Announcements

As part of our continuing upgrade of our building, facilities and grounds, pictured is our minister, Rev. Mike O’Sullivan with new front of building signage in the church courtyard.

Photo: Neal Dunnigan

Kylemore was built by Mitchell Henry, a Unitarian and the Gothic chapel was built by him as a memorial to his wife Margaret who died at the age of 45. The abbey was purchased by the Benedictine nuns in 1920 and is now one of Irelands most treasured tourist attractions as well as being home to a community of contemplative sisters.

During Sunday Service, our 1st reading is always chosen and read by a member of the congregation. On Sunday 1st of May, church member Bernice Landers read for us her self composed poem. It is reproduced here with permission.

Shattered walls come tumbling down, people screaming, running around.

Four men injured, two stable, two dead.

The story on the news for one week or two, soon the war forgotten for something new.

A child cries out in anguish and pain, as a bomb goes off and her father is slain.

They don’t care that she sees with young eyes, the faces that for the rest of her life she’ll despise,

That millions of people just like this child grow to feel anger and hatred inside.

Russia, what’s happened, what have you done, where’s your sense of humanity gone?

Innocent people permanently scarred, killed in their beds; bombed in their cars.

While invading Ukraine with no just cause, killing civilians, breaking all laws

Nothing left behind but a country in pain, all because of a madman, so arrogant and so vain.

• Bernice Landers c 2022

On Thursday 14th April we had two visitors to the church whose family is very much a part of our recent history. Ciara and Eoghann Menzies from Perthshire in Scotland are the great grandchildren of The Rev. William Weatherall who was minister of this church from 1913 until his retirement in 1954. As minister he served during both world wars, the battle for Independence, the burning of Patrick St and the emergence of the Free state. Rev William died in 1956 and was laid to rest in Moira, Co. Down. It was wonderful to meet and host them, providing yet another living link to the rich 305 year old history of our church.

As part of a reconfiguration of the space within our historic building work was done on a new office for the minister, a new slimline kitchen and a new chapel. Work begun in late February and saw the transfer of the kitchen over to the opposite side of the building. The work was done mainly by our minister and church committee members; Neal Dunnigan and Pearse O ‘Donoghue. The first service in the new chapel was held on 10th April and in May there will be an official blessing and dedication of the space. In opening the new chapel we have to acknowledge the fantastic generosity and help of our neighbour; Sean Keohane, without whom this would not have been possible. We would like also to acknowledge the great help received from Pat McDonnell paints and all at Carpets and Tiles in Ballincollig.

Christmas shopping among crowded small stalls of merchants and craftspeople is a pleasant nostalgic memory for many Cork residents. That is precisely the image that many secular Cork residents have about the Unitarian Church as they talk favourably about shopping at the vendor market at Christmas time.

That local shopping tradition was interrupted last year by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is not over and the church has had some time to deliberate on how much of its resources and public image should be devoted to gift buying commerce during the Christmas season. 

The story of Jesus expelling the merchants and money changes from the temple is found in all four Gospel accounts and certainly comes to mind. The Unitarian Church is a sacred place, but we Unitarians do not make dualistic distinctions between the sacred and the every day. We are fine with facilitating Christmas traditions of gift giving and holiday cheer, be they religious or secular. To the extent that some secularisation of Christmas promotes “peace on earth – goodwill to all” – we are all for it. Or to paraphrase Matthew 12:1–8, Christmas is made for people, not the other way around. So, the balance for our church is one of proportions and messaging. Commercial activities are important fundraisers for a small church like ours, but they need to be viewed as much more than pure monetary activities. 

The net result is that “the market” as it formerly existed is not envisioned as part of the Unitarian Church’s space planing going forward. Will the Unitarian Church still be open to allowing appropriate commercial vendors use the church’s centre city location for events? Yes, but with more balance to the needs of the church’s primary mission, particularly during the holiday season. 

Seasons greetings, 

Your Church Committee

On Sunday the 7th of November, we were joined by The Rev Mark Hutchinson. Mark is minister of Evesham and Cheltenham Unitarian churches in England. Mark preached on climate change, focussing on COP26 and the need for us to make even small changes in our lifestyles. Our service also saw church member Walter McGuire, read the 1st reading which was a heartfelt piece about why he chose to be a Unitarian. The full service, which was led by our minister can be seen on the church Facebook page. #unitarianchurchcork