Follow this shortcut to the bottom of the page for the various readings, videos, etc. shared in the service.

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Barbara Thomborson, Karn Cleary © 20 September 2026

How the Equinox is measured when the Earth is in Balance – Karn

This is going to be a very short talk, as I expect all of us know what the Equinox generally refers to, the day when we experience equal hours of daylight and dark.

We celebrate the autumn equinox with a general focus on connecting with Nature at this special time of the year. Expect a short pagan ritual, a special altar, a bit more participation than usual, and a 2-part talk. Part 1 concerns contemplation of this special midpoint between days of light and night and earth’s energies relative to our own energy. Through a story or two, Part 2 focuses on our spiritual connection with Mother Earth as our precious planet faces another tipping point.

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Barbara Thomborson

No recording this week

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Barbara Thomborson © 22 March 2026

Autumn equinox’26, part 1: contemplation of this special midpoint between days of light and night and earth’s energies relative to our own energy

How many of you say autumn is your favourite season? How about second favourite one? Yes, many people like or even love autumn very much. There’s so much to love about early autumn: the warm afternoons leftover from late summer but the cool nights to make sleeping easier; the long, languorous, golden sunsets; the early vegetables and fruits along with produce of late summer; leaves of changing colours that we know will start falling soon; even the moody skies and mystical mist – this seasonal change sometimes feels magical. I love the anticipation of cooler, fresher air; the change in weather that requires long sleeves and heavier fabrics, jackets and raincoats. Where I’m originally from, we say no such thing as bad weather – you just need the right clothes.

In a continuation of the service done on Mental Health Awareness Week last October, this one focuses more on dealing with your own mental illness stigma and understanding mental health for anyone.

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Barbara Thomborson

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The personality disorder in you

Last October I led a service on the United Nations’ Mental Health Awareness Week. Many who were present at that service commented favourably on new understandings of mental ‘illness’ and mental health and asked for more. Today’s service is that follow-up.

Speaker:-Barbara Thomborson
Worship Leader:- Karn Cleary

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Barbara Thomborson © 19 October 2025

This joyful service celebrates the life of our congregation and is our annual memorial to the life of its creator, Rev. Dr. Norbert Čapek. As minister to Unitarians in Prague, Czechoslovakia, he was a 20^th century Unitarian martyr, killed by Nazis in 1942.

The British Unitarian Assn describes the Flower Communion as “a celebration of the good things of life as given and received through the fellowship of a congregation, symbolised in the giving and receiving of flowers.” The Flower Communion has become an Auckland Unitarian annual ritual to celebrate the coming of Spring, one of the best things in life, IMO. It also commemorates the minister who created the Flower Communion. You’ll hear more about Rev Čapek later.

Speaker & Worship Leader:-
Barbara Thomborson

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Barbara Thomborson © 12 October 2025

Today’s service is brought to you by the first three Unitarian Principles:-

• the inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;
• acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth

This year, Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) has been aligned with the UN World Mental Health Day, which was last Friday, 10 Oct. The week of events ended last Friday, but community events are still going on.

As someone who has a mental disorder and used mental health services, I was an advisor to Auckland DHB mental health services. So I reckon I’m qualified to speak on mental health awareness.

To be added as time allows.

“Animal Service – a small miracle” with Rachel Mackintosh & Shirin Caldwell, from 5th October, text, video & audio to come.

“Entangled Bodies” with Ruth Irwin, from 28th September, text, video & audio to come.

Worship Leader:- Barbara Thomborson
Leader for Dances of Universal Peace:- Laurie Ross

Autumn equinox marks a day or two of equal amounts of daylight before nights are longer. What are the implications for us? What does ‘neopagan’ mean? An interactive Service. Laurie Ross to lead in 2 Dances of Universal Peace.

Video to come

Audio to come

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Barbara Thomborson © 23 March 2025

Merry meet and blessed be! This is how many neopagans greet each other. Before getting into neopaganism, let’s look at some basics of autumn equinox.

Speaker & Worship Leader:-
Barbara Thomborson

Follow this shortcut to the bottom of the page for the various readings, videos, etc. shared in the service.

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Barbara Thomborson © 17 November 2024

Ageing and death are two timeless themes, universal to our human experience. Our culture’s near phobia about death has created unneeded anxiety and irrational fear about “passing on, passing away, kicking the bucket, giving up the ghost, breathing your last, losing your life, expiring (like a use-by date), or just plain croaking”. That’s a small sample of the euphemisms English has for dying. In her book The Coming of Age, Simone de Beauvior says, “The vast majority of humankind looks upon the coming of old age with sorrow and rebellion. It fills them with more aversion than death itself”.

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Barbara Thomborson

Death Café is an event where people discuss their understanding, thoughts, and feelings about death. Barbara Thomborson will facilitate the service to enable small group discussion of questions inspired by Death Café. They include practical considerations, experiences of death, grief and loss, and cultural aspects of death.

This service follows on from last month’s End-of-Life Choice service with a brief talk on cultural aspects of death.

Here are the Questions used in the small discussion groups:-

• What does it mean to have a ‘good death’?
• If you knew you were dying, what would you change about your life?
• What was helpful when you were grieving?
• How easy is it to talk to your family about your funeral wishes?

• What is your earliest memory of death?
• If you knew this was your last day of life, what would you do?
• How would you help a grieving friend?
• If you were planning your funeral, what would you include?

• Have you seen a dead body? How did it affect you? If not, then
• Have you witnessed someone die and how did it affect you?
• Where is your will?
• What would you like your lasting legacy to be?
• What do you think about doing something on the internet to remember someone?

• How old would you like to be when you die?
• How would you like to be remembered?
• What do you think about lighting a candle to remember someone who has died?
• What would you like written on your gravestone?

• What does ‘life after death’ mean to you?
• Have you experienced the death of a pet?
• Are there any written or spoken words about death that you have found helpful?
• If you could choose, where would you like to die?

• What does it mean to die with dignity?
• What was your first experience of grief?
• If it were possible, what 1 question would you of someone you love who has died?
• How would you explain death to a 5-year-old?

Speaker:- Mary Panko
Worship Leader:- Barbara Thomborson

Mary Panko, immediate past president of New Zealand’s End-of-Life Choice Society, is guest speaker on the End-of-Life Choice Act and its upcoming Parliamentary review.

Barbara Thomborson, service leader, will share Unitarian Universalist background on this controversial topic. This service is a call to action.

Follow this link to download information on how to make a submission to the End-of-Life Choice Act review, closing date 26 September 2024.

Mary’s slides to accompany this talk.