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. 6
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
June 4 — Rev. Brian J. Kiely
“Blessing the Pets”
Finned, feathered and four-legged creatures are welcome at this
family service. We will celebrate the living creatures that brighten
our lives and teach us so much about our world.
June 11 — Rev. Brian J. Kiely
and Rosemary Manning
“Flower Communion Service”
In a tradition that started in Czech Unitarian churches before WWII,
members and friends are invited to bring a flower (or two) that
will be gathered as a living symbol of our community. And then we
each take a different flower away with us, reminder of the gifts
we receive in this place. We will also welcome new members today
and recognize our children’s program volunteers.
June 18 — Rev. Brian J. Kiely
“Picnic Service”
Bring a lunch to keep or share, a chair on which to perch and any
balls, games or toys appropriate for picnic fun. We gather across
119th street in the park if it’s a nice day (in the church
if it isn’t). There will be a short service around 11 a.m.
and then a chance to enjoy each other’s company and food in
this welcoming of summer.
June 25
“Any Bowl Can Be A Chalice”
A quiet, reflective service of readings and music. Please bring
a favourite reading or poem to share on the theme of what spirituality
means to you. Please feel free to bring your personal chalice.
I sometimes quip, only half jokingly, that I became a minister
because I was such a poor church volunteer. Granted I was in my
20’s back then, but while I usually met deadlines, I was often
unprepared for meetings and forgetful of the ‘to do’
list in between those meetings.
Fortunately, this congregation is blessed to have a lot of members
and friends willing to do the work of the church better than I used
to do. For that, I and the rest of the staff are grateful…
very grateful! In so many ways you show that you believe in this
church and are willing to give of yourselves to make it a better
place. Without your contributions of time and effort there would
be far less getting done, but more importantly, this would be a
far poorer place. Why?
A newcomer arriving on a Sunday gets greeted, served coffee, provided
with information, helped to find the church school if appropriate
and handed a hymn book, all because of you. Our senior members and
friends get to come together for a lovely lunch now and then, and
are given the opportunity to see old friends because of you. A child
is made to feel welcome and provided a safe place to play and learn
because of you. On Sunday morning there is sound and music and hymns
because of you. The money is collected and counted and the bills
get paid and the big decisions about the future of our church are
made because of you. People in need of care are visited because
of you. Our church has a voice in community affairs because of you.
Our newsletter gets sent out and our office is staffed in the afternoons
because of you. And a hundred repairs and improvements happen around
our building and grounds because of you. None of those things —
and this just begins the list — would happen without you,
so thank you.
Without all of that service to one another, this would be a poorer
place indeed.
Perhaps the most important piece of the volunteer participation
at UCE is that by helping out, you get to meet all the other yous
who help out. The long time members tell me that some of the friendships
that have sustained them for years began here at church while working
on some task small or large.
So thank you for giving your time to this community. And thank you
for being this community.
Ah, June. The sun, the warmth, the anticipation of the summer.
It is a glorious month, full of possibility and anticipation. For
many children and their parents, it is the winding down of all that
activity of school and extracurricular events. The summer months
are there – open, free.
In The Religious Experience Program* at this church, we are winding
down our church year, much like school. But June
is also the planting time, the planning time. It is now that
we set in place what will happen in the Fall. We are enticing volunteers
to look at becoming members of the Religious Education Committee,
the “teachers” (I will come up with another word for
what they do based on Spirit Play). Volunteers are the heart and
soul of the Religious Experience for children. They are the ones
who make it happen. (*NOTE: You may notice that for RE Program,
the words Religious Experience has been substituted for Religious
Education. Although this title is not formal, what if we started
viewing the children’s experience within our church as spiritual
questing, not “education”? This something we will be
discussing in the upcoming workshops.)
In June we are asking you: what are the most
important programs at this Church? What is our heart? Where
is our heart? Last year we asked you about Our children, our Vision,
our Church in the 21st Century. This year we’re asking about
priorities. What attracts people to this
church and makes it a welcoming place, a nourishing, spiritual home?
