eNews November 20, 2024 - Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada

eNews: November 20, 2024 – Issue 166

This Issue:

Letter from the Board of Trustees
Giving Tuesday
Thank You for Attending Co-Lab
CUC’s Refugee Sponsorship Program: New Starts and Changing Lives
Thunder Bay Unitarians Have a New Home
Ontario Unitarian Universalist Midwinter Retreat
BC Fall Youth Con
Unicamp Executive Director Says Farewell
Congregational Conversations
Connect and Deepen
Reminder: Submitting Motions for the CUC AGM
Did you Know? Skill Mapping Worksheet
Office Closure
What’s Making us Smile
CUC Events from to November 20 to December 31, 2024

Letter from the Board of Trustees
From your Co-Presidents: Margaret Kohr and Debra Faulk

Margaret shares:

On the first weekend in November, the CUC invited UUs across Canada to join a “mash up” of a regional/national Fall gathering in the form of the first ever Co-Lab. We were invited to a Zoom party, but we were also invited to gather in person in local “satellites” to enjoy each other’s company (with snacks if possible) while we experienced this mysterious Co-Lab. I attended a gathering at the CUC head office in Toronto, where CUC Executive Director Vyda Ng had set up a satellite group (with great snacks). I was invigorated by the energy, level of discussion and laughter with which our small group collaborated on the various challenges we were given. The Co-Lab concluded on Sunday with a national service, which revisited the “Church of the Imagination”, originally developed and presented 10 years ago in Calgary, by some young Canadian seminarians. Now they offered what they would say to UUs in today’s world, with the experience of 10 years of reflection, augmented by others who offered wisdom and music. There were messages of caution, and hope and change.

And a few days later, when I was reeling at the outcome of the US election, the Co- Lab seemed like a counterbalance to my despair. The Co-Lab reinforced for me that what we do together as members of our Canadian UU community is, now more than ever, critically important work, as we envision a world where interdependence leads us to love and justice.

Rev. Debra offers:

It was delightful to meet with fellow board members and the CUC staff, October, in person in Edmonton (See Vyda’s letter last month). The depth and vulnerability of conversations that can happen in person were very evident. To spend 3 days with other human beings who have a passionate commitment to our Unitarian/Unitarian Universalist faith, renewed my faith.

There is so much potential and so many ways we can work together as a Board of Trustees and staff as well as to intentionally invite others, including religious professionals (ministers, religious educators, musicians, administrators) and others into the collaborative process.

Each Board member is liaison to a number of congregations and you can find that info on the CUC website. Contact can happen both ways, reach out. We also have projects, tasks and responsibilities in addition to monthly Board meetings. These include using Task Forces for discrete functions. Currently there is the Bylaw Review Task Force and we are in the process of creating two more.

HR (Human Resources) Task Force will determine the process and mandate for establishing an HR Committee. The HR Committee will support the organization in being just employers, review current practices, recommend policies and assist with overall HR procedures. Do you have expertise to share? Contact Margaret Kohr.

Fundraising Task Force: In recognizing the need to think differently about resourcing our national organization, we are hopeful that people with vision, ideas or expertise in the area of fundraising will come together, share ideas that inspire each other and determine what the next steps might be. Do we have fundraising ideas we can implement now? Would there be value in having a professional fundraiser (or perhaps there’s even someone in our midst who might volunteer)? How can we expand the revenue streams that support our national organization? To get the conversation going there will be what we’re calling an Imagining Session.

For more info or to offer ideas/support contact: Alex Okrainetz or Rev. Debra Faulk.

Giving Tuesday

GivingTuesday is the world’s largest generosity movement. Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a stranger, or giving to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give.

This year, Giving Tuesday takes place on December 3. Join millions of people in making an impact on our communities.

You can help us make an even bigger impact by becoming a monthly donor.

- For as little as $8 a month –$1 for each of our Principles – you can help four youth attend our in-person youth conference, CanUUdle 2025 in Montreal, for free.
- When you give $18 a month, you are part of dismantling barriers to full inclusion so that our congregations and communities are welcoming and inclusive
- And, your gift of $80 each month helps bring refugees to Canada to start new lives.

Thank you for all you do to help us grow vital, sustainable UU communities, on Giving Tuesday and throughout the year.

Give now!

Thank You for Attending Co-Lab

Thank you to everyone who attended Co-Lab. It was a joy to experience all of us together, stretching our curiosity muscles … igniting our imaginations … and reaching for Co-Laboration.

