Statement of Principle

With sorrow we light a chalice for Muslim Canadians and we join them in grieving  for the members of the Afzaal family from London, Ontario, killed by an act of white supremacy terrorism while simply out for an evening walk. We stand with our Muslim neighbours in this tragic and frightening moment. Our eighth principle calls us to act against racism and other oppressions, may we as Unitarian Universalists do the work to end hatred and violence in Canadian society targeted at religious and ethnic difference. 

So Say We All.

Father's Day Video

At the Sunday June 20th service we will air a short tribute video to fathers of all kinds - biological, emotional, spiritual.  If you would like to honour your father or a parenting person in your life please send your name, their name and a photo to admin@uucm.ca by Thursday June 17th by 6:00pm. Please ensure the father figure or figures are clearly visible. You can be in the picture too!

Re-Opening Survey

At UCM we want to reopen buildings in a safe manner, consistent with Provincial Regulations and your comfort level; therefore, we are seeking your feedback. We kept the survey anonymous to allow for greater levels of confidentiality.

https://us11.list-manage.com/survey?u=8944f5b983a0131714b5f6553&id=f59cf00045&e=beef72a5b8
 

Prepared by the UCM
Covid 19 Task Force

The 8th Principle

Read more

A Request for Anti-Racism Speakers
The SJAC committee has formed a sub-committee to create a speaker series that relates to our 8th principle. We are calling the speaker series “Accountable Antiracism”.  Our request to our members is to suggest speakers for the series. We are looking for interesting community leaders that can speak to our 8th principle. Criteria for a good speaker would be their ability to engage an audience and their ability to discuss issues relating to anti BIPOC racism in Canada. The racism we are most focused on is that against people of Black, Indigenous and Asian descent.

If you could send any names (and any contact info) to John Rowell, Cathy Tafler or Kath Stobie, that would be wonderful. Contact information is available below. We will approach the speakers; since we only have three spots to fill, please don’t be offended if your suggestions don’t end up on the slate of speakers.

Contact Emails:
John Rowell:  johnrowell99@gmail.com
Cathy Tafler:  taflerrylett@gmail.com
Kath Stobie: jimpcc170@gmail.com

Thanking you in advance,

The Speaker Series Subcommittee of the SJAC Committee

Sponsor a Barn Letter

Give us a “U”, give us an “I” what have you got?  A fun way to raise funds for the update of the signage on the side of our historic barn. Visible from the QEW, the side of the barn is the ideal place to let the world know we are here. We are happy to report that 8 of the 21 letters available (Unitarian Congregation) have been sponsored so far. A letter can be sponsored with a donation of $150.00. If you have a preferred letter, let Sheila Bjarnason know, and we will try to accommodate your request. You can send in your donation via cheque, via the website at https://uucm.ca/donation/ or via e-transfer to payment@uucm.ca. Be sure to mention ‘barn letter’ in the memo field.  A tax receipt will be provided.

From: The Welcome Home Everyone Committee. (WHEeeee!): Sheila Bjarnason, Judy Benger,  Shirley Dickens, Jim Lawry, Candice Rice

Enter Rejoice and Come Back In?

The reopening of our province is coming into view but a lot of what, how and when questions still need to be answered. Ever hopeful, our Welcome Back task group has now had its first formal planning meeting - to consider safe and joyful ways that we can celebrate coming back in person to UCM.

First on the agenda was to think up a shorter name. We are now the “WELCOME HOME EVERYONE” task force or WHEeeee! Our mandate is to support and coordinate the welcome back activities proposed by individuals and committees at UCM. For the past two weeks we have included details of the Barn Letter Fun Raiser proposed by the Board and the Property Committee which will hopefully be installed in time to welcome us back.

Other ideas are developing, so stay tuned each week for notes under the photo of our Eastern Red Bud Tree. Plans include art, music, fellowship, worship and our sacred spaces. Let us know if you have a joyful idea to include.
 

