Rev. Fiona - Sabbatical
Rev. Fiona is taking a mini-sabbatical in January, and will be away from December 25th through January 21st, and will not be in contact by e-mail or facebook.

Who Do I Ask?
If you are unsure who to speak to about a request or decision while Rev. Fiona is away, please contact Tisa in the office or Pamela, the Director of Lifespan Learning. They will happily help by directing you to the appropriate board member or committee. 
For pastoral concerns, please contact Lorraine Waugh, Chair of the Caring Circle.

Green Sanctuary Congregation

This month UCM will focus on activities to reduce our use of energy. Televisions, radios, computers, clocks, computers, and game consoles consume power even when they are turned off! A list of carbon saving activities and the stickers will be at the table after each service.

Play the ‘Carbon Footprint’ Game! Everyone is invited to join us to cut Carbon at Home. Almost 40% of each person’s carbon foot print comes from their home.

CUC Online Book Club 

Would you like to be part of a cross-country book club for Unitarians? We are facilitating groups of 6-8 to find each other and agree on a first book and a time frame to meet using zoom technology (provided by the CUC). More details can be found here: http://vancouverunitarians.ca/canadian-unitarian-book-group/

Or email Mary Maler in Montreal who initiated this idea mmaler@videotron.ca or Mary Bennett in Vancouver maryinvancouver@gmail.com

New Syrian Family 

Thanks to the donations received for the Jalouk Family. Below is the updated list of items that would be useful for the family:
- rollator (walker) (with brakes that work for the sitting position)
- meat grinder (used for falafel and kobbi dough preparation)
- iron and ironing board 
- knife sharpener
- sewing machine
- one more mobile phone 
Please bring any items to UCM and put them in the library. Thank you.

Cathy Tafler

2019 UU Midwinter Retreat

The 2019 UU Midwinter retreat takes place Feb.1 to 3 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. Jessica Purple Rodella of the Grand River Congregation, followed by indoor workshops on a wide variety of topics and outdoor activities in the spacious grounds of the Centre. After dinner there will be entertainment provided by the attendees. 
 
Sunday will see more workshops and outdoor activities, ending with a service and lunch.
 
We're still finalizing the list of workshops and will send more information later, but possible topics include Tarot, co-housing, music, storytelling, UU's in space, climate change action, folk dancing and more! Outdoor activities depend on the weather, but may include hiking, snowshoeing, tobogganing, and a high ropes course.
 
For full information and registration details, please see our website at uumidwinterretreat.blogspot.com. Registration is open now!

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.