These questions, which we have been searching out in our Long Range
Planning Workshops, our Mission Workshops, our Visioning Workshops,
now lead us to the question: How Do We Make That Happen? Where Do
We Put Our Energy? It is what we DO that shows what our priorities
are.
This year we have really worked at understanding that Children’s
Spiritual Needs are the same as the adults. They need a place and
their parents need a place where the great questions of life can
be examined. We have been doing that. Now, perhaps, we can be more
conscious about HOW we do that.
In the last year in the Religious Experience Program at UCE, we
have had a Family Values Workshop to look at what are the values
that shape us, that are important to each of us, the ones we would
choose to foster and develop in the youngest members of this congregation.
We have introduced Spirit Play: a way of wondering, questioning,
searching that uses stories and myths and experiential work to open
the minds and hearts to the spiritual quest. We have introduced
Positive Parenting: a way to treating our young members in accordance
with our Unitarian Principles. We have incorporated the children
into many more services, ushering, welcoming, participating. We
have had Intergenerational Services which use different ways of
speaking to the spiritual needs of ALL members of this congregation
without age segregation.
These last few years have been years of great transformation in
the Congregation. Transformation is often troubling, even painful.
There are those who really don’t want things to change. Familiarity
can be very comforting. It is normal even in those who recognize
the need for change, to feel uncomfortable and reluctant in the
face of it.
****Now we’re asking you to step forward and
embrace some changes. In June we will be having a workshop, a training
session for volunteers, teachers, helpers and interested people.
We will give you the tools and information which will help you decide
what contribution you can make in the RE Program. There will be
written descriptions of positions you could choose. You may be excited
to find that there are things you can do which will give you MORE
spiritual nourishment that you ever expected.****
NOTE: Look for the SIGN UP SHEET to attend this amazing event.
You will never regret you came. It may be one of those “pivotal”
moments in your life.
The plans we have for the Fall cannot happen without the willing
support of this congregation. To give you a taste:
A Sleep Over Harvest Event for Families
Our Whole Lives Sexuality Course for K1’s
Spirit Play
Unconditional Parenting – How to relate with children
using the Golden Rule
An Intergenerational Culture Course: Movies, books, games
Intergenerational Celebrations
Looking forward to working with you to develop a fantastic, vibrant,
amazing, MEANINGFUL year.
Rosemary Manning
Director of Religious Education
Important Info for June
As you look in the calendar you will see PET SUNDAY, FLOWER COMMUNION,
and FATHER’s DAY PICNIC. All these services include the children.
The Father’s Day Picnic is the official end of the RE Program
year. There will be ongoing childcare in the Little One’s
Room all summer, provided by Corinth Stolee. I will be away most
of the summer because of vacation time and overtime compensatory
time. However, I am back the last 2 weeks of August for set up and
planning purposes.
Thank You Gratitude
Many people have contributed to the RE Program this year. On the
RE Committee, we had Joan Childs as the Chair. Her dedication and
attention to detail, her ability to focus us on the necessary tasks,
was invaluable. Joan: Thank you so much. I wish you could stay on
another year. However, the storage room should be named in your
honour given the massive sorting and organizing task you accomplished
there.
Christina Keast is also resigning from the committee. (Look at
the sweet faces of Alicia and Sean and you need not wonder what
her priorities are.) Thank you for all your contributions and hard
work. (But Christina, are we going to be seeing you in the OWL Training?)
Scott Harrison is responsible for the cabinets in the Little One’s
Room. Having your perspective on RE with two wonderful daughters
in the Program has been balancing and energizing. Audrey Brooks
is a stalwart. Always willing to help, contribute her wisdom and
experience, her heart and her spiritual perspective. Bless you,
thank you.
Bryce Missall acted as my personal chauffeur. It would have been
so hard transporting all those materials and projects I worked on
without his help. And he listened to my conversations, especially
when I was gearing up for a big service. Thank you Bryce. Guardian
angels come in various disguises, and you are a special person.
Tasha Ellis taught the 4-8’s in the Fall before she had
her baby. She was loved and appreciated. And one student in particular
(Odell), told me that she was his favourite teacher.