We came together from coast to coast, both individually and through in-person Saturday Satellites, including congregational and collegial groups. We welcome your insights and reflections, which you can share here. If you weren’t able to attend – the Resource List will give you a peek at the CoLab experience. Ask your friends about their experience, for more insights.

The keynote film, Once Upon a Forest, resonated with many in attendance. It’s part of the film series Something Beautiful for the World, films designed to inspire us all to celebrate and value those day-to-day actions and simple ways of being in the world that impact the world around us and contribute to creating a more beautiful world. For those who wish to dig deeper into this series, watch for UU Reflection Guides – early 2025.

CUC’s Refugee Sponsorship Program: New Starts and Changing Lives

Two hundred and eight people have a new start for new lives in Canada. One hundred and thirty-nine more people are currently waiting anxiously for that new start.

The CUC’s refugee support work goes on quietly in the background. Since the CUC started working with refugees in the early 2000s, hundreds of people have been able to come to Canada when their lives and safety were in danger in their home countries. Just in the last six years, those two hundred and eight people – individuals, couples, families – have resettled in various parts of Canada.

They come from Eritrea, Syria, Afghanistan, Burundi, Iraq, Rwanda, Kenya, Turkey, Iraq, Zimbabwe, India, Bangladesh – where their beliefs, choices and gender put them in danger. One family of five with three small children had to flee overnight when their home was bombed. They had no belongings and lived in hiding in another country for three years. Their arduous journey brought them to Canada in the middle of one wintry January. Now, the children are in school, and the parents are beginning to feel safer.

How does all this happen? With the commitment and support of Unitarians and Universalists, congregations and local organizations. The CUC has a partnership with Capital Rainbow Refuge in Ottawa, which works exclusively with LGBTQI++ refugees. Through the CUC’s status as a Sponsorship Agreement Holder with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), congregations and community groups are able to privately sponsor refugees.

The work of reviewing sponsorship requests, working with sponsors, checking and submitting applications is done by Mary Hailu, CUC’s Refugee Support staff. Mary does an outstanding job and is instrumental in the approval of successful applications by IRCC.

This refugee sponsorship commitment comes with a financial responsibility. Depending on the area of settlement, it can cost upwards of $15,000 for the first year for an individual and more than $40,000 for a family of four. The congregations diligently fundraise and donors are generous, and sometimes more funds are needed.

We – the CUC, the congregations, and the refugees waiting to come – need your help. There is a family of four with two children under three who are waiting. There is another family of five, a young adult, a couple, who are anxiously hoping that they will soon be given approval by IRCC to travel to Canada.

Please donate now to the CUC’s Refugee Sponsorship Fund and help refugees have a chance at building new lives. It matters.

Thunder Bay Unitarians Have a New Home
By David Belrose

In 2021, Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship sold Unitarian House, our home for 37 years at 129 S. Algoma St. and moved into temporary quarters. This served as a transitional home until the spring of 2024, as we explored options for a future home. The pending closure of St. Volodymyr’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church led to a conditional offer to purchase. After many delays, and some opposition, persistence allowed the sale to proceed and LUF took possession on September 9, the day after our 2024 In-Gathering service.

With the purchase of the new Unitarian Place finalized, we are now in a renewal and revitalization phase. As is usually the case in a new space, there is much work to be done. To use an art metaphor, this building is our blank canvas on which we can paint our masterpiece. The roof has been re-shingled and Ukrainian Orthodox crosses removed. The lower-level social hall and kitchen have been made functional by the dedicated work of volunteers. The commercial kitchen can be a possible source of rental income, while the hall will be able to facilitate lifespan learning, and host a variety of community groups.

Our major priority is transforming the sanctuary hall from its Ukrainian Orthodox origins to a Unitarian Universalist space suitable as a community hub. In addition to our programs, we will be able to host music concerts, performance groups, weddings and other rites of passage, make rental space available, and explore other possibilities in the future. While we are still in the early stages, Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship is looking forward with enthusiasm in its new spiritual home Unitarian Place. You can learn more about us at luf.ca.

Ontario Unitarian Universalist Midwinter Retreat
By Roy Blake and Ontario UUs

This will be the 34th midwinter retreat, and we are back at the YMCA Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre, just north of Toronto. The retreat will run from the evening of Friday, Jan. 31, until after lunch on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.

