Please join us for a timely service on “Finding Blessings in the Midst of a Pandemic” We are pleased to have Aline Laflamme as our guest speaker. She is a Metis grandmother, pipe carrier, Sundancer, drum maker, therapist, and workshop facilitator who is going to share with us how traditional teachings serve to help us stay in a ‘blessed state’ in spite of being in the midst of a pandemic.
In addition to her many foregoing roles and accomplishments, Aline was Co-Founder of the Aboriginal Front Door Society providing traditional healing and culture to Aboriginal people in the DTES. Aline provided culturally-based healing workshops and ceremonies throughout communities and in prisons for many years. Aline is a founding member of Skemcis Medicine Wheel Society. She took people on their Vision Quests for over 14 years and has created over 1450 Native hand drums. Aline provides Rites of Passage camps to youth; and facilitates teachings and cross-cultural workshops for colleges, schools, government and various NGOs. Aline has a degree in Criminology, three years training in Hakomi therapy and conflict resolution. Aline also has many years of traditional teachings from respected Aboriginal Elders.
Offering and Online Services
Please remember to mail in your offering to South Fraser Unitarians, c/o Linda Pugh, Treasurer. Her address is in the most recent edition of our Connections.
Food Bank This Food Bank collection is a week late as we were at the CUC meeting last week. Please make your cheque out to South Fraser Unitarians with Food Bank on the memo line. Now we can donate on line with an e-transfer. Go to treasurer@surreyunitarians.ca and write” food bank “ in the message. If you are asked for a question, please ask one that Linda our treasurer, will know the answer to! Upcoming Service
May 31, 2020: What's Broken is Brilliant, with Rev. Dr. Barbara ten Hove
As we end our reflections on the theme of wholeness, let’s explore the power of brokenness to help us heal and grow. What cracks are helping the light to shine through in your life, particularly in these challenging times?
Our guest preacher is the Rev. Dr. Barbara Wells ten Hove, a retired UU minister living in Bellingham, WA. Last year, Rev. Barbara was the consulting minister at the North Shore Unitarians in West Van and before that she served congregations (since 1985) in the Seattle area, Denver and Maryland. She is Minister Emerita at Cedars UU Church on Bainbridge Island, WA.
Congregational Connections
FUUNBUCKS
SERVICE MARKET has a unique new additional offering, plus other changes. We welcome you to join in this opportunity for connection in the near future.
Outing:
Gwen M.
Full moon paddle 2 single kayaks or 1 canoe paddling near Crescent Beach with beverages after $15 per person
Dinner:
Carrie P.
3 –course dinner: chicken stuffed crepes with wine/cheese sauce entree October, 7 guests max, $30 Sold 5/7
Joan J.
vegan main course: 4 servings each, type/ date TBA, 6-7 carry-outs, $15 Sold 7/7
Lunch:
Gerri O.
summer luncheon end of July, 7 guests max, $25 Sold 4/7
Desserts:
Carrie P.
plum puddings, 1.5 lb. @ $12 or 2.0 lb. @ $14, December, 6 max. Sold 3/6
Odd Jobs:
Ryan U.
Indoors and out, has power washer & truck, Time/Cost TBA, Sold 1
Needed: Gerri O. needs help with Facebook and Social Media on a Mac. One session. Details TBA.
Carrie P. needs a ride to YVR in fall, winter? $60
Staying Connected at SFUC
If you’re feeling lonely and need connection, please join Rev. Samaya at one of the following events in the coming week. These gatherings are one of the ways we can stay socially connected and physically distant.
Tuesday the 26th at 10:00 am, join Rev. Samaya to engage in the practice of lectio devina UU style. Together we’ll reflect on a piece of poetry or a quotation related to our soul matters theme of blessing.
Thursday the 28th at 4:00 pm, join Rev. Samaya for a loving kindness meditation. This meditation focuses specifically on those being affected by the COVID-19 virus.
All of the sessions take place online with our regular meeting room zoom room.
Update to Zoom
Very shortly, zoom will be releasing an upgrade to Zoom 5.0 to allow CGM Encryption. This upgrade allows for greater security. Please be sure you take time to update your account with zoom. As of May 30th, 2020, all Zoom clients on older versions will receive a forced upgrade when trying to join meetings as GCM Encryption will be fully enabled across the Zoom platform. How people are connecting:
My first bike ride in ages. Mona lead the way through South East Surrey and we enjoyed the many flowers and the smell of cows. Yup, I like that smell. We maintained distancing. (Pretty much)
Faith Formation
What Does it Mean to be a People of Blessing?
I’ve heard it said recently that the empty streets and stores are a sign of our love for the world, for our community, and for those we love. As we move into a new phase of physically distancing ourselves, here’s one of or spiritual practices to engage with that comes from the soul matters packet on what it means to be a people of blessing. You are invited to engage in a practice of offering secret blessings.
“Wayne Muller, in his book Sabbath, encourages a practice he calls secret blessing. He writes, “Bless strangers quietly, secretly. Offer it to people you notice on the street, in the market, on the bus. [Silently say to yourself] "May you be happy. May you be at peace." Feel the blessing move through your body as you offer it. Notice how you both receive some benefit from the blessing.”
At first blush it’s hard to imagine how a secret blessing can produce much good. How can a person receive something they aren’t aware you’re giving them? But, of course, this practice is more about what happens to us than what happens to them. It alters our attention, making us scan and become more aware of our surroundings. It changes our attitude toward others. Just image going through your day looking for excuses to wish people well or think the best of them rather than looking for threats and assuming ill intent. And it connects us to others, helping us acknowledge common struggles and hungers.
