Forty Unitarians from all over the Midlands and beyond (we had two visitors, from Hinckley and Cardiff) came together at Kingswood Meeting House this Saturday for the MUA Annual Lunch. This year our guest speaker was Patricia Earle, of the Women’s Federation for World Peace. Patricia spoke to us for an hour, sharing her passion for peace and reconciliation, and stories of how, from a very small beginning, she now hosts regular meetings for between 100 and 150 women of all faiths, in her own twice-extended home.
Topics at these meetings are many and varied, from raising awareness of the different conflicts going on in the world, through various issues pertaining to women, such as domestic violence, trafficking, breakdowns in families, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation. She provides a safe and sacred space in which women of all races and cultures and faiths can share from the heart. It was inspirational to hear her speak.
We then moved to the Schoolroom for the traditional, and delicious, Lunch. Jill Bowie and her assistants had performed their usual miracles, and provided us all with a tasty meal, catering for all tastes. It was an opportunity to share food together, and to spend time in conversation, getting to know Unitarians from other congregations around the Midlands. It was a most enjoyable occasion.