The Unitarian Church of Edmonton
is a Welcoming
Congregation, which
means our community is open to all, without regard to sexual orientation,
race,
gender,
age,
ability, or income. It's nice to have you with us.
The Edmonton Unitarian
Vol 47. No. 2
Published Monthly by the
Unitarian Church Of Edmonton
10804 119 Street
Edmonton AB T5H 3P2
Tel (780) 454-8073
Fax (780) 452-1641
Email chadmin@uce.ca
Web Site www.uce.ca
The deadline for the next newsletter is February 17.
March 5 — Sara McEwan
“Sharing Our Faith”
In this service we join with Canadian UU congregations across the
country in celebrating our religion in Canada. Sara is Director
of Regional Services West of the CUC.
March 12 — Rev. Meg Roberts
"A Jolt of Currency"
On the first Sunday of our annual canvass campaign, we will reflect
on the ways that we exchange resources to obtain what we value.
When we work, we get paid for expending our energy. Money becomes,
in some ways, like a storehouse of energy. How do we make decisions
about where to infuse that energy. Rev. Meg Roberts is the minister
of the Unitarian Church of Calgary and former intern here at UCE.
The children will participate in the first part of the service.
March 19 — Dan Newell
"Three Difficult Visitors"
Likely we are very aware of how powerful emotions such as anger,
fear, and guilt can either skew or negatively influence our experience.
Have you ever wondered if they might also inform or empower our
relationship with self, others, and our world? I suspect that it
does matter how we respond to their presence in our living. With
the aid of the notion, 'a difficult and often unwelcome visitor',
I would like to briefly explore some of the constraints and opportunities.
March 26 — Rev. Fred Cappuccino
“Lesser Miracles and Greater Miracles”
The Rev Fred Cappuccino will speak on “Lesser Miracles and
Greater Miracles”, one Unitarian’s view of Jesus. “While
I have doubts about the existence of God, and little use for the
word ‘Christ,’ I am forever intrigued by the man Jesus.”
Fred is Minister Emeritus of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
of Ottawa, and of Lakeshore Unitarian Congregation in Quebec. He
and his wife Bonnie are directors of Child Haven International,
which cares for 1000 formerly destitute children in five homes in
India and one each in Nepal, Tibet, and Bangladesh. They both received
the Order of Canada in 1996.
Every time I look at that heading, I think we need a catchier
title. Yet, on the other hand, there is benefit in simple understanding—calling
a thing what it is.
Einstein (my favourite role model), said that time is relative.
(Anyone who has visited relatives knows what he means.) February
is the longest month of the year. They say that the sun and warmth
will return. This is where tradition and hope come into play. I
certainly can understand why we need to have festivals and celebrations
to remind of us community, sharing and fun. It is too easy to just
sit on the couch with the cat on your lap, a candle going, a good
book at hand and music playing. You can look out the window and
remember the light and the flowers and the grass and/or you can
get silly. If you think that I am teaching the children this kind
of perspective on life, you would be right. The day I cannot find
something humorous in the adventures life gives us, that is the
day you need to take me to the hospital.
Even though on the surface not a lot looks to be going on, February
and March are truly times of growth and renewal, preparation for
what is to come. We, in the Children’s Church (or UCCE—Unitarian
Children’s Church of Edmonton—I just made that up, but
I’m liking it) have had a wonderful February so far.
Spirit Play
We have started Spirit Play. Our classroom space is now our sacred
space where we come with a reverent attitude to explore our spiritual
wonderings. Using the model from Berryman’s “Godly Play”,
with a Montessori framework, each week we worship together. Our
sacred practice looks both like and not like adult spiritual practice.
We light our chalice, one we have just consecrated, (Ask one of
the children about it.) We sing, we light our candles of care and
connection. Then we have a special story, which leads to our wondering
questions. These questions are the heart of our spiritual practice.
We wonder the great and small questions of life. Then we have a
time to use our creative energy to expand on our wondering. We share
a feast, together, in a special way. As we part our worship time
together, we thank each other for what we have shared.