Alison Grant-Préville was an initiator of the Unconditional
Parenting workshop. What a gift you are to this congregation.
Barbara Forbes co-facilitated the Family Values Workshop. Thank
you, Barbara. What a wonderful grandmother you are.
There are many others who brought food, helped out at events,
hosted participants for the OWL Training, participated in the Mystery
Buddy Program and showed love and welcome to the youngest members
of this congregation. Thank you all.
Two wonderful teens were our child care providers: Kate Childs
and Meredith Swytink-Binnema. Our babies were in good hands this
year. Thank you.
And thank you to all the members of this congregation. Your love
and warmth, acceptance and appreciation of the children, your commitment
to a RE Program in this Church is what makes this our religious
home. THANK YOU ALL.
Sometimes
Does the caterpillar feel pain
As she transforms herself into the butterfly?
Does she feel the loss of
What she once was
As she breaks the chrysalis?
Does she fear the new world she is entering?
Does the rose miss being the bud
Tightly furled
As she opens her petals
Slowly into the warm summer sun?
Do you know when you have changed?
Is it gentle, like climbing a hill
You only see how far you’ve come
When you look back.
Or is it like
Falling off a cliff
You didn’t see the drop ahead
And you don’t know if you’ll
Fly or you’ll fall.
From the President — Unidentified Sunday
Offerings
(Compiled by Stan Calder, Head Teller)
The figures below represent one-half of each Sunday’s
offerings that have been shared with other charitable organizations
as designated by the Board of the Unitarian Church of Edmonton.
Special designated offerings have been noted and that amount has
not been included in the total for the month.
September, 2005 (Youth Emergency Shelter)
September 4 $ 49.58
September 11 $ 316.50
September 18 $ 37.50
September 25 $ 68.93 TOTAL $ 472.51
($371.70 was forwarded to the UUA/UUSC for Pakistan earthquake
relief. I do not know whether this was a special designated offering
or not, so that amount may have been taken from the September
total.)
October, 2005 (Canadian Red Cross)
October 2 $ 91.42
October 9 $ 122.65
October 16 $ 142.96
October 23 $ 143.25
October 30 $ 54.73 TOTAL $ 555.01
($251.74 was forwarded to the Edmonton Gleaners (Food Bank). I
do not know whether this was a special designated offering or
not, so that amount may have been taken from the October total.)
November, 2005 (St. Stephen’s College)
November 6 $ 54.45
November 13 $ 26.42
November 20 $ 168.73
November 27 $ 106.60 TOTAL $ 356.20
December, 2005 (No Room at the Inn)
December 4 $ 151.41
December 11 $ 96.98
December 18 $ 112.71
December 25 $ 409.95 TOTAL $ 771.05
January, 2006 (Bissell Centre)
January 1 $ 43.00
January 8 $ 88.94
January 15 $ 71.63
January 22 $ 134.06
January 29 $ 87.78 TOTAL $ 425.41
February, 2006 (Hope Mission)
February 5 $ 127.11
February 12 $ 65.86
February 19 $ 61.84
February 26 $ 99.65 TOTAL $ 354.46
TOTAL TO CUC Sharing Our Faith: $1057.87
was forwarded to the CUC from the special “Sharing our Faith”
offering given on March 5. Of that amount, $81.87 was from unidentified
sources.
March, 2006 (Child Haven)
March 12 $ 75.25
March 19 $ 53.89
March 26 $ 96.30 TOTAL $ 225.44
April, 2006 (Mustard Seed Church)
April 2 $ 70.98
April 9 $ 72.67
April 16 $ 128.85
April 23 $ 99.04
April 30 $ 101.68 TOTAL $ 473.22
President’s Message
I have just totalled up the amounts above that Stan Calder tabulated
for us. As you can see, you are exceptionally generous and have
donated $4691.17 so far to different charities (if I have added
it up correctly!). You certainly have created a culture of abundance!
Way to go, Unitarians and friends!
