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http://www.guelph-unitarians.com
Sunday Services for September and October
Services start at 10:30am. We have Spiritual Development programs for children 4 and older, and childcare for youn-ger children.
September 11 (Pod 2) - The Water Communion
Service Leader: Nancy Schmidt
In the Water Service, we celebrate the return to commu-nity after a summer’s pause. Please bring a small amount of water from a place that has lifted your spirit, touched your heart, or fed your soul. This might be from the tap in your home, from a lake or stream, from your garden hose, from nearby or far away. This water will be col-lected into a common vessel to help us celebrate our sources of connection.
September 18 (Pod 3) - Project Ploughshares: Forty Years of Turning Swords into Ploughshares
Speaker: Cesar Jaramillo
Service Leader: Megan Gilbertson and Harold Chapman
Since 1976, Project Ploughshares has been promoting peace and disarmament through research and action. Ba-sed in Waterloo, Ploughshares is affiliated with the “Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies” at Conrad Gre-bel University College, and is sponsored by 9 churches including the Canadian Unitarian Council. Ploughshares strives to turn swords into ploughshares, and their vision is clearly aligned with the 6th Unitarian Universalist Principle, which is “the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all”.
Join us as Project Ploughshares’ Executive Director, Cesar Jaramillo, shares some of the goals and projects of this inspirational organization, including how they strive to re-ignite Canada’s passion for peace.
September 25 (Pod 4) - Do Conflicts Really Ever Get Resolved? Africa’s Troubles and the End of Apartheid in South Africa
Speaker: Dr. Ian Spears
Service Leader: TBD
Dr. Ian Spears is an associate professor at the University of Guelph. His research interests have focused largely on problems and prospects for conflict and conflict resolu-tion in African states. Currently, Ian is working on a book-length examination of conflict resolution, tentatively titled Why Conflict Resolution Fails . This work critically examines the prospects and problems of international conflict resolution. Africa has often been beset with inter-nal conflicts and political instability. But South Africa’s transition from white minority rule to black majority rule
is frequently hailed as a model for the rest of the world. And the late Nelson Mandela is rightly regarded as a global icon. But how successful? When do we know that conflicts are really resolved? And who gets to decide what consti-tutes success?
October 2 (Pod 1) - Implications of the Truth and Rec-onciliation Report... the Sequel
Speaker: John Buttars
Service Leader: Paul Smith
Canada's 150th birthday is just around the corner and for these last 150 years there has not been peace between those Canadians whose heritage is from another continent and the peoples who call North America home and have done so for thousands of years. Will the Truth and Recon-ciliation commission mark a turning towards a just recon-ciliation? Join John Buttars on a second talk exploring the report of the TRC In particular he will be considering what it means as a settler descended Canadian to be a benefi-ciary of unjust policies.
October 9 (Pod 2) - It Takes a “Village”… To Raise a Global Citizen
Speakers: Aidan and Christine Robinson
Service Leader: Dave Robinson
As Unitarians, we strive to create a world in which we co-operate as friends, celebrate our differences and make the world a better place. CISV (Children’s International Sum-mer Villages) has also imagined such a world and for the last 65 years, has offered peace education designed for children and youth to help them become informed, re-sponsible and active global citizens.
Join us to hear Aidan Robinson (with the support of his Mom, Christine) share about his month-long CISV camp adventure in Japan where he lived in the aptly-named “Village” with other 11 year olds from 12 different coun-tries. We’ll also experience one of Aidan’s favourite camp activities together.
Aidan Robinson is a member of the UCG, a grade six stu-dent, self-declared “artsy” and is already a wonderful friend. Christine is a HR Executive and proud Mother to Aidan and Liam who believes her most important job is to raise engaged, open-hearted and open-minded men who can make a difference in the world.
Continued on Page 2
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THE UCG NEWS
The UCG News is the newsletter published regular-ly by the Unitarian Congregation of Guelph. Typed, handwritten or phoned-in submissions are always welcome, as are contributions by e-mail to [email protected] or telephone 519-836-3443. Items for our next newsletter are due October 15, 2016.
