CUC eNews: November 15, 2022 – Issue 144

In This Issue:

Letter from Vyda
By Vyda Ng, Executive Director

“Congregational covenants are declarations of interdependence.” So says Victoria Safford in her article “Bound in Covenant.” (UU World, Summer 2013)

She is right. Covenants express our desire to be in relationship with one another, through good times and bad. They define our commitments and hold us accountable. And, when we break covenant, they can help us find our way back. 

This weekend of November 18-20, Unitarian Universalists from across Canada will come together to consider the power, possibility, and practice of covenant at the Canadian Unitarian Council’s National Fall Gathering. I hope you will join us online so we can share our faith, build connections, and practice being human together.

On Sunday, November 20, we will continue to explore what it means to be a covenantal faith in our national worship service. Everyone is welcome to join us for the livestream. You may also watch a video of the service on our YouTube channel afterwards. 

Our covenant—our commitment—to one another is an important aspect of our faith. One of the ways that we express it is by making offerings. Each fall, we invite you to contribute to the Friends of the CUC fundraising campaign. Funds we receive through this campaign, and through our Annual Program Contributions (APC), go towards CUC staff work in engaging with congregations, offering programming and resources, and building vital Unitarian Universalist communities. I am immensely grateful to the many friends who believe in the CUC’s vision and mission and support it. Thank you. (You can read a testimonial from one of the Friends of the CUC here.) 

In closing, I want to acknowledge the incredible contributions of Joan Carolyn. Joan joined the CUC as Congregational Life Lead for the British Columbia and Western Regions in October 2014. Joan’s passion for strengthening and supporting faith communities is evident in everything s/he does, and we have been so fortunate to have them on staff. Joan has decided to retire in March 2023. While I will miss working with Joan, I wish them the very best in their new adventures. 

Be well friends,
Vyda

Announcing Joan Carolyn’s Retirement
By Kenzie Love, Writer

Joan Carolyn, Congregational Life Lead for the British Columbia and Western regions is planning to retire in March of 2023. This comes after over eight years in this position. Joan’s employment with the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) began in October 2014. A Unitarian Universalist (UU) since 2000, the Congregational Life position was appealing because of Joan’s interest in the faith and experience in community organizations.

“I have a lot of interest in how faith communities try to live out their beliefs in a real way.”

Joan has appreciated working with congregations across the western half of Canada, enjoying the unique opportunities and challenges that have arisen. S/he’s been impressed by the commitment and creativity s/he’s encountered in this work. Joan also values the collaboration s/he’s engaged in with staff from CUC and other related organizations.

“I appreciate the cultural mix, the ideas. I also value that there’s a lot of work to be done, and no one position can do it all. So when we can work together as teams, I value that. And I value the wisdom that other team members bring to the table.”

In retirement, Joan is looking forward to exploring and reclaiming gender-neutral pronouns, engaging/ learning with the many UU groups that have years of experience with this practice. It is a topic s/he’s long been interested in, but has only recently found a community with which to explore it. S/he’s also interested in continuing Cree language studies. Finally, Joan is planning an extended road trip with their partner, reconnecting with extended family and sharing in new adventures, after which they’ll decide where to settle.

Joan believes the new Congregational Life Lead for the BC and Western regions will need to bring a willingness both to share their gifts. They also will need to listen with depth to all parties with whom they will work when they take up the position.

“While we, as a staff team, have something to share,” s/he says, “there’s a clear understanding, from those with whom I work, that our job is also to draw on the knowledge and wisdom that’s out there.”

The Canadian Unitarian Council plans to hire a new Congregational Life Lead for the British Columbia and Western Regions early in the new year. 

MAY 2023 EVENTS:

2023 CUC Annual General Meeting
May 19, 1:00 – 4:30 pm ET – Multi-platform

The Annual General Meeting will be held in-person at the Algonquin Campus in Ottawa, and virtually on Zoom. It’s not too early to start planning to select your delegates – since this is a multi-platform AGM, your congregation may select both virtual and in-person delegates. All delegates must be registered by May 1 in order to vote at the AGM – the delegate registration form will be available in January 2023. Information about delegate selection, as well as motions is here. 