Help! This is the part where the adults
of our congregation can help. Our story baskets need to be created.
The RE Committee has been selecting the stories for this year. They
actually need to be made up. The work is easy, but meaningful for
those who create them because you will be able to read the story
about the basket. It might even inspire you to want to “read”
the story with the children (?)
Unconditional Parenting
By the time you read this, we will have had our first workshop on
Sunday, February 26, relating to parenting with a Unitarian perspective.
As Unitarians, we embrace certain principles that we may use to
guide us in our lives. In the countless parenting books and courses
I have taken on parenting, I have rarely seen such a clear and concrete
source that echoes the values that sustain us as adults, in a format
that allows us to create that for our children in the way we parent
them. For parents, there is probably no part of their life they
are more passionate about than the well-being of their children.
As the author of the book we are using in this course, Alfie Kohn,
said “….raising kids is not for wimps. …it’s
a test you can’t study for, and one whose results aren’t
always reassuring. Forget “rocket science’ or “brain
surgery”: When we want to make the point that something isn’t
really all that difficult, we ought to say, “Hey, it’s
not parenting…” Quoting from the book jacket : “Unconditional
Parenting addresses the ways parents think about, feel about, and
act with their children. It invites them to question their most
basic assumptions about raising kids”. We will be using the
information and discussion time to help “reconnect parents
to their own best instincts and inspire them to become better parents.”
Wow! All that and having the opportunity to connect with other parents
in our church in a meaningful way and form supports with each other
so that this church is truly part of our parenting family.
Mystery Buddies: March 1st to April 16
Our annual tradition of Mystery Buddies is starting the beginning
of March and ending 6 weeks later at Easter. For those unfamiliar,
adults and children of the congregation are paired up by anonymous
pen names. There are mail boxes into which the adults can put a
message, gift, communication for their little buddy, and a corresponding
one for the children. At the end we have a mystery buddy party during
which we find out who our buddy was. It is a wonderful way to share
and make connections across the generational divide. You can ask
questions about your buddy and share things about yourself. This
year the children are selecting their own buddy name, which can
be anything as long as it reflects a Unitarian Principle or is a
Unitarian figure, or a person who shares Unitarian values. It can
be a real person, fictional person, or even a being from the non-human
world.
Songs of Protest: April 8
There are movies and books like Shrek and The Neverending Story
where the concept of what happens to a world when people no longer
share stories, culture, is explored. We Unitarians have a long tradition
of social values, of fighting for what we believe to be good in
this world. We PROTEST injustice and inequality and unfairness.
One of the sources of energy, of story telling, is in the songs
we sing. Through eons, there have been wonderful songs that in a
musical and poetic way, espouse the things we are fighting for or
against.
Songs of Protest is a Saturday workshop where we will be getting
together and sing. We may learn new songs, or remember songs we
once knew. There will be a variety of musicians who will lead us.
They get to choose the songs they want to share. Then we have a
chance to all sing together. The event is to have fun and to be
energized. Who doesn’t believe that “Now is the Time”
for good people to stand up for what they believe in. If you have
a great song you’d like to share, please bring it along.
In the evening, we will be having a concert, or jam session. We
are inviting musicians from the community to come and lead us. The
youth of the congregation will be selling refreshments.
Help! Look for posters to take to where
you go and invite all the people who’d love to do this with
us.
Cost: $5.00 to go to the Unitarian Service Committee which has long
supported peace throughout the world since the end of WW2.
Owl Training: April 28, 29 and 30
Our Whole Lives: Sexuality Education Training. This is for parents,
facilitators and interested people. This is an intensive course
on sexuality. OWL courses are available for all age ranges, from
preschool to adults. UCE is hosting this one which will focus on
the Grades k-1 and Grades 4-6 which are our largest group of children
here at UCE.
This course has been extensively used in Unitarian Congregations
across North America for years. It is a positive, comprehensive
and age-appropriate educational program that promotes sexual health
and explore our U*U religious values around human sexuality.