When you receive this newsletter, Dorothy and Bernie Keeler, Brian
and Teilya Kiely, Annabelle and Maurice Bourgoin, Marion DeShield
and I will have just attended the Canadian Unitarian Council conference
and AGM at Saint John, New Brunswick at the end of May. Karen Mills
will be leading the choir. Brian will be chairing his last AGM as
President of the Unitarian Council. I am looking forward to learning
lots and spending time with other Canadian Unitarians.
Geoffrey Anderson
Rebecca Barber-Cross
Robert Brundin
Paul Burnell
David Cross
Joan Davison
Tasha Ellis
David Haas
Owen Hurst
Sandi Lichuk
Vivian Anne Lundgren
Bryce Missall
Marjorie Russell
All New Members are invited to join the Reverend Brian J. Kiely,
members of the Board, the Membership Committee and the congregation
on Sunday, June 11 for a simple ceremony of welcome. For more information,
call Jolien Pauw through the church office, 454-8073 chadmin@uce.ca .
Edmonton Pride Week Parade
Join other Unitarians for the Pride Parade on Sat. June 17th. Just
look for our Unitarian and the Westwood banners. The parade begins
at 2 pm at 108 street and Jasper and walks to Churchill Square.
It is followed by a post parade festival and business fair in Churchill
Square. It is always lots of fun and the more the merrier. Come
and show your support.
The World Peace Forum
The World Peace Forum will be held in Vancouver from June 23 to
28. Many of the events are being held at the Unitarian Church of
Vancouver. Sylvia Krogh will be attending the peace forum. If anyone
would like to join Sylvia, please contact her in advance. Thanks.
The Care and Connections Committee brings the names
of the UCE members and friends who have had losses and/or illnesses
themselves or in their families.
Please keep them in your care and thoughts.
Marg Booker
Paul Childs
Joan Davison
Eryn Labelle
Ken Murray
Have you got a passion or an experience
that you'd like to share? A thought or an opinion that you'd like
to explore? UCE's lay-led summer worship services provide a great
opportunity to lead a discussion, show slides or think out loud
about your concept of spirituality or any other topic that relates
in any way to one of the UU principles. (We've had summer services
ranging from the study of chimpanzee behavior to the contribution
made by community theatre in the search for truth and meaning.)
Services can be as structured or informal as you wish. You can
choose music, hymns and readings based on the main theme of your
service, or leave them out altogether. We sometimes use the metaphor
of menu planning when we talk about developing a worship service.
During the summer, we can think "barbecue on the patio"
with its freedom and informality rather than the more structured
"dinner with a roast and the trimmings" served on a winter
Sunday. There will be a sign up sheet available starting May 7,
with Sundays assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. The Worship
Committee is working on a service leaders' handbook to help with
planning a service and fitting in key elements like candles of joy
and concern, and sharing of abundance.
If you have questions or would like to talk over an idea, please
contact either co-chair of the Worship Committee: John Pater or
Beth Jenkins through the church office, 454-8073 chadmin@uce.ca .
We are looking for volunteers to keep the church grounds tidy.
This involves picking up “garbage” that blows into our
landscaping or along the fence, or against our building, and periodically
using the grass whipper to keep the long grass on our side of the
frost fence under control. Please phone Mike Keast (471-0872) or
Bernie Keeler (458-1250) to offer your services.
The Board of our Church has requested that the Aesthetics committee
serve as the means for the fund raising for the refurbishing of
the chairs. We are coordinating with the head of ‘sweat equity’,
volunteers and the Board.
The fabric will be ordered shortly and the wood finishing requirements
will be gathered in late May–early June.
We have estimated $30 will cover the cost of refurbishing one
chair. We invite our members or anyone interested to make donations
to meet this need.
The campaign will begin on Mothers’ Day. Watch for the rising
indicator on the thermometer as donations come in! Please make your
cheque out to the Unitarian Church of Edmonton, noting in the lower
left hand corner “chair fund”. Your donation can be
mailed to the church office “attention Aesthetics Committee”
or given to any member of the committee.
It has been suggested that July and August will be a suitable
time for the work to be done.
Our 2nd Annual Scramble will be on Thursday, June 22nd for 9 holes
of golf followed by dinner at Victoria Golf Course. There will be
goodie bags and prizes for everyone who participates. The cost for
this fun event will be $24 per person for golf and $24 for dinner
of either steak or chicken.
