moon which falls on or after the equinox will give the lawful Easter." However, this does not reflect the actual ecclesiastical rules precisely. One reason for this is that the full moon involved (called the Paschal full moon) is not an astronomical full moon, but the 14th day of a calendar lunar month. Another difference is that the astronomical vernal equinox is a natural astronomical phenomenon, which can fall on 19, 20 March, or 21, while the ecclesiastical date is fixed by convention on 21 March. In applying the ecclesiastical rules, Christian churches use 21 March as the starting point in determining the date of Easter, from which they find the next full moon, etc. The Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches continue to use the Julian calendar. Their starting point in determining the date of Orthodox Easter is also 21 March, but according to the Julian reckoning, which currently corresponds to 3 April in the Gregorian calendar. In addition, the lunar tables of the Julian calendar are four days (sometimes five days) behind those of the Gregorian calendar. The 14th day of the lunar month according to the Gregorian system is only the 9th or 10th day

according to the Julian. The result of this combination of solar and lunar discrepancies is divergence in the date of Easter in most years. Easter is determined on the basis of lunisolar cycles. The lunar year consists of 30-day and 29-day lunar months, generally alternating, with an embolismic month added periodically to bring the lunar cycle into line with the solar cycle. In each solar year (1 January to 31 December inclusive), the lunar month beginning with an ecclesiastical new moon falling in the 29-day period from 8 March to 5 April inclusive is designated as the paschal lunar month for that year. Easter is the third Sunday in the paschal lunar month, or, in other words, the Sunday after the paschal lunar month's 14th day. The 14th of the paschal lunar month is designated by convention as the Paschal full moon, although the 14th of the lunar month may differ from the date of the astronomical full moon by up to two days. Since the ecclesiastical new moon falls on a date from 8 March to 5 April inclusive, the paschal full moon (the 14th of that lunar month) must fall on a date from 21 March to 18 April inclusive. Accordingly, Gregorian Easter can fall on 35 possible datesbetween 22 March and 25 April inclusive. It last fell on 22 March in 1818, and will not do so again until 2285. It fell on 23 March in 2008, but will not do so again until 2160. Easter last fell on the latest possible date, 25 April, in 1943 and will next fall on that date in 2038. However, it fell on 24 April, just one day before this latest possible date, in 2011 and will not do so again until 2095. The cycle of Easter dates repeats after exactly 5,700,000 years, with 19 April being the most common date, happening 220,400 times or 3.9%, compared to the median for all dates of 189,525 times or 3.3%. The Gregorian calculation of Easter was based on a method devised by the Calabrian doctor Aloysius Lilius (or Lilio) for adjusting the epacts of the moon, and has been adopted by almost all Western Christians and by Western countries who celebrate national holidays at Easter. For the British Empire and colonies, a determination of the date of Easter Sunday using Golden Numbers and Sunday letters was defined by the Calendar (New Style) Act 1750 with its Annexe. This was designed to exactly match the Gregorian calculation. The Greek island of Syros, whose population is divided almost equally between Catholics and Orthodox, is one of the few places where the two Churches share a common date for Easter, with the Catholics accepting the Orthodox date - a practice helping considerably in maintaining good relations between the two communities.

Yorkshire Unitarian Union Quarterly Meeting

The January snowfall did not keep over twenty members from attending the quarterly Yorkshire Unitarian Union (YUU) meeting at Mill Hill. I attended on behalf of the chapel. The day long event included a Lay Preachers Association workshop in the morning followed by Union business discussion in the afternoon. Alex Bradley, Principal of the Unitarian College at Manchester, lead the discussion among lay preachers about the gifts we bring to ministry. The participants shared talents through song, poetry, painting and other objects that symbolized our special insights which contribute to our worship. Ideas and feelings about what makes meaningful worship were voiced. The consensus was that church should meet the needs of a congregation while the leader remains true to her or his unique understanding. We all have different gifts and ideas but share the human experience. The afternoon business was tinged with a note of sadness that the congregation in Pudsey is now officially closed. The Union was presented with a cheque for the proceeds from the building sale. Given that the transfer of assets from Pudsey to the YUU was overseen by the Charity Commission, there was discussion about how some Yorkshire congregations are still not individually registered with the Commission. Mill Hill has been registered, this provides for the best financial organization. Safeguarding vulnerable adults and children was discussed at length. It was agreed that churches need to have policies in place to protect those who attend. The YUU had provided each congregation in the district with safeguarding training materials. It was generally thought among YUU members that it might be prudent for there to be a Safeguarding Representative in each congregation. Such an individual would be familiar with the safeguarding materials, should the need arise. Also, this member should undergo an official background check to ensure safety. I will be reading the materials to educate myself about safeguarding and have undergone such a check because of my work for Leeds Mind. Anyone interested in the topic of safeguarding could chat with me at coffee hour. Lets discuss this important topic and help Mill Hill be a safe place for all. On a more cheerful note, I was voted to attend the General Assembly on behalf of the YUU. The years GA with be April 11-14 in Nottingham. The theme is Faith and Fun. We could all use more of both! I am looking forward to the journey and learning more about Unitarianism in Britain.

The next YUU meeting is March 23 at Hull.

