CUC eNews: January 14, 2020 – Issue 105

In This Issue:

Seeking Nominations for an Outstanding Canadian Unitarian

Since 1995, the Canadian Unitarian Council has presented the Knight Award to a living person who, as a volunteer, has contributed at the national level to furthering the principles of Unitarianism in Canada. The award honours the ideals exemplified by the lives of Victor and Nancy Knight, in whose name the funds to create the award, were received. It has gone to many notable Unitarians from all over Canada since its creation, including the late Stan Calder, the CUC’s first openly gay President, and the late Philip Hewett, Canadian Unitarian icon and author of Unitarians in Canada. A complete list of winners is available here.

The 2020 award will be presented at the National Conference in Halifax, and any member or friend of a Canadian Unitarian congregation may submit a nomination, accompanied by a citation of at least 200 words describing what the nominee has done at the national level to promote liberal religious principles in Canada and why she or he should be considered for the award. The deadline for submissions is March 31. Please send submissions to hopewell@telus.net.

Read More about the Knight Award

Join a Mindful Journey to Peru

Rev. Wayne Walder, minister of Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Toronto, will be leading another in his series of Mindful Journeys this spring in partnership with Worldwide Quest. Taking place March 29 – April 8, 2020, in Peru, the tour will feature comfortable places to stay, Shamanic conversations, lovely food, water blessings at an old Inca spring, beautiful natural vistas, and reflections while sitting on a mountain top. Participants will learn about Peru’s culture, food, and history, and have time each day for simple meditation practice and to gather for reflection with each other.

Distinct from a typical tourist trip, this Mindful Journey will be a pilgrimage, something likened by the Dalai Lama to becoming a spiritual tourist. It will offer participants a chance to broaden their worldview and learn more about the journey they are on, the people and places they see, as well as the internal journeys we take in each of our lives.

View the Mindful Journey Itinerary

OWL Training at the Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga

Facilitator training for Our Whole Lives (OWL), a comprehensive sexuality education program, will take place Friday, February 7 through Sunday, February 9, 2020, at the Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga.  The training will cover the curricula for young adults, adults, and older adults ages. Registration is limited to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis and is now open until January 29 at midnight ET or until 20 participants have registered. 

The cost is $325 and includes registration, materials, dinner on Friday, lunch/dinner and snacks on Saturday, lunch/snacks on Sunday, leaders’ fees, and administrative costs. Housing is NOT included. Limited home hospitality may be available, please contact Rev. Christopher Wulff for details.

This workshop will prepare the participants to implement the curriculum as well as the Sexuality and Our Faith component. Through a varied program including practice and participation activities, the trainers will cover implementation techniques, information about development for this age level, curricula details, and technical information.

Training Details and Registration Information

 Sharing Our Faith 2020

Sharing Our Faith services are held annually by congregations to celebrate our faith, connect our communities, and to collect funds that aid in growth initiatives. Every year the Canadian Unitarian Council offers worship materials to help congregations plan these Sharing Our Faith service. Congregations are encouraged to organize this service in February (CUC month), and to take up a special offering for the CUC Sharing Our Faith Fund at the service. All funds received by the CUC by March 31 will be used for the year’s Sharing Our Faith grants, which will be announced at the Annual General Meeting in May 2020.

 Rev. Fran Dearman compiled this year’s worship package, with contributions from Canadian UU ministers. The theme focuses on “Making Waves,” which is also the theme for the CUC’s National Conference in May 2020, to be held in Halifax NS. This theme encourages and challenges UUs to make waves that embody justice, practice radical inclusion, challenge the status quo, and push us to remain relevant into the future.

The full package, as well as information on preparing for the service, taking the offering, and resources from previous years are available on the CUC website. All monies collected from Sharing Our Faith services go directly to congregations who have been approved for Sharing Our Faith growth initiative grants. 

Apply for Sharing Our Faith grants: Sharing Our Faith Application (pdf), Sharing Our Faith Application-Word

Questions? Email sharing-our-faith@cuc.ca

Seeking Applicants for Northern Lights

Deadlines for the Northern Lights funding program are approaching.

Applicants should complete an intent to apply submission by February 1, with the full application due by March 31. By March 31, congregations must ensure that 20 percent of their members have signed up to be Chalice Lighters, the donors who fund the program.

The Canadian Unitarian Council and its ministers created Northern Lights to help congregations with transformative projects that are likely to cost more than $5,000. The program doesn’t hand out grants, but rather provides a list of donors who have committed to donate to the chosen Northern Lights projects each year.

Contact northernlights@cuc.ca with any questions.

Learn More About Northern Lights

Coming Up Soon: National Conference May 15-17, 2020, in Halifax

The Canadian Unitarian Council’s National Conference is just a few months away from May 15-17, 2020 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A picturesque destination with many things to see and do both in town and in the surrounding areas, the capital of Canada’s Ocean Playground is well worth visiting. The conference, hosted by the Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax, will also have a unique Atlantic flavour (look for more info about the musical component in the coming weeks).

The theme for Conference 2020 is Making Waves! Building on the imagery of The Ripple Effect, the CUC’s campaign on water and its related environmental issues, this theme encourages and challenges UUs to make waves that practice radical inclusion, challenge the status quo, and push us to remain relevant into the future.

Our interdependence calls us to love and justice, to be a more intentionally inclusive community of belonging with adaptive skills and responses to face the challenges of a changing world. The waves we make should be far-reaching, have impact beyond UU communities, and affect diverse areas of social justice and equity.

