This service carries on with our series of examining the life and spiritual influences of musicians of the day. Come and experience the music of kd Lang and be prepared to sing and dance along! In response to the Covid19 health concerns, we are meeting by zoom. Please click here to join.
Zoom Link for our Sunday Services We have set up a recurring zoom link for our Sunday services. The link and the phone in numbers will be the same for each week. Please make a note of the following information:
Zoom Etiquette Just a reminder of some general etiquette things to remember when using Zoom:
Join early – up to 5 minutes before the meeting start time – although you’re free to join the zoom room up to half an hour before the service for general conversation;
Keep your microphone on mute unless you are talking;
Have your video on unless you are experiencing connection issues
Remember to find a quiet space without interruptions or background noise
Avoid backlight from bright windows
Have good lighting on your face so you can be seen clearly
Adjust your camera to be at around eye level if possible – especially take note of the angle of your laptop screen if using the built-in camera.
If you’re calling by phone, *6 will mute and unmute you.
We will have someone available online from 12:30 to 1:00 pm on Sunday to help you work out any difficulties and orient you to Zoom.
If you are having difficulty and would like someone to walk you through how to use Zoom, please know that Sandy Ch, Skye W and Rev. Samaya are available to help you.
Rev. Samaya has purchased a Zoom account and if you would like to arrange for a meeting related to SFUC business, please book a zoom room through her. Sunday April 5th, 2020 After our zoom service this Sunday, we will be gathering for the monthly Congregation Conversation. The topic will be Faith Formation and will include Whole Church, Soul Matters, Hidden Wholeness and related concerns.
The format will be to discuss:
- what has worked well,
- what improvements could be made
- future directions.
Your Board of Directors appreciates input from friends and members that will assist us in determining future directions and priorities.
Following the service, please take a 15 minute break and we will meet again at 2:45 until around 3:15. Board member Dianne Dilts will be facilitating the gathering. Offering and Online Services – as we move to online services, please remember to mail in your offering to South Fraser Unitarians, c/o Linda Pugh, Treasurer, #43-5670 208 Street, Langley, BC V3A 8G4 Upcoming Service
April 12, 2020: Rolling Away the Stone Unitarian Perspective, with Rev. Samaya Oakley
As the story is told, each Easter morning, the stone has been rolled away from the tomb. Each of the Gospels have a different story about how that happened, and yet there is significance to the fact that it did. This service will reflect on what this means for us as Unitarian Universalists. In response to the Covid19 health concerns, we are meeting by zoom. Please click here to join.
April 19, 2020: Everything is Holy Now, with Ann B. & Skye W.
This worship service is honouring Earth Day using ideas and words from Peter Mayer's beautiful song by the same name... embracing the awe and wonder all around us and celebrating it!! In response to the Covid19 health concerns, we are meeting by zoom. Please click here to join.
April 26, 2020: Book Club on Climate Change, with the Page tuurners
It is very difficult to escape plastic these days. The SFUC Book Club will outline the problem and offer ways to work around it. In response to the Covid19 health concerns, we are meeting by zoom.Please click here to join.
May 3, 2020: The Life of Buddha, with Rev. Samaya Oakley
As many faith traditions begin to examine who they are in a constantly changing world, many are turning to the practice of Buddhism to see their way through. This service reflects on who the Buddha was, is, and can be for us as Unitarian Universalists. In response to the Covid19 health concerns, we are meeting by zoom. Please click here to join.
Congregational Connections
Traditionally, the Fundraising Committee has held the Service Market at this time. In the hope that we shall be able to congregate in the next couple of months, we have decided to go ahead on line for now to accept your offers to help others, or bring people together in some way. If you need help with a project big or small, let us know.
Call 📞 Carrie at 604-536-1627 or email at carrieph@shaw.ca and she will fill in the following information for you.
I, __________ wish to offer ________description of service ___.
Approximate date of event _________. Phone number: ________
Conditions/limitations to my offer are: __________.
My suggested minimum price is: $ _______.
EXAMPLE
I, Carrie Phillips wish to offer: PLUM PUDDINGS
Date: First three weeks of December
phone: 604-536-1627. or. carrieph@shaw.ca
Limited to 6 customers.
My minimum price is: $12 for the 1 1/2 lb.
$14 for the 2 lb.
Staying Connected at SFUC
If you’re feeling lonely and need connection, please join Rev. Samaya at one of the following newly scheduled events next week. In our spiritual practice sessions, we’ll be exploring a different practice at each one. This is one of the ways we are choosing to stay socially connected and physically distant.