2023 National Symposium Offers Something for Everyone
May 19 to 21, 2023 (3 days)

Organizers are busy putting together the program for the 2023 national symposium in Ottawa on Living into the 8th Principle. The Ottawa Host Team from the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa and the UU Fellowship of Ottawa are working with CUC staff and volunteers to create a memorable experience, both virtual and in-person, for you. 

Held on the Algonquin College campus, the weekend will include something for all ages, including a children’s program for ages 0 – 13 years. The youth con, CanUUdle, will take place at First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa. You can also expect to find events for young adults, a bridging ceremony, and an afternoon of multigenerational activities happening throughout the weekend. 

Parts of the Symposium will be livestreamed – the Opening Ceremony, Confluence Lecture, and the Sunday morning service. The main program streams on Saturday will be multi-platform.

As Danielle Webber notes in  her article, we also plan to offer Our Whole Lives (OWL) facilitator training in Ottawa immediately following the symposium. 

Keep reading the eNews for more program updates. Registration for the symposium will open on January 30, 2023. 

Announcing the 2023 Confluence Lecturer!

At each national conference, the UU Ministers of Canada selects a minister to present the Confluence Lecture. The lecture topics are often provocative, always thoughtful, and usually aligned with the theme of the conference at which it is delivered.

The 2023 Confluence Lecturer is Rev. Julie Stoneberg. Rev. Stoneberg introduces her topic – Open Minds | Closed Doors.

“This is the church of the open mind.” But beware! Every change involves some loss. Each new idea or concept can threaten our sense of security and identity, causing us to close down and shut our doors. Are the threats we feel real? Are our identities that fragile? A firm foundation that sustains and holds us is a good thing. Yet, I’d like to imagine that the people of the Canadian Unitarian Council can live into our aspirations to be theologically alive (minds open) and radically inclusive (doors open). Can we be the people who risk our comfort to create the life-changing realities that are needed to bring a world of love and justice into being?”

Rev. Stoneberg ministered over 17 years with two UU congregations in Ontario, and recently moved to Wisconsin where she is serving UU Church West as Interim Minister.

Journey and process are key to Rev. Julie’s theology. Her faith is grounded in a commitment to the process…even when it seems there are no answers. Anti-racism work is her passion. Transparency, self-reflection, and honest communication feed her introvert soul. She believes that our belonging, our inherent worth, and our purpose are found within the ever-changing journeys of our lives…and that our individual journeys are deeply enriched by sharing the path with others.

More information about the Confluence Lecture will be available at the end of January.

Why I am a Friend of the CUC
By Margaret Wanlin

I.am an active member of my church, Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship, in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I participate in the life of the Fellowship, I’m on the board, I’m the treasurer and I’m a financial contributor.

But I am also interested in a picture of Unitarian Universalism (UU) in Canada which is bigger than what we can create for ourselves in Thunder Bay. I want to know about the heartbeat of Unitarian Universalism in Canada. I want to feel connected to UUs across the country–to share ideas and resources, to get to know the people and the issues in our movement, which are some of the reasons I serve on the CUC Board of Trustees. And for that we need the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC), the body that holds us all together.

Members of the CUC are the Unitarian Universalist congregations across the country–and congregations contribute an important proportion of the CUC’s financial resources.

But the more funds that the CUC has available, the more good work it can do. I want to contribute to that good work by being a Friend of the CUC. Some of the aspects of the CUC’s work that I particularly appreciate are national worship services, the eNews, regional and national conferences, workshops and networking sessions. I look forward to the curation and sharing of Canadian resources once that project gets underway. And it is good to know that the CUC is there to assist congregations with the challenges that they face from time to time.

