Statement of Principle

We light a chalice for the people of the Al Noor mosque and the Lindwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand, killed and injured while participating in worship. We grieve with our Muslim neighbours.  Unitarians seek to live by our sixth principle - the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.  Knowing we are stronger together, we celebrate  religious and cultural diversity.  We condemn white supremacist, alt-right terrorism, and will act with love to challenge this hateful movement.

Lay Chaplaincy Training

If you've ever had an inkling that you may want to become a Lay Chaplain one day, or if you've ever considered sitting on the Lay Chaplaincy Committe, you may want to attended the basic training for lay chaplains "Designing and Leading Rites of Passage" coming on April 12 - 14 at Neighbourhood Unitarian Congregation in Toronto.  It is rare that this training is so close by, so now is your chance! 

 All the details are here:  https://cuc.ca/events/training-designing-leading-rites/1555088400/1555255800/.  Feel free to reach out to Ellen Newman, Chair of the Lay Chaplaincy Committee, if you have questions. 

Request for Furniture Donations

We have befriended (but not sponsored) a refugee family from Iraq, and they are still looking for small furniture items such as:
- coffee table
- side tables
- end tables for 5 beds
- box springs and/or bedframes and metal bedframes for 4 twin beds, and one queen bed
- bedside lamps
- a computer printer
- a laptop computer
- a child's booster seat

Please contact Kathy Geczi (kgeczi@rogers.com) or John Rowell (johnrowell99@gmail.com) if you can donate one or more of these items. 
Thank you.

Time, Talent and Treasures Silent Auction
The Time, Talent and Treasures Silent Auction is a wonderful opportunity for members of the congregation to meet one another on a more personal level, through the sharing of talents, services, companionship, events or items of value. There are numerous ways for  everyone to contribute, limited only by your own imagination! Some past ideas include dinner parties, gift certificates, cottage weekends, tickets to special events, group day trips, hedge trimming, handicrafts, baking and other food items. The list of possibilities is truly endless! 

Donation forms will be available at Sunday service on March 24 and 31.
Bidding will take place before and after service on Sunday April 7, 14 and 28. 
All bidding will close at 12 noon on April 28th!

For additional information or to contribute ingenious ideas, please contact John Smith or Karen Mistruzzi Canning. Let’s join together to make this a fun and successful event for our congregation!

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
 

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. Read more on our Environmental Justice page.

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 

The Jalouk's would be happy to have anyone interested in dropping by for some simple English conversation (including maybe playing board games, etcetera) to help them practice their English. It is not necessary to have experience teaching ESL - just a desire to have some fun speaking English! 
 
Anyone interested please contact Cathy Tafler (cathy@taflerrylett.com) for further discussion and suggestions of words and activities from Jean and Marilyn.

Below is the updated list of items that would be useful for the family:
- iron and ironing board 
- knife sharpener
- sewing machine
Please bring any items to UCM and put them in the library. Thank you.

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.