This year’s retreat theme will be “Welcoming the second quarter of the 21st century”. We are delighted to announce that our keynote speaker will be Dallas Bergen, who has been the Director of Congregational Music at the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto for over a decade. Workshops will be similar to previous years, with a choice of 3 or 4 workshops in each of 4 time slots, and will include outdoor programs led by Cedar Glen staff as well as things such as yoga, improv, presentations on UU history, and more. A follow-up workshop by Rev. Linda Thomson from last year’s theme of “Becoming Reacquainted” will focus on new and emerging practices from our congregations to counter separation and loneliness. A Saturday night cabaret, games and euchre, and a Sunday service with our usual Chocolate Communion will round out the weekend. More information to come!

You can find more details about the schedule and registration at our website. The site will be updated as we finalize our schedule.

Join Ontario UUs for a fun, engaging, and informative weekend.

BC Fall Youth Con
By Kiersten Moore

The Vancouver Unitarians are hosting an in-person Fall Youth Con for youth in the area. There are only a few days left! Join us for the BC Fall Youth Con from November 22 to 24 in Vancouver! This year’s theme is “Dance Dance RevolUUtion: Resistance ThrUU Art,” promising an empowering weekend for youth within travel distance.

PLUS, Kiersten Moore will lead a 1-day Peer Pastoral Care training for youth and adults on Saturday.

Questions? Contact Kiersten at kiersten@vanu.ca.

Unicamp Executive Director Says Farewell

Unicamp extends its deep gratitude to Yvette Salinas, for her valued contributions to the leadership of Unicamp, upon her decision to leave the role of Executive Director.

In a farewell message, Yvette writes: “Dear Unicamp Community, it has been an honour to serve as Executive Director to the Unicamp organization these past six years. The time has come for me to pass the leadership role on, and so my time as ED has come to an end. It has been a joy to serve this community. Not only have my children grown and blossomed by taking part in programming, but I have grown as a person by meeting the challenges a camp can face, learning to appreciate and collaborate with my staff, and engaging with the spirituality found in nature.

Though I pass the baton of leadership on, I will always love the UC community. See you at camp, Yvette.”

Congregational Conversations

Use this Zoom link to join all Congregational Conversations.

Communications Needs & Resources – Wednesday, November 20
Communication tools can help your congregation to build community, be more visible in the wider community, and make a difference in the lives of others. What’s working, what’s challenging, and where can you find help?

UU Expressions – Saturday, November 23
Have you been listening to the UU Expressions recordings? Join us to share Insights, questions, and possibilities. Find UU Expressions here.

Challenges of Being A Congregational Leader – Wednesday, December 4
The more you do, the more complicated your congregational experience and relationships can become – and we don’t always notice it happening until it becomes a problem. Join us for a conversation about some of the unique challenges of congregational leadership.

Success stories – Saturday, December 7
To close the calendar year, let’s celebrate our successes, large and small. We will highlight a few stories and invite you to share yours.

Details & Registration: Congregational Conversations 2024-2025

Connect and Deepen

Connect and Deepen, joined by Gathered Here (CUC Young Adults)

Reflecting can be an intentional practice, an accidental occurrence, and many other things. What important roles does Reflecting play in your life? What practices help you to do it?

December Hosts: Linda Thomson & a member of the CUC Young Adult Pastoral Care Team

Reminder: Submitting Motions for the CUC AGM

See the article in the October eNews for info on submitting a motion.

Did You Know: Skills Mapping for Volunteers

The CUC is excited to introduce a new downloadable Volunteers Skills Mapping for Congregations designed to help Unitarian Universalist congregations assess the unique skills and interests of their volunteers.

This tool will provide a clearer understanding of how each individual’s talents can best serve their community, ensuring that everyone is engaged in meaningful and fulfilling ways.

By completing this worksheet, volunteers can help match their strengths with opportunities that align with their passions and expertise, fostering a stronger, more vibrant congregation.

Office Closure

The CUC office will be closed from noon ET on December 20 through January 1, 2025, reopening January 2. We wish everyone a safe and restful holiday season.

What’s Making Us Smile

Do you sometimes feel more like carping about the day than seizing it? This 2012 essay remains a timely reminder of why that’s okay.

CUC Events from November 20, 2024 to December 31, 2024

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

Enews written by Kenzie Love, CUC Writer, and Prepared and Formatted by Brigitte Twomey, CUC Website Specialist