Being a UU challenges me to be my best self in an ever-evolving way. Thanks to the CUC for being part of my journey.

Support the “Friends of the CUC”  fundraising campaign. Your gift makes it possible for the Canadian Unitarian Council to fulfill our vision, which calls us to realize a world of interdependence, love and justice, and to always respect the inherent worth and dignity of each individual. 

Become a Friend of the CUC. With your support, we will continue to be a beacon of love and faith in the world.

Meet Lay Chaplain Mary-Anna Louise Kovar
By Kenzie Love, Writer

(In each edition of the eNews, we will introduce you to a committed Unitarian Universalist, who is either a religious professional or a dedicated volunteer. In this way, we hope to strengthen the fabric of our connections to each other.)

Mary-Anna Louise Kovar has served Calgary Unitarians as a lay chaplain; served on the congregation’s lay chaplaincy committee; and served on the national Lay Chaplaincy Committee. She currently serves as a “backup” lay chaplain for her congregation. She steps in when the other chaplain is unavailable.

A longtime Unitarian Universalist (UU), Mary-Anna Louise’s past experience in her congregations prepared her for  lay chaplaincy.

“I enjoy doing homilies and finding readings and things like that for worship services,” she says. “And so this was an extension of that opportunity. To be able to find the perfect words, to create a rite of passage ceremony for someone.”

Mary-Anna Louise has officiated at a variety of rites of passage, including a Wiccan wedding and a traditional Catholic wedding. 

“The thing that I find most rewarding is the opportunity to support and honour another person’s search for truth and meaning,” she says. “And that opportunity to respond to a client’s request, and engage in what’s important to them spiritually, and set my own beliefs aside.”

This willingness to create unique services has sometimes created challenges. Clients may have a specific idea for a ceremony they have trouble communicating. But Mary-Anna Louise has appreciated the opportunity that resolving these challenges creates.

“The reward is when you find it,” she says. “And they say ‘That’s it. That’s what I was talking about. That’s what I want to celebrate.”

Mary-Anna Louise recommends lay chaplaincy to other UUs. She values the opportunity to live out UU values and engage in spiritual growth by offering rites of passage.

“There’s a lot of spiritual growth to be had if you invest in it.  And learning how to step back personally and serve because that’s what you’re doing. You’re serving that person’s needs and it’s not about you at any given ceremony.”

Shining Lights Profile: You’ve Got Mail
By Kenzie Love, Writer

The Canadian Unitarian Council’s Shining Lights Program celebrates innovative projects developed by Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations and groups. In 2022, there were four nominees for the program. This month, we are featuring the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto’s You’ve Got Mail project.

Barb Wentworth, a longtime member of Toronto First, and Angela Klassen, the congregation’s Director of Lifespan Learning, coordinated the project. The project grew from an existing initiative: congregants having tea with Wentworth’s son, the late Mark Jorgensen. Mark, also a member of Toronto First, had lived at New Visions Toronto (NVT), a supported home for people with complex developmental and physical disabilities. “Tea with Mark” had given members of Toronto First a chance to know him better. They also got to see what living at New Visions was like.

The pandemic and the resulting isolation many experienced was particularly hard for NVT’s residents. They had difficulty understanding why they could no longer go out to their day programs and why they couldn’t receive visitors. So Wentworth decided to create a pen pal program to match NVT residents and Toronto First members.

Given that the residents would have difficulty writing back without assistance, the project became more of a one-way communication channel. Thirty-seven adults and five children/youth volunteered to participate. They committed to sending biweekly letters to NVT residents from December 2020 through March of 2021.

“It was a fun project,” says Wentworth. “And simple. So that’s what attracted a lot of volunteers during all the craziness with Covid and stuff. It was something that people thought that they could do that would make a difference. And it did.”

NVT created a list of all the residents taking part with a few of their likes/interests and assigned them a writer. The project provided something new and entertaining for NVT’s residents during the long COVID winter.