For more information and an application form, please look at the
display board in the foyer. You can also go online to http://www.uua.org/owl/training.html.
Please feel free to ask me about it as well.
Help! We haven’t had one in Edmonton
for many years and are honoured to host it. There will be participants
coming from across western Canada, and perhaps the northern states.
We will be providing home hospitality for participants, so if you
are able to do that, please let me know. We also need some volunteers
to help the weekend to go smoothly in terms of feeding, and caring
for the participants.
Weekend to Beat Breast Cancer: August 12 &
13
My two favourite sayings are “How Hard Can it BE?” which
then is eventually followed by “WHAT WAS I THINKING?”
Last October I completed my first marathon. I said I’d never
do something like that again. So I’m doing something different.
This time I am going to walk 60 k over 2 days to support the fight
against breast cancer. (What am I thinking?….How hard can
it be?…..What am I thinking?….etc)
Help! I am committed to raising at least $2000. Please consider
if this is an important fight you’d like to share in. If you’d
like to join my team in walking it, please call me. If you’d
like to show your support with money, that would be nice to. I also
have a hidden agenda, a secret prayer, that a special person (you
know who you are!) will join me.
Special Note to Parents in RE
Sometimes I think everybody knows everything, because I feel I’ve
said it to somebody else. RE means religious education. When you
come in on Sundays I stand by the entrance greeting people. There
is a board behind me which indicates if the children are in the
classroom; in the Sanctuary at the beginning of the adult service,
then move to the classroom; or if it is an Intergenerational Service,
which means the children are in the Sanctuary the whole time. If
there are no adults in the classroom, please go to the Sanctuary.
I try to keep my eyes open for the children, but sometimes there
is a slip up. If a program is going on in the classroom, there will
ALWAYS be an adult there. I do try to go back and round up the children
on the other times, but…..I claim to be only human too.
Upcoming services in March:
March 12, 19 and 26: children will be in the Sanctuary at the beginning
of the services, then going to the classroom.
Annual Friendship Dinner: March 11
This is a fun event. There is a write-up elsewhere in the newsletter,
but I am encouraging you to come. I love to dance with the children.
Rosemary Manning
Director of Religious Education
Congratulations to Chandra Crawford, Gold Medal Winner
at Turino Winter Olympics. Auntie Rosemary is so proud of you! Check
www.skifaster.net
Our annual general meeting will be held after church on Sunday
May 7. As well, the Council of Committee Chairs will be held on
Sat. May 6. All committee chairs or a representative(s) should keep
that date available to attend to plan activities for the future
of our church. Our vice-president, Mike Keast, will chair the meeting.
On the credenza in the main foyer is a photo album of UCE events.
Feel free to add photos to it of church activities. The photo album
is becoming an archive. Someday in the future, we hope to have an
archive room in the church to keep such things.
Our Church mortgage (held by the Brews family) of $250,000. is
due this August. Options are being reviewed. One possibility is
a continuation of the present capital campaign. Other suggestions
by church members are always appreciated.
In order to increase the revenue of the church, we have listed
our facility with AAA Elegant Affairs Catering Company at http://www.elegantaffairscatering.ca/testimonial.html.
As a result, if someone decides to rent our facility, a church member
would be hired to act as a host during the rental. If you are willing
to act as host sometimes, please contact the church administrator,
Linda. Also, if you know of other opportunities to increase the
revenue of the church, please let me or a board member know.
Alan and I will be representing Unitarians at the International
Association of Religious Freedom (IARF) congress in Taiwan at the
end of March. IARF is the international organization that Unitarians
belong to comprised of many liberal religions.
I really appreciate the present church board members. They really
have the best interests of the church at heart and they are really
a pleasure to work with. The board meets on the second Wednesday
of the month at 7:15 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Please don't let your eyes glaze over with thoughts of budgets
and deficits and balancing books. That's my job! Your job is to
support this church. We need everyone to do their very best in making
and meeting their pledges to get our beautiful church home out of
debt. Canvass is coming up in March. In order to make it easy for
you, you can fill out your pledge cards right after church on March
12, 19 and 26th. Let's get that deficit off the books and into a
positive cash flow (treasurer talk for happy!) :-)
Two important people whose helped make the election forum so successful,
but were missed in the last newsletter were Mary Ayres and Rosemary
Falconer. They diligently performed parking attendant duties and directed
everyone to the right place. Many thanks to them!
