CUC eNews: February 19, 2019 – Issue 78

In This Issue:

• The Ripple Effect Campaign Has Launched!
• THR: Reconciliation Through Film
• CUC’s New Pastoral Care Team for Young Adults
• CUUWA Offers Resources for International Women’s Day
  
• UU Positions Available at Unicamp
• Upcoming Events You Won’t Want to Miss

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The Ripple Effect Campaign Has Launched!

We are pleased to announce that our two-year water campaign, The Ripple Effect, is officially underway!  We invite you to take a look at our Kick Off Video and the resources posted on the CUC website – The Ripple Effect, including our growing pool of resources that will help you learn about various issues impacting water and engage in action on personal, local, provincial, national, and international levels.

On the front page of our Resource Site, you will find a step-by-step guide to getting involved, including links to posters, surveys and FAQs.  There is an introductory questionnaire that we urge groups to fill out as soon as possible as it allows us to know who is getting involved, their interests, and any knowledge or support they might need, or be able to offer other groups who are working on a similar water issue.  

We also encourage everyone to join our Facebook group to follow the ripples of action that are happening across the country, ask questions, share resources, and highlight issues of importance.  As people share links to resources we will add them to our resource site, which we hope will further facilitate connections between faith groups, communities and organizations across the country. Do you know specialty groups or organizations dealing with specific water issues?  Please invite them to join the Facebook group as well as their input is invaluable.

As the National Social Justice Team, we are committed to walking this journey with you and look forward to seeing what ripples of change we can create together!  

Join the Ripple Effect!

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THR: Reconciliation Through Film

By Amber Dawn Bellemare

The Truth Healing and Reconciliation (THR) Resource Team invites you to engage with themes of colonization and Indigenous resilience through film with our second edition of online national film screenings.

Last year the THR team hosted 2 screenings of Reel Injun, a documentary by Cree director Neil Diamond. The purpose of this film was to encourage us to think about stereotypes and resilience from a personal place and to engage in truth-telling and truth-hearing with a better understanding of the history of Indigenous Peoples in film.

The CUC has partnered with the National Film Board of Canada to present three Indigenous films highlighting the stories that shape the complex relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Our selections this year include:

Trick or Treaty by Alanis Obomsawin. Learn about the history and present reality of treaties between First Nations and the Canadian Government.

Angry Inuk by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril presents an inside perspective to the war on seal hunting.

The Road Forward by Marie Clements  A musical documentary connecting “a pivotal moment in Canada’s civil rights history by examining the connection between Indian nationalism in the 1930s and First Nations activism today.” (NFB)

How does it work? Based on the successful Young Adult THRRG format, participants are given 2 weeks to view a film, read supporting materials, and then come together for a scheduled video conference calls to debrief. Reflection Groups follow a facilitated sharing circle format that continues the themes and Enduring Understandings developed by the THRRG Task Force.

Check Out THR: Reconciliation Through Film 

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CUC’s New Pastoral Care Team Lends a Supportive Ear to Young Adults

The CUC Youth and Young Adult Ministry Staff are thrilled to announce our newest program to serve young adults: the Pastoral Care Team. Three ministers on the team are available to support young adults by offering caring conversations and supportive listening – by phone or Zoom video conference. Young adults can access this from anywhere, whether or not they are affiliated with a congregation.

The program was started in response to the needs that CUC Staff Casey Stainsby and Asha Philar saw in the young adult community – especially among young adults who don’t regularly attend a congregation and don’t have a relationship with a minister. Even young adults who are part of a congregation may not think that pastoral care is for them, or they may not know that they can reach out to their minister in times of need.

Through the Pastoral Care Team, young adults can access support in times of transition, loss, relationship challenges, stress about school and work, decision making and more. If they are seeking connection, the ministers can also provide information about young adult events, like Gathered Here monthly online check-ins, and can make introductions to a local young adult group or congregation.

Young adults can contact the Pastoral Care Team by phone or email. One of the members will be in touch within 24 hours to set up a time to meet. The team will try to offer care as soon as possible, and usually within 2-3 days of getting receiving a request.  

Email: pastoralcare@cuc.ca
Confidential voicemail:  204-900-0150

Adult allies: we welcome your help in spreading the word about this important program.  If a Unitarian young adult in your life could use support in this way, please direct them to the Pastoral Care Team web page!

Learn More About Pastoral Care for Young Adults

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CUUWA Offers Resources for International Women’s Day

The Canadian Unitarian and Universalist Women’s Association (CUUWA) invites all congregations across Canada to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on one of the Sundays close to March 8, IWD, each year. This year, they have compiled a set of worship and study materials and share them in time to plan for a service, small group ministry session, study or discussion group in March. The 2019 theme is Journey.

The packet includes a Chalice Lighting and other readings for a Sunday Service, suggestions for sermons or panels, children’s stories, reflection questions for a small ministry group session, and links to music and web resources. This year also features artwork and a large section of poetry by Canadian U*U women and non-binary people.

In addition to the packet, you may follow CUUWA’s Facebook page from March 3 to March 10. They will be asking questions about your journey and inviting you to share how your congregation or group made use of the materials they provided.

Download the CUUWA’s 2019 International Women’s Day Service Packet

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Positions Available at Unicamp

From Michelle McComb, Unicamp Camp Director

Unicamp is looking to hire UU members to work at camp this summer. They are specifically looking for Senior and Middle Management Positions (Head Cook, Assistant Property, Assistant Director, Assistant Property Manager, CIT/LIT Facilitators). Visit the Unicamp of Ontario Facebook page for more information. The application deadline is Thursday, February 28.

Apply for a Job at Unicamp

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Join the Canadian Unitarian Council on Facebook!

Upcoming Events

Share what’s going on in your congregation. Contact communications@cuc.ca
Deadline: the 14th of each previous month.

National Events

CUC 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM), May 11 from 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. PT, The Atrium at Centre for Social Innovation, 192 Spadina Ave (please note change of location).

CanUUdle XIX, May 17 – 20 – Hosted by the Unitarian Church of Calgary
CanUUdle is the annual national conference for Canadian UU youth and their adult advisors. It’s a beautiful weekend where youth and adults create an amazing community, worship together, grow as spiritual beings and join in multigen activities. The theme for CanUUdle XIX is Roots and Wings! We will be diving into our identities as Unitarian Universalists.

Chorus, May 17 – 20, Edge Camp Retreat Centre, AB
Each year, Canadian UU young adults (18-35) gather to build beloved community, deepen our cross-country connections, and grow as spiritual beings. Chorus will be held at River’s Edge Camp & Retreat Centre near Calgary. 

International Events

Equity in Action: Gender in an Intersecting World,  April 11-13, 2019, New York City
The UU United Nations Office is excited to host this year’s Intergenerational Spring Seminar on gender equity in collaboration with the UU College of Social Justice. Programming will be interactive and intergenerational, encouraging participants to challenge their assumptions, connecting their activism with grounding in UU faith, and empowering them with the tools to bring back to their communities to make change locally and globally. Youth participation is encouraged – see the primer for youth and youth advisors to help plan for youth participation.