The writers enjoyed the opportunity to include notes, cards, hand-drawn pictures, and similar items in their correspondence. A closing Zoom call also allowed them to put faces to names of the people to whom they had been writing. And they learned how meaningful the project had been for participating residents.

Although the isolation created by the pandemic inspired this project, Wentworth believes it would be valuable in any winter, given the isolation many NVT residents experience then, and that any congregation could replicate it.

“When you have multiple health issues, going out in the winter is not so much fun,” she says. “So you can become more isolated whether you want to or not. And so this type of project, if another congregation wanted to pick it up, could run any time. It doesn’t have to be in the middle of a pandemic.”

While Toronto First’s project may have ended, Wentworth believes the connections it forged are the first step towards inspiring the writers to advocate for the NVT residents and others like them.

“It’s very, very important that we build some kind of a bridge, or some kind of a connection with people like that,” she says. “So that we can become part of their advocacy. Because it’s really needed. This is a group that for many of them they don’t have the language to be able to advocate for themselves. And they’re wonderful people.”

The Shining Lights Team is currently accepting nominations. Please send in submissions of outstanding UU initiatives by January 31, 2023.

Call for Nominations: Knight Tribute Award
By Shelley Motz, Communications Manager

Nominate an outstanding Unitarian Universalist for their achievements! The Knight Tribute Award  honours the ideals exemplified by the lives and work of Nancy and Victor Knight in furthering the principles of Unitarian Universalism in Canada, and is presented to a living person who has, as a volunteer, contributed at the national level towards furthering these ideals. Nominations may be submitted by email to John Hopewell at hopewell@telus.net by February 28, 2023.  

Our Whole Lives: Lifespan Sexuality Education as Ministry
By Rev. Danielle Webber, Youth and Young Adult Ministry Specialist

Our Whole Lives (OWL) programs are comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education
curricula used in both secular settings and faith communities. The Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ wrote these seven age-appropriate curricula. OWL programs offer a holistic approach, with interactive workshops and activities on various topics, including relationships, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, sexual health and cultural influences on sexuality. While Our Whole Lives is secular, it is not value-free. The program gives clear messages about self-worth, sexual health, responsibility, justice and inclusivity.

But what’s religious about sexual education? And how is sexual education a form of Ministry? The OWL Curricula relates to many of our Unitarian Universalist Principles, including:

    • recognizing the dignity and worth of every person, body, relationship and form of personal expression,
    • creating welcoming and inclusive communities, and
    • using reason and facts as we seek the truth.

Religion is about understanding ourselves and our place in the world, making meaning of our lives. OWL is about understanding ourselves as sexual beings, in relation to our society and the world. Unitarian Universalism asks us to centre love, justice and community in our lives, and OWL is a way to do that because it is taught in a way that centres love and justice.

Also, historically sex, sexuality and relationships have been controlled by religious institutions–Unitarian Universalism does not seek to control but to write a new story about healthy sexuality. Offering OWL programming within UU faith communities allows us to offer a very particular type of ministry to participants.

Sexuality is intrinsic to identity and impacts the whole self. By offering these programs we can give people a sense of wholeness and allow them to know that they are enough just as they are. We can offer a framework for healthy sexuality and healthy relationships that are fact-based and developmentally appropriate for any age group. The curriculum for youth allows for healthy, boundaried relationships with adults so that youth can be witnessed and supported throughout their journey. There is also an opportunity for individuals to heal from traumas related to their sexuality while helping one another with emotional challenges.

As your congregation explores the possibilities of initiating, or re-establishing your OWL programs, know that the Canadian Unitarian Council is here to support your efforts. Rev. Danielle Webber, the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Specialist, holds the OWL portfolio and is available with many resources to help get your programs underway. Contact them at owl@cuc.ca.

We are also in the process of organizing OWL Facilitator Training, which will occur in Ottawa immediately following the national symposium (May 19 to 21, 2023). We could use your input in determining which training(s) to offer. Fill out this  survey, and pass it along to coordinators in your community, so we know what training is needed. 

