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.

Speakers & Worship Leaders:- Ted Zorn & Team Male

In honour of NZ Women’s Suffrage Day on Friday 19th September.

Suffrage was a victory for women, but it also expanded the soul of our democracy. As men offer this service, we do so as allies — affirming that women’s rights, and the rights of all people, remain a sacred responsibility we carry forward together.

Speaker:- Ruth Irwin
Worship Leader:- Viv Allen

Ruth Irwin is an author and Professor. She teaches courses on globalisation, climate change, philosophy, colonialism, and post-colonialism, education, policy and economics. She has written several books on climate change, philosophy and economics, edited 3 collections on philosophy and climate change, and public policy, and written over 60 peer reviewed book chapters and journal articles.

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Rachel Mackintosh

Video to come

Audio to come

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Rachel Mackintosh © 7 September 2025

To Tomorrow, 1 September, is the first day of Spring in Aotearoa. Some countries date the seasons to equinox and solstice. We, more prosaically, date our seasons to the beginnings of months. Thus, 1 December is the first day of Summer, 1 March is the first day of Autumn, 1 June is the first day of Winter.

And tomorrow, 1 September, is the first day of Spring.

The first day of spring, whenever we fix it, is one day in the seemingly endlessly repeated revolutions of our planet. We mark the seasons with fixed dates to give our lives a predictable rhythm.

We may steal a branch of apple blossoms in the night, to give ourselves stars and the gift of Spring perfumes.

We may have less criminal rituals that underline our comfort at the repeating rhythm, rituals to mark the transition from one season to the next.

The gospel according to Jubilation Choir is love of the naked voice; love of losing ourselves in a sea of harmony and love of bringing a gospel sensibility to songs from all genres.

Singers:- Jubilation Choir
Worship Leader:- Judy Lightstone

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Judy Lightstone © 24 August 2025

My introduction to the Jubilation Choir occurred while I was teaching a workshop next door here at Studio One. I had just moved to the central city from West Auckland, and was thrilled to hear my favourite music seeping through the window. So I had to follow it- and it led me to this Unitarian Church. I had already joined the Unitarian Church of Berkeley California back when we lived in the US, and was thrilled to discover (albeit mistakenly) that there was not only a Unitarian Church in Auckland, but – wow what a church choir!

The Jubilation Acapella Gospel Choir was founded 25 years ago by Jean McAllister and the late NZ blues legend Rick Bryant and a number of others who are still in the choir. They are 30-odd strong and love their rehearsal space – the Unitarian Church – where they rehearse weekly.
They had a pre-Covid tradition of singing at the church in lieu of a service annually, and so we are so lucky that they are happy to do so again after this hiatus. 

The choir originally sang the Black American Gospel songbook almost exclusively; more recently, thanks to a spirit of innovation, and the talents of key members who do arrangements, they have added more variety to their repertoire. They’re also developing collaborations with NZ performing artists: and on September 13th they have a show with Reggae artist Tigilau Ness in Te Puke Ō Tara Community Centre, Ōtara.

Links

Opening Words:- “Caged Bird” By Maya Angelou

Chalice Lighting:- adapted from “Let Beauty In” By Rebekah Savage

Closing Words:- “In the Rising Sun Today” By Joel Miller