UCG 2016-2017
Lay Chaplain
Janice Canning [email protected]
Board
President Nancy Schmidt
Past President Bradley Shaw
Staff
Program Coordinator for Spiritual Development
Drew Verrall 519-836-3443
Children’s Spiritual Development Program
Jane McRae [email protected]
Communications Coordinator
Roya Matsui 519-836-3443
THE UNITARIAN CONGREGATION OF GUELPH
122 Harris St
Guelph, Ontario
519-836-3443
For inquiries regarding programming or services, email [email protected] For building or rental inquiries, email [email protected]
Sunday Services for September and October
Services start at 10:30am. We have Spiritual Development programs for children 4 and older, and childcare for youn-ger children.
October 30 – Samhain
Service Leaders: Earth Based Spirituality Council
This season we have been gifted with a spectacular mul-ticoloured reminder of the very present cycle of life and death as the fall colours transform our outer landscape from vibrant green to frigid browns and blacks. This ser-vice of Samhain (Sowhen) invites us to honour our loved ones who have passed from our lives this year and to celebrate the ways that knowing them has transformed our inner landscape. You may choose to bring a photo or memento to acknowledge and honour your beloved
October 16 (Pod 3) - Mediation: A Spiritual Practice Speaker: Linda Reith Service Leader: Naomi Matsui
Mediation requires everyone involved to be attuned to their own needs and to be able to hear the needs of oth-ers. The first requirement is the ability to centre oneself. The second requirement is to have a sense of entitlement that is healthy. Let us explore this powerful territory to-gether.
October 23 (Pod 4) - Who are the Mennonites? Speaker: Fred Martin Service Leader: Brian Hawker
The Mennonites belong to the church communities of Anabaptist (opposed to infant baptism) denominations named after Menno Simons (1496–1561) of Friesland in what is now one of the twelve provinces of the Nether-lands. Mennonites are committed to non-violence, non-resistance, and pacifism. Today’s talk with Fred Martin will address the current expression of this faith tradition and will include some personal reflections of the speaker.
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MISSION STATEMENT OF THE UNITARIAN CON-GREGATION OF GUELPH
As a UU community, we:
· Question freely · Serve, inspire and challenge · Seek and celebrate diversity · Support each other openheartedly · Honour the web of existence
From the Sunday Services Committee
Our 2016-2017 year: Welcome to a new UCG year. For the past two years we have adopted a theme-based approach to our planning and we have received a lot of positive feedback regarding this method. The themes for the coming year are:
Sept / Oct: Peace and Conflict Nov: UU and You: Unitarianism 101 Dec: Belonging Jan: Global Faiths Feb / March: Barriers and Bridges April: Democracy in Action May / June: Seasons and Cycles
Please feel free to contact any member of the Sunday Service Committee if you would like to suggest a specific topic or speaker for any of our themes, or if you have feedback following a service you’ve attend-ed.
Current Sunday Services Committee Members: Harold Chapman, Brian Hawker, Margie Johnson, Seanna Murphy, Andrea Scapinello, Paul Smith, Drew Verrall; New Members: Carla Giddings and Wendy Hilditch
New members are always welcome! For more information, please contact Margie Johnson at [email protected] or 519-836-7589
Our Theme: Peace and Conflict
“When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers.” – Swahili proverb
What are the processes which lead to a more desirable and just human condition? What do we need to understand about the causes of conflict in order to better understand how to bridge differences and es-tablish relations that bring peace and security? The tensions that exist between individuals and ideolo-gies can teach us the benefits of reflection and meaningful dialogue. The September – October services include speakers who will take us beyond the language of “peace” and “conflict” to personal involvement and active participation.
Our Amazing Service Leaders: Thank you for making our services possible!
Service Leading is a great way to contribute to the life of our unique lay-led congregation. Please mark your Calendars! Our Service Leader Training Workshop will take place following the service on Sunday, October 30, 2016. This is the best way to learn what is involved in leading a service. For current service leaders, it’s a great refresher and an opportunity to share tips and experiences with others. ALL are welcome.
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing
and rightdoing there is a field.