From: The Welcome Home Everyone Committee. (WHEeeee!): Sheila Bjarnason, Judy Benger,  Shirley Dickens, Jim Lawry, Candice Rice
 

Summer Hours at UCM

Rev. Fiona will be away from Monday June 28th until Tuesday July 20th, then will return for the week to lead the July 25th service. She will then be away from Monday July 26th to Tuesday August 24th, when she returns for the new congregational year.  Director of Lifespan Learning Kathleen Sorenson will follow Rev. Fiona's schedule.
 
Office Administrator Tisa Zabarylo will begin summer hours on Monday June 28th. She will be in the office Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 12 noon to 4 PM. 

Memorial Stone

A memorial stone for Ken Noble was donated by Ken's family and placed under the redbud tree beside his wife Mary's stone on June 1st, the first anniversary of Ken's passing.
 
Mary and Ken joined the church in the early 1960's and were a very important part of the community serving on the Board and Committees and having a lot of fun putting on skits and having parties. Their community service was an inspiration to many community members.
 
The inscription reads, "Ken Noble 1929 - 2020, Humanitarian, Teacher, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Friend, Loved By All"

Cathy Tafler

Summer Services & Beyond

Our UCM summer will look a little different this year. We are going to collaborate with four other congregations in offering shared services via Zoom. We will meet with Grand River, Peterborough, Neighbourhood and Kingston and each minister will offer their best two pandemic reflections.
 
UCM will offer the service on Sunday, July 25th and Sunday, August 29th. Rev. Fiona will speak at both, returning for a week in July to prepare. Only two services allows staff, service leaders and tech support a well deserved break.
It's a great chance to connect with friends in other communities while enjoying fresh music and perspectives.
 
It is not yet clear what September will bring for Sunday services, we are waiting for the third wave of the pandemic to subside and vaccinations to increase so we can follow public health guidelines that are current and clear. We are striving to be cautious and adaptable as the situation unfolds, and are committed to continuing to livestream the Sunday service when we carefully return to the Great Hall.
 

Rev. Fiona 

Social Justice Notes

The Compass Food Bank  is in need

Donate at:
3121 Universal Drive, 
Mississauga ON L4X 2E2

www.themississaugafoodbank.org

Anti Racism

For a list of anti racism articles, videos and books, go to the Nurturing Inclusivity section of the UCM website:  https://uucm.ca/nurturing-inclusivity/

Read about Amnesty International Letter and Other Petitions

Find out about The Compass

Check out  https://uucm.ca/social-justice/ to learn more about how you can help.

Donations to UCM

If you would like to make a financial contribution electronically to UCM, please do so at: https://uucm.ca/donation/
or via bank transfer to payment@uucm.ca

Please indicate whether these funds are for the current year or next year’s Operating Budget or for some other purpose. Thank you for your generosity.

Has Your Contact Info Changed?
Have you moved recently? Changed your email address or phone number? Please remember to let Tisa in the UCM office know so that we can keep such information current: admin@uucm.ca

Upcoming CUC Events

Rising Together: UU Youth and Emerging Adults of Colour
Saturday, June 12, 2021, 4:30 pm  ET 
Join us for Rising Together – a welcoming space especially for Black, Indigenous and other people of colour (BIPOC) Unitarian Universalist youth and emerging young adults (ages 14-24). 
More information is available at https://cuc.ca/events/rising-together-june/1623515400/1623520800/

Connect and Deepen
Sundays, June 13 and 27, 4 pm  ET
Connect and Deepen is a regular small group ministry in which participants gather, virtually, for meaningful discussion, connection and reflection.
More information is available at https://cuc.ca/events/connect-deepen-feb-april-2020/1614528000/1614533400/

Gathered Here
Monday, June 14, 8:00 pm ET 
Join other UU 18-35-year-olds on Zoom (a video-conferencing platform) for sharing of joys and sorrows, deeper check-ins, prayerful reflections, and an opportunity to process the events of our lives with a spiritually grounded community. 
More information is available at https://cuc.ca/events/gathered-here-june-2021/1623700800/1623706200/
 
UU BIPOC Space
Saturday, June 19th, 12pm ET 
A space for UUs who are Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour, ages 18 and up, to gather safely to share experiences, stories, and be change-makers. Meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 9am PT | 12pm PT.
Join on Zoom at http://bit.ly/UU_BIPOC
 
Leaders Roundtable
Saturday, June 26, 3:00 p.m. ET
Join Vyda Ng in a conversation about the 8th principle process and a way forward. Connect on Zoom.