Tuesday the 7th from 4-5 pm for Spiritual Practice. Join Rev. Samaya online to explore a spiritual practice together.Here is a link to the zoom room. Feel free to join by phone by calling 778-907-2017; Meeting No. 574-397-057
Wednesday the 8th – Join Rev. Samaya and others from SFUC for lunch! Together we'll break bread and check in with each other. Here is the link for the zoom room. The number to call in is 778-907-2017; meeting ID 316-272-514
Thursday the 9th from 10-11 am for Spiritual Practice. Join Rev. Samaya online to explore a spiritual practice together. Here’s the link to the zoom room. Call 778-907-2017; meeting ID 370-447-826
Friday the 10th from 9-10 am for coffee. Start your day off with a cup of coffee, or your favourite morning beverage, with Rev. Samaya. She loves having coffee with people. Here's a link to the zoom room. To join by phone, call 778-907-2017; meeting ID 494-317-711.
Creating a Zoom Crew
As we move onto doing services online, it has become apparent that we need to
arrange a zoom crew to manage the online aspect of our services. Thanks to
Erich, we tested this out last week and it was invaluable! It would be
ideal if we could have a few people to sign up for each week to do this. If
you are interested, please let Rev. Samaya know.
Faith Formation
What Does it Mean to be a People of Wholeness?
As we allow the news to sink in that physically distancing will continue on through this month, these words from our thematic packet provide some fodder for reflection.
In many shamanic societies, if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence? Gabrielle Roth
Our packet on what it means to be a people of wholeness can be downloaded here. Have you signed up to join a small group yet? There are two small groups that meet monthly on the theme – and they meet online. You can join one by contacting Rev. Samaya. They are scheduled on:
Monday, April 20th from 7-9 pm, and
Wednesday, April 22nd from 1-3 pm.
Community Connections
=== SOULFUL SINGING via ZOOM with the REV. WENDY LUELLA PERKINS ===
Amidst these strange and stressful times, Soulful Singing via Zoom is a grounding, creative and uplifting practice for everyone. Join singer-songwriter and Unitarian Universalist community minister, the Rev. Wendy Luella Perkins in the circle of song. Daily and weekly sessions. Download app atwww.zoom.us and sign in from there.
1. DAILY Soulful Singing via Zoom -- 9:00-10:00am EDST
Singing from 9:00-9:40am, followed by 20 minutes of chatting for those who want to connect through conversation.
Meeting ID: 192 861 308
Password: 704436
2. WEEKLY Soulful Singing--Wednesday Afternoons via Zoom -- 12:00-1:30pm EDST
Singing from noon-12:50pm, followed by 40 minutes of chatting for those who want to connect through conversation.
Meeting ID: 811 202 230
Password: 298083
3. WEEKLY Soulful Singing--Thursday Evenings via Zoom -- 7:00-8:30pm EDST
We'll sing for mostly the entire time and then chat near the end for those who want to connect through conversation.
Meeting ID: 293 287 070
Password: 491664
CALL IN VIA PHONE AS WELL FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE GATHERINGS (key-in specific ID and Password when cued)
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada
The Rev. Wendy Luella Perkins
Singer-songwriter
Affiliated Community Minister - Kingston Unitarian Fellowship
Associate Chaplain, Queen's University Office and Faith and Spiritual Life News from the Canadian Unitarian Council
The CUC’s National Conference The decision has been regretfully made to cancel the National Conference in May in Halifax. In light of the rapidly evolving situation, we, together with the UU Church of Halifax Host Team, feel that holding a gathering in these times is not a safe situation. This is in line with the just-announced recommendation from the Nova Scotia government to limit gatherings to 150 people.
However, this presents an opportunity for us to explore national online connections instead. The planning teams are working on this, and updates will be sent to you in the coming weeks.
CUC staff will be in touch with those who have registered about refunds.
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting will proceed as planned on May 15th. This will be fully online, as we have the capability for this. To become informed about this process, please sign up for one of the online voting orientation sessions in April. More information about the AGM is here. Come and connect! Sing and celebrate!
On March 29 the CUC invited a small number of musicians to take part in an online concert for an audience of music lovers. We were delighted that the concert was well attended [65!] and grateful for the gift of music from these wonderful musicians.
We are taking our learning from this initial event to help us create a regular event, with better sound and at a more convenient time. This event is open to all, musicians and audiences alike.
Please join us for the second UU Music Circle. This social event will take place via Zoom on Saturday, April 4 at 7 p.m.(Atlantic)/ 6 p.m. (Eastern)/ 5 p.m. (Central)/ 4 p.m. (Mountain)/ 3 p.m. (Pacific); we'll gather for an hour and a half.