I'll meet you there.
- Rumi
“
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“Conflict forces us to be fully present because it shatters our ego – stripping away all hope of escape or sugar coating. It removes everything that is nonessential to our authentic being; it removes all superficial layers. Conflict is painful because it wakes us up out of our created illusions. And if we lean into it, conflict can be the catalyst to our enlightenment.”
― Alaric Hutchinson
An Update from the Stewardship Committee by Aspen Heisey
Definition of Stewardship: 1 : the office, duties, and obligations of a steward. 2 : the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care <stewardship of natural resources>
Careful and responsible management: One of our mandates as the Stewardship Committee is to increase com-munication with the community, so to that end, since this is the first newsletter of the UCG calendar - September to June - it is a good time to confirm the final results from our 2016 spring Pledge Campaign. We were shooting for $40,000, and at last count we have $45,195 - we have exceeded our goal - thank you!
It is reassuring that you, the people in this community, step up when asked to commit financially. It means that you are responsive and value the work the UCG does and what we stand for. It means you are forward-thinking.
As we said in our spring brochure, "What is wonderful about giving to the UCG is that we are a very lean organi-zation — your dollars go directly to paying our staff, guest speakers on a Sunday morning, mortgage payments, and repairs/upkeep to our bricks-and-mortar building.”
Here’s an overview of our communication timeline:
December: we will produce a personalized contribution report (email or letter) so you know where you stand vis a vis your pledge amount. This will serve as a half-way reminder/check-in. It will help you determine if you’d like to “top up” your charitable donation for the present tax-year.
April-May: Pledge Campaign - time to review and renew.
June: a thank you email or letter to acknowledge/confirm your pledge amount and your preferred method of payment.
Please Note:
We have new Treasurers: Lisa Lindsay and Mike DeQuetteville - you can always give your contributions directly to them as post-dated cheques, or Sunday morning offering plates, or online through Canada Helps.
An Update from the HR Committee
The Human Resources Committee is pleased to announce the hiring of Roya Matsui as Com-munications Coordinator for the UCG. Roya’s role will be to keep everyone informed via the UCG News (newsletter) and weekly emails about upcoming services and community events for all ages. She will handle general inquiries and building rentals as well. Welcome aboard, Roya!
From the Committees...
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An Update From the Property and Environment Committee
What a busy summer at UCG for the building. Our cleaner Brad has vacuumed all the chairs and tackled many once a year projects - like thoroughly emptying and cleaning out the fridges. Our fire and backflow in-spections were held and everything was in order. Our handyman, John Comma, has worked hard in the basement to replace the damaged drywall around the windows, repaint, and take down torn screens. Our wonderful CELP renters have kept the back gardens looking fabulous. We look forward to a busy fall as we start to get quotes for the front and back door replacements. If anyone is feeling some energy and would like to put some fall foliage and colour in the front rock garden please let me know - we would love that. If you see anything around the building that needs cleaning or repair please let me know. Looking forward to the congregation year ahead, and - of course - new committee members and ideas always welcome. Helen Prinold, Chair
The UCG has been helping to sponsor a Syrian family of 5. Here’s an update from Ruth Slavin on how they’re settling in…
I’ve been helping Diana learn English for an hour every Wednesday afternoon. She’s in an ESL course at King George School until 2:00. Often the children are there, and it’s fun to hear their progress. As expected, Abeer and Aysha are zooming along and can get quite chatty. Their brother, Khalifa, is a typical energetic 2 year old and likes to play. Diana is doing really well. Amazing how much she understands now. We communicate quite well – still with a lot of hand waving and acting out concepts. For the past while we’ve been working on her learning vowels and the basic soft sound of a e i o u. It’s hard work for her, but she’s beginning to hear the difference between pet, pat, pit, cut and cot and can usually tell me the vowel. I’m impressed! Usually Khaled, her husband, is there and listens in on the lesson although I’ve ‘banned’ him from participating. How-ever, we usually have some conversation and he sometimes asks for help with something he’s stuck on. Di-ana is expecting a baby in December. This summer Wendy Hilditch from the UCG also drove the girls to some summer camps, including an ESL camp. Their apartment appears to have most of what they need and they like living in Canada.