  New Zoom Protocols

Committee meetings and social events on Zoom will now use passcode security.

Attendees will need to enter the code to join the meeting. Chairs and facilitators will need the passcode to enter the meeting, then will use the Host Key to claim the Host function. Tisa will provide updated zoom invitations.

Sunday Services, Hearth Light and other public meetings on Zoom will continue to use the waiting room security feature.

Missing UCM folks?

If you want to keep in touch with other UCM member and friends please use our Zoom account. Just call or email Tisa in the office with your preferred date and time and she can set up the meeting for you. Use this as a chance to talk about a book, watch a YouTube video together or just talk with someone.

Youtube livestreaming of the Sunday Service 

If you have trouble logging onto Zoom, you can watch the service on our youtube channel. To view a livestream you must subscribe to our UCM channel. The livestream begins around 10:25am and ends with the benediction. It is available for a short time on Sunday and then is removed. Clips from Rev. Fiona's reflections and prerecorded videos will be uploaded later in the week.

Don't forget to watch past services on the channel (every view helps our profile!) and send links to friends who might need this life sustaining community.

Download the PDF

Nurturing Inclusivity: 

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 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. Please check our Nurturing Inclusivity webpage and our Event webpage.

The Reverend Mark Mosher DeWolfe Sermons

We have created a collection of webpages on our UCM website featuring The Reverend Mark Moshe DeWolfe sermons. This is such a wonderful opportunity to showcase his sermons as many Unitarians all through Canada and the States admire him. You will be able to listen, read and see some annotated or handwritten sermons in PDFs. We have approximately 50 sermons to upload so come back and check frequently. Enjoy!
Please visit www.uucm.ca/mark-dewolfe-sermons/
Brigitte Twomey

Covenant of Right Relations

We, the members of the Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga, affirm a Covenant of Right Relations. As Unitarian Universalists, we come freely into community, guided by our seven principles and nourished by the six sources.

In good faith, we covenant to:

• Assume good intentions, recognize impact
• Listen deeply and seek understanding.
• Appreciate each person’s contributions.
• Communicate directly with people when differences exist.
• Speak to and about people with empathy and respect.
• Seek peaceful and constructive resolutions to conflict.
• Ask for help when we need help in dealing with situations.
• Forgive each other and ourselves when mistakes are made.

Affirmed at the Annual Meeting, June 2016.

A Message from the Personnel Committee 

Our Safe Steps policy helps the congregation be attuned to right relations between members. The policy, which is currently being updated, ensures that we take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of adults and children alike.
 
During this pandemic time we are reminded that many people are facing stressful home situations. We hear reports in the media about increases in intimate partner assault and child abuse. Financial stressors and tight living situations mean that tempers can flare more easily. If you are in a situation where you feel you might need some help, here are some local agencies that can help:
 
The Children’s Aid Society for the Region of Peel, now assisting families with children up to the age of 18: (905) 363-6131
Assaulted Women’s Helpline: (416) 863-0511
24/7 Crisis Support Peel Line: (905) 278-9036
 

S M I L E!

There has been a lot of discussion over the last few months about how we are missing simple things like a gentle touch, or a hug, or even a playful nudge. However, there is also another aspect of our new reality that there hasn’t been a lot of discussion about – the challenges of living in a world where we are masked. 
 
To give a brief background, there is a facial expression called the Duchene Smile, where the corners of the mouth turns up, the cheeks rise, and the eyes slightly narrow causing crows’ feet to appear. This smile demonstrates warmth, sincerity, credibility and shows others not to fear us. In short, it makes us feel good.

