Following on from Andy's paper a questionnaire was given out at last Sunday's service. It asked members of the congregation 'What does the word 'spirituality' mean to you?' and 'What do you consider to be your spiritual needs? How might they be met at Union Chapel?' When I put the box out to receive the replies I thought I would be lucky to get four or five returns. The fact that the great majority of the congregation returned their papers was astounding. As I typed them up for the magazine I realised why I love this place. Any place where people's views on spirituality range from, "self oriented new age mumbo-jumbo" through "awareness of a dimension bigger than me, my time & space" to "connecting to the core of God" and all are accepted, is my home.
Given below are the replies:

What is Spirituality?

Adherence to the teachings of Christ in its entirety no buts and ifs.

An awareness of a dimension bigger (beyond, outside) than me, my time & space.

God is a Spirit. Spirituality therefore means how close mortal man is to God. In other words how holy or close to holiness are you.

Depth of belief.

Spirituality is about Love working into the heart of our lives - I think of Julian of Norwich, "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."

It means connecting with my inner core and that inner core being open to the core of others and to God.

the abstract, unseen aspect of our life. faith in something, God etc. Something that makes your heart & mind feel good or bad.

Faith that God will help me when I need, He does.
Faith that God will use me to help others, He has.
Faith that God will take over when I cannot cope.

Your own spirit. Relationship with God. Something more than physical needs.

Connecting with the Other. Clearing away the clutter of everyday troubles and seeing the bigger perspective from a Christian angle. Giving God a space to get me!*

New age mumbo-jumbo. Spirituality suggests pick & choose self-indulgence, like a sun tan or a gym subscription. It is self orientated rather than God orientated. What you do/get when you have everything.

A craving for sentimental irrationality. Making space to connect withthat which is beyond ourselves.

As a true Christian, Spirituality is a way of discerning and perceiving many things temporal or inspirational e.g. good things, bad things and being able to accept the good things and throw away that which is not good as a part of God's many graces given to Man.

Reverence for God.

Reverence to God.

Contact with the deeper levels of my personality and the things that determine how I act and respond to others.

If true religion is helping widows, orphans and keeping oneself pure, spirituality is froth.

What do you consider to be your spiritual needs? How might they be met at Union Chapel?

Valuing of Prayer. Using the Bible to teach people. Valuing individuals as children of God irrespective of who they are. The Church needs to value prayer. Use the Bible. Drop middle class mentality and promote inclusiveness.

I'd like a quiet hour, at chapel, with others each week (Time to suit those who'd like this.)

Prayer. being sensitive to the needs of the Holy Spirit as a guider. The church should be prayerful - the kind that 'moves mountains'.

The people of this church help to sustain my belief, but challenging for me are interfaith and intrafaith conflicts in the world, and modern astronomy.

I want to learn to pray and practise prayer more effectively. I have been deeply attracted to prayer vigils in the past - Taize prayer for example.

Already met in the epilogue, in the meditation activity especially when people 'share' afterwards. I need services which involve spiritual sharing rather than simply teaching. Prayer meeting?

I need to get comfort about my life, to get through all the life events, good or bad. Here I get that by communicating with others and listening to God's words.

Unsure of what they are so not sure how or if they could be met.

Help in achieving the above*. Need the church to provide different ways of looking at things to stop me getting bogged down. Not helped by traditional services and sermons. Do value good preaching, thoughtful prayers, time to reflect.

Not sure what these are. Need to be reminded and have things reinterpreted. need for fellowship & challenge. Need for comfort and security. need for hope.

A need for space free from trivial distractions, religious jargon & words that offend rationality. Definitely not 'prayer' in any traditional sense.

More devotional themes. Bible study & discussion on a Sunday evening!

Chance to talk to others in small groups where an ethos has been built up that is safe to share real problems about ones own life.