We are continuing to accept clothing, blankets and coats in the
box in the foyer. They will be used by the Boyle Street Centre.
Thanks for your contributions.
Edmonton Coalition on War and Racism (ECAWAR) is planning an event
for the 3rd anniversary of US invasion of Iraq on March 18th. It
will start at noon at Corbett Hall, U of A and walk down Whyte avenue
to Queen Alexandra Hall for indoor speeches and a general information
session. As well, the World Peace Forum will be held in Vancouver
from June 23 to 28. www.worldpeaceforum.ca
Anyone who is interested in chairing the social justice committee,
please let us know.
The Social Justice Committee decided to put their emphasis on
the following issues:
Local - Homelessness
Provincial - Public Medicare
Federal - Water
International - Unitarian Service Committee (USC)
Vigils To Stop Privatization of Medicare
Join us on the steps of the Alberta Legislature. There will be 30
minutes of speakers and music.
Monday, February 27 at 7:15 pm
Wednesday, March 1 at 12:15 noon
Monday, March 6 at 7:15 pm
Wednesday, March 8 at 12:15 noon
Monday, March 13 at 7:15 pm
Wednesday, March 15 at 12:15 noon
Monday, March 20 at 7:15 pm
Wednesday, March 22 at 12:15 noon
Monday, April 3 at 7:15 pm
Wednesday, April 5 at 12:15 noon
Monday, April 10 at 7:15 pm
Wednesday, April 12 at 12:15 noon
Monday, April 24 at 7:15 pm
Wednesday, April 26 at 12:15 noon
Bring coloured umbrellas to signify the theme 'Will you be covered
by health care?'
Organized by concerned citizens of all political stripes. Contact
publicmedicarevigils@yahoo.ca
Websites with more information on private versus public health:
We've spent a year of seasons moving into and getting accustomed
to our new church home. It's been an exciting, busy and tiring time.
We deserve a party! So let's get together and celebrate with some
good food, music and dancing. As usual we'll also honour this year's
recipient for the W.H.Alexander Award for outstanding service to
our community.
The date is Saturday, March 11 at the Chateau Louis Hotel. The
no host bar opens at 6:00 pm, dinner is at 7:00pm.
Tickets for the dinner go on sale starting February 12 and will
be available before and after each Sunday service. Tickets are $25
per person, with children under 10 free. For more information contact
the VanDerMolen-Pater family through the church office, 454-8073 chadmin@uce.ca .
If I thought I could “wear a Unitarian down” and into
“pledge submission” I would work even harder on Canvass
2006-2007. But, I’ll try anyway. In point form:
We should ALL BE CANVASSERS for UCE.
We are ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STEWARDSHIP OF UCE!
It is everyone’s commitment of money, time and effort
that makes us able to have a spiritual home, community, congregation
or call it what you will – it’s what WE make it!
I don’t know if we are ALL contributing what we are able
to from our disposable income and time.
I do know that our new location and everything that this entails
is requiring us to look for increased funding from within and
outside our congregation. If we all work diligently, we can keep
UCE running and retire any debts we have incurred.
What do I mean “we should all be canvassers”? Simply,
we should all pledge and we should ALL encourage all that attend
UCE to pledge. Canvassing is not a game between volunteers and “others”.
It is a time of year to remind ourselves that if what we have is
to continue and grow then we must each do our best to cause that
to happen.
We each found UCE in some manner and we each found something that
said “I think I want to be a part of this”. If you have
made some sort of commitment like this then it follows that you
ought to be a steward/ stewardess of UCE. All that congregate at
UCE are responsible for the stewardship of the Church.