Ready for Action:  Join the “Inclusivity” and “Uncolonizing Climate” Action Groups
By Shelley Motz, Communications Manager

Over the past two years, Unitarian Universalists (UUs) from across the country have gathered in forums to discuss issues related to inclusivity, colonization, and climate change. We have turned the mirror towards ourselves and looked at the work we can do to uncolonize how we think and act. 

In 2023, the Canadian Unitarian Council challenges UUs to consider what we have learned from these forums, and take action. We are looking for champions to take part in both action group streams: Inclusivity and Uncolonizing Climate Justice.

Inclusivity Action Groups

When you join an inclusivity action group, you will meet with other people who share your interest in co-creating inclusive spaces and experiences. You will meet people with lived experiences as well as allies. Together, you will decide what actions your group will take. 

Here’s how it works:

    • Choose the type of inclusivity you’d like to focus on: Race, Colonialism, Age, Disability, Non-traditional families/relationships, Class, Engaging Men in Inclusivity Action and Gender.
    • Attend each of the three networking sessions: Getting Started, Moving Through Hurt, and Addressing Resistance. Each session will open with a guided discussion about implementing change, followed by ample time to discuss and plan future actions as individuals, groups, congregations and/or Canadian UUism as whole.
    • With your group, determine an action you’d like to take together or separately. Return to the larger group and share learnings and resources.

Sign up for an inclusivity action group today. (When you register for the first networking session, you will automatically be enrolled in sessions two and three. You cannot join the action group after the first session takes place.)

Uncolonizing Climate Justice Action Group

Do you want to deepen your understanding of how to uncolonize your climate justice practice? In our Uncolonizing Climate Action sessions, you will make connections with others who are taking steps to unite their work regarding Right Relations with Indigenous peoples with their Climate Change activism.  

One of the CUC Elders, Dave Skene, will join CUC Social Justice Lead Erin Horvath for each of the sessions. He will help us broaden our understanding of what uncolonizing and decolonizing looks like in this context. 

Some of the areas we will address are: What we mean by colonization, decolonization, and uncolonization; identifying colonial characteristics in our movements; settler wounds of disconnection from Mother Earth; and amplifying Indigenous leadership.

Here’s how it works:

    • Attend each of the three networking sessions.
    • Learn, discuss, and expand your thinking. 
    • Determine the next step you’d like to take individually or as a group.
    • Decide if and/or how you’d like to continue to connect with members of the group once the three sessions have been completed.

Sign up for the uncolonizing climate justice action group now. (When you register for the first networking session, you will automatically be enrolled in sessions two and three. You cannot register for the action group once the first session takes place.)

The Pollination Project #1: Speed Connecting
By Casey Stainsby, YaYA Program and Events Coordinator 

The Pollination Project is a new initiative that helps new young adult-led projects get off the ground. We received four applications, and a selection committee has chosen two projects to receive the full support outlined in the program. The other two applicants have been offered other kinds of resources and mentorship that meet their goals. 

The first project that will be launched in November 2022 is UU Speed Connecting. This monthly event, led by Xenia Menzies and Zoë Henderson, will be a warm and welcoming virtual space where UUs can meet, mingle, and make new friends. Gatherings may include sharing of spiritual practices, time in breakout rooms to meet each other and discover shared interests, and learning about other UU community-building opportunities. Follow them on Instagram @UUConnecting and the Facebook group UUConnecting. Though it is led by young adults, Speed Connecting will be open to UU of all ages. (Those under 18 should have a parent/guardian present with them.) 

The second Pollination Project will be announced soon. 

Both projects aim to run through June 2023. Throughout the next year, we will be gathering monthly for “co-mentorship” meetings, where project leaders will be able to share their learnings with each other. We will occasionally be joined by others who are also engaged in alternative faith community building. 

We are so excited to be in this experiment together.