Rosemary Frances Lloyd

UNITARIAN CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

Annual General Meeting

Saturday, 16 March 2013
Mill Hill Chapel, City Square, Leeds, LS1 5EB

12 Noon4pm PROGRAMME Lunch Worship AGM Presentation

For further information, please contact the UCA Events Officer, Jeff Gould Telephone 01625 403509, email jeffreylanegould@btinternet.com

Flowers & Welcomers for March & April 2013

Mar 3rd: In memory of Leonard & Harry Marston and Maud Bailey (Auntie Maud) Roy Coggan Hunslet Memorial Flowers: In memory of Ida & Herbert Perry Mar 10th: In memory of Clarice & Harold James Roy Perry Mar 17th: In memory of Mr & Mrs Brightwell, Ernest, Emily, Clifford & Edna Susan Coggan Mar 24th: Flower Fund Mar 31st: Flower Fund Apr 7th: In memory of Brian & Betty Rich Roy Perry Roy Perry Roy Coggan

Apr 14th: In memory of Philip & Howarth Barran & Stella Allison & Donald Barran Susan Coggan Apr 21st: Flower Fund Apr 28th: In memory of Bill Hibbitt Roy Perry Roy Perry

If anyone would like to make a donation to provide flowers in memory of a loved one, to celebrate anniversaries or remember a birthday, then please contact Joan Perry or Susan Coggan (Flower Secretary). A few dates in the calendar are still available . . . . .

ANTHEMS DURING MARCH 2013

Mar 3rd: Jesu, joy of mans desiring (from Cantata No. 147) J. S. Bach Mar 10th: Loving God - Peter Aston Mar 17th: Ave verum corpus - Edward Elgar Mar 24th:A Palm Sunday Antiphon - David C. Morgan Mar 31st: CELEBRATION(Organ): An Easter Alleluya - Gordon Slater

ANTHEMS DURING APRIL 2013

Apr 7th: Good Christian men rejoice and sing - Ernest Bullock Apr 14th: God liveth still - J. S. Bach Apr 21st: Now the green blade riseth - French carol, arr. Anthony Norcliffe Apr 28th: From God shall naught divide me - Heinrich Schutz

Chapel Management Committee

Susan Coggan

Chapel Management Committee meetings will be on: Wednesday 20th March and Wednesday 18th April

Dates for your diary

Leeds is a vibrant city with a great variety of events going on. There are a few other events which may be of interest, all of which are free. (The Editor receives no recompense for mentioning events here, honest!).
Journey to the Otherworld Sat Mar 2nd 2pm Burton Gallery, Leeds University Storytelling inspired by paintings of the Lake District Cornet and Organ Recital Mon Mar 4th 1pm Leeds Town Hall Music for cornet and organ played by Phillip McCann and Simon Lindley Dwellers on the Threshold Fri Mar 8th 8pm HEART Centre, Headingley Lecture and concert on Irish music, as part of the Headingley Lit Fest Talking Books Sat Mar 9th 2pm Burton Gallery, Leeds University Talks on collecting, exhibiting and curating books Organ Recital Mon Mar 18th 1pm Leeds Town Hall Dance music for organ played by Thomas Trotter Guitar Recital Weds Mar 27th 1pm The Venue, Leeds College of Music Programme includes Bach and Albeniz, played by classical guitarist Ian Watt Organ Recital Tues April 2nd 1pm Mill Hill Chapel A recital of music for Passiontide and Easter given by Anthony Norcliffe Displays and Fictions Thurs April 4th 2pm Henry Moore Institute Lecture on the work of Vladimir Markov. Free, but booking required Piano Recital Weds April 10th 1pm The Venue, Leeds College of Music Recital of Beethoven, Wagner and Ligeti, given by Jayson Gillham Judicial Duels Tues April 16th 5.30pm Parkinson Building, Leeds University Lecture on medieval legal battles between husbands and wives

Sunday services during March and April 2013 Always at 10.45am

Chapel Chat . . .

Mar 3rd: Derrick Pritchatt Mar 10th:(Mothering Sunday) Apr 7th: Rosemary Frances Lloyd Janet Gadsby Apr 14th: Roy Coggan Mar 17th: Rev. Lewis Rees Apr 21st: Anthony Dawson Mar 24th: (Palm Sunday) Apr 28th: David Arthur Jonathan Coggan Mar 31st: (Easter Day) Janet Gadsby

CONFLICT or UNITY?
There is no greater cause of conflict in our world today than the diversity of race, religion, culture and creed. Israel, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Russia, Spain, Africa, India, Indonesia and elsewhere : this is fundamentally the case. Yet whether we are Jew, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Bahai or a member of any other religious faith, we share the same universe; the same planet Earth; the same environment; the same human biology and the same evolutionary process of nature. Clearly then, without a movement toward greater unity as one world and one people, there will be no peace. Leeds is a modern city, which incorporates people from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds. Their children sit alongside each other in schools, and lie alongside each other in hospitals. Yet the traditions of previous generations present obstacles and barriers to the natural and necessary integration of modern-day communities. It is now imperative that human beings everywhere embrace a vision of the oneness of God and of Humankind. Peace and harmony for future generations depends directly upon the success of this challenge. Of course, such unity will not come easily or overnight, and there will be many objections along the way. Nevertheless an attempt must be made, and where better to begin by way of example to the world, than in our fine city of Leeds? This matter will not go away, and it is of little use hiding in our Synagogues, Temples, Gurdwaras, Mosques and Churches, and thinking that we can continue safe in our exclusive, cultural and religious, traditions. As intelligent and responsible adults, we have a duty to our children and to our world to address the problem now. If you share our vision, or are in sympathy and agreement with our views, then perhaps you would like to make contact with us, and together - whatever our differences - we might begin to find and establish that vital path to greater unity.
Facilities Manager / Lettings Malcolm Clarke Chairman of the Congregation Director of Music Anthony Norcliffe The Record Editor Eleanor Dickenson

Chapel (0113) 243 3845 Home (01274) 637 535 Mobile (0773) 631 7215 Email millhillrecord@gmail.com @millhillchapel