Points 3, 4 and 5 are all about money and related matters….
We know that many people with small incomes are generous and that
many with large incomes are generous also…. We can all look
at our incomes and ask “am I able to give more?” Some
can but some can’t!
Our Church runs on Democratic Principles. Each congregant holds
these principles in his/her own hands, thus each is responsible
for how UCE grows.. Please Pledge and give as much as you possibly
can. The Canvass Committee and UCE will thank you for your part
in running and building our/your Church. Be sure to pledge on March
12th, 19th or 26th.
Croning and Saging Workshops April 13th and 20th from 1 to 3 p.m.
Facilitated by Audrey Brooks (contact Audrey through the church office, 454-8073 chadmin@uce.ca )
Aging is a verb that implies significant life changes. What it
isn't is a label for stagnation, for women and men, either spiritually
or physically. Together we will explore and encourage a journey
to becoming a Crone, or Wise Woman in our own lives, or a Sage or
Wise Man in our own lives. Be prepared to write, sing, sorrow, celebrate
within the bonds of our sacred community.
Wear loose fitting clothes, bring sacred items, songs, jokes,
whatever you like, to illustrate our theme, and a notebook.
CAN
YOU HELP:Are you travelling to Cuba or
know someone who is?
The ‘Not Just Tourists – Edmonton’ was founded
in January 2005. We are a volunteer-based not-for-profit project
that collects surplus medicines and medical supplies for use in
Cuba and other developing countries. Persons travelling on business
or vacation deliver these much-needed supplies to doctors and clinics
in their travel destinations. This method agrees with legal regulations
of Canada and Cuba.
As well, before you throw out pharmaceutical samples or ANY supplies
call ‘Not Just Tourists – Edmonton’! We collect,
sort and pack 10 kg. suitcases of medicines and supplies for countries
in need. The suitcases are packed under the supervision of medical
professionals, and then delivered by tourists and business travelers
to hospitals, clinics and physicians with a letter signed by a Canadian
physician. We accept:
Prescription medicines such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories,
anti-virals, diuretics, asthma puffers, blood pressure meds, and
others (not less than 3 months before expiry)
Over the counter medicines such as those used to treat colds,
allergies, headache and arthritic pain
Vitamins and minerals
Supplies such as bandages, antiseptics, examination gloves,
scalpels, wound-care kits, IV kits in sterile packaging, masks,
disposable needles and syringes, medical uniforms, blood pressure
cuffs
Eyeglasses, sunglasses, eye patches
Prescription and non-prescription creams such as lubricants,
antibiotics, and topical anesthetics
Dental and dental hygiene supplies and instruments
Condoms, birth control pills and personal hygiene items
Issues of the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties
Medical Journals
Wheel chairs, walkers, canes, braces, crutches and prothesis
Small suitcases and carry bags
If you wish to participate in this project or can refer us to
someone else who may participate, please contact the ‘NJT
- Edmonton’ by email at njt@lagauche.ca or telephone us at
780-488-0942.
‘Not Just Tourists - Edmonton’
Box 64001, 11528 - 107 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5H 4K7
The objective of the annual W.H. Alexander Award is to allow the
Unitarian Church of Edmonton to honour a person or persons for extraordinary
services provided to benefit the Church community.
Rules:
Nominations must be made in writing by members of the Unitarian
Church of Edmonton and must include reasons for nominating the
person or persons.
Members of the board may not submit nominations.
Persons who have been staff members or members of the board
within the preceding year are not eligible to receive the award.
Past staff members and members of the board are eligible if
the services for which they are recommended were not performed
during the period when they held these special positions.
Members of the board will select the winner of the award from
among the nominees at a regular board meeting. The final decision
must be supported by a majority of the board members.
There is no limit on the number of times a person may be nominated
for, or win, the award.
Nominations must be submitted to the Board by March
8, 2006. Nominations may be put in the President’s mailbox.