EVENT UPDATES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Last Chance to Register for the Fall Gathering
November 18 to 20, 2022

We are excited about the upcoming fall gathering–and we are also concerned. We have a relevant and engaging program planned, and would love your participation. We understand that another online event might seem a bit too much, after the past two years of nothing but virtual offerings. We hope you’ll choose to come to this one, however, as the staff team planned it knowing that our UU congregations and communities have been through a tough few years, and staying in, and returning to, covenant is central to us.

However, registration is low. At the time of publishing the eNews, 38 people had registered; we’re hoping for as many participants as possible, so that we can go ahead with the event, rather than having to make a decision about canceling. We’re hoping for as many participants as possible by Thursday, November 18 at noon ET. If we do cancel, it will be the Friday and Saturday portions, the National Service on Sunday will go ahead as planned.

Here’s what you can expect when you register for the fall gathering.

On Friday evening, CUC staff and Board will host four 90-minute regional gatherings. Together, we will delve into what covenants are, what they mean, and how they show up in our lives. (You are welcome to attend the regional gathering of your choice.)

    • British Columbia Region: 7:00pm PT
    • Western Region : 6:00pm MT / 7:00pm CT / 8:00pm ET 
    • Central Region: 7:00pm ET 
    • Eastern Region: 6:00pm ET / 7:00pm AT / 7:30pm NT 

On Saturday, all participants will gather in one group. We will consider the elements needed to create a covenant, the experience of living in covenant with each other, how we each hold ourselves accountable, and how we can return to covenant when this has been broken.

    • Session 1: 9:30am PT / 10:30am MT  / 11:30am CT / 12:30pm ET / 1:30pm AT / 2:00pm NT (75 minutes)
    • Break:  10:45am PT / 11:45am MT  / 12:45pm CT / 1:45pm ET / 2:45pm AT / 3:15pm NT (15 minutes)
    • Session 2:  11:00am PT / 12:00pm MT  / 1:00pm CT / 2:00pm ET / 3:00pm AT / 3:30pm NT (90 minutes)
    • Break:  12:30pm PT / 1:30pm MT  / 2:30pm CT / 3:30pm ET / 4:30pm AT / 5:00pm NT (30 minutes)
    • Session 3:  1:00pm PT / 2:00pm MT  / 3:00pm CT / 4:00pm ET / 5:00pm AT / 5:30pm NT (90 minutes)

On Sunday, everyone is welcome to attend the national worship service.
Register today. (Registration fees are based on a sliding scale.) 

National Worship Service: Living into Covenant
Sunday, November 20, 2022: 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT| 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

We Unitarian Universalists are a covenantal people. Our faith tradition believes in the power and possibility of covenant–a set of shared promises, agreements, and understandings to hold us together. How does a vision of covenant hold us together when we disagree? How does our faith community covenant overlap and diverge from the other covenants of our lives (being a partner or parent or friend or citizen of the world)? How is all of this impacted by how well we are keeping a covenant with ourselves, our own well being? Join Reverends Shana Lynngood and Anne Barker in exploration and reflection.

After the service, everyone is invited to attend a virtual coffee hour, where you will have the opportunity to share your experience with covenants in small groups. 

Use the bitly link to join the service on Zoom, or watch live on the CUC’s YouTube channel.

For those phoning in, call 1-855-703-8985 and enter the Meeting ID and password when prompted.
Meeting ID:891 5257 2984
Password: 136347

If you cannot attend the service on Sunday morning, don’t worry. You can watch it later. We will post the video on our YouTube channel immediately after the service. 

Leaders’ Roundtable: The 8th Principle: One Year Later
November 26: 9:00 am PT | 10:00 am MT | 11:00 am CT | 12:00 pm ET | 1:00 pm AT | 1:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

In November 2021, the 8th Principle was voted in with the intent to transform our communities into beacons of diversity. Join us, a year later, as Unitarian Universalist (UU) groups share their challenges and successes removing barriers to full inclusion for all peoples. We will look ahead to the coming year and consider how we move forward.