If you are not a golfer but interested in learning more about
the game, this format is a great introduction to the game. The best
ball of the four team members will be used for the next shot and
there is no pressure on non-golfers, just fun to be had.
For those who would like to play a practice 9 holes earlier, please
let us know as soon as possible and we will attempt to get you out.
The course is very busy, but we will call on Tuesday the 20th to
attempt to get you out around 2 pm if the Golf course has tee off
availability. The price for 18 holes would then be $37 rather than
$24.
To register or for more information email Jan or Stefan through the church office, 454-8073 chadmin@uce.ca
no later than Wednesday, June 14th . Tee off times for the scramble
are from 4:12 to 4:52 pm. If you cannot make it for the golf game
you are welcome for dinner which will be around 7 pm at a cost of
$24 but be sure to let us know by June 14th as well.
Some of you have been members of the Edmonton Interfaith Centre
in the past; others have yet to take that step. If you believe in
the principles of the Centre, perhaps you would consider taking
that step this year.
The city as a whole and many of its institutions are becoming much
more sensitive to interfaith and multicultural concerns. We think
this is a very positive sign. However, in order to respond to all
this increased interest and to offer the wide range of programs
that people desire, we need a larger core of committed members and
friends to draw on. Please give it some thought.
Our next general meeting is the Annual General Meeting, on June
7, 7:30 p.m., at the Riverbend Stake Centre (The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints), 14325 - 53 Avenue.
Innovative Food Program Encourages Community Involvement
If You Eat, You Qualify!
Sharing and Responsibility food program was developed as the fund
raising arm of Branches of Life, a non-profit organization started
in Edmonton over 20 years ago. The goal of S&R is to allow individuals
at all income levels to participate and subsequently benefit. If
you eat, you qualify….to benefit
How it Works: Sharing — The economic buying power of a group!
Using combined leverage with hundreds of participants growing monthly,
volunteers are able to purchase fresh produce direct from the food
producer. Individuals and families are able to join in fund raising
efforts by purchasing a food basket worth up to $40 retail. Each
basket contains basic foods of nutritious variety with minimal packaging.
Whenever possible, foods is purchased from local growers. Each month
2 basket options are available at host locations throughout Edmonton
& St.Albert.
Organic ($25) +2 hr volunteer work at place of your choice
Pickup – 1 Wednesday of each month
Conventional ($20) +2 hr volunteer work at place of your choice)
Pickup– 3 Saturday of each month
Responsibility: Contribute to the community! S &R participants
are asked to contribute 2 hours of volunteer work or perform an
act of kindness each month at a place and interest of their choice.
In addition, from each basket, $2 is contributed to Edmonton housing
Projects.
Every first Wednesday(Organic) and third Saturday(Conventional)
of each month, the food is sorted and distributed to host sites
by volunteers where participants pick of their baskets at a prearranged
place and time. Each month the basket contains different items depending
on availability.
If you are interested in participating in the
S&R food program or setting up a host site in you area Contact:
Betty Ann Laporte and arrange for payment, 780 474-5546. Main Host
Site Depot: Paragon Soil, 14805 – 119 Avenue, Edmonton.
Branches of Life
Sharing
Caring
Giving
Branches of Life Society of Canada is a non-denominational, charitable,
non-profit organization. Our main objective is to provide housing
and support to individuals and families who require secured shelter
and support.
This Society is not supported by lotteries or bingos. In order
to develop and support its housing programs, Sharing & Responsibilty
Food Program is the organization’s main fund raising arm.
Branches of Life Society of Canada
Suite 101, 14805-119 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5L 2N9
Phone 780.474.5546
Office donated by Paragon Soil and Environmental Consulting
This is a call for someone interested in “the promotion
of healthy sexuality throughout the life span” (Mission statement,
PPE). The Board of Planned Parenthood of Edmonton is seeking new
members. We have an exciting and challenging couple of years ahead
of us - possibly a name change and rebranding, a HUGE event for
2008, and a number of other plans. If you have 6-10 hours per month,
a bit of board/committee experience, enthusiasm for life and a willingness
to learn and meet these challenges with us - please contact Michelle
Van Der Molen through the church office, 454-8073 chadmin@uce.ca .
