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 THE MINISTER WRITES . . . .At the moment, extreme weather conditions throughout the world are causing chaos, and bringing long-term suffering and hardship to thousands upon thousands of unfortunate folk. And whilst we have grown use to the regular appeals for aid and relief for those suffering drought and famine in far-off lands, the destructive hurricanes, storms and floods of present times, are not just affecting the physical health and well-being of those concerned, but also destroying ancient habitats and homes at an alarming rate. But amid this chaos and misery, there is a new realisation that is dawning upon even the most stubborn of minds, and that is the eternal truth that the people of this earth - though historically divided by nation, culture and creed - are being called by evolution to work collectively together, not only in individual times of calamity and need, but at ALL times, and with regard to ALL problems and issues, wherever and whenever they occur. Of course, such disasters themselves are nothing new; they have happened on a regular basis throughout history. The main difference today is the "instant" nature of global media and telecommunications that link citizens world-wide. What is happening in Haiti therefore becomes everyone's problem. So too, is the plight of our neighbours in Chile (earthquake and tsunami), Madeira (floods and mud-slides), France and Spain (storms and floods), USA and California (snow and wild-fires), Australia (wild-fires and floods) and every country which finds itself besieged by natural disaster, economic difficulty, famine or fruitless war. We simply have to change the way we operate, stand up to the plate and be accountable to one another! Ghandi once said that "consciously or unconsciously, the world is coming together as one". He was right. And however unpalatable the truth may be, without such things as the natural disasters that seem to be increasingly prevalent today, the nations of the world (and their leaders) would merely hand out a few shekels of aid during times of international need, whilst continuing in time honoured fashion, to uphold and maintain, the bankrupt systems of national concern and self-interest. "Love your neighbour as yourself?" At the end of the day, it may well be nature itself, that ensures we eventually do. Paul SUNDAY SERVICES DURING March and April 2010- always at 10.45am - March 7th Paul March 14th Paul March 21st Paul March 28th Robin Boyes
April 4th Paul April 11th Paul April 18th Janet Gadsby April 25th Paul
ANTHEMS DURING March 2010
March 7th: "Hear my prayer, O Lord" - Jacob Arcadelt March 14th: (Mothering Sunday) "Loving God" - Peter Aston March 21st: "Ave verum corpus" - Edward Elgar March 28th: (Palm Sunday): "All glory, laud and honour" (from Cantata No. 95 - JS Bach ANTHEMS DURING APRIL 2010
April 4th: (Easter Day) "He is risen" - Cecil Cope April 11th: "Good Christian men rejoice and sing" - Ernest Bullock April 18th: "God liveth still" - J.S. Bach April 25th: "Now the green blade riseth" - French carol, arr. Anthony Norcliffe
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN MANAGE YOUR AFFAIRS? I AM NOT SURE YOU COULD MANAGE A SINGLE CELL OT YOUR BODY!
"The collection of components required to carry out the intricate process involved in generating and maintaining a living, breathing and, sometimes, thinking organism is staggeringly complex. Where do all the parts come from?" (from, Nilson & Branton, in Nature 28th Jan. 2010)
The above quote is taken from an article with the daunting title, "Expansion of the eukaryotic proteome by alternating splicing". The answer to the question it poses, as the authors are very well aware, lies in the genes of our body. We are made up of billions or trillions of cells (I have no idea of the exact number) and each cell is, of course, very small - about a thousandth of a millimeter in size. Inside the central nucleus of each cell lie our genes (together with many other minute organelles that reside outside the nucleus and which are essential to the life of the cell). The genes, which control the growth and working of our bodies and determine our individuality (as well as whether we are a human being at all - and not, say, a kangaroo) are strung together as two intertwined threads (or chromosomes) like beads on a string, that are one and a half metres long - all folded up tightly in the nucleus. Every time the genes are required to carry out some vital function, the threads must be untangled so as to allow the particular genes concerned to be activated. After the genes have done their job, the chromosomes are folded and tangled up again ap (then called "chromatin"). The folding must be very exact and, if there is any mistake in the folding, then enzymes in the cell cut the offending portion and re-position it correctly. If this vital task fails to be carried out successfully, the cell kills itself rather than cause interference with other cells around it. If you have read this article thus far, are you still convinced you could manage to look after a cell? The cell carries out dozens of other tasks I have not space to mention here: for example, if the cell wall is breached by an invading virus or bacterium, the cell takes a few protein molecules of the invader and exposes them on the outside of the cell wall to advertise the fact that it is infected. This alerts the immune system of the body and causes special "T-cells", in the blood stream, to converge on the infected cell and deal with it. Another important task of the cell is to control the entry and exit of special molecules that are vital to the cell - it makes as many as a thousand decisions every minute regarding which molecules will be allowed to move through the wall. If the cell gets any one of these decisions wrong, it could be fatal to the whole body. Aren't you lucky that you are left having to make such simple decisions as what you will or will not have for breakfast! Derrick Pritchatt
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. Paul Travis posted by Charles P Travis | 3:05 PM
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