They are continuing to get support from members of the UCG and Bridge to Guelph.
Bridge to Guelph
DREAM AUCTION Food, fun, frolic, prizes and surprises!
A social highlight of our UCG
Community Saturday OCTOBER 22
This is our most profitable, longest-standing annual fundraiser.
Get ready to be generous – we have a goal of $4000!
Registration/snacks begins at 6:30 Auction begins at 7:00.
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How we ensure that the auction is fair and equitable:
We print our own “Unibucks,” and everyone gets the same amount.
Steve and Maria Chovaz have begun gathering items for the auction – please let them know what you want to contribute by October 9.
Phone or email them: 519-820-3865
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Examples of past auction items:
Unicamp weekend, guitar lessons, hosted specialty dinners, hand sewn wall-hangings, Christmas stockings and aprons, guided hikes, dog-walking, euchre tournament, baked goods, tarot card readings, to name a few.
Special note: practice up on your Rock Paper Scissors – that’s how we settle tie bids!
How the Auction works:
• Decide up front how much (real)money you want to allot to buyinggoods and services at the auction,and pay cash or write a cheque.Note: there is no tax receipt issuedfor this amount.
Pay your money and in return, you will be given: • A bundle of “Unibucks” – everyone gets the same
amount (~$200).• A bidding number that you hold up when you want to
bid on an item.• You can also give a secondary amount – those who wish
to give even more abundantly toward our Dream Auctiongoal of $4000, can make a separate donation.Note: a tax receipt for this amount will be issued at theend of the year.
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Welcome to the 56th year of the Unitarian Congregation of Guelph! We owe such a debt of grati-tude to those who started our religious community, who nursed it through its early years, who supported it through the teen and middle ages, and who sustain it now as it evolves and matures in response to a community and world which needs our message of love and justice more than ever.
At our AGM in May we voted in a slate of candidates to the Board, but without a president. The congregation agreed to have the Board at their June meeting decide how to deal with this issue. I served as secretary for the past 4 years and was quite content to continue on in that role. But with encouragement from many of you, I put my name forward for president and the Board con-firmed this so here I am – not as a reluctant leader, just a delayed one.
I am excited to be working with an outstanding Board - Aaron Smith, our youth representative, Aspen Heisey, Bradley Shaw, Brian Hawker, Cheryl Cadogan, Lisa Lindsay, Megan Gilbertson, Mike DeQuetteville, and Naomi Matsui. Drew Verrall will be returning as our Spiritual Develop-ment Coordinator, Jane McRae will continue her magic with the younger children and Roya Mat-sui will be the new Communications Coordinator.
At the 2015 AGM, we endorsed a new mission statement for UCG:
As a UU community, we: · Question freely · Serve, inspire and challenge · Seek and celebrate diversity · Support each other openheartedly · Honour the web of existence
And on May 20th of this year, the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) approved a new vision: As Canadian Unitarian Universalists, we envision a world in which our interdependence calls us to love and justice.
They identified five Aspirations to guide us in living our faith: As Canadian Unitarian Universal-ists, we are Deeply Connected, Radically Inclusive, Actively Engaged, Theologically Alive and Spirit-ually Grounded.
What powerful words which challenge us to action and which build on and extend our mission and purpose. So I am on a learning journey and we, as a UU congregation, are on this journey to-gether as we imagine, dream and reach for what we aspire to be.
Nancy Schmidt
A Message From the President
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“It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for
happiness. We learn so little from peace.” - Chuck Palahniuk, Diary
SUNDAY SERVICES
Sunday services happen every Sun-day morning from September to June at 122 Harris Street in Guelph.
For a complete list of both future and past services, visit our calendar on our website at http://www.guelph-unitarians.com
We offer nursery care for children up to age 4, children’s program-ming for children ages 4 - 9, and a Junior Youth program for children ages 9 - 13, during our Sunday ser-vice time.
