This Sunday at 10:30am we can all enjoy the service from the comfort of homes, sipping coffee! This Sunday is the first of an occasional series on the eight principles. Our brand new eighth principle affirms “Individual and communal action that accountably dismantles racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions”. UCM is the first Canadian congregation to formally adopt this principle. Today we explore Canada’s truth and reconciliation work with indigenous people.
We say we have eight principles to guide our choices, six sources to nourish our spirits and five aspirations to help us grow. The new eighth principle – affirmed by us last June – calls us to “Individual and communal action that accountably dismantles racism and other oppressions in ourselves and in our institutions.” This Sunday at 10:30am I will look at the theological basis on the eighth principle and how it may guide us in truth and reconciliation work with indigenous people. While it is difficult work to do, it’s a joy to be part of a culture shift that nurtures diversity and liberates those voices too often silenced. You can read more about the principle on our website. This is the first of a series on the principles – next week we continue with the seventh principle and in later months we will return to the rest, deepening our understanding of this essential faith framework.
We will continue on-line this Sunday with Zoom and YouTube options. I am so sorry for the problems getting through, the link was corrupted in our e-news. The link is now clean and correct, but if you do have trouble getting through, please contact Marc Xuereb via text at 647-217-1348 or check our Facebook page.
Sunday Services Zoom Link
Time: September 26th, 2021 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88155648070
Meeting ID: 881 5564 8070
Phone In via: 647-374-4685
The YouTube livestream of the Service will also be available to subscibers to the UCM channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD8jh9eDfIPsl51oMKSpqPw?view_as=subscriber
Please be aware our livestream is public. Although it is unlikely for you to appear, if you want to ensure you are not visible please keep your video off during the service.
We will host a special offering for Flaming Chalice International.
A brief update of the work of Flaming Chalice International
Flaming Chalice International is involved with refugees in East Africa and that was its initial initiative. Our work has been going for the last six years thanks to the generosity of UUs. This year, thanks to a grant from the UU Fellowship of Ottawa, we have funds to cover the needs of the 26 refugees, in our care in East Africa, until the end of the year. This allows us to focus on other initiatives.
We have lifechanging projects underway; we have given grants to refugees who want to start small businesses and a water project in honour of my (Rev. Fulgence’s) mother that will serve 600 school kids and people who live in four surrounding villages is under way. In the area where the water gravity scheme is being built, women have asked support to build kitchen gardens and to set up a revolving fund for them to set up a saving/lending project. We want to support this project.
Kitchen gardens and a revolving fund run by rural women in Burundi: we can use your gifts.
UCM has been supportive for FCI’s ministry and I am grateful for the generous commitment. For this year, the specific project that we would like you to raise money for is the Burundi women’s project for kitchen gardens and a revolving mutual fund. Women save money and apply for loans from this fund. The support will be for them to increase the fund that they already have. The goal for this project is approximately $1000 CAN ($972). The project will serve 47 women. In reality it will serve more than 200 people, if we count an average of five people per household.
People can learn more from our website: www.flaminginternational.org
To donate through Canada Helps or by e-transfer, go to https://www.flaminginternational.org/donate. Please mention UCM and kitchen gardens.
Thank you for being part of this adventure.
Special Offering this Sunday
This week we encourage members and friends to donate generously to Flaming Chalice International. Please add Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga to the organization line in the donation form.
Founded by Canadian UU minister Fulgence Ndagijimana, FCI focuses on supporting refugees from Burundi in building new lives in exile as well as supporting women entrepreneurs in Burundi creating sustainable incomes for their families. Rev. Fulgence spoke to us from Ottawa last September, this is an annual opportunity for UCM to nurture the global UU community.
If you know people who are seeking an open hearted spirituality or looking for a community of care, invite them to join us on Sunday. We may be what they need.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
Blessings,
Fiona