AMENDMENT TO THE FRIENDSHIP
COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT
I wish to make an amendment to the Friendship Committee Financial
Report submitted to the annual general meeting May 6, 2006. I omitted
to indicate in the donations column that a donation of $100 was
received from Florence Campbell on behalf of her husband Stan Campbell
for the service the committee hosted for his memorial.
Eliot Institute, a UU Summer Camp Program, has once
again set up a special fund to invite new families to Eliot Naramata,
the UU camp for Unitarians and Universalists, their families and
friends. Each of the first 10 new families (minimum one adult and
one child or youth) will receive a $200 CAD discount. The camp runs
July 1 to 8. Naramata is located on the shores of Lake Okanagan
in a charming small town. Harold Rosen will offer his fascinating
work on interfaith ethics in our troubled world. The children have
their own morning program, and there are plenty of intergenerational
activities in the afternoon. Other financial assistance can be available
to those in need.
Make Naramata part of your summer plans. It's not
too late, but register soon! Visit www.eliotinstitute.org
for registration forms and other information. Or call 206-374-2497.
211 is an easy to remember telephone number that
connects people to a full range of non-emergency social, health
and government services in the community. Twenty four hours a day,
seven days a week, Certified Information and Referal Specialists
answer 211 calls, assess the needs of each caller, and link them
to the best available information and services.
Why 211 works
Single access point. 211 provides
a single access point to a community’s full range of social,
health and government services, reducing confusion and frustration
for the caller.
Free. 211 is accessible at no cost
to callers.
For more information on 211 call Nancy Douglas at The Support Network.
Phone: (780) 482-0198
Sara McEwan, Director of Regional Service WEST sara@cuc.ca Toll
Free 1-866-877-7787
Healthy Congregations Facilitator Training with Peter Steinke
Thursday June 8 – Saturday 10. Port Moody, B.C.
Info: Sara McEwan sara@cuc.ca
Western Region 20th Annual Unitarian Women’s Gathering
Transitions Riding the Waves with Rev. Meg Roberts
Friday June 30 – Sunday July 2. Lumsden, SK
Info: Janet Toews (204) 275 2329
Canadian Unitarian*Universalist Leadership (CU*UL) School
Thursday July 20 – Sunday 23. Carleton University, Ottawa,
ON
Info. Dianne Heise cuul@cuc.ca
Vancouver Island Unitarian Camp
Friday August 9 – Sunday11. Shawnigan Lake, BC
Info: Joy Johnston joyhaben@telus.net
CUC Regional Fall Gathering: Western Region
Friday October 20 – Sunday 22. Saskatoon, SK
Info: Sara McEwan sara@cuc.ca
Unitarian Women’s Retreat - Vancouver Island
Friday, October 20 - Sunday 22. Nanaimo, BC
Info: Janice Hocking tjhocking@shaw.ca
CUC Volunteer Positions Vacant:
1. Service Consultant - Worship, BC and Western Regions.
2. Service Consultant – Congregational Wellness and Vitality,
BC Region
Info: sara@cuc.ca or http://cuc.ca/whos_who/volunteer_opportunities.htm
CUC Invitation:
Join your regional CUC e-group? http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/cuc-bc/
This is a discussion group for BC region where issues related to
congregational life and management and regional matters are discussed.
Anyone may join and all subscribers may post.
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/cuc-western/
This group allows interested friends and members of the Western
Region of the CUC to connect with one another. Issues related to
congregational life and management and the Western Region may be
discussed here.
Want to add events to this calendar?
Contact Sara McEwan, CUC DRS West sara@cuc.ca
Why don’t you sign up for the newsletter via email? You can
save the church money on postage and envelopes. Just email Linda
(chadmin@uce.ca)and she’ll add you to the list!
By the way, if you have changed your email address recently, did
you remember to contact the church? We’re getting lots of
returned email!