We welcome you all, whether you want to perform, or to just appreciate the music and the connection. The event will be co-hosted by two well known Canadian musicians.
To contribute your musical skills, please fill in this https://forms.gle/2ByqbBUMjqpDvc6v5 so that the co-hosts have an idea of who's appearing. There'll be time for about 8-10 performances/ songs/ numbers. We'll invite those who don't get a slot this time to appear for our next Music Circle.
If you would like to come to enjoy the music, please join us on zoom.
Zoom Information:
Topic: CUC Music Circle, Part II
Time: Apr 4, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
If you can't be part of our circle, but know someone else who'd like to contribute please forward this link, https://forms.gle/2ByqbBUMjqpDvc6v5, so they can sign up.
Spread the word, and we'll see you on Saturday with your instrument, or favourite beverage and snack!
Rev.Linda Thomson & Joan Carolyn Come Experience Eliot
Part camp, part conference ... all magic! Eliot is an inclusive, all-ages vacation for families, couples, and individuals. Gatherings are held four times a year – three times each summer and once over New Year’s Eve – in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
The seven-day July and August Eliot camps and five-day Winter Eliot feature interesting speakers for the adults and fun programs for children and teens each morning, while Creative Arts Eliot (also held in August) offers a choice of hands-on, expert-led workshops. During the afternoons and evenings, campers lead organized activities of all kinds: swimming, dances, games, concerts, crafts, and more. Take part in as many as you like, or savor time simply visiting with friends or enjoying a good book.
Eliot conferences are held at Seabeck Conference Center in Western Washington, an easy trip from Seattle. Tall cedar and fir trees shelter the conference grounds on the edge of Sea- beck Bay, with inspiring views of the Olympic Mountains. One fee covers everything, from the program and activities to comfortable lodgings (at your choice of price points, basic to deluxe) to three hearty, healthy meals each day. Scholarships and volunteer credits are available.
Everyone is welcome! Come experience joy, relaxation, and renewal at Eliot.
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 1643, Paul Best was charged with blaspheming the Trinity and condemned to death by the Westminster Assembly of Divines and by Parliament. You’ll be interested to know that the sentence was not carried out due to popular protest. In 1647 John Biddle was imprisoned for his Unitarian views in London. (Source: This Day in Unitarian Universalist History: A Treasury of Anniversaries and Milestones from 600 Years of Religious Tradition, Frank Schulman, p. 60.)
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 at 604-323-4341.
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.
Services Available from Your Minister:
Child blessings, dedications, coming of age celebrations, saging rituals, home blessings, pet blessings, renewal of vows – all of these things share a common element: services available from your minister. If you’re interested in any one of these rites of passages, please feel free to contact Rev. Samaya.
Reflections by Rev. Samaya
For those that participated in the Soul Matters groups last month, they will remember that we watched a commencement address given by Parker Palmer. In his address, Parker talks about how “the unexamined life is not worth living.” This train of thought actually comes from the Greek philosopher Plato. The general sense of the message is that we are asked to wake up out of the mindless day to day rhythm that many people find themselves in – you know the ruts I’m talking about - the ones that keep us reacting to the unpredictable twists and turns in life, failing to live from a place that is meaningful, that is nurturing.
We are being shaken out of our ruts right now. What is happening throughout the world, and in our own communities, certainly gives us pause to examine our lives in a new and different way. We are being asked to show our love and care for the world in new and different ways – by physically distancing ourselves. When I look out into our empty streets, our physical distancing, our slower pace is a demonstration of a profound love of the people in our community. I see this demonstrated in so many ways! The empty streets, the wide berths people give each other when walking by each other, the distances we keep in the grocery stores – all of these are demonstrations of love and care for the other.
And I don’t know about you, but I have also been giving some deep thought as to how I can use this as an opportunity to spiritually examine, shape, and care for my life in different ways to achieve more wholeness – more satisfaction, more depth … more meaning in my life.
So, I invite you to join me on an exploration of spiritual practices in the coming months. Together we’ll take time to explore meditation, prayer, recycling, simple living, and eating all as spiritual practices. We’ll gather on Tuesdays and Thursdays online. Links will be provided in each chalice lighter for our times together as well as on our congregational calendar. Here is the link to our congregational calendar. I hope you’ll join me.
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.
The seven-day July and August Eliot camps and five-day Winter Eliot feature interesting speakers for the adults and fun programs for children and teens each morning, while Creative Arts Eliot (also held in August) offers a choice of hands-on, expert-led workshops. During the afternoons and evenings, campers lead organized activities of all kinds: swimming, dances, games, concerts, crafts, and more. Take part in as many as you like, or savor time simply visiting with friends or enjoying a good book.