CHANT CLUB
The Guelph Unitarians are pleased to provide
a home for the Guelph Chant Club. It meets the first Wednesday of every month at 7:45pm and goes through an eclectic mix of chants from all the worlds spiritual traditions---with a "world beat" groove. For more information, contact Dennis Gaumond: [email protected]
First Wednesday of the month,
Regular Activities at the UCG
MINDFULNESS COMMUNITY
Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous prac-tice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive, present and at one with those around you and with what you are doing.
We begin with a guided sitting meditation, walking meditation and silent meditation. We will then share a teaching from Thich Nhat Hanh and listen deeply to one an-other as we share what is on our hearts. This is a community prac-tice that strengthens not only our formal meditation practice but also our ability to live in awareness and joy day by day.
First and Third Sunday at 3:00pm at UCG
Kids’ Corner
NURSERY PROGRAM
Children ages infant - preschool are invited to join our nursery teacher for our nursery program, where they will explore through play, songs, crafts and stories.
Parents are more than welcome to accompany their children in the nursery until they are comfortable.
PRIMARY CHILDREN’S PROGRAM
Children ages JK - Grade 3 will be exploring the theme of Peace and Conflict this month through drama, crafts, literature and song!
YOUTH PROGRAM
Children ages Grade 4 + will be ex-ploring the theme of Peace and Conflict with guest speakers, pro-jects, discussions and more!
YOUTH GROUP
Our Youth Group meets regularly on Friday nights. This group is a place for youth aged 12 and up to build friendship, community and stewardship in a fun and welcom-ing environment. Youth meet once a month for a themed event such as movie or games night, field trips to exhibits or shows, community vol-unteer projects (chosen and led by youth) and occasional sleepovers Email Drew at [email protected] for more infor-mation or to get involved!
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“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
COLLECTION ENVELOPES
Thank you for using the collection envelopes – we send tax receipts to everyone who, over the year, makes a contribution to the UCG greater than $10. There is no need to fill out your complete address if you are already on our list – all we need is a name on the envelope.
BRING YOUR SUNDAY DONATIONS
The Welcome-in Drop-in Centre on Gordon Street is a haven and a caring community for homeless persons, those suffering from mental illness, isolation and eco-nomic marginalization. Please help us give back to our communi-ty by bringing a contribution for the Centre. Non-perishable food is easiest and coats and blankets are also appreciated. They will also use your Zehrs tapes and cheques are always welcome. Your old glasses and cell phones also are donated to a good cause.
DONATE ONLINE...
Just a reminder that your pledged donation can be made online at www.guelph-unitarians.com by clicking on the link at the bottom of the homepage. Charitable re-ceipts will be issued for all dona-tions.
PARKING ON SUNDAYS
Please note that Ferra Flooring is happy to allow us to use their parking lot on Sundays. Perhaps the earlier arrivals or physically able could use the Ferra lot, leav-ing the church lot for those less able? Thank you!
BUILDING RENTALS
Interested in renting UCG for your event or as a meeting space? UCG is available for both short and long term rentals in the day and even-ing. We currently have some open-ings for regular evening rentals, and openings for event rentals.
For more information, or to book a rental, please contact Roya at [email protected]
NEWSLETTER ITEMS
Have an item to add to our next newsletter or to a weekly email or order of service announcement page? Email Roya at [email protected] to submit an item or for more infor-mation.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Are you online? The UCG is!
Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/guelphunitarians/
Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/guelphunitarian
Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/guelphunitarians/
EMAIL LIST
Want to know what is going on at UCG? Want to stay in the know about all the great programming, including programming for chil-dren, youth, and adults? Want to read about UCG’s various commit-tees, social justice projects, solar panel project and more?
Look no further than our website and weekly email!
Our website contains a calendar with all UCGs programming, as well as pages for committees, Chil-dren, Junior Youth and Youth pro-gramming and information on all our adult programming.
Go to www.guelph-unitarians.com for all the info!We also have a weekly email to keep you up to date on what’s happening each week in our community and what’s up and coming! To get on our email list to receive weekly emails about what is going on in the UCG community, email a re-quest to Roya at [email protected] or fill out an information form at the welcome table.