If you have been out in public lately, you probably know where this is going. Wearing masks, mask our smiles and changes our fundamental feelings of safety. A recent study shows that we receive any information with a more pessimistic slant if it is delivered by someone whose lower face is covered. We are more liable to assume negativity, less engagement, and even an exponentially worse diagnosis if our physician is masked. It also means that we miss many of the nuances of expression that indicate, “I’m sorry”, “Forgive me”, “I’m confused”, and even “I like you”. Our hard-wired communication systems depend on all these indicators and is short circuited if they are not available.

So, what can we do about this? Well if it is safe, don’t wear a mask if you want to fully communicate with someone – social distance can be an option. Where that is not responsible, try to be aware of what you can do with your eyes and your voice that can help. We have lots to learn from our veiled sisters about how to communicate effectively under those conditions. They suggest exaggerating inflection in our voices and paying attention to how our eyes express our mood. Finally, don’t forget the rest of our body language like stance, hand movements – for example, palms open and facing up is less threatening than closed fists.
 
In closing there is a simple way of dealing with this – wear a button with a picture of yourself is full Duchene Smile! It seems that we have the ability to cut and paste a smile from another location unto the mask. If you deal with others while wearing a mask – this is important.  It will make others feel better and you will feel better too.

UU at Home

One way to stay connected with Unitarian Universalism is to create a UU space in your home that you can turn to for exploration or contemplation. This might be a shelf or corner table or a box.  It can be as simple or as elaborate as you like, just a chalice and tea light, or decorated with other images and objects that have meaning for you. You might have a book of poems or essays near by or use a favourite website or twitter handle.  Use the UUA Worship Web app or sign up for the weekly Braver/Wiser message.  Families can use these UU World activity pages. Take time every day or once a week to light the chalice, to sit and breathe and be, and care for your spirit. Or find a special "sit spot" outside and visit it often to build your connections to all that is.  Unitarian Universalism is about belonging to the earth and celebrating the mystery - we celebrate together on a Sunday morning but you can also experience this in your daily living through practicing intention and attention.

I look forward to hearing about your "at-home" explorations!

Rev. Fiona

Contributing to UCM

Those of you who would like to make a contribution to UCM at this time can do it one of several ways. You can go to the UCM website (www.uucm.ca) and donate through PayPal or credit card. Just choose the Pledge or Donate link (it’s orange) on the home page.  Or you can do an Interac e-transfer through your bank to payment@uucm.ca (please note that payment is singular). Choose a password that is easy to interpret, e.g., short form of our congregation or first name of our minister. Or you can mail a cheque into the office.
 
If people need to suspend their PAD agreements at this time, they should send an email to donations@uucm.ca or call Joan Hill, our Finance Chair, at 905-891-3951.

Minister's Discretionary Fund

Rev. Fiona manages a small fund that is available to help congregants in short term need with costs like groceries or a bill payment. If you need a little extra help during this economic crash, please reach out to the minister.

Those with stable finances are welcome to contribute to the fund, please note Minister’s Discretionary Fund on your contribution or contact Joan Hill for details.

Blessings,
Fiona

Audio Reflections are now on the Website and YouTube

We have created another way you can stay connected with UCM while we are in virtual mode for the next little while: Rev Fiona's reflections for the past three months have all been posted to the UCM website as audio files!  
 
Our new digital sound system which we purchased last Fall creates excellent quality audio recordings of our Sunday services. UCM members Rya Khan and Marc Xuereb are creating edited recordings of Rev Fiona's reflections each Sunday.

Brigitte Twomey has redesigned a portion of our website that enables you to listen to a reflection while reading the full text. Go to the Reflections Archive on our website (https://uucm.ca/reflections-archive/) to see the latest recordings along with the text of the reflections. The reflections have also been added to our UCM YouTube channel. 
 
On a related note, we can also create edited recordings of portions of the services on demand for members. Just ask Rya or Marc if want a recording of the choir's performance, for example or a special section of the service that spoke to you.

Marc Xuereb

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