Five Alaskan UU fellowships invite other UUs to our eco-cultural
programs in June, July and August 2006. See the REAL Alaska! Alaskan
UU's provide B & B accomodations in their homes in Anchorage,
Seward, Fairbanks, Juneau and Sitka, lead tours and hikes and host
parties. Visit with Tlingit, Inupiat and other Native Alaskans.
See whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals, bears, moose, caribou,
wolves, puffins, eagles and other birds in the wild from the Arctic
Ocean to the Inside Passage in the south, and visit Denali and other
national parks. Rev. Dick and Mary Weston-Jones, leaders. Visit
website www.wuurld.org, e-mail
dick@wuurld.org, or phone toll-free 1-888, 998-8753 for a brochure.
Taking reservations now.
There is a small fund started for refurbishing the
sanctuary chairs. If anyone is willing to contribute to this, please
email your pledge to UCEChairs@gmail.com or call Linda Stolee at
454 - 8073 or deposit your cheque with her at the office.
Friday Mar 3 - Gold Bar to the ACT centre for coffee/lunch and
return - Marlo M, 9:30 at UCE and we’ll car pool or Gold Bar
parking lot
Friday Mar 10 - Mill Creek Ravine South from the swimming pool
- Sharon I, 9:30 at UCE or 10 at Shirley’s - dog friendly
Friday Mar 17- Emily Murphy Park to Hawrelak (bring your bird
seed for the chickadees!)
- leader Lise C, 9:30 at UCE or Emily Murphy parking lot nearest
Groat Bridge
Friday Mar 24 - Hermitage
- leader Helen R, 9:30 at UCE - dog friendly
Friday Mar 31- Muttart to Mill Creek ravine with lunch at Muttart
(visit the displays if you wish
)- leader Donna H, 9:30 at UCE or 10 at the parking lot - dog friendly
Sara McEwan, Director of Regional Service WEST sara@cuc.ca Toll
Free 1-866-877-7787
Lay Chaplaincy Training – Designing and Leading Rites of
Passage
March 10/Friday – 12/Sunday, 2006, First Unitarian Fellowship
of Nanaimo, BC
Info: www.cuc.ca/lay_chaplaincy lcc@cuc.ca
CUC Annual Conference & Meeting - Riding the UU Tide
May 19/Friday -22/Monday, 2006, Saint John, NB
Info: Mary Bennett mary@cuc.ca www.cuc.ca/conference
Combined Elementary Our Whole Lives (OWL) Training
April 28/Friday – 30/Sunday, 2006 Unitarian Church of Edmonton,
AB
Info; Sylvia Bass West sylvia@cuc.ca
Healthy Congregations Facilitator Training with Peter Steinke
June 8/Thursday – 10/Saturday, 2006 Port Moody, B.C.
Info: Sara McEwan sara@cuc.ca
Eliot Institute – Spirit & Virtue: An Interfaith Appreciation
with
July1/Saturday – 8/Saturday Naramata, BC Harold Rosen
Info: www.eliotinstitute.org
Canadian Unitarian*Universalist Leadership (CU*UL) School
July 20/Thursday – 23/Sunday, 2006 Carleton University, Ottawa
Info. Dianne Heise bennett@nonline.net or cuul@cuc.ca
CUC Fall Gathering: Western Region
Saskatoon, SK TBA. Fall 2006
Info: Sara McEwan sara@cuc.ca
Unitarian Women’s Retreat - Vancouver Island
October 20/Friday - October 22/Sunday 2006 Nanaimo, BC
Info: Janice Hocking tjhocking@shaw.ca
CUC Fall Gathering: BC Region
October 27/Friday – October 29/Sunday, 2006 Kelowna, BC.
Info: Sara McEwan sara@cuc.ca
Want to add events to this calendar?
Contact Sara McEwan, CUC DRS West sara@cuc.ca
The deadline for submitting reports to the Annual General Meeting
is Wednesday, April 28, 2006. These reports may be emailed, mailed
or dropped off at the church office.
Why don’t you sign up for the newsletter via email? You can
save the church money on postage and envelopes. Just email Linda
and she’ll add you to the list!