Register online today. 

Call for Exhibitors at the 2023 National Symposium

Vendors and exhibitors are invited to reserve a table display or sell their merchandise during the National Symposium on Living into the 8th Principle in Ottawa, Ontario this spring. For more information about this opportunity, please refer to the Call for Exhibitors in the October 22 issue of the eNews. 

To reserve a table, please contact us by email at Exhibits@cuc.ca. 

Volunteer for the 2023 National Symposium

If you would like to help us organize the 2023 National Symposium in Ottawa this Spring, let us know. Volunteers are needed in several different areas, so fill in this form to tell us how and when you’d like to be involved. Questions? Email conference@cuc.ca.

CanUUdle Staff Applications Now Open
By Casey Stainsby, YaYA Program and Events Coordinator 

Have you heard? CanUUdle is happening in Ottawa next spring. This beloved national youth conference is taking place at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, May 19-22, 2023, alongside the Canadian Unitarian Council’s national symposium. We’re looking for a volunteer team of youth and adults to work together, with CUC staff, to plan and host this important event. 

CanUUdle is a youth con organized by and for youth. The staff team plans the con schedule, workshops, activities, and worship. It runs the show during the weekend. From January to May, the staff team gathers in monthly online meetings and works in small teams to plan the schedule and program. During CanUUdle, the staff collectively function as important community stewards, organizers and, most importantly, role models and leaders of the youth community. 

No experience with this kind of leadership? No problem! The staff team is a very encouraging and supportive environment, where we learn together as we go. Previous youth staff are also available to meet with you as mentors. It’s a great way to gain new skills and give back to your community. You can also use it towards school volunteer or leadership hours and it looks great on your resume.

The first in-person CanUUdle since 2019 was held in Vancouver last May. We saw just how important it is to the youth community to be able to gather in person. We hope that this energy will carry on, and we’ll see the yoUUth revival spread from west to east.

Read more about being on staff, learn about the various positions available, and fill out the registration form here.

The application deadline is December 4, 2022 at midnight PT. 

Job Opportunities with UU Communities

The Kingston Unitarian Fellowship is searching for a Lifespan Religious Exploration Coordinator to join their team.

The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg is searching for a part-time innovative,
creative Coordinator of Lifespan Faith Development to join their team.

Neighbourhood UU Congregation seeks a contract minister. Position details for UU and non-UU ministers are available online.

The First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo is looking for a three-quarter time consulting minister. The position starts on March 1, 2023.

The Westwood Unitarian Congregation, Alberta is seeking a part-time program coordinator for Sunday morning services from now to June 2023, with the possibility of an extension into 2024.

What’s Making Us Smile

Emily Morrow, an American mother of two, and her husband Jason have taken social media by storm with their video sketches. On the @ReallyVeryCrunchy YouTube account the “crunchy” mom gently satirizes her choices as a home-schooling, Waldorf-inspired parent committed to providing her family with an all-natural, organic lifestyle. Check out the wholesome jokes (pun intended) in this video of her preparing for a local talent show (and find out why the epidermis is your best friend). 

Calendar of Events (November 15, 2022 – July 1, 2023)

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

Virtual Fall Gathering: Living into Covenant
November 18-20 (3 days)

National Worship Service: Living into Covenant
November 20: 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT| 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

Leaders’ Roundtable: The 8th Principle: One Year Later
November 26: 9:00 am PT | 10:00 am MT | 11:00 am CT | 12:00 pm ET | 1:00 pm AT | 1:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

Rising Together: UU Youth & Emerging Adults of Colour
December 3: 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT | 4:00 pm ET | 5:00 pm AT | 5:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

Gathered Here: A Monthly Check-in for UU Young Adults (18-35)
December 8: 11:00 am PT | 12:00 pm MT | 1:00 pm CT | 2:00 pm ET | 3:00 pm AT | 3:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