The conference will also feature the CUC’s Annual General Meeting, which will include the election of the new board, presentation of annual reports, and voting on resolutions. There is no fee to attend this portion of the conference, and delegates can also participate online.

Registration for the conference will open soon. In the meantime, please direct any questions to conference@cuc.ca

Learn More about the National Conference: Making Waves

UU-UNO Spring Seminar Registration Deadline Approaching

Registration for the UU-UNO Intergenerational Spring Seminar in New York is now open. The 2020 seminar, taking place April 16-18, will address the theme of climate justice, discussing how participants can work towards individual and structural changes that can transform lifestyles to enhance sustainability. The seminar is an opportunity to collaborate with others while learning how to be a global activist. Through workshops, peer and expert-led panel discussions, community-building activities, and worship services, participants will undergo a transformative process of learning, reflection, and growth while exploring some of the most challenging issues facing humanity today.

Registration includes admission to the programming for the Intergenerational Spring Seminar including lunch and dinner on April 16 and lunch on April 17 (lodging is not included). The early bird registration rate, which ends February 3, is $375. Regular registration is from February 4 – March 2 at an increased price. This year the seminar has a new model in which all attendees pay the same rate, regardless of age. This adjustment moves the Seminar towards being more sustainably funded, with all costs shared among all attendees.

Apply for a reduced rate by January 27.

Register for the Seminar

General Assembly Early Bird Deadline Coming Up

General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), taking place June 24-28 in Providence, Rhode Island. Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. Anyone may attend. Adult full-time registration is $400 US through March 15.

 This year’s theme is Rooted, Inspired, & Ready! Participants are in touch with their theological roots, engaged in transforming their faith, and fired up to take action in the wider world.

Learn More About GA

Visit & like the Canadian Unitarian Council on Facebook!

Upcoming Events 2020

Share what’s going on in your congregation. Contact communications@cuc.ca

Youth and Young Adults

Online – Gathered Here: Young Adult Check-In,  February 10, March 9, April 13, June 8, July 13, August 10  – 8 p.m. ET
Gathered Here is a monthly online check-in and gathering for Canadian Unitarian Universalist young adults. Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/6792849010)

Truth, Healing and Reconciliation Youth Con Pilot, February 28 – March 1, 2020 – Hosted by the Unitarian Church of Vancouver and North Shore Unitarian Church. Registration is now open until February 17.
Youth Registration: https://vancouver.breezechms.com/form/THR-youth-con2020-youthReg
Adult Advisor Registration: https://vancouver.breezechms.com/form/THR-youth-con2020-AdultReg

Online Events

Connect and Deepen – Virtual Gathering, Monthly – February 9, March 8 (2nd Sunday of the month), 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. ET
Join us for the opportunity to discuss matters of spiritual and theological significance in small groups and connect with people across the country.

What’s In a Name? – Online roundtable via Zoom,  February 22, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
A recent discussion on the CUC Leaders list focused on the language we use to describe our Unitarian Universalist communities. This Roundtable is an opportunity for us to consider the summary, to review some additional materials and then to share our questions. Registration deadline: February 13.

Mission Statement: Who Are We? What Do We Do?, March 21, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
This webinar will provide some background on mission statements and will also give us an opportunity to practice using one as a decision-making tool. Registration deadline: March 12.

Regional/Local

Annual UU Midwinter Retreat – 20/20 Visions,  February 7 – 9
Keynote Speaker: Rev. Peter Boullata, enjoy workshops and outdoor/indoor activities.  Registration is open now!

Our Whole Lives Facilitator Training: Young Adult/Adult/ Older Adults, February 7 – 9, Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga
The goals of this workshop are to prepare the participants to implement the Our Whole Lives curriculum as well as the Sexuality and Our Faith component. Through a varied program including practice and participation activities, the trainers will cover implementation techniques, information about development for this age level, curricula details, and technical information. Trainers: Rev. Christopher Wulff and Monica Bennett. Registration is open until January 29 at midnight or until 20 participants have registered.

National

2020 CUC National Annual General Meeting and Conference, May 15 – 17, 2020, Halifax, Nova Scotia  Hosted by the Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax
The theme for Conference 2020 is Making Waves! More information coming soon.

CanUUdle XX: Celebrate 20 years of CanUUdle!, May 15 – 18, 2020,  Halifax, Nova Scotia 
Hosted by the Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax
CanUUdle is the beloved annual youth conference where youth and adult allies from across Canada (and sometimes from the States!) gather to worship, build community, and grow in their Unitarian Universalist identities alongside the multigenerational National Conference. In 2020 CanUUdle will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. Registration will open in winter 2020. More information coming soon.

Chorus 2020: National Young Adult Conference, May 15 – 17, 2020, Halifax, NS
Join UUs from across Canada at the National Conference, where the theme for 2020 is Making Waves. There will be specific programming, worship, and socializing opportunities just for young adults within the multigenerational Conference, as well as the beloved Bridging Ceremony and dinner with the youth of CanUUdle. Registration will open in winter 2020. More information coming soon.

International 

UU-UNO Intergenerational Spring Seminar On Climate Justice, April 15 – 18, 2020, New York, NY

Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly, June 24 – 28, 2020, Providence, RI
Early registration available through March 15.

International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU) Meeting & Conference, October 26 – November 1, 2020, Montreal, Canada
Supported by the CUC, this ICUU Conference is an excellent opportunity to meet and get to know UUs from all over the world. Donations from Canadians go to support leadership development for participants from emerging members groups. More information coming soon.