Embracing our Culture of Generosity

This years’ Canvass campaign started on October 18, the electronic packages were sent out and the first results are starting to come in. As of October 20 the amount pledged was $54,960 (30% of our revenue goal) from 23 members and families. It is still early for trends or comparisons with last year, we expect another 50 pledges or so and we do thank those members who have already pledged.

We encourage everyone to read the Suggested Fair Share Contribution Guide when you are considering your pledge this year. Please pledge electronically at http://uucm.ca/pledge-operating/  as soon as possible or drop your pledge form off at the church. Payments are encouraged by pre-authorized debit or other bank transfers on line.

Members who have pledged will be receiving thank you post cards in the mail. Please hold onto them as we are planning to ask people to display them at our Canvass finale celebration on November 8.
If you have questions about Canvass please email donations@uucm.ca or stay in the main room after service (decline the breakout room you are assigned to) on Sunday to chat with Canvass Committee members.

Becky Bridel, Canvass Chair

Updates from the UCM Board 

COVID-19: Please read the important Message to UCM Members and Friends from the UCM Board: Click here.

UCM Committee Chairs: FALL FOCUS - Surviving and Thriving with Passion and Compassion, Saturday, October 24, 2020 9 AM - noon by Zoom

Updates from the UCM Financial Committee

Despite the loss of most of our rental revenue this year we were able to cut our expenses this year and also received a good amount of federal government support from COVID-19 relief funds. As a result, we expect a small surplus by the end of the year. However, we do not know at this point if government support will continue into 2021 but do expect our rental revenues will continue to be low in 2021 compared to normal.

https://Financial_Charts.xlsx 

Ritual of Mourning
Next Sunday November 1st we will hold our annual ceremony where we honour our dead by speaking their names and lighting candles and sitting together in the dark. This year we will create a photo slide show for our on-line service.

Please send a photo (titled with your last name and their full name) to Tisa at admin@uucm.ca. If you don't have a photo but want to lift up a beloved person, please send their name to Tisa for inclusion.

Are you struggling? 

If you experience a hard time during this pandemic lockdown and need to talk, please reach out to Rev. Fiona. She will listen and support you. You can send an email, call or text her cell phone, or reach out on facebook. Don't suffer in silence. 

Call For Nominations For
The 2020 MARK DEWOLFE SOCIAL ACTION AWARD
Nominations are now invited from UCM Members for consideration by the Selection Committee, of a UCM member who has shown outstanding Social Action activity either in our local Community or in a wider area. Dedication is important, as shown by the 2018 winner Doug Alton, a long-standing senior member, and by the 2019 winner, Sally Rylett from our young adult membership.
 
Nomination forms with instructions are available by contacting the UCM Office Administrator at admin@uucm.ca. Nominations will be welcomed but will close on November 19^th.

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

Social Justice Notes

Breakfast Club Food Update
Thank you to everyone who donated food, funds and labour to the Forest Ridge Breakfast Program. We now have 12 grateful families on our roster. Each Saturday morning, a supply of breakfast items are dropped off at each family’s door. Pathway Community Programs (which UCM generously donates to) and the Y Student Nutrition Program are now funding this initiative.
 
Thank you to John Rowell, Kath Stobie, Sarah Holt and Anika Nayani with your assistance in sorting and delivery food to our Breakfast Club families. Do you have an hour you could spare to assist in either shopping, sorting or delivering (non contact) the food? Please contact Wendy Shusterman 905-466-7945.

Wendy Shusterman

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.

Zoom Helpers Needed 

Do you miss the good times at UCM on a Sunday morning? If you enjoy chatting with people and are comfortable with Zoom, consider becoming a Zoom Greeter. We are looking for a couple of people who can act as virtual greeters - welcoming people during the pre-service and managing the break out rooms after the service.
 
If you understand computers, we are in need of Zoom Support - people who can manage the powerpoint and play the audio and video files. Training will be provided and we use a detailed script for guidance on Sundays.
 
Please contact Rev. Fiona at minister@uucm.ca for more details.

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.

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
 

Youtube livestreaming of the Sunday Service is back 

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.

Upcoming CUC Events

HalloUUeen Con 2020
Saturday, October 24, 12:00 p.m. ET
More information is available at  https://cuc.ca/events/hallouueen-con-2020/1603540800/1603569600/

Leaders Roundtable
Saturday, October  31, 12:00 p.m. ET  
More information is available at https://cuc.ca/events/leaders-roundtable-oct/1604145600/1604151000/

Our Regular Events:
Connect and Deepen
Sunday, October 25 and Sunday, November 8, 4:00 pm ET 
More information is available at https://cuc.ca/events/connect-and-deepen-october-2020/1602432000/1602437400/

National Fall Gathering
CUC Virtual Regional Gatherings
Friday, Nov 13
Central (Ontario, except for Kingston, Ottawa and Quebec): 7:00-8:30 pm ET

CUC National Gathering
Saturday November 14, 12:00 pm ET 
National Service: “Sustaining Our Light”
 
Sunday, November 15, 1:00 pm ET 
More information on the National Fall Gathering is available at https://cuc.ca/events/national-fall-gathering-2020/1605294000/1605466800/

Lay Chaplaincy Ask Us Anything Session
Thursday, November 26th, 2020 
9:00 am PT | 10:00 am MT  | 11:00 am CT | 12:00 pm ET  | 1:00 pm AT. 
Please join with members of the National Lay Chaplaincy Committee for an informal information session.  Do you want to know more about the Lay Chaplaincy program?  Are you wondering what a Lay Chaplain does?  This session is open to people considering applying to be a Lay Chaplain, for congregational Lay Chaplaincy committees, and others who are curious.  Those who register will be sent links for a Zoom session via email in advance of the event. 
Please register: https://forms.gle/8Q4n9x5VQcPBirdw9 

Zoom Notes

If you would like to meet with a small group from UCM, you can use our Zoom accounts!  Just contact Tisa in the office and she will set up the meeting and send the invitation to participants. The account can be used for committees, task groups, planning, and just socializing with UCM friends.

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