Connect and Deepen: Promises Within Community & Personally
December 11: 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT| 4:00 pm ET | 5:00 pm  AT | 5:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

Uncolonizing Climate Action: Session One
January 4: 4:00 pm PT | 5:00 pm MT | 6:00 pm CT | 7:00 pm ET | 8:00 pm AT | 8:30 pm NT (2 hours)

Rising Together: UU Youth and Emerging Adults of Colour
January 7: 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT | 4:00 pm  ET | 5:00 pm AT | 5:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

Connect and Deepen: How do we Give Life to our Promises
January 8: 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT | 4:00 pm ET | 5:00 pm AT | 5:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

Inclusivity Action Groups: Where To Begin?
February 1:  4:00 pm PT | 5:00 pm MT | 6:00 pm CT | 7:00 pm ET | 8:00 pm AT  | 8:30 pm AT (2 hours)

Rising Together: UU Youth and Emerging Adults of Colour
February 4: 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT | 4:00 pm  ET | 5:00 pm AT | 5:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

National Worship Sunday Service: Covenanting through Transitions
February 5: 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

Gathered Here: A Monthly Check-in for UU Young Adults (18-35)
February 9: 11:00 am PT | 12:00 pm MT | 1:00 pm CT |  2:00 pm ET | 3:00 pm AT | 3:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

Uncolonizing Climate Action: Session Two
March 1: 4:00 pm PT | 5:00 pm MT | 6:00 pm CT | 7:00 pm ET | 8:00 pm AT | 8:30 pm NT (2 hours)

Gathered Here: A Monthly Check-in for UU Young Adults (18-35)
March 13: 5:00 pm PT | 6:00 pm MT | 7:00 pm CT | 8:00 pm ET | 9:00 pm AT | 9:30 pm NT 

Rising Together: UU Youth and Emerging Adults of Colour
April 1: 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT | 4:00 pm  ET | 5:00 pm AT | 5:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

Inclusivity Action Groups: Moving Through Hurt
April 5: 4:00 pm PT | 5:00 pm MT | 6:00 pm CT | 7:00 pm ET | 8:00 pm AT | 8:30 pm NT (2 hours)

Gathered Here: A Monthly Check-in for UU Young Adults (18-35)
April 13: 11:00 am PT | 12:00 pm MT | 1:00 pm CT |  2:00 pm ET | 3:00 pm AT | 3:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

Uncolonizing Climate Action: Session Three
May 3: 4:00 pm PT | 5:00 pm MT | 6:00 pm CT | 7:00 pm ET | 8:00 pm AT | 8:30 pm NT (2 hours)

Rising Together: UU Youth and Emerging Adults of Colour
May 6: 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT | 4:00 pm  ET | 5:00 pm AT | 5:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

CUC Annual General Meeting 2023
May 19: 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT (3.5hrs)

CUC National Symposium 2023:Living into the 8th Principle
May 19-21

National Worship Service
May 21: 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT | 2:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

Rising Together: UU Youth and Emerging Adults of Colour
June 3: 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT | 4:00 pm  ET | 5:00 pm AT | 5:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

Inclusivity Action Groups: Managing Resistance
June 7: 4:00 pm PT | 5:00 pm MT | 6:00 pm CT | 7:00 pm ET | 8:00  pm AT | 8:30  pm NT (2 hours)

Gathered Here: A Monthly Check-in for UU Young Adults (18-35)
June 12: 5:00 pm PT | 6:00 pm MT | 7:00 pm CT | 8:00 pm ET | 9:00 pm AT | 9:30 pm NT 

Rising Together: UU Youth and Emerging Adults of Colour
July 1: 1:00 pm PT | 2:00 pm MT | 3:00 pm CT | 4:00 pm  ET | 5:00 pm AT | 5:30 pm NT (1.5 hours)

 

Enews Prepared and Formatted by Brigitte Twomey, Website Specialist