Gathered Here: Young Adult Check-In, 

August 12, 8:00 p.m. ET

Gathered Here is a monthly online check-in and gathering for Canadian Unitarian Universalist young adults

Join other UU 18-35 year-olds on Zoom (a video-conferencing platform) for the sharing of joys and concerns, deeper check-ins, prayerful reflections, and an opportunity to process current events with a spiritually grounded community.

Young adulthood can be a time of upheaval and transition, great joys and significant challenges. Gathered Here is a chance to connect online with other young UUs, reconnect with friends who live far away, and witness and celebrate the ups and downs of our lives in our faith community.

These are drop-in style gatherings, so you don’t need to sign up in advance. On the days you want to attend, just get comfy with your internet box, sign in at the scheduled time, and bring your whole self for the hour and a quarter. Follow the link above for more information.

Chair, Social Justice Action Committee

Artisans in the Garden 

Our first Artisans in the Garden Show was deemed a success by most exhibitors and visitors. Many asked to return next year. Due to the extreme heat and threat of thunderstorms we moved the show inside to our air conditioned Great Hall. Everyone was thankful for the respite from the weather. We had a fabulous variety of art and crafts on display and many vendors contributed to our silent auction.

A huge thank you to our many many dedicated volunteers, including our talented musicians,who worked so hard to make this new initiative a success. 

Candice Rice and Sue Haugen
Co-chairs

Pathway : Thank You!

 I would like to thank all of you who donated items to help the newcomer family at the Forest Ridge Pathway site.  Arriving with only the clothes on their backs, they needed to furnish their apartment from scratch. Our donations, and the donations of many other people, were able to provide the family with just about everything they needed, including a bicycle for the little boy. He was delighted! Pathway extends its thanks to UCM for the generosity that helped this family make an empty apartment into a home.
 
Pathway is an interfaith non-profit corporation whose purpose is to provide good quality affordable housing units. Pathway was founded by Solel Congregation of Mississauga, Streetsville United Church, and the Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga to address the need for affordable housing in Peel Region. Pathway's mission is rooted in the conviction that all human beings deserve to have their fundamental needs met. 
https://www.pathwayhousing.ca
Judy Benger
Chair, Social Justice Action Committee

Summer Hours!
Tisa's summer hours will begin on Tuesday July 2nd. The office will only be staffed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 12 noon to 4 PM.
 
Fiona will be in the office until Friday June 28th, then on holidays and study leave until Tuesday August 20th.  She will lead the Sunday service on August 25th.

During the summer Fiona does not check e-mail, but can be reached on her cell phone for pastoral emergencies during July. In August, please contact the office or Lorraine Waugh, the Caring Circle Chair.

Norias Cake and Sweets
Hozaifa Jalouk has started Norias Cake and Sweets and makes very delicious desserts! Please consider ordering cakes or Syrian sweets either through his Facebook page
http://fb.me/noriascakesweets  or by email noriascakesweets@gmail.com

The bakery is named after the traditional water-raising devices called "Norias" which are part of the culture and history of Hama, the Jalouks home city in Syria:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noria  
Some of the items include: Cake (cream / sugar icing), Faisaliyat, Bulbul Nest, Konafa, Barazik (Cookie with sesame / pistachios topping), Shaibiyyat, Baklawa

White Allies in Anti-Racism Workshops

Our educational focus next year will be on "nurturing inclusivity", learning how we can deepen our understanding of systemic racism and oppression and broaden our congregation culture to better welcome people of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds.  Check out our Workshops in November.

In this workshop series, we will unpack racism in Canada and explore ways to become allies in the struggle to dismantle the racial barriers in our congregations and the larger community. Please note the workshop takes an explicit view that transforming ourselves and our society into a racially just place implicates a responsibility in white folks to engage more robustly. Youth are encouraged to attend.  More details to come in the fall.

Dear Members and Friends of UCM

My resignation becomes effective August 15th. In the meantime, I will be checking email once a week to answer any questions for members and newcomers inquiries. Have a wonderful summer!

Pamela Smith-Loeters

I will be leaving my position as Director of Lifespan Learning at the end of July. This transition brings with it both joy and sorrow. Joy because I’ll be moving on toward becoming a Parent Coach. For the past 18 years I have worked part-time as a parent educator.  In this capacity, I ran workshops and presentations for groups of parents in schools and other organizations. This fall I will begin a year long certification process to enhance my skills. My goal is to work directly with parents to explore, examine, and discover solutions. This I believe has always been my life purpose to change a small piece of the world…one family at a time.

The sorrow comes from leaving you in my role as Director of Lifespan Learning. These past six years, I have had the opportunity to tell you stories, joke, laugh, plan, and most importantly watch your children grow. I have grown with them! Frank Oppenheimer said “the best way to learn is to teach” I have learned about colonization and the history of my First Nations peoples. Through the Welcoming Congregation Refresher Program, I have gained knowledge about the many issues facing our LGBTQI communities and the importance of continually to strive to create a safe, inclusive space. I have explored how to engage locally and globally to support refugees and other displaced people. Currently, I am learning how to reduce my carbon footprint and take action to protect our water and the environment. My best teachers have been each of you. Throughout the years, this congregation has taught me valuable lessons in compassion, kindness, generosity, and love.
 
Kitiwam asimina kawapamitan (I will see you again)
Pamela

UNICAMP - 5 Reasons to Register for Kid's Camp!

Hello everyone! Allow me to introduce myself, if we haven’t met before. I’m Yvette Salinas, the new Executive Director of Unicamp. After years of serving as Religious Educator, these last few months I’ve been focused on ensuring Unicamp Children’s and Youth Programming is just want UU children need! The final piece missing is the children, of course! In celebration of Unicamp’s 50^th Anniversary, here are 5 reasons you should consider Unicamp for the special child(ren) in your life! 
Don’t delay - Register NOW for this summer's camps! For information on Children's Camps and Youth Programs, visit our website (www.unicampofontario.ca) and click on 'Programs' or check UCM website. Check our programs for families and for adults, too -- including special celebrations for Unicamp’s 50th Anniversary!

It's your 50th anniversary of camp:
https://unicampofontario.ca/ 

Donate $20 and get a tax receipt or a black cap with rainbow colours.  

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

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

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.