But how exactly might it change you? That is what this exercise is all about.
Do it for a day or maybe two. Be disciplined about it and set a target for yourself like, “I will secretly offer 10 blessings to 10 different people throughout the day.” Don’t be afraid to keep it simple. A blessing is as straightforward as completing the sentence: “I wish _________ for you.”
At the end of the day meditate on or write about how offering those blessings and seeking out people to bless altered your day. How did blessing others bless you?
Join a small group and be ready to share a few stories about who you blessed, how and why.
Our soul matters packet on what it means to be a people of blessing can be downloaded here. Interested in joining one of our small groups? There are two that meet monthly on the theme online. You can join one by contacting, Rev. Samaya Oakley. They are scheduled on:
Monday, May 25th from 7-9 pm, and
Wednesday, May 27th from 1-3 pm.
Community Connections
Community Services
The Options Community Services temporary shelter at Peace Portal Alliance church has opened. We are grateful for this service to offer safe space for some of our most vulnerable citizens during the pandemic. A big shout out to Peace Portal Alliance Church for stepping up with providing their church building. And cheers to the Food Bank and others for providing some food and other helps. Thanks to the City of White Rock and their advocacy for the shelter.
Please share the announcement to others who will be interested. And most of all, do what you can to encourage any people without a safe and secure place to come into the shelter at night.
OPEN EVERY NIGHT UNTIL JUNE 30TH 8PM TO 7AM
No referral needed
Peace Portal Alliance Church
Corner of 152nd Street and King George Blvd
(enter through back of building facing King George)
A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP
FOOD
SHOWERS
ACCESS AND INFORMATION FOR OTHER RESOURCES
For more information: Options Community Services 604-599-8900
** For the wellness and safety of everyone, all Guests will be required to physical distance.
Guests will be offered a disposable surgical mask. If coughing or other COVID-19 related symptoms are reported or observed, Guests will be required to wear a mask and referral to medical support will be offered. Offerings from the Canadian Unitarian Council
Connect and Deepen – Virtual Gathering
Sunday, May 24 and June 14 1 pm PT | 2 pm MT | 3 pm CT | 4 pm ET | 5 pm AT (90 minutes)
More information is available at https://cuc.ca/events/connect-and-deepen/1590336000/1590341400/ Introduction to Eliot Institute Camp
We gather for a variety of reasons -- to make new friends or to see old ones, for intellectual stimulation, spiritual renewal, artistic expression, to share ideas, to relax and to have fun. You're about to become part of this unique intentional community.
Eliot Institute is a non-profit corporation affiliated with the Pacific Northwest District of the Unitarian Universalist Association. It is managed by a volunteer board of directors made up of representatives from the established conferences held each year. Eliot Institute has been presenting camps and conferences since 1947, and currently sponsors camps each year at Seabeck (July, August, Creative Arts, and Winter). Eliot Institute and other Unitarian Universalist groups are the most frequent users of the Seabeck Conference Center. July Eliot and August Eliot are seven nights; Creative Arts Eliot and Winter Eliot are four nights. Click on any of the camps to the right of this page (or scroll down if you're on a smartphone), for information on upcoming camps.
The Eliot community values safety, fun, and diversity. It is the policy of the Eliot Board to make every attempt to provide accessibility to all Eliot facilities and activities for all campers. Many campers are old-timers, having come for years. Newcomers are also a welcome and important part of our community. Newcomers may (upon request) be paired up with returning campers who give support and answer questions while serving as a "Newcomer Buddy."
Learn more and register for an upcoming camp at eliotinstitute.org(that’s Eliot with one el and one tee!)
On This Day in History
Welcome to the weekly edition of the column On This Day in History. Each week as the chalice lighter is delivered you can take a couple of minutes to read up on what happened in our Unitarian, Universalist, or Unitarian Universalist history.
On this day in 1772, “Raja Rammohun Roy was born in Radhanagar, Hooghly District of Bengal, India. He became one of India’s most talented linguists, philosophers, and social and religious reformers. He learned Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, English, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, and studied Christian theology, becoming convinced of monotheism. He admired the teaching of Jesus. In 1828, he founded the Brahmo Samaj (“The Society of Brahma”_, which adapted Unitarian principles to Hinduism. He worked for reformation of the caste system and women’s rights, including education, property, and remarriage for widows. He opposed polygamy, female servitude, and suttee (literally meaning “good woman” but known as “widow-burning”). In 1830, Roy became the envoy of the emperor of Delhi to England. The Brahmo Samaj is still active in India. Raja Rammohun Roy died on September 27, 1883.” (Source: This Day in Unitarian Universalist History: A Treasury of Anniversaries and Milestones from 600 Years of Religious Tradition, Frank Schulman, p. 92.)
Our Minister
Rev. Samaya's Office Hours
Rev. Samaya is cancelling her office hours and one-on-one visits until such time as we resume having meetings in person. If you would like to arrange for a one-on-one time with Rev. Samaya, please contact her to arrange a time via Zoom or telephone.
As Rev. Samaya is our three-quarter time minister, she is available to take your calls on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm, as well as on Tuesday evenings to 9 pm. Emails will be responded to within 72 hours. If you need a response in less time than that, or in cases of emergencies, please feel free to call her.
Deadline for submission for next edition is noon, Wednesday.
Please note the following contact information for submissions and announcements:
Chalice lighter submissions: kwegner@shaw.ca
Our Calendar
Please click on the picture to access our church calendar. If you have any additions for the calendar, please email your editor.
