Notice from Finance

The end of the year is a very busy one for everyone, so we have the following requests:

2019 Donations: Please submit your end of year donations by Dec. 15, whether these are 2019 pledge payments or 2020 prepayments (just be sure to mark them appropriately in the memo line). You may post-date them to December 27^th if necessary. This will allow the Finance Committee members enough time to prepare the bank deposit slips.

2019 Expenses: Please submit green slips and receipts for payment of expenses by December 15 to allow time for processing payments. If you know that you will have expenses to submit after that date (e.g. haven't received a vendor's invoice), please let Becky Bridel know the approximate amount and what the expense is for. Please note that expenses received after December 15 won't be processed until the first week of January due to the holidays. 

Woolen Tree

December 1st our Great Hall will smell of fresh pine once again. This year, we will be collecting woolen items.
 
Clean, dry socks can help change someone’s life. Socks are one of the most needed but least donated articles of clothing to shelters for persons without homes.
 
Socks 4 Souls Canada is a volunteer run organization that is committed to contributing warmth, comfort, dignity, mobility and health to people who are without homes by providing them with new clean socks.
 
Since many persons without homes do not have access to laundry facilities, multiple pairs of socks are needed for each person. We will help warm the feet of those who find refuge in shelters, transitional housing and the city’s streets. Please place your socks in the basket at the bottom of the Christmas Tree.
 
Understanding that Mittens and Hats are also needed, we are delighted to receive them as well to help decorate our tree.

Kathleen

Nurturing Inclusivity: 2019-20 Focus

This year our educational focus is “Nurturing Inclusivity”, deepening our understanding of systemic racism and the inherent bias that has been internalized in Canadian society. We will look at how we live with in a system of “white supremacy” and how we can challenge that bias.  
 
We are seeking to deepen our understanding of the impact of racism on racialized people, so that we may develop as Unitarian Universalists.  As a community, we are working to enlarge our circle in ways that are welcoming of people of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds.  This work can be uncomfortable, but it is also rewarding; an opportunity to grow in spirit and develop meaningful connections with others.

Nurturing Inclusivity

As a follow up to our multi-age service, we wanted to build on our discussions around group belonging and inclusivity. 
There are essentially two key steps to becoming more inclusive:

Step 1: Awareness
Experts tell us that our unconscious mind makes a majority of our decisions. It creates blind spots — unconscious biases that can narrow our vision and potentially influence our behaviours. We need to become aware of any blindspots we may have. 
 
Step 2: Action
We need to consciously use strategies to minimise any blindspots and actively include and leverage diversity of perspectives. 
 
Each week we will provide you with "inclusion nudges" to give you the opportunity to become more aware of unconscious bias, and how to actively include and leverage diversity of perspectives.
 
Inclusion Nudge 
Action: https://youtu.be/eWM9pQE23lE

Enabling the Disabled

Presentation by Mark Wafer
Thurs. Feb. 6, 2020 Great Hall 7:15 pm 

Did you know that one in five people have a disability? Persons with disabilities are the largest community in Canada that face discrimination, with a 50-70% unemployment rate.  This is an important issue within UCM's exploration of Nurturing Inclusivity this year.

Mark Wafer and his wife Valarie bought a Tim Hortons franchise 22 years ago, and hired a person with Down's Syndrome as their first employee. They have hired about 200 employees with physical and mental disabilities since then at 6 Tim Hortons locations, at all levels of employment.

Mark will speak at UCM on Thurs. Feb. 6th on Enabling the Disabled; A Business Case for Real Inclusion. Tickets are $2 at Eventbrite, coffee and snacks provided. Tell your friends and co-workers, and hear this inspiring presentation!
Read more

Mississauga Climate Action Group Update
Mississauga Climate Action (MCA) congratulates the City of Mississauga staff for their hard work, and dedication to developing the Climate Change Action Plan. MCA commends the action they are taking so that our community and municipality are in a strong position to make a difference and be prepared for climate change.

Mississauga could be a leader for the green shift happening throughout Canada and the world but we must invest and plan for a green future.
MCA reviewed the Plan in detail, and while it is a good first step, there is much more we can do. A strength from Mississauga’s Plan is its willingness to seek an active and meaningful partnership between the city and community. However, it does not meet the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s target of net zero emissions by 2050.

MCA’s recommendation is to pass the Plan in December, but a five-year review is too long and should be expedited to a bi-annual review in order to adapt to and integrate new climate technology and solutions that reverse climate change. The climate emergency urgent and there is no time to lose.

There are ways you can communicate to the city that taking climate change is important to you; You can take the City of Mississauga’s Climate Action Survey here and you can share your thoughts on the 2020 municipal budget here.

Together, we will make a difference.

Inclement Weather Policy

The safety of UCM staff, members and friends is of paramount importance. If inclement weather is occurring or imminent on a scheduled work day, and the weather (or forecasted weather) is severe enough to endanger the safety of staff travelling to and from UCM, UCM will be closed. 

In the case of Sunday Services or Evening Programming, closure is warranted for Special Weather Advisories that indicate the weather is severe enough to endanger the safety of staff, members and friends, and the public travelling to UCM. For Sundays, it should be an extreme weather warning, such as an Ice Storm.

Read UCM Policy 

UU Midwinter Retreat 

The 2020 UU Midwinter retreat takes place Feb.7 to 9 at the YMCA Cedar Glen Centre in Bolton, just north of Toronto. The retreat begins Friday night with an informal dinner and socializing. Saturday includes a keynote address by Rev. Peter Boullata of the Guelph Congregation, followed by indoor workshops on a wide variety of topics and outdoor activities in the spacious grounds of the Centre. Sunday will include a climate change cafe and outdoor activities, ending with a service featuring a chocolate communion, and lunch. For more details and registration, please see our website and the flyer. Registration is now open.

Calling All Performers!
Calling all performers! If you are not able to join the choir but would still like to contribute to the services, please consider donating your talent to perform during musical gifts. Please let Abigail know if you are interested and she can put you on the list. Any type of performance involving music is welcome - singing, playing an instrument or dancing.  abigailfreeman@rogers.com
 

Opportunities Abound

As a thriving community, UCM has much going on. If you have time, please consider sharing your energy and gifts with us. There is a place for you! There are opportunities to help with the garden, the green sanctuary work, and much more. Please speak to Rev. Fiona or visit our Volunteer Opportunities page.

Sexual harassment excludes women from public life
Renu Mandhane, Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission

Le harcèlement sexuel : un acte qui relègue les femmes à la marge de la vie publique

Par : Renu Mandhane, commissaire en chef, Commission ontarienne des droits de la personne

Looking for Inspiration
Each week Rev. Fiona posts a spiritual practice for people to try at home. Sometimes it is an ancient practice such as meditation, others focus on the earth or universe with contemporary practices.  You can find the practice posted each Thursday at emptychalice.